(8) | | Includes (a) 22,020 shares of common stock held by a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust, (b) 12,351 shares of common stock held in our 401(k) Plan, (c) 60,433 shares of restricted common stock with respect to which Mr. Snyder has voting power, but not investment power, and (d) 94,850 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options within 60 days of March 16, 2009. Mr. Snyder disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock held by the Grantor Retained Annuity Trust except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. |
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(9) | | Includes (a) 35,699 shares of common stock held by a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust, (b) 13,308 shares of common stock held in our 401(k) Plan, and (c) 61,017 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options within 60 days of March 16, 2009. Mr. Callahan disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares of common stock held by the Grantor Retained Annuity Trust except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. The number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by Mr. Callahan is shown as of May 17, 2008, the date of his retirement. |
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(10) | | Includes (a) 314 shares of common stock held in our 401(k) Plan, (b) 50,891 shares of restricted common stock with respect to which Mr. Linneman has voting power, but not investment power, and (c) 159,076 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options within 60 days of March 16, 2009. |
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(11) | | Includes (a) 119 shares of common stock held in our 401(k) Plan and (b) 198,284 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options within 60 days of March 16, 2009. |
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(12) | | Includes (a) 2,023 shares of common stock held in our 401(k) Plan and (b) 65,182 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options within 60 days of March 16, 2009. The number of shares of common stock held in our 401(k) Plan is equal to Mr. Friebe’s March 16, 2009, account balance in the Cabela’s stock fund divided by the closing price of our common stock on March 16, 2009. The Cabela’s stock fund in our 401(k) Plan is unitized for those participants holding unrestricted stock and as such does not itself allocate a specific number of shares to participants. |
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(13) | | Includes 8,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options within 60 days of March 16, 2009. The address for Mr. Armstrong is 7730 Carondelet, Suite 103, St. Louis, Missouri 63105. |
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(14) | | Includes 4,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options within 60 days of March 16, 2009. The address for Mr. Edmondson is 12112 Rancho Vistoso Boulevard, Suite A-150, Oro Valley, Arizona 85755. |
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(15) | | Includes 10,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options within 60 days of March 16, 2009. The address for Mr. Gottschalk is 1314 Douglas Street, Suite 1500, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. |
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(16) | | Includes 10,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options within 60 days of March 16, 2009, and 20,000 shares pledged as security. The address for Mr. Mark is c/o Colgate-Palmolive Company, 300 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022. |
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(17) | | Mr. McCarthy’s beneficial ownership includes (a) 15,340 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options within 60 days of March 16, 2009, (b) 3,032,016 shares of common stock held by MGL Holdings, LLC, or Holdings, and (c) 557,455 shares of Common Stock held by Fulcrum Micro-Cap, L.L.C., or Micro-Cap. Holdings is a wholly-owned subsidiary of McCarthy Group, LLC, or MGL. McCarthy Capital Corporation is an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of MGL and also the manager of Holdings and Micro-Cap. Mr. McCarthy is the Chairman of MGL. Although Mr. McCarthy may be deemed the beneficial owner of the shares held by Holdings and Micro-Cap, he disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. The address for Mr. McCarthy is c/o McCarthy Group, LLC, First National Tower, 1601 Dodge Street, Suite 3800, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. |
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(18) | | Includes (a) 1,006,632 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of stock options within 60 days of March 16, 2009, (b) 8,576,358 shares of common stock with respect to which our directors and officers have shared investment power and sole voting power, (c) 87,606 shares of common stock with respect to |
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| | which our directors and officers have shared investment power, but not voting power, (d) 85,000 shares of common stock with respect to which our directors and officers have shared investment power and shared voting power, and (e) 111,324 shares of common stock with respect to which our directors and officers have voting power, but not investment power. |
SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, requires our officers and directors, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of our equity securities, to file with the SEC and NYSE reports of ownership of our securities and changes in reported ownership. Based solely on a review of the reports furnished to us, or written representations from reporting persons that all reportable transactions were reported, we believe that during the fiscal year ended December 27, 2008, our officers, directors, and greater than ten percent owners timely filed all reports they were required to file under Section 16(a), except that Mr. Linneman did not timely file a Form 4 for a transaction occurring in July 2008, but such Form 4 was subsequently filed.
TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PERSONS
The Audit Committee has adopted a policy and procedures for review, approval, and monitoring of transactions involving the Company and “related persons” (directors, executive officers, shareholders owning more than five percent of any class of the Company’s voting securities, and any immediate family member of any of the foregoing). The policy covers any transaction, arrangement, or relationship in which the Company was, is, or will be a participant and the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any related person had, has, or will have a direct or indirect interest.
Related person transactions must be approved or ratified by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee will approve or ratify only those related person transactions that are in, or are not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, as the Committee determines in good faith. In considering the transaction, the Audit Committee will consider all of the relevant facts and circumstances available to the Committee, including (if applicable), but not limited to: the benefits to the Company; the impact on a director’s independence in the event the related person is a director, an immediate family member of a director, or an entity in which a director is a partner, shareholder, or executive officer; the availability of other sources for comparable products or services; the terms of the transaction; and the terms available to unrelated third parties or to employees generally. No member of the Audit Committee will participate in any review, consideration, or approval of any related person transaction with respect to which such member or any of his or her immediate family members is the related person.
The Audit Committee will annually review any previously approved or ratified related person transactions that remain ongoing. Based on all relevant facts and circumstances, taking into consideration the Company’s contractual obligations, the Audit Committee will determine if it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to continue, modify, or terminate the related person transactions.
Mr. Millner, who was elected our President and Chief Executive Officer and a director effective April 6, 2009, was the Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Group during fiscal 2008 and was the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Freedom Group’s subsidiary, Remington, throughout fiscal 2008. Mr. Millner held these positions until March 13, 2009, when he resigned from these positions to accept employment with us. During fiscal 2008, in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with our normal sourcing procedures, we purchased approximately $27 million in products from Freedom Group and its subsidiaries, including Remington. We anticipate that we will, in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with our normal sourcing procedures, continue to purchase similar products from Freedom Group and its subsidiaries, including Remington, during fiscal 2009 in amounts similar to or greater than amounts purchased in fiscal 2008. The Audit Committee has reviewed, ratified, and approved these transactions.
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PROPOSAL TWO –
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE 2004 STOCK PLAN
The Board has approved, subject to shareholder approval, amendments to our 2004 Stock Plan. The 2004 Stock Plan as proposed to be amended is referred to as the “Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan.” The 2004 Stock Plan was adopted by our shareholders in March 2004 prior to our initial public offering in June 2004, and initially authorized 750,000 shares of common stock for issuance. Prior to our initial public offering, this amount was adjusted to 2,752,500 shares by our Compensation Committee to account for a 3.67 to 1 stock split. On May 15, 2007, our shareholders approved amendments to the 2004 Stock Plan to, among other things, increase the number of shares authorized for award under the 2004 Stock Plan by 3,500,000 shares.
The proposed amendments to the 2004 Stock Plan would (i) increase the number of shares authorized for award under the 2004 Stock Plan by 3,750,000 shares, (ii) conform the performance objectives for awards of performance stock and performance units under the 2004 Stock Plan to the performance criteria set forth in the Cabela’s Incorporated Performance Bonus Plan, and (iii) ensure the 2004 Stock Plan’s continued compliance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. The purposes of this proposal are to (i) secure adequate shares to fund future awards, which are an important component of our compensation program and (ii) obtain shareholder approval of the material terms and conditions of the 2004 Stock Plan for purposes of the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.
As of fiscal year-end 2008, options to purchase 4,474,211 shares were outstanding under the 2004 Stock Plan and 1,541,668 shares remained eligible for future grants. In addition, options to purchase 809,039 shares were outstanding under the 1997 Plan as of fiscal year-end 2008. Prior to the adoption of our 2004 Stock Plan, the 1997 Plan was amended to provide that no further equity awards will be made under that plan. On March 16, 2009, the closing price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $7.75.
On December 27, 2008, the equity overhang, or the percentage of basic common shares outstanding (plus shares that could be issued under the 1997 Plan and 2004 Stock Plan) represented by all outstanding stock options granted under the 1997 Plan and 2004 Stock Plan, and all shares available for future grant under the 2004 Stock Plan, was 9.3%. The equity overhang from all outstanding stock options granted under the 1997 Plan and 2004 Stock Plan, and all shares available for future grant under the 2004 Stock Plan, would be approximately 13.7% assuming approval of the requested amendment.
For the fiscal years 2008, 2007, and 2006, the ratio of options granted under the 2004 Stock Plan to basic shares outstanding at fiscal year-end was 1.8%, 1.7%, and 1.4%, respectively.
The following description of the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan attached hereto as Appendix C.
Summary of the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan
General. The Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan provides for the grant of nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and other stock-based awards to our employees, directors, and consultants. A maximum of 10,002,500 shares of our common stock, subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split, consolidation, or stock dividends of our common stock, may be subject to awards under the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan. Under the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan, no individual shall receive options or stock appreciation rights covering more than 734,000 shares of the Company’s common stock during any 36-month period. In addition, no individual shall receive any awards that are subject to performance measures covering more than 734,000 shares of the Company’s common stock during any 36-month period.
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Options. Either “incentive stock options,” which satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, or “nonqualified stock options,” which are not intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, may be granted under the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan. Each option granted under the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan must have an exercise price that is at least equal to the fair market value of the stock underlying the option on the date of the grant.
Stock Appreciation Rights. The Compensation Committee may grant stock appreciation rights independent of, or in connection with, an option grant. The exercise price per share of a stock appreciation right shall be an amount determined by the Compensation Committee. A stock appreciation right entitles the holder, upon exercise, to receive a payment based on the difference between the exercise price of the stock appreciation right and the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of exercise, multiplied by the number of shares as to which such stock appreciation right is being exercised.
Performance Stock and Performance Units. The Compensation Committee may award performance stock and performance units under the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan. Performance stock is an award of common stock that vests upon the achievement of certain performance objectives during a specified measurement period. A performance unit represents our contractual obligation to pay a specified amount of cash to a participant upon the achievement of certain performance objectives during a specified measurement period. The Compensation Committee will determine the terms and conditions of awards.
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. Restricted stock and restricted stock units will also be available for grant under the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan. Restricted stock is an award of common stock that vests upon the participant’s completion of a specified period of service with us. A restricted stock unit represents our contractual obligation to deliver our common stock or the cash equivalent to a participant upon the participant’s completion of a specified period of service with us. Unless otherwise determined at the time of grant or subsequently by the Compensation Committee, participants will be entitled to receive either currently or at a future date, dividends or other distributions paid with respect to restricted stock and restricted stock units. Restricted stock will carry voting rights. Restricted stock units will not carry voting rights until the underlying shares of stock are issued.
Plan Benefits. Please refer to the “Director Compensation” section of this Proxy Statement for a description of the provisions of the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan providing for automatic grants of options to our non-employee directors. Future awards to our executive officers and employees are discretionary and cannot be determined at this time.
Change in Control. In the event of a change in control (as defined in the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan), all outstanding options and stock appreciation rights shall become fully vested and exercisable, the restriction period applicable to any awards of restricted stock and restricted stock units shall lapse, and shares of our common stock underlying restricted units shall be issued or, at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, each award of options, stock appreciation rights, or restricted stock units, as the case may be, shall be canceled in exchange for a payment in cash equal to the product of (i) (a) in the case of options and stock appreciation rights, the excess of the change in control price over the exercise price or base price, as the case may be, and (b) in the case of all other awards, the change in control price, and (ii) the number of shares of common stock covered by such award.
Upon a change in control, (i) any performance period in progress at the time of the change in control for which performance stock or performance units are outstanding shall end, (ii) all participants granted such awards of performance stock or performance units shall be deemed to have earned a pro rata award equal to the product of (a) such participant’s target award opportunity for the performance period in question based on performance versus goals as of such date and (b) the percentage of performance objectives achieved as of the date of such change in control, or (iii) at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, all such earned performance units shall be canceled in exchange for an amount equal to the product of (a) the change in control price, multiplied by (b) the aggregate number of shares of our common stock covered by such award. All of the performance shares and performance units that have not been so earned shall be forfeited and canceled as of the date of the change in control.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Compensation Committee determines before the change in control either that all outstanding awards of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, and restricted stock units will be honored or assumed by the acquirer, or alternative awards with equal or better terms will be made available, such outstanding awards of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, and restricted stock units will not be canceled, their vesting and exercisability will not be accelerated, and there will be no payment in exchange for such awards.
Miscellaneous. The Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan will generally be administered by the Compensation Committee. Awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan generally may not be assignable or transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all awards and rights will be exercisable during the life of the participant only by the participant or his or her legal representative.
Term and Amendment. The Board may terminate or suspend the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan at any time, and from time to time may amend or modify the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan, provided that without the approval by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders at which a quorum representing a majority of the shares of common stock is present in person or by proxy, no amendment or modification to the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan may (i) materially increase the benefits accruing to participants under the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan, (ii) except as a result of an adjustment event (as defined in the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan), materially increase the number of shares of our common stock subject to awards under the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan or the maximum number of awards or amount of cash that may be granted to a participant under the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan, or (iii) materially modify the requirements for participation in the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan. No amendment, modification, or termination of the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan shall in any manner adversely affect any award previously granted under the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan, without the consent of the participant. The Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan shall continue in effect, unless sooner terminated by the Board, until March 3, 2014.
Federal Income Tax Consequences. The following is a summary of the material United States federal income tax consequences to us and to recipients of certain awards under the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan. The summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code and the U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder in effect as of the date of this Proxy Statement, all of which may change with retroactive effect. The summary is not intended to be a complete analysis or discussion of all potential tax consequences that may be important to recipients of awards under the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan.
Nonqualified Stock Options and SARs. A recipient will not have any income at the time a nonqualified stock option or SAR is granted, nor will the Company be entitled to a deduction at that time. When a nonqualified stock option is exercised, the recipient generally will recognize ordinary income (whether the option price is paid in cash or by surrender of shares of our stock) in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares to which the option exercise pertains over the option price. When a SAR is exercised, the recipient will recognize ordinary income equal to the sum of (i) any gross cash proceeds payable and (ii) the fair market value on the exercise date of any shares received.
Incentive Stock Options. A recipient will not have any income at the time an ISO is granted. Furthermore, a recipient will not have regular taxable income at the time the ISO is exercised. However, the excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time of exercise over the option price will be a preference item that could create an alternative minimum tax liability for the recipient. If a recipient disposes of the shares acquired on exercise of an ISO after the later of two years after the grant of the ISO and one year after exercise of the ISO, the gain recognized by the recipient (i.e., the excess of the proceeds received over the option price), if any, will be long-term capital gain eligible for favorable tax rates under the Internal Revenue Code. Conversely, if the recipient disposes of the shares within two years of the grant of the ISO or within one year of exercise of the ISO, the disposition will generally be a “disqualifying disposition,” and the recipient will recognize ordinary income in the year of the disqualifying disposition equal to the lesser of (i) the excess of the fair market value
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of the stock on the date of exercise over the option price and (ii) the excess of the amount received for the shares over the option price. The balance of the gain or loss, if any, will be long-term or short-term capital gain, depending on how long the shares were held.
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Stock, and Performance Units. A participant generally will not have taxable income upon grant of restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock, or performance units. Instead, the participant will recognize ordinary income at the time of vesting or payout equal to the fair market value (on the vesting or payout date) of the shares or cash received minus any amount paid. For restricted stock only, a participant instead may elect to be taxed at the time of grant.
The Company generally will be entitled to a tax deduction in connection with an award under the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan in an amount equal to the ordinary income realized by a participant and at the time the participant recognizes such income, provided that the deduction is not disallowed by Section 162(m) or otherwise limited by the Internal Revenue Code.
Section 162(m). Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code places a limit of $1,000,000 on the amount of compensation that the Company may deduct in any one year with respect to its Chief Executive Officer and the three other most highly compensated executive officers (except for the Chief Financial Officer), unless the compensation in excess of $1,000,000 is “performance-based compensation” or otherwise excepted from Section 162(m)’s deduction limitation. It is anticipated that any future awards of options and stock appreciation rights granted under the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan will automatically qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) pursuant to their expected terms.
In addition, the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan authorizes the Compensation Committee to grant awards of performance stock and performance units that are conditioned on the satisfaction of performance criteria. For those awards intended to meet the requirements of the performance-based compensation exception to Section 162(m), the Compensation Committee must establish the applicable performance conditions prior to or within a specified period after the start of the applicable performance period. The Compensation Committee may select from the following performance measures for this purpose: (i) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, and/or amortization; (ii) net earnings (before or after taxes); (iii) net income (before or after taxes); (iv) operating income before or after depreciation and amortization (and including or excluding capital expenditures); (v) operating income (before or after taxes); (vi) operating profit (before or after taxes); (vii) book value; (viii) earnings per share (before or after taxes); (ix) market share; (x) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on capital, invested capital, assets, equity); (xi) margins; (xii) share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return); (xiii) comparable or same store sales; (xiv) sales or product volume growth; (xv) productivity improvement or operating efficiency; (xvi) costs or expenses; (xvii) shareholders’ equity; (xviii) revenues or sales; (xix) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and cash flow return on capital); (xx) revenue-generating unit-based metrics; (xxi) expense targets; (xxii) individual performance objectives; (xxiii) working capital targets; (xxiv) measures of economic value added; (xxv) inventory control; or (xxvi) enterprise value.
The foregoing performance measures may relate to the Company, one or more of its affiliates, or one or more of its or their divisions or units, or departments or functions, or any combination of the foregoing, and may be applied on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one or more peer group companies or indices, or any combination thereof, all as the Compensation Committee will determine. In addition, to the degree consistent with Section 162(m) (or any successor section thereto), the 162(m) performance measures may be calculated without regard to extraordinary items. A vote in favor of approving the amendments to the Amended and Restated 2004 Stock Plan will be a vote approving all the material terms and conditions of the plan for purposes of the performance-based compensation exception to Section 162(m), including the performance measures.
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To maintain flexibility in compensating executive officers in a manner designed to promote varying corporate goals, the Compensation Committee has not adopted a policy that all compensation must be deductible and it is anticipated that future awards of restricted stock or restricted stock units may not qualify for the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m).
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE PROPOSAL.
PROPOSAL THREE –
RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Audit Committee has selected Deloitte & Touche LLP, or Deloitte, as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2009, and the Board is asking shareholders to ratify that selection. Although current law, rules, and regulations, as well as the charter of the Audit Committee, require the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm to be engaged, retained, and supervised by the Audit Committee, the Board considers the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm to be an important matter of shareholder concern and is submitting the selection of Deloitte for ratification by shareholders as a matter of good corporate practice.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE PROPOSAL.
Representatives of Deloitte are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting. They will have the opportunity to make a statement and will be available to respond to appropriate questions. If the shareholders should fail to ratify the selection of Deloitte as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2009, the Audit Committee will designate the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2009.
The following table shows the aggregate fees billed to us for professional services by Deloitte for fiscal years 2008 and 2007:
| Fiscal 2008 | | Fiscal 2007 |
Audit Fees | $ | 1,116,555 | | $ | 1,022,099 |
Audit-Related Fees | | 96,141 | | | 83,901 |
Tax Fees | | 4,197 | | | 3,900 |
All Other Fees | | 367,248 | | | — |
Total Fees | $ | 1,584,141 | | $ | 1,109,900 |
A description of the types of services provided in each category is as follows:
Audit Fees — For fiscal 2008 and 2007, includes fees for professional services and expenses relating to the audit of our annual financial statements, review of our quarterly financial information, and the audit of our internal control over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Audit-Related Fees — For fiscal 2008 and 2007, includes fees for professional services and expenses relating to work for our wholly-owned bank subsidiary, World’s Foremost Bank, as it relates to the bank’s securitization transactions. Fiscal 2007 also includes fees for professional services and expenses related to the filing of a Registration Statement of Form S-8.
Tax Fees — For fiscal 2008 and 2007, consists of fees for professional services and expenses related to the Company’s operations in Hong Kong.
All Other Fees — For fiscal 2008, consists of fees for professional services and expenses provided by Deloitte Consulting LLP related to benchmarking our costs with other retailers.
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None of the services described above were approved pursuant to the de minimis exception provided in Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C) of Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC. The Audit Committee also concluded that Deloitte’s provision of audit and non-audit services to the Company and its affiliates is compatible with Deloitte’s independence.
The Audit Committee has adopted a policy for the pre-approval of audit and permitted non-audit services that may be performed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. Under this policy, each year, at the time it engages the independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee pre-approves the audit engagement terms and fees and also may pre-approve detailed types of audit-related and permitted tax and other services, subject to certain dollar limits, to be performed during the next twelve months. All other non-audit services are required to be pre-approved by the Audit Committee on an engagement-by-engagement basis, subject to those exceptions that may be permitted by applicable law. The Audit Committee may delegate its authority to pre-approve services to one or more of its members, whose activities shall be reported to the Audit Committee at each regularly scheduled meeting.
PROPOSALS OF SHAREHOLDERS FOR 2010 ANNUAL MEETING
If you would like to present a proposal for possible inclusion in our 2010 Proxy Statement pursuant to the SEC’s rules, send the proposal to our Secretary, Cabela’s, One Cabela Drive, Sidney, Nebraska 69160. Proposals must be received by December 1, 2009.
Shareholders who want to bring business before the annual meeting of shareholders in 2010 other than through a shareholder proposal pursuant to the SEC’s rules must notify our Secretary in writing and provide the information required by the provision of our Amended and Restated Bylaws dealing with shareholder proposals. The notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 120 days or more than 150 days prior to the first anniversary of the 2009 annual meeting of shareholders. The requirements for such notice are set forth in our Amended and Restated Bylaws. You may request a copy of our Amended and Restated Bylaws by writing to our Secretary, Cabela’s, One Cabela Drive, Sidney, Nebraska 69160. The Company reserves the right to reject, rule out of order, or take other appropriate action with respect to any proposal that does not comply with these and other applicable requirements.
OTHER MATTERS
The Board does not intend to bring any other business before the Annual Meeting, and so far as is known to the Board, no matters are to be brought before the Annual Meeting except as specified in the notice of the meeting. In addition to the scheduled items of business, shareholder proposals (including proposals omitted from the Proxy Statement and proxy card pursuant to the proxy rules of the SEC) and matters relating to the conduct of the Annual Meeting may be considered at the Annual Meeting. As to any other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting, it is intended that proxies will be voted in respect thereof in accordance with the judgment of the persons voting such proxies.
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed by us with the SEC (excluding exhibits), is a portion of the Annual Report that is being furnished to our shareholders as set forth in the Notice of Internet Availability. Our Annual Report will be mailed to those shareholders who request to receive written proxy materials. However, such Annual Report, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K, is not to be considered part of this proxy solicitation material. A copy of exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 10-K will be provided upon request to our Secretary, Cabela’s, One Cabela Drive, Sidney, Nebraska 69160 upon the payment of a reasonable fee to furnish such exhibits.
DATED: Sidney, Nebraska, March 31, 2009.
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APPENDIX A
CABELA’S INCORPORATED
INDEPENDENCE GUIDELINES AND CATEGORICAL STANDARDS
The Board intends that, except during periods of temporary vacancies, a majority of the directors will be independent directors, as independence is determined by the Board, based on the guidelines set forth below. Directors who do not satisfy these independence guidelines also make valuable contributions to the Board and to the Company by reason of their experience and wisdom.
The Board has established the following guidelines to assist it in determining director independence, which conform to or exceed the independence requirements in the New York Stock Exchange listing requirements. In addition to applying these guidelines, the Board will consider all relevant facts and circumstances in making an independence determination, and not merely from the standpoint of the director, but also from that of persons or organizations with which the director has an affiliation.
For a director to be considered independent, the Board must determine that the director does not have any direct or indirect material relationship with the Company. In addition:
| i. | | A director who is an employee, or whose immediate family member is an executive officer, of the Company is not independent until three years after the end of such employment relationship. |
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| ii. | | A director who receives any direct compensation from the Company, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service), or whose immediate family member receives more than $100,000 per year in direct compensation, is not independent until three years after such compensation has been received. |
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| iii. | | A director who is affiliated with or employed by, or whose immediate family member is employed in a professional capacity by, a present or former internal or external auditor of the Company is not independent until three years after the end of the affiliation or the employment or auditing relationship. |
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| iv. | | A director who is employed, or whose immediate family member is employed, as an executive officer of another company where any of the Company’s present executives serve on that company’s compensation committee is not independent until three years after the end of such service or the employment relationship. |
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| v. | | A director who is employed by, or whose immediate family member is an executive officer of, a company that makes payments to, or receives payments from, the Company for property or services in an amount which, in any single fiscal year, exceeds the greater of $1 million, or 2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues, is not independent until three years after falling below such threshold. |
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| vi. | | A director who has a direct or indirect material interest (as determined by the Board), or whose immediate family member has a direct or indirect material interest (as determined by the Board), in any transaction since the beginning of the Company’s last fiscal year, or any proposed transaction, in which the Company was or is to be a participant and the amount involved exceeds $120,000 is not independent until one year after completion of the transaction. |
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The Board has determined that the following relationships are categorically immaterial and shall not disqualify a director or nominee from being considered independent.
| i. | | A director, or an immediate family member of a director, is affiliated with, or is a partner, employee, officer, director, or less than 25% owner of, a company that makes or has made payments to, or receives or has received payments (other than contributions, if the entity is a tax–exempt organization) from, the Company for property or services, and the amount of such payments has not within any of such other company’s three most recently completed fiscal years exceeded the greater of $1 million or 1% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues for such year. |
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| ii. | | A director, or an immediate family member of a director, is affiliated with, or is a partner, employee, officer, director, or less than 25% owner of, a bank, savings and loan association, insurance company, or other institutional lender that makes or has made loans to the Company (which shall include the purchase of notes or other debt instruments), and the amount of such loans has not within any of such lender’s three most recently completed fiscal years exceeded 1% of such lender’s, or 10% of the Company’s, consolidated gross assets. |
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| iii. | | A director, or an immediate family member of a director, is affiliated with, or is a partner, employee, officer, director, or less than 25% owner of, a paid advisor, paid consultant, or paid provider of professional services to any member of the Company’s senior management or Board, or any immediate family member of a member of the Company’s senior management or Board, and the amount of such payments has not within any of such firm’s three most recently completed fiscal years exceeded the greater of $250,000 or 1% of such other firm’s consolidated gross revenues for such year. |
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| iv. | | A director, or an immediate family member of a director, is a trustee, fiduciary, director, or officer of a tax-exempt organization to which the Company contributes, and the contributions to such organization by the Company have not within any of such organization’s three most recently completed fiscal years exceeded the greater of $250,000 or 1% of such organization’s consolidated gross revenues for such year. |
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APPENDIX B
CABELA’S INCORPORATED
QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIFIC QUALITIES AND SKILLS REQUIRED FOR DIRECTORS
Board Membership Criteria
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee works with the Board on a regular basis to determine the appropriate characteristics, skills and experience for the Board as a whole and its individual members with the objective of having a Board with diverse backgrounds and appropriate experience. In evaluating the suitability of individual Board members, the Board takes into account many factors, including general understanding of marketing, finance and other disciplines relevant to the success of a growing publicly traded company in today’s business environment, understanding of the Company’s business, educational and professional background, and personal accomplishment. The Board evaluates each individual in the context of the Board as a whole, with the objective of recommending a group that can best perpetuate the success of the Company’s business and represent stockholder interests through the exercise of sound judgment, using its diversity of experience. In determining whether to recommend a director for re-election, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also considers the director’s past attendance at meetings and participation in and contributions to the activities of the Board.
Personal Characteristics and Core Competencies of Directors
Individual directors should possess all of the following personal characteristics:
- Integrity and Accountability - Character is the primary consideration in evaluating any Board member. Directors should demonstrate high ethical standards and integrity in their personal and professional dealings and be willing to act on and remain accountable for their boardroom decisions.
- Informed Judgment - Board members should have the ability to provide wise, thoughtful counsel on a broad range of issues. Directors should possess high intelligence and wisdom and apply it in decision making.
- Financial Literacy - One of the important roles of the Board is to monitor the Company’s financial performance. Board members should be financially literate. Directors should know how to read a balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement, and understand the use of financial ratios and other indices for evaluating Company performance.
- Mature Confidence - The Board functions best when directors value Board and team performance over individual performance. Openness to other opinions and the willingness to listen should rank as highly as the ability to communicate persuasively. Board members should approach others assertively, responsibly and supportively and raise tough questions in a manner that encourages open discussion.
- High Performance Standards - In today’s highly competitive world, only companies capable of performing at the highest levels are likely to prosper. Board members should have a history of achievements that reflect high standards for themselves and others.
- Passion - Directors should be passionate about the performance of the Company, both in absolute terms and relative to its peers. That passion should manifest itself in engaged debate about the future of the Company and a camaraderie among the Board that both challenges and inspires the Company’s employees.
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- Creativity - Success in the retail business will ultimately go to the participants who adapt quickly to changing environments and implement creative solutions to the significant challenges faced by industry participants. Board members should possess the creative talents needed to augment those of management.
Core Competencies of the Board as a Whole
To adequately fulfill the Board’s complex roles, from overseeing the audit and monitoring managerial performance to responding to crises and approving the Company’s strategic plan, a host of core competencies need to be represented on the Board. The Board as a whole should possess the following core competencies, with each member contributing knowledge, experience and skills in one or more domains.
- Accounting and Finance - Among the most important missions of the Board is ensuring that stockholder value is both enhanced through corporate performance and protected through adequate internal financial controls. The Board should have one or more directors with specific expertise in financial accounting and corporate finance, especially with respect to trends in debt and equity markets.
- Business Judgment - Stockholders rely on directors to make sensible choices on their behalf. Directors should have a record of making good business decisions in the corporate sector.
- Management - To monitor corporate management, the Board needs to understand management trends in general and industry trends in particular. The Board should have one or more directors who understand and stay current on general management “best practices” and their application in complex, rapidly evolving business environments.
- Crisis Response - Organizations inevitably experience both short and long-term crises. The ability to deal with crises can minimize ramifications and limit negative impact on Company performance. Boards should have one or more directors who have the ability and time to perform during periods of both short-term and prolonged crises.
- Industry Knowledge - Companies continually face new opportunities and threats that are unique to their industries. The Board should have one or more members with appropriate and relevant industry-specific knowledge.
- Leadership - Ultimately, a company’s performance will be determined by the directors’ and CEO’s ability to attract, motivate and energize a high-performance leadership team. The Board should have one or more directors who understand and possess empowerment skills and have a history of motivating high-performing talent.
- Strategy and Vision - A key Board role is to approve and monitor Company strategy to ensure the Company’s continued high performance. The Board should have one or more directors with the skills and capacity to provide strategic insight and direction by encouraging innovation, conceptualizing key trends, evaluating strategic decisions and continuously challenging the organization to sharpen its vision.
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APPENDIX C
CABELA’S INCORPORATED
2004 STOCK PLAN
(AS AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE MAY ____, 2009)
ARTICLE 1
PURPOSES
The purposes of the Plan are to foster and promote the long-term financial success of the Company and the Subsidiaries and materially increase stockholder value by (a) motivating superior performance by Participants, (b) providing Participants with an ownership interest in the Company, and (c) enabling the Company and the Subsidiaries to attract and retain the services of outstanding Employees upon whose judgment, interest and special effort the successful conduct of its operations is largely dependent.
ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS
2.1Certain Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Adjustment Event” means any dividend payable in capital stock, stock split, share combination, extraordinary cash dividend, liquidation, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, exchange of shares or other similar event affecting the Common Stock.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any person, any other person controlled by, controlling or under common control with, such person.
“Alternative Award” has the meaning given in Section 8.4.
“Annual Options” has the meaning given in Section 5.6.
“Automatic Non-Employee Director Options” has the meaning given in Section 5.6.
“Award” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Automatic Non-Employee Director Option, Performance Stock, Performance Unit, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit granted pursuant to the Plan, including an Award combining two or more types in a single grant.
“Award Agreement” means any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award granted by the Committee pursuant to the Plan.
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Cabela Family” means the class composed of Richard Cabela and James Cabela, their respective spouses and lineal descendants, any trust established for the benefit of any one or more of said persons and any entity where 50% or more of the combined voting power is owned by any one or more of said persons.
“Cause” means, except as otherwise defined in an Award Agreement, with respect to any Participant (as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) (i) the continued and willful failure of the Participant substantially to perform the duties of his or her employment for the Company or any Subsidiary (other than any such failure due to the Participant’s Disability); (ii) the Participant’s engaging in willful or serious misconduct that has caused or could reasonably be expected to result in material injury to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, including, but not limited to, by way of damage to the Company’s, a Subsidiary’s or an Affiliate’s reputation or public standing; (iii) the Participant’s conviction of, or entering a plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, a crime constituting a felony; or (iv) the Participant’s material violation
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or breach of any statutory or common law duty of loyalty to the Company or any Subsidiary, the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s code of conduct or ethics or other Company or Subsidiary policy or rule or the material breach by the Participant of any of his or her obligations under any written covenant or agreement with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates; provided that, with respect to any Participant who is a party to an employment agreement with the Company or any Subsidiary, “Cause” shall have the meaning, if any, specified in such Participant’s employment agreement.
“Change in Control” means, except as otherwise defined in an Award Agreement, the date on which any of the following events occurs:
a. a change in the ownership of the Company, which occurs on the date on which any one person, or more than one person acting as a “group” (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), other than the Company, the Subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan of the Company or the Subsidiaries or the Cabela’s Family, acquires ownership of stock of the Company that, together with stock held by such person or group constitutes more than fifty percent (50%) of the total voting power of the stock of the Company.
b. a change in the effective control of the Company, which occurs on the date on which a majority of the members of the Company’s Board are replaced during any 12-month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the Board prior to the date of the appointment or election, but only if no other corporation is a majority shareholder of the Company.
c. a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the Company, which occurs on the date on which any one person, or more than one person acting as a “group” (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), other than an Affiliate, acquires assets from the Company that have a total gross fair market value of more than fifty percent (50%) of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the Company immediately prior to such acquisition, taking into account all such assets acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or group.
The determination of a Change in Control shall be based on objective facts and in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A.
“Change in Control Price” means the price per share offered in conjunction with any transaction resulting in a Change in Control on a fully-diluted basis (as determined in good faith by the Committee as constituted before the Change in Control, if any part of the offered price is payable other than in cash).
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Code Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Code, and the Regulations and other guidance issued thereunder.
“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board.
“Common Stock” means the Class A Common Stock of the Company.
“Company” means Cabela’s Incorporated, a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto.
“Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreement” means a restrictive agreement required to be entered into by a Participant as a condition to receipt of an Award and which may include covenants covering confidentiality, noncompetition, nonsolicitation, noninterference, proprietary matters and such other matters as may be determined by the Committee.
“Disability” means that a Participant either (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, or (ii) is, by reason of
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any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12) months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three (3) months under an accident or health plan covering employees of the Company. The Committee’s reasoned and good faith judgment of Disability shall be final, binding and conclusive, and shall be based on such competent medical evidence as shall be presented to it by such Participant and/or by any physician or group of physicians or other competent medical expert employed by the Participant or the Company to advise the Committee.
“Dividend Equivalents” means an amount equal to any dividends and distributions paid by the Company with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Award.
“Employee” means any officer or employee of, or any natural person who is a consultant or advisor to, the Company or any Subsidiary. For purposes of the Plan, references to employment shall also mean an agency or independent contractor relationship.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder.
“Fair Market Value” means, unless otherwise defined in an Award Agreement, as of any date, the closing price of one share of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange (or on such other recognized market or quotation system on which the trading prices of Common Stock are traded or quoted at the relevant time) on the trading day on the date as of which such Fair Market Value is determined. If there are no Common Stock transactions reported on the New York Stock Exchange (or on such other exchange or system as described above) on such date, Fair Market Value shall mean the closing price for a share of Common Stock on the immediately preceding day on which Common Stock transactions were so reported.
“Initial Option” has the meaning given in Section 5.6.
“IPO Date” means the first trading day on or after the date on which the Securities and Exchange Commission declares effective a Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed by the Company for an underwritten public offering of Common Stock.
“ISOs” has the meaning given in Section 5.1.
“Mature Shares” means previously-acquired shares of Common Stock for which the Participant has good title, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances, and which such Participant either (i) has held for at least 6 months or (ii) has purchased on the open market.
“New Employer” means a Participant’s employer, or the parent or a subsidiary of such employer, immediately following a Change in Control.
“Non-Employee Director” means a director of the Company who is not an employee of the Company or of any Subsidiary.
“NSOs” has the meaning given in Section 5.1.
“Option” means the right granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan to purchase a stated number of shares of Common Stock at a stated price for a specified period of time. For purposes of the Plan, an Option may be either an ISO or a NSO.
“Participant” means any Employee or Non-Employee Director or prospective Employee or Non-Employee Director designated by the Committee (or its delegate) to receive an Award under the Plan.
“Performance Period” means the period, as determined by the Committee, during which the performance of the Company, any Subsidiary, any business unit or division and any individual is measured to determine whether and the extent to which the applicable performance measures have been achieved.
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“Performance Stock” means a grant of a stated number of shares of Common Stock to a Participant under the Plan that is forfeitable by the Participant until the attainment of specified performance goals, or until otherwise determined by the Committee or in accordance with the Plan, subject to the continuous employment of the Participant through the applicable Performance Period.
“Performance Unit” means a Participant’s contractual right to receive a stated number of shares of Common Stock or, if provided by the Committee on the grant date, cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such shares of Common Stock, under the Plan at a specified time that is forfeitable by the Participant until the attainment of specified performance goals, or until otherwise determined by the Committee or in accordance with the Plan, subject to the continuous employment of the Participant through the applicable Performance Period.
“Permitted Transferee” has the meaning given in Section 11.1.
“Plan” means this Cabela’s Incorporated 2004 Stock Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time.
“Regulations” means the regulations of the United States Department of the Treasury pertaining to the federal income tax, as from time to time in force.
“Restricted Stock” means a grant of a stated number of shares of Common Stock to a Participant under the Plan that is forfeitable by the Participant until the completion of a specified period of future service, or until otherwise determined by the Committee or in accordance with the Plan.
“Restricted Stock Unit” means a Participant’s contractual right to receive a stated number of shares of Common Stock or, if provided by the Committee on the grant date, cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such shares of Common Stock, under the Plan at the end of a specified period of time that is forfeitable by the Participant until the completion of a specified period of future service, or until otherwise determined by the Committee or in accordance with the Plan.
“Restriction Period” means the period, as determined by the Committee, during which any Performance Stock, Performance Units, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, as the case may be, are subject to forfeiture and/or restriction on transfer pursuant to the terms of the Plan.
“Retirement” means, except as otherwise defined in an Award Agreement, a Participant’s retirement from active employment with the Company and any Subsidiary at or after such Participant attains age 65, or age 55 with 10 years of service to the Company or any Subsidiary.
“Stock Appreciation Right” means, with respect to shares of Common Stock, the right to receive a payment from the Company in cash and/or shares of Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the exercise date over a specified price fixed by the Committee on the grant date, multiplied by (ii) a stated number of shares of Common Stock.
“Subsidiary” means any corporation in which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, stock representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote, and any other business organization, regardless of form, in which the Company possesses, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total combined equity interests in such organization.
“Ten Percent Holder” has the meaning given in Section 5.2.
2.2Gender and Number. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, words in the masculine gender used in the Plan shall include the feminine gender, the singular shall include the plural, and the plural shall include the singular.
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ARTICLE 3
POWERS OF THE COMMITTEE
3.1Eligibility and Participation. Participants in the Plan shall be those Employees or prospective Employees designated by the affirmative action of the Committee (or its delegate) to participate in the Plan. Non-Employee Directors shall only be eligible to participate in the Plan in accordance with Section 5.6.
3.2Power to Grant and Establish Terms of Awards. Subject to Code Section 409A, other applicable laws and the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have the discretionary authority to determine the Employees to whom Awards shall be granted, the type or types of Awards to be granted and the terms and conditions of any and all Awards including, without limitation, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Award, the time or times at which Awards shall be granted, the terms and conditions of applicable Award Agreements and, if required by the Committee as a condition to an Award, the form and substance of any Confidentiality and Noncompetition Agreements. The Committee may establish different terms and conditions for different types of Awards, for different Participants receiving the same type of Award and for the same Participant for each Award such Participant may receive, whether or not granted at the same or different times.
3.3Administration. The Committee shall be responsible for the administration of the Plan. Any Awards granted by the Committee may be subject to such conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion. The Committee shall have discretionary authority to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to provide for conditions deemed necessary or advisable to protect the interests of the Company, to interpret the Plan and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration and interpretation of the Plan and to carry out its provisions and purposes. Any determination, interpretation or other action made or taken (including any failure to make any determination or interpretation, or take any other action) by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, binding and conclusive for all purposes and upon all persons and shall be given deference in any proceeding with respect thereto.
3.4Delegation by the Committee. All of the powers, duties and responsibilities of the Committee specified herein may, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, be exercised and performed by a committee of two or more Company employees, which shall include the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, to the extent authorized by the Committee to exercise and perform such powers, duties and responsibilities; provided that, the Committee shall not delegate its authority with respect to the compensation of any “officer” within the meaning of Rule 16(a)-1(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act or any “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code (or any person who, in the Committee’s judgment, is likely to be a “covered employee” at any time during the period an Award hereunder to such person would be outstanding).
3.5Performance-Based Compensation. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan, to the extent the Committee determines on the grant date that an Award shall qualify as “other performance based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m)(4) of the Code, the Committee shall not exercise any subsequent discretion otherwise authorized under the Plan with respect to such Award if the exercise of the Committee’s discretion would cause such award to fail to qualify as “other performance based compensation.”
3.6Participants Based Outside the United States. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Committee, in order to conform with provisions of local laws and regulations in foreign countries in which the Company or its Subsidiaries operate, shall have sole discretion to (i) modify the terms and conditions of Awards granted to Participants employed outside the United States, (ii) establish subplans with modified exercise procedures and such other modifications as may be necessary or advisable under the circumstances presented by local laws and regulations, and (iii) take any action which it deems advisable to obtain, comply with or otherwise reflect any necessary governmental regulatory procedures, exemptions or approvals with respect to the Plan or any subplan established hereunder.
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ARTICLE 4
STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN
4.1Number. Subject to the provisions of this Article 4, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards under the Plan and issuable in respect of outstanding awards granted shall not exceed 10,002,500 shares of Common Stock. The shares of Common Stock to be delivered under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of Common Stock held in treasury or authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock, not reserved for any other purpose.
4.2Canceled, Terminated, or Forfeited Awards, etc. Shares subject to any Award granted hereunder that for any reason are canceled, terminated, forfeited or otherwise settled without the issuance of Common Stock after the effective date of the Plan shall again be available for grant under the Plan, subject to the maximum limitation specified in Section 4.1. Without limiting the generality of this Section 4.2, (i) shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company to satisfy any withholding obligation of a Participant pursuant to Section 11.4 shall not reduce the maximum share limitation specified in Section 4.1 and shall again be available for grant under the Plan, (ii) shares of Common Stock tendered by a Participant to pay the exercise price of any Options shall not reduce the maximum share limitation specified in Section 4.1 and shall again be available for grant under the Plan, and (iii) shares of Common Stock issued in connection with Awards that are assumed, converted or substituted pursuant to an Adjustment Event or Change in Control (i.e., Alternative Awards) will not further reduce the maximum share limitation specified in Section 4.1. For purposes of this Article 4, if a Stock Appreciation Right is granted in tandem with an Option so that only one may be exercised with the other being surrendered on such exercise in accordance with Section 5.7, the number of Shares subject to the tandem Option and Stock Appreciation Right award shall only be taken into account once (and not as to both awards).
4.3Individual Award Limitations. Subject to the provisions of Section 4.4, the following individual Award limits shall apply:
a. During any 36-month period, no Participant shall receive Options or Stock AppreciationRights covering more than 734,000 shares of Common Stock; and
b. During any 36-month period, no Participant shall receive any Awards that are subject to performance measures covering more than 734,000 shares of Common Stock; provided that this number of shares of Common Stock shall be proportionately adjusted on a straight-line basis for Performance Periods of shorter or longer duration, not to exceed five years.
4.4Adjustment in Capitalization. In the event of any Adjustment Event affecting the Common Stock such that an adjustment is required to preserve, or to prevent enlargement of, the benefits or potential benefits made available under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as the Committee shall deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number and kind of shares which thereafter may be awarded or optioned and sold under the Plan (including, without limitation, adjusting any limits on the number and types of Awards that may be made under the Plan), (ii) the number and kind of shares subject to each Automatic Non-Employee Director Option to be granted to Non-Employee Directors pursuant to Section 5.6, but only with respect to Adjustment Events occurring subsequent to the IPO Date, (iii) the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards, and (iv) the grant, exercise or conversion price with respect to any Award. In addition, the Committee may make provisions for a cash payment to a Participant or a person who has an outstanding Award. The decision of the Committee regarding any such adjustment shall be final, binding and conclusive. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to any Award shall be rounded to the nearest whole number. Any such adjustment shall be consistent with Sections 424, 409A and 162(m) of the Code to the extent the Awards subject to adjustment are subject to such Sections of the Code.
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ARTICLE 5
STOCK OPTIONS AND STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
5.1Grant. At such time or times as shall be determined by the Committee, Options may be granted to Participants other than Non-Employee Directors; provided, however, that prior to the IPO Date, Options may be granted to Non-Employee Directors. Options pursuant to this Plan may be of two types: (i) “incentive stock options” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code (“ISOs”) and (ii) non-statutory stock options (“NSOs”), which are not ISOs. The grant date of an Option under the Plan will be the date on which the Option is awarded by the Committee or such other future date as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. Each Option shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the type of Option granted, the exercise price, the duration of the Option, the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Option pertains, the conditions upon which the Option or any portion thereof shall become vested or exercisable, and such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall determine, including customary representations, warranties and covenants with respect to securities law matters. For the avoidance of doubt, ISOs may only be granted to Employees who are treated as common law employees of the Company or any Subsidiary Corporation (as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code). To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined on the date the Option is granted) of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Options designated as ISOs are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under this Plan or any other plan of the Company, or any parent or subsidiary as defined in Section 424 of the Code) exceed the amount (currently $100,000) established by the Code, such options shall constitute NSOs.
5.2Exercise Price. Each Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall have an exercise price per share of Common Stock determined by the Committee; provided that such per share exercise price of any Option may not be less than the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date the Option is granted; provided further, that if an ISO shall be granted to any person who, at the time such Option is granted, owns capital stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock of the Company (or of any parent or subsidiary as defined in Section 424 of the Code) (a “Ten Percent Holder”), the per share exercise price shall be the price (currently 110% of Fair Market Value) required by the Code in order to constitute an ISO.
5.3Exercisability. Each Option awarded to a Participant under the Plan shall become exercisable based on the performance of a minimum period of service or the occurrence of any event or events, including a Change in Control, as the Committee shall determine, either at or after the grant date. No Option shall be exercisable on or after the tenth anniversary of its grant date; provided that if an ISO shall be granted to a Ten Percent Holder, such ISO shall not be exercisable on or after the fifth anniversary of its grant date. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, the applicable Award Agreement or as determined by the Committee at or after the grant date, after becoming exercisable each installment of an Option shall remain exercisable until expiration, termination or cancellation of the Option and, until such time, may be exercised from time to time in whole or in part, up to the total number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which it is then exercisable.
5.4Payment. The Committee shall establish procedures governing the exercise of Options, which procedures shall generally require that written notice of exercise thereof be given and that the exercise price thereof be paid in full at the time of exercise (i) in cash or cash equivalents, including by personal check, or (ii) in accordance with such other procedures or in such other forms as the Committee shall from time to time determine. The exercise price of any Options exercised may be paid in full or in part in the form of Mature Shares, based on the Fair Market Value of such Mature Shares on the date of exercise, subject to such rules and procedures as may be adopted by the Committee. As soon as practicable after receipt of a written exercise notice and payment of the exercise price in accordance with this Section 5.4, the Company shall deliver to the Participant a certificate or certificates representing the shares of Common Stock acquired upon the exercise thereof, bearing appropriate legends if applicable.
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5.5Prohibition Against Repricing. Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary and subject to Section 4.4, the Board and the Committee shall not have the power or authority to reduce, whether through amendment or otherwise, the exercise price of any outstanding Option or to grant any new Options with a lower exercise price in substitution for or upon the cancellation of Options previously granted without the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the shares of capital stock of the Company represented at a meeting in which such action is considered for approval. Any such reduction of exercise price or regranting of such Options, as the case may be, shall be made in compliance with Section 1.409A(b)(5)(v) of the Regulations so as not to be treated as providing for the deferral of compensation.
5.6Automatic Grants of Options to Non-Employee Directors. From and after and subject to the occurrence of the IPO Date, the Company shall grant NSOs to Non-Employee Directors pursuant to this Section 5.6, which grants shall be automatic and nondiscretionary and otherwise subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 5.6 and the terms of the Plan including Section 4.4 (“Automatic Non-Employee Director Options”). Each Non-Employee Director shall be automatically granted a NSO to purchase 2,000 shares of Common Stock (an “Initial Option”) on the date the Non-Employee Director first joins the Board, and thereafter shall be automatically granted a NSO to purchase 2,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Annual Options”) on the date immediately following the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders beginning with the annual meeting in 2005; provided, however, that he or she is then a director of the Company and, provided, further, that as of such date, such director shall have served on the Board for at least the preceding six (6) months.
The term of each Automatic Non-Employee Director Option shall be eight (8) years. The option price per share of Common Stock purchasable under an Automatic Non-Employee Director Option shall be 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. Each Automatic Non-Employee Director Option shall vest on the anniversary of the date of grant. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or after the grant date, if a Non-Employee Director ceases to be a member of the Board for any reason, the Non-Employee Director (or the Non-Employee Director’s beneficiary or legal representative) may exercise any Automatic Non-Employee Director Options that are exercisable on the date of the Non-Employee Director ceases to be a member of the Board until the expiration of the term of such Automatic Non-Employee Director Options. Any Automatic Non-Employee Director Options that are not then exercisable shall be forfeited and canceled as of the date the Non-Employee Director ceases to be a member of the Board.
In the event that the number of shares of Common Stock available for grant under the Plan is not sufficient to accommodate the Automatic Non-Employee Director Options, then the remaining shares of Common Stock available for Automatic Non-Employee Director Options shall be granted to Non-Employee Directors on a pro-rata basis. No further grants shall be made until such time, if any, as additional shares of Common Stock become available for grant under the Plan through action of the Board and/or the stockholders of the Company to increase the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan or through cancellation or expiration of Awards previously granted hereunder.
5.7Stock Appreciation Rights.
a.Grant. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to Participants other than Non-Employee Directors at such time or times as shall be determined by the Committee. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in tandem with Options which, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or after the grant date, shall have substantially similar terms and conditions to such Options to the extent applicable, or may be granted on a freestanding basis, not related to any Option. The grant date of any Stock Appreciation Right under the Plan will be the date on which the Stock Appreciation Right is awarded by the Committee or such other future date as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion; provided that the grant date of any Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an ISO shall be the same date that the ISO is awarded. No Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable on or after the tenth anniversary of its grant date. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be evidenced in writing, whether as part of the Award Agreement governing the terms of the Options, if any, to which such Stock
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Appreciation Right relates or pursuant to a separate Award Agreement with respect to freestanding Stock Appreciation Rights, in each case, containing such provisions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall determine, including customary representations, warranties and covenants with respect to securities law matters.
b.Exercise. Stock Appreciation Rights awarded to a Participant under the Plan shall become exercisable based on the performance of a minimum period of service or the occurrence of any event or events, including a Change in Control, as the Committee shall determine, either at or after the grant date; provided that, except as otherwise provided in this Plan, no Stock Appreciation Right shall become exercisable prior to a Participant’s completion of one year of service for the Company or any Subsidiary. Stock Appreciation Rights that are granted in tandem with an Option may only be exercised upon the surrender of the right to exercise such Option for an equivalent number of shares of Common Stock, and may be exercised only with respect to the shares of Common Stock for which the related Option is then exercisable.
c.Settlement. Subject to Section 11.4, upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant shall be entitled to receive payment in the form, determined by the Committee, of cash or shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to such cash amount, or a combination of shares of Common Stock and cash having an aggregate value equal to such amount, determined by multiplying:
i. any increase in the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the exercise date over the price fixed by the Committee on the grant date of such Stock Appreciation Right, which may not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the grant date of such Stock Appreciation Right (except if awarded in tandem with a NSO but after the grant date of such NSO, then not less than the exercise price of such NSO), by
ii. the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Stock AppreciationRight is exercised; provided, however, that on the grant date, the Committee may establish, in its sole discretion, a maximum amount per share which will be payable upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right.
5.8Termination of Employment.
a.Due to Death or Disability. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or after the grant date, if a Participant’s employment terminates by reason of such Participant’s death or Disability, any Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted to such Participant shall become fully vested and immediately exercisable in full and may be exercised by the Participant (or the Participant’s beneficiary or legal representative) until the earlier of (i) the twelve-month anniversary of the date of such termination, and (ii) the expiration of the term of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right.
b.Due to Retirement. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or after the grant date, if a Participant’s employment terminates due to his or her Retirement, the Participant (or the Participant’s beneficiary or legal representative) may exercise any Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that are exercisable on the date of his or her Retirement until the earlier of (i) the twelve-month anniversary following the date of the Participant’s Retirement, and (ii) the expiration of the term of such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights. Any Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that are not then exercisable upon the Participant’s Retirement shall be forfeited and canceled as of the date of such termination.
c.For Cause. If a Participant’s employment is terminated by the Company or any Subsidiary for Cause (or if, following the date of termination of the Participant’s employment for any reason, the Committee determines that circumstances exist such that the Participant’s employment could have been terminated for Cause), any Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted to such Participant, whether or not then exercisable, shall be immediately forfeited and canceled as of the date of such termination.
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d.For Any Other Reason. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or after the grant date, if a Participant’s employment is terminated for any reason other than one described in Section 5.8(a), (b) or (c), the Participant may exercise any Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that are exercisable on the date of such termination until the earlier of (i) the 90th day following the date of such termination, and (ii) the expiration of the term of such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights. Any Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that are not exercisable upon termination of a Participant’s employment shall be forfeited and canceled as of the date of such termination.
5.9Committee Discretion. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article 5, the Committee may, subject to the provisions of Code Section 409A, at or after the date of grant, accelerate or waive any conditions to the exercisability of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right or Automatic Non-Employee Director Options granted under the Plan, and may permit all or any portion of any such Option or Stock Appreciation Right or Automatic Non-Employee Director Option to be exercised following the termination of a Participant’s employment, or the failure of a Participant to remain a member of the Board, for any reason on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Committee shall determine. The forgoing notwithstanding, the Committee may not extend the term of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right or Automatic Non-Employee Director Option.
ARTICLE 6
PERFORMANCE STOCK AND PERFORMANCE UNITS
6.1Grant. Performance Stock and Performance Units may be granted to Participants other than Non-Employee Directors at such time or times as shall be determined by the Committee. The grant date of any Performance Stock or Performance Units under the Plan will be the date on which such Performance Stock or Performance Units are awarded by the Committee or on such other future date as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. Performance Stock and Performance Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Performance Stock and the Performance Units pertain, the Restriction Period, and such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall determine, including customary representations, warranties and covenants with respect to securities law matters. No shares of Common Stock will be issued at the time an Award of Performance Units is made, and the Company shall not be required to set aside a fund for the payment of any such Award.
6.2Vesting.
a.In General. Performance Stock and Performance Units granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be subject to a Restriction Period, which shall lapse upon the attainment of specified performance objectives or the occurrence of any event or events, including a Change in Control, as the Committee shall determine, either at or after the grant date. No later than the 90th day after the applicable Performance Period begins (or such other date as may be required or permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code, if applicable), the Committee shall establish the performance objectives upon which the Restriction Period shall lapse.
b.Performance Objectives. Any such performance objectives will be based upon the relative or comparative achievement of one or more of the following criteria: (i) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, and/or amortization; (ii) net earnings (before or after taxes); (iii) net income (before or after taxes); (iv) operating income before or after depreciation and amortization (and including or excluding capital expenditures); (v) operating income (before or after taxes); (vi) operating profit (before or after taxes); (vii) book value; (viii) earnings per share (before or after taxes); (ix) market share; (x) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on capital, invested capital, assets, equity); (xi) margins; (xii) share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return); (xiii) comparable or same store sales; (xiv) sales or product volume growth; (xv) productivity improvement or operating efficiency; (xvi) costs or expenses; (xvii) shareholders’ equity; (xviii) revenues or sales; (xix) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, and cash flow
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return on capital); (xx) revenue-generating unit-based metrics; (xxi) expense targets; (xxii) individual performance objectives; (xxiii) working capital targets; (xxiv) measures of economic value added; (xxv) inventory control; or (xxvi) enterprise value.
c.Special Rules Relating to Performance Objectives.Performance objectives may be established on an individual or a Company-wide basis or with respect to one or more Company business units or divisions, or Subsidiaries; and either in absolute terms, relative to the performance of one or more similarly situated persons or companies, or relative to the performance of an index covering a peer group of companies. When establishing performance objectives for the applicable Performance Period, the Committee may exclude any or all “extraordinary items” as determined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principals including, without limitation, the charges or costs associated with restructurings of the Company, discontinued operations, other unusual or non-recurring items, and the cumulative effects of accounting changes, and as identified in the Company’s financial statements, notes to the Company’s financial statements or management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations contained in the Company’s most recent annual report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.
d.Certification of Attainment of Performance Objectives. The Restriction Period with respect to any Performance Stock or Performance Units shall lapse upon the written certification by the Committee that the performance objective or objectives for the applicable Performance Period have been attained. The Committee may provide at the time of grant that if the performance objective or objectives are attained in part, the Restriction Period with respect to a specified portion (which may be zero) of any Performance Stock or Performance Units will lapse.
e.Newly Eligible Participants. Notwithstanding anything in this Article 6 to the contrary, the Committee shall be entitled to make such rules, determinations and adjustments as it deems appropriate with respect to any Participant who becomes eligible to receive an Award of Performance Stock or Performance Units after the commencement of a Performance Period.
6.3Additional Provisions Relating to Performance Stock.
a.Restrictions on Transferability. Except as provided in Section 11.1 or in an Award Agreement, no Performance Stock may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the lapse of the Restriction Period. Thereafter, Performance Stock may only be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated in compliance with all applicable securities laws, the Award Agreement and any other agreement to which the Performance Stock is subject. The Committee shall require that any stock certificates evidencing any Performance Stock be held in the custody of the Secretary of the Company until the applicable Restriction Period lapses, and that, as a condition of any grant of Performance Stock, the Participant shall have delivered a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the shares of Common Stock covered by such Award. Any attempt by a Participant, directly or indirectly, to offer, transfer, sell, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any Performance Stock or any interest therein or any rights relating thereto without complying with the provisions of the Plan, including this Section 6.3, shall be void and of no effect.
b.Legend. Each certificate evidencing shares of Common Stock subject to an Award of Performance Stock shall be registered in the name of the Participant holding such Performance Stock and shall bear the following (or similar) legend:
“THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS (INCLUDING FORFEITURE) CONTAINED IN THE CABELA’S INCORPORATED 2004 STOCK PLAN AND THE RELATED AWARD AGREEMENT AND NEITHER THIS CERTIFICATE NOR THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY IT ARE ASSIGNABLE OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH SUCH PLAN AND AWARD AGREEMENT, COPIES OF WHICH ARE ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.”
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c.Rights as a Stockholder. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or after the grant date, a Participant holding outstanding Performance Stock shall be entitled to (i) receive all dividends and distributions paid in respect of the shares of Common Stock underlying such Award; provided that, if any such dividends or distributions are paid in shares of Common Stock or other securities, such shares and other securities shall be subject to the same Restriction Period and other restrictions as apply to the Performance Stock with respect to which they were paid, and (ii) exercise full voting rights and other rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying such Award during the period in which such shares remain subject to the Restriction Period.
6.4Additional Provisions Relating to Performance Units.
a.Restrictions on Transferability. Unless and until the Company issues a certificate or certificates to a Participant for shares of Common Stock in respect of his or her Award of Performance Units, no Performance Units may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated. Upon issuance of such certificate or certificates and if such shares of Common Stock remain subject to the Restriction Period, such shares shall be subject to the provisions of Section 6.3 until the lapse of the Restriction Period. Any attempt by a Participant, directly or indirectly, to offer, transfer, sell, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any Performance Units or any interest therein or any rights relating thereto without complying with the provisions of the Plan, including this Section 6.4, shall be void and of no effect.
b.Rights as a Stockholder. The Committee shall determine whether and to what extent Dividend Equivalents will be credited to the account of, or paid currently to, a Participant receiving an Award of Performance Units. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or after the grant date, (i) any cash Dividend Equivalents credited to the Participant’s account shall be deemed to have been invested in additional Performance Units on the record date established for the related dividend or distribution in an amount equal to the greatest whole number which may be obtained by dividing (A) the value of such dividend or distribution on the record date by (B) the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on such date, and such additional Performance Units shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as are applicable in respect of the Performance Units with respect to which such Dividend Equivalents were payable, and (ii) if any such dividends or distributions are paid in shares of Common Stock or other securities, such shares of Common Stock and other securities shall be subject to the same Restriction Period and other restrictions as apply to the Performance Units with respect to which they were paid. Unless and until the Company issues a certificate or certificates to a Participant for shares of Common Stock in respect of his or her Award of Performance Units, or otherwise determined by the Committee at or after the grant date, a Participant holding outstanding Performance Units shall not be entitled to exercise any voting rights and any other rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying such Award.
c.Settlement of Performance Units. Unless the Committee determines otherwise at or after the grant date, as soon as reasonably practicable after, but no later than sixty (60) days following, the lapse of the Restriction Period with respect to any Performance Units then held by a Participant, the Company shall issue to the Participant a certificate or certificates for the shares of Common Stock underlying such Performance Units (plus additional shares of Common Stock for each Performance Unit credited in respect of Dividend Equivalents) or, if the Committee so determines in its sole discretion, an amount in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such shares of Common Stock.
6.5Termination of Employment.
a.Due to Death, Disability or Retirement. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or after the grant date, if a Participant’s employment terminates by reason of such Participant’s death, Disability or Retirement, the Restriction Period on all of the Participant’s Performance Stock and Performance Units shall lapse only to the extent that the applicable performance objectives (pro rated
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through the date of termination) have been achieved through the date of termination. Any Performance Stock and Performance Units for which the Restriction Period has not then lapsed shall be forfeited and canceled as of the date of such termination.
b.For Any Other Reason. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or after the grant date, if a Participant’s employment is terminated for any reason other than one described in Section 6.5(a), any Performance Stock and Performance Units granted to such Participant shall be immediately forfeited and canceled as of the date of such termination of employment.
ARTICLE 7
RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
7.1Grant. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units may be granted to Participants other than Non-Employee Directors at such time or times as shall be determined by the Committee. The grant date of any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units under the Plan will be the date on which such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units are awarded by the Committee or on such other future date as the Committee shall determine in its sole discretion. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the number of shares of Common Stock to which the Restricted Stock and the Restricted Stock Units pertain, the Restriction Period and such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall determine, including customary representations, warranties and covenants with respect to securities law matters. No shares of Common Stock will be issued at the time an Award of Restricted Stock Units is made and the Company shall not be required to set aside a fund for the payment of any such Award.
7.2Vesting. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be subject to a Restriction Period, which shall lapse upon the performance of a minimum period of service, or the occurrence of any event or events, including a Change in Control, as the Committee shall determine, either at or after the grant date; provided that, except as otherwise provided in this Plan, the Restriction Period on any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall not lapse prior to a Participant’s completion of one year of service to the Company or any Subsidiary following the grant date.
7.3Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock.
a.Restrictions on Transferability. Except as provided in Section 11.1 or in an Award Agreement, no Restricted Stock may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the lapse of the Restriction Period. Thereafter, Restricted Stock may only be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated in compliance with all applicable securities laws, the Award Agreement and any other agreement to which the Restricted Stock is subject. The Committee shall require that any stock certificates evidencing any Restricted Stock be held in the custody of the Secretary of the Company until the applicable Restriction Period lapses, and that, as a condition of any grant of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall have delivered a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to the shares covered by such Award. Any attempt by a Participant, directly or indirectly, to offer, transfer, sell, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any Restricted Stock or any interest therein or any rights relating thereto without complying with the provisions of the Plan, including this Section 7.3, shall be void and of no effect.
b.Legend. Each certificate evidencing shares of Common Stock subject to an Award of Restricted Stock shall be registered in the name of the Participant holding such Restricted Stock and shall bear the legend (or similar legend) as specified in Section 6.3(b).
c.Rights as a Stockholder. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or after the grant date, a Participant holding outstanding Restricted Stock shall be entitled to (i) receive all dividends and distributions paid in respect of shares of Common Stock underlying such Award; provided that, if any such dividends or distributions are paid in shares of Common Stock or other securities, such shares and
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other securities shall be subject to the same Restriction Period and other restrictions as apply to the Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid, and (ii) exercise full voting rights and other rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying such Award during the period in which such shares remain subject to the Restriction Period.
7.4Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock Units.
a.Restrictions on Transferability. Unless and until the Company issues a Participant shares of Common Stock in respect of his or her Award of Restricted Stock Units, no Restricted Stock Units may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned or otherwise alienated or hypothecated. Upon issuance of such shares and if such shares of Common Stock remain subject to the Restriction Period, such shares shall be subject to the provisions of Section 7.3 until the lapse of the Restriction Period. Any attempt by a Participant, directly or indirectly, to offer, transfer, sell, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any Restricted Stock Units or any interest therein or any rights relating thereto without complying with the provisions of the Plan, including this Section 7.4, shall be void and of no effect.
b.Rights as a Stockholder. The Committee shall determine whether and to what extent Dividend Equivalents will be credited to the account of, or paid currently to, a Participant receiving an Award of Restricted Stock Units. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or after the grant date, (i) any cash Dividend Equivalents credited to the Participant’s account shall be deemed to have been invested in additional Restricted Stock Units on the record date established for the related dividend or distribution in an amount equal to the greatest whole number which may be obtained by dividing (A) the value of such dividend or distribution on the record date by (B) the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on such date, and such additional Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as are applicable in respect of the Restricted Stock Units with respect to which such Dividend Equivalents were payable, and (ii) if any such dividends or distributions are paid in shares of Common Stock or other securities, such shares and other securities shall be subject to the same Restriction Period and other restrictions as apply to the Restricted Stock Units with respect to which they were paid. Unless and until the Company issues a certificate or certificates to a Participant for shares of Common Stock in respect of his or her Award of Restricted Stock Units, or otherwise determined by the Committee at or after the grant date, a Participant holding outstanding Restricted Stock Units shall not be entitled to exercise any voting rights and any other rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock underlying such Award.
c.Settlement of Restricted Stock Units. Unless the Committee determines otherwise at or after the grant date, as soon as reasonably practicable after, but no later than sixty (60) days following, the lapse of the Restriction Period with respect to any Restricted Stock Units, the Company shall issue the shares of Common Stock underlying such Restricted Stock Unit (plus additional shares of Common Stock for each Restricted Stock Unit credited in respect of Dividend Equivalents) or, if the Committee so determines in its sole discretion, an amount in cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such shares of Common Stock.
7.5Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at or after the grant date, (i) if a Participant’s employment is terminated due to his or her death or Disability during the Restriction Period, a pro rata portion of the shares of Common Stock underlying any Awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units then held by such Participant shall no longer be subject to the Restriction Period, based on the number of months the Participant was employed during the applicable period, and all Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units for which the Restriction Period has not then lapsed shall be forfeited and canceled as of the date of such termination, and (ii) if a Participant’s employment is terminated for any other reason during the Restriction Period, any Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units held by such Participant for which the Restriction Period has not then expired shall be forfeited and canceled as of the date of such termination.
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ARTICLE 8
CHANGE IN CONTROL
8.1In General. Unless the Committee otherwise determines in the manner set forth in Section 8.4, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, (i) all Options and Stock Appreciation Rights and Automatic Non-Employee Director Options shall become exercisable, (ii) the Restriction Period on all Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall lapse immediately prior to such Change of Control, (iii) shares of Common Stock underlying Awards of Restricted Stock Units shall be issued to each Participant then holding such Award immediately prior to such Change in Control or, at the discretion of the Committee (as constituted immediately prior to the Change in Control), (iv) each such Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Automatic Non-Employee Director Option and/or Restricted Stock Unit shall be canceled in exchange for an amount equal to the product of (A)(I) in the case of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights and Automatic Non-Employee Director Options, the excess, if any, of the product of the Change in Control Price over the exercise price for such Award, and (II) in the case of other such Awards, the Change in Control Price, multiplied by (B) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock covered by such Award.
8.2Performance Stock and Performance Units. In the event of a Change in Control, (A) any Performance Period in progress at the time of the Change in Control for which Performance Stock or Performance Units are outstanding shall end effective upon the occurrence of such Change in Control and (B) all Participants granted such Awards shall be deemed to have earned a pro rata award equal to the product of (I) such Participant’s target award opportunity with respect to such Award for the Performance Period in question and (II) the percentage of performance objectives achieved as of the date on which the Change in Control occurs or, at the discretion of the Committee (as constituted immediately prior to the Change in Control) (C) each such Performance Unit shall be canceled in exchange for an amount equal to the product of (I) the Change in Control Price, multiplied by (II) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock covered by such Performance Unit. Any Performance Stock and Performance Units for which the applicable pro rated performance objectives have not been achieved shall be forfeited and canceled as of the date of such Change in Control.
8.3Timing of Payments. Payment of any amounts calculated in accordance with Sections 8.1 and 8.2 shall be made in cash or, if determined by the Committee (as constituted immediately prior to the Change in Control), in shares of the common stock of the New Employer having an aggregate fair market value equal to such amount and shall be payable in full, as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no event later than 30 days, following the Change in Control. For purposes hereof, the fair market value of one share of common stock of the New Employer shall be determined by the Committee (as constituted immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction constituting the Change in Control), in good faith.
8.4Alternative Awards. Notwithstanding Section 8.1, no cancellation, termination, acceleration of exercisability or vesting, lapse of any Restriction Period or settlement or other payment based on a Change in Control shall occur with respect to any outstanding Award (other than an award of Performance Stock or Performance Units), if the Committee (as constituted immediately prior to the consummation of the transaction constituting the Change in Control) reasonably determines, in good faith, prior to the Change in Control that such outstanding Awards shall be honored or assumed, or new rights substituted therefor (such honored, assumed or substituted Award being hereinafter referred to as an “Alternative Award”) by the New Employer, provided that any Alternative Award must:
a. be based on shares of common stock that are traded on an established U.S. securities market;
b. provide the Participant (or each Participant in a class of Participants) with rights and entitlements substantially equivalent to the rights, terms and conditions applicable under such Award, including, but not limited to, a substantially equivalent exercise or vesting schedule and substantially equivalent timing and methods of payment;
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c. have substantially equivalent economic value to such Award (determined at the time of the Change in Control);
d. have terms and conditions which provide that in the event that the Participant suffers an involuntary termination within two years following the Change in Control any conditions on the Participant’s rights under, or any restrictions on transfer or exercisability applicable to, each such Alternative Award held by such Participant shall be waived or shall lapse, as the case may be; and
e. be granted in compliance with Section 1.409A(b)(5)(v)(D) of the Regulations so as not to be treated as providing for the deferral of compensation.
8.5Termination of Employment Prior to Change in Control. In the event that any Change in Control occurs, any Participant whose employment is terminated due to death or Disability, on or after the date, if any, on which the stockholders of the Company approve such Change in Control transaction, but prior to the consummation thereof, shall be treated, solely for purposes of this Plan (including, without limitation, this Article 8), as continuing in the Company’s employment until the occurrence of such Change in Control, and to have been terminated immediately thereafter.
ARTICLE 9
STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, no Participant or Permitted Transferee shall have any voting or other rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to any Common Stock covered by any Award until the issuance of Common Stock to the Participant or Permitted Transferee. Except as otherwise provided in this Plan, no adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the issuance of such certificate or certificates.
ARTICLE 10
EFFECTIVE DATE, AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION,
AND TERMINATION OF PLAN
The Plan shall be effective upon its adoption by the Board and approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months of the adoption by the Board, and shall continue in effect, unless sooner terminated pursuant to this Article 10, until the tenth anniversary of the date on which it is adopted by the Board (except as to Awards outstanding on that date). The Board may at any time, subject to Code Section 409A and other applicable laws, terminate or suspend the Plan, and from time to time may amend or modify the Plan; provided that without the approval by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum representing a majority of the shares of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors is present in person or by proxy, no amendment or modification to the Plan may (i) materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan, (ii) except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 4.4, increase the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan or the individual Award limitations specified in Section 4.3, (iii) modify the requirements for participation in the Plan or (iv) extend the term of the Plan. No amendment, modification, or termination of the Plan shall in any manner adversely affect any Award previously granted under the Plan, without the consent of the Participant.
ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
11.1Nontransferability of Awards. No Award shall be assignable or transferable except by beneficiary designation, will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided that the Committee may permit (on such terms and conditions as it shall establish) in its sole discretion a Participant to transfer an Award (other than an ISO) for no consideration to the Participant’s child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent,
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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, including adoptive relationships, any person sharing the Participant’s household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which these persons have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which these persons (or the Participant) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which these persons (or the Participant) own more than fifty percent of the voting interests (individually, a “Permitted Transferee”). Except to the extent required by law, no Award shall be subject to any lien, obligation or liability of the Participant. All rights with respect to Awards granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by such Participant or, if applicable, his or her Permitted Transferee(s). The rights of a Permitted Transferee shall be limited to the rights conveyed to such Permitted Transferee, who shall be subject to and bound by the terms of the Plan and the agreement or agreements between the Participant and the Company.
11.2Beneficiary Designation. Each Participant under the Plan may from time to time name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid or by whom any right under the Plan is to be exercised in case of his or her death. Each designation will 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 Committee during his lifetime. The spouse of a married Participant, domiciled in a community property jurisdiction, shall join in any designation of a beneficiary other than such spouse. In the absence of any beneficiary designation, or if all designated beneficiaries of a Participant predecease the Participant, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant’s death shall be paid to or exercised by the Participant’s surviving spouse, if any, or otherwise to or by his or her estate.
11.3No Guarantee of Employment or Participation. Nothing in the Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate any Participant’s employment at any time, nor to confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.6, no Employee shall have a right to be selected as a Participant, or, having been so selected, to receive any future Awards.
11.4Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the right and power to deduct from all amounts paid to a Participant in cash or shares (whether under this Plan or otherwise) or to require a Participant to remit to the Company promptly upon notification of the amount due, an amount (which may include shares of Common Stock) to satisfy the minimum federal, state or local or foreign taxes or other obligations required by law to be withheld with respect thereto with respect to any Award under this Plan. In the case of any Award satisfied in the form of shares of Common Stock, no shares of Common Stock shall be issued unless and until arrangements satisfactory to the Committee shall have been made to satisfy the statutory minimum withholding tax obligations applicable with respect to such Award. The Company may defer payments of cash or issuance or delivery of Common Stock until such requirements are satisfied. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company shall have the right to retain, or the Committee may, subject to such terms and conditions as it may establish from time to time, permit Participants to elect to tender, shares of Common Stock (including shares of Common Stock issuable in respect of an Award) to satisfy, in whole or in part, the amount required to be withheld (provided that such amount shall not be in excess of the minimum amount required to satisfy the statutory withholding tax obligations).
11.5Compliance with Legal and Exchange Requirements.The Plan, the granting, vesting and exercising of Awards thereunder, and any obligations of the Company under the Plan, shall be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any regulatory or governmental agency as may be required, and to any rules or regulations of any exchange on which the Common Stock is listed. The Company, in its discretion, may postpone the granting, vesting, exercising and settlement of Awards, the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock under any Award or any other action permitted under the Plan to permit the Company, with reasonable diligence, to complete such stock exchange listing or registration or qualification of such shares or other required action under any federal or state law, rule, or regulation and may require any Participant to make such representations and furnish such information as it may consider
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appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations. The Company shall not be obligated by virtue of any provision of the Plan to recognize the vesting, exercise or settlement of any Award or to otherwise sell or issue shares of Common Stock in violation of any such laws, rules or regulations, and any postponement of the vesting, exercise or settlement of any Award under this provision shall not extend the term of such Award. Neither the Company nor its directors or officers shall have any obligation or liability to a Participant with respect to any Award (or shares of Common Stock issuable thereunder) that shall lapse because of such postponement.
11.6Indemnification. Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, a delegate of the Committee or a member of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless, to the full extent permitted by law, by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which he may be made a party or in which he may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan (provided that such action or failure to act was in good faith) and against and from any and all amounts paid by him in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against him, provided he shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he undertakes to handle and defend it on his own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive and shall be independent of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws, by contract, as a matter of law or otherwise.
11.7No Limitation on Compensation. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company to establish other plans or to pay compensation to its employees, in cash or property, in a manner which is not expressly authorized under the Plan.
11.8409A Compliance. The Plan is intended to be administered in a manner consistent with the requirements, where applicable, of Section 409A of the Code. Where reasonably possible and practicable, the Plan shall be administered in a manner to avoid the imposition on Participants of immediate tax recognition and additional taxes pursuant to such Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor the Committee shall have any liability to any person in the event such Section 409A applies to any such Award in a manner that results in adverse tax consequences for a Participant or any of his or her beneficiaries or transferees.
11.9Governing Law. Except where preempted by federal law, the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without reference to principles of conflict of laws which would require application of the law of another jurisdiction.
11.10Severability; Blue Pencil. In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this Plan shall be or become invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby. If, in the opinion of any court of competent jurisdiction such covenants are not reasonable in any respect, such court shall have the right, power and authority to excise or modify such provision or provisions of these covenants as to the court shall appear not reasonable and to enforce the remainder of these covenants as so amended.
11.11No Impact on Benefits. Except as may otherwise be specifically stated under any employee benefit plan, policy or program, no amount payable in respect of any Award shall be treated as compensation for purposes of calculating a Participant’s right under any such plan, policy or program.
11.12No Constraint on Corporate Action. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed (i) to limit, impair or otherwise affect the Company’s 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) to limit the right or power of the Company or any Subsidiary to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.
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11.13Headings and Captions. The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of this Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of this Plan.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Plan on the ____ day of May, 2009.
| CABELA’S INCORPORATED |
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| By: | | |
| | President and Chief Executive Officer |
C-19
CABELA’S INCORPORATED
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
10:00 a.m. Mountain Time
Cabela’s Incorporated
Corporate Headquarters
One Cabela Drive
Sidney, Nebraska 69160
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Cabela’s Incorporated One Cabela Drive Sidney, Nebraska 69160 | proxy |
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This proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Cabela’s Incorporated (the “Company”) for use only at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 12, 2009, and at any adjournment thereof. By signing this proxy, you revoke all prior proxies and appoint Ralph W. Castner and Brent LaSure, and each of them acting in the absence of the other, as proxies, with full power of substitution, to vote your shares of the Company’s common stock on the matters shown on the reverse side and any other matters that may come before the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held at the Company’s Corporate Headquarters, One Cabela Drive, Sidney, Nebraska 69160, on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time, and any adjournment thereof, in accordance with the instructions on the reverse hereof. If you participate in the Company’s 401(k) Savings Plan (“401(k) Plan”) and had contributions invested in the Company’s common stock on March 16, 2009, this proxy will serve as voting instructions for the trustee of the 401(k) Plan. If no instructions are given, or if this proxy is not received by our transfer agent by May 7, 2009, your shares held in the 401(k) Plan will not be voted and will not be counted as present at the meeting. |
See reverse for voting instructions.
| | COMPANY # | |
| Vote by Internet, Telephone or Mail 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week Your phone or Internet vote authorizes the named proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card. |
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 | INTERNET– www.eproxy.com/cab Use the Internet to vote your proxy until 12:00 p.m. (CDT) on May 11, 2009. Please have your proxy card and the last four digits of your Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number available. Follow the simple instructions to obtain your records and create an electronic ballot. |
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 | PHONE–1-800-560-1965 Use a touch-tone telephone to vote your proxy until 12:00 p.m. (CDT) on May 11, 2009. Please have your proxy card and the last four digits of your Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number available. Follow the simple voice instructions to vote your proxy. |
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 | MAIL– Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided. |
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If you vote your proxy by Internet or by Telephone, you do NOT need to mail back your Proxy Card. |
TO VOTE BY MAIL AS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS ON ALL ITEMS BELOW,
SIMPLY SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY CARD.
| The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR Proposals 1, 2 and 3. | |
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| 1. Election of directors: | 01 | Theodore M. Armstrong | 06 | Dennis Highby | o | Vote FOR | o | Vote WITHHELD | |
| | 02 | Richard N. Cabela | 07 | Reuben Mark | | all nominees | | from all nominees | |
| | 03 | James W. Cabela | 08 | Michael R. McCarthy | | (except as marked) | | | |
| | 04 | John H. Edmondson | 09 | Thomas L. Millner | | | | | |
| | 05 | John Gottschalk | | | | | | | |
| (Instructions: To withhold authority to vote for any indicated nominee, write the number(s) of the nominee(s) in the box provided to the right.) | | | |
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| 2. | Approval of amendments to the Company’s 2004 Stock Plan to, among other things, increase the number of shares authorized for issuance thereunder: | | o | For | o | Against | o | Abstain | |
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| 3. | Ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2009: | | o | For | o | Against | o | Abstain | |
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| 4. | In their discretion, upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. | | | |
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| THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN, WILL BE VOTEDFOREACH PROPOSAL. | |
| Address Change? Mark Box oIndicate changes below: | Date | | |
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| | Signature(s) in Box Please sign exactly as your name(s) appears on the Proxy. If held in joint tenancy, all persons should sign. Trustees, administrators, etc., should include title and authority. Corporations should provide full name of corporation and title of authorized officer signing the Proxy. | |
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 | COMPANY # |
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CABELA’S INCORPORATED
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
10:00 a.m. Mountain Time
Cabela’s Incorporated
Corporate Headquarters
One Cabela Drive
Sidney, Nebraska 69160
Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the
Shareholder Meeting to be Held on Tuesday, May 12, 2009.
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Cabela’s Incorporated (the “Company”) will be held at the Company’s Corporate Headquarters, One Cabela Drive, Sidney, Nebraska 69160 on Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time.
This communication presents only an overview of the more complete proxy materials that are available to you on the Internet. We encourage you to access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials before voting.
The Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available atwww.ematerials.com/cab
If you want to receive a paper or e-mail copy of these documents, you must request one. There is no charge to you for requesting a copy. Please make your request for a copy as instructed on the reverse side of this notice on or before April 30, 2009 to facilitate timely delivery.
Matters intended to be acted upon at the meeting are listed below.The Board of Directors Recommends a Vote FOR Proposals 1, 2 and 3:
1. | | Election of Directors |
| | 01 Theodore M. Armstrong 02 Richard N. Cabela 03 James W. Cabela 04 John H. Edmondson 05 John Gottschalk 06 Dennis Highby 07 Reuben Mark 08 Michael R. McCarthy 09 Thomas L. Millner
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2. | | Approval of amendments to the Company’s 2004 Stock Plan to, among other things, increase the number of shares authorized for issuance thereunder. |
3. | | Ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2009. |
4. | | Such other business as may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment thereof. |
You may immediately vote your proxy on the Internet at: www.eproxy.com/cab |
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 - Use the Internet to vote your proxy 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, until 12:00 p.m. (CDT) on May 11, 2009.
- Please have this Notice and the last four digits of your Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number available. Follow the instructions to vote your proxy.
Your Internet vote authorizes the Named Proxies to vote your shares in the same manner as if you marked, signed and returned your proxy card. |
To request paper copies of the proxy materials, which include the proxy card,
proxy statement and annual report, please contact us via:
 | Internet– Access the Internet and go to www.ematerials.com/cab. Follow the instructions to log in and order copies. |
 | Telephone– Call us free of charge at 866-697-9377 in the U.S. or Canada, using a touch-tone phone, and follow the instructions to log in and order copies. |
 | Email– Send us an email at ep@ematerials.com with “CAB Materials Request” in the subject line. The email must include: |
| - The 3-digit company # and the 11-digit control # located in the box in the upper right hand corner on the frontof this notice.
- Your preference to receive printed materials via mail-or-to receive an email with links to the electronic materials.
- If you choose email delivery you must include the email address.
- If you would like this election to apply to delivery of materials for all future meetings, write the word “Permanent” andinclude the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number in the email.
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