Item 1.01. | Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement |
On October 3, 2005 the shareholders of Nationwide Financial Solutions, Inc. (the “Company”) approved the Nationwide Financial Solutions, Inc. 2005 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan permits flexibility in types of awards, and specific terms of awards, which will allow future awards to be based on then-current objectives for aligning compensation with increasing long-term shareholder value.
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) or the Board, in the event that a Compensation Committee has not been established by the Board (the “Committee”), will administer the Plan, with the ability to delegate the administration of the Plan to one or more subcommittees, consisting of all of the independent directors. The Committee has the authority to interpret the Plan and the awards granted under the Plan, and establish rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan. Any employee, consultant or director providing services to the Company or to any affiliate of the Company, who is selected by the Committee, is eligible to receive awards under the Plan.
The aggregate number of shares of the common stock of the Company (“Common Stock”) that may be issued as awards under the Plan will include approximately 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock as of October 3, 2005 that are not subject to a grant under the Company’s former stock option plan, and an additional 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which may be granted to any one participant in any one year under the Plan is 300,000. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which may be granted as incentive stock options is 2,000,000. The Committee may adjust the aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan in the case of a stock dividend or other distribution, including a stock split, merger, extraordinary dividend, or other similar corporate transaction or event, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be provided under the Plan. If any shares of Common Stock subject to any award or to which an award relates, granted under the Plan are forfeited, become unexercisable, or if any award terminates without the delivery of any shares, the shares of Common Stock previously set aside for such awards will be available for future awards under the Plan.
The Plan permits the grant of nonqualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, and stock appreciation rights. Without the approval of the Company’s shareholders, no option or SAR may be amended to reduce its exercise price or grant price and no option or SAR may be canceled and replaced with an option or SAR having a lower exercise price.
The Plan will terminate on October 3, 2015, unless terminated by the Board or the Committee earlier, or extended by an amendment approved by the Company’s shareholders. No awards may be made after the termination date. However, unless otherwise expressly provided in an applicable award agreement, any award granted under the Plan prior to the expiration may extend beyond the end of such period through the award’s normal expiration date.
The Board, and the Committee, may generally amend or terminate the plan as determined to be advisable. Shareholder approval may also be required for certain amendments by the Internal Revenue Code, the rules of the OTC Bulletin Board quotation service, or rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Board or the Committee has specific authority to amend the plan without shareholder approval to comply with legal, regulatory and listing
requirements and to avoid unanticipated consequences determined to be inconsistent with the purpose of the plan or any award agreement.
| A copy of the Plan is attached as an exhibit to this report. |
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits | |
(c) | Exhibits | |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
NATIONWIDE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, INC. |
(Registrant) | |
Date: October 10, 2005 | By: /s/ Darren R. Dierich |
| Darren R. Dierich | |
| Chief Financial Officer | |
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