following: the fair market value of common stock, revenues, operating income, cash flow, earnings before income taxes, net income, earnings per share, stockholders’ equity, return on equity, operating efficiency or strategic business objectives consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified cost targets, business expansion goals and goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures, all whether applicable to the Company or one of the Company’s subsidiaries or business units, or any combination if these goals as the Committee may deem appropriate. Prior to the payment of any qualifying Award, the Committee must certify in writing that the performance goals were satisfied.
A maximum of 1,000,000 shares of common stock may be granted as qualifying Awards to any participant in any calendar year, subject to anti-dilution and other adjustments in certain events specified in the Plan.
General Provisions
Transferability
Under the Plan, no Award may be assigned or transferred by a participant except, in the event of a participant’s death, to his designated beneficiary, or by will or the laws of descent and distribution. However, the Committee may in its discretion provide that Awards be transferable without consideration to a participant's immediate family members (i.e., children, grandchildren or spouse), to trusts for the benefit of such immediate family members, and to partnerships in which such family members are the only partners.
Stockholder Rights
A participant shall have no rights as a stockholder by reason of an Award unless and until shares of common stock are actually issued to the participant.
Certain Adjustments
In the event of a tender offer or exchange offer, by any person other than the Company, for outstanding shares of common stock, the Committee may in its discretion make such adjustments to outstanding Awards and take such other action as it deems appropriate to enable participants to receive the benefit of such offer, including, without limitation, accelerating Award payment dates and/or the cancellation and substitution of outstanding Awards.
Important Legal Information
Required Stockholder Approval, Plan Amendment and Termination
The Plan was adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors on April 4, 2007, subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company at the Annual Meeting.
The Plan provides that our Board, without the consent of any participant, may amend or terminate the Plan at any time, except that (subject to anti-dilution and other adjustments in certain events specified in the Plan) no such action shall adversely affect any rights or obligations with respect to any Awards previously made under the Plan. In addition, no amendment, without approval of the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock voted thereon, shall increase the number of shares of common stock subject to the Plan, extend the period during which Awards may be granted, decrease the minimum price at which SAR’s may be issued, materially modify the requirements for eligibility to participate in the Plan, or otherwise change the Plan in a manner legally requiring stockholder approval.
Unless earlier terminated by action of our Board, the Plan will terminate on April 24, 2027. Following termination of the Plan, no additional Awards may be granted, but such termination shall not affect the validity of any Award then outstanding.
Amendment or Buyout of Outstanding Awards
With the consent of affected participants, the Committee may amend outstanding Awards in any manner consistent with the Plan (subject to anti-dilution and other adjustments in certain events specified in the Plan, which may be effected without participant consent). In addition, the Committee may at any time offer to exchange or buy out previously granted Awards for a payment in cash, shares of common stock, a combination