Performance Shares, Performance Units and Performance Cash Awards
A grant of performance shares, performance units or performance cash awards entitles a participant to receive cash, common stock (which may be in the form of restricted stock or RSRs), or a combination of both, based on the degree of achievement ofpre-established performance criteria over a performance period of one to five years, as determined by the Committee. The Committee has discretion to determine the terms of any award of performance shares, performance units or performance cash awards, including the maximum amount payable (subject to the LTICP’s stated limits), the performance period, which must be a period of between one and five years, performance criteria (which may be based on Company, group, unit, individual or other performance), and level of achievement versus these criteria, the timing of any payment, restrictions on an award of performance shares or performance units prior to actual payment, forfeiture provisions, and any other terms and conditions consistent with the LTICP. The Committee may specify that all or a portion of an award of performance shares, performance units or performance cash awards is intended to satisfy the requirements for “performance-based compensation” under prior Section 162(m) of the IRC using “qualifying performance criteria” described below.
Performance Criteria
The Committee may establish performance criteria and the level of achievement versus such criteria that determines the number of shares of common stock to be granted, retained, vested, issued, or issuable under or in settlement of or the amount payable pursuant to an award, which criteria may be based on qualifying performance criteria or other criteria based on Company, group, unit, individual or other performance. In addition, the Committee may specify a percentage of an award that is intended to satisfy the requirements for “performance-based compensation” under prior Section 162(m) of the IRC, provided that the performance criteria for any portion of an award that is intended by the Committee to satisfy the requirements for “performance-based compensation” under prior Section 162(m) of the IRC shall be a measure based on one or more qualifying performance criteria selected by the Committee and specified at the time the award is granted. Notwithstanding satisfaction of any performance criteria, the number of shares issued under or the amount paid under an award may be reduced by the Committee on the basis of such further considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion shall determine.
Qualifying performance criteria for “performance-based compensation” under prior Section 162(m) of the IRC may be any one or more of the following performance criteria, in each case as specified by the Committee in the award: (i) earnings per share; (ii) business unit net earnings; (iii) return on realized common equity; (iv) total shareholder return; (v) return on assets; (vi) return on equity; or (vii) capital ratios (including, but not limited to, tier 1 and regulatory capital ratios).
The qualifying performance criteria may be applied either individually, alternatively, or in any combination, applied to either the Company as a whole or to a business unit or subsidiary, either individually, alternatively or in any combination, and measured either annually or cumulatively over a period of years, on an absolute basis or relative to apre-established target, to a previous year’s results or to a designated comparison group. In addition, the Committee may provide that qualifying performance criteria be adjusted as determined appropriate by the Committee to the extent consistent with prior Section 162(m) of the IRC including, without limitation, to reflect extraordinary, unusual or infrequently occurring events, transactions or other items; acquired, discontinued or disposed operations; effects of changes in accounting principles, tax or other laws or requirements; regulatory capital requirements; or similar events or circumstances. The maximum cash incentive compensation award for awards designed as “performance-based compensation” under prior Section 162(m) of the IRC payable in any calendar year to any covered executive officer may not exceedtwo-tenths of one percent (0.2%) of the Company’s “net income” as defined in the LTICP.
Tax Withholding
In connection with awards under the LTICP, the Company may withhold from any cash otherwise payable to a participant or require a participant to remit to us an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local and foreign withholding taxes. Tax withholding obligations could be satisfied by withholding shares to be received upon exercise of an option or SAR, the vesting of restricted stock, performance share, or stock award, or the payment of a RSR, performance unit, or performance-based cash award, or by delivery to the Company of previously-owned shares of common stock.
Transferability
Awards are not transferable or assignable unless provided otherwise by the Committee with respect to certain specified family-related transfers.