SHORT TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
Exhibit 10-a
Plan Effective: January 1, 1984
Revisions Effective: January 26, 2001
SHORT TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Subject Page
1. Purpose.........................................................1
2. Definitions.....................................................1
3. Eligibility.....................................................2
4. Awards..........................................................3
5. Adjustments ....................................................5
6. Other Conditions ...............................................6
7. Designation of Beneficiaries....................................6
8. Plan Administration.............................................7
9. Modification or Termination of Plan.............................7
SHORT TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Purpose. The purpose of the Short Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan") is to provide Eligible Employees
with incentive compensation based upon the achievement of financial, service, and operating
performance levels and management effectiveness.
2. Definitions. For purposes of this Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings
indicated, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Award Year. "Award Year" shall mean the calendar year for which performance is used to
determine one's award under the Plan.
Chairman. "Chairman" shall mean the Chairman of the Board of SBC Communications Inc.
Committee. "Committee" shall mean the Human Resources Committee of the Board of SBC
Communications Inc.
Eligible Employee. "Eligible Employee" shall mean an Officer or a non-Officer employee of any
SBC company who is designated by the Chairman as eligible to participate in the Plan.
Officer. "Officer" shall mean an individual who is designated by the Chairman as eligible to
participate in the Plan who is an elected officer of SBC or of any SBC subsidiary (direct or
indirect).
Retirement. "Retirement" shall mean the termination of an Eligible Employee's employment with
SBC or any of its subsidiaries, for reasons other than death, on or after the earlier of the
following dates: (1) the date the Eligible Employee is Retirement Eligible as such term is
defined in the SBC Supplemental Retirement Income Plan ("SRIP"); or (2) the date the Eligible
Employee has attained one of the following combinations of age and service at termination of
employment on or after April 1, 1997, except as otherwise indicated below:
Net Credited Service Age
10 years or more 65 or older
20 years or more 55 or older
25 years or more 50 or older
30 years or more Any age
With respect to an Eligible Employee who is granted an EMP Service Pension under and pursuant
to the provisions of the SBC Pension Benefit Plan - Nonbargained Program ("SBCPBP") upon
termination of Employment, the term "Retirement" shall include such Eligible Employee's
termination of employment.
Termination Under EPR. In determining whether an Eligible Employee's termination of employment under
the Enhanced Pension and Retirement Program ("EPR") is a Retirement for purposes of this Plan, five
years shall be added to each of age and net credited service ("NCS"). If with such additional age and
years of service, (1) an Eligible Employee upon such termination of employment under EPR is Retirement
Eligible according to the SBC Supplemental Retirement Income Plan ("SRIP") or (2) the Eligible
Employee upon such termination of employment under EPR has attained one of the following combinations
of age and service,
Actual NCS + 5 Years Actual Age + 5 Years
10 years or more 65 or older
20 years or more 55 or older
25 years or more 50 or older
30 years or more Any age
then such termination of employment shall be a Retirement for all purposes under this Plan and the
Eligible Employee shall be entitled to the treatment under this Plan afforded in the case of a
termination of employment which is a Retirement.
SBC. "SBC" shall mean SBC Communications Inc.
3. Eligibility. Each Eligible Employee who during an Award Year was in active service may be eligible
for an award under the Plan, as provided under Section 4 below. Employees are not rendered ineligible
by reason of being a member of the Board.
4. Awards. The Committee with respect to Officers, or the Chairman with respect to non-Officer Eligible
Employees, shall approve a Target Award for each employee eligible for an award under the Plan for
each Award Year that the Committee or the Chairman, as applicable, intends to make awards.
The Target Award applicable to an employee otherwise eligible for an award under the Plan for an Award
Year shall be prorated over the Award Year or the employee shall be ineligible for an award, as
follows:
(1) become eligible or prorate according to time of
ineligible for an award active service in each
under Plan or change from one eligible position to the
eligible position to another nearest half month
after the beginning of the
Award Year
(2) inter-company transfers prorate for each respective
entities' performance
according to time of active
service at each entity to the
nearest half month
(3) receipt of Disability prorate to the day based on
Benefits for more than service while not receiving
three months in an Award Disability Benefits
Year
(4) receipt of Disability no reduction is applicable
Benefits for three months Target Award
or less in an Award Year
(5) Retirement prorate to date of Retirement
(6) leave of absence prorate to date leave
commences and from date leave
ceases unless otherwise
provided by the Committee or
the Chairman, as applicable
(7) death during an Award Year prorate to date of death
(8) dismissal for cause during no award
or after an Award Year
(9) termination with prorate to date of termination
severance payment
(10) resignation with no no award
severance payment
A percentage of the Target Award for each Award Year to be distributed to the award recipient will be
determined by the Committee, or Chairman, for Officers and non-Officer Eligible Employees,
respectively, based upon achievement of performance levels during such Award Year of criteria
established by the Committee, or the Chairman, respectively.
The criteria established by the Committee for Officers, or the Chairman with respect to non-Officer
Eligible Employees, upon which the percentages of the Target Awards referred to above are determined
shall give due regard, as the Committee, or the Chairman, as applicable, deems appropriate, to one or
more of the following for the Award Year:
(a) Financial performance of SBC, individual operating entities thereof and/or SBC and its
consolidated subsidiaries.
(b) Service performance of SBC and of individual operating entities; or other appropriate operating
performance criteria for entities where service performance is not relevant.
(c) Other criteria in lieu of or in addition to the above as determined by the Committee or the
Chairman, as applicable.
The Committee then with respect to Officers, or the Chairman with respect to non-Officer Eligible
Employees, shall determine the payout of Awards in such amounts and to such of the Eligible Employees
as each may determine in its sole discretion. Awards shall be paid in cash in the calendar year the
awards are determined, except to the extent that an Eligible Employee has made an election to defer
the receipt of such award pursuant to the SBC Salary and Incentive Award Deferral Plan or other SBC
deferred compensation plan.
The award to be distributed to an individual may be more or less in the Committee's or the Chairman's
discretion, as applicable, including no award, than the percentage of the Target Award determined for
such individual; for example, the Committee or the Chairman, as applicable, may approve an award
greater than the Target Award, adjusted for performance, based on individual performance.
5. Adjustments.
(a) In order to assure the incentive features of the Plan and to avoid distortion in the operation
of the Plan, the Committee or the Chairman, as applicable, may make adjustments in the criteria
established for any Award Year, whether before or after the end of the Award Year, to the
extent the Committee or the Chairman, as applicable, deems appropriate, to compensate for or
reflect any extraordinary changes which may have occurred during the Award Year which
significantly alter the basis upon which performance levels were determined. Such changes may
include, without limitation, changes in accounting practices, tax laws, or other laws or
regulations, or economic changes not in the ordinary course of business cycles.
(b) In the event of any change in outstanding shares of SBC by reason of any stock dividend or
split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, combination or exchange of shares or other
similar corporate change, the Committee or the Chairman, as applicable, shall make such
adjustments, if any, that the Committee or the Chairman, as applicable, deems appropriate in
the performance levels established for any Award Year.
(c) The Senior Executive Vice President-Human Resources (or his or her successor) may approve a new
Target Award for any Eligible Employee whose position is modified by changes in job
responsibilities, reorganization, or otherwise; provided, however, such authority may not be
exercised for positions with a total compensation market rate exceeding $2.0 million (in such a
case the new Target Award shall be approved by the Committee).
6. Other Conditions.
(a) No person shall have any claim to be granted an award under the Plan and there is no obligation
for uniformity of treatment of Eligible Employees under the Plan. Awards under the Plan may
not be assigned or alienated.
(b) Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving to any employee
the right to be retained in the employ of SBC or any subsidiary thereof.
(c) SBC or subsidiary thereof, as applicable, shall have the right to deduct from any award to be
paid under the Plan any federal, state or local taxes required by law to be withheld with
respect to such payment.
(d) Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, awards under the Plan shall be excluded in
determining benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, disability, death, or other
benefit plans of SBC except where required by law.
7. Designation of Beneficiaries. An Eligible Employee may designate pursuant to SBC's Rules for Employee
Beneficiary Designations as may hereafter be amended from time-to-time ("Rules"), which Rules shall
apply hereunder and are incorporated herein by this reference, a beneficiary or beneficiaries to
receive in case of the employee's death all or part of the awards which may be made to the employee
under the Plan. A designation of beneficiary may be replaced by a new designation or may be revoked
by the employee at any time. A designation or revocation shall be on a form to be provided for the
purpose and shall become effective only when filed with SBC during the employee's lifetime with
written acknowledgement of receipt from SBC. In case of the employee's death, an award made under the
Plan with respect to which a designation of beneficiary has been made (to the extent it is valid and
enforceable under applicable law) shall be paid to the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries. Any
award made to an employee who is deceased and not subject to such a designation shall be distributed
in accordance with the Rules.
8. Plan Administration.
(a) The Committee or the Chairman, as applicable, shall have full power to administer and interpret
the Plan and to establish rules for its administration. Awards under the Plan shall be
conclusively determined by the Committee or the Chairman, as applicable. Any determinations or
actions required or permitted to be made by the Committee or the Chairman, as applicable, may
be delegated by the Committee or the Chairman in its sole discretion. The Committee or the
Chairman, as applicable, or any delegate thereof, in making any determinations under or
referred to in the Plan shall be entitled to rely on opinions, reports or statements of
officers or employees of SBC and/or of any subsidiary thereof and of counsel, public
accountants and other professional or expert persons.
(b) The Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Texas and applicable Federal law.
9. Modification or Termination of Plan. This Plan may be modified or terminated at any time in
accordance with the provisions of SBC's Schedule of Authorizations. A modification may affect present
and future Eligible Employees.
SHORT TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Subject Page
1. Purpose......................................................... 1
2 Award Process................................................... 1
3. Performance Criteria............................................ 1&2
4. Funding......................................................... 2
5. Distribution of Awards.......................................... 2&3
6. Changes/Exceptions.............................................. 3
SHORT TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
ADMINISTRATIVE GUIDELINES
1. Purpose. The purpose of these Guidelines is to outline the procedures to be followed in administering
SBC's Short Term Incentive Plan (the "Plan").
2. Award Process. The Committee shall approve a Target Award for each eligible Officer. The Chairman
shall approve a Target Award for each non-Officer Eligible Employee. These Target Awards are based on
market-based rates established for each Eligible Employee and shall generally be established in
January of the Award Year.
Annual financial and/or other performance objectives for Officers for an Award Year shall be approved
by the Committee each year, generally in January of the Award Year. Objectives for non-Officer
Eligible Employees shall be approved by the Chairman. Annual financial and/or other performance
results (upon which the payment of Awards for Officers shall be based), maximum funding levels, and
payout recommendations requiring Committee approval, will be submitted to and approved by the
Committee after the Award Year is completed. Results for non-Officer Eligible Employees shall be
approved by the Chairman.
An individual's Target Award will be prorated over the Award Year, if applicable, according to Section
3(b) of the Plan.
Target Awards will be adjusted for distribution based upon achievement during the Award Year, of the
financial and/or other performance criteria established by the Committee or the Chairman, as
applicable. Discretionary awards may also be granted as described in Section 5, to be paid out of
funds from the Discretionary Pools.
3. Performance Criteria. The performance criteria established by the Committee or the Chairman, as
applicable, may be one or more of the following:
• Financial Performance Criteria
Achievement of Value Added objectives or other financial objectives (e.g., gross contributions,
revenues, net income, operating contribution, etc.) will be used as financial performance criteria
for all entities.
Value Added shall be a measure of earnings above a return required by investors (i.e., generally,
net operating contribution less a capital charge).
Value Added or other financial measurement's performance is determined after adjustment in
accordance with the following:
In order to assure the incentive features of the Plan and to avoid distortion in the operation
of the Plan, the Committee or the Chairman, as applicable, shall make adjustments in the
criteria established for any Award Year, whether before or after the end of the Award Year to
compensate for or reflect any extraordinary changes which may have occurred during the Award
Year which alter the basis upon which performance levels were determined. Such changes include
the following: accounting changes, extraordinary items, income from discontinued operations,
and the impact of material events that have been publicly disclosed.
• Other Performance Criteria
Other performance criteria may include, but are not limited to, Value Drivers, i.e., quantifiable
operational and other indicators, such as revenue growth, customer or subscriber growth, operating
margin, etc., that are tied to the strategy of the operating entity and are key barometers of
value creation.
4. Funding. Each year, a maximum funding level of 1.0 percent of reported SBC net income (before any
extraordinary loss and/or cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles) minus amounts paid as
Key Executive Officer Short Term Award(s) pursuant to the 1996 Stock and Incentive Plan shall be
available to payment or awards under the Plan with respect to the preceding Award Year.
5. Distribution of Awards. Awards for the preceding Award Year will generally be distributed after
completion of the Award Year in accordance with the following paragraphs. Distribution of all awards
is subject to approval by the Committee or the Chairman, as applicable, generally obtained in January
following the completion of an Award Year.
Formula-Driven Awards -
The Committee, or the Chairman, as applicable, shall establish financial and/or other performance
objectives for SBC and such other entities as deemed appropriate by the Committee or the Chairman, as
applicable.
A percentage of the Target Award for the preceding Award Year is paid to Officers and to non-Officer
Eligible Employees in each entity based on the achievement of applicable financial and/or other
performance results of their entity.
Discretionary Pools -
After determination of formula-driven awards, the Committee for Officers and the Chairman for
non-Officer Eligible Employees may establish Discretionary Pools to reward individuals and/or entities
for exceptional performance. Maximum funding available for Discretionary Pools is the maximum funding
level described in Section 4 less the formula-driven amounts distributed.
The Committee or the Chairman, as applicable, will determine funding for each pool and provide
guidelines for distribution of awards. The following are examples of factors that may be considered:
• Financial results above objective
• Outstanding customer service results
• Advancement of workforce diversity
• Outstanding individual contribution
The Chairman will recommend to the Committee the discretionary awards for officers reporting directly
to the Chairman.
6. Changes/Exceptions. Changes in these Guidelines and exceptions to their provisions may be authorized
by the Committee.
