Exhibit 10.2
IEC Electronics Corp.
2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Section 1. Purpose.
The IEC Electronics Corp. 2001 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan") is
designed to provide an opportunity for the employees of IEC Electronics Corp.
and its subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to, unless the context otherwise
requires, as the "Company") to purchase Common Stock (the "Stock") of the
Company through voluntary systematic payroll deductions. It is the purpose and
policy of the Plan to provide employees with an opportunity to acquire a
proprietary interest in the economic progress of the Company and thereby to have
an additional incentive to promote its best interests. It is the intention of
the Company to have the Plan qualify as an "employee stock purchase plan" under
Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). The
provisions of the Plan shall, accordingly, be construed so as to extend and
limit participation in a manner consistent with the requirements of that Section
of the Code.
Section 2. Certain Definitions.
(a) "Compensation" means the base salary or wage paid to an
Employee, including commissions and overtime payments. "Compensation" shall not
include bonuses, profit sharing contributions, Company contributions to Social
Security, contributions to the Company's 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan or any other
retirement plan or program, or the value of any other fringe benefits provided
at the expense of the Company.
(b) "Employee" means any person, including an officer, who is
employed by (i) the Company or (ii) any subsidiary company, 50% or more of
whose voting shares are owned directly or indirectly by the Company. A
director of the Company who is not also a full time officer is not deemed to be
an employee.
(c) "Fair Market Value" means the value of one share of Stock on
the relevant date, determined as follows:
(i) If the shares are traded on an exchange (including The
Nasdaq Stock Market), the reported "closing price" on the relevant date (e.g.,
the Offering Commencement Date or Offering Termination Date) assuming it is a
trading day; otherwise on the next trading day.
(ii) If the shares are traded over-the-counter with no
reported closing price, the mean between the lowest bid and the highest asked
prices on said system on the relevant date assuming it is a trading day;
otherwise on the next trading day; and
(iii)If neither (i)nor(ii) applies, the fair market value a
determined by the Committee in good faith. Such determination shall be
conclusive and binding on all persons.
Section 3. Offerings under the Plan.
The Plan will be implemented by a series of offerings of the Company's
Stock (the "Offerings") that will terminate on the termination date of the Plan.
As used in the Plan, "Offering Commencement Date" means the date on which a
particular Offering begins, "Offering Termination Date" means the date on which
a particular Offering terminates, and "Purchase Period" means the period
beginning on the Offering Commencement Date and ending on the Offering
Termination Date.
Each Purchase Period shall be determined by the Committee. Unless
otherwise determined by the Committee, the Plan will operate with successive
semi-annual Purchase Periods commencing as soon as administratively practicable
after the Effective Date, although the Committee may pilot the program with a
shorter initial Purchase Period. The Committee shall have the power to specify
and change the commencement and duration of Purchase Periods, without
stockholder approval, and without regard to the expectations of any
Participants.
Participation in any Offering under the Plan shall neither limit, nor
require, participation in any other Offering except that no Employee may have
more than one authorization for payroll deduction in effect simultaneously.
Except as provided in Section 4 of the Plan, all Employees participating in an
Offering shall have the same rights and privileges to purchase Stock in the
Plan.
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Section 4. Eligibility.
(a) Initial Eligibility. Any Employee regularly employed on a full-time or
part-time basis by the Company on an Offering Commencement Date shall be
eligible to participate in the Plan with respect to the Purchase Period
commencing on such Offering Commencement Date, provided that the Company may
establish administrative rules requiring that employment commence some minimum
period (e.g.,one month's employment) prior to an Offering Commencement Date for
the Employee to be eligible to participate with respect to the Purchase Period
beginning on that Offering Commencement Date and provided further that (1) the
Committee may exclude part-time Employees from participation pursuant to
criteria and procedures established by the Committee and (2) the Committee may
impose an eligibility period on participation of up to two years employment with
the Company with respect to participation on any prospective Offering
Commencement Date. The Board also may determine that a designated group of
highly compensated Employees is ineligible to participate in the Plan so long as
the excluded category fits within the definition of "highly compensated
employee" in Section 414(q) of the Code. An Employee shall be considered
employed on a full-time basis unless his or her customary employment is less
than 20 hours per week or five months per year. All Employees who participate in
the Plan shall have the same rights and privileges under the Plan, except for
differences which are consistent with Section 423(b)(5) of the Code. The
Committee may impose restrictions on eligibility and participation of Employees
who are officers and directors to facilitate compliance with federal or state
securities laws.
(b) Restrictions on Participation. Notwithstanding any provisions of the
Plan to the contrary, no Employee shall be eligible to participate in the Plan
or be granted an option to purchase Stock in the Plan if:
(i) Immediately after the grant, such Employee would own, or be
considered to own, 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all
classes of stock of the Company (for purposes of this paragraph, the rules of
Section 424(d) of the Code shall apply in determining stock ownership of any
Employee, and stock that the Employee may purchase under outstanding options
shall be treated as stock owned by the Employee); or
(ii) Such option would permit such Employee's rights to purchase
stock under all employee stock purchase plans of the Company which meet the
requirements of Section 423(b) of the Code to accrue at a rate which exceeds
$25,000 in fair market value (as determined pursuant to Section 423(b)(8) of the
Code)for each calendar year in which such option is outstanding.
Section 5. Participation and Payroll Deductions.
(a) Payment for Stock. Shares of Stock purchased under the Plan will be
paid for by payroll deductions during the Purchase Period.
(b) Participation.
(i) An Employee who is eligible to participate in the Plan in
accordance with Section 4 may become a participant ("Participant") in the Plan
by completing an authorization for a payroll deduction on the form provided by
the Company ("Employee Authorization Card")and filing it with the Human
Resources Department of the Company during the enrollment period ("Enrollment
Period") prior to an Offering Commencement Date. Upon becoming a Participant,
the Employee shall be bound by the terms of this Plan, including any amendments
hereto.
(ii) The Enrollment Period for each of the Offerings is the
thirty (30)days prior to each Offering Commencement Date or such other period of
time as may be prescribed by the Committee.
(iii)An Employee Authorization Card shall become effective on
the Offering Commencement Date of the first applicable Offering and shall remain
in effect for all subsequent Offerings so long as the Employee remains eligible
under the Plan and has not withdrawn from the Plan as set forth in Section 8.
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(c) Payroll Deductions.
(i) At the time an Employee files an Employee Authorization
Card, the Employee shall elect to have deductions made from his or her pay on
each payday during the time the Employee is a Participant in an Offering at the
rate of not less than one percent (1%) and not greater than ten percent (10%) of
the Compensation which the Employee is entitled to receive on such payday
("Payroll Deduction Rate"); provided, however, that the Committee from time to
time before an Offering may establish limits other than those herein described
for all purchases to occur during the relevant Purchase Period.
(ii) Payroll deductions for a Participant shall begin as of the
first pay period after an Employee Authorization Card has become effective.
(iii) All payroll deductions made for a Participant shall be
credited to the Participant's account under the Plan. Amounts credited to such
accounts may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose. A Participant
may not make any separate cash payment into such account.
(d) Changes in Payroll Deduction Rate; Discontinuance of Payroll Deductions.
(i) A Participant may discontinue his or her participation in
the Plan as provided in Section 8(a) of the Plan, but no other change can be
made during an Offering, including, but not limited to, changes in the Payroll
Deduction Rate for such Offering. A Participant may change the Payroll
Deduction Rate for subsequent Offerings by giving written notice of such change
to the Company during the Enrollment Period immediately preceding the Offering
Commencement Date for the Offering for which such change is effective.
(ii) At any time during an Offering, a Participant may
discontinue his or her participation in the Plan by notifying the Company that
the Participant wishes to discontinue his or her payroll deductions. This
notice shall be in writing and on such forms as provided by the Company and
shall become effective as of a date not more than thirty (30) days following its
receipt by the Company.
(e) No Interest.
No interest shall be paid or credited to the Participant with respect to
payroll deductions or any amounts held in the Participant's account.
Section 6. Granting of Options.
(a) Number of Option Shares. With respect to each Offering, each eligible
Employee who has elected to participate as provided in Section 5(b) above shall
be deemed to have been granted on the Offering Commencement Date an option to
purchase the number of full shares of Stock which may be purchased with the
payroll deductions accumulated in an account maintained on behalf of each
Participant during each Purchase Period at the option price specified in Section
6(b) below, subject to the limitations contained in Section 4(b) above.
(b) Option Price. The option price under each option shall be the lower of:
(i) 85% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the Offering
Commencement Date; or
(ii) 85% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the Offering
Termination Date.
Section 7. Exercise of Options.
(a) Automatic Exercise. Unless a Participant gives written notice to the
Company as provided in Section 8(a) below, the Participant's option for the
purchase of Stock with payroll deductions made during any Offering will be
deemed to have been exercised automatically on the Offering Termination Date
applicable to such Offering.
(b) Fractional Shares. Fractional shares will not be issued under the Plan
and any accumulated payroll deductions which would have been used to purchase
fractional shares will be credited to the Participant's account for the next
succeeding Offering, or, at the Participant's election, returned to the
Participant as soon as practicable following the Offering Termination Date,
without interest.
(c) Transferability of Option. No option granted to a Participant pursuant to
the Plan shall be transferable other than by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution, and no such option shall be exercisable during the
Participant's lifetime other than by the Participant.
(d) Delivery of Shares. The Company shall deliver to the Participant
certificates for shares of Stock acquired on the exercise of options during an
Offering as soon as practicable following the Offering Termination Date of such
Offering or, at the Participant's request, the Company shall deposit such shares
directly with a broker designated by the Participant. The Company may utilize
electronic or automated methods of share transfer. The Company may require
that shares be retained for a designated period of time and/or may establish
other procedures to permit tracking of disqualifying dispositions of such shares
or to restrict transfer of such shares.
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Section 8. Withdrawals.
(a) Withdrawal of Account. A Participant may elect to withdraw payroll
deductions credited to the Participant's account under the Plan at any time
before the Offering Termination Date of any Offering by giving written notice to
the Company. All of the Participant's payroll deductions credited to the
Participant's account will be paid to the Participant promptly after receipt of
the notice of withdrawal, and no further payroll deductions will be made from
the Participant's pay during such Offering.
(b) Effect on Subsequent Participation. A Participant's withdrawal from any
Offering will not have any effect upon the Participant's eligibility to
participate in any succeeding Offering or in any similar plan which may
hereafter be adopted by the Company.
(c) Termination of Employment. Upon termination of the Participant's
employment for any reason, including retirement (but excluding death while in
the employ of the Company), the payroll deductions credited to the Participant's
account will be returned to the Participant or, in the case of the Participant's
death subsequent to the termination of the Participant's employment, to the
person or persons entitled thereunder under Section 11(a).
(d) Termination of Employment Due to Death. Upon termination of the
Participant's employment because of the Participant's death, the Participant's
beneficiary (as defined in Section 11) shall have the right to elect, by written
notice given to the Company prior to the earlier of the Offering Termination
Date or the expiration of a period of sixty (60) days commencing with the date
of the death of the Participant, either:
(i) to withdraw all of the payroll deductions credited to the
Participant's account under the Plan, or
(ii) to exercise the Participant's option for the purchase of
Stock on the Offering Termination Date next following the date of the
Participant's death for the purchase of the number of full shares of Stock which
the accumulated payroll deductions in the Participant's account at the date of
the Participant's death will purchase at the applicable option price, and any
excess in such account will be returned to said beneficiary, without interest.
In the event that no such written notice of election shall be duly
received by the Company, the beneficiary shall automatically be deemed to have
elected, pursuant to paragraph (ii), to exercise the Participant's option.
Section 9. Stock.
(a) Maximum Number of Shares. The maximum number of shares which shall be
issued under the Plan, subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of
the Company as provided in Section 11(d), shall be 250,000 shares. If the total
number of shares for which options are exercised on any Offering Termination
Date in accordance with Section 6 exceeds the number of shares then available
under the Plan, the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares
available for delivery and distribution in as nearly a uniform manner as shall
be practicable and as it shall determine to be equitable, and the balance of
payroll deductions credited to the account of each Participant under the Plan
shall be returned to the Participant as promptly as possible.
(b) Participant's Interest in Option Stock. The Participant will have no
interest in Stock covered by the Participant's option until such option has been
exercised.
(c) Registration of Stock. Stock to be delivered to a Participant under
the Plan will be registered in the name of the Participant, or, if the
Participant so directs by written notice to the Company prior to the Offering
Termination Date applicable thereto, in the names of the Participant and one
such other person as may be designated by the Participant, as joint tenants with
rights of survivorship or as tenants by the entireties, to the extent permitted
by applicable law.
(d) Restrictions on Exercise. The Committee may, in its discretion,
require as conditions to the exercise of any option that the shares of Stock
reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the option shall have been duly
listed, upon official notice of issuance, upon a stock exchange, and that
either:
(i) a Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, with respect to said shares shall be effective, or
(ii) the Participant shall have represented at the time of
purchase, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, that it is the
Participant's intention to purchase the shares for investment and not for resale
or distribution.
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Section 10. Administration.
(a) Committee. The Compensation Committee (the "Committee") of the Board
of Directors shall administer the Plan. The Committee shall consist of no fewer
than three members of the Board of Directors. No member of the Committee shall
be eligible to purchase Stock under the Plan.
(b) Authority of Committee. Subject to the express provisions of the
Plan, the Committee shall have plenary authority in its discretion to interpret
and construe any and all provisions of the Plan, to adopt rules and regulations
for administering the Plan, and to make all other determinations deemed
necessary or advisable for administering the Plan. The Committee may delegate to
one or more individuals the day-to-day administration of the Plan. Decisions of
the Committee shall be conclusive and binding upon all persons in interest.
(c) Rules Governing the Administration of the Committee. The Board of
Directors may from time to time appoint members of the Committee in substitution
for or in addition to members previously appointed and may fill vacancies,
however caused, in the Committee. The Committee may select one of its members
as its Chairman and shall hold its meetings at such times and places as it shall
deem advisable and may hold telephonic meetings. A majority of its members
shall constitute a quorum. All determinations of the Committee shall be made
by a majority of its members. The Committee may correct any defect or omission
or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan, in the manner and to the extent it
shall deem desirable. Any decision or determination reduced to writing and
signed by a majority of the members of the Committee shall be as fully effective
as if it had been made by a majority vote at a meeting duly called and held.
The Committee may appoint a secretary and shall make such rules and regulations
for the conduct of its business as it shall deem advisable.
(d) Indemnification of Committee. In addition to such other rights of
indemnification as they may have as directors or as members of the Committee,
under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, or pursuant to law or
contract, the members of the Committee shall be indemnified by the Company
against reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees actually and necessarily
incurred in connection with any action or appeal therein, to which they or any
of them may be party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in
connection with the Plan or any option granted thereunder, and against all
amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved
by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in
satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding except in
relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit,
proceeding that such Committee member is liable for misconduct in the
performance of his duties; provided that within sixty (60) days after
institution of any such action, suit or proceeding a Committee member shall in
writing offer the Company the opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and
defend the same.
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Section 11. Miscellaneous.
(a) Designation of Beneficiary. A Participant may file a written
designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any shares and cash to the
Participant's credit under the Plan in the event of such Participant's death
prior to delivery to the Participant of such shares and cash. Such designation
of beneficiary may be changed by the Participant at any time by written notice
to the Company. Upon the death of a Participant and upon receipt by the Company
of proof of the identity and existence at the Participant's death of a
beneficiary validly designated by the Participant under the Plan, the Company
shall deliver such shares and cash to such beneficiary. In the event of the
death of a Participant and in the absence of a beneficiary validly designated
under the Plan who is living at the time of such Participant's death, the
Company shall deliver such shares and cash to the executor or administrator of
the estate of the Participant, or if no such executor or administrator has been
appointed (to the knowledge of the Company) the Company, in its discretion, may
deliver such shares and cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or
relatives of the Participant or if no spouse, dependent, or relative is known to
the Company then to such other person as the Company may designate. No
designated beneficiary shall prior to the death of the Participant by whom the
beneficiary has been designated, acquire any interest in the shares or cash
credited to the Participant under the Plan.
(b) Transferability. Neither payroll deductions credited to a
Participant's account nor any rights with regard to the exercise of an option or
to receive Stock under the Plan may be assigned, transferred, pledged, or
otherwise encumbered or disposed of in any way by the Participant other than by
will or the laws of descent and distribution. Any such attempted assignment,
transfer, pledge or other disposition shall be without effect, except that the
Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw funds in accordance with
Section 8(a).
(c) Use of Funds. All payroll deductions received or held by the Company
under this Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose and the
Company shall not be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions.
(d) Recapitalization. If, while any options are outstanding, the
outstanding shares of Stock of the Company have increased, decreased, changed
into, or been exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or securities
of the Company through reorganization, merger, recapitalization,
reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split or similar transaction,
appropriate and proportionate adjustments may be made by the Committee in the
number and/or kind of shares which are subject to purchase under outstanding
options and on the option exercise price or prices applicable to such
outstanding options. In addition, in any such event, the number and/or kind of
shares which may be offered in the Offerings described in Section 3 hereof shall
also be proportionately adjusted.
(e) Merger, Liquidation, Other Corporate Transactions.
(i) In the event of the proposed liquidation or dissolution of
the Company, the Offering then in progress will terminate immediately prior to
the consummation of such proposed liquidation or dissolution, unless otherwise
provided by the Board in its sole discretion, and all outstanding options shall
automatically terminate and the amounts of all payroll deductions will be
refunded without interest to the Participants.
(ii) In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Company, or the merger or consolidation of the Company with
or into another corporation, then in the sole discretion of the Board, (1) each
option shall be assumed or an equivalent option shall be substituted by the
successor corporation or parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation, or
(2) a date established by the Board on or before the date of consummation of
such merger, consolidation or sale shall be treated as an Exercise Date, and all
outstanding options shall be deemed exercisable on such date, or (3) all
outstanding options shall terminate and the accumulated payroll deductions shall
be returned to the Participants, without interest.
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(f) Amendment and Termination. The Board of Directors shall have complete
power and authority to terminate, suspend or amend the Plan; provided, however,
that the Board of Directors shall not, without the approval of the stockholders
of the Company (i) increase the maximum number of shares which may be issued
under the Plan, (ii) amend the requirements as to the class of employees
eligible to purchase Stock under the Plan or permit the members of the Committee
to purchase Stock under the Plan, or (iii) extend the term of the Plan beyond
the date specified in Section 11(j). No termination, modification or amendment
of the Plan may, without the consent of an Employee then having an option under
the Plan to purchase Stock, adversely affect the rights of such Employee under
such option.
(g) No Rights as a Stockholder. No right as a stockholder shall exist
with respect to any shares of Stock covered by options until the shares subject
to the option have been purchased and delivered as provided in Section 7(d). No
adjustment shall be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date
is prior to the date such shares have been purchased and delivered.
(h) No Employment Rights. The Plan does not, directly or indirectly,
create any right for the benefit of any Employee or class of employees to
purchase any shares under the Plan, or create in any Employee or class of
employees any right with respect to continuation of employment by the Company,
and it shall not be deemed to interfere in any way with the Company's right to
terminate, or otherwise modify, an Employee's employment at any time.
(i) Effective Date. The Plan shall become effective as of March 1, 2001,
subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months
after its adoption by the Board of Directors. If the Plan is not approved, the
Plan shall not become effective.
(j) Termination Date. This Plan shall terminate, and no further shares of
Stock shall be sold or issued hereunder, on February 28, 2006, or such earlier
date as may be determined by the Board of Directors or Committee. The
termination of this Plan, however, shall not affect any restrictions previously
imposed on the shares issued pursuant to this Plan or rights of the Company
granted pursuant to this Plan.
(k) Effect of Plan. The provisions of the Plan shall, in accordance with
its terms, be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, all successors of each
Employee participating in the Plan, including, without limitation, such
Employee's estate and the executors, administrator or trustees thereof, heirs
and legatees, and any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy or representative of
creditors of such Employee.
(l) Governing Law. The law of the State of New York will govern all
matters relating to this Plan except to the extent it is superseded by the laws
of the United States.
Date Plan adopted by Board of Directors: December 7, 2000
Date Plan approved by Stockholders:
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