TRANSPORTATION COMPONENTS, INC.
1998 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this 1998 Long-Term Incentive Plan
(the"Plan") of Transportation Components, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), is to advance the interests of the Company and its stockholders by
providing a means to attract, retain and reward executive officers and other key
employees and consultants of and service providers to the Company and its
subsidiaries (including consultants and others providing services of substantial
value) and to enable such persons to acquire or increase a proprietary interest
in the Company, thereby promoting a closer identity of interests between such
persons and the Company's stockholders.
2. DEFINITIONS. The definitions of awards under the Plan, including
Options, SARs (including Limited SARs), Restricted Stock, Deferred Stock, Stock
granted as a bonus or in lieu of other awards, Dividend Equivalents and Other
Stock-Based Awards are set forth in Section 6 of the Plan. Such awards, together
with any other right or interest granted to a Participant under the Plan, are
termed "Awards." For purposes of the Plan, the following additional terms shall
be defined as set forth below:
(a) "Award Agreement" means any written agreement, contract, notice or
other instrument or document evidencing an Award.
(b) "Beneficiary" shall mean the person, persons, trust or trusts which
have been designated by a Participant in his or her most recent written
beneficiary designation filed with the Committee to receive the benefits
specified under the Plan upon such Participant's death or, if there is no
designated Beneficiary or surviving designated Beneficiary, then the person,
persons, trust or trusts entitled by will or the laws of descent and
distribution to receive such benefits.
(c) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if:
(i) any person, other than the Company or an employee benefit
plan of the Company, acquires directly or indirectly the Beneficial Ownership
(as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) of any voting security of the
Company and immediately after such acquisition such Person is, directly or
indirectly, the Beneficial Owner of voting securities representing 50 percent or
more of the total voting power of all of the then-outstanding voting securities
of the Company;
(ii) the following individuals no longer constitute a majority of
the members of the Board: (A) the individuals who, as of the closing date of the
Initial Public Offering, constitute the Board (the "Original Directors"); (B)
the individuals who thereafter are elected to the Board and whose election, or
nomination for election, to the Board was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds (2/3) of the Original Directors then still in office (such directors
becoming "Additional Original Directors" immediately following their election);
and (C) the individuals who are elected to the Board and whose election, or
nomination for election, to the Board was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds (2/3) of the Original Directors and Additional Original Directors
then still in office (such directors also becoming "Additional Original
Directors" immediately following their election);
(iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger,
consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization of the Company, or a reverse
stock split of outstanding voting securities, or consummation of any such
transaction if stockholder approval is not obtained, other than any such
transaction which would result in at least 75 percent of the total voting power
represented by the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding
immediately after such transaction being Beneficially Owned by at least 75
percent of the holders of outstanding voting securities of the Company
immediately prior to the transaction, with the voting power of each such
continuing holder relative to other such continuing holders not substantially
altered in the transaction; or
(iv) the stockholders of the Company shall approve a plan of
complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition
by the Company of all or a substantial portion of the Company's assets (i.e., 50
percent or more of the total assets of the Company).
(e) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time. References to any provision of the Code shall be deemed to include
regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.
(f) "Committee" means a Compensation Committee composed solely of two or
more Non-Employee Directors as defined in Rule 16b-3, or the full Board.
(g) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time. References to any provision of the Exchange Act shall be
deemed to include rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.
(h) "Fair Market Value" means, with respect to Stock, Awards, or other
property, the fair market value of such Stock, Awards, or other property
determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to
time by the Committee, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) if the Stock is listed on a
national securities exchange or quoted in an interdealer quotation system, the
Fair Market Value of such Stock on a given date shall be based upon the last
sales price or, if unavailable,
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the average of the closing bid and asked prices per share of the Stock on such
date (or, if there was no trading or quotation in the Stock on such date, on the
next preceding date on which there was trading or quotation) as reported in the
WALL STREET JOURNAL (or other reporting service approved by the Committee), (ii)
the "Fair Market Value" of Stock subject to Options granted effective upon
commencement of the Initial Public Offering shall be the Initial Public Offering
price of the shares so issued and sold in the Initial Public Offering, as set
forth in the first final prospectus used in such offering (the provisions of
clause (i) notwithstanding) and (iii) the "Fair Market Value" of Stock prior to
the date of the Initial Public Offering shall be as determined by the Board of
Directors.
(i) "Initial Public Offering" shall mean an initial public offering of
shares of Stock in a firm commitment underwriting registered with the Securities
and Exchange Commission in compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended.
(j) "ISO" means any Option intended to be and designated as an incentive
stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
(k) "Participant" means a person who, at a time when eligible under
Section 5 hereof, has been granted an Award under the Plan.
(l) "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3, as from time to time in effect and
applicable to the Plan and Participants, promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(m) "Stock" means the Common Stock, $.01 par value, of the Company and
such other securities as may be substituted for Stock or such other securities
pursuant to Section 4.
3. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) AUTHORITY OF THE COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered by the
Committee. The Committee shall have full and final authority to take the
following actions, in each case subject to and consistent with the provisions of
the Plan:
(i) to select persons to whom Awards may be granted;
(ii) to determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to
each such person;
(iii) to determine the number of Awards to be granted, the number
of shares of Stock to which an Award will relate, the terms and conditions of
any Award granted under the Plan (including, but not limited to, any exercise
price, grant price or purchase price, any restriction or
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condition, any schedule for lapse of restrictions or conditions relating to
transferability or forfeiture, exercisability or settlement of an Award, and
waivers or accelerations thereof, performance conditions relating to an Award
(including performance conditions relating to Awards not intended to be governed
by Section 7(e) and waivers and modifications thereof), based in each case on
such considerations as the Committee shall determine), and all other matters to
be determined in connection with an Award;
(iv) to determine whether, to what extent and under what
circumstances an Award may be settled, or the exercise price of an Award may be
paid, in cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be
canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;
(v) to determine whether, to what extent and under what
circumstances cash, Stock, other Awards or other property payable with respect
to an Award will be deferred either automatically, at the election of the
Committee or at the election of the Participant;
(vi) to prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need
not be identical for each Participant;
(vii) to adopt, amend, suspend, waive and rescind such rules and
regulations and appoint such agents as the Committee may deem necessary or
advisable to administer the Plan;
(viii) to correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile
any inconsistency in the Plan and to construe and interpret the Plan and any
Award, rules and regulations, Award Agreement or other instrument hereunder; and
(ix) to make all other decisions and determinations as may be
required under the terms of the Plan or as the Committee may deem necessary or
advisable for the administration of the Plan.
(b) MANNER OF EXERCISE OF COMMITTEE AUTHORITY. Unless authority is
specifically reserved to the Board under the terms of the Plan, the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, or applicable law, the Committee shall
have sole discretion in exercising authority under the Plan. Any action of the
Committee with respect to the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all
persons, including the Company, subsidiaries of the Company, Participants, any
person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Participant and
stockholders, except to the extent the Committee may subsequently modify, or
take further action not consistent with, its prior action. If not specified in
the Plan, the time at which the Committee must or may make any determination
shall be determined by the Committee, and any such determination may thereafter
by modified by the Committee (subject to Section 8(e)). The express grant of any
specific power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee,
shall
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not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. The
Committee may delegate to officers or managers of the Company or any subsidiary
of the Company the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall
determine, to perform administrative functions and, with respect to Participants
not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, to perform such other functions
as the Committee may determine, to the extent permitted under Rule 16b-3, if
applicable, and other applicable law.
(c) LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. Each member of the Committee shall be
entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information
furnished to him by any officer or other employee of the Company or any
subsidiary, the Company's independent certified public accountants or any
executive compensation consultant, legal counsel or other professional retained
by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan. No member of the
Committee, nor any officer or employee of the Company acting on behalf of the
Committee, shall be personally liable for any action, determination or
interpretation taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and all
members of the Committee and any officer or employee of the Company acting on
its behalf shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and
protected by the Company with respect to any such action, determination or
interpretation.
4. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN.
(a) AMOUNT OF STOCK RESERVED. The total amount of Stock that may be
subject to outstanding awards, determined immediately after the grant of any
Award, shall not exceed the greater of ________ shares of Stock or 15% of the
total number of shares of Stock outstanding at the time of such grant.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the number of shares that may be delivered upon
the exercise of ISOs shall not exceed _______, subject in each case to
adjustment as provided in Section 4(c), and the number of shares that may be
delivered as Restricted Stock and Deferred Stock (other than pursuant to an
Award granted under Section 7(e)) shall not in the aggregate exceed _______,
provided, however, that shares subject to ISOs, Restricted Stock or Deferred
Stock Awards shall not be deemed delivered if such Awards are forfeited, expire
or otherwise terminate without delivery of shares to the Participant. To the
extent that an Award is only to be paid in cash or is paid in cash, any shares
of Stock subject to such Award shall again be available for the grant of an
Award. Any shares of Stock delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole
or in part, of authorized and unissued shares, treasury shares or shares
acquired in the market for a Participant's Account.
(b) ANNUAL PER-PARTICIPANT LIMITATIONS. During any calendar year, no
Participant may be granted Awards that may be settled by delivery of more than
_______ shares of Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c). In
addition, with respect to Awards that may be settled in cash (in whole or in
part), no Participant may be paid during any calendar year cash amounts relating
to such Awards that exceed the greater of the Fair Market Value of the number of
shares of Stock set forth in the preceding sentence at the date of grant or the
date of settlement of
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Award. This provision sets forth two separate limitations, so that Awards that
may be settled solely by delivery of Stock will not operate to reduce the amount
of cash-only Awards, and vice versa; nevertheless, Awards that may be settled in
Stock or cash must not exceed either limitation.
(c) ADJUSTMENTS. In the event that the Committee shall determine that
any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Stock or other
property), recapitalization, forward or reverse split, reorganization, merger,
consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Stock or other
securities, liquidation, dissolution, or other similar corporate transaction or
event, affects the Stock such that an adjustment is appropriate in order to
prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants under the Plan,
then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or
all of (i) the number and kind of shares of Stock reserved and available for
Awards under Section 4(a), including shares reserved for the ISOs and Restricted
and Deferred Stock, (ii) the number and kind of shares of Stock specified in the
Annual Per-Participant Limitations under Section 4(b), (iii) the number and kind
of shares of outstanding Restricted Stock or other outstanding Award in
connection with which shares have been issued, (iv) the number and kind of
shares that may be issued in respect of other outstanding Awards and (v) the
exercise price, grant price or purchase price relating to any Award (or, if
deemed appropriate, the Committee may make provision for a cash payment with
respect to any outstanding Award). In addition, the Committee is authorized to
make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in,
Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without
limitation, events described in the preceding sentence) affecting the Company or
any subsidiary or the financial statements of the Company or any subsidiary, or
in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting
principles. The foregoing notwithstanding, no adjustments shall be authorized
under this Section 4(c) with respect to ISOs or SARs in tandem therewith to the
extent that such authority would cause the Plan to fail to comply with Section
422(b)(1) of the Code, and no such adjustment shall be authorized with respect
to Options, SARs or other Awards subject to Section 7(e) to the extent that such
authority would cause such Awards to fail to qualify as "qualified
performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.
5. ELIGIBILITY. Executive officers and other key employees of the
Company and its subsidiaries, including any director or officer who is also such
an employee, and persons who provide consulting or other services to the Company
deemed by the Committee to be of substantial value to the Company, are eligible
to be granted Awards under the Plan. In addition, a person who has been offered
employment by the Company or its subsidiaries is eligible to be granted an Award
under the Plan, provided that such Award shall be canceled if such person fails
to commence such employment, and no payment of value may be made in connection
with such Award until such person has commenced such employment. The foregoing
notwithstanding, no member of the Committee shall be eligible to be granted
Awards under the Plan.
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6. SPECIFIC TERMS OF AWARDS.
(a) GENERAL. Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth
in this Section 6. In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the
exercise thereof such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms
requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of employment or
service of the Participant. Except as provided in Section 6(f), 6(h), or 7(a),
or to the extent required to comply with requirements of the Delaware General
Corporation Law that lawful consideration be paid for Stock, only services may
be required as consideration for the grant (but not the exercise) of any Award.
(b) OPTIONS. The Committee is authorized to grant Options (including
"reload" options automatically granted to offset specified exercises of Options)
on the following terms and conditions ("Options"):
(i) EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price per share of Stock
purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that, except as provided in Section 7(a), such exercise price shall be
not less than the Fair Market Value of a share on the date of grant of such
Option.
(ii) TIME AND METHOD OF EXERCISE. The Committee shall determine
the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part, the
methods by which such exercise price may be paid or deemed to be paid, the form
of such payment, including, without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards or
awards granted under other Company plans or other property (including notes or
other contractual obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred
basis, such as through "cashless exercise" arrangements, to the extent permitted
by applicable law), and the methods by which Stock will be delivered or deemed
to be delivered to Participants.
(iii) ISOS. The terms of any ISO granted under the Plan shall
comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code, including
but not limited to the requirement that no ISO shall be granted more than ten
years after the effective date of the Plan. Anything in the Plan to the contrary
notwithstanding, no term of the Plan relating to ISOs shall be interpreted,
amended, or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the
Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify either the Plan or any ISO under Section
422 of the Code, unless requested by the affected Participant.
(iv) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Unless otherwise determined by
the Committee, upon termination of a Participant's employment with the Company
and its subsidiaries, such Participant may exercise any Options during the
three-month period following such termination
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of employment, but only to the extent such Option was exercisable immediately
prior to such termination of employment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the
Committee determines that such termination is for cause, all Options held by the
Participant shall terminate as of the termination of employment.
(c) STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. The Committee is authorized to grant SARs
on the following terms and conditions ("SARs"):
(i) RIGHT TO PAYMENT. An SAR shall confer on the Participant to
whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A)
the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of exercise (or, if the
Committee shall so determine in the case of any such right other than one
related to an ISO, the Fair Market Value of one share at any time during a
specified period before or after the date of exercise), over (B) the grant price
of the SAR as determined by the Committee as of the date of grant of the SAR,
which, except as provided in Section 7(a), shall be not less than the Fair
Market Value of one share of Stock on the date of grant.
(ii) OTHER TERMS. The Committee shall determine the time or times
at which an SAR may be exercised in whole or in part, the method of exercise,
method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, method by
which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, whether
or not an SAR shall be in tandem with any other Award, and any other terms and
conditions of any SAR. Limited SARs that may only be exercised upon the
occurrence of a Change in Control may be granted on such terms, not inconsistent
with this Section 6(c), as the Committee may determine. Limited SARs may be
either freestanding or in tandem with other Awards.
(d) RESTRICTED STOCK. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted
Stock on the following terms and conditions ("Restricted Stock"):
(i) GRANT AND RESTRICTIONS. Restricted Stock shall be subject to
such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions, if any, as the
Committee may impose, which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination
at such times, under such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise, as
the Committee may determine. Except to the extent restricted under the terms of
the Plan and any Award Agreement relating to the Restricted Stock, a Participant
granted Restricted Stock shall have all of the rights of a stockholder
including, without limitation, the right to vote Restricted Stock or the right
to receive dividends thereon.
(ii) FORFEITURE. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee,
upon termination of employment or service (as determined under criteria
established by the Committee) during the applicable restriction period,
Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited
and reacquired by the Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Committee
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may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or may determine
in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to
Restricted Stock will be waived in whole or in part in the event of termination
resulting from specified causes.
(iii) CERTIFICATES FOR STOCK. Restricted Stock granted under the
Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If
certificates representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the
Participant, such certificates may bear an appropriate legend referring to the
terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, the
Company may retain physical possession of the certificate, and the Participant
shall have delivered a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating
to the Restricted Stock.
(iv) DIVIDENDS. Dividends paid on Restricted Stock shall be
either paid at the dividend payment date in cash or in shares of unrestricted
Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, or the
payment of such dividends shall be deferred and/or the amount or value thereof
automatically reinvested in additional Restricted Stock, other Awards, or other
investment vehicles, as the Committee shall determine or permit the Participant
to elect. Stock distributed in connection with a Stock split or Stock dividend,
and other property distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions
and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect
to which such Stock or other property has been distributed, unless otherwise
determined by the Committee.
(e) DEFERRED STOCK. The Committee is authorized to grant Deferred Stock
subject to the following terms and conditions ("Deferred Stock"):
(i) AWARD AND RESTRICTIONS. Delivery of Stock will occur upon
expiration of the deferral period specified for an Award of Deferred Stock by
the Committee (or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the
Participant). In addition, Deferred Stock shall be subject to such restrictions
as the Committee may impose, if any, which restrictions may lapse at the
expiration of the deferral period or at earlier specified times, separately or
in combination, in installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine.
(ii) FORFEITURE. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee,
upon termination of employment or service (as determined under criteria
established by the Committee) during the applicable deferral period or portion
thereof to which forfeiture conditions apply (as provided in the Award Agreement
evidencing the Deferred Stock), all Deferred Stock that is at that time subject
to such forfeiture conditions shall be forfeited; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or may
determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions
relating to Deferred Stock will be waived in whole or in part in the event of
termination resulting from specified causes.
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(f) BONUS STOCK AND AWARDS IN LIEU OF CASH OBLIGATIONS. The
Committee is authorized to grant Stock as a bonus, or to grant Stock or other
Awards in lieu of Company obligations to pay cash under other plans or
compensatory arrangements. Stock or Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to
such other terms as shall be determined by the Committee.
(g) DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS. The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend
Equivalents entitling the Participant to receive cash, Stock, other Awards or
other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified
number of shares of Stock ("Dividend Equivalents"). Dividend Equivalents may be
awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another Award. The
Committee may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed
when accrued or shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Stock,
Awards or other investment vehicles, and subject to such restrictions on
transferability and risks of forfeiture, as the Committee may specify.
(h) OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS. The Committee is authorized, subject to
limitations under applicable law, to grant such other Awards that may be
denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or
otherwise based on, or related to, Stock and factors that may influence the
value of Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of
the Plan, including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt
securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Stock, purchase rights
for Stock, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the
Company or any other factors designated by the Committee and Awards valued by
reference to the book value of Stock or the value of securities of or the
performance of specified subsidiaries ("Other Stock Based Awards"). The
Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards. Stock issued
pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this
Section 6(h) shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such times,
by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Stock,
other Awards, or other property, as the Committee shall determine. Cash awards,
as an element of or supplement to any other Award under the Plan, may be granted
pursuant to this Section 6(h).
7. CERTAIN PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS.
(a) STAND-ALONE, ADDITIONAL, TANDEM, AND SUBSTITUTE AWARDS.
Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be
granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with or in substitution for
any other Award granted under the Plan or any award granted under any other plan
of the Company, any subsidiary or any business entity to be acquired by the
Company or a subsidiary, or any other right of a Participant to receive payment
from the Company or any subsidiary. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem
with other Awards or awards may be granted either as of the same time as or a
different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards.
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(b) TERM OF AWARDS. The term of each Award shall be for such period as
may be determined by the Committee; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no event shall
the term of any ISO or an SAR granted in tandem therewith exceed a period of ten
years from the date of its grant (or such shorter period as may be applicable
under Section 422 of the Code).
(c) FORM OF PAYMENT UNDER AWARDS. Subject to the terms of the Plan and
any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made by the Company or a
subsidiary upon the grant, exercise or settlement of an Award may be made in
such forms as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation,
cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment
or transfer, in installments or on a deferred basis. Such payments may include,
without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable
interest on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of
Dividend Equivalents in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated
in Stock.
(d) LOAN PROVISIONS. With the consent of the Committee, and subject at
all times to, and only to the extent, if any, permitted under and in accordance
with, laws and regulations and other binding obligations or provisions
applicable to the Company, the Company may make, guarantee or arrange for a loan
or loans to a Participant with respect to the exercise of any Option or other
payment in connection with any Award, including the payment by a Participant of
any or all federal, state or local income or other taxes due in connection with
any Award. Subject to such limitations, the Committee shall have full authority
to decide whether to make a loan or loans hereunder and to determine the amount,
terms and provisions of any such loan or loans, including the interest rate to
be charged in respect of any such loan or loans, whether the loan or loans are
to be with or without recourse against the borrower, the terms on which the loan
is to be repaid and conditions, if any, under which the loan or loans may be
forgiven.
(e) PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS. The Committee may, in its discretion,
designate any Award the exercisability or settlement of which is subject to the
achievement of performance conditions as a performance-based Award subject to
this Section 7(e), in order to qualify such Award as "qualified
performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and
regulations thereunder. The performance objectives for an Award subject to this
Section 7(e) shall consist of one or more business criteria and a targeted level
or levels of performance with respect to such criteria, as specified by the
Committee but subject to this Section 7(e). Performance objectives shall be
objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of
the Code. Business criteria used by the Committee in establishing performance
objectives for Awards subject to this Section 7(e) shall be selected exclusively
from among the following:
(1) Annual return on capital;
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(2) Annual earnings per share;
(3) Annual cash flow provided by operations;
(4) Changes in annual revenues; and/or
(5) Strategic business criteria, consisting of one or more
objectives based on meeting specified revenue, market penetration, geographic
business expansion goals, cost targets, and goals relating to acquisitions or
divestitures.
The levels of performance required with respect to such business
criteria may be expressed in absolute or relative levels. Achievement of
performance objectives with respect to such Awards shall be measured over a
period of not less than one year nor more than five years, as the Committee may
specify. Performance objectives may differ for such Awards to different
Participants. The Committee shall specify the weighting to be given to each
performance objective for purposes of determining the final amount payable with
respect to any such Award. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the
amount of a payout otherwise to be made in connection with an Award subject to
this Section 7(e), but may not exercise discretion to increase such amount, and
the Committee may consider other performance criteria in exercising such
discretion. All determinations by the Committee as to the achievement of
performance objectives shall be in writing. The Committee may not delegate any
responsibility with respect to an Award subject to this Section 7(e).
(f) ACCELERATION UPON A CHANGE OF CONTROL. Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, unless otherwise provided by the Committee in
an Award Agreement, all conditions and restrictions relating to an Award,
including limitations on exercisability, risks of forfeiture and conditions and
restrictions requiring the continued performance of services or the achievement
of performance objectives with respect to the exercisability or settlement of
such Award, shall immediately lapse upon a Change in Control.
8. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND OBLIGATIONS. The Company shall not be
obligated to issue or deliver Stock in connection with any Award or take any
other action under the Plan in a transaction subject to the registration
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any other federal or
state securities law, any requirement under any listing agreement between the
Company and any national securities exchange or automated quotation system or
any other law, regulation or contractual obligation of the Company until the
Company is satisfied that such laws, regulations, and other obligations of the
Company have been complied with in full. Certificates representing shares of
Stock issued under the Plan will be subject to such stop-transfer
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orders and other restrictions as may be applicable under such laws, regulations
and other obligations of the Company, including any requirement that a legend or
legends be placed thereon.
(b) LIMITATIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY. Awards and other rights under the
Plan will not be transferable by a Participant except by will or the laws of
descent and distribution or to a Beneficiary in the event of the Participant's
death, and, if exercisable, shall be exercisable during the lifetime of a
Participant only by such Participant or his guardian or legal representative;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such Awards and other rights (other than ISOs and SARs
in tandem therewith) may be transferred to one or more transferees during the
lifetime of the Participant, and may be exercised by such transferees in
accordance with the terms of such Award consistent with the registration of the
offer and sale of Stock on Form S-8 or Form S-3 or a successor registration form
of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and permitted by the Committee.
Awards and other rights under the Plan may not be pledged, mortgaged,
hypothecated or otherwise encumbered, and shall not be subject to the claims of
creditors.
(c) NO RIGHT TO CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE. Neither the Plan
nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any employee or
other person the right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries to terminate any employee's employment or
other person's service at any time.
(d) TAXES. The Company and any subsidiary is authorized to withhold from
any Award granted or to be settled, any delivery of Stock in connection with an
Award, any other payment relating to an Award or any payroll or other payment to
a Participant amounts of withholding and other taxes due or potentially payable
in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other
action as the Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company and
Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and
other tax obligations relating to any Award. This authority shall include
authority to withhold or receive Stock or other property and to make cash
payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participant's tax obligations.
(e) CHANGES TO THE PLAN AND AWARDS. The Board may amend, alter, suspend,
discontinue or terminate the Plan or the Committee's authority to grant Awards
under the Plan without the consent of stockholders or Participants, except that
any such action shall be subject to the approval of the Company's stockholders
at or before the next annual meeting of stockholders for which the record date
is after such Board action if such stockholder approval is required by any
federal or state law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange or
automated quotation system on which the Stock may then be listed or quoted, and
the Board may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other such
changes to the Plan to stockholders for approval; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that,
without the consent of an affected Participant, no such action may materially
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impair the rights of such Participant under any Award theretofore granted to
him. The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, or amend, alter,
suspend, discontinue, or terminate, any Award theretofore granted and any Award
Agreement relating thereto; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, without the consent of an
affected Participant, no such action may materially impair the rights of such
Participant under such Award.
(f) NO RIGHTS TO AWARDS; NO STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. No Participant or
employee shall have any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan, and there
is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants and employees. No
Award shall confer on any Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the
Company unless and until Stock is duly issued or transferred and delivered to
the Participant in accordance with the terms of the Award or, in the case of an
Option, the Option is duly exercised.
(g) UNFUNDED STATUS OF AWARDS; CREATION OF TRUSTS. The Plan is
intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan for incentive and deferred
compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant
pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall give any
such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of
the Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Committee may authorize the creation of
trusts or make other arrangements to meet the Company's obligations under the
Plan to deliver cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property pursuant to any
Award, which trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the
"unfunded" status of the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines with the
consent of each affected Participant.
(h) NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the
Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall
be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such
other compensatory arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without
limitation, the granting of stock options otherwise than under the Plan, and
such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.
(i) NO FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued
or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine
whether cash, other Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of
such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto
shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
(j) COMPLIANCE WITH CODE SECTION 162(M). It is the intent of the Company
that employee Options, SARs and other Awards designated as Awards subject to
Section 7(e) shall constitute "qualified performance-based compensation" within
the meaning of Code Section 162(m). Accordingly, if any provision of the Plan or
any Award Agreement relating to such an Award does not comply or is inconsistent
with the requirements of Code Section 162(m), such provision shall be construed
or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements, and
no
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provision shall be deemed to confer upon the Committee or any other person
discretion to increase the amount of compensation otherwise payable in
connection with any such Award upon attainment of the performance objectives.
(k) GOVERNING LAW. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan,
any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be
determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving
effect to principles of conflicts of laws, and applicable federal law.
(l) EFFECTIVE DATE; PLAN TERMINATION. The Plan shall become effective as
of the date of its adoption by the Board, subject to stockholder approval prior
to the commencement of the Initial Public Offering, and shall continue in effect
until terminated by the Board.
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