EXHIBIT 10.89
SMART & FINAL INC.
LONG-TERM EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN
ARTICLE 1. ESTABLISHMENT, OBJECTIVES, AND DURATION
1.1. Establishment of the Plan. Smart & Final Inc., a Delaware corporation
(hereinafter referred to as the "Company"), hereby establishes an incentive
compensation plan to be known as the "Smart & Final Inc. Long-Term Equity
Compensation Plan" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"), as set forth in this
document. The Plan permits the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive
Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Performance Shares
and Performance Units.
The Plan shall become effective as of February 21, 1997 (the "Effective Date")
and shall remain in effect as provided in Section 1.3 hereof.
1.2. Objectives of the Plan. The objectives of the Plan are to optimize
the profitability and growth of the Company through incentives which are
consistent with the Company's goals and which link the personal interests of
Participants to those of the Company's stockholders; to provide Participants
with an incentive for excellence in individual performance; and to promote
teamwork among Participants.
The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its
ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of Participants who make
significant contributions to the Company's success and to allow Participants to
share in the success of the Company.
1.3. Duration of the Plan. The Plan shall commence on the Effective Date,
as described in Section 1.1 hereof, and shall remain in effect, subject to the
right of the Board of Directors to amend or terminate the Plan at any time
pursuant to Article 15 hereof, until all Shares subject to it shall have been
purchased or acquired according to the Plan's provisions. However, in no event
may an Award be granted under the Plan on or after December 31, 2006.
ARTICLE 2. DEFINITIONS
Whenever used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set
forth below, and when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word
shall be capitalized:
2.1. "Award" means, individually or collectively, a grant under this Plan
of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation
Rights, Restricted Stock, Performance Shares or Performance Units.
2.2. "Award Agreement" means an agreement entered into by the Company and
each Participant setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to Awards
granted under this Plan.
2.3. "Beneficial Owner" or "Beneficial Ownership" shall have the meaning
ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act.
2.4. "Board" or "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the
Company.
2.5. "Change in Control" of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred
(as of a particular day, as specified by the Board) upon the occurrence of any
event described in this Section 2.5 as constituting a Change in Control.
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A Change in Control will be deemed to have occurred as of the first day any
one (1) or more of the following paragraphs shall have been satisfied:
(a) Any Person (other than a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities
under an employee benefit plan of the Company, or a corporation owned
directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the
Company), becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company, representing more than thirty-five percent
(35%) of the combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding
securities; or
(b) During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any
period prior to the Effective Date), individuals who at the beginning
of such period constitute the Board (and any new Director, whose
election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at
least two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors then still in office who either
were Directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or
nomination for election was so approved), cease for any reason to
constitute a majority thereof; or
(c) The stockholders of the Company approve: (i) a plan of complete
liquidation of the Company; or (ii) an agreement for the sale or
disposition of all or substantially all the Company's assets; or (iii)
a merger, consolidation, or reorganization of the Company with or
involving any other corporation, other than a merger, consolidation, or
reorganization that would result in the voting securities of the
Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent
(either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
securities of the surviving entity) at least sixty-five percent (65%)
of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company
(or such surviving entity) outstanding immediately after such merger,
consolidation, or reorganization.
However, in no event shall a Change in Control be deemed to have occurred, with
respect to a Participant, if that Participant is part of a purchasing group
which consummates the Change-in-Control transaction. The Participant shall be
deemed "part of a purchasing group" for purposes of the preceding sentence if
the Participant is an equity participant or has agreed to become an equity
participant in the purchasing company or group (except for (i) passive ownership
of less than three percent (3%) of the voting equity securities of the
purchasing company; or (ii) ownership of equity participation in the purchasing
company or group which is otherwise deemed not to be significant, as determined
prior to the Change in Control by a majority of the continuing Nonemployee
Directors).
2.6. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time.
2.7. "Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board, as
specified in Article 3 herein, or such other Committee appointed by the Board to
administer the Plan with respect to grants of Awards.
2.8. "Company" means Smart & Final Inc., a Delaware corporation, including
any and all Subsidiaries, and any successor thereto as provided in Article 18
herein.
2.9. "Director" means any individual who is a member of the Board of
Directors of the Company.
2.10. "Disability" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the
Participant's governing long-term disability plan, or if no such plan exists, at
the discretion of the Committee.
2.11. "Effective Date" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 1.1 hereof.
2.12. "Employee" means any full-time, active employee of the Company.
Directors who are not employed by the Company shall not be considered Employees
under this Plan.
2.13. "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time, or any successor act thereto.
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2.14. "Fair Market Value" shall be determined on the basis of the closing
sale price on the principal securities exchange on which the Shares are traded
or, if there is no such sale on the relevant date, then on the last previous day
on which a sale was reported.
2.15. "Freestanding SAR" means an SAR that is granted independently of any
Options, as described in Article 7 herein.
2.16. "Incentive Stock Option" or "ISO" means an option to purchase Shares
granted under Article 6 herein and which is designated as an Incentive Stock
Option and which is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422.
2.17. "Insider" shall mean an individual who is, on the relevant date, an
officer, director or ten percent (10%) beneficial owner of any class of the
Company's equity securities that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, all as defined under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
2.18. "Named Executive Officer" means a Participant who, as of the date of
vesting and/or payout of an Award, as applicable, is one of the group of
"covered employees," as defined in the regulations promulgated under Code
Section 162(m), or any successor statute.
2.19. "Nonemployee Director" means an individual who is a member of the
Board of Directors of the Company but who is not an Employee of the Company.
2.20. "Nonqualified Stock Option" or "NQSO" means an option to purchase
Shares granted under Article 6 herein and which is not intended to meet the
requirements of Code Section 422.
2.21. "Option" means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock
Option, as described in Article 6 herein.
2.22. "Option Price" or "Exercise Price" means the price at which a Share
may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to an Option.
2.23. "Participant" means an Employee who has outstanding an Award granted
under the Plan. The term "Participant" shall not include Nonemployee Directors.
2.24. "Performance-Based Exception" means the performance-based exception
from the tax deductibility limitations of Code Section 162(m).
2.25. "Performance Share" means an Award granted to a Participant, as
described in Article 9 herein.
2.26. "Performance Unit" means an Award granted to a Participant, as
described in Article 9 herein.
2.27. "Period of Restriction" means the period during which the transfer
of Shares of Restricted Stock is limited in some way (based on the passage of
time, the achievement of performance goals, or upon the occurrence of other
events as determined by the Committee, at its discretion), and the Shares are
subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, as provided in Article 8 herein.
2.28. "Person" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof,
including a "group" as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.
2.29. "Restricted Stock" means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant
to Article 8 herein.
2.30. "Retirement" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the
Company's tax-qualified retirement plan.
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2.31. "Shares" means the shares of common stock of the Company.
2.32. "Stock Appreciation Right" or "SAR" means an Award, granted alone or
in connection with a related Option, designated as an SAR, pursuant to the terms
of Article 7 herein.
2.33. "Subsidiary" means any corporation, partnership, joint venture, or
other entity in which the Company has a majority voting interest (including all
division, affiliates, and related entities).
2.34. "Tandem SAR" means an SAR that is granted in connection with a
related Option pursuant to Article 7 herein, the exercise of which shall require
forfeiture of the right to purchase a Share under the related Option (and when a
Share is purchased under the Option, the Tandem SAR shall similarly be
canceled).
ARTICLE 3. ADMINISTRATION
3.1. The Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation
Committee of the Board, or by any other Committee appointed by the Board. The
members of the Committee shall be appointed from time to time by, and shall
serve at the discretion of, the Board of Directors.
3.2. Authority of the Committee. Except as limited by law or by the
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, and subject to the
provisions herein, the Committee shall have full power to select Employees who
shall participate in the Plan; determine the sizes and types of Awards;
determine the terms and conditions of Awards in a manner consistent with the
Plan; construe and interpret the Plan and any agreement or instrument entered
into under the Plan as they apply to Employees; establish, amend, or waive rules
and regulations for the Plan's administration as they apply to Employees; and
(subject to the provisions of Article 15 herein) amend the terms and conditions
of any outstanding Award to the extent such terms and conditions are within the
discretion of the Committee as provided in the Plan. Further, the Committee
shall make all other determinations which may be necessary or advisable for the
administration of the Plan, as the Plan applies to Employees. As permitted by
law, the Committee may delegate its authority as identified herein.
3.3. Decisions Binding. All determinations and decisions made by the
Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan and all related orders and
resolutions of the Board shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons,
including the Company, its stockholders, Employees, Participants, and their
estates and beneficiaries.
ARTICLE 4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN AND MAXIMUM AWARDS
4.1. Number of Shares Available for Grants. Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 4.2 herein, the number of Shares hereby reserved for
issuance to Participants under the Plan shall be two million four hundred
seventy thousand (2,470,000). The Compensation Committee shall determine the
appropriate methodology for calculating the number of shares issued pursuant to
the Plan.
Unless and until the Committee determines that an Award to a Named Executive
Officer shall not be designed to comply with the Performance-Based Exception,
the following rules shall apply to grants of such Awards under the Plan:
(a) Stock Options: The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be
granted in the form of Stock Options, pursuant to any Award granted in
any one fiscal year to any one single Participant shall be one hundred
thousand (100,000).
(b) SARs: The maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be granted in the
form of Stock Appreciation Rights, pursuant to any Award granted in any
one fiscal year to any one single Participant shall be one hundred
thousand (100,000).
(c) Restricted Stock: The maximum aggregate grant with respect to Awards of
Restricted Stock granted in any one fiscal year to any one Participant
shall be one hundred thousand (100,000) Shares.
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(d) Performance Shares/Performance Units: The maximum aggregate payout with
respect to Awards of Performance Shares or Performance Units granted in
any one fiscal year to any one Participant shall be the value of two
million dollars ($2 million) at the end of the Performance Period.
4.2. Adjustments in Authorized Shares. In the event of any change in
corporate capitalization, such as a stock split, or a corporate transaction,
such as any merger, consolidation, separation, including a spin-off, or other
distribution of stock or property of the Company, any reorganization (whether or
not such reorganization comes within the definition of such term in Code Section
368) or any partial or complete liquidation of the Company, such adjustment
shall be made in the number and class of Shares which may be delivered under
Section 4.1, in the number and class of and/or price of Shares subject to
outstanding Awards granted under the Plan, and in the Award limits set forth in
subsections 4.1(a) and 4.1(b), as may be determined to be appropriate and
equitable by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or
enlargement of rights; provided, however, that the number of Shares subject to
any Award shall always be a whole number.
ARTICLE 5. ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
5.1. Eligibility. Persons eligible to participate in this Plan include all
Employees and members of the Board of the Company and its subsidiaries.
5.2. Actual Participation. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the
Committee may, from time to time, select from all eligible Employees, those to
whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each
Award.
ARTICLE 6. STOCK OPTIONS
6.1. Grant of Options. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan,
Options may be granted to Participants in such number, and upon such terms, and
at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee.
6.2. Award Agreement. Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award
Agreement that shall specify the Option Price, the duration of the Option, the
number of Shares to which the Option pertains, and such other provisions as the
Committee shall determine. The Award Agreement also shall specify whether the
Option is intended to be an ISO within the meaning of Code Section 422, or an
NQSO whose grant is intended not to fall under the provisions of Code Section
422.
6.3. Option Price. The Option Price for each grant of an Option under this
Plan shall be at least equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market
Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted.
6.4. Duration of Options. Each Option granted to an Employee shall expire
at such time as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant; provided,
however, that no Option shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10th)
anniversary date of its grant.
6.5. Exercise of Options. Options granted under this Article 6 shall be
exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as
the Committee shall in each instance approve, which need not be the same for
each grant or for each Participant.
6.6. Payment. Options granted under this Article 6 shall be exercised by
the delivery of a written notice of exercise to the Company, setting forth the
number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised,
accompanied by full payment for the Shares.
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The Option Price upon exercise of any Option shall be payable to the Company
in full either: (a) in cash or its equivalent, or (b) by tendering previously
acquired Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise
equal to the total Option Price (provided that the Shares which are tendered
must have been held by the Participant for at least six (6) months prior to
their tender to satisfy the Option Price), or (c) by a combination of (a) and
(b).
The Committee also may allow cashless exercise as permitted under Federal
Reserve Board's Regulation T, subject to applicable securities law restrictions,
or by any other means which the Committee determines to be consistent with the
Plan's purpose and applicable law.
Subject to any governing rules or regulations, as soon as practicable after
receipt of a written notification of exercise and full payment, the Company
shall deliver to the Participant, in the Participant's name, Share certificates
in an appropriate amount based upon the number of Shares purchased under the
Option(s).
6.7. Restrictions on Share Transferability. The Committee may impose such
restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option
granted under this Article 6 as it may deem advisable, including, without
limitation, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the
requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are then
listed and/or traded, and under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable
to such Shares.
6.8. Termination of Employment. Each Participant's Option Award Agreement
shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to
exercise the Option following termination of the Participant's employment with
the Company. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the
Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with each
Participant, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to this
Article 6, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of
employment.
6.9. Nontransferability of Options.
(a) Incentive Stock Options. No ISO granted under the Plan may be sold,
transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated,
other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Further,
all ISOs granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable
during his or her lifetime only by such Participant.
(b) Nonqualified Stock Options. Except as otherwise provided in a
Participant's Award Agreement, no NQSO granted under this Article 6 may
be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or
hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution. Further, except as otherwise provided in a Participant's
Award Agreement, all NQSOs granted to a Participant under this Article
6 shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only by such
Participant.
ARTICLE 7. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
7.1. Grant of SARs. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, SARs
may be granted to Participants at any time and from time to time as shall be
determined by the Committee. The Committee may grant Freestanding SARs, Tandem
SARs, or any combination of these forms of SAR.
The Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the number of SARs
granted to each Participant (subject to Article 4 herein) and, consistent with
the provisions of the Plan, in determining the terms and conditions pertaining
to such SARs.
The grant price of a Freestanding SAR shall equal the Fair Market
Value of a Share on the date of grant of the SAR. The grant price of Tandem SARs
shall equal the Option Price of the related Option.
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7.2. Exercise of Tandem SARs. Tandem SARs may be exercised for all or part
of the Shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the right to
exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option. A Tandem SAR may be
exercised only with respect to the Shares for which its related Option is then
exercisable.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, with respect
to a Tandem SAR granted in connection with an ISO: (i) the Tandem SAR will
expire no later than the expiration of the underlying ISO; (ii) the value of the
payout with respect to the Tandem SAR may be for no more than one hundred
percent (100%) of the difference between the Option Price of the underlying ISO
and the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the underlying ISO at the
time the Tandem SAR is exercised; and (iii) the Tandem SAR may be exercised only
when the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the ISO exceeds the Option
Price of the ISO.
7.3. Exercise of Freestanding SARs. Freestanding SARs may be exercised
upon whatever terms and conditions the Committee, in its sole discretion,
imposes upon them.
7.4. SAR Agreement. Each SAR grant shall be evidenced by an Award
Agreement that shall specify the grant price, the term of the SAR, and such
other provisions as the Committee shall determine.
7.5. Term of SARs. The term of an SAR granted under the Plan shall be
determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion; provided, however, that
such term shall not exceed ten (10) years.
7.6. Payment of SAR Amount. Upon exercise of an SAR, a Participant shall
be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by
multiplying:
(a) The difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of
exercise over the grant price; by
(b) The number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.
At the discretion of the Committee, the payment upon SAR exercise may be in
cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof.
7.7. Termination of Employment. Each SAR Award Agreement shall set forth
the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the SAR
following termination of the Participant's employment with the Company and/or
its subsidiaries. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of
the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with
Participants, need not be uniform among all SARs issued pursuant to the Plan,
and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of employment.
7.8. Nontransferability of SARs. Except as otherwise provided in a
Participant's Award Agreement, no SAR granted under the Plan may be sold,
transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Further, except as
otherwise provided in a Participant's Award Agreement, all SARs granted to a
Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during his or her lifetime only
by such Participant.
ARTICLE 8. RESTRICTED STOCK
8.1. Grant of Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms and provisions of the
Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of
Restricted Stock to Participants in such amounts as the Committee shall
determine. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Shares of
Restricted Stock may be granted in connection with payouts under other
compensation programs of the Company.
8.2. Restricted Stock Agreement. Each Restricted Stock grant shall be
evidenced by a Restricted Stock Award Agreement that shall specify the Period(s)
of Restriction, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock granted, and such other
provisions as the Committee shall determine.
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8.3. Transferability. Except as provided in this Article 8, the Shares of
Restricted Stock granted herein may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned,
or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Period of
Restriction established by the Committee and specified in the Restricted Stock
Award Agreement, or upon earlier satisfaction of any other conditions, as
specified by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the
Restricted Stock Award Agreement. All rights with respect to the Restricted
Stock granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be available during his or
her lifetime only to such Participant.
8.4. Other Restrictions. The Committee may impose such other conditions
and/or restrictions on any Shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the
Plan as it may deem advisable including, without limitation, a requirement that
Participants pay a stipulated purchase price for each Share of Restricted Stock,
restrictions based upon the achievement of specific performance goals (Company-
wide, divisional, and/or individual), time-based restrictions on vesting
following the attainment of the performance goals, and/or restrictions under
applicable Federal or state securities laws.
The Company shall retain the certificates representing Shares of Restricted
Stock in the Company's possession until such time as all conditions and/or
restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied.
Except as otherwise provided in this Article 8, Shares of Restricted Stock
covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under the Plan shall become freely
transferable by the Participant after the last day of the applicable Period of
Restriction.
8.5. Voting Rights. During the Period of Restriction, Participants holding
Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights
with respect to those Shares.
8.6. Dividends and Other Distributions. During the Period of Restriction,
Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may be
credited with regular cash dividends paid with respect to the underlying Shares
while they are so held. The Committee may apply any restrictions to the
dividends that the Committee deems appropriate. Without limiting the generality
of the preceding sentence, if the grant or vesting of Restricted Shares granted
to a Named Executive Officer is designed to comply with the requirements of the
Performance-Based Exception, the Committee may apply any restrictions it deems
appropriate to the payment of dividends declared with respect to such Restricted
Shares, such that the dividends and/or the Restricted Shares maintain
eligibility for the Performance-Based Exception.
8.7. Termination of Employment. Each Restricted Stock Award Agreement
shall set forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to
receive unvested Restricted Shares following termination of the Participant's
employment with the Company. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole
discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered
into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Shares of Restricted
Stock issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the
reasons for termination of employment; provided, however that, except in the
cases of terminations connected with a Change in Control and terminations by
reason of death or Disability, the vesting of Shares of Restricted Stock which
qualify for the Performance-Based Exception and which are held by Named
Executive Officers shall occur at the time they otherwise would have, but for
the employment termination.
ARTICLE 9. PERFORMANCE UNITS AND PERFORMANCE SHARES
9.1. Grant of Performance Units/Shares. Subject to the terms of the Plan,
Performance Units and/or Performance Shares may be granted to Participants in
such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time, as
shall be determined by the Committee.
9.2. Value of Performance Units/Shares. Each Performance Unit shall have
an initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant. Each
Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of
a Share on the date of grant. The Committee shall set performance goals in its
discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine
the number and/or value of Performance Units/Shares that will be paid out to the
Participant. For purposes of this Article 9, the time period during which the
performance goals must be met shall be called a "Performance Period."
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9.3. Earning of Performance Units/Shares. Subject to the terms of this
Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of
Performance Units/Shares shall be entitled to receive payout on the number and
value of Performance Units/Shares earned by the Participant over the Performance
Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding
performance goals have been achieved.
9.4. Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units/ Shares. Payment of
earned Performance Units/Shares shall be made in a single lump sum following the
close of the applicable Performance Period. Subject to the terms of this Plan,
the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Units/Shares
in the form of cash or in Shares (or in a combination thereof) which have an
aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance
Units/Shares at the close of the applicable Performance Period. Such Shares may
be granted subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee.
At the discretion of the Committee, Participants may be entitled to receive
any dividends declared with respect to Shares which have been earned in
connection with grants of Performance Units and/or Performance Shares which have
been earned, but not yet distributed to Participants (such dividends shall be
subject to the same accrual, forfeiture, and payout restrictions as apply to
dividends earned with respect to Shares of Restricted Stock, as set forth in
Section 8.6 herein). In addition, Participants may, at the discretion of the
Committee, be entitled to exercise their voting rights with respect to such
Shares.
9.5. Termination of Employment Due to Death, Disability, or Retirement.
Unless determined otherwise by the Committee and set forth in the Participant's
Award Agreement, in the event the employment of a Participant is terminated by
reason of death, Disability, or Retirement during a Performance Period, the
Participant shall receive a payout of the Performance Units/Shares which is
prorated, as specified by the Committee in its discretion.
Payment of earned Performance Units/Shares shall be made at a time specified
by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the Participant's Award
Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to Named Executive
Officers who retire during a Performance Period, payments shall be made at the
same time as payments are made to Participants who did not terminate employment
during the applicable Performance Period.
9.6. Termination of Employment for Other Reasons. In the event that a
Participant's employment terminates for any reason other than those reasons set
forth in Section 9.5 herein, all Performance Units/Shares shall be forfeited by
the Participant to the Company unless determined otherwise by the Committee, as
set forth in the Participant's Award Agreement.
9.7. Nontransferability. Except as otherwise provided in a Participant's
Award Agreement, Performance Units/Shares may not be sold, transferred, pledged,
assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the
laws of descent and distribution. Further, except as otherwise provided in a
Participant's Award Agreement, a Participant's rights under the Plan shall be
exercisable during the Participant's lifetime only by the Participant or the
Participant's legal representative.
ARTICLE 10. PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Unless and until the Committee proposes for shareholder vote and shareholders
approve a change in the general performance measures set forth in this Article
10, the attainment of which may determine the degree of payout and/or vesting
with respect to Awards to Named Executive Officers which are designed to qualify
for the Performance-Based Exception, the performance measure(s) to be used for
purposes of such grants shall be chosen from among profits, net income (either
before or after taxes), share price, earnings per share, return on assets,
return on equity, operating income, return on capital, return on investment,
shareholder return, sales, customer service, employee satisfaction, or economic
value added.
The Committee shall have the discretion to adjust the determinations of the
degree of attainment of the preestablished performance goals; provided, however,
that Awards which are designed to qualify for the
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Performance-Based Exception, and which are held by Named Executive Officers, may
not be adjusted upward (the Committee shall retain the discretion to adjust such
Awards downward).
In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit
Committee discretion to alter the governing performance measures without
obtaining shareholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole
discretion to make such changes without obtaining shareholder approval. In
addition, in the event that the Committee determines that it is advisable to
grant Awards which shall not qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, the
Committee may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Code
Section 162(m).
ARTICLE 11. BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
Each Participant under the Plan may, from time to time, name any beneficiary
or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any
benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of his or her death before he or
she receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all
prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the
Company, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing
with the Company during the Participant's lifetime. In the absence of any such
designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant's death shall be paid
to the Participant's estate.
ARTICLE 12. DEFERRALS
The Committee may permit or require a Participant to defer such Participant's
receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that would otherwise be
due to such Participant by virtue of the exercise of an Option or SAR, the lapse
or waiver of restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock, or the satisfaction
of any requirements or goals with respect to Performance Units/Shares. If any
such deferral election is required or permitted, the Committee shall, in its
sole discretion, establish rules and procedures for such payment deferrals.
ARTICLE 13. RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES
13.1. Employment. Nothing in the Plan shall interfere with or limit in any
way the right of the Company to terminate any Participant's employment at any
time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ of the
Company.
13.2. Participation. No Employee shall have the right to be selected to
receive an Award under this Plan, or, having been so selected, to be selected to
receive a future Award.
ARTICLE 14. CHANGE IN CONTROL
14.1. Treatment of Outstanding Awards. Upon the occurrence of a Change in
Control, unless otherwise specifically prohibited under applicable laws, or by
the rules and regulations of any governing governmental agencies or national
securities exchanges:
(a) Any and all Options and SARs granted hereunder shall become immediately
exercisable, and shall remain exercisable throughout their entire term;
(b) Any restriction periods and restrictions imposed on Restricted Shares
shall lapse;
(c) The target payout opportunities attainable under all outstanding Awards
of Restricted Stock, Performance Units and Performance Shares shall be
deemed to have been fully earned for the entire Performance Period(s)
as of the effective date of the Change in Control. The vesting of all
Awards denominated in Shares shall be accelerated as of the effective
date of the Change in Control, and there shall be paid out in cash to
Participants within thirty (30) days following the effective date of
the Change in Control a pro rata amount based upon an assumed
achievement of all relevant performance goals and upon the length of
time within the Performance Period which has elapsed prior to the
Change in Control.
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14.2. Termination, Amendment, and Modifications of Change-in-Control
Provisions. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or any Award
Agreement provision, the provisions of this Article 14 may not be terminated,
amended, or modified on or after the date of a Change in Control to affect
adversely any Award theretofore granted under the Plan without the prior written
consent of the Participant with respect to said Participant's outstanding
Awards; provided, however, the Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the
Committee, may terminate, amend, or modify this Article 14 at any time and from
time to time prior to the date of a Change in Control.
ARTICLE 15. AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION
15.1. Amendment, Modification, and Termination. The Board may at any time
and from time to time, alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or
in part; provided, however, that no amendment which requires shareholder
approval in order for the Plan to continue to comply with Rule 16b-3 under the
Exchange Act, including any successor to such Rule, shall be effective unless
such amendment shall be approved by the requisite vote of shareholders of the
Company entitled to vote thereon.
15.2. Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or
Nonrecurring Events. The Committee may make adjustments in the terms and
conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or
nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in
Section 4.3 hereof) affecting the Company or the financial statements of the
Company or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles,
whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order
to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits
intended to be made available under the Plan; provided that no such adjustment
shall be authorized to the extent that such authority would be inconsistent with
the Plan's meeting the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, as from time
to time amended.
15.3. Awards Previously Granted. No termination, amendment, or
modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award
previously granted under the Plan, without the written consent of the
Participant holding such Award.
15.4. Compliance with Code Section 162(m). At all times when Code Section
162(m) is applicable, all Awards granted under this Plan shall comply with the
requirements of Code Section 162(m); provided, however, that in the event the
Committee determines that such compliance is not desired with respect to any
Award or Awards available for grant under the Plan, then compliance with Code
Section 162(m) will not be required. In addition, in the event that changes are
made to Code Section 162(m) to permit greater flexibility with respect to any
Award or Awards available under the Plan, the Committee may, subject to this
Article 15, make any adjustments it deems appropriate.
ARTICLE 16. WITHHOLDING
16.1. Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the power and the right to
deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount
sufficient to satisfy Federal, state, and local taxes, domestic or foreign,
required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event
arising as a result of this Plan.
16.2. Share Withholding. With respect to withholding required upon the
exercise of Options or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock,
or upon any other taxable event arising as a result of Awards granted hereunder,
Participants may elect, subject to the approval of the Committee, to satisfy the
withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company withhold
Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined equal
to the minimum statutory total tax which could be imposed on the transaction.
All such elections shall be irrevocable, made in writing, signed by the
Participant, and shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the
Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
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ARTICLE 17. INDEMNIFICATION
Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee, or of the
Board, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from
any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably
incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action,
suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may
be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and
against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof,
with the Company's approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any
judgement in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided
he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle
and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his
or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive
of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled
under the Company's Articles of Incorporation of Bylaws, as a matter of law, or
otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them
harmless.
ARTICLE 18. SUCCESSORS
All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards granted
hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the
existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase,
merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business
and/or assets of the Company.
ARTICLE 19. LEGAL CONSTRUCTION
19.1. Gender and Number. Except where otherwise indicated by the context,
any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall
include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.
19.2. Severability. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held
illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect
the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as
if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
19.3. Requirements of Law. The granting of Awards and the issuance of
Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and
regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national
securities exchanges as may be required.
19.4. Securities Law Compliance. With respect to Insiders, transactions
under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions or Rule
16b-3 or its successors under the 1934 Act. To the extent any provision of the
plan or action by the Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and
void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee.
19.5. Governing Law. To the extent not preempted by federal law, the Plan,
and all agreements hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed
by the laws of the state of Delaware.
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