Exhibit 10.2
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION
MANAGEMENT STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
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Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2005
SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION
MANAGEMENT STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
(AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2005)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1 -INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................1
1.1 Purpose..............................................................................................1
1.2 Restatement..........................................................................................1
1.3 Effect of Restatement; Plan Bifurcation..............................................................1
1.4 Section 409A of the Code.............................................................................1
ARTICLE 2 -DEFINITIONS.......................................................................................................1
2.1 Affiliate............................................................................................1
2.2 Award Date...........................................................................................2
2.3 Award Value..........................................................................................2
2.4 Beneficiary..........................................................................................2
2.5 Bonus................................................................................................2
2.6 Board of Directors...................................................................................2
2.7 Cause................................................................................................2
2.8 Code.................................................................................................2
2.9 Committee............................................................................................2
2.10 Common Stock or Stock................................................................................2
2.11 Company..............................................................................................3
2.12 Cost.................................................................................................3
2.13 Deferral Period......................................................................................3
2.14 Disability...........................................................................................3
2.15 Exchange Act.........................................................................................3
2.16 Extension of Deferral Election Form..................................................................3
2.17 Fair Market Value....................................................................................3
2.18 Fiscal Year..........................................................................................3
2.19 Foreign Jurisdiction.................................................................................3
2.20 Grandfathered Plan...................................................................................3
2.21 Participant..........................................................................................3
2.22 Plan.................................................................................................4
2.23 Plan Year............................................................................................4
2.24 Restatement Effective Date...........................................................................4
2.25 Retirement...........................................................................................4
2.26 RSU..................................................................................................4
2.27 Rule 16b-3...........................................................................................4
2.28 Specified Employee...................................................................................4
2.29 Subscription Agreement...............................................................................4
2.30 Subsequent Deferral Period...........................................................................4
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ARTICLE 3 -SHARES RESERVED....................................................................................................4
ARTICLE 4 -ADMINISTRATION.....................................................................................................5
4.1 Administration of the Plan...........................................................................5
4.2 Decisions Binding....................................................................................5
4.3 Delegation of Authority..............................................................................5
4.4 Indemnification......................................................................................5
ARTICLE 5 -ELIGIBILITY........................................................................................................6
ARTICLE 6 -PURCHASES..........................................................................................................6
6.1 General..............................................................................................6
6.2 Voluntary Purchases..................................................................................6
6.3 Awards of RSUs.......................................................................................7
6.4 Subsequent Deferral Election.........................................................................7
ARTICLE 7 -VESTING AND PAYMENT OF RSUS........................................................................................7
7.1 Vesting..............................................................................................7
7.2 Payment on or after Vesting..........................................................................7
7.3 Payment Prior to Vesting.............................................................................8
7.4 Special Rules for Specified Employees................................................................9
ARTICLE 8 -DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT AMOUNTS........................................................................................9
ARTICLE 9 -DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY.........................................................................................9
ARTICLE 10 -ADJUSTMENTS.......................................................................................................9
ARTICLE 11 -AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN.................................................................................10
ARTICLE 12 -MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.........................................................................................10
12.1 No Distribution; Compliance with Legal Requirements.................................................10
12.2 Withholding.........................................................................................10
12.3 Notices; Delivery of Stock Certificates.............................................................10
12.4 Nontransferability of Rights........................................................................11
12.5 Obligations Unfunded and Unsecured..................................................................11
12.6 Governing Law.......................................................................................11
12.7 Claims Procedure....................................................................................11
12.8 Rule 16b-3..........................................................................................12
12.9 No Employment Rights................................................................................12
12.10 Severability of Provisions..........................................................................12
12.11 Construction........................................................................................12
12.12 Effective Date of Plan..............................................................................12
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION
MANAGEMENT STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
(AMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2005)
ARTICLE 1 - INTRODUCTION
1.1 PURPOSE. The purpose of the Scholastic Corporation Management Stock
Purchase Plan (the "Plan") is to provide equity incentive compensation to
selected management employees of Scholastic Corporation and its Affiliates.
Participants in the Plan receive restricted stock units ("RSUs") at a discount
in lieu of a portion or all of their bonus awards under the Company's annual
incentive plan. Under certain circumstances, the RSUs convert into shares of
Common Stock. The Company believes that the Plan creates a means to provide
deferred compensation to such selected management employees and to raise the
level of stock ownership in the Company by such employees thereby strengthening
the mutuality of interests between such employees and the Company's
stockholders.
1.2 RESTATEMENT. The Company hereby amends and restates the Plan to
comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended. The effective date of this amendment and restatement of the
Plan is January 1, 2005.
1.3 EFFECT OF RESTATEMENT; PLAN BIFURCATION. RSUs granted under the Plan
on and after January 1, 2005, shall be governed by the terms and conditions of
the plan document as set forth herein. RSUs granted under the Plan prior to
January 1, 2005 shall be governed by the terms and conditions of the Plan as in
effect on December 31, 2004, which shall be known and referred to as the
"Grandfathered Plan." RSUs granted under the Plan prior to January 1, 2005,
which are not vested as of December 31, 2004, shall be governed by the terms and
conditions of the plan document set forth herein. Recordkeeping for the
Grandfathered Plan and the Plan shall be done separately.
1.4 SECTION 409A OF THE CODE. This Plan is intended to comply with the
applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code and shall be limited,
construed and interpreted in accordance with such intent. To the extent that any
payment or benefit hereunder is subject to Section 409A of the Code, it shall be
paid in a manner that will comply with Section 409A of the Code, including
proposed, temporary or final regulations or any other guidance issued by the
Secretary of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service with respect thereto.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, any provision in this Plan that
is inconsistent with Section 409A of the Code shall be deemed to be amended to
comply with Section 409A of the Code and to the extent such provision cannot be
amended to comply therewith, such provision shall be null and void.
ARTICLE 2 - DEFINITIONS
2.1 AFFILIATE. (i) Any corporation, partnership, limited liability
company or other entity as to which the Company possesses a direct or indirect
ownership interest of at least 50 percent or which possesses a direct or
indirect ownership interest of at least 50% in the Company including, without
limitation, any subsidiary corporation (as defined in Section 424(f)
of the Code) and parent corporation (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code)
and (ii) any other entity in which the Company or any of its Affiliates has a
material equity interest, as determined by the Committee.
2.2 AWARD DATE. The first business day after the end of the fiscal
quarter in which a Bonus for a year is paid or otherwise would have been paid.
2.3 AWARD VALUE. The Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the
Award Date.
2.4 BENEFICIARY. A Beneficiary or Beneficiaries designated by the
Participant under Article 9.
2.5 BONUS. A Participant's annual award for a Fiscal Year under any
annual incentive plan of the Company or its Affiliates that has been designated
by the Committee as eligible for deferral under the Plan pursuant to a
Subscription Agreement.
2.6 BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The Board of Directors of the Company or the
Executive Committee of such Board of Directors.
2.7 CAUSE. Any of the following: (i) any act or acts by the Participant
constituting a felony under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or
any political subdivision thereof, (ii) the Participant's willful and continued
failure to perform the duties assigned to him or her as an employee of the
Company or Affiliate; (iii) any material breach by the Participant of any
employment agreement with the Company or Affiliate; (iv) dishonesty, gross
negligence or malfeasance by the Participant in the performance of his or her
duties as an employee of the Company or any Affiliate or any conduct by the
Participant which involves a material conflict of interest with any business of
the Company or its Affiliates; or (v) taking or knowingly omitting to take any
other action or actions in the performance of the Participant's duties as an
employee of the Company or its Affiliates without informing appropriate members
of management to whom such Participant reports, which in the determination of
the Committee have caused or substantially contributed to the material
deterioration in the business of the Company and its Affiliates, taken as a
whole.
2.8 CODE. The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time.
2.9 COMMITTEE. The committee of the Board of Directors authorized to
administer the Plan. To the extent that no Committee exists which has the
authority to administer the Plan, the functions of the Committee shall be
exercised by the Board of Directors. The Committee shall consist of two or more
non-employee directors, each of whom is intended to be, to the extent required
by Rule 16b-3, a "non-employee director" as defined in Rule 16b-3. If for any
reason the appointed Committee does not meet the requirements of Rule 16b-3,
such noncompliance shall not affect the validity of any grants of RSUs
hereunder, interpretations or other actions of the Committee.
2.10 COMMON STOCK OR STOCK. Common stock of the Company, par value $.01
per share.
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2.11 COMPANY. Scholastic Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of Delaware (or any successor).
2.12 COST. The cost of purchasing an RSU under the Plan as of an Award
Date, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, but in no event
less than 75% of the lowest Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock during
the fiscal quarter immediately preceding the Award Date. The cost shall be
established as of the applicable Award Date and shall remain in effect unless
modified by the Committee at least 30 days prior to the applicable Award Date.
2.13 DEFERRAL PERIOD. A period of time (expressed in whole years) not
less than three years beginning on an Award Date as specified by the Participant
in his or her Subscription Agreement with respect to RSUs awarded on that Award
Date.
2.14 DISABILITY. The inability of a Participant to engage in any
substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or
mental impairment that may result in death and, in any case, is expected to
continue for a period of not less than 12 months.
2.15 EXCHANGE ACT. The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2.16 EXTENSION OF DEFERRAL ELECTION FORM. A form used by a Participant to
make a subsequent election to extend the Deferral Period applicable to his or
her RSUs. An Extension of Deferral Election Form shall contain such provisions,
consistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be established from time to
time by the Company or Committee.
2.17 FAIR MARKET VALUE. Unless otherwise required by any applicable
provision of the Code or any regulations issued thereunder, as of any date, the
last sales price reported for the Common Stock on the applicable date: (i) as
reported on the principal national securities exchange on which it is then
traded or the Nasdaq Stock Market or (ii) if not traded on any such national
securities exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market as quoted on an automated
quotation system sponsored by the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. If the Common Stock is not readily tradable on a national securities
exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market or any automated quotation system sponsored by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., its Fair Market Value
shall be set in good faith by the Committee.
2.18 FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Company.
2.19 FOREIGN JURISDICTION. Any jurisdiction outside of the United States
including, without limitation, countries, states, provinces and localities.
2.20 GRANDFATHERED PLAN. The terms and provisions of the Plan in effect
immediately prior to the Restatement Effective Date.
2.21 PARTICIPANT. A management employee of the Company or any Affiliate
who satisfies the eligibility requirements under Article 5 of the Plan and
elects to participate in the Plan in accordance with its terms.
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2.22 PLAN. The Scholastic Corporation Management Stock Purchase Plan, as
amended and restated effective as of January 1, 2005, and as may be amended from
time to time thereafter.
2.23 PLAN YEAR. The Fiscal Year.
2.24 RESTATEMENT EFFECTIVE DATE. January 1, 2005.
2.25 RETIREMENT. A termination of employment with the Company and all
Affiliates (other than for Cause) on or after age 55 in accordance with the
Company's standard retirement policies.
2.26 RSU. A unit of measurement equivalent to one share of Common Stock
but with none of the attendant rights of a stockholder of a share of Common
Stock, including the right to vote (if any); except that an RSU shall have the
dividend right described in Article 8. The fair market value of an RSU on any
date shall be deemed to be the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on
that date.
2.27 RULE 16b-3. Means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under Section 16(b) of the
Exchange Act or any successor provision.
2.28 SPECIFIED EMPLOYEE. Any Participant who is a "specified employee" as
defined in Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code and Section 1.409A-1(i)(1) of
the Proposed Treasury Regulations.
2.29 SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT. An agreement executed by a Participant
setting forth his or her election to defer receipt of a portion or all of his or
her Bonus for the Deferral Period and to authorize the Company to credit such
amount to the Plan in order to purchase an award of RSUs. A Subscription
Agreement shall contain such provisions, consistent with the provisions of the
Plan, as may be established from time to time by the Company or Committee.
2.30 SUBSEQUENT DEFERRAL PERIOD. A period of time (expressed in whole
years) of not less than five years, beginning on the date the Deferral Period is
scheduled to end, that is elected by a Participant with respect to his or her
RSUs in accordance with the requirements of Section 6.4 of the Plan.
ARTICLE 3 - SHARES RESERVED
The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance
pursuant to the Plan or with respect to which RSUs may be granted shall be
150,000, subject to adjustment as provided in Article 10 hereof.
Such number of shares may be set aside out of the authorized but unissued
shares of Common Stock not reserved for any other purpose, or out of issued
shares of Common Stock acquired for and held in the treasury of the Company. If
any RSU awarded under the Plan is forfeited, terminated or canceled for any
reason, the share of Common Stock relating to such RSU shall again be available
under the Plan. If Common Stock has been exchanged by a
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Participant as full or partial payment to the Company for withholding taxes or
otherwise or if the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable has
been reduced for withholding, the number of shares exchanged or reduced shall
again be available under the Plan.
ARTICLE 4 - ADMINISTRATION
4.1 ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall be administered by the
Committee. The Committee shall have full power and authority, subject to the
provisions of the Plan, to promulgate such rules and regulations as it deems
necessary for the proper administration of the Plan, to interpret the provisions
and supervise the administration of the Plan, and to take all actions in
connection therewith or in relation thereto as it deems necessary or advisable.
The Committee may adopt, amend or repeal any guidelines or requirements
necessary for the delivery of the Common Stock. The Committee may also adopt
special guidelines and provisions for persons who are residing in, or subject to
the laws of, Foreign Jurisdictions to comply with applicable tax and securities
laws.
4.2 DECISIONS BINDING. All interpretations and determinations of the
Committee shall be made in its sole and absolute discretion based on the Plan
document and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties with respect
to all matters relating to the Plan.
4.3 DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY. The Committee may select an administrator or
any other person to whom its duties and responsibilities hereunder may be
delegated. In addition, the Committee may employ such legal counsel,
consultants, brokers and agents as it may deem desirable for the administration
of the Plan and may rely upon any opinion received from any such counsel or
consultant and any computation received from any such consultant, broker or
agent. The Committee may also, in its sole discretion, designate an agent to
keep records, send statements of account to Participants and to perform other
duties relating to the Plan, as the Committee may request from time to time.
4.4 INDEMNIFICATION. The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted
by law and the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Company, to the
extent not covered by insurance, indemnify each director, officer or employee of
the Company and its Affiliates (including the respective heirs, executors,
administrators and other personal representatives of such persons) and each
member of the Committee against all expenses, costs, liabilities and losses
(including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, excise taxes or penalties, and
amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) actually and reasonably incurred by
such person in connection with any threatened, pending or actual suit, action or
proceeding (whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative in nature
or otherwise) in which such person may be involved by reason of the fact that he
or she is or was serving this Plan in any capacity at the request of the
Company, except in instances where any such person engages in willful neglect or
fraud. Such right of indemnification shall include the right to be paid by the
Company for expenses incurred or reasonably anticipated to be incurred in
defending any such suit, action or proceeding in advance of its disposition;
provided, however, that the payment of expenses in advance of the settlement or
final disposition of a suit, action or proceeding shall be made only upon
delivery to the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to
repay all amounts so advanced if it is ultimately determined that such person is
not entitled to be indemnified hereunder. Such
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indemnification shall be in addition to any rights of indemnification the person
may have as a director, officer or employee or under the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company or the By-Laws of the Company. Expenses incurred by
the Committee or the Board in the engagement of any such counsel, consultant or
agent shall be paid by the Company.
ARTICLE 5 - ELIGIBILITY
Management employees of the Company and its Affiliates as designated by
the Committee shall be eligible to participate in the Plan. Eligibility for
participation in the Plan shall be determined by the Committee in its sole
discretion. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, designate, on a
prospective basis, any Participant in the Plan as ineligible to receive awards
of RSUs pursuant to Article 6 of the Plan.
ARTICLE 6 - PURCHASES
6.1 GENERAL. Each Participant shall be entitled to elect to receive up to
100% of his or her Bonus in an award of RSUs. As of the applicable Award Date,
RSUs shall be awarded to Participants and credited to accounts held under the
Plan on behalf of Participants on a book-entry basis calculated in the manner
provided under Section 6.3 and in accordance with Article 1.
6.2 VOLUNTARY PURCHASES. No later than the last day of the second quarter
of the Fiscal Year in which the Bonus is earned (or such earlier date required
by Section 409A of the Code), each Participant may elect to receive up to 100%
of his or her Bonus for that Fiscal Year in an award of RSUs by completing a
Subscription Agreement and submitting it to the Company. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if a management employee of the Company or an Affiliate first becomes
eligible to participate in the Plan after the last day of the second quarter of
the Fiscal Year in which the Bonus is earned, such employee may elect to
participate in the Plan for that Plan Year provided he or she completes a
Subscription Agreement and submits it to the Company no later than 30 days after
the date the Participant first became eligible to participate in the Plan but
such Participant's participation shall be limited to the PRO RATA portion of the
Bonus earned after the Subscription Agreement is executed and delivered to the
Company. Each Subscription Agreement shall provide that the Participant elects
to receive RSUs in lieu of a specified portion of his or her Bonus. Such portion
may be expressed as:
(a) a specified percentage of up to 100% (in whole percentages) of the
Participant's actual Bonus amount;
(b) a specified dollar amount, up to 100% of the Participant's actual
Bonus amount; or
(c) the lesser of the amount specified in Section 6.2(a) or (b).
Amounts specified pursuant to any of the methods set forth herein are
entirely contingent on, and are limited to, the cash amount of Bonus actually
awarded. Each Subscription Agreement, in addition, shall specify a Deferral
Period with respect to the RSUs to which it pertains. Other than with respect to
a management employee of the Company or an Affiliate
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who first becomes eligible to participate hereunder during a Plan Year, in order
for a Subscription Agreement to be given effect, it must be received by the
Company no later than by the last day of the second quarter of the Fiscal Year
for which such Bonus will be determined. With respect to any Plan Year, an
election pursuant to a Subscription Agreement to receive RSUs in lieu of a
portion or all of a Bonus shall be irrevocable and will be effective on and
after the date the Subscription Agreement is executed by the Participant and
submitted to the Company. An election by a Participant to receive RSUs in lieu
of a portion or all of a Bonus shall be valid solely for the Plan Year to which
the election relates. If a Subscription Agreement is not timely made by a
Participant with respect to any subsequent Plan Year, the Bonus earned in that
Plan Year shall not be deferred under the Plan.
6.3 AWARDS OF RSUS. The Company shall award RSUs to each Participant's
account under the Plan on the Award Date. Each Participant's account shall be
credited with a number of RSUs (in whole and fractional RSUs) determined by
dividing (a) the amount of the Participant's Bonus to be received as an award of
RSUs in accordance with the Participant's Subscription Agreement and the
methodology under Section 6.2 by (b) the Cost of an RSU on the Award Date.
6.4 SUBSEQUENT DEFERRAL ELECTION. The Committee may, in its sole
discretion, permit Participants to make subsequent elections to extend the
Deferral Periods otherwise applicable to their respective RSUs. In order to be
effective, a subsequent election made by a Participant with respect to his or
her RSUs: (i) cannot take effect until at least 12 months after the date on
which the election is made; (ii) the subsequent deferral period elected by the
Participant may not be less than a five year period beginning on the date the
Deferral Period applicable to the RSUs would otherwise end; and (iii) the
election is made at least 12 months prior to the date the Deferral Period ends.
A Participant shall make his or her subsequent deferral election with respect to
his or her RSUs on the Extension of Deferral Period Form (or such other form or
agreement specified by the Committee, in its discretion). An election by a
Participant to extend the Deferral Period applicable to his or her RSUs shall be
valid solely with respect to the RSUs covered by the election.
ARTICLE 7 - VESTING AND PAYMENT OF RSUS
7.1 VESTING. A Participant shall be fully vested in each RSU three years
after the Award Date pertaining to that RSU (provided that the Participant is
continuously employed (including any period during which the Participant is on a
leave of absence, either paid or unpaid, which is approved by the Committee, or
any other break in employment which is approved by the Committee) by the Company
or any Affiliate for such years) or, if earlier, upon death while employed,
Disability while employed or Retirement. The Committee may, in its sole
discretion, accelerate (in whole or part) the time at which any such RSUs may be
vested but in no event shall the acceleration of vesting result in the
acceleration of payment of the RSUs to the Participant.
7.2 PAYMENT ON OR AFTER VESTING. With respect to each vested RSU, the
Company shall issue to the Participant one share of Common Stock and cash in
lieu of any fractional RSU as soon as practicable after the earlier of: (i) the
end of the Deferral Period specified in the Participant's Subscription Agreement
pertaining to such RSU, or, if applicable,
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the end of the Subsequent Deferral
Period elected by the Participant for such RSU or (ii) the Participant's
termination of employment with the Company and its Affiliates.
7.3 PAYMENT PRIOR TO VESTING.
(a) VOLUNTARY TERMINATION; TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. If a Participant
voluntarily terminates his or her employment with the Company and
its Affiliates for reasons other than death or Disability or is
involuntarily terminated by the Company or an Affiliate for Cause,
the Participant's nonvested RSUs shall be canceled, and he or she
shall receive as soon as practicable after his or her termination
of employment with the Company and its Affiliates a cash payment
equal to the lesser of:
i) an amount equal to the number of those nonvested RSUs
awarded on each Award Date multiplied by the respective
Cost of those RSUs; or
ii) an amount equal to the number of those nonvested RSUs
awarded on each Award Date multiplied by the Fair Market
Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of the
Participant's termination of employment with the Company
and its Affiliates.
(b) INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION. If a Participant's employment is
terminated by the Company and its Affiliates for any reason other
than Cause, the Participant's nonvested RSUs shall be canceled and
he or she shall receive payment as soon as practicable following
his or her termination of employment with the Company and its
Affiliates as described below:
i) The number of nonvested RSUs awarded on each Award Date
shall be multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which
is the number of full years that the Participant was
employed by the Company and its Affiliates after that Award
Date and the denominator of which is three; and the
Participant shall receive the resulting number of such
whole RSUs in shares of Common Stock, with any fractional
RSU paid in cash.
ii) With respect to the Participant's remaining nonvested RSUs,
the Participant shall receive cash in an amount equal to
the lesser of: (A) the number of such nonvested RSUs
awarded on each Award Date multiplied by the respective
Cost of those RSUs; or (B) the number of those nonvested
RSUs awarded on each Award Date multiplied by the Fair
Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of the
Participant's termination of employment with the Company
and its Affiliates.
(c) COMMITTEE'S DISCRETION. The Committee shall have complete
discretion to determine the circumstances of a Participant's
termination of employment with the Company and its Affiliates,
including whether the same results
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from voluntary termination, Disability, Retirement, death or
termination by the Company for or not for Cause, and the
Committee's determination shall be final and binding on all
parties and not subject to review or challenge by any Participant
or other person.
7.4 SPECIAL RULES FOR SPECIFIED EMPLOYEES. Notwithstanding anything in
this Plan to the contrary, any payment due under this Plan to a Participant who
is a Specified Employee as the result of such Participant's termination of
employment (other than due to death or Disability) shall be made to the
Participant no earlier than the first business day of the seventh month
following the month in which the Participant's termination of employment
occurred.
ARTICLE 8 - DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT AMOUNTS
Whenever dividends (other than dividends payable only in shares of Common
Stock) are paid with respect to shares of Common Stock, each Participant shall
be paid an amount in cash equal to the number of his or her vested RSUs
multiplied by the dividend value per share. Dividends (other than dividends
payable only in shares of Common Stock) shall not be credited or paid with
respect to each Participant's nonvested RSUs.
ARTICLE 9 - DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY
A Participant may designate one or more Beneficiaries to receive payments
or shares of Common Stock in the event of his or her death. A designation of
Beneficiary shall apply to a specified percentage of a Participant's entire
interest in the Plan. Such designation, or any change therein, must be in
writing in a form acceptable to the Company and shall be effective upon receipt
by the Company. If there is no effective designation of Beneficiary, or if no
Beneficiary survives the Participant, the Participant's estate shall be deemed
to be the Beneficiary.
ARTICLE 10 - ADJUSTMENTS
In the event of a stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split,
combination or reclassification of shares, recapitalization, merger,
consolidation, exchange, spin-off or other event which affects Common Stock, the
Committee shall make appropriate equitable adjustments in:
(a) the number or kind of shares of Common Stock or securities with
respect to which RSUs shall thereafter be granted;
(b) the number and kind of shares of Common Stock remaining subject to
outstanding RSUs;
(c) the number of RSUs credited to each Participant; and
(d) the method of determining the value of RSUs.
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ARTICLE 11 - AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN
The Company reserves the right to amend, terminate or freeze the Plan at
any time, by action of its Board of Directors (or a duly authorized committee
thereof ) or the Committee, provided that no such action shall adversely affect
a Participant's rights under the Plan with respect to RSUs awarded and vested
before the date of such action, provided, further that the Company may amend the
Plan and any elections hereunder at any time to comply with applicable law
(including, without limitation, Section 409A of the Code) without a
Participant's consent. No amendment shall be effective unless approved by the
stockholders of the Company if stockholder approval of such amendment is
required to comply with any applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule.
Upon termination of the Plan, any vested RSUs shall be paid in accordance with
Section 7.2 of the Plan and any nonvested RSUs shall be canceled and paid in
accordance with Section 7.3(b) of the Plan. Upon freezing of the Plan, all
vested RSUs shall continue to be held under the Plan until the Deferral Period
expires and all nonvested RSUs shall vest or become canceled in accordance with
the terms of the Plan.
ARTICLE 12 - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
12.1 NO DISTRIBUTION; COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. The Committee
may require each person acquiring shares of Common Stock under the Plan to
represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring
the shares without a view to distribution thereof. No shares of Common Stock
shall be issued until all applicable securities law and other legal and stock
exchange requirements have been satisfied. The Committee may require the placing
of such stop-orders and restrictive legends on certificates for Common Stock as
it deems appropriate.
12.2 WITHHOLDING. Participation in the Plan is subject to any required
tax withholding on wages or other income of the Participant in connection with
the Plan. Each Participant agrees, by entering the Plan, that the Company or the
Affiliate employing the Participant shall have the right to deduct any federal,
state or local income taxes or other taxes, in its sole discretion, from any
amount payable to the Participant under the Plan or from any payment of any kind
otherwise due to the Participant. Upon the vesting of the RSU Award, prior to
the issuance or delivery of shares of Common Stock or the payment of any cash
hereunder, a Participant shall pay all required withholding to the Company and,
if applicable, an Affiliate. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
any withholding obligation with regard to any Participant may be satisfied by:
(i) reducing the number of shares of Common Stock otherwise deliverable to the
Participant; (ii) subject to the Committee's prior consent, any method approved
by the Committee which may include the Participant delivering shares of Common
Stock already owned for at least six months (or such other period to avoid an
accounting charge against the Company's earnings) and held free and clear of all
encumbrances to the Company; or (iii) by the Participant paying cash directly to
the Company.
12.3 NOTICES; DELIVERY OF STOCK CERTIFICATES. Any notice required or
permitted to be given by the Company or the Committee pursuant to the Plan shall
be deemed given when personally delivered or deposited in the United States
mail, registered or certified, postage prepaid, addressed to the Participant at
the last address shown for the Participant on the records of the Company.
Delivery of stock certificates to persons entitled to receive them under the
Plan
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shall be deemed effected for all purposes when the Company or a share
transfer agent of the Company shall have deposited such certificates in the
United States mail, addressed to such person at his/her last known address on
file with the Company.
12.4 NONTRANSFERABILITY OF RIGHTS. During a Participant's lifetime, no
payment or issuance of shares under the Plan shall be made to anyone except the
Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. No
RSU Award or other interest under the Plan shall be subject in any manner to
anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance,
garnishment, execution, levy or charge, and any attempt by a Participant or any
Beneficiary under the Plan to do so shall be void. No interest under the Plan
shall in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts,
liabilities, engagements or torts or a Participant or Beneficiary entitled
thereto.
12.5 OBLIGATIONS UNFUNDED AND UNSECURED. The Plan shall at all times be
entirely unfunded, and no provision shall at any time be made with respect to
segregating assets of the Company (including Common Stock) for payment of any
amounts or issuance of any shares of Common Stock hereunder. No Participant or
other person shall own any interest in any particular assets of the Company or
any Affiliate (including Common Stock) by reason of the right to receive payment
under the Plan, and any Participant or other person shall have only the rights
of a general unsecured creditor of the Company with respect to any rights under
the Plan. Nothing contained in this Plan and no action taken pursuant to the
provisions of this Plan shall create or be construed to create a trust of any
kind, or a fiduciary relationship amongst the Company, any Affiliate, the
Committee, and the Participants, their designated Beneficiaries or any other
person. Any funds which may be invested under the provisions of this Plan shall
continue for all purposes to be part of the general funds of the Company and no
person other than the Company shall by virtue of the provisions of this Plan
have any interest in such funds. If the Company decides to establish any accrued
reserve on its books against the future expense of benefits payable hereunder,
or if the Company establishes a rabbi trust under this Plan, such reserve or
trust shall not under any circumstances be deemed to be an asset of the Plan.
12.6 GOVERNING LAW. The Plan is established in order to provide deferred
compensation to a select group of management and highly compensated employees
within the meanings of Sections 201(2) and 301(a)(3) of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"). To the extent legally
required, the Code and ERISA shall govern the Plan and, if any provision hereof
is in violation of any applicable requirement thereof, the Company reserves the
right to retroactively amend the Plan to comply therewith. To the extent not
governed by the Code and ERISA, the terms of the Plan shall be governed,
construed, administered and regulated in accordance with the laws of Delaware.
In the event any provision of this Plan shall be determined to be illegal or
invalid for any reason, the other provisions shall continue in full force and
effect as if such illegal or invalid provision had never been included herein.
12.7 CLAIMS PROCEDURE. A Participant or Beneficiary shall make any claim
(and, in the case of the denial of such claim, any appeal) in writing to the
Committee or such other person designated by the Committee in accordance with
the claims procedure established by the Committee, which is intended to comply
with the claims procedure provided under ERISA and U.S. Department of Labor
Regulation ss. 2560.503-1.
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12.8 RULE 16B-3. To the extent required, the Plan is intended to comply
with Rule 16b-3 and the Committee shall interpret and administer the provisions
of the Plan in a manner consistent therewith. If a management employee is
designated by the Committee to participate hereunder, any election to receive an
award of RSUs shall be deemed approved by such Committee and shall be deemed an
exempt purchase under Rule 16b-3. Any provisions inconsistent with Rule 16b-3
shall be inoperative and shall not affect the validity of the Plan.
12.9 NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS. The establishment and operation of this Plan
shall not confer any legal rights upon any Participant or other person for a
continuation of employment, nor shall it interfere with the rights of the
Company or Affiliate to discharge any employee and to treat him or her without
regard to the effect which that treatment might have upon him or her as a
Participant or potential Participant under the Plan.
12.10 SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS. If any provision of the Plan shall be
held invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not
affect any other provisions hereof, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced
as if such provisions had not been included.
12.11 CONSTRUCTION. The use of a masculine pronoun shall include the
feminine, and the singular form shall include the plural form, unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. The headings and captions herein are
provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of the
Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of the Plan.
12.12 EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN. The Plan was originally adopted effective
January 1, 1999, subject to approval of the stockholders of the Company as
provided under applicable law, regulation or stock exchange rule and was
subsequently amended and restated effective December 18, 2002. The Plan, as
amended and restated effective January 1, 2005, is set forth herein.
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