MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.
1995 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
as Amended and Restated on March 18, 1997
1. Purpose. The purpose of the MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. 1995 Equity
Incentive Plan as amended and restated herein (the "Plan") is to provide an
additional incentive to officers, other eligible key employees and directors of
MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and its
Subsidiaries (as hereinafter defined) upon whom responsibilities for the
successful operation, administration and management of the Company rest and
whose present or potential contributions are important to the continued success
of the Company, and to enable the Company to attract and retain in its employ
and as directors highly qualified persons for the successful conduct of its
business. It is intended that this purpose will be effected through the granting
of incentive and nonqualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, or
Performance Share Awards, as provided herein (as each term is hereinafter
defined and collectively defined as the "Awards").
2. Definitions. For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be
defined as follows:
"Affiliate" and "Associate" have the respective meanings ascribed
to such terms in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
"Award" means an award to an Eligible Employee (as hereinafter
defined) in the form of Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards, or
Performance Share Awards.
"Award Agreement" means an agreement granting an Award and
containing such terms and conditions as the Committee deems
appropriate and that are not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.
"Beneficial Owner" has the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule
13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
A "Change in Control" of the Company shall be deemed to have
occurred when (A) any Person (other than (x) the Company, any
Subsidiary of the Company, or any Parent of the Company including VEBA
AG, Huls Corporation and any of their Affiliates or (y) any employee
benefit plan of the Company or of any Subsidiary of the Company, or
any Person or entity organized, appointed or established by the
Company or any Subsidiary of the Company for or pursuant to the terms
of any such plan, alone or together with its Affiliates and
Associates) shall become the Beneficial Owner of twenty percent (20%)
or more of the then outstanding shares of Common Stock or the Combined
Voting Power of the Company's then outstanding voting securities
(except pursuant to an offer for all outstanding shares of Common
Stock at a price and upon such terms and conditions as a majority of
the Continuing Directors determine to be in the best interests of the
Company and its shareholders (other than the Person on whose behalf
the offer is being made) (an "Acquiring Person")), or (B) during any
period of two (2) consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning
of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than
a director who is a representative or nominee of an Acquiring Person)
whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the
Company's shareholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority
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 previously so approved (collectively, the "Continuing Directors"),
cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Change in Control shall be deemed to
have occurred if VEBA AG and any of its Affiliates are the Beneficial
Owners of fifty percent (50%) or more of the Combined Voting Power of
the Company's then outstanding voting securities and designees of VEBA
AG and its Affiliates constitute a majority of the Board.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"Combined Voting Power" means the combined voting power of the
Company's then outstanding voting securities.
"Committee" means the Compensation Committee appointed by the
Board pursuant to Section 3(a) hereof to administer the Plan.
"Common Stock" means the Voting Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share, of the Company.
"Disability" means, with respect to any Participant, that, as a
result of incapacity due to physical or mental illness, such
Participant is, or is reasonably likely to become, unable to perform
his or her duties for more than six (6) consecutive months or six (6)
months in the aggregate during any twelve (12) month period.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Fair Market Value" means, on any given date, the closing price
of the shares of Common Stock, as reported on the New York Stock
Exchange for such date or such national securities exchange as may be
designated by the Board or, if Common Stock was not traded on such
date, on the next preceding day on which Common Stock was traded.
"Incentive Stock Option" means a Stock Option which is an
"incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code
and designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option in an
Award Agreement.
"Nonqualified Stock Option" means a Stock Option which is not an
Incentive Stock Option.
"Parent" means any corporation which is a "parent corporation"
within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code with respect to the
Company.
"Participant" means an Eligible Employee to whom an Award has
been granted under the Plan.
"Performance Share Award" means a conditional Award of shares of
Common Stock granted to an Eligible Employee pursuant to Section 9
hereof.
"Person" means any person, entity or "group" within the meaning
of Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act.
"Restricted Stock Award" means an Award of shares of Common Stock
granted to an Eligible Employee pursuant to Section 8 hereof.
"Retirement" means retirement from active employment with the
Company and its Subsidiaries on or after the attainment of age 55, or
such other retirement date as may be approved by the Committee for
purposes of the Plan and specified in the applicable Award Agreement,
but shall not include the termination of the directorship of a
nonemployee director.
"Stock Option" means an Award to purchase shares of Common Stock
granted to an Eligible Employee pursuant to Section 7 hereof.
"Subsidiary" means any corporation which is a "subsidiary
corporation" within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code with
respect to the Company.
"Ten Percent Shareholder" means an Eligible Employee who, at the
time an Incentive Stock Option is to be granted to him or her, owns
(within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code,) stock
possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total Combined Voting
Power of all classes of stock of the Company, or of a Parent or a
Subsidiary.
"Window Period" means the ten (10) business day period in each
fiscal quarter of the Company commencing on the third (3rd) business
day following the release for publication of the Company's quarterly
or annual sales and earnings for the next preceding fiscal quarter or
year, as the case may be, and ending on the twelfth (12th) business
day following such date of release.
3. Administration of the Plan.
(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall be
comprised of no fewer than two members of the Board who shall be appointed
from time to time by the Board. Members of the Committee shall serve at the
pleasure of the Board and the Board may from time to time remove members
from, or add members to, the Committee. All determinations of the Committee
at a meeting shall be made by a majority of the members in attendance. Any
decision or determination reduced to writing and signed by all the members
shall be fully as effective as if it had been made by a majority vote at a
meeting duly called and held. No member of the Committee shall be
personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in
good faith with respect to the Plan, and all members of the Committee shall
be indemnified by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by the
certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or applicable
Delaware law with respect to any such action, determination or
interpretation.
(b) Within the limitations described herein, the Committee shall
administer the Plan, select the Eligible Employees to whom Awards will be
granted, determine the number and type of Awards to be granted to each such
Eligible Employee, determine the terms and conditions applicable to each
Award (which need not be identical), make any amendment or modification to
any Award Agreement consistent with the terms of the Plan, and interpret,
construe and implement the provisions of the Plan. The Committee shall have
the authority to adopt rules and regulations for administering the Plan
which shall not be inconsistent with the terms of the Plan. Decisions of
the Committee shall be binding on the Company, on all Eligible Employees
and Participants and all other persons having any interest in the Plan. The
Company shall effect the granting of Awards under the Plan in accordance
with the determinations made by the Committee, which shall be evidenced by
an Award Agreement.
(c) The Committee shall have the authority to adopt such rules and
regulations and to add such terms, conditions and sub-schemes to the Plan
as it deems necessary or desirable to permit or facilitate the granting of
Awards under the Plan to, or obtain favorable tax treatment for, Eligible
Employees resident for tax purposes in jurisdictions outside the United
States; provided, however, that any such rule, regulation, term, condition
or sub-scheme shall not be inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.
(d) Any act that the Committee is authorized to perform hereunder may
instead be performed by the Board at its discretion, and to the extent the
Board so acts, references in the Plan to the Committee shall refer to the
Board as applicable.
4. Duration of Plan. The Plan shall remain in effect until terminated by
the Board of Directors and thereafter until all Awards granted under the Plan
are satisfied by the issuance of shares of Common Stock or the payment of cash
or are terminated under the terms of the Plan or under the Award Agreement
entered into in connection with the grant thereof. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no Awards may be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary
of the Effective Date (as hereinafter defined).
5. Shares of Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to adjustment as provided
in Section 13(b) hereof, the number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued
under the Plan pursuant to Awards shall not exceed, in the aggregate, 3,597,045,
less the number of shares that may be reserved for issuance under the Company's
Retirement Savings Plan or under any broad-based employee stock purchase plan.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no more than 1,692,727 shares may be made subject
to Awards hereunder without the approval of the Board. Such shares may consist
in whole or in part, as the Board shall from time to time determine, of
authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares. To the fullest extent
permitted under Section 422 of the Code, any shares subject to an Award which
lapses, expires or is otherwise terminated without the issuance of such shares,
may again be available for purposes of the Plan.
6. Maximum Number of Shares per Eligible Employee. To satisfy the
requirements under Section 162(m) of the Code, no Eligible Employee whose
Performance Award the Committee reasonably believes will be subject to Section
162(m) of the Code shall receive a grant of Awards with respect to more than
325,000 shares of Common Stock in any Plan year.
7. Eligible Employees. Awards may be granted by the Committee to
individuals ("Eligible Employees") who are either directors or salaried
employees of the Company or a Subsidiary with potential to contribute to the
future success of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Awards shall not be affected
by any change of duties or positions so long as the holder continues to be an
employee or director of the Company or of a Subsidiary.
8. Stock Options. Stock Options granted under the Plan may be in the form
of Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options. Stock Options granted
under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall
contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of
the Plan, as the Committee shall deem appropriate:
(a) Award Agreement. Stock Options shall be evidenced by an Award
Agreement in such form and containing such terms and conditions as the
Committee deems appropriate and which are not inconsistent with the terms
of the Plan.
(b) Terms of Stock Options Generally. Subject to the terms of the Plan
and the applicable Award Agreement, each Stock Option shall entitle the
Participant to whom such Stock Option was granted to purchase, upon payment
of the relevant exercise price, the number of shares of Common Stock
specified in the Award Agreement.
(c) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Common Stock
purchasable under a Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee at
the time of grant and set forth in the Award Agreement; provided, however,
that the exercise price shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%)
of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant
(110% in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent
Shareholder). The exercise price for any Stock Options granted concurrently
with the initial public offering will be equal to the initial public
offering price.
(d) Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the
Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement; provided, however, that a
Stock Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10)
years after the date the Stock Option is granted (five (5) years in the
case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Shareholder).
(e) Exercisability. A Stock Option shall be exercisable at such time
or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by
the Committee. The Committee may provide that Stock Options shall be
exercisable in whole or in part based upon length of service or attainment
of specified performance criteria. The Committee, in its sole discretion,
may provide for the acceleration of vesting of a Stock Option, in whole or
in part, based on such factors or criteria (including specified performance
criteria) as the Committee may determine.
(f) Method of Exercise. A Stock Option may be exercised, in whole or
in part, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying the
number of shares to be purchased. Such notice shall be accompanied by
payment in full of the exercise price either by cash, certified or bank
check, note or other instrument acceptable to the Committee. Except as set
forth in Section 8(i) hereof, as determined by the Committee in its sole
discretion, payment of the exercise price may also be made in full or in
part in shares of Common Stock with a Fair Market Value (determined as of
the date of exercise of such Stock Option and, where such shares are
withheld (as described below), net of the applicable exercise price) at
least equal to such full or partial payment. Common Stock used to pay the
exercise price may be shares that are already owned by the Participant, or
the Company may withhold shares of Common Stock that would otherwise have
been received by the Participant upon exercise of the Stock Option. In its
discretion, the Committee may also permit any Participant to exercise an
Option through a "cashless exercise" procedure involving a broker or dealer
approved by the Committee, provided that the Participant has delivered an
irrevocable notice of exercise (the "Notice") to the broker or dealer and
such broker or dealer agrees: (A) to sell immediately the number of shares
of Common Stock specified in the Notice to be acquired upon exercise of the
Option in the ordinary course of its business, (B) to pay promptly to the
Company the aggregate exercise price (plus the amount necessary to satisfy
any applicable tax liability) and (C) to pay to the Participant the balance
of the proceeds of the sale of such shares over the amount determined under
clause (B) of this sentence, less applicable commissions and fees;
provided, however, that the Committee may modify the provisions of this
sentence to the extent necessary to conform the exercise of the Option to
Regulation T under the Exchange Act. The manner in which the exercise price
may be paid may be subject to certain conditions specified by the
Committee. If requested by the Committee, the Participant shall deliver the
Award Agreement evidencing an exercised Stock Option to the Secretary of
the Company, who shall endorse thereon a notation of such exercise and
return such Award Agreement to the Participant exercising the Option. No
fractional shares (or cash in lieu thereof) shall be issued upon exercise
of a Stock Option and the number of shares that may be purchased upon
exercise shall be rounded to the nearest number of whole shares.
(g) Rights as Shareholder. A Participant shall have no rights as a
shareholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of a Stock Option until a certificate or certificates evidencing
the shares of Common Stock shall have been issued to the Participant and,
subject to Sections 13(b) and 13(c), no adjustment shall be made for
dividends or distributions or other rights in respect of any share for
which the record date is prior to the date on which the Participant shall
become the holder of record thereof.
(h) Special Rule for Incentive Stock Options. With respect to
Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan, if the aggregate Fair
Market Value (determined as of the date the Incentive Stock Option is
granted) of the number of shares with respect to which Incentive Stock
Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any
calendar year under all plans of the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary
exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) or such other limit as may
be required by the Code, such Incentive Stock Options shall be treated, to
the extent of such excess, as Nonqualified Stock Options. No Incentive
Stock Option shall be granted to any person who is not an employee at the
time of grant.
(i) Payment Alternatives for Section 16 Persons. Persons subject to
Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall have the unfettered right (but not the
obligation) to pay the exercise price in full or in part in shares of
Common Stock with a Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of
exercise of such Stock Option and, where such shares are withheld (as
described below), net of the applicable exercise price) at least equal to
such full or partial payment. Common Stock used to pay the exercise price
may be shares that are already owned by the Participant who is subject to
Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or such Participant shall have the right
but not the obligation to direct the Company to withhold shares of Common
Stock that would otherwise have been received by such Participant upon
exercise of the Stock Option. It is the intent of this provision that the
transactions described in this subsection qualify for the exemption from
short-swing profit liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act pursuant
to the "disposition to the issuer" exemption set forth at Rule 16b-3(e)
promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
9. Restricted Stock Awards. Restricted Stock Awards granted under the Plan
shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall contain such
additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the
Committee shall deem appropriate:
(a) Award Agreement. Restricted Stock Awards shall be evidenced by an
Award Agreement in such form and containing such restrictions, terms and
conditions as the Committee deems appropriate and which are not
inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, including, without limitation,
restrictions on the sale, assignment, transfer or other disposition of such
shares and provisions requiring that a Participant forfeit such shares upon
a termination of employment or directorship for specified reasons within a
specified period of time.
(b) Terms of Restricted Stock Awards Generally. Restricted Stock
Awards may be granted under the Plan in such form as the Committee may from
time to time approve. Restricted Stock Awards may be granted for no
consideration or such consideration as the Committee deems appropriate.
Restricted Stock Awards may be granted alone or in addition to other Awards
under the Plan. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall
determine the number of shares of Common Stock subject to each Restricted
Stock Award granted to a Participant, and the Committee may impose
different terms and conditions on any particular Restricted Stock Award
granted to any Participant. Each Participant receiving a Restricted Stock
Award shall be issued a certificate or certificates in respect of such
shares of Common Stock at the time of grant. Such certificate shall be
registered in the name of such Participant, and shall bear an appropriate
legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to
such Award. The Committee may require that the certificate or certificates
evidencing such shares be held in custody by the Company until the
restrictions thereon shall have lapsed, and that, as a condition of any
Restricted Stock Award, the Participant shall have delivered a stock power,
endorsed in blank, relating to the Common Stock covered by such Award.
(c) Restriction Period. Restricted Stock Awards shall provide that, in
order for a Participant to vest in such Awards, such Participant must
remain in the employment or directorship of the Company or its
Subsidiaries, subject to such exceptions as the Committee may determine in
its sole discretion for specified reasons for a period commencing on the
date of the Award and ending on such later date or dates as the Committee
may designate at the time of the Award and set forth in the Award Agreement
(the "Restriction Period"). During the Restriction Period, a Participant
may not sell, assign, transfer, pledge, encumber or otherwise dispose of
shares of Common Stock received under a Restricted Stock Award. The
Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for the lapse of
restrictions in installments during the Restriction Period and may waive or
accelerate such restrictions in whole or in part, based on such factors or
criteria, including specified performance criteria, as the Committee may
determine. Upon expiration of the applicable Restriction Period (or lapse
of restrictions during the Restriction Period), the Participant shall be
vested in the Restricted Stock Award, or applicable portion thereof.
(d) Rights as Shareholder. Except as otherwise provided by the
Committee in its sole discretion, a Participant shall have, with respect to
the shares of Common Stock received under a Restricted Stock Award, all of
the rights of a shareholder of the Company, including the right to vote the
shares and the right to receive any cash dividends. Stock dividends issued
with respect to shares covered by a Restricted Stock Award shall be treated
as additional shares under the Restricted Stock Award and shall be subject
to the same restrictions and other terms and conditions that apply to the
shares with respect to which such dividends are issued.
10. Performance Share Awards. Performance Share Awards granted under the
Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall contain
such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the
Committee shall deem appropriate:
(a) Award Agreement. Performance Share Awards shall be evidenced by an
Award Agreement in such form and containing such terms and conditions as
the Committee deems appropriate and which are not inconsistent with the
terms of the Plan. Each Award Agreement shall set forth the number of
shares of Common Stock to be received by a Participant upon satisfaction of
certain specified performance criteria and subject to such other terms and
conditions as the Committee deems appropriate.
(b) Terms of Performance Share Awards Generally. Performance Share
Awards may be granted under the Plan in such form as the Committee may from
time to time approve. Performance Share Awards may be granted for no
consideration or such consideration as the Committee deems appropriate.
Performance Share Awards may be granted alone or in addition to other
Awards under the Plan. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee
shall determine the number of shares of Common Stock subject to each
Performance Share Award granted to a Participant.
(c) Performance Goals. Performance Share Awards shall provide that, in
order for a Participant to be entitled to receive shares of Common Stock
under such Award, the Company and/or the Participant must achieve certain
specified performance goals ("Performance Goals") over a designated
performance period ("Performance Period"). The Performance Goals and
Performance Period shall be established by the Committee in its sole
discretion. The Committee shall establish the Performance Goals for each
Performance Period before, or as soon as practicable after, the
commencement of the Performance Period. In setting Performance Goals, the
Committee may use such measures as net earnings, operating earnings or
income, absolute and/or relative return on equity or assets, earnings per
share, cash flow, pretax profits, earnings growth, revenue growth,
comparison to peer companies, any combination of the foregoing, or such
other measure or measures of performance, including individual measures of
performance, in such manner as it deems appropriate. Prior to the end of a
Performance Period, with respect to any Participant the deductibility of
whose Performance Award will not, in the reasonable belief of the
Committee, be subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may, in
its discretion, adjust the performance objectives to reflect a Change in
Capitalization (as hereinafter defined) or any other event which may
materially affect the performance of the Company, a Subsidiary or a
division, including, but not limited to, market conditions or a significant
acquisition or disposition of assets or other property by the Company, a
Subsidiary or a division. With respect to any Participant, the
deductibility of whose Performance Award may, in the reasonable belief of
the Committee, be subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee
shall not be entitled to exercise the discretion conferred upon it in the
preceding sentence to the extent the existence or exercise of such
discretion would result in a loss of tax deductibility under such Section
162(m) of the Code. The extent to which a Participant is entitled to
payment of a Performance Share Award at the end of the Performance Period
shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, based on the
Committee's determination of whether the Performance Goals established by
the Committee in the granting of such Performance Share Award have been
met.
(d) Payment of Awards. Payment in settlement of a Performance Share
Award shall be made as soon as practicable following the conclusion of the
respective Performance Period, or at such other time as the Committee shall
determine, in shares of Common Stock.
(e) Rights as Shareholder. Except as otherwise provided by the
Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant shall have no
rights as a shareholder with respect to a Performance Share Award until a
certificate or certificates evidencing the shares of Common Stock shall
have been issued to the Participant following the conclusion of the
Performance Period, and, subject to Sections 13(b) and 13(c), no adjustment
shall be made for dividends or distributions or other rights in respect of
any share for which the record date is prior to the date on which the
Participant shall become the holder of record thereof.
11. Termination of Employment.
(a) Disability or Retirement. Except as may otherwise be provided by
the Committee in its sole discretion at the time of grant or subsequent
thereto, if a Participant's employment with the Company and its
Subsidiaries terminates by reason of Retirement or if a Participant's
employment (or, with respect to a nonemployee director, his directorship)
terminates by reason of Disability, (i) any Stock Option held by the
Participant may thereafter be exercised, to the extent it was exercisable
on the date of termination, for a period (the "Exercise Period") of one (1)
year from the date of such Disability or Retirement or until the expiration
of the stated term of the Stock Option, whichever period is shorter, and to
the extent not exercisable on the date of termination, such Stock Option
shall be forfeited; provided, however, that if a Participant terminates
employment by reason of Retirement and such Participant holds an Incentive
Stock Option, the Exercise Period shall not exceed the shorter of three (3)
months from the date of Retirement and the remainder of the stated term of
such Incentive Stock Option; provided further, however, that if the
Participant dies during the Exercise Period, any unexercised Stock Option
held by such Participant may thereafter be exercised to the extent it was
exercisable on the date of Disability or Retirement, by the legal
representative or beneficiary of the Participant, for a period of one (1)
year from the date of such death or until the expiration of the stated term
of such Stock Option, whichever period is shorter (or, in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option, for a period equal to the remainder of the Exercise
Period), and (ii) if such termination is prior to the end of the applicable
Restriction Period (with respect to a Restricted Stock Award) or
Performance Period (with respect to a Performance Share Award), the number
of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award which have not been earned
as of the date of Disability or Retirement shall be forfeited. In
determining whether to exercise its discretion under the first sentence of
this Section 11(a) with respect to an Incentive Stock Option the Committee
may consider the provisions of Section 422 of the Code.
(b) Death. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Committee in its
sole discretion at the time of grant or subsequent thereto, if a
Participant's employment or directorship with the Company and its
Subsidiaries terminates by reason of death, (i) any Stock Option held by
the Participant may thereafter be exercised, to the extent it was
exercisable on the date of death, by the legal representative or
beneficiary of the Participant, for a period of one (1) year from the date
of the Participant's death or until the expiration of the stated term of
such Stock Option, whichever period is shorter, and to the extent not
exercisable on the date of death, such Stock Option shall be forfeited and
(ii) if such termination is prior to the end of the applicable Restriction
Period (with respect to a Restricted Stock Award) or Performance Period
(with respect to a Performance Share Award), the number of shares of Common
Stock subject to such Award which have not been earned as of the date of
death shall be forfeited.
(c) Other Terminations. Unless the Committee determines otherwise in
its sole discretion at the time of grant or subsequent thereto, if a
Participant's employment or directorship with the Company and its
Subsidiaries terminates for any reason other than death, Disability or
Retirement, (i) any Stock Option held by the Participant may thereafter be
exercised, to the extent it was exercisable on the date of termination, for
a period of sixty (60) days from the date of such termination or until the
expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option, whichever period is
shorter, and to the extent not exercisable on the date of termination, such
Stock Option shall be forfeited, and (ii) if such termination is prior to
the end of the applicable Restriction Period (with respect to a Restricted
Stock Award) or Performance Period (with respect to a Performance Share
Award), the number of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award which
have not been earned as of the date of such termination shall be forfeited.
In determining whether to exercise its discretion under the first sentence
of this Section 10(c) with respect to an Incentive Stock Option, the
Committee may consider the provisions of Section 422 of the Code.
12. Non-transferability of Awards. No Awards under the Plan or any rights
or interests therein may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise
encumbered or disposed of except by will or the laws of descent and
distribution; provided, however, that with respect to any Award that is not an
Incentive Stock Option, the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to the extent
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion at the time of grant and set
forth in the applicable Award Agreement; provided further, however, that if so
determined by the Committee, a Participant may, in the manner established by the
Committee, designate a beneficiary to exercise the rights of the Participant
with respect to any Award upon the death of the Participant. During the lifetime
of a Participant, Stock Options shall be exercisable only by, and payments in
settlement of Awards shall be payable only to, the Participant.
13. Recapitalization or Reorganization.
(a) The existence of the Plan, the Award Agreements and the Awards
granted hereunder shall not affect or restrict in any way the right or
power of the Company or the shareholders of the Company to make or
authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change
in the Company's capital structure or its business, any merger or
consolidation of the Company, any issue of stock or of options, warrants or
rights to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior
preference stocks whose rights are superior to or affect the Common Stock
or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for
Common Stock, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale
or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other
corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement,
in the event of any change in the outstanding Common Stock by reason of a
stock dividend, recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation,
stock split, combination or exchange of shares (a "Change in
Capitalization"), (i) such proportionate adjustments as may be necessary
(in the form determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) to reflect
such change shall be made to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights
of Participants under the Plan with respect to (a) the aggregate number of
shares of Common Stock for which Awards in respect thereof may be granted
under the Plan, (b) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which
are subject to Awards hereunder without the approval of the Board pursuant
to Section 5 hereof, (c) the number of shares of Common Stock covered by
each outstanding Award, and (d) the exercise or Award prices in respect
thereof and (ii) the Committee may make such other adjustments, consistent
with the foregoing, as it deems appropriate in its sole discretion.
(c) Upon the occurrence of a merger of, or consolidation involving,
the Company in which the Common Stock is converted into securities of
another corporation or into cash, or any other transaction that results in
the Common Stock no longer being publicly traded, at the sole discretion of
the Committee, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate,
the Committee may provide either by the terms of an Award granted under the
Plan or by a resolution adopted prior to the occurrence of such event that
upon such event, such Award shall be assumed by the successor corporation,
or a Parent or Subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by a similar
Award, covering the stock of the successor corporation, or a Parent or
Subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind
of shares and exercise or Award prices.
14. Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control and except as
the Committee (as constituted immediately prior to such Change in Control) may
otherwise determine in its sole discretion, (i) all Stock Options then
outstanding shall become fully exercisable as of the date of the Change in
Control, whether or not then exercisable, (ii) all restrictions and conditions
of all Restricted Stock Awards then outstanding shall lapse as of the date of
the Change in Control and (iii) all Performance Share Awards shall be deemed to
have been fully earned as of the date of the Change in Control.
15. Amendment of the Plan. The Board may at any time and from time to time
terminate, modify, or amend the Plan in any respect, except that no termination,
modification or amendment shall be effective without shareholder approval if
such approval is required to comply with any law, regulation or stock exchange
rule. No termination or amendment of the Plan shall, without the consent of a
Participant to whom any Awards shall previously have been granted, adversely
affect his or her rights under such Awards.
16. Miscellaneous.
(a) Tax Withholding. (i) The Company and its Subsidiaries shall have
the right to deduct from any cash payment made under the Plan any federal,
state or local taxes of any kind required to be withheld with respect to
such payment. It shall be a condition to the obligation of the Company to
deliver shares of Common Stock pursuant to any Award under the Plan that
the recipient of such Award pay to the Company such amount as may be
required by the Company for the purpose of satisfying any liability for any
such withholding taxes. Any Award granted under the Plan may require the
Company, or permit the recipient of such Award to elect, in accordance with
any applicable rules established by the Committee, to withhold or to pay
all or a part of the amount of such withholding taxes in shares of Common
Stock, provided, however, that regardless of whether set forth in the Award
Agreement, any person subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall have
the unfettered right but not the obligation to direct and compel the
Company to withhold, or to accept from such person, such number of shares
of Common Stock valued at the Fair Market Value on the date of such payment
as is necessary to pay, in whole or in part, such person's withholding tax
obligation. Except for elections made by persons subject to Section 16 of
the Exchange Act, elections by all other Participants may be denied by the
Committee in its sole discretion, or may be made subject to certain
conditions specified by the Committee. Neither the Board of Directors nor
the Committee shall have any discretion with respect to the elections by
persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in order that such
transactions shall qualify for the exemption from short-swing profit
liability pursuant to the "disposition to the issuer" exemption set forth
at Rule 16b-3(e) promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(ii) The applicable Award Agreement for an Incentive Stock Option
shall provide that if a Participant makes a disposition, within the
meaning of Section 424(c) of the Code and the regulations promulgated
thereunder, of any share of Common Stock issued to such Participant
pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option within the two
(2)-year period commencing on the day after the date of the grant or
within the one (1)-year period commencing on the day after the date of
transfer of such share of Common Stock to the Participant pursuant to
such exercise, the Participant shall, within ten (10) days of such
disposition, notify the Company thereof, by delivery of written notice
to the Company at its principal executive office.
(b) Loans. On such terms and conditions as shall be approved by the
Committee, the Company may directly or indirectly lend money to a
Participant to accomplish the purposes of the Plan, including to assist
such Participant to acquire or carry shares of Common Stock acquired upon
the exercise of Stock Options granted hereunder, and the Committee may also
separately lend money to any Participant to pay taxes with respect to any
of the transactions contemplated by the Plan.
(c) No Right to Grants or Employment. No Eligible Employee or
Participant shall have any claim or right to receive grants of Awards under
the Plan. Nothing in the Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement shall
confer upon any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary any right to
continued employment with the Company or any Subsidiary, as the case may
be, or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or a Subsidiary
to terminate the employment of any of its employees at any time, with or
without cause.
(d) Unfunded Plan. The Plan shall be unfunded and the Company shall
not be required to segregate any assets that may at any time be represented
by Awards under the Plan. Any liability of the Company to any person with
respect to any Award under the Plan shall be based solely upon any
contractual obligations that may be effected pursuant to the Plan. No such
obligation of the Company shall be deemed to be secured by any pledge of,
or other encumbrance on, any property of the Company.
(e) Other Employee Benefit Plans. Payments received by a Participant
under any Award made pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall not be
included in, nor have any effect on, the determination of benefits under
any other employee benefit plan or similar arrangement provided by the
Company.
(f) Securities Law Restrictions. The Committee may require each
Eligible Employee purchasing or acquiring shares of Common Stock pursuant
to a Stock Option or other Award under the Plan to represent to and agree
with the Company in writing that such Eligible Employee is acquiring the
shares for investment and not with a view to the distribution thereof. All
certificates for shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan shall be
subject to such stock-transfer orders and other restrictions as the
Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York Stock
Exchange or any other stock exchange upon which the Common Stock is then
listed, and any applicable federal or state securities law, and the
Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates
to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. No shares of Common
Stock shall be issued hereunder unless the Company shall have determined
that such issuance is in compliance with, or pursuant to an exemption from,
all applicable federal and state securities laws.
(g) Compliance with Rule 16b-3. Notwithstanding anything contained in
the Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, if the consummation of any
Award under the Plan would result in the possible imposition of liability
on a Participant pursuant to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the
Committee shall have the right, in its sole discretion, but shall not be
obligated, to defer such transaction to the extent necessary to avoid such
liability, but in no event for a period in excess of 180 days.
(h) Deductibility Under Code Section 162(m). Awards granted under the
Plan to Eligible Employees which the Committee reasonably believes may be
subject to Section 162(m) of the Code shall not be exercisable, and payment
under the Plan in connection with such an Award shall not be made, unless
and until the Committee has determined in its sole discretion that such
exercise or payment would no longer be subject to Section 162(m) of the
Code.
(i) Award Agreement. Each Eligible Employee receiving an Award under
the Plan shall enter into an Award Agreement in a form specified by the
Committee agreeing to the terms and conditions of the Award and such other
matters as the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, determine. In the
event of any conflict or inconsistency between the Plan and any such Award
Agreement, the Plan shall govern, and the Award Agreement shall be
interpreted to minimize or eliminate any such conflict or inconsistency.
(j) Costs of Plan. The costs and expenses of administering the Plan
shall be borne by the Company.
(k) Governing Law. Except as to matters of federal law, the Plan and
all actions taken thereunder shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to
conflicts of law principles.
(l) Effective Date. The Plan as amended and restated herein shall be
effective on March 18, 1997 (the "Effective Date").