EXHIBIT 10.2
THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
1991 EXECUTIVE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
AS AMENDED
1. NAME AND GENERAL PURPOSE
The name of this plan is The New York Times Company 1991 Executive Stock
Incentive Plan (hereinafter called the "Plan"). The purpose of the Plan is to
enable the Company (as hereinafter defined) to retain and attract executives who
enhance its tradition and contribute to its success by their ability, ingenuity
and industry, and to enable them to participate in the long-term success and
growth of the Company.
2. DEFINITIONS
(a) "Awards"--has the meaning specified in Section 12 hereof.
(b) "Board"--means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) "Cash Plan"--means the Company's 1991 Executive Cash Bonus Plan.
(d) "Code"--means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(e) "Committee"--means the Committee referred to in Section 3 of the Plan.
If at any time no Committee shall be in office then the functions of the
Committee specified in the Plan shall be exercised by those members of the Board
who are Disinterested Persons.
(f) "Common Stock"--means shares of the Class A Common Stock of the Company.
(g) "Company"--means The New York Times Company, a corporation organized
under the laws of the State of New York (or any successor corporation), and its
subsidiaries (as hereinafter defined) and other non-corporate entities in which
it owns directly or indirectly 40% or more of the equity interests. A
"subsidiary" means any corporation in which the Company possesses directly or
indirectly 50% or more of the combined voting power of all classes of stock.
(h) "Consolidated Statement of Income"--means the consolidated statement of
income (or any comparable statement, however designated) of the Company, audited
by the independent certified public accountants of the Company and contained in
the Company's annual report to stockholders or proxy statement.
(i) "Disability"--means total disability as defined under the Company's
long-term disability plan, whether or not the Participant is covered by such
plan, as determined by the Committee.
(j) "Disinterested Person"--means any Director of the Company who at the
time of acting is a "disinterested person" under Rule 16b-3 or any successor
rule ("Rule 16b-3") under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act").
(k) "Equity in Operations of Forest Products Group"--means the amount
designated as Equity in Operations of the Forest Products Group for the
applicable year and shown separately in the Consolidated Statement of Income for
such year.
(l) "Fair Market Value"--means the arithmetic mean of the highest and lowest
sales prices of the Common Stock as reported in the Consolidated Transactions of
the American Stock Exchange ("AMSE") (or such other national securities exchange
on which the Common Stock may be listed at the time of determination, and if the
Common Stock is listed on more than one exchange, then on the one located in New
York or if the Common Stock is listed only on the National Association of
Securities Dealers Automated Quotations System ("NASDAQ"), then on such system)
on the date of the grant or other date on which the Common Stock is to be valued
hereunder. If no sale shall have been made on the AMSE, such other exchange or
the NASDAQ on such date or if the Common Stock is not then listed on
any exchange or on the NASDAQ, Fair Market Value shall be determined by the
Committee in accordance with Treasury Regulations applicable to incentive stock
options.
(m) "Participant"--means a key employee of the Company who is selected by
the Committee to participate in any one or more parts of the Plan from among
persons who in the judgment of the Committee are key employees of the Company.
In general, key employees are those employees who have principal responsibility
for, or who contribute substantially to, the management efficiency, editorial
achievement or financial success of the Company.
(n) "Pre-Tax Income"--means income before income taxes and Equity in
Operations of Forest Products Group, as shown in the Consolidated Statement of
Income for the applicable year, but before the amount of any provision for
Awards under the Plan and awards under the Cash Plan for such year.
(o) "Retirement"--means retirement as defined by the terms of "The New York
Times Companies Pension Plan" which became effective December 31, 1988, or any
successor retirement plan, whether or not the Participant is a member of such
retirement plan, and, in the case of employees of Affiliated Publications, Inc.,
or any subsidiary thereof, who are not subject to the reporting requirements of
Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to Common Stock and who retire under
the terms of the Globe Newspaper Company Retirement Plan, which became effective
January 1, 1994 (the "Globe Pension Plan") or any successor retirement plan,
"Retirement" shall also mean retirement as defined by the terms of the Globe
Pension Plan or any successor plan.
3. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
The Plan shall be administered by the Board or the Committee appointed by it
and composed of two or more directors all of whom shall be Disinterested
Persons. The membership of the Committee shall be constituted so as to comply at
all times with the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3, and with the
administration requirements of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code. The Committee
shall serve at the pleasure of the Board and shall have such powers as the Board
may from time to time confer upon it.
4. OPTIONS AND AWARDS UNDER THE PLAN
Options, which include "Non-Qualified Options" and "Incentive Stock Options"
or combinations thereof, are rights to purchase Common Stock of the Company.
Non-Qualified Options and Incentive Stock Options are subject to the terms,
conditions and restrictions provided in Part I of the Plan.
Awards under the Plan may include one or more of the following types, either
alone or in any combination thereof: (i) "Stock Awards," (ii) "Restricted Stock
Awards," (iii) "Retirement Unit Awards," (iv) "Annual Performance Awards," (v)
"Performance Awards" or "Other Awards."
Stock Awards are granted under Part IIA of the Plan. Restricted Stock Awards
are granted under Part IIB of the Plan. Retirement Unit Awards are granted under
Part IIC of the Plan. Annual Performance Awards are granted under Part IID of
the Plan. Performance Awards or Other Awards are granted under Part IIE of the
Plan. Awards are subject to the terms, conditions and restrictions provided in
the respective subparts of Part II of the Plan. Annual Performance Awards will
be based exclusively on the criteria set forth in Section 27A.
PART I STOCK OPTIONS
5. PURPOSE
The purpose of the Stock Option portion of the Plan is to provide an added
incentive for effective service and high levels of performance to participating
key employees of the Company by affording them an opportunity, under the terms
of the Plan, to acquire Common Stock and thereby to increase their proprietary
interest in the continued progress and success of the Company.
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6. DETERMINATION OF OPTIONEES; SHARES SUBJECT TO OPTIONS
(a) The Committee may grant options to purchase Common Stock ("Options") to
key employees of the Company in such amounts as the Committee may determine,
subject to the conditions and limitations set forth in the Plan. Options may be
granted in combination with Awards made under the Plan, and Options may be
granted to any Participant whether or not he or she was eligible for, or
received, an Award.
(b) The number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Options may
be granted to any key employee during any calendar year shall not exceed 200,000
(subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 28 and 29 hereof).
(c) There may be issued under the Plan pursuant to the exercise of Options,
an aggregate of not more than 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to
adjustment as provided in Sections 28 and 29 hereof. Shares of Common Stock
issued pursuant to Options may be either authorized but unissued shares,
treasury shares, reacquired shares, or any combination thereof. Any shares
subject to an Option which expires without being exercised shall be available
for issuance under new Options.
7. OPTION PRICE
The exercise price of Common Stock subject to Options granted pursuant to
the Plan shall be the Fair Market Value thereof at the time the Option is
granted. If a Participant owns or is deemed to be the owner of, by reason of the
attribution rules under Section 425(d) of the Code, more than 10% of the
combined voting power of all classes of the stock of the Company or any
subsidiary of the Company and an Option granted to such Participant is intended
to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Code, the option price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of
the Common Stock on the date the Option is granted.
8. PAYMENT OF OPTION PRICE
The purchase price is to be paid in full when the Option is exercised and
stock certificates will be delivered only against such payment. Such purchase
price may be paid in such form as the Committee may determine. Payment of the
option price may be made (i) in cash, (ii) by delivering a properly executed
exercise notice to the Company together with a copy of irrevocable instructions
to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale or loan
proceeds to pay the purchase price, (iii) by delivering to the Company shares of
Common Stock previously owned, (iv) by electing to have the Company retain
Common Stock which would be otherwise issued on exercise of the Option, or (v)
any combination of the foregoing forms, all subject to the approval of the
Committee and to such rules as the Committee may adopt. In determining the
number of shares of Common Stock necessary to be delivered to or retained by the
Company, such Common Stock shall be valued at Fair Market Value.
9. TYPES OF STOCK OPTIONS
(a) Options granted under the Plan may be two types, an incentive stock
option ("Incentive Stock Option") and a non-qualified stock option
("Non-Qualified Option"). It is intended that Incentive Stock Options granted
hereunder shall constitute incentive stock options within the meaning of Section
422 of the Code. Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, (i) no
provision of this Plan relating to Incentive Stock Options shall be interpreted,
amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan
be so exercised, so as to disqualify either the Plan or any Incentive Stock
Option granted under such provisions of the Code, and (ii) no Option designated
by the Committee as a Non-Qualified Option shall constitute an Incentive Stock
Option. In furtherance of the foregoing and not by way of limitation, no
Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to a Participant who is not an employee
of The New York Times Company or one of its subsidiaries.
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(b) If the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Common Stock (determined as of
the date of grant) for which any optionee may for the first time exercise
Incentive Stock Options in any calendar year under the Plan and any other stock
option plan of the Company, considered in the aggregate, exceeds $100,000, such
excess Incentive Stock Options will be treated as Non-Qualified Options.
10. TERMS OF STOCK OPTIONS
(a) Each Option will be for a term of not more than ten years from the date
of grant, except that if a Participant owns or is deemed to be the owner of, by
reason of the attribution rules of Section 425(d) of the Code, more than 10% of
the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any
subsidiary of the Company and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such
Participant, the term of such Option shall be no more than five years from the
date of grant.
(b) An Option may not be exercised within one year after the date of grant
except in the case of the death of the optionee or upon termination of active
employment with the Company by reason of the Disability or Retirement of the
optionee during such period (but subject to the provisions of Section 18 hereof
with respect to any optionee subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16
of the Exchange Act). Thereafter, an Option shall be exercisable in such
installments, if any, as the Committee may specify, and shall be exercisable
during the optionee's lifetime only by the optionee (or, if the optionee is
disabled, by any guardian or other legal representative appointed to represent
him or her) and, except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) below, shall not
be exercisable by the optionee unless at the time of exercise such optionee is
an employee of the Company.
(c) Upon termination of active employment with the Company by reason of
Disability or Retirement, an optionee (or, if the optionee is disabled, any
guardian or legal representative appointed to represent him or her) may exercise
all Options otherwise exercisable by him or her at the time of such termination
of employment (subject to the provisions of subsection (e) below) until the
expiration thereof. In the event an optionee dies while employed by the Company
or after termination of employment by reason of Disability or Retirement, the
person who acquired the right to exercise his or her Options by reason of the
death of the optionee, as provided in Section 30 hereof, may exercise such
Options otherwise exercisable at the time of death (subject to the provisions of
subsection (e) below) at any time until the expiration thereof.
(d) Upon termination of employment with the Company for any reason other
than death, Retirement or Disability, the optionee may exercise all Options
otherwise exercisable by him or her at the time of such termination of
employment for an additional one year after such termination of employment. In
the event such optionee dies within such one-year period, the person who
acquired the right to exercise his or her Options by reason of the death of the
optionee, as provided in Section 30 hereof, may exercise such Options at any
time within the period of the greater of (i) the remainder of the one-year
period described in the foregoing sentence, or (ii) three months from the date
of the optionee's death. For purposes of this Section 10(d), in the event that
any optionee, who is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16 of
the Exchange Act with respect to Common Stock, is rehired by the Company within
one year of such optionee's termination of employment with the Company, such
optionee shall be deemed not to have terminated employment for purposes of
determining the expiration date of all unexpired non-qualified stock options
held by such individual on the date of rehire, with the effect that such options
shall continue to be exercisable at any time until the expiration thereof
(subject to the terms thereof and the provisions of this Section 10).
(e) Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, no Option shall be exercisable in
whole or in part after the expiration date provided in the Option. In the event
of the death of the optionee while employed by the Company, or the Disability or
Retirement of the optionee, the Committee shall have the discretion to provide
for the acceleration of the exercisability of Options exercisable over a period
of time, or alternatively, to provide for all or any part of such Options to
continue to become exercisable in such installments as originally specified by
the Committee, or such revised installments as specified by the
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Committee at the time of termination of employment (but in no event beyond the
original expiration date), in either case subject to such conditions as
determined by the Committee in its discretion (but in all cases subject to the
provisions of Section 18 hereof with respect to any optionee subject to the
reporting requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act). No Option shall be
transferable otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
11. OPTION AGREEMENTS
In consideration of any Options granted to a Participant under the Plan,
such Participant shall enter into an Option Agreement with the Company
providing, in addition to such other terms as the Committee may deem advisable,
that the optionee must remain in the employ of the Company for one year before
such optionee will be entitled to exercise the Option, except as provided in
Section 10 hereof with respect to death, Disability and Retirement, and
specifying the installments, if any, in which such Option shall become
exercisable.
PART II AWARDS
12. FORM OF AWARDS
The Award portion of the Plan is designed to provide incentives for key
employees of the Company by the making of awards of supplemental compensation
("Awards"). The Committee, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, may make
Awards to a Participant in any one, or in any combination, of the following
forms:
(a) Common Stock as provided in Part IIA of the Plan ("Stock Awards");
(b) Restricted Stock as provided in Part IIB of the Plan ("Restricted
Stock Awards");
(c) Retirement Units as provided in Part IIC of the Plan ("Retirement
Unit Awards");
(d) Annual Performance Awards as provided in Part IID of the Plan
("Annual Performance Awards"); and
(e) Performance Awards ("Performance Awards") or other forms of Awards
("Other Awards"), as provided in Part IIE of the Plan.
Awards may be made to a Participant whether or not he or she is receiving an
Option grant under Part I of the Plan for the year and whether or not he or she
receives an award under the Cash Plan.
Awards will be based on a Participant's performance in those areas for which
the Participant is directly responsible. Performance for this purpose may be
measured by the achievement of specific management goals such as, but not
limited to, an increase in earnings or the operating cash flow of the Company,
outstanding initiative or achievement in any department of the Company, or any
other standards specified by the Committee. Annual Performance Awards will be
based exclusively on the criteria set forth in Section 27A.
13. MAXIMUM AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR THE ACCRUAL OF
AWARDS UNDER PART II OF THE PLAN FOR ANY YEAR
(a) No accrual for Awards shall be made hereunder (or under the Cash Plan)
for any year unless cash dividends of not less than ten cents ($.10) per share
(subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 28 and 29 hereof) have been
declared on the outstanding Class A and Class B Common Stock of the Company
during such year.
(b) In the event that the above condition is met for any year during the
continuance of this Plan, the maximum aggregate amount that may be accrued for
Awards under the Plan and the Cash Plan for such year shall be 4% of the sum of:
(1) Pre-Tax Income plus (2) Equity in Operations of Forest Products Group. The
Committee, in its sole discretion, may make adjustments in Pre-Tax Income and
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Equity in Operations of Forest Products Group to take account of extraordinary,
unusual or infrequently occurring events and transactions, changes in accounting
principles that substantially affect the foregoing, or such other circumstances
as the Committee may determine warrant such adjustment.
(c) As soon as feasible after the close of each year, the independent
certified public accountants of the Company shall report the maximum amount that
may be accrued for Awards for such year under the formula described in Section
13(b), subject to the second sentence of such Section.
(d) If amounts are accrued in any year under the formula described in this
Section 13 and are not awarded in full in such year under the Plan and the Cash
Plan, such unawarded amounts may, in the discretion of the Committee, be carried
forward and be available for Awards under the Plan and under the Cash Plan in
any future year without regard to the provisions of Sections 13(a) or (b) of the
Plan applicable to Awards made in such year.
(e) Awards under the Plan for any year may not exceed the sum of (i) the
amount accrued for such year under Section 13(b) above plus (ii) unawarded
accrued amounts carried forward from previous years under Section 13(d) above
plus (iii) amounts that may become available for Awards pursuant to the last
sentence of Sections 15(c) and 27A hereof, minus (x) the amount of interest or
dividend equivalents set aside during such year pursuant to Sections 15(c) and
27A hereof and the amount of dividend equivalents allocated to Retirement Unit
Accounts during such year pursuant to Section 24 hereof, and minus (y) the
amount of awards made for such year under the Cash Plan (and any interest
equivalents allocated during such year pursuant to Section 10(b), 11(f) and
12(b) thereof). For this purpose, the amount of Awards of Common Stock under the
Plan shall be based on the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to
Awards as of the date of grant of such Awards.
(f) Subject to Sections 28 and 29 hereof, the aggregate number of shares of
Common Stock for which Stock, Restricted Stock, Retirement Units, Annual
Performance Awards, and Performance and Other Awards may be made under the Plan
shall not exceed 1,000,000 shares, which shall be treasury shares reserved for
issuance of Awards under the Plan. Shares of Common Stock subject to, but not
issued under, any deferred Award which has been discontinued by the Committee
pursuant to the provisions hereof or any Restricted Stock which is forfeited by
any Participant shall again be available for Awards under the Plan.
14. DETERMINATION OF AWARDS AND PARTICIPANTS
(a) As promptly as practicable after the end of each year, the Committee may
make Awards (other than Annual Performance Awards, which are to be made
exclusively as set forth in Section 27A) for such year and determine the amounts
to be carried forward for Awards in future years. The Committee may also, in its
discretion, make Awards (other than Annual Performance Awards, which are to be
made exclusively as set forth in Section 27A) prior to the end of the year based
on the amounts available under clauses (ii) and (iii) of Section 13(e) and
reasonable estimates of the accrual for the year in question.
(b) The Committee shall have absolute discretion to determine the key
employees who are to receive Awards (other than Annual Performance Awards, which
are to be made exclusively as set forth in Section 27A) under the Plan for any
year and to determine the amount of such Awards based on such criteria and
factors as the Committee in its sole discretion may determine, such as the
Company's operating cash flow and overall financial performance. Recommendations
as to the key employees who are to receive Awards (including Annual Performance
Awards) under the Plan for any year and as to the amount and form of such Awards
shall, however, be made to the Committee by the chief executive officer of the
Company. The fact that an employee is selected as eligible for an Award shall
not mean, however, that such employee will necessarily receive an Award.
(c) A person whose employment terminates during the year or who is granted a
leave of absence during the year may, in the discretion of the Committee and
under such rules as the Committee may
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from time to time prescribe, be given an Award with respect to the period of
such person's service during such year.
15. METHOD AND TIME OF PAYMENT OF AWARDS
(a) Awards shall be paid in full as soon as practicable after the Award is
made; provided, however, that the payment of Annual Performance Awards shall be
subject to the provisions of Section 27A, and further provided that the payment
of any or all Awards may be deferred, divided into annual installments, or made
subject to such other conditions as the Committee in its sole discretion may
authorize under such rules and regulations as may be adopted from time to time
by the Committee.
(b) The Committee's rules and regulations may include procedures by which a
Participant expresses a preference to the Committee as to the form of Award or
method of payment of an Award but the final determination as to the form and the
terms and conditions of any Award shall rest solely with the Committee.
(c) Awards deferred under the Plan shall become payable to the Participant
or, in the event of the Participant's death, as specified in Section 30 hereof,
in such manner, at such time or times (which may be either before or after
Retirement or other termination of service), and subject to such conditions as
the Committee in its sole discretion shall determine. In any year the Committee
shall have the discretion to set aside, for payment in such year or any future
year, interest on any deferred Award payable partly in cash, and amounts
equivalent to dividends on any deferred Award payable wholly or partly in stock;
provided, however, that the total amount of such interest and dividend
equivalents shall be deducted from the maximum amount available for Awards under
Section 13(e) of the Plan. Any forfeited deferred Awards (including any
forfeited stock at its Award value) shall be carried forward and be available
for Awards in any future year without regard to the provisions of Sections 13(a)
or (b) of the Plan.
16. INDIVIDUAL AGREEMENTS
(a) The Committee may in its discretion require that each Participant
receiving an Award enter into an agreement with the Company which shall contain
such terms and conditions as the Committee in its discretion may require.
(b) The Committee may cancel any unexpired, unpaid or deferred Award at any
time if the Participant is not in compliance with all applicable provisions of
the agreement referred to above, if any, and the Plan.
17. STATUS OF PARTICIPANTS
No Participant in this Plan shall be deemed to be a stockholder of the
Company, or to have any interest in any stock or any specific assets of the
Company by reason of the fact that deferred Stock Awards, Retirement Unit
Awards, Annual Performance Awards, Performance Awards, Other Awards or dollar
credits are to be recorded as being held for such Participant's account to be
paid in installments in the future. The interest of all Participants shall
derive from and be determined solely by the terms and provisions of the Plan set
forth herein.
18. DISPOSITION OF STOCK RECEIVED UNDER AN AWARD; SECTION 16(B)
In the case of any Participant subject to the reporting requirements of
Section 16 of the Exchange Act, no shares of Common Stock received pursuant to
any Award under the Plan or upon the exercise of any "derivative security" (as
defined in the rules promulgated under Section 16 of the Exchange Act) received
under the Plan may be sold, assigned, pledged or otherwise transferred for the
period of time after the date of such Award or receipt of such derivative
security as is specified in Rule 16b-3.
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PART IIA STOCK AWARDS
19. DETERMINATION OF STOCK AWARDS
(a) Each year the Committee shall designate those key employees of the
Company who shall receive Stock Awards under this part of the Plan. Stock Awards
are made in the form of grants of Common Stock, which may be delivered
immediately, in installments or on a deferred date, as the Committee, in its
discretion, may provide.
(b) If the Committee determines that some portion of a Stock Award to a
Participant shall be treated as a deferred Stock Award and payable in annual or
other periodic installments, then the Participant will be notified in writing
when such deferred Stock Awards shall be paid and over what period of time. As
soon as feasible after the granting of such a Stock Award, there shall be
reserved out of the treasury shares of the Company, a number (which may include
a fraction) of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common
Stock so awarded. In each year at the discretion of the Committee there may also
be allocated or credited to each Participant a dollar amount equal to the cash
dividends declared and paid by the Company on its Common Stock which the
Participant would have received had such Participant been the owner of the
number of shares of any Common Stock deferred for future payment. Any amounts
provided for pursuant to the preceding sentence shall become payable in such
manner, at such time or times, and subject to such conditions (which may include
provision for an amount equivalent to interest on such dividend equivalents at
rates fixed by the Committee) as the Committee in its sole discretion shall
determine; provided, however, that the total value of such dividend equivalents
(and any interest thereon) shall be deducted from the amount available for
Awards under the provisions of Section 13(e) of the Plan. The Committee in its
discretion may make appropriate equitable adjustments to such deferred Stock
Award to account for any dividends of property (other than cash) declared and
paid by the Company on its Common Stock, or to account for any other event
described in Sections 28 and 29 hereof.
PART IIB RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
20. DETERMINATION OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
Each year the Committee shall designate the key employees of the Company who
shall receive Restricted Stock Awards. Shares awarded under this part of the
Plan, while subject to the restrictions hereinafter set forth, are referred to
as "Restricted Stock."
21. TERMS OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
Any Award of Restricted Stock shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions and to any other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan
as shall be prescribed by the Committee in its sole discretion and which may be
contained in the agreement, if any, referred to in Section 16 above (or in any
amendment thereto):
(a) Delivery of Restricted Stock. Unless otherwise determined by the
Committee, the Company shall transfer treasury shares to each Participant to
whom an Award of Restricted Stock has been made equal to the number of
shares of Restricted Stock specified in the Award, and hold the certificates
representing such shares of Restricted Stock for the Participant for the
period of time during which such shares shall remain subject to the
restrictions set forth in the Award (the "Restricted Period"). Shares of
Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged,
hypothecated or otherwise encumbered by a Participant during the Restricted
Period, except as hereinafter provided. Except for the restrictions set
forth herein and unless otherwise determined by the Committee, a Participant
shall have all the rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares of
Restricted Stock comprising his or her Award, including, but not limited to,
the right to vote and the right to receive dividends (which if in shares of
Common Stock shall be Restricted Stock under the same terms and conditions).
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(b) Lapse of Restricted Period. The Restricted Period shall commence
upon the date of the Award (which unless otherwise specified by the
Committee shall be the date the Restricted Stock is transferred to the
Participant) and, unless sooner terminated as otherwise provided herein,
shall continue for such period of time as specified by the Committee in the
Award, which shall in no event be less than one year, and thereafter shall
lapse in such installments, if any, as provided by the Committee in the
Award.
(c) Legend. Each certificate issued in respect of shares of Restricted
Stock transferred or issued to a Participant under an Award shall be
registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear the following (or a
similar) legend:
"THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE
SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED IN THE NEW YORK
TIMES COMPANY 1991 EXECUTIVE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN (THE "PLAN")
APPLICABLE TO RESTRICTED STOCK AND TO THE RESTRICTED STOCK
AGREEMENT DATED (THE "AGREEMENT"), AND MAY NOT BE
SOLD, PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, HYPOTHECATED, OR OTHERWISE
DISPOSED OF OR ENCUMBERED IN ANY MANNER DURING THE RESTRICTED
PERIOD SPECIFIED IN SUCH AGREEMENT. COPIES OF SUCH PLAN AND
AGREEMENT ARE ON FILE WITH THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY."
(d) Death or Disability. Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine
in the Award (and subject to Section 18 hereof), if a Participant ceases to
be employed by the Company by reason of death or Disability, the Restricted
Period covering all shares of Restricted Stock transferred or issued to such
Participant under the Plan shall immediately lapse.
(e) Retirement. Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine in the
Award (and subject to the provisions of Section 18 hereof), the Restricted
Period covering all shares of Restricted Stock transferred to a Participant
under the Plan shall immediately lapse upon such Participant's Retirement,
whether early or not.
(f) Termination of Employment. Unless the Committee shall otherwise
determine in the Award or otherwise determine at or after the date of grant,
if a Participant ceases to be employed by the Company other than due to a
condition described in Sections 21(d) or (e) above, all shares of Restricted
Stock owned by such Participant for which the Restricted Period has not
lapsed shall revert back to the Company upon such termination. Authorized
leave of absence or absence in military service shall constitute employment
for the purposes of this Section 21(f). Whether absence in government
service may constitute employment for the purposes of the Plan shall be
conclusively determined by the Committee.
(g) Waiver of Forfeiture Provisions. The Committee, in its sole and
absolute discretion (but subject to the provisions of Section 18 hereof),
may waive the forfeiture provisions in respect of all or some of the
Restricted Stock awarded to a Participant.
(h) Issuance of New Certificates. Upon the lapse of the Restricted
Period with respect to any shares of Restricted Stock, such shares shall no
longer be subject to the restrictions imposed in the Award and shall no
longer be considered Restricted Stock for the purposes of the Award and the
Plan, and the Company shall issue new share certificates respecting such
shares registered in the name of the Participant without the legend
described in Section 21(c) in exchange for those previously issued.
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PART IIC RETIREMENT UNIT AWARDS
22. DETERMINATION OF RETIREMENT UNIT AWARDS
Each year the Committee shall designate those key employees of the Company
who shall receive Retirement Unit Awards under the Plan. The Company shall
create and maintain appropriate records of account for each Participant which
shall be designated as the Participant's Retirement Unit Account.
23. CREDITS TO RETIREMENT UNIT ACCOUNTS
The Committee shall allocate to each Participant selected to receive a
Retirement Unit Award for that year such dollar amount as the Committee shall
determine, taking into account the value of the Participant's services to the
Company. Such dollar amount shall thereupon be converted into Retirement Units
or fractions of Units and credited to each such Participant's Retirement Unit
Account in a number equal to the quotient obtained by dividing such allocated
dollar amount by the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock as of the
date the allocation is made.
24. DIVIDEND CREDITS
At the discretion of the Committee there may also be allocated in each year
to each Participant a dollar amount equal to the cash dividends declared and
paid by the Company on the Common Stock which the Participant would have
received had such Participant been the owner of the number of shares of Common
Stock equal to the number of the whole Retirement Units (but not fractional
Units) credited to the Participant's Retirement Unit Account; provided, however,
that the total value of such dividend equivalents shall be deducted from the
amount available for Awards under Section 13 of the Plan. The dollar amounts
allocated shall be converted into and credited to the Participant's Retirement
Unit Accounts as Retirement Units or fractions thereof as set forth in Section
23 above as of the date on which such dividends were paid by the Company. No
interest shall be paid on the dollar amount so allocated to the Retirement Unit
Account of any Participant. The Committee in its discretion may make appropriate
equitable adjustments to such Retirement Unit Accounts to account for any
dividends of property (other than cash) declared and paid by the Company on its
Common Stock, or to account for any other event described in Sections 28 and 29
hereof.
25. RESERVATION OF STOCK AND ACCOUNTING RECORDS
The Company shall keep records of the Participant's Retirement Unit
Accounts. At the time of any allocation to a Participant's account under
Sections 23 or 24 hereof, there shall be reserved out of treasury shares of the
Company a number (which may include a fraction) of shares of Common Stock equal
to the number of Units or fraction thereof so allocated.
26. MATURITY AND PAYMENT AFTER MATURITY
(a) The Retirement Unit Account of each Participant shall mature upon such
Participant's death, Retirement or other termination of employment.
(b) After maturity, the Company shall deliver to the Participant (or in the
event of the death of the Participant, as specified in Section 30 hereof) in ten
approximately equal annual installments, shares of Common Stock equal in the
aggregate to the number of Retirement Units credited to the Participant's
Retirement Unit Account. Any fraction of a Unit credited to the Participant's
account at maturity shall be paid in cash with the first installment, the
fractional Unit being converted into cash at the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock on such first payment date. The first such installment shall be paid
within 90 days after maturity. However, the Committee in its discretion at or
any time after maturity may, with the consent of the Participant (or the
beneficiary of a deceased Participant as specified in Section 30 hereof), (i)
defer the commencement of such distribution or defer any installment, (ii)
deliver full payment of the shares of Common Stock equal to the aggregate number
of Retirement Units credited to the Participant's Retirement Unit Account and
the dollar amount credited
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thereto, or (iii) reduce or increase the number of annual installments in which
the payments are to be made.
(c) So long as Retirement Units remain credited to the Retirement Unit
Account of a Participant subsequent to maturity, such account shall be credited
with the dollar amount allocated to the account as dividends as provided for in
Section 24 hereof. Any dollar amount so credited may be paid in cash with the
next succeeding annual installment made under Section 26(b) above, or in such
manner, at such time or times, and subject to such conditions as the Committee
in its sole discretion shall determine; provided, however, that in the case of
any dollar amount credited to an account after maturity in respect of a dividend
declared prior to maturity, such dollar amounts shall be converted to Retirement
Units as of the date of payment and the remaining installments of Common Stock
shall be increased accordingly.
PART IID ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AWARDS
27A. DETERMINATION OF ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AWARDS
(a) General. Each year the Committee may make Annual Performance Awards
under this part of the Plan; provided that no Participant may be eligible to
receive an Annual Performance Award hereunder and under the Cash Plan in the
same year.
(b) Certain Definitions. For the purposes of this Section 27A, the following
terms shall have the meanings specified:
"Affected Officers" shall mean those executive officers of the Company
whose compensation is required to be disclosed in the Company's annual proxy
statement relating to the election of directors.
"Code Section 162(m)" shall mean Section 162(m) of the Code (or any
successor provision), and "Regulations" shall mean the regulations
promulgated thereunder, as from time to time in effect.
"Eligible Participants" shall have the meaning set forth in subsection
(c) below.
"Performance Adjustment" means, for any year, a factor ranging from 0%
to 200%, based upon the achievement of Performance Goal Targets established
by the Committee, that, when multiplied by an Eligible Participant's Target
Award, determines the amount of such Eligible Participant's Annual
Performance Award for such year.
"Performance Goal" means, for any year, the business criteria selected
by the Committee to measure the performance during such year of the Company
(or of a division, subsidiary or group thereof) from one or more of the
following:
(i) earnings per share of the Company for the year;
(ii) net income of the Company for the year;
(iii) return on assets of the Company for the year (net income of the
Company for the year divided by average total assets during such year);
(iv) return on stockholders' equity of the Company for the year (net
income of the Company for the year divided by average stockholders'
equity during such year); and
(v) operating profit of the Company or of a division, subsidiary or
group thereof for the year.
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"Performance Goal Target" means, for any Performance Goal, the levels of
performance during a year under such Performance Goal established by the
Committee to determine the Performance Adjustment to an Eligible
Participant's Target Award for such year.
"Target Award" means, for any year, with respect to an Eligible
Participant, the dollar amount set by the Committee that, when multiplied by
the applicable Performance Adjustment, determines the dollar amount of such
Eligible Participant's Annual Performance Award.
(c) Eligibility. Annual Performance Awards are available each year only to
Plan Participants who are designated by the Committee, prior to March 31 of such
year (or prior to such later date as permitted by Code Section 162(m) and the
Regulations), as likely to be Affected Officers for such year, whose annual
salary and bonus for such year are expected to exceed $1,000,000 and who are not
designated by the Committee as eligible for an annual performance award under
the Cash Plan for such year ("Eligible Participants").
(d) Determination of Annual Performance Awards. Prior to March 31 of each
year (or prior to such later date as permitted by Code Section 162(m) and the
Regulations), the Committee will determine the Eligible Participants for such
year, will designate those Eligible Participants who will be entitled to earn an
Annual Performance Award for such year under this Plan, and will establish for
each such Eligible Participant for such year: (i) a Target Award, (ii) one or
more Performance Goals, and (iii) for each such Performance Goal, a Performance
Goal Target, the method by which achievement thereof will be measured and a
schedule of Performance Adjustment factors corresponding to varying levels of
Performance Goal Target achievement. In the event more than one Performance Goal
is established for any Eligible Participant, the Committee shall at the same
time establish the weighting of each such Performance Goal in determining such
Eligible Participant's Annual Performance Award. Notwithstanding anything in
this Section 27A to the contrary, the Annual Performance Award payable to any
Eligible Participant in any year may not exceed $1.5 million.
(e) Payment of Annual Performance Awards. Subject to subsection (f) below,
Annual Performance Awards will be paid as soon as practicable after the end of
the year to which it relates and after the Committee certifies the extent to
which the Performance Goal Target or Targets under the Performance Goal or Goals
have been met or exceeded. In the discretion of the Committee, an Annual
Performance Award may be paid in cash, shares of Common Stock, shares of
Restricted Stock (subject to the provisions of Section 21 hereof), Retirement
Units (subject to the provisions of Sections 23-26 hereof) or any combination
thereof. For this purpose, shares of Common Stock shall be valued at Fair Market
Value, and Restricted Stock and Retirement Units shall be deemed to have a value
equal to the Fair Market Value of the underlying Common Stock, in each case as
of the date of the Committee's determination to pay such Annual Performance
Award in such form or forms. If permitted by the Regulations and Code Section
162(m), the Committee may determine to pay a portion of an Annual Performance
Award in December of the year to which it relates. The Committee may not
increase the amount of an Annual Performance Award that would otherwise be
payable upon achievement of the Performance Target or Targets, but it may reduce
any Eligible Participant's Annual Performance Award in its discretion. Subject
to Section 14(c) above, no Annual Performance Award will be payable to any
Eligible Participant who is not an employee of the Company on the last day of
the year to which such Annual Performance Award relates.
(f) Deferral of Annual Performance Awards. If the Committee determines that
some portion of an Annual Performance Award to an Eligible Participant shall be
treated as a deferred Annual Performance Award and be payable in annual or other
periodic installments, the Eligible Participant will be notified in writing when
such deferred Annual Performance Award shall be paid and over what period of
time. A deferred Award in the form of shares of Common Stock shall be subject to
the provisions of Section 19 (b) hereof. In the case of a deferred Award in the
form of cash, in each year the Committee shall have the discretion to provide
for the payment of an amount equivalent to interest, at such rate or rates fixed
by the Committee, on such deferred cash Annual Performance Award. Any amounts
12
provided for pursuant to the preceding sentence shall become payable in such a
manner, at such time or times, and subject to such conditions as the Committee
shall in its sole discretion determine; provided, however, that the total amount
of such interest shall be deducted from the maximum amount available for Awards
under the formula described in Section 13 of the Plan.
(g) Code Section 162(m). It is the intent of the Company that Annual
Performance Awards satisfy, and this Section 27A be interpreted in a manner that
satisfies, the applicable requirements of Code Section 162(m) and the
Regulations so that the Company's tax deduction for Annual Performance Awards to
Affected Officers is not disallowed in whole or in part by operation of Code
Section 162(m). If any provision of this Plan or of any Annual Performance Award
would otherwise frustrate or conflict with such intent, that provision shall be
interpreted and deemed amended so as to avoid such conflict. To the extent of
any irreconcilable conflict with such intent, such provision shall be deemed
void as applicable to Eligible Participants.
PART IIE PERFORMANCE OR OTHER AWARDS
27. DETERMINATION OF PERFORMANCE AND OTHER AWARDS
(a) Each year the Committee in its sole discretion may authorize other forms
of Awards such as, but not limited to, Performance Awards, if the Committee
deems it appropriate to do so in order to further the purposes of the Plan.
(b) A "Performance Award" shall mean an Award which entitles the Participant
to receive Common Stock, Restricted Stock, Retirement Units, Options under Part
I of the Plan or other compensation (which may include cash), or any combination
thereof, in an amount which depends upon the financial performance of the
Company during a stated period of more than one year. Performance for this
purpose may be measured by the growth in book value of the Common Stock, an
increase in per share earnings of the Company, an increase in operating cash
flow, or any other indicators specified by the Committee. The Committee shall
also fix the period during which such performance is to be measured, the value
of a Performance Award for purposes of providing for the accrual pursuant to
Section 13 of the Plan and the form of payment to be made in respect of the
Performance Award.
PART III GENERAL PROVISIONS
28. STOCK DIVIDEND OR STOCK SPLIT
If at any time the Company shall take any action whether by stock dividend,
stock split, combination of shares, or otherwise, which results in a
proportionate increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock
theretofore issued and outstanding, (i) the number of shares of Common Stock
then subject to deferred Awards, credited to Retirement Unit Accounts (matured
or unmatured) or set aside for Performance or Other Awards, (ii) the number of
outstanding Options, the number of shares of Common Stock for which such Options
are exercisable and the exercise price thereof, (iii) the number of shares of
Common Stock reserved for Awards, (iv) the number of shares of Common Stock
reserved for Options, and (v) the maximum number of shares with respect to which
Options may be granted to any key employee in any calendar year under Section
6(b), shall be increased or decreased in the same proportion. The Committee
shall make an appropriate equitable adjustment to the provisions of Section
13(a) to take account of such increase or decrease in issued and outstanding
shares. The Committee in its discretion may make appropriate equitable
adjustments respecting deferred Stock Awards, Retirement Units, Annual
Performance Awards, Performance or Other Awards and outstanding Options to take
account of a dividend by the Company of property other than cash. All such
adjustments shall be made by the Committee whose determination shall be
conclusive and binding upon all Participants and any person claiming under or
through any Participant.
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29. RECLASSIFICATION OR MERGER
If at any time the Company reclassifies or otherwise changes its issued and
outstanding Common Stock (other than in par value) or the Company and one or
more corporations merge and the Company is the surviving corporation of such
merger, then each Stock Award, Retirement Unit (matured or unmatured), Annual
Performance Award, Performance or Other Award which at the time of such
reclassification or merger is credited as a Stock Award, Retirement Unit, Annual
Performance Award, Performance or Other Award shall thereafter be deemed to be
the equivalent of (and all Units thereafter credited to a Retirement Unit
Account shall be computed with reference to), and outstanding Options shall be
exercisable for, the shares of stock or other securities of the Company which
pursuant to the terms of such reclassification or merger are issued with respect
to each share of Common Stock. The Committee shall also make an appropriate
equitable adjustment to the provisions of Sections 6(b) and 13(a) to take
account of such event. All such adjustments shall be made by the Committee whose
determination shall be conclusive and binding upon all Participants and any
person claiming under or through any Participant.
30. NON-ALIENATION OF BENEFITS
Except as herein specifically provided, no right or unpaid benefit under
this Plan shall be subject to alienation, assignment, pledge or charge and any
attempt to alienate, assign, pledge or charge the same shall be void. If any
Participant or person entitled to the benefits hereunder should attempt to
alienate, assign, pledge or charge any benefit hereunder, then such benefit
shall, in the discretion of the Committee, cease. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
rights and benefits hereunder shall pass by will or the laws of descent and
distribution in the following order: (i) to beneficiaries so designated by the
Participant; if none, then (ii) to a legal representative of the Participant; if
none, then (iii) to the persons entitled thereto as determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction. Awards so passing shall be made at such times and in
such manner as if the Participant were living.
31. WITHHOLDING OR DEDUCTION FOR TAXES
If at any time specified herein for the making of any payment or delivery of
any Common Stock to any Participant or beneficiary, any law or regulation of any
governmental authority having jurisdiction in the premises shall require the
Company to withhold, or to make any deduction for, any taxes or take any other
action in connection with the payment or delivery then to be made, such payment
or delivery shall be deferred until such withholding or deduction shall have
been provided for by the Participant or beneficiary, or other appropriate action
shall have been taken. Subject to the provisions of Rule 16b-3 and the consent
of the Committee for persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the
Participant or beneficiary may satisfy the obligation for such withholding or
deduction in whole or in part by electing to deliver shares of Common Stock
already owned or to have the Company retain from the distribution shares of
Common Stock, in each case having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount to be
withheld or deducted.
32. ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES
The entire expense of administering this Plan shall be borne by the Company.
33. GENERAL CONDITIONS
(a) The Board in its discretion may from time to time amend, suspend or
terminate any or all of the provisions of this Plan, provided that no change may
be made which would prevent Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan from
being Incentive Stock Options as described therein without the consent of the
optionees concerned, and further provided that the Board may not make any
amendment which (1) changes the class of persons eligible for Incentive Stock
Options, or (2) increases the total number of shares for which Options may be
granted under Section 6(b), or (3) materially affects the
14
provisions of Sections 13(a) or (b) of the Plan, or (4) increases the total
number of shares authorized under Section 13(f) for which Awards may be granted,
without the consent and approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of Class A and Class B Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote
thereon, voting together as one class. The foregoing provisions shall not be
construed to prevent the Committee from exercising its discretion, or to limit
such discretion, to increase the total number of shares for which Options may be
granted under Section 6(b) or the total number of shares authorized under
Section 13(f) for which Awards may be granted, as expressly permitted by
Sections 28 and 29 hereof, or to adjust the provisions of Sections 13(a) and (b)
hereof as expressly permitted by Sections 13(b), 28 and 29 hereof, or otherwise
to exercise any discretion to the extent expressly authorized hereunder.
(b) Nothing contained in the Plan shall prohibit the Company from
establishing incentive compensation arrangements in addition to this Plan and
the Cash Plan. Payments made under any such separate arrangements shall not be
included in or considered a part of the maximum dollar amount available for
Awards under the Plan and Cash Plan, or number of shares available for Awards or
Options under the Plan, and shall not be charged against the dollar or share
amounts available for Awards under the Plan and Cash Plan or Options under the
Plan. In the discretion of the Committee, employees shall be eligible to
participate in such other arrangements, as well as the Plan and Cash Plan, in
the same year.
(c) Nothing in this Plan shall be deemed to limit in any way the right of
the Company to terminate a Participant's employment with the Company at any
time.
(d) The Committee may promulgate rules and regulations relating to the
administration and interpretation of, and procedures under, the Plan. Any
decision or action taken by the Company, the Board or the Committee arising out
of or in connection with the construction, administration, interpretation and
effect of the Plan shall be conclusive and binding upon all Participants and any
person claiming under or through any Participant.
(e) No member of the Board or of the Committee shall be liable for any act
or action, whether of commission or omission, taken by any other member or by
any officer, agent or employee, nor for anything done or omitted to be done by
such Director except in circumstances involving actual bad faith.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the Company shall not
be obligated to make any Award, issue any shares of Common Stock, or grant any
Option with respect thereto, unless it is advised by counsel of its selection
that it may do so without violation of the applicable Federal and State laws
pertaining to the issuance of securities, and may require any stock so issued to
bear a legend, may give its transfer agent instructions, and may take such other
steps, as in its judgment are reasonably required to prevent any such violation.
(g) It is the intent of the Company that the Plan comply in all respects
with Rule 16b-3, that any ambiguities or inconsistencies in construction of the
Plan be interpreted to give effect to such intention and that if any provision
of the Plan is found not to be in compliance with Rule 16b-3, such provision
shall be deemed null and void to the extent required to permit the Plan to
comply with Rule 16b-3. The Board may adopt rules and regulations under, and
amend, the Plan in furtherance of the intent of the foregoing.
34. TRANSITION
Upon the effectiveness of this Plan, as provided below, and the Cash Plan,
such plans replaced the Company's Executive Incentive Compensation Plan
("EICP"), except that the EICP shall continue to govern options and awards of
restricted stock outstanding under the EICP. No further awards will be made
under the EICP, and all amounts accrued for awards under the EICP and unawarded
were carried forward and made available for Awards under the Plan and awards
under the Cash Plan. All
15
unmatured and matured but undistributed retirement units and all performance
awards respecting current performance cycles awarded under the EICP became
Retirement Units and Performance Awards hereunder and any payments or
distributions in respect thereof shall be made hereunder; provided, however,
that the number of shares of Common Stock available for Awards pursuant to
Section 13(f) hereof shall not be reduced by the number of such retirement units
previously awarded under the EICP and paid subsequently under the Plan.
35. EFFECTIVE DATES
The Plan became effective for periods beginning after January 1, 1991 upon
approval by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A and
Class B Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote thereon at the 1991 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders, in person or by proxy, voting together as a single
class. No Options may be granted or Awards made under the Plan after December
31, 2000, or such earlier expiration date as may be designated by resolution of
the Board.
16