EXHIBIT 10.O
CONSOLIDATED NATURAL GAS COMPANY
1991 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION 1. Purposes.
1.01 The purposes of the CNG 1991 Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan") are
to enable Consolidated Natural Gas Company (together with any successor thereto,
the "Company"), and its Affiliates to attract and retain key employees and the
best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, to reward
such employees for superior performance and to strengthen the mutuality of
interests between such employees and the Company's shareholders. The Plan is
designed to meet this intent by providing such employees with a proprietary
interest in pursuing the long-term growth, profitability and financial success
of the Company in order to provide them with additional motivation to continue
in the Company's employ and to further its profitable growth.
SECTION 2. Definitions; Construction.
2.01 Definitions. In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in the
Plan, the following terms as used in the Plan shall have the following meanings
when used with initial capital letters:
2.01.1 "Affiliate" means any entity other than the Company in
which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, at least 20 percent of
the combined voting power of all classes of stock of such entity or at
least 20 percent of the ownership interests in such entity.
2.01.2 "Award" means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right,
Restricted Stock, Deferred Stock, Performance Award, Dividend Equivalent,
or Other Stock-Based Award, or any other right or interest relating to
Shares or cash granted under the Plan.
2.01.3 "Award Agreement" means any written agreement, contract or
other instrument or document evidencing an Award.
2.01.4 "Board" means the Company's Board of Directors.
2.01.5 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time, together with rules, regulations and interpretations
promulgated thereunder.
2.01.6 "Committee" means the Compensation and Benefits Committee
or such other Committee of the Board as may be designated by the Board to
administer the Plan, as referred to in Section 3.01 hereof; provided,
however, that the Committee shall qualify to administer the Plan as
contemplated by Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor.
2.01.7 "Common Stock" means the Common Stock, $2.75 par value, and
such other securities of the Company as may be substituted for Shares
pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof.
2.01.8 "Deferred Stock" means Shares, granted under Section 6.05
hereof, receipt of which is deferred for a specified deferral period.
2.01.9 "Disability" means disability as determined under
procedures established by the Committee for purposes of the Plan.
2.01.10 "Dividend Equivalent" means a right, granted under Section
6.07 hereof, to receive interest or dividends, or interest or dividend
equivalents.
2.01.11 "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
2.01.12 "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, with respect to
Shares at any time that Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange,
the closing sale price as of that date or nearest preceding date on which
a sale was reported; provided, however, if in a given case the Fair
Market Value of Shares is not an even multiple of one dollar, such Fair
Market Value may be rounded up or down to a whole number if specified by
the Committee; and, with respect to Shares at any time that Shares are
not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or property other than Shares,
the fair market value of such Shares or other property determined by such
methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the
Committee.
2.01.13 "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option that is intended
to meet the requirements of Section 422A of the Code or any successor
provision thereto.
2.01.14 "Option" means a right, granted under Section 6.02 hereof,
to purchase Shares or other Awards at a specified price during specified
time periods. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a non-
qualified stock option, which is an Option not intended to be an
Incentive Stock Option.
2.01.15 "Other Stock-Based Awards" means a right, granted under
Section 6.08 hereof, that relates to or is valued by reference to Shares
or other Awards relating to Shares, Awards valued by reference to the
value of securities of or the performance of specified Affiliates, Awards
based upon the operation of the cash bonus program including the deferral
program and Awards related to such other Company sponsored programs such
as but not limited to the System Supplemental Retirement Plan for Certain
Management Employees of Consolidated Natural Gas Company and Its
Participating Subsidiaries, the Consolidated Natural Gas Company
Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan and the Unfunded Supplemental
Benefit Plan for Employees of Consolidated Natural Gas Company and Its
Participating Subsidiaries Who Are Not Represented by a Recognized Union.
2.01.16 "Participant" means a key employee of the Company or any
Affiliate granted an Award under the Plan.
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2.01.17 "Performance Award" means a right, granted under Section
6.06 hereof, to receive Awards based upon performance criteria specified
by the Committee.
2.01.18 "Person" shall have the meaning assigned in the Exchange
Act.
2.01.19 "Restricted Stock" means Shares, granted under Section
6.04 hereof, that are subject to certain restrictions.
2.01.20 "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3, as amended from time to
time, or any successor to such Rule promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
2.01.21 "Shares" means the Common Stock of the Company, $2.75 par
value, and such other securities of the Company as may be substituted for
Shares pursuant to Section 8.01 hereof.
2.01.22 "Stock Appreciation Right" means a right, granted under
Section 6.03 hereof, to be paid an amount measured by the appreciation in
the Fair Market Value of Shares from the date of grant to the date of
exercise.
Definitions of the terms "Change of Control," "Change of Control Price,"
"Potential Change of Control," "Related Party" and "Voting Securities" are set
forth in Section 9.03 hereof.
2.02 Construction. For purposes of the Plan, the following rules of
construction shall apply:
2.02.1 The word "or" is disjunctive but not necessarily exclusive.
2.02.2 Words in the singular include the plural; words in the
plural include the singular; and words in the neuter gender include the
masculine and feminine genders and words in the masculine or feminine
gender include the other and neuter genders.
SECTION 3. Administration.
3.01 The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall
have full and final authority to take the following actions, in each case
subject to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan;
(i) to designate Participants;
(ii) to determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each
Participant;
(iii) to determine the number of Awards to be granted, the number of
Shares or amount of cash or other property to which an Award will relate,
the terms and conditions of any Award (including, but not limited to, any
exercise price, grant price or purchase price, any limitation or
restriction, any schedule for lapse of limitations,
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forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on exercisability or
transferability, and accelerations or waivers thereof, based in each case
on such considerations as the Committee shall determine), and all other
matters to be determined in connection with an Award;
(iv) to determine whether, to what extent and under what
circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award
may be paid in, cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, or an Award
may be accelerated, vested, canceled, forfeited, exchanged or surrendered;
(v) to determine whether, to what extent and under what
circumstances cash, Shares, other Awards, other property and other amounts
payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or
at the election of the Committee or at the election of the Participant;
(vi) to interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or
agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan;
(vii) to prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not
be identical for each Participant;
(viii) to adopt, amend, suspend, waive and rescind such rules and
regulations as the Committee may deem necessary or advisable to administer
the Plan;
(ix) to correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any
inconsistency, and to construe and interpret the Plan, the rules and
regulations, any Award Agreement or other instrument entered into or Award
made under the Plan; and
(x) to make all other decisions and determinations as may be
required under the terms of the Plan or as the Committee may deem necessary
or advisable for the administration of the Plan.
Any action of the Committee with respect to the Plan shall be final,
conclusive and binding on all Persons, including the Company, Affiliates,
Participants, any Person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any
Participant, employees and stockholders. The express grant of any specific
power to the Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not
be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. The Committee
may delegate to officers or managers of the Company or of any Affiliate the
authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine, to perform
administrative functions under the Plan and, with respect to Participants who
are not subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, to take such actions and
perform such functions under the Plan as the Committee may specify. Each member
of the Committee shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any
report or other information furnished to him by any officer, manager or other
employee of the Company or any Affiliate, the Company's independent certified
public accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other
professional retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the
Plan. Except as may be required under
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Section 7.02.3, any and all powers, authorizations and discretions granted by
the Plan to the Committee shall likewise be exercisable at any time by the
Board.
SECTION 4. Shares Subject to the Plan.
4.01 The maximum number of shares of Common Stock in respect for which
Awards may be granted under the Plan, subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 8.01 of the Plan, in each calendar year during any part of which the
Plan is effective shall be one percent (1%) of the total issued and outstanding
shares of the Common Stock as of the first day of each such year the Plan is in
effect, plus any shares which are reserved but not then subject to grants under
the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan (the "LTIP") as of the date this Plan is
approved by the shareholders of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
no event shall more than three million (3,000,000) shares of Common Stock be
cumulatively available for Awards of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan.
For purposes of this Section 4.01, the number of Shares to which an Award
relates shall be counted against the number of Shares reserved and available
under the Plan at the time of grant of the Award, unless such number of Shares
cannot be determined at that time, in which case the number of Shares actually
distributed pursuant to the Award shall be counted against the number of Shares
reserved and available under the Plan at the time of distribution; provided,
however, that Awards related to or retroactively added to, or granted in tandem
with, substituted for or converted into, other Awards shall be counted or not
counted against the number of Shares reserved and available under the Plan in
accordance with procedures adopted by the Committee so as to ensure appropriate
counting but avoid double counting. Any unused portion of the number of shares
available for grant hereunder for any calendar year, together with any
additional shares that have become available under the LTIP, shall be carried
forward and be made available for Awards in succeeding calendar years.
If any Shares to which an Award relates are forfeited, or payment is made
to the Participant in the form of cash, cash equivalents or other property other
than Shares, or the Award otherwise terminates without payment being made to the
Participant in the form of Shares, any Shares counted against the number of
Shares reserved and available under the Plan with respect to such Award shall,
to the extent of any such forfeiture, alternative payment or termination, again
be available for Awards under the Plan.
Any Shares distributed pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in
part, of authorized and unissued Shares or of treasury Shares, including Shares
repurchased by the Company for purposes of the Plan.
SECTION 5. Eligibility.
5.01 Awards may be granted only to individuals who are key employees
(including employees who also are directors or officers) of the Company or any
Affiliate; provided, however, that no Award shall be granted to any member of
the Committee or to any individual who has served as a member of the Committee
at any time during the one-year period prior to the date an Award is to be
granted to such individual. In determining the eligibility of an employee to
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receive an Award, the Committee shall consider the position and responsibilities
of the employee being considered, the nature and value to the Company or a
Subsidiary of his services and accomplishments, his present and potential
contribution to the success of the Company or its Subsidiaries and such other
factors as the Committee may deem relevant.
SECTION 6. Specific Terms of Awards.
6.01 General. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award
Agreement, awards may be issued as set forth in this Section 6. In addition,
the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of
grant or thereafter (subject to the terms of Section 10.01), such additional
terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the
Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the
event of termination of employment by the Participant. Except as provided in
Section 7.01, or as required by applicable law, Awards shall be granted for no
consideration other than prior and future services.
6.02 Options. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to
Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Exercise Price. The exercise price per Share of an Option
shall be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that, except as
provided in Section 7.01, such exercise price shall not be less than the
Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant of such Option and in no
event shall be less than the par value of a Share.
(ii) Option Term. The term of each Option shall be determined by
the Committee.
(iii) Methods of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or
times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part, the methods
by which such exercise price may be paid or deemed to be paid, and the form
of such payment, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other
outstanding Awards or other property (including notes or other contractual
obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred basis, to the
extent permitted by law) or any combination thereof, having a fair market
value equal to the exercise price.
(iv) Incentive Stock Options. The terms of any Incentive Stock
Option granted under the Plan shall comply in all material respects with
the provisions of Section 422A of the Code or any successor provision
thereto.
6.03 Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee is authorized to grant
Stock Appreciation Rights to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Right to Payment. A Stock Appreciation Right shall confer on
the Participant to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise
thereof, the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of
exercise or, if the Committee shall so determine in the case of any such
right other than one related to any Incentive Stock Option, at any time
during a specified period before or after the date of
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exercise, over (ii) the grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as
determined by the Committee as of the date of grant of the Stock
Appreciation Right, which, except as provided in Section 7.01, shall not be
less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.
(ii) Other Terms. The term, methods of exercise, methods of
settlement and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation
Right shall be determined by the Committee.
6.04 Restricted Stock. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted
Stock to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Issuance and Restrictions. Restricted Stock shall be subject
to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the
Committee may impose (including, without limitation, limitations on the
right to vote Restricted Stock or the right to receive dividends thereon),
which restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times,
under such circumstances, in such installments or otherwise, as the
Committee shall determine at the time of grant or thereafter.
(ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at
the time of grant or thereafter, upon termination of employment (as
determined under criteria established by the Committee) during the
applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock that is at that time
subject to restrictions shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company;
provided, however, that the Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or
in any Award Agreement, that restrictions on Restricted Stock shall be
waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from
specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in
part restrictions on Restricted Stock.
(iii) Certificates for Shares. Restricted Stock granted under the
Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine,
including, without limitation, issuance of certificates representing
Shares. Certificates representing Shares of Restricted Stock shall be
registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate
legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to
such Restricted Stock.
6.05 Deferred Stock. The Committee is authorized to grant Deferred Stock
to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Issuance and Limitations. Delivery of Shares shall occur upon
expiration of the deferral period specified for the Award of Deferred Stock
by the Committee. In addition, an Award of Deferred Stock shall be subject
to such limitations as the Committee may impose, which limitations may
lapse at the expiration of the deferral period or at other specified times,
separately or in combination, in installments or otherwise, as the
Committee shall determine at the time of grant or thereafter. A
Participant awarded Deferred Stock shall have no voting rights and shall
have no rights to receive dividends in respect of Deferred Stock, unless
and only to the extent that the Committee shall award Dividend Equivalents
in respect of such Deferred Stock.
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(ii) Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee
upon termination of employment (as determined under criteria established by
the Committee) during the applicable deferral period, Deferred Stock that
is at that time subject to deferral (other than a deferral at the election
of the Participant) shall be forfeited; provided, however, that the
Committee may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement,
that forfeiture of Deferred Stock shall be waived in whole or in part in
the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the
Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of
Deferred Stock.
6.06 Performance Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant Performance
Awards to Participants on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Right to Payment. A Performance Award shall confer upon the
Participant rights, valued as determined by the Committee, and payable to,
or exercisable by, the Participant to whom the Performance Award is
granted, in whole or in part, as the Committee shall establish. The
performance criteria and all other terms and conditions of the Performance
Award shall be determined by the Committee upon the grant of each
Performance Award or thereafter.
(ii) Other Terms. A Performance Award may be denominated or payable
in cash, deferred cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, and other
terms and conditions of Performance Awards shall be, as determined by the
Committee.
6.07 Dividend Equivalents. The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend
Equivalents to Participants. Dividend Equivalents shall confer upon the
Participant rights to receive, currently or on a deferred basis, interest or
dividends, or interest or dividend equivalents, with respect to a number of
Shares, or otherwise, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may provide
that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed when accrued or shall be
deemed to have been reinvested in additional Shares or additional Awards or
otherwise reinvested.
6.08 Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is authorized, subject to
limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards
that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to,
or otherwise based on, or related to, Shares, as deemed by the Committee to be
consistent with the purposes of the Plan and, with respect to Participants who
are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, to comply with Rule 16b-3 and
applicable law including, without limitation, purchase rights, Shares awarded
which are not subject to any restrictions or conditions, convertible or
exchangeable debentures, exchangeable securities or other rights convertible or
exchangeable into Shares, as the Committee in its discretion may determine. The
Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards. Except as
provided in Section 7.01, Shares or securities delivered pursuant to a purchase
right granted under this Section 6.08 shall be purchased for such consideration,
paid for by such methods and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash,
Shares, outstanding Awards or other property or any combination thereof, as the
Committee shall determine, provided that the value of which consideration shall
not be less
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than the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the date of grant of such purchase
right and in no event shall be less than the par value of a Share.
6.09 Exchange Provisions. The Committee may at any time offer to exchange
or buy out any previously granted Award for a payment in cash, Shares, another
Award or other property, based on such terms and conditions as the Committee
shall determine and communicate to the Participant at the time that such offer
is made.
SECTION 7. General Terms of Awards.
7.01 Stand-Alone, Tandem and Substitute Awards. Awards granted under the
Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in
addition to, in tandem with or in substitution for, any other Award granted
under the Plan or any award granted under the Long-Term Incentive Plan, or any
other plan of the Company or any Affiliate (subject to the terms of Section
10.01) including a business entity to be acquired by the Company. If an Award
is granted in substitution for another Award or award, the Committee shall
require the surrender of such other Award or award in consideration for the
grant of the new Award. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other
Awards or awards may be granted either at the same time as or at a different
time from the grant of such other Awards or awards. The exercise price of any
Option, the grant price of any Stock Appreciation Right or the purchase price of
any other Award conferring a right to purchase Shares:
(i) granted in substitution for an outstanding Award or award shall
either be not less than the Fair Market Value of Shares at the date such
substitute Award is granted or not less than such Fair Market Value at that
date reduced to reflect the Fair Market Value of the Award or award
required to be surrendered by the Participant as a condition to receipt of
a substitute Award; or
(ii) retroactively granted in tandem with an outstanding Award or
award shall be either not less than the Fair Market Value of Shares at the
date of grant of the later Award or equal to the Fair Market Value of
Shares at the date of grant of the earlier Award or award.
7.02 Certain Restrictions Under Rule 16b-3. If, at any time, the
provisions of this Plan are inconsistent with Rule 16b-3 as then in effect, this
Plan shall be deemed to be amended, without further action on the part of the
Committee or the Board, to the extent necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3, as
then in effect, except to the extent any such amendment to the Plan requires
stockholder approval.
7.02.1 Six-Month Limitations on Sales and Exercises. Other
provisions of the Plan and any Award Agreement notwithstanding, equity
security, as defined under the Exchange Act, offered pursuant to the Plan
to a Participant who is at the time subject to Section 16 of the Exchange
Act may not be sold for at least six months after acquisition, except in
case of death or Disability, and any derivative security, as defined under
the Exchange Act, issued pursuant to the Plan to a Participant who is at
the time subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act
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shall not be exercisable for at least six months, except in case of death
or Disability, unless such sale or exercise is permissible under the
provisions of Rule 16b-3.
7.02.2 Nontransferability. Other provisions of the Plan and any
Award Agreement notwithstanding, Awards which constitute derivative
securities, including Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and other rights,
shall not be transferable by a Participant except by will or the laws of
descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during a Participant's
lifetime only by such Participant or his guardian or legal representative;
provided, however, that the Committee may determine that these restrictions
on transferability shall not apply to Awards granted to any Participant
who, at the time of the initial grant and the transfer, is not subject to
Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
7.02.3 Decisions Required to be Made by the Committee. Other
provisions of the Plan and any Award Agreement notwithstanding, if any
decision regarding an Award or the exercise of any right by a Participant,
at any time such Participant is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act,
is required to be made or approved by the Committee in order that the Plan
will continue to meet the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or in order that a
transaction by such Participant will be exempt under Rule 16b-3, then the
Committee shall retain full and exclusive power and authority to make such
decision or to approve or disapprove any such decision by the Participant.
7.03 Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for such period as
may be determined by the Committee; provided, however, that in no event shall
the term of any Incentive Stock Option, or a Stock Appreciation Right granted in
tandem therewith, exceed a period of ten years from the date of its grant.
7.04 Form of Payment of Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any
applicable Award Agreement, payments or substitutions to be made by the Company
or an Affiliate upon the grant or exercise of an Award may be made in such forms
as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant or thereafter (subject to
the terms of Section 10.01), including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other
Awards or other property or any combination thereof, and may be made in a single
payment or substitution, in installments or on a deferred basis, in each case in
accordance with rules and procedures established by the Committee. Such rules
and procedures may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or
crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments or the
grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents in respect of installment or deferred
payments.
7.05 Limits on Transfer of Awards; Beneficiaries. No right or interest of
a Participant in any Award shall be pledged, encumbered or hypothecated to or in
favor of any Person other than the Company or an Affiliate, or shall be subject
to any lien, obligation or liability of such Participant to any Person other
than the Company or an Affiliate. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee
(subject to the requirements of Section 7.02.2 hereof), no Award and no rights
or interests therein shall be assignable or transferable by a Participant
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution except to the
Company or any Affiliate under the terms of the Plan; provided,
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however, that, if so determined by the Committee, a Participant may, in the
manner established by the Committee, designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to
exercise the rights of the Participant, and to receive any distribution with
respect to any Award, upon the death of the Participant. A beneficiary,
guardian, legal representative or other Person claiming any rights under the
Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all the terms and
conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to such Participant as
well as any additional restrictions or limitations deemed necessary or
appropriate by the Committee.
7.06 Registration and Listing Compliance. No Award shall be paid and no
Shares shall be distributed with respect to any Award in a transaction subject
to the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
any state securities law or subject to a listing requirement under any listing
agreement between the Company and any national securities exchange, and no Award
shall confer upon any Participant rights to such delivery or distribution, until
such laws and contractual obligations of the Company have been complied with in
all material respects.
7.07 Stock Certificates. All certificates for Shares delivered under the
terms of the Plan shall be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other
restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under federal or state
securities laws, rules and regulations thereunder, and the rules of any national
securities exchange or automated quotation system on which Shares are listed or
quoted. The Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any such
certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions or any other
restrictions or limitations that may be applicable to Shares. In addition,
during any period in which Awards or Shares are subject to restrictions or
limitations under the terms of the Plan or any Award Agreement, or during any
period during which delivery or receipt of an Award or Shares has been deferred
by the Committee or a Participant, the Committee may require any Participant to
enter into an agreement providing that certificates representing Shares issuable
or issued pursuant to an Award shall remain in the physical custody of the
Company or such other Person as the Committee may designate.
SECTION 8. Adjustment Provisions.
8.01 In the event that the Committee shall determine that any dividend or
other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or
other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split,
reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination,
repurchase, exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, or other
similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an
adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent
dilution or enlargement of Participants' rights under the Plan, then the
Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of
(i) the number and kind of Shares which may thereafter be issued in connection
with Awards; (ii) the number and kind of Shares issued or issuable in respect of
outstanding Awards; and (iii) the exercise price, grant price or purchase price
relating to any Award or, if deemed appropriate, make provision for a cash
payment with respect to any outstanding Award; provided, however, in each case,
that, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, no such adjustment shall be
authorized to the extent that such authority would cause
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the plan to violate Section 422A(b)(1) of the Code or any successor provision
thereto. In addition, the Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the
terms and conditions of, and the criteria in, Awards in recognition of unusual
or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, events described in the
preceding sentence) affecting the Company or any Affiliate or the financial
statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or in response to changes in
applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles.
SECTION 9. Change of Control Provisions.
9.01 Acceleration of Exercisability and Lapse of Restrictions; Cash-Out of
Awards. In the event of a Change of Control, the following acceleration and
cash-out provisions shall apply unless otherwise provided by the Committee at
the time of the Award grant.
(i) All outstanding Awards pursuant to which the Participant may
have rights the exercise of which is restricted or limited, shall become
fully exercisable, except as may be otherwise provided in Section 7.02.1;
unless the right to lapse of restrictions or limitations is waived or
deferred by a Participant prior to such lapse, all restrictions or
limitations (including risks of forfeiture and deferrals) on outstanding
Awards subject to restrictions or limitations under the Plan shall lapse,
except as may be otherwise provided in Section 7.02.1; and all performance
criteria and other conditions to payment of Awards under which payments of
cash, Shares or other property are subject to conditions shall be deemed to
be achieved or fulfilled and shall be waived by the Company, except as may
be otherwise required to comply with Rule 16b-3.
(ii) For a period of up to 60 days following a Change of Control,
the Participant may elect to surrender any outstanding Award and to
receive, in full satisfaction therefor, a cash payment equal to the value
of such Award calculated on the basis of the Change of Control Price of any
Shares or the Fair Market Value of any property other than Shares relating
to such Award; provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive Stock
-----------------
Option, or a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem therewith, the
payment shall be based upon the Fair Market Value of Shares on the date on
which the Change of Control occurred; provided further, however, that in
-------------------------
the case of a Change of Control described in Section 9.03.1(ii), (iii) or
(iv) hereof, the payment described in this sentence shall be made in the
same form (i.e., cash, shares, other securities or a combination thereof)
as holders of Shares receive in exchange for their Shares in the
transaction that results in the Change of Control. Except as provided in
Section 9.01(iii), in no event will an Award be surrendered or a
Participant have the right to receive cash under this Section 9.01(ii) with
respect to an Award (a) if the Participant is subject to Section 16 of the
Exchange Act and at least six months shall not have elapsed from the date
on which the Participant was granted the Award before the date of the
Change of Control (unless this restriction is not at such time required
under Rule 16b-3) or (b) if the Participant had the power to control the
occurrence or timing of the Change of Control.
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(iii) In the event that any Award is subject to limitations under
Section 7.02.1 or Section 9.01(ii) at the time of a Change of Control,
then, solely for the purpose of determining the rights of the Participant
with respect to such Award, a Change of Control shall be deemed to occur at
the close of business on the first business day following the date on which
the limitations on such Award under Section 7.02.1 have expired.
9.02 Creation and Funding of Trust. Upon the earlier of the occurrence of
a Potential Change of Control or a Change of Control, the Company shall deposit
with the trustee of a trust for the benefit of Participants monies or other
property having a Fair Market Value at least equal to the value of cash, Shares
and other property to be paid or distributed in connection with Awards
outstanding at that date. The trust shall be a grantor trust which shall
preserve the "unfunded" status of Awards under the Plan. Subsequent to a
Potential Change of Control which is no longer continuing and prior to any
Change of Control, upon the request of the Company, the trustee shall deliver
the monies or other property held in the trust to the Company.
9.03 Definition of Certain Terms. For purposes of this Section 9, the
following definitions, in addition to those set forth in Section 2.01, shall
apply:
9.03.1 "Change of Control" means and shall be deemed to have
occurred if
(i) any Person, other than the Company or a Related Party, is or
becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act), directly or indirectly, of Voting Securities representing 20 percent
or more of the total voting power of all the then-outstanding Voting
Securities, except that there shall be excluded from the number of Voting
Securities deemed to be beneficially owned by a Person a number of Voting
Securities representing not more than 10 percent of the then-outstanding
voting power if such Person is (a) eligible to file a Schedule 13G pursuant
to Rule 13d-1(b)(1) under the Exchange Act with respect to Voting
Securities or (b) an underwriter who becomes the beneficial owner of more
than 20 percent of the then-outstanding Voting Securities pursuant to a
firm commitment underwriting agreement with the Company; or
(ii) the individuals who, as of the effective date of the Plan,
constitute the Board of Directors of the Company together with those who
first become directors subsequent to such date and whose recommendation,
election or nomination for election to the Board was approved by a vote of
at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were
directors as of the effective date of the Plan or whose recommendation,
election or nomination for election was previously so approved (the
"Continuing Directors"), cease for any reason to constitute a majority of
the members of the Board; or
(iii) the stockholders of the Company approve a merger,
consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization of the Company, reverse
split of any class of Voting Securities, or an acquisition of securities or
assets by the Company, or consummation of any such
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transaction if stockholder approval is not obtained, other than (a) any
such transaction which would result in at least 75 percent of the total
voting power represented by the voting securities of the surviving entity
outstanding immediately after such transaction being beneficially owned by
at least 75 percent of the holders of outstanding Voting Securities
immediately prior to the transaction, with the voting power of each such
continuing holder relative to other such continuing holders not
substantially altered in the transaction, or (b) any such transaction which
would result in a Related Party beneficially owning more than 50 percent of
the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after
such transaction; or
(iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by
the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets other than
any such transaction which would result in a Related Party owning or
acquiring more than 50 percent of the assets owned by the Company
immediately prior to the transaction.
9.03.2 "Change of Control Price" means, with respect to a Share, the
higher of (i) the highest reported sales price of Shares on the New York
Stock Exchange during the 30 calendar days preceding a Change of Control or
(ii) the highest price paid or offered in a transaction which either (a)
results in a Change of Control or (b) would be consummated but for another
transaction which results in a Change of Control and, if it were
consummated, would result in a Change of Control. With respect to clause
(ii) in the preceding sentence, the "price paid or offered" will be equal
to the sum of (i) the face amount of any portion of the consideration
consisting of cash or cash equivalents and (ii) the fair market value of
any portion of the consideration consisting of real or personal property
other than cash or cash equivalents, as established by an independent
appraiser selected by the Committee.
9.03.3 "Potential Change of Control" means and shall be deemed to
have arisen if (i) the Company enters into an agreement, the consummation
of which would result in the occurrence of a Change of Control; or (ii) any
Person (including the Company) publicly announces an intention to take or
to consider taking actions which if consummated would constitute a Change
of Control; or (iii) any Person, other than a Related Party, files with the
Securities and Exchange Commission a Schedule 13D pursuant to Rule 13d-1
under the Exchange Act with respect to more than 7.5 percent of any
outstanding class of Voting Securities; or (iv) the Committee adopts a
resolution to the effect that, for purposes of the Plan, a Potential Change
of Control has arisen. A Potential Change of Control will be deemed to
continue (i) with respect to an agreement within the purview of clause (i)
of the preceding sentence, until the agreement is canceled or terminated;
or (ii) with respect to an announcement within the purview of clause (ii)
of the preceding sentence, until the Person making the announcement
publicly abandons the stated intention or fails to act on such intention
for a period of 12 calendar months; or (iii) with respect to the filing of
a Schedule 13D within the purview of clause (iii) of the preceding
sentence, until the Person involved publicly announces that its ownership
of the Voting Securities is for investment purposes only and
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not for the purpose of seeking a Change of Control or such Person disposes
of the Voting Securities; or (iv) with respect to any Potential Change of
Control, until a Change of Control has occurred or the majority of the
Continuing Directors and the Committee, acting jointly, on reasonable
belief after due investigation, adopt a resolution that the Potential
Change of Control has ceased to exist.
9.03.4 "Related Party" means (i) a majority-owned subsidiary of the
Company; or (ii) an employee or group of employees of the Company or any
majority-owned subsidiary of the Company; or (iii) a trustee or other
fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company
or any majority-owned subsidiary of the Company; or (iv) a corporation
owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportion as their ownership of Voting Securities.
9.03.5 "Voting Securities or Security" means any securities of the
Company which carry the right to vote generally in the election of
directors.
SECTION 10. Amendments to and Termination of the Plan.
10.01 The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the
Plan without the consent of stockholders or Participants, except that, without
the approval of the stockholders of the Company, no amendment, alteration,
suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made if stockholder approval
is required by any federal or state law or regulation, or if the Board in its
discretion determines that obtaining such stockholder approval is for any reason
advisable; provided, however, that, without the consent of the Participant, no
amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination of the Plan
may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any
Award theretofore granted to him. The Committee may waive any conditions or
rights under, amend any terms of, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or
terminate, any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retrospectively;
provided, however, that, without the consent of a Participant, no amendment,
alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination of any Award may
materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any Award
theretofore granted to him.
SECTION 11. General Provisions.
11.01 No Rights to Awards; No Stockholder Rights. Nothing in this Plan
shall give any Participant or employee any right or claim to be granted any
Award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of
Participants and employees. No Award shall confer on any Participant any of the
rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until Shares are in fact
issued to such Participant in connection with such Award.
11.02 Withholding. The Company or any Affiliate is authorized to withhold
from any Award granted or any payment due under the Plan, including from a
distribution of Shares, amounts of withholding taxes due with respect to an
Award, its exercise or any payment thereunder, and to take such other action as
the Committee may deem necessary or advisable to enable the Company and
Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes
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and tax liabilities in excess thereof. This authority shall include authority to
withhold or receive Shares, Awards or other property and to make cash payments
in respect thereof in satisfaction of such tax obligations.
11.03 No Right to Employment. Nothing contained in the Plan or any Award
Agreement shall confer, and no grant of an Award shall be construed as
conferring, upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ of the
Company or any Affiliate or to interfere in any way with the right of the
Company or any Affiliate to terminate his employment at any time or increase or
decrease his compensation from the rate in existence at the time of granting of
an Award, except as may be expressly provided in any Award Agreement or other
compensation arrangement.
11.04 Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts. The Plan is intended
to constitute an "unfunded" plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With
respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award,
nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall give any such Participant any
rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the
Company; provided, however, that, in addition to the requirements of Section
9.02, the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or make other
arrangements to meet the Company's obligations under the Plan to deliver cash,
Shares or other property pursuant to any Award, which trusts or other
arrangements shall be consistent with the "unfunded" status of the Plan unless
the Committee otherwise determines.
11.05 No Limit on Other Compensatory Arrangements. Nothing contained in
the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting other or
additional compensation arrangements (which may include, without limitation,
employment agreements with executives and arrangements which relate to Awards
under the Plan), and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or
applicable only in specific cases. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the
contrary (other than the provisions of Section 7.02), the terms of each Award
shall be construed so as to be consistent with such other arrangements in effect
at the time of the Award.
11.06 No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or
delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine
whether cash, other Awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of
fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall
be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
11.07 Governing Law. The validity, interpretation, construction and
effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be
governed by the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to provisions
governing conflicts of laws) and applicable federal law.
11.08. Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or
becomes or is deemed invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or
would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the
Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to
applicable laws or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the
determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan, it
shall be deleted and the remainder of the Plan shall remain in full force and
effect; provided, however, that, unless otherwise determined by the Committee,
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the provision shall not be construed or deemed amended or deleted with respect
to any Participant whose rights and obligations under the Plan are not subject
to the law of such jurisdiction or the law deemed applicable by the Committee.
SECTION 12. Effective Date and Termination.
12.01 The Plan shall become effective as of January 1, 1991, subject to
the approval of the Plan by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of
Shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Company's 1991 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders, or any adjournment thereof. Any Awards granted under
the Plan prior to such approval of stockholders shall be effective when made
(unless otherwise specified by the Committee at the time of grant) but shall be
conditioned upon and subject to such approval of the Plan by stockholders. No
award may be granted under the Plan after December 31, 2000.
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