1 EXHIBIT 10.16 EXHIBIT A - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION 2000 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 1. PURPOSE........................................................................................1 2. DEFINITIONS....................................................................................1 3. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.....................................................................5 3.1. Board.................................................................................5 3.2. Committee.............................................................................5 3.3. Terms of Awards.......................................................................5 3.4. No Liability..........................................................................7 4. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN......................................................................7 5. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN............................................................7 5.1. Effective Date........................................................................7 5.2. Term..................................................................................7 6. AWARD eligibility..............................................................................7 6.1. Company or Subsidiary Employees; Service Providers; Other Persons.....................7 6.2. Successive Awards.....................................................................8 7. AWARD AGREEMENT................................................................................8 8. OPTION PRICE...................................................................................8 9. VESTING, TERM AND EXERCISE OF OPTIONS..........................................................8 9.1. Vesting...............................................................................8 9.2. Term..................................................................................8 9.3. Acceleration..........................................................................9 9.4. Termination of Service................................................................9 9.5. Limitations on Exercise of Option.....................................................9 9.6. Method of Exercise....................................................................9 9.7. Form of Payment.......................................................................9 9.8. Rights of Holders of Options..........................................................10 9.9. Delivery of Stock Certificates........................................................10 9.10. Reload Options........................................................................10 10. TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS.....................................................................11 10.1. Transferability of Options............................................................11 10.2. Family Transfers......................................................................11 11. RESTRICTED STOCK...............................................................................11 11.1. Grant of Restricted Stock.............................................................11 11.2. Restrictions..........................................................................11 11.3. Restricted Stock Certificates.........................................................12 11.4. Rights of Holders of Restricted Stock.................................................12 11.5. Termination of Service................................................................12 11.6. Delivery of Stock and Payment Therefor................................................12 12. Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards........................................................13 12.1. Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards................................13 12.2. Form and Timing of Payment Under Awards; Deferrals....................................13 3 13. PARACHUTE LIMITATIONS..........................................................................14 14. REQUIREMENTS OF LAW............................................................................15 14.1. General...............................................................................15 14.2. Rule 16b-3............................................................................16 14.3. Limitation Following a Hardship Distribution..........................................16 15. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN..........................................................16 16. EFFECT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION............................................................16 16.1. Changes in Stock......................................................................16 16.2. Reorganization in Which the Company Is the Surviving Entity and in Which No Change in Control Occurs........................................................................17 16.3. Reorganization, Sale of Assets or Sale of Stock Which Involves a Change in Control....17 16.4. Adjustments...........................................................................18 16.5. No Limitations on Company.............................................................18 17. Pooling 18 18. DISCLAIMER OF RIGHTS...........................................................................19 19. NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN.....................................................................19 20. WITHHOLDING TAXES..............................................................................19 21. CAPTIONS 20 22. OTHER PROVISIONS...............................................................................20 23. NUMBER AND GENDER..............................................................................20 24. SEVERABILITY...................................................................................20 25. GOVERNING LAW..................................................................................20 ii 4 WABASH NATIONAL CORPORATION 2000 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN Wabash National Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), sets forth herein the terms of the Company's 2000 Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). 1. PURPOSE The purpose of the Plan is to enhance the Company's ability to attract, retain, and compensate highly qualified officers, key employees, and other persons, and to motivate such officers, key employees, and other persons to serve the Company and its Affiliates (as defined herein) and to expend maximum effort to improve the business results and earnings of the Company, by providing to such officers, key employees and other persons an opportunity to acquire or increase a direct proprietary interest in the operations and future success of the Company and with other financial incentives. To this end, the Plan provides for the grant of stock options and restricted stock in accordance with the terms hereof. Stock options granted under the Plan are non-qualified stock options. 2. DEFINITIONS For purposes of interpreting the Plan and related documents (including Award Agreements), the following definitions shall apply: 2.1 "AFFILIATE" means, with respect to the Company, any company or other trade or business that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 of Regulation C under the Securities Act, including, without limitation, any Subsidiary. 2.2 "AWARD" means a grant of an Option or Restricted Stock under the Plan. 2.3 "AWARD AGREEMENT" means the written agreement between the Company and a Grantee that evidences and sets out the terms and conditions of an Award. 2.4 "BENEFIT ARRANGEMENT" shall have the meaning set forth in SECTION 13 hereof. 2.5 "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company. 5 2.6 "CAUSE" means, as determined by the Board and unless otherwise provided in an applicable employment agreement with the Company or an Affiliate, (i) gross negligence or willful misconduct in connection with the performance of duties; (ii) conviction of a criminal offense (other than minor traffic offenses); or (iii) material breach of any term of any employment, consulting or other services, confidentiality, intellectual property or non-competition agreements, if any, between the Service Provider or employee and the Company or an Affiliate. 2.7 "CHANGE IN CONTROL" means (i) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or a merger, consolidation, or reorganization of the Company with one or more other entities in which the Company is not the surviving entity, (ii) a sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company to another person or entity, or (iii) any transaction (including without limitation a merger or reorganization in which the Company is the surviving entity) which results in any person or entity (other than persons who are shareholders or Affiliates immediately prior to the transaction) owning 50% or more of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company. 2.8 "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as now in effect or as hereafter amended. 2.9 "COMMITTEE" means a committee of, and designated from time to time by resolution of, the Board, which shall consist of no fewer than two members of the Board, none of whom shall be an officer or other salaried employee of the Company or any Affiliate. 2.10 "COMPANY" means the Wabash National Corporation. 2.11 "DISABILITY" means the Grantee is unable to perform each of the essential duties of such Grantee's position by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which is potentially permanent in character or which can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. 2.12 "EFFECTIVE DATE" means November 6, 2000. 2.13 "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as now in effect or as hereafter amended. 2.14 "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means the value of a share of Stock, determined as follows: if on the Grant Date or other determination date the Stock is listed on an established national or regional stock exchange, is admitted to quotation on The Nasdaq Stock Market, or is publicly traded on an established securities market, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the closing - 2 - 6 price of the Stock on such exchange or in such market (if there is more than one such exchange or market the Board shall determine the appropriate exchange or market) on the Grant Date or such other determination date (or if there is no such reported closing price, the Fair Market Value shall be the mean between the highest bid and lowest asked prices or between the high and low sale prices on such trading day) or, if no sale of Stock is reported for such trading day, on the next preceding day on which any sale shall have been reported. If the Stock is not listed on such an exchange, quoted on such system or traded on such a market, Fair Market Value shall be the value of the Stock as determined by the Board in good faith. 2.15 "FAMILY MEMBER" means a person who is a spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, sibling, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, of the Grantee, any person sharing the Grantee's household (other than a tenant or employee), a trust in which any one or more these persons have more than fifty percent of the beneficial interest, a foundation in which any one or more of these persons (or the Grantee) control the management of assets, and any other entity in which one or more these persons (or the Grantee) own more than fifty percent of the voting interests. 2.16 "GRANT DATE" means, as determined by the Board or authorized Committee, the latest to occur of (i) the date as of which the Board approves an Award, (ii) the date on which the recipient of an Award first becomes eligible to receive an Award under SECTION 6 hereof, or (iii) such other date as may be specified by the Board. 2.17 "GRANTEE" means a person who receives or holds an Award under the Plan. 2.18 "NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION" means an Option that is not an incentive stock option within the meaning of section 422 of the code. 2.19 "OPTION" means an option to purchase one or more shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan. 2.20 "OPTION PRICE" means the purchase price for each share of Stock subject to an Option. 2.21 "OTHER AGREEMENT" shall have the meaning set forth in SECTION 13 hereof. 2.22 "OUTSIDE DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board who is not an officer or employee of the Company. - 3 - 7 2.23 "PLAN" means this Wabash National Corporation 2000 Stock Option and Incentive Plan. 2.24 "REPORTING PERSON" means a person who is required to file reports under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act. 2.25 "RESTRICTED PERIOD" means the period during which Restricted Stock is subject to restrictions or conditions pursuant to SECTION 11.2 hereof. 2.26 "RESTRICTED STOCK" means shares of Stock, awarded to a Grantee pursuant to SECTION 11 hereof, that are subject to restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture. 2.27 "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as now in effect or as hereafter amended. 2.28 "SERVICE" means service as an employee, officer, director or other Service Provider of the Company or an Affiliate. Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee's change in position or duties shall not result in interrupted or terminated Service, so long as such Grantee continues to be an employee, officer, director or other Service Provider of the Company or an Affiliate. Subject to the preceding sentence, whether a termination of Service shall have occurred for purposes of the Plan shall be determined by the Board, which determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. 2.29 "SERVICE PROVIDER" means a consultant or adviser to the Company, a manager of the Company's properties or affairs, or other similar service provider or Affiliate, and employees of any of the foregoing, as such persons may be designated from time to time by the Board pursuant to SECTION 6 hereof. 2.30 "STOCK" means the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company. 2.31 "SUBSIDIARY" means any "subsidiary corporation" of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code. 2.32 "TERMINATION DATE" means the date upon which an Option shall terminate or expire, as set forth in SECTION 9.2 hereof. - 4 - 8 3. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN 3.1. BOARD The Board shall have such powers and authorities related to the administration of the Plan as are consistent with the Company's certificate of incorporation and by-laws and applicable law. The Board shall have full power and authority to take all actions and to make all determinations required or provided for under the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement, and shall have full power and authority to take all such other actions and make all such other determinations not inconsistent with the specific terms and provisions of the Plan that the Board deems to be necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement. All such actions and determinations shall be by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Board present at a meeting or by unanimous consent of the Board executed in writing in accordance with the Company's certificate of incorporation and by-laws and applicable law. The interpretation and construction by the Board of any provision of the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement shall be final and conclusive. To the extent permitted by law, the Board may delegate its authority under the Plan to a member of the Board or to an executive officer of the Company who is a member of the Board. 3.2. COMMITTEE. The Board from time to time may delegate to a Committee such powers and authorities related to the administration and implementation of the Plan, as set forth in SECTION 3.1 above and in other applicable provisions, as the Board shall determine, consistent with the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Company and applicable law. In the event that the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement entered into hereunder provides for any action to be taken by or determination to be made by the Board, such action may be taken or such determination may be made by the Committee if the power and authority to do so has been delegated to the Committee by the Board as provided for in this Section. Unless otherwise expressly determined by the Board, any such action or determination by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive. To the extent permitted by law, the Committee may delegate its authority under the Plan to a member of the Board or an executive officer of the Company who is a member of the Board. 3.3. TERMS OF AWARDS. Subject to the other terms and conditions of the Plan, the Board shall have full and final authority: - 5 - 9 (i) to designate Grantees, (ii) to determine the type or types of Awards to be made to a Grantee, (iii) to determine the number of shares of Stock to be subject to an Award, (iv) to establish the terms and conditions of each Award (including, but not limited to, the exercise price of any Option and the nature and duration of any restriction or condition (or provision for lapse thereof) relating to the vesting, exercise, transfer, or forfeiture of an Award or the shares of Stock subject thereto), (v) to prescribe the form of each Award Agreement evidencing an Award, (vi) to amend, modify, or supplement the terms of any outstanding Award, and (vii) Such authority specifically includes the authority, in order to effectuate the purposes of the Plan but without amending the Plan, to modify Awards to eligible individuals who are foreign nationals or are individuals who are employed outside the United States to recognize differences in local law, tax policy, or custom. As a condition to any subsequent Award, the Board shall have the right, at its discretion, to require Grantees to return to the Company Awards previously made under the Plan. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, any such new Award shall be upon such terms and conditions as are specified by the Board at the time the new Award is made. The Board shall have the right, in its discretion, to make Awards in substitution or exchange for any other award under another plan of the Company, any Affiliate, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or an Affiliate. The Company may retain the right in an Award Agreement to cause a forfeiture of the gain realized by a Grantee on account of actions taken by the Grantee in violation or breach of or in conflict with any non-competition agreement, any agreement prohibiting solicitation of employees or clients of the Company or any Affiliate thereof or any confidentiality obligation with respect to the Company or any Affiliate thereof or otherwise in competition with the Company or any Affiliate thereof, to the extent specified in such Award Agreement applicable to the Grantee. Furthermore, the Company may annul an Award if the Grantee is an employee of the Company or an Affiliate thereof and is terminated for Cause as defined in the applicable Award Agreement or the Plan, as applicable. The grant of any Award shall be contingent upon the Grantee executing the appropriate Award Agreement. - 6 - 10 3.4. NO LIABILITY. No member of the Board or of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award or Award Agreement. 4. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN Subject to adjustment as provided in SECTION 16 hereof, the number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be 2,000,000. Stock issued or to be issued under the Plan shall be authorized but unissued shares. If any shares covered by an Award are not purchased or are forfeited, or if an Award otherwise terminates without delivery of any Stock subject thereto, then the number of shares of Stock counted against the aggregate number of shares available under the Plan with respect to such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture or termination, again be available for making Awards under the Plan. If the exercise price of any Option granted under the Plan is satisfied by tendering shares of Stock to the Company (by either actual delivery or by attestation), only the number of shares of Stock issued net of the shares of Stock tendered shall be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of Stock available for delivery under the Plan. 5. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN 5.1. EFFECTIVE DATE. The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date. 5.2. TERM. The Plan shall terminate automatically ten (10) years after its adoption by the Board and may be terminated on any earlier date as provided in SECTION 15. 6. AWARD ELIGIBILITY 6.1. COMPANY OR SUBSIDIARY EMPLOYEES; SERVICE PROVIDERS; OTHER PERSONS Awards may be made under the Plan to: (i) any employee of, or a Service Provider to, the Company or of any Affiliate, including any such employee or Service Provider who is an officer or director of the Company, or of any affiliate, as the Board shall determine and designate from time to time, (ii) any Outside - 7 - 11 Director, and (iii) any other individual whose participation in the Plan is determined to be in the best interests of the Company by the Board. 6.2. SUCCESSIVE AWARDS. An eligible person may receive more than one Award, subject to such restrictions as are provided herein. 7. AWARD AGREEMENT Each Award granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, to be executed by the Company and by the Grantee, in such form or forms as the Board shall from time to time determine. Award Agreements granted from time to time or at the same time need not contain similar provisions but shall be consistent with the terms of the Plan. 8. OPTION PRICE The Option Price of each Option shall be fixed by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option. The Option Price shall be at least the aggregate Fair Market Value on the Grant Date of the shares of Stock subject to the Option, and in no case shall the Option Price of any Option be less than the par value of a share of Stock. 9. VESTING, TERM AND EXERCISE OF OPTIONS 9.1. VESTING. Subject to SECTIONS 9.2 AND 16.3 hereof, each Option granted under the Plan shall become exercisable at such times and under such conditions as shall be determined by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement. For purposes of this SECTION 9.1, fractional numbers of shares of Stock subject to an Option shall be rounded down to the next nearest whole number. The Board may provide, for example, in the Award Agreement for (i) accelerated exercisability of the Option in the event the Grantee's Service terminates on account of death, Disability or another event, (ii) expiration of the Option prior to its term in the event of the termination of the Grantee's Service, (iii) immediate forfeiture of the Option in the event the Grantee's Service is terminated for Cause or (iv) unvested Options to be exercised subject to the Company's right of repurchase with respect to unvested shares of Stock. 9.2. TERM. Each Option granted under the Plan shall terminate, and all rights to purchase shares of Stock thereunder shall cease, upon the expiration of ten years - 8 - 12 from the date such Option is granted, or under such circumstances and on such date prior thereto as is set forth in the Plan or as may be fixed by the Board and stated in the Award Agreement relating to such Option (the "Termination Date"). 9.3. ACCELERATION. Any limitation on the exercise of an Option contained in any Award Agreement may be rescinded, modified or waived by the Board, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time after the Grant Date of such Option, so as to accelerate the time at which the Option may be exercised. 9.4. TERMINATION OF SERVICE. Each Award Agreement shall set forth the extent to which the Grantee shall have the right to exercise the Option following termination of the Grantee's Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Board, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of Service. 9.5. LIMITATIONS ON EXERCISE OF OPTION. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in no event may any Option be exercised, in whole or in part, after ten years following the Grant Date or after the occurrence of an event referred to in SECTION 16 hereof which results in termination of the Option. 9.6. METHOD OF EXERCISE. An Option that is exercisable may be exercised by the Grantee's delivery to the Company of written notice of exercise on any business day, at the Company's principal office, on the form specified by the Company. Such notice shall specify the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Option is being exercised and shall be accompanied by payment in full of the Option Price of the shares for which the Option is being exercised. The minimum number of shares of Stock with respect to which an Option may be exercised, in whole or in part, at any time shall be the lesser of (i) 100 shares or such lesser number set forth in the applicable Award Agreement and (ii) the maximum number of shares available for purchase under the Option at the time of exercise. 9.7. FORM OF PAYMENT Payment of the Option Price for the shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option shall be made (i) in cash or in cash equivalents acceptable to the Company; (ii) through the tender to the Company of shares of Stock, which shares, if acquired from the Company, shall have been held for at least six months and which shall be valued, for purposes of determining the extent to which the - 9 - 13 Option Price has been paid thereby, at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise; or (iii) by a combination of the methods described in (i) and (ii). Unless the Board provides otherwise in the Award Agreement, payment in full of the Option Price need not accompany the written notice of exercise provided that the notice of exercise directs that the certificate or certificates for the shares of Stock for which the Option is exercised be delivered to a licensed broker acceptable to the Company as the agent for the individual exercising the Option and, at the time such certificate or certificates are delivered, the broker tenders to the Company cash (or cash equivalents acceptable to the Company) equal to the Option Price for the shares of Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of the Option plus the amount (if any) of federal and/or other taxes which the Company may in its judgment, be required to withhold with respect to the exercise of the Option. An attempt to exercise any Option granted hereunder other than as set forth above shall be invalid and of no force and effect. 9.8. RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF OPTIONS Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, an individual holding or exercising an Option shall have none of the rights of a shareholder (for example, the right to receive cash or dividend payments or distributions attributable to the subject shares of Stock or to direct the voting of the subject shares of Stock ) until the shares of Stock covered thereby are fully paid and issued to him. Except as provided in SECTION 16 hereof, no adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date of such issuance. 9.9. DELIVERY OF STOCK CERTIFICATES. Promptly after the exercise of an Option by a Grantee and the payment in full of the Option Price, such Grantee shall be entitled to the issuance of a stock certificate or certificates evidencing his or her ownership of the shares of Stock subject to the Option. 9.10. RELOAD OPTIONS. At the discretion of the Board and subject to such restrictions, terms and conditions as the Board may establish, Options granted under the Plan may include a "reload" feature pursuant to which a Grantee exercising an Option by the delivery of a number of shares of Stock in accordance with SECTION 9.6 hereof would automatically be granted an additional Option (with an exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date the additional Option is granted and with such other terms as the Board may provide) to purchase that number of shares of Stock equal to the number delivered to exercise the original Option with an Option term equal to the remainder of the original Option term unless the Board otherwise determines in the Option Award Agreement for the original grant. - 10 - 14 10. TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS 10.1. TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS Except as provided in SECTION 10.2, during the lifetime of a Grantee, only the Grantee (or, in the event of legal incapacity or incompetency, the Grantee's guardian or legal representative) may exercise an Option. Except as provided in SECTION 10.2, no Option shall be assignable or transferable by the Grantee to whom it is granted, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. 10.2. FAMILY TRANSFERS. If authorized in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee may transfer, not for value, all or part of an Option to any Family Member. For the purpose of this SECTION 10.2, a "not for value" transfer is a transfer which is (i) a gift, (ii) a transfer under a domestic relations order in settlement of marital property rights; or (iii) a transfer to an entity in which more than fifty percent of the voting interests are owned by Family Members (or the Grantee) in exchange for an interest in that entity. Following a transfer under this SECTION 10.2, any such Option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer. Subsequent transfers of transferred Options are prohibited except to Family Members of the original Grantee in accordance with this SECTION 10.2 or by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The events of termination of Service of SECTION 9.4 hereof shall continue to be applied with respect to the original Grantee, following which the Option shall be exercisable by the transferee only to the extent, and for the periods specified, in SECTION 9.4. 11. RESTRICTED STOCK 11.1. GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK. The Board may from time to time grant Restricted Stock to persons eligible to receive Awards under SECTION 6 hereof, subject to such restrictions, conditions and other terms as the Board may determine. 11.2. RESTRICTIONS. At the time a grant of Restricted Stock is made, the Board shall establish a period of time (the "Restricted Period") applicable to such Restricted Stock. Each Award of Restricted Stock or may be subject to a different Restricted Period. The Board may, in its sole discretion, at the time a grant of Restricted Stock is made, prescribe restrictions in addition to or other than the expiration of the Restricted Period, including the satisfaction of corporate or individual performance objectives. - 11 - 15 Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of during the Restricted Period or prior to the satisfaction of any other restrictions prescribed by the Board with respect to such Restricted Stock. 11.3. RESTRICTED STOCK CERTIFICATES. The Company shall issue, in the name of each Grantee to whom Restricted Stock has been granted, stock certificates representing the total number of shares of Restricted Stock granted to the Grantee, as soon as reasonably practicable after the Grant Date. The Board may provide in an Award Agreement that either (i) the Secretary of the Company shall hold such certificates for the Grantee's benefit until such time as the Restricted Stock is forfeited to the Company or the restrictions lapse, or (ii) such certificates shall be delivered to the Grantee, provided, however, that such certificates shall bear a legend or legends that complies with the applicable securities laws and regulations and makes appropriate reference to the restrictions imposed under the Plan and the Award Agreement. 11.4. RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF RESTRICTED STOCK. Unless the Board otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, holders of Restricted Stock shall have the right to vote such Stock and the right to receive any dividends declared or paid with respect to such Stock. The Board may provide that any dividends paid on Restricted Stock must be reinvested in shares of Stock, which may or may not be subject to the same vesting conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock. All distributions, if any, received by a Grantee with respect to Restricted Stock as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares, or other similar transaction shall be subject to the restrictions applicable to the original Grant. 11.5. TERMINATION OF SERVICE. Unless the Board otherwise provides in an Award Agreement or in writing after the Award Agreement is issued, upon the termination of a Grantee's Service, any Restricted Stock held by such Grantee that has not vested, or with respect to which all applicable restrictions and conditions have not lapsed, shall immediately be deemed forfeited. Upon forfeiture of Restricted Stock, the Grantee shall have no further rights with respect to such Award, including but not limited to any right to vote Restricted Stock or any right to receive dividends with respect to shares of Restricted Stock. 11.6. DELIVERY OF STOCK AND PAYMENT THEREFOR. Upon the expiration or termination of the Restricted Period and the satisfaction of any other conditions prescribed by the Board, the restrictions - 12 - 16 applicable to shares of Restricted Stock shall lapse, and, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, upon payment by the Grantee to the Company, in cash or by check, of the aggregate par value of the shares of Stock represented by such Restricted Stock (or such other higher purchase price determined by the Board), a stock certificate for such shares shall be delivered, free of all such restrictions, to the Grantee or the Grantee's beneficiary or estate, as the case may be. 12. CERTAIN PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS 12.1. STAND-ALONE, ADDITIONAL, TANDEM, AND SUBSTITUTE AWARDS Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Board, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the Company, any Affiliate, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or an Affiliate, or any other right of a Grantee to receive payment from the Company or any Affiliate. Such additional, tandem, and substitute or exchange Awards may be granted at any time. If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another Award, the Board shall require the surrender of such other Award in consideration for the grant of the new Award. In addition, Awards may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company or any Affiliate, in which the value of Stock subject to the Award is equivalent in value to the cash compensation (for example Restricted Stock), or in which the exercise price, grant price or purchase price of the Award in the nature of a right that may be exercised is equal to the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock minus the value of the cash compensation surrendered (for example, Options granted with an exercise price "discounted" by the amount of the cash compensation surrendered). 12.2. FORM AND TIMING OF PAYMENT UNDER AWARDS; DEFERRALS Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made by the Company or an Affiliate upon the exercise of an Option or other Award or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Board shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis. The settlement of any Award may be accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Stock in connection with such settlement, in the discretion of the Board or upon occurrence of one or more specified events. Installment or deferred payments may be required by the Board or permitted at the election of the Grantee on terms and conditions established by the Board. Payments may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of a reasonable interest rate on - 13 - 17 installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of dividend equivalents or other amounts in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated in Stock. 13. PARACHUTE LIMITATIONS Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or of any other agreement, contract, or understanding heretofore or hereafter entered into by a Grantee with the Company or any Affiliate, except an agreement, contract, or understanding hereafter entered into that expressly modifies or excludes application of this paragraph (an "Other Agreement"), and notwithstanding any formal or informal plan or other arrangement for the direct or indirect provision of compensation to the Grantee (including groups or classes of Grantees or beneficiaries of which the Grantee is a member), whether or not such compensation is deferred, is in cash, or is in the form of a benefit to or for the Grantee (a "Benefit Arrangement"), if the Grantee is a "disqualified individual," as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Code, any Option, or Restricted Stock held by that Grantee and any right to receive any payment or other benefit under this Plan shall not become exercisable or vested (i) to the extent that such right to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit, taking into account all other rights, payments, or benefits to or for the Grantee under this Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements, would cause any payment or benefit to the Grantee under this Plan to be considered a "parachute payment" within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code as then in effect (a "Parachute Payment") and (ii) if, as a result of receiving a Parachute Payment, the aggregate after-tax amounts received by the Grantee from the Company under this Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements would be less than the maximum after-tax amount that could be received by the Grantee without causing any such payment or benefit to be considered a Parachute Payment. In the event that the receipt of any such right to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit under this Plan, in conjunction with all other rights, payments, or benefits to or for the Grantee under any Other Agreement or any Benefit Arrangement would cause the Grantee to be considered to have received a Parachute Payment under this Plan that would have the effect of decreasing the after-tax amount received by the Grantee as described in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, then the Grantee shall have the right, in the Grantee's sole discretion, to designate those rights, payments, or benefits under this Plan, any Other Agreements, and any Benefit Arrangements that should be reduced or eliminated so as to avoid having the payment or benefit to the Grantee under this Plan be deemed to be a Parachute Payment. - 14 - 18 14. REQUIREMENTS OF LAW 14.1. GENERAL. The Company shall not be required to sell or issue any shares of Stock under any Award if the sale or issuance of such shares would constitute a violation by the Grantee, any other individual exercising an Option, or the Company of any provision of any law or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation any federal or state securities laws or regulations. If at any time the Company shall determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of any shares subject to an Award upon any securities exchange or under any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the issuance or purchase of shares hereunder, no shares of Stock may be issued or sold to the Grantee or any other individual exercising an Option pursuant to such Award unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company, and any delay caused thereby shall in no way affect the date of termination of the Award. Specifically, in connection with the Securities Act, upon the exercise of any Option or the delivery of any shares of Stock underlying an Award, unless a registration statement under such Act is in effect with respect to the shares of Stock covered by such Award, the Company shall not be required to sell or issue such shares unless the Board has received evidence satisfactory to it that the Grantee or any other individual exercising an Option may acquire such shares pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Any determination in this connection by the Board shall be final, binding, and conclusive. The Company may, but shall in no event be obligated to, register any securities covered hereby pursuant to the Securities Act. The Company shall not be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the exercise of an Option or the issuance of shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan to comply with any law or regulation of any governmental authority. As to any jurisdiction that expressly imposes the requirement that an Option shall not be exercisable until the shares of Stock covered by such Option are registered or are exempt from registration, the exercise of such Option (under circumstances in which the laws of such jurisdiction apply) shall be deemed conditioned upon the effectiveness of such registration or the availability of such an exemption. - 15 - 19 14.2. RULE 16B-3. During any time when the Company has a class of equity security registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, it is the intent of the Company that Awards pursuant to the Plan and the exercise of Options granted hereunder will qualify for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. To the extent that any provision of the Plan or action by the Board does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3, it shall be deemed inoperative to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Board, and shall not affect the validity of the Plan. In the event that Rule 16b-3 is revised or replaced, the Board may exercise its discretion to modify this Plan in any respect necessary to satisfy the requirements of, or to take advantage of any features of, the revised exemption or its replacement. 14.3. LIMITATION FOLLOWING A HARDSHIP DISTRIBUTION. To the extent required to comply with Treasury Regulation ss.1.401(k)-1(d)(2)(iv)(B)(4), or any amendment or successor thereto, a Grantee's "elective and employee contributions" (within the meaning of such Treasury Regulation) under the Plan shall be suspended for a period of twelve months following such Grantee's receipt of a hardship distribution made in reliance on such Treasury Regulation from any plan containing a cash or deferred arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Code maintained by the Company or a related party within the provisions of subsections (b), (c), (m) or (o) of Section 414 of the Code. 15. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN The Board may, at any time and from time to time, amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan as to any shares of Stock as to which Awards have not been made. Except as permitted under this SECTION 15 or SECTION 16 hereof, no amendment, suspension, or termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of the Grantee, alter or impair rights or obligations under any Award theretofore awarded under the Plan. 16. EFFECT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION 16.1. CHANGES IN STOCK. If the number of outstanding shares of Stock is increased or decreased or the shares of Stock are changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company on account of any recapitalization, - 16 - 20 reclassification, stock split, reverse split, combination of shares, exchange of shares, stock dividend or other distribution payable in capital stock, or other increase or decrease in such shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company occurring after the Effective Date, the number and kinds of shares for which grants of Options and other Awards may be made under the Plan shall be adjusted proportionately and accordingly by the Company. In addition, the number and kind of shares for which Awards are outstanding shall be adjusted proportionately and accordingly so that the proportionate interest of the Grantee immediately following such event shall, to the extent practicable, be the same as immediately before such event. Any such adjustment in outstanding Options shall not change the aggregate Option Price payable with respect to shares that are subject to the unexercised portion of an Option outstanding but shall include a corresponding proportionate adjustment in the Option Price per share. The conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as an increase in shares effected without receipt of consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a spin-off that results in no change in the number of outstanding shares of Stock of the Company, the Company may, in such manner as the Company deems appropriate, adjust (i) the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards and/or (ii) the exercise price of outstanding Options. 16.2. REORGANIZATION IN WHICH THE COMPANY IS THE SURVIVING ENTITY AND IN WHICH NO CHANGE IN CONTROL OCCURS. Subject to SECTION 16.3 hereof, if the Company shall be the surviving entity in any reorganization, merger, or consolidation of the Company with one or more other entities in which no Change in Control occurs, any Option theretofore granted pursuant to the Plan shall pertain to and apply to the securities to which a holder of the number of shares of Stock subject to such Option would have been entitled immediately following such reorganization, merger, or consolidation, with a corresponding proportionate adjustment of the Option Price per share so that the aggregate Option Price thereafter shall be the same as the aggregate Option Price of the shares remaining subject to the Option immediately prior to such reorganization, merger, or consolidation. Subject to any contrary language in an Award Agreement evidencing an Award, any restrictions applicable to such Award shall apply as well to any replacement shares received by the Grantee as a result of the reorganization, merger or consolidation. 16.3. REORGANIZATION, SALE OF ASSETS OR SALE OF STOCK WHICH INVOLVES A CHANGE IN CONTROL. (a) Subject to SECTION 16.3(b), upon any transaction that results in a Change in Control, (i) all outstanding shares subject to Awards shall be deemed to have vested, and all restrictions and conditions applicable to such shares subject to Awards shall be deemed to have lapsed, immediately prior to the occurrence of such - 17 - 21 event, and (ii) all Options outstanding hereunder shall become immediately exercisable for a period of fifteen days immediately prior to the scheduled consummation of the event. Any exercise of an Option during such fifteen-day period shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the event and shall be effective only immediately before the consummation of the event. Upon consummation of any such event, the Plan and all outstanding but unexercised Options shall terminate. The Board shall send written notice of an event that will result in such a termination to all individuals who hold Options not later than the time at which the Company gives notice thereof to its shareholders. (b) SECTION 16.3(a) shall not apply to the extent provision is made in writing in connection with a transaction described in SECTION 16.3(a) for the assumption of such Options theretofore granted, or for the substitution for such Options of new options covering the stock of a successor entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kinds of shares or units and exercise prices, in which event the Plan and Options theretofore granted shall continue in the manner and under the terms so provided. 16.4. ADJUSTMENTS. Adjustments under this SECTION 16 related to shares of Stock or securities of the Company shall be made by the Board, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional shares or other securities shall be issued pursuant to any such adjustment, and any fractions resulting from any such adjustment shall be eliminated in each case by rounding downward to the nearest whole share. The Board may provide in the Award Agreements at the time of grant, or any time thereafter with the consent of the Grantee, for different provisions to apply to an Award in place of those described in SECTIONS 16.1, 16.2 and 16.3. 16.5. NO LIMITATIONS ON COMPANY. The making of Awards pursuant to the Plan shall not affect or limit in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, or liquidate, or to sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets. 17. POOLING In the event any provision of the Plan or the Award Agreement would prevent the use of pooling of interests accounting in a corporate transaction involving the Company and such transaction is contingent upon pooling of interests accounting, then that provision shall be deemed amended or revoked to the extent required to preserve such pooling of interests. The Company may require in an Award Agreement that a Grantee who receives an Award under the Plan shall, upon - 18 - 22 advice from the Company, take (or refrain from taking, as appropriate) all actions necessary or desirable to ensure that pooling of interests accounting is available. 18. DISCLAIMER OF RIGHTS No provision in the Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement shall be construed to confer upon any individual the right to remain in the employ or service of the Company or any Affiliate, or to interfere in any way with any contractual or other right or authority of the Company either to increase or decrease the compensation or other payments to any individual at any time, or to terminate any employment or other relationship between any individual and the Company. In addition, notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, no Award granted under the Plan shall be affected by any change of duties or position of the Grantee, so long as such Grantee continues to be a director, officer, consultant or employee of the Company or an Affiliate. The obligation of the Company to pay any benefits pursuant to this Plan shall be interpreted as a contractual obligation to pay only those amounts described herein, in the manner and under the conditions prescribed herein. The Plan shall in no way be interpreted to require the Company to transfer any amounts to a third party trustee or otherwise hold any amounts in trust or escrow for payment to any Grantee or beneficiary under the terms of the Plan. No Grantee shall have any of the rights of a shareholder with respect to the shares of Stock subject to an Option except to the extent the certificates for such shares of Stock shall have been issued upon the exercise of the Option. 19. NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the submission of the Plan to the shareholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations upon the right and authority of the Board to adopt such other incentive compensation arrangements (which arrangements may be applicable either generally to a class or classes of individuals or specifically to a particular individual or particular individuals) as the Board in its discretion determines desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options otherwise than under the Plan. 20. WITHHOLDING TAXES The Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, shall have the right to deduct from payments of any kind otherwise due to a Grantee any Federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the vesting of or other lapse of restrictions applicable to an Award or upon the issuance of any shares of Stock upon the exercise of an Option or pursuant to an Award. At the time of such vesting, lapse, or exercise, the Grantee shall pay to the Company or the - 19 - 23 Affiliate, as the case may be, any amount that the Company or the Affiliate may reasonably determine to be necessary to satisfy such withholding obligation. Subject to the prior approval of the Company or the Affiliate, which may be withheld by the Company or the Affiliate, as the case may be, in its sole discretion, the Grantee may elect to satisfy such obligations, in whole or in part, (i) by causing the Company or the Affiliate to withhold shares of Stock otherwise issuable to the Grantee or (ii) by delivering to the Company or the Affiliate shares of Stock already owned by the Grantee. The shares of Stock so delivered or withheld shall have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to such withholding obligations. The Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock used to satisfy such withholding obligation shall be determined by the Company or the Affiliate as of the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. A Grantee who has made an election pursuant to this SECTION 20 may satisfy his or her withholding obligation only with shares of Stock that are not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting, or other similar requirements. 21. CAPTIONS The use of captions in this Plan or any Award Agreement is for the convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning of any provision of the Plan or such Award Agreement. 22. OTHER PROVISIONS Each Award granted under the Plan may contain such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be determined by the Board, in its sole discretion. 23. NUMBER AND GENDER With respect to words used in this Plan, the singular form shall include the plural form, the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, etc., as the context requires. 24. SEVERABILITY If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be determined to be illegal or unenforceable by any court of law in any jurisdiction, the remaining provisions hereof and thereof shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms, and all provisions shall remain enforceable in any other jurisdiction. 25. GOVERNING LAW The validity and construction of this Plan and the instruments evidencing the Grants awarded hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, other than any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Plan and the instruments evidencing the Awards awarded hereunder to the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction. * * * - 20 - 24 To record adoption of the Plan by the Board as of November 6, 2000, the Company has caused its authorized officer to execute the Plan. Wabash National Corporation By: ------------------------ Title: ---------------------