1999 NON-QUALIFIED STOCK AWARD PLAN
(AS AMENDED AND RESTATED THROUGH MARCH 19, 2001)
1. Purpose. The purpose of this 1999 Non-Qualified Stock Award Plan (the
"Plan") is to motivate key personnel to produce a superior return to the
shareholders of Computer Network Technology Corporation by offering such
personnel an opportunity to realize Stock appreciation, by facilitating Stock
ownership, and by rewarding them for achieving a high level of corporate
performance. This Plan is also intended to facilitate recruiting and retaining
key personnel of outstanding ability by providing an attractive capital
accumulation opportunity.
2. Definitions.
2.1 The terms defined in this section are used (and capitalized) elsewhere
in this Plan.
(a) "Affiliate" means any corporation that is a "parent corporation" or
"subsidiary corporation" of the Company, as those terms are defined in Section
424(e) and (f) of the Code, or any successor provision.
(b) "Agreement" means a written contract entered into between the Company
or an Affiliate and a Participant containing the terms and conditions of an
Award in such form (not inconsistent with this Plan) as the Committee approves
from time to time, together with all amendments thereto, which amendments may be
unilaterally made by the Company (with the approval of the Committee) unless
such amendments are deemed by the Committee to be materially adverse to the
Participant and are not required as a matter of law.
(c) "Award" means a grant made under this Plan in the form of Options,
Restricted Stock, Stock, or any other Stock-based Award.
(d) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time.
(f) "Committee" means two or more Disinterested Persons designated by the
Board to administer this Plan under Section 3 hereof.
(g) "Company" means Computer Network Technology Corporation, a Minnesota
corporation, or any successor to substantially all of its businesses.
(h) "Disinterested Person" means a member of the Board who is considered a
disinterested person within the meaning of Exchange Act Rule 16b-3 or any
successor definition.
(i) "Effective Date" means the date specified in Section 8.1 hereof.
(j) "Employee" means any employee (excluding an officer or director) of the
Company or an Affiliate. "Employee" shall also include other individuals and
entities who are not "employees" of the Company or an Affiliate but who provide
services to the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity of an advisor or
consultant (other than as a director). References herein to "employment" and
similar terms shall include the providing of services in any such capacity.
Employee shall also include any other person not previously employed by the
Company or an Affiliate who is issued an Award as an inducement essential to the
person's entering into an employment contract with the Company (including
employment as an officer), but only if issuance of the Award would not require
shareholder approval of the Plan or the Award under the rules of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
1
(k) "Event" means any of the following:
(i) The acquisition by an individual, entity, or group (within the
meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) of
beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Exchange Act Rule 13d-3) of
40% or more of either (A) the then outstanding shares of common stock
of the Company (the "Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (B) the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the
Company entitled to vote generally in the election of the Board (the
"Outstanding Company Voting Securities"); provided, however, that the
following acquisitions shall not constitute an Event:
(1) any acquisition of voting securities of the Company
directly from the Company,
(2) any acquisition of voting securities of the Company by
the Company or any of its wholly owned Subsidiaries,
(3) any acquisition of voting securities of the Company by
any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or
(4) any acquisition by any corporation with respect to
which, immediately following such acquisition, more than 60%
of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock
of such corporation and the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of such corporation entitled to
vote generally in the election of directors is then
beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the
beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company
Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities
immediately prior to such acquisition in substantially the
same proportions as was their ownership, immediately prior to
such acquisition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and
Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be;
(ii)Individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the
Board (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at
least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual
becoming a director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or
nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by
a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the
Incumbent Board shall be considered a member of the Incumbent Board,
but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial
assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened
election contest which was (or, if threatened, would have been) subject
to Exchange Act Rule 14a-l l;
(iii) Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a
reorganization, merger, consolidation, or statutory exchange of
Outstanding Company Voting Securities, unless immediately following
such reorganization, merger, consolidation, or exchange, all or
substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the
beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common
Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to
such reorganization, merger, consolidation, owned, directly or
indirectly, more than 60% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares
of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of
directors, as the case may be, of the corporation resulting from such
reorganization, merger, consolidation, or exchange in substantially the
same proportions as was their ownership, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger, consolidation, or exchange, of the Outstanding
Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the
case may be; or
(iv)Approval by the shareholders of the Company of (A) a complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or (B) the sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company,
other than to a corporation with respect to which, immediately
following such sale or other disposition, more than 60% of,
respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock of such
corporation and the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the
election of directors is then beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities
who were the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding
Company
2
Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately
prior to such sale or other disposition in substantially the same
proportion as was their ownership, immediately prior to such sale or
other disposition, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and
Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be.
(v) Notwithstanding the above, an Event shall not be deemed to
occur with respect to an employee if the acquisition of the 40% or
greater interest referred to in subsection (i) is by a group, acting in
concert, that includes that recipient or if at least 40% of the then
outstanding common stock or combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities (or voting equity interests) of the
surviving corporation or of any corporation (or other entity) acquiring
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company shall be
beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, immediately after a
reorganization, merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or
disposition of assets referred to in subsections (iii) or (iv) by a
group, acting in concert, that includes that Participant.
(l) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(m) "Fair Market Value" as of any date means, unless otherwise expressly
provided in this Plan:
(i) the closing sale price of a Share on the date immediately
preceding that date or, if no sale of Shares shall have occurred on
that date, on the next preceding day on which a sale occurred of Shares
on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotations National Market System ("NMS"), or
(ii) if the Shares are not quoted on the NMS, what the Committee
determines in good faith to be 100% of the fair market value of a Share
on that date.
Provided, however, if the NMS has closed for the day at the time the event
occurs that triggers a determination of Fair Market Value, whether the grant of
an Award, the exercise of an Option or otherwise, all references in this Section
2.1(m) to the "date immediately preceding that date" shall be deemed to be
references to "that date." The determination of Fair Market Value shall be
subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12 hereof.
(n) "Fundamental Change" means a dissolution or liquidation of the Company,
a sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, a merger or
consolidation of the Company with or into any other corporation, regardless of
whether the Company is the surviving corporation, or a statutory share exchange
involving capital stock of the Company.
(o) "Non-Qualified Stock Option" means an Option that is not an incentive
stock option granted in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 422 or
any successor to said section..
(p) "Option" means a right to purchase Stock. All Options under the Plan
shall be Non-Qualified Stock Options.
(q) "Performance Cycle" means the period of time as specified in an
Agreement over which Performance Units are to be earned.
(r) "Performance Units" means an Award made under Section 7.2 hereof
(s) "Plan" means this 1999 Non-Qualified Stock Award Plan, as amended from
time to time.
(t) "Restricted Stock" means Stock granted under Plan Section 7.3 so long
as such Stock remains subject to one or more restrictions.
(u) "Retirement" of an Employee means termination of employment with the
Company or an Affiliate on or after the date the Employee attains age 55.
3
(v) "Share" means a share of Stock.
(w) "Stock" means the common stock, $.01 par value per share (as such par
value may be adjusted from time to time), of the Company.
(x) "Subsidiary" means a subsidiary corporation, as that term is defined in
Section 424(f) of the Code, or any successor provision.
(y) "Successor" means the legal representative of the estate of a deceased
Participant or the person or persons who may, by bequest or inheritance, or
under the terms of an Award or of forms submitted by the Participant to the
Committee under Section 16 hereof, acquire the right to exercise an Option or
receive cash or Shares issuable in satisfaction of an Award in the event of an
employee's death.
(z) "Term" means the period during which an Option may be exercised or the
period during which the restrictions or terms and conditions placed on
Restricted Stock are in effect.
(aa)"Transferee" means any member of the Participant's immediate family
(i.e., his or her children, step-children, grandchildren and spouse) or one or
more trusts for the benefit of such family members or partnerships in which such
family members are the only partners.
2.2 Number. Except when otherwise indicated by context, any term used in
the singular shall also include the plural.
3. Administration.
3.1 Authority of Committee. The Committee shall administer this Plan. The
Committee may delegate all or any portion of its authority under this Plan to
persons who are not Disinterested Persons solely for purposes of determining and
administering Awards to Employees who are not then subject to the reporting
requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The Committee shall have
exclusive power to make Awards, to determine when and to whom Awards will be
granted, the form of each Award, the amount of each Award, and any other terms
or conditions of each Award. Each Award shall be subject to an Agreement
authorized by the Committee. The Committee's interpretation of this Plan and of
any Awards made under this Plan shall be final and binding on all persons. The
Committee shall have the power to establish regulations to administer this Plan
and to change such regulations.
3.2 Indemnification. To the full extent permitted by law, (a) no member of
the Board or of the Committee or any person to whom the Committee delegates
authority under this Plan shall be liable for any action or determination taken
or made in good faith with respect to this Plan or any Award made under this
Plan and (b) the members of the Board and of the Committee and each person to
whom the Committee delegates authority under this Plan shall be entitled to
indemnification by the Company with regard to such actions and determinations.
4. Shares Available Under this Plan. The number of Shares available for
distribution under this Plan shall not exceed 3,230,000 (subject to adjustment
as provided in this Section 4 and under Section 12 hereof). Any Shares subject
to the terms and conditions of an Award under this Plan that are not used
because the terms and conditions of the Award are not met may again be used for
an Award under this Plan. In addition, if, in accordance with this Plan, an
employee uses shares of Common Stock of the Company to (i) pay a purchase or
exercise price, including an Option exercise price, or (ii) satisfy tax
withholdings, only the number of shares issued net of the shares tendered in
payment of such purchase or exercise price and tax withholdings shall be deemed
to be issued for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available
under the Plan. Further, the maximum number of Shares available for distribution
under this Plan shall be increased to take into account any Awards granted under
Section 17 of this Plan.
4
5. Eligibility. Awards may be granted under this Plan to Employees, and
such Awards shall have the terms and conditions specified in Sections 6 and 7
hereof and elsewhere in this Plan. The granting of Awards to Employees is solely
at the discretion of the Committee.
6. General Terms of Awards.
6.1 Amount of Award. Each Agreement with an Employee shall set forth the
number of Shares to which the Option subject to such Agreement applies or the
number of Shares of Restricted Stock, Stock or Performance Units subject to such
Agreement, as the case may be.
6.2 Term. Each Agreement, other than those relating solely to Awards of
Shares without restrictions, shall set forth the Term of the Option or
Restricted Stock or the Performance Cycle for the Performance Units, as the case
may be. An Agreement may permit an acceleration of the expiration of the
applicable Term upon such terms and conditions as shall be set forth in the
Agreement, which may, but need not, include without limitation acceleration
resulting from the occurrence of an Event or in the event of the Employee's
death or Retirement. Acceleration of the Performance Cycle of Performance Units
shall be subject to Section 7.2(b) hereof.
6.3 Agreements. Each Award under this Plan shall be evidenced by an
Agreement setting forth the terms and conditions, as determined by the
Committee, which shall apply to such Award, in addition to the terms and
conditions specified in this Plan.
6.4 Transferability. Except as provided in this Section 6.4, during the
lifetime of an employee to whom an Award is granted, only that Participant (or
that Participant's legal representative) may exercise an Option or receive
payment with respect to Performance Units or any other Award. No Award of
Restricted Stock (prior to the expiration of the restrictions), Options or
Performance Units or other Award may be sold, assigned, transferred, exchanged
or otherwise encumbered other than pursuant to a domestic relations order as
defined in the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
("ERISA") or the rules thereunder; any attempted transfer in violation of this
Section 6.4 shall be of no effect. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding
sentence, the Committee, in an Agreement or otherwise at its discretion, may
provide (i) that the Award subject to the Agreement shall be transferable to a
Successor in the event of an employee's death, or (ii) that the Award may be
transferable to a Transferee if the Participant receives no consideration for
the transfer. Any Award held by a Transferee shall continue to be subject to the
same terms and conditions that were applicable to such Award immediately prior
to its transfer. By way of example and not limitation, (i) an Option may be
exercised by a Transferee as and to the extent that such Option has become
exercisable and has not terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Plan
and the applicable Agreement and (ii) for purposes of any provision of this Plan
relating to notice to an optionee or to vesting or termination of an Option upon
the death, disability or termination of employment of an optionee, the
references to "optionee" shall mean the original grantee of an option and not
any Transferee.
7. Terms and Conditions of Specific Awards.
7.1 Stock Options. Each Option shall be granted as a Non-Qualified Stock
Option and not as an incentive stock option under Code Section 422 or any other
successor to said section. The purchase price of each Share subject to an Option
shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Agreement, but shall
not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the date the
Option is granted. The purchase price of the Shares with respect to which an
Option is exercised shall be payable in full at the time of exercise, provided
that to the extent permitted by law, the Agreement may permit some or all
Participants simultaneously to exercise Options and sell the Shares thereby
acquired pursuant to a brokerage or similar relationship and use the proceeds
from such sale as payment of the purchase price of such Shares. The purchase
price may be payable in cash, in Stock having a Fair Market Value as of the date
the Option is exercised equal to the purchase price of the Stock being purchased
pursuant to the Option, or a combination thereof as determined by the Committee
and provided in the Agreement. Each Option shall be exercisable in whole or in
part on the terms provided in the Agreement. In no event shall any Option be
exercisable at any time after its expiration date. When an Option is no longer
exercisable, it shall be deemed to have lapsed or terminated. The Committee may
provide, in an Agreement or otherwise, that an employee who exercises an Option
and pays the Option price in whole or in part with Shares then owned by the
Participant will be entitled to
5
receive another Option covering the same number of shares tendered and with a
price of no less than Fair Market Value on the date of grant of such additional
Option ("Reload Option").
7.2 Performance Units.
(a) Initial Award. An Award of Performance Units shall entitle such
Participant (or a Successor) to future payments of cash, Stock, or a combination
of cash and Stock, as determined by the Committee and provided in the Agreement,
based upon the achievement of performance targets established by the Committee.
Such performance targets may, but need not, include without limitation targets
relating to one or more of corporate, group, unit, Affiliate, or individual
performance. The Agreement may establish that a portion of a full or maximum
amount of an employee's Award will be paid for performance, which exceeds the
minimum target but falls below the maximum target applicable to such Award. The
Agreement shall also provide for the timing of such payment. Following the
conclusion or acceleration of each Performance Cycle, the Committee shall
determine the extent to which (i) performance targets have been attained, (ii)
any other terms and conditions with respect to an Award relating to such
Performance Cycle have been satisfied, and (iii) payment is due with respect to
an Award of Performance Units.
(b) Acceleration and Adjustment. The Agreement may permit an acceleration
of the Performance Cycle and an adjustment of performance targets and payments
with respect to some or all of the Performance Units awarded to an employee upon
such terms and conditions as shall be set forth in the Agreement, upon the
occurrence of certain events, which may, but need not include without limitation
an Event, a Fundamental Change, the Participant's death or Retirement or, with
respect to payments in Stock with respect to Performance Units, a
reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, or stock combination as provided
in Section 12 hereof.
7.3 Restricted Stock Awards
(a) The Committee is authorized to grant, either alone or in conjunction
with other Awards, stock and stock-based Awards. The Committee shall determine
the persons to whom such Awards are made, the timing and amount of such Awards,
and all other terms and conditions. Company Common Stock granted to recipients
may be unrestricted or may contain such restrictions, including provisions
requiring forfeiture and imposing restrictions upon stock transfer, as the
Committee may determine. Unless forfeited, the recipient of restricted Common
Stock will have all other rights of a shareholder, including without limitation,
voting and dividend rights.
(b) An Award of Restricted Stock under the Plan shall consist of Shares
subject to restrictions on transfer and conditions of forfeiture, which
restrictions and conditions shall be included in the applicable Agreement. The
Committee may provide for the lapse or waiver of any such restriction or
condition based on such factors or criteria as the Committee, in its sole
discretion, may determine.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Agreement, each Stock
certificate issued with respect to an Award of Restricted Stock shall either be
deposited with the Company or its designee, together with an assignment separate
from the certificate, in blank, signed by the Participant, or bear such legends
with respect to the restricted nature of the Restricted Stock evidenced thereby
as shall be provided for in the applicable Agreement.
(d) The Agreement shall describe the terms and conditions by which the
restrictions and conditions of forfeiture upon awarded Restricted Stock shall
lapse. Upon the lapse of the restrictions and conditions, Shares free of
restrictive legends, if any, relating to such restrictions shall be issued to
the Participant or a Successor or Transferee.
(e) An employee or a Successor or Transferee with a Restricted Stock Award
shall have all the other rights of a shareholder including, but not limited to,
the right to receive dividends and the right to vote the Shares of Restricted
Stock.
7.4 Other Awards. The Committee may from time to time grant Stock and other
Awards under the Plan including without limitations those Awards pursuant to
which Shares are or may in the future be acquired, Awards denominated in Stock
units, securities convertible into Stock and Phantom securities. The Committee,
in its sole discretion, shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards
provided that such Awards shall not be
6
inconsistent with the terms and purposes of this Plan. The Committee may, at its
sole discretion, direct the Company to issue Shares subject to restrictive
legends and/or stop transfer instructions that are consistent with the terms and
conditions of the Award to which the Shares relate. Furthermore, the Committee
may use stock available under this Plan as payment for compensation, grants or
rights and earned or due under any other compensation plans or arrangements of
the Company.
8. Effective Date of this Plan.
8.1 Effective Date. This Plan shall become effective as of July 15, 1999,
the date of adoption of this Plan by the Board.
8.2 Duration of this Plan. This Plan shall remain in effect until all Stock
subject to it shall be distributed or all Awards have expired or lapsed,
whichever is latest to occur, or this Plan is terminated pursuant to Section 11
hereof. The date and time of approval by the Committee of the granting of an
Award (or such other time as the Committee shall designate) shall be considered
the date and time at which such Award is made or granted, notwithstanding the
date of any Agreement with respect to such Award.
9. Right to Terminate Employment. Nothing in this Plan or in any Agreement
shall confer upon any Employee the right to continue in the employment of the
Company or any Affiliate or affect any right which the Company or any Affiliate
may have to terminate the employment of the Employee with or without cause.
10. Tax Withholding. The Company may withhold from any cash payment under
this Plan to an employee or other person (including a Successor or a Transferee)
an amount sufficient to cover any required withholding taxes. The Company shall
have the right to require an employee or other person receiving Stock under this
Plan to pay to the Company a cash amount sufficient to cover any required
withholding taxes. In lieu of all or any part of such a cash payment from a
person receiving Stock under this Plan, the Committee may permit the individual
to elect to cover all or any part of the required withholdings, and to cover any
additional withholdings up to the amount needed to cover the individual's full
FICA and federal, state, and local income tax with respect to income arising
from payment of the Award, through a reduction of the number of Shares delivered
to such individual or a subsequent return to the Company of Shares held by the
Employee or other person, in each case valued in the same manner as used in
computing the withholding taxes under the applicable laws.
11. Amendment, Modification and Termination of this Plan.
(a) The Board may at any time and from time to time terminate, suspend or
modify the Plan. Except as limited in (b) below, the Committee may at any time
alter or amend any or all Agreements under the Plan to the extent permitted by
law.
(b) No termination, suspension, or modification of the Plan will materially
and adversely affect any right acquired by any Participant or Successor or
Transferee under an Award granted before the date of termination, suspension, or
modification, unless otherwise agreed to by the Participant in the Agreement or
otherwise, or required as a matter of law; but it will be conclusively presumed
that any adjustment for changes in capitalization provided for in Plan Section
7.2 or 12 does not adversely affect these rights.
12. Adjustment for Changes in Capitalization. Appropriate adjustments in
the aggregate number and type of Shares available for Awards under this Plan and
in the number and type of Shares and amount of cash subject to Awards then
outstanding, in the Option price as to any outstanding Options and, subject to
Section 7.2(b) hereof, in outstanding Performance Units and payments with
respect to outstanding Performance Units may be made by the Committee in its
sole discretion to give effect to adjustments made in the number or type of
Shares of the Company through a Fundamental Change (subject to Section 13
hereof), recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, stock
combination, or other relevant change, provided that fractional Shares shall be
rounded to the nearest whole share.
7
13. Fundamental Change. In the event of a proposed Fundamental Change: (a)
involving a merger, consolidation, or statutory share exchange, unless
appropriate provision shall be made for the protection of the outstanding
Options by the substitution of options and appropriate voting common stock of
the corporation surviving any such merger or consolidation or, if appropriate,
the parent corporation of the Company or such surviving corporation, to be
issuable upon the exercise of options in lieu of Options and capital stock of
the Company, or (b) involving the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the
Committee shall declare, at least 20 days prior to the occurrence of the
Fundamental Change, and provide written notice to each holder of an Option of
the declaration, that each outstanding Option, whether or not then exercisable,
shall be canceled at the time of, or immediately prior to the occurrence of the
Fundamental Change in exchange for payment to each holder of an Option, within
ten days after the Fundamental Change, of cash equal to the amount, if any, for
each Share covered by the canceled Option, by which the Fair Market Value (as
defined in this Section) per Share exceeds the exercise price per Share covered
by such Option. At the time of the declaration provided for in the immediately
preceding sentence, each Option shall immediately become exercisable in full and
each person holding an Option shall have the right, during the period preceding
the time of cancellation of the Option, to exercise the Option as to all or any
part of the Shares covered thereby; provided, however, that if such Fundamental
Change does not become effective, then the declaration pursuant to this Section
13(b) shall be rescinded, the acceleration of the exercisibility of the Option
pursuant to this Section 13(b) shall be void, and the Option shall be
exercisable in accordance with its terms. In the event of a declaration pursuant
to this Section 13, each outstanding Option that shall not have been exercised
prior to the Fundamental Change shall be canceled at the time of, or immediately
prior to, the Fundamental Change, as provided in the declaration.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no person holding an Option shall be entitled to
the payment provided for in this Section 13 if such Option shall have expired
pursuant to an Agreement. For purposes of this Section only, "Fair Market Value"
per Share means the cash plus the fair market value, as determined in good faith
by the Committee, of the non-cash consideration to be received per Share by the
shareholders of the Company upon the occurrence of the Fundamental Change,
notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in this Plan.
14. Unfunded Plan. This Plan shall be unfunded and the Company shall not be
required to segregate any assets that may at any time be represented by Awards
under this Plan.
15. Other Benefit and Compensation Programs. Payments and other benefits
received by an employee under an Award shall not be deemed a part of an
employee's regular, recurring compensation for purposes of any termination,
indemnity, or severance pay laws and shall not be included in, nor have any
effect on, the determination of benefits under any other employee benefit plan,
contract, or similar arrangement provided by the Company or an Affiliate, unless
expressly so provided by such other plan, contract, or arrangement or the
Committee determines that an Award or portion of an Award should be included to
reflect competitive compensation practices or to recognize that an Award has
been made in lieu of a portion of competitive cash compensation.
16. Beneficiary Upon Employee's Death. To the extent that the transfer of
an employee's Award at death is permitted under an Agreement, (a) an employee's
Award shall be transferable to the beneficiary, if any, designated on forms
prescribed by and filed with the Committee and (b) upon the death of the
Employee, such beneficiary shall succeed to the rights of the Employee to the
extent permitted by law and this Plan. If no such designation of a beneficiary
has been made, the Participant's legal representative shall succeed to the
Awards, which shall be transferable by will or pursuant to laws of descent and
distribution to the extent permitted under an Agreement.
17. Corporate Mergers, Acquisitions, Etc. The Committee may also grant
Options, Restricted Stock or other Awards under the Plan having terms,
conditions and provisions that vary from those specified in this Plan provided
that any such awards are granted in substitution for, or in connection with the
assumption of, existing options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock or
other awards granted, awarded or issued by another corporation and assumed or
otherwise agreed to be provided for by the Company pursuant to or by reason of a
transaction involving a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property
or stock, separation, reorganization or liquidation to which the Company or a
subsidiary is a party.
18. Deferrals and Settlements. The Committee may require or permit
Employees to elect to defer the issuance of Shares or the settlement of Awards
in cash under such rules and procedures as it may establish under the Plan. It
may also provide that deferred settlements include the payment or crediting of
interest on the deferral amounts.
19. Governing Law. To the extent that federal laws do not otherwise
control, this Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant to
this Plan shall be governed by the laws of Minnesota and construed accordingly.
9