2001 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
OF LENDINGTREE, INC.
(REVISED AUGUST 23, 2001)
1. PURPOSE AND TYPES OF AWARDS
The purpose of the 2001 Stock Incentive Plan of LendingTree, Inc. (the
"Plan") is to promote the long-term growth and profitability of LendingTree,
Inc. (the "Company") by (i) providing key people with incentives to improve
stockholder value and to contribute to the growth and financial success of the
Company, and (ii) enabling the Company to attract, retain and reward the best
available persons for positions of substantial responsibility.
The Plan permits the granting of Options (including Incentive Stock
Options), Restricted Stock, Phantom Stock Units, Stock Bonuses and Other
Stock-Based Awards.
2. DEFINITIONS
Under the Plan, except where the context otherwise indicates, the
following definitions apply:
(a) "Affiliate" shall mean any entity, whether now or hereafter
existing, that controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, the Company (including, but not limited to,
joint ventures, limited liability companies, and
partnerships). For this purpose, "control" shall mean
ownership of 50% or more of the voting power of the entity.
(b) "Award" shall mean any Option, Restricted Stock, Phantom Stock
Unit, Stock Bonus or Other Award granted under the Plan.
(c) "Award Agreement" shall mean a written agreement between the
Company and a Grantee memorializing the terms and conditions
of an Award granted pursuant to the Plan.
(d) "Board" shall mean the board of directors of the Company.
(e) "Cause" shall mean, unless the Grantee is a party to a written
employment agreement with the Company or an affiliate which
contains a definition of "cause," "termination for cause" or
any other similar term or phrase, in which case "Cause" shall
have the meaning set forth in such agreement: (i) any
substantiated act by the Grantee involving dishonesty or bad
faith against the Company or an affiliate, or any act or
omission that demonstrates a lack of integrity of Grantee with
respect to the Company or an affiliate; (ii) the Grantee
engaging in acts or omissions that demonstrably and materially
injure the business and affairs of the Company or an
affiliate, monetarily or otherwise; (iii) a breach or
threatened breach by the Grantee of any non-competition or
confidentiality agreement entered into between Grantee and the
Company or its affiliate; (iv) the chronic use of alcohol,
drugs or other similar substances affecting the Grantee's work
performance; or (v) the Grantee being convicted of, or
pleading guilty or no lo contendere to, or being indicted for
a felony or other crime involving theft, fraud or moral
turpitude. The good faith determination by the Committee of
whether a Grantee's employment or service relationship was
terminated by the Company for `Cause' shall be final and
binding for all purposes hereunder.
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(f) "Change in Control" shall mean (i) the acquisition by any
Person of shares of the Company's stock representing more than
50.0% of the total voting power of the Company; (ii) the
following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a
majority of the number of directors then serving: individuals
who, on the date hereof, constitute the Board and any new
director (other than a director whose initial assumption of
office is in connection with an actual or threatened election
contest, including but not limited to a consent solicitation,
relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose
appointment or election by the Board or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders was approved or
recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the
directors then still in office who either were directors on
the date hereof or whose appointment, election or nomination
for election was previously so approved or recommended; (iii)
any merger, share exchange, consolidation or other
reorganization or business combination in which the Company is
not the surviving or continuing corporation or in which the
Company's stockholders do not control greater than 50.0% of
the voting power of the surviving or continuing corporation,
or in which the Company's stockholders become entitled to
receive cash, securities of the Company other than voting
common stock, or securities of another issuer; or (v) the
stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company or there is
consummated an agreement for the sale or disposition by the
Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets,
other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets to an entity, at
least 50.0% of the combined voting power of the voting
securities of which are owned by stockholders of the Company
in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of
the Company immediately prior to such sale.
(g) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
(h) "Committee" shall mean the Board or committee of Board members
appointed pursuant to Section 3 to administer the Plan.
(i) "Common Stock" shall mean shares of the Company's common
stock, par value one cent ($0.01) per share.
(j) "Disability" shall mean the inability to engage in any
substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment which can be
expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be
expected to last for a continuous period of not less than
twelve months. The Committee may require such proof of
Disability as the Committee in its sole discretion deems
appropriate and the Committee's determination as to whether
Grantee is Disabled shall be final and binding on all parties
concerned.
(k) "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
(l) "Fair Market Value" of a share of the Common Stock for any
purpose on a particular date shall be determined in a manner
such as the Committee shall in good faith determine to be
appropriate; provided, however, that in the case of Incentive
Stock Options, the determination of Fair Market Value shall be
made by the Committee in good faith in conformance with the
Treasury Regulations under Section 422 of the Code.
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(m) "Grant Date" shall mean the date on which the Committee
formally acts to grant an Award to a Grantee or such other
date as the Committee shall so designate at the time of taking
such formal action.
(n) "Grantee" shall mean a person granted an Award pursuant to the
Plan.
(o) "Incentive Stock Option" shall mean an Option that is an
'Incentive Stock Option' within the meaning of Section 422 of
the Code, or any successor provision, and that is designated
by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option.
(p) "Issue Date" shall mean the date established by the Committee
on which certificates representing Restricted Stock shall be
issued by the Company pursuant to the terms of Section 7(a).
(q) "Non-Qualified Option" shall mean an Option other than an
Incentive Stock Option.
(r) "Option" shall mean an option to purchase Common Stock granted
pursuant to Section 6.
(s) "Other Stock-Based Award" shall mean an award granted pursuant
to Section 10.
(t) "Outside Director" shall mean each Director who is not an
employee or executive officer of the Company.
(u) "Parent" shall mean a corporation, whether now or hereafter
existing, within the meaning of the definition of 'parent
corporation' provided in Section 424(e) of the Code, or any
successor thereto of similar import.
(v) "Performance Goals" shall mean performance goals determined by
the Committee in its sole discretion. Such goals may be based
on one or more or none of the following criteria: (i) pre-tax
income or after-tax income, (ii) operating profit, (iii)
return on equity, assets, capital or investment, (iv) earnings
or book value per share, (v) sales or revenues, (vi) operating
expenses, (vii) Common Stock price appreciation; (viii)
implementation or completion of critical projects or
processes; (ix) increase in the volume of qualification forms
completed or submitted, which goals may be expressed in terms
of absolute numbers and/or as a percentage increase; (x)
comparison of actual performance during a performance period
against budget for such period; (xi) increase in the number of
loans closed, which increase may be measured by type(s) of
loan or in the aggregate; (xii) growth of revenue, which
growth may be expressed in terms of absolute numbers and/or as
a percentage increase; or (xiii) reductions in expenses, which
reductions may be expressed in terms of absolute numbers
and/or as a percentage decrease; provided that with respect to
clauses (xi) through (xiii), such achievement may be measured
against budget for the same period. Where applicable, the
Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of attaining a
specified level of the particular criteria or the attainment
of a percentage increase or decrease in the particular
criteria, and may be applied to one or more of the Company, a
Subsidiary or Affiliate, or a division or strategic business
unit of the Company, or may be applied to the performance of
the Company relative to a market index, a group of other
companies or a combination thereof, all as determined by the
Committee. The Performance Goals may include a threshold level
of performance below which no vesting will occur, levels of
performance at which specified vesting will occur, and a
maximum level of performance at which full vesting will occur.
Each of the foregoing Performance Goals shall be determined in
accordance with generally accepted
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accounting principles and shall be subject to certification by
the Committee; provided that the Committee shall have the
authority to make equitable adjustments to the Performance
Goals in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events
affecting the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate or the
financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary or
Affiliate in response to changes in applicable laws or
regulations, or to account for items of gain, loss or expense
determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or
infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a
segment of a business or related to a change in accounting
principles.
(w) "Person" shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of
the Exchange Act, as modified and used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) thereof, except that such term shall not include: (i)
the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (ii) a trustee or
other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit
plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates; (iii) an
underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an
offering of such securities; or (iv) a corporation owned,
directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock
of the Company.
(x) "Phantom Stock" shall mean the right, granted pursuant to
Section 8, to receive in cash or shares the Fair Market Value
of a share of Common Stock.
(y) "Restricted Stock" shall mean a share of Common Stock which is
granted pursuant to the terms of Section 7 and which is
subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 7(c).
(z) "Retirement" shall mean termination of a Grantee's employment
or service, other than for Cause, on or after attainment of
age 65.
(aa) "Rule 16b-3" shall mean Rule 16b-3 as in effect under the
Exchange Act on the effective date of the Plan, or any
successor provision prescribing conditions necessary to exempt
the issuance of securities under the Plan (and further
transactions in such securities) from Section 16(b) of the
Exchange Act.
(bb) "Stock Bonus" shall mean a bonus payable in shares of Company
Stock granted pursuant to Section 9.
(cc) "Subsidiary" and "Subsidiaries" shall mean only a corporation
or corporations, whether now or hereafter existing, within the
meaning of the definition of `subsidiary corporation' provided
in Section 424(f) of the Code, or any successor thereto of
similar import.
(dd) "Ten Percent Stockholder" shall mean a Grantee who owns
(within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code, after
the application of the attribution rules in Section 424(d) of
the Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of
all classes of shares of the Company, or its Parent or
Subsidiary corporations.
(ee) "Vesting Date" shall mean the date established by the
Committee on which Restricted Stock or Phantom Stock may vest.
3. ADMINISTRATION
(a) Procedure. The Plan shall be administered by the Board. In the
alternative, the Board may appoint a Committee consisting of not less than two
members of the Board to administer the Plan on
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behalf of the Board, subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may
prescribe. The members of the Committee shall be both "non-employee directors"
within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and, to the extent that the Board has resolved
to take actions necessary to enable compensation arising with respect to Awards
under the Plan to constitute performance-based compensation for purposes of
Section 162(m) of the Code, "outside directors" within the meaning of Section
162(m) of the Code. Once appointed, the Committee shall continue to serve until
otherwise directed by the Board. The Board or the Committee may delegate to
senior management of the Company authority to make grants of Awards to employees
of the Company who are not executive officers or directors of the Company. From
time to time, the Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint
additional members thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint
new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies, however caused, and remove
all members of the Committee and, thereafter, directly administer the Plan. In
the event that the Board is the administrator of the Plan in lieu of a
Committee, the term "Committee" as used herein shall be deemed to mean the
Board.
The Committee shall meet at such times and places and upon such notice
as it may determine. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. Any
acts by the Committee may be taken at any meeting at which a quorum is present
and shall be by majority vote of those members entitled to vote. Additionally,
any acts reduced to writing or approved in writing by all of the members of the
Committee shall be valid acts of the Committee.
Members of the Board or the Committee who are either eligible for
Awards or have been granted Awards may vote on any matters affecting the
administration of the Plan or the grant of Awards pursuant to the Plan, except
that no such member shall act upon the granting of an Award to himself or
herself, but any such member may be counted in determining the existence of a
quorum at any meeting of the Board or the Committee during which action is taken
with respect to the granting of an Award to him or her.
(b) Powers of the Committee. The Committee shall have all the powers
vested in it by the terms of the Plan, such powers to include authority, in its
sole and absolute discretion, to grant Awards under the Plan, prescribe Award
Agreements evidencing such Awards and establish programs for granting Awards.
The Committee shall have full power and authority to take all other actions
necessary to carry out the purpose and intent of the Plan, including, but not
limited to, the authority to:
(i) determine the eligible persons to whom, and the time or times
at which, Awards shall be granted;
(ii) determine the types of Awards to be granted;
(iii) determine the number of shares to be covered by each Award;
(iv) impose such terms, limitations, restrictions and conditions
upon any such Award as the Committee shall deem appropriate;
(v) modify, extend or renew outstanding Awards, accept the
surrender of outstanding Awards and substitute new Awards;
(vi) accelerate or otherwise change the time in which an Award may
be exercised or become payable and to waive or accelerate the
lapse, in whole or in part, of any restriction or condition
with respect to such Award, including, but not limited to, any
restriction or condition with respect to the vesting or
exercisability of an Award following termination of any
Grantee's employment or service; and
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(vii) to establish objectives and conditions, if any, for earning
the grant of an Award.
The Committee shall have full power and authority to administer and interpret
the Plan and to adopt such rules, regulations, agreements, guidelines and
instruments for the administration of the Plan and for the conduct of its
business as the Committee deems necessary or advisable and to interpret same,
all within the Committee's sole and absolute discretion.
(c) Limited Liability. To the maximum extent permitted by law, no
member of the Board or Committee shall be liable for any action taken or
decision made in good faith relating to the Plan or any Award thereunder.
(d) Indemnification. To the maximum extent permitted by law and the
Company's charter or by-laws, the members of the Board and Committee shall be
indemnified by the Company in respect of all their activities under the Plan.
(e) Effect of Committee's Decision. All actions taken and decisions and
determinations made by the Committee on all matters relating to the Plan
pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be in the Committee's sole
and absolute discretion and shall be conclusive and binding on all parties
concerned, including the Company, its stockholders, any participants in the Plan
and any other employee of the Company, and their respective successors in
interest.
4. SHARES AVAILABLE FOR THE PLAN
Subject to adjustments as provided in Section 13, the shares of stock
that may be delivered or purchased with respect to Awards granted under the
Plan, including with respect to Incentive Stock Options intended to qualify
under Section 422 of the Code, shall not exceed an aggregate of 4,000,000 shares
of Common Stock of the Company. The Company shall reserve such number of shares
for Awards under the Plan, subject to adjustments as provided below. No
executive officer of the Company shall receive Awards within any 12-month period
covering more than 4,000,000 shares of Common Stock If any Award, or portion of
an Award, under the Plan expires or terminates unexercised, becomes
unexercisable or is forfeited or otherwise terminated, surrendered or canceled
as to any shares without the delivery of shares of Common Stock or other
consideration, the shares subject to such Award shall thereafter be shares with
respect to which further Awards may be granted under the Plan.
In the event that the Committee shall determine that any
reclassification, recapitalization, stock split, dividend or other distribution
(whether in the form of cash, stock or other property), combination, merger,
consolidation, spin-off, share exchange, repurchase or other similar corporate
transaction or event affects the Common Stock such that an adjustment is
appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of
Grantees under the Plan, the maximum number and kind of shares reserved for
issuance or with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be
adjusted to reflect such event, and the Committee shall make such adjustments as
it deems appropriate and equitable in the number, kind and price of shares
covered by outstanding Awards previously granted under the Plan, and in any
other matters which relate to Awards and which are affected by the changes in
the Common Stock referred to above; provided, however, that with respect to
Incentive Stock Options, such adjustment shall be made in accordance with
Section 424(h) of the Code.
The Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and
conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or
nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in the
preceding paragraph of this Section 4) affecting the Company, or the financial
statements of the Company or any Subsidiary, or of changes in applicable laws,
regulations, or accounting
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principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are
appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or
potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan.
5. PARTICIPATION
Participation in the Plan shall be open to all employees, directors,
officers and consultants of the Company, or of any Affiliate of the Company, as
may be selected by the Committee from time to time. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, participation in the Plan with respect to grants of Incentive Stock
Options shall be limited to employees of the Company or of any Parent or
Subsidiary of the Company.
Awards may be granted to such eligible persons and for such number of
shares of Common Stock as the Committee shall determine, subject to the
limitations in Section 4. A grant of any type of Award made in any one year to
an eligible person shall neither guarantee nor preclude a further grant of that
or any other type of Award to such person in that year or subsequent years.
6. STOCK OPTIONS
Subject to the other applicable provisions of the Plan, the Committee
may from time to time grant to eligible participants Awards of Incentive Stock
Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options. In addition to such terms and conditions
as may not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan and shall be set forth in the
applicable Award Agreement, Options shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions.
(a) Grant of Option. The grant of an Option shall be evidenced by a
Award Agreement, executed by the Company and the Grantee, stating the number of
shares of Common Stock subject to the Option evidenced thereby and the terms and
conditions of such Option, in such form as the Committee may from time to time
determine.
(b) Price. The price per share payable upon the exercise of each Option
("exercise price") shall be determined by the Committee in its discretion;
provided, however, that in the case of Incentive Stock Options, the exercise
price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common
Stock on the Grant Date.
(c) Term and Exercisability. Unless otherwise determined by the
Committee at the time of grant, the term of each Option shall be no longer than
10 years from the Grant Date; provided, however, that in the case of Incentive
Stock Options, the term of such option shall not exceed 10 years from the Grant
Date. Unless earlier terminated pursuant to the provisions of the Plan or the
Award Agreement, each Option shall become vested in accordance with the vesting
schedule specified in the Award Agreement, which vesting schedule shall be
determined by the Committee in its discretion.
(d) Payment. Options may be exercised in whole or in part by payment of
the exercise price of the shares to be acquired in accordance with the
provisions of the Award Agreement, or such rules and regulations as the
Committee may have prescribed, or such determinations, orders, or decisions as
the Committee may have made. Payment may be made by one or a combination of the
following methods: (i) in cash (or cash equivalents acceptable to the
Committee); (ii) the surrender of previously acquired shares of Common Stock
having a Fair Market Value less than or equal to the aggregate exercise price,
which shares shall have been held by the Grantee for at least six months prior
to the date of such surrender; (iii) if so determined by the Committee as of the
Grant Date and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, authorization for
the Company to withhold a number of shares otherwise payable pursuant to the
exercise of an Option having a Fair market Value less than or equal to the
aggregate exercise price; or (iv) by delivery of a properly executed exercise
notice, together with irrevocable instructions: (1) to a brokerage firm
designated by the Grantee and approved by the Company to deliver
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promptly to the Company the aggregate amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the
exercise price and any withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection
with the exercise, and (2) to the Company to deliver the certificates for such
purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm. The Committee may, in its sole
discretion, authorize the Company to make or guarantee loans to Grantees to
assist Grantees in exercising Options.
(e) Exercise of Options Following Termination of Employment or Service
Relationship. Subject to Section 6(f) (with respect to Incentive Stock Options)
and unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion, Options
shall be subject to the following conditions with respect to their
post-termination exercisability.
(i) Following Termination of Employment or Service
Relationship for Reasons Other Than Death, Disability
or Retirement. Unless otherwise determined by the
Committee in its sole discretion, the vested portion
of any then outstanding Option held by such Grantee
shall remain exercisable for 90 days after the date
the Grantee is no longer employed by, nor in a
service relationship with, the Company and its
affiliates for any reason other than the Grantee's
death, Disability, or Retirement, following which
period the Option shall terminate. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, a Grantee's Options shall terminate in
their entirety, whether or not vested, upon
termination of the employment or service relationship
of the Grantee by the Company or an affiliate for
Cause.
(ii) Following Grantee's Death. Unless otherwise
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion,
following a Grantee's death such Grantee's executor,
personal representative, or the person to whom an
Option shall have been transferred by will or the
laws of descent and distribution, as the case may be,
may exercise the vested portion of any then
outstanding Option transferred to such individual for
one year; provided, that the Committee may, in its
sole discretion, provide that an Option granted to a
non-employee director may remain exercisable
following such director's death for up to three years
if so determined by the Committee as of the Grant
Date and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
(iii) Following Termination of Employment or Service
Relationship by Reason of Disability or Retirement.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its
sole discretion, in the event that a Grantee ceases,
by reason of Disability or Retirement, to be an
employee of or in a service relationship with the
Company or an Affiliate, the vested portion of an
outstanding Option then held by such Grantee may be
exercised in whole or in part at any time within one
year after the date of Disability or Retirement, as
the case may be, following which period the Option
shall terminate.
(iv) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan,
no Option shall remain exercisable beyond the
original term of such Option, as stated in the Award
Agreement evidencing such Option.
(f) Restrictions on Incentive Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options
granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with Section 422 of the Code
and, as such, shall meet the following additional requirements:
(i) Designation. No Option shall be an Incentive Stock
Option unless so designated by the Committee at the
time of grant in the Award Agreement.
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(ii) Exercise Price and Term. The exercise price per share
of an Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than
100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common
Stock on the Grant Date, and the term of such Option
shall not exceed ten years; provided, however, that
the exercise price of any Incentive Stock Option
granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder shall be not
less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock on the Grant Date, and the term of such Option
shall not exceed five years.
(iii) Limitation on Shares. The aggregate Fair Market Value
(determined as of the Grant Date) of shares of Common
Stock with respect to which any Incentive Stock
Options first become exercisable by a Grantee in any
calendar year under this or any other plan of the
Company and its Parent and Subsidiary corporations
may not exceed $100,000 or such other amount as may
be permitted from time to time under Section 422 of
the Code. To the extent that such aggregate Fair
Market Value shall exceed $100,000, or other
applicable amount, such Options shall be treated as
Non-Qualified Stock Options. In such case, the
Company may designate the shares of Common Stock that
are to be treated as stock acquired pursuant to the
exercise of an Incentive Stock Option by issuing a
separate certificate for such shares and identifying
the certificate as Incentive Stock Option shares in
the stock transfer records of the Company.
(iv) Grantee. Incentive Stock Options shall only be issued
to employees of the Company, or of a Parent or
Subsidiary of the Company.
(v) Tandem Awards Prohibited. An Incentive Stock Option
may not be granted in tandem with any other Award in
such a manner that the exercise of one affects a
Grantee's right under the other.
(vi) Post-Termination Exercisability.
(1) In the event that the employment of a
Grantee with the Company and its Affiliates
is terminated for Cause, all outstanding
Incentive Stock Options held by such
Grantee, whether or not vested, shall be
immediately forfeited and cancelled as of
the effective date of such termination.
(2) In the event that the employment of a
Grantee with the Company and its Affiliates
is terminated due to such Grantee's
Disability, all outstanding Incentive Stock
Options held by such Grantee (or such
Grantee's beneficiary, if applicable) may be
exercised, to the extent exercisable at the
effective date of such termination, for a
period not to exceed one year following the
effective date of such termination.
(3) In the event that the employment of a
Grantee is terminated for any other reason,
all outstanding Incentive Stock Options held
by such Grantee may be exercised, to the
extent exercisable at the effective date of
such termination, for a period not to exceed
three months following the effective date of
such termination.
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(g) Outside Director Program. Outside Directors shall be entitled to
grants of Options under the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6(g)
and otherwise in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(i) Identification of Options. Each Option granted under
this Section 6(g) shall be designated a Non-Qualified
Stock Option in the Award Agreement evidencing such
Option.
(ii) Grant Upon Election or Appointment. As of the date of
the initial election or appointment to the Board of
an Outside Director who is a beneficial owner or
represents an organization that is a beneficial owner
(as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 promulgated
under the Exchange Act) of less than five percent
(5%) of the combined voting power of the Company
(such date, the "Initial Grant Date"), such Director
shall be granted, without further action on the part
of the Board or the Committee, an Option to purchase
a number of whole shares of Common Stock calculated
by dividing $66,000 by one-third of the Grant Value
of the Common Stock, calculated as of the Initial
Grant Date and rounded to the nearest whole share.
(iii) Annual Grants. Immediately following each annual
meeting of the Company's stockholders (the "Annual
Grant Date"), each Outside Director then serving
shall be granted, without further action on the part
of the Board or the Committee, an Option to purchase
a number of whole shares of Common Stock, calculated
by dividing $22,000 by one-third of the Grant Value
of the Common Stock, calculated as of such date and
rounded to the nearest whole share; provided,
however, that each such Director shall, prior to the
Annual Grant Date, be given the opportunity to make
the election provided for in Section 6(g)(vi).
(iv) For purposes of Section 6, "Grant Value" means (a) if
the Common Stock is then traded on any national
securities exchange or any automated quotation
system, the average closing price rounded to three
(3) decimal places of the Common Stock for the five
(5) trading days immediately preceding the Initial
Grant Date and/or the Annual Grant Date, as
applicable, or (b) if the Common Stock is not then
traded on any national securities exchange or any
automated quotation system, the per share Fair Market
Value of the Common Stock.
(v) Term and Exercise of Options.
(1) Each Option granted under this Section 6(g)
shall have a term of ten years.
(2) Each Option granted under this Section 6(g)
shall become cumulatively exercisable with
respect to twenty-five percent (25%) of the
shares covered thereby on each of the
following dates: (1) the date which is three
months following the Initial Grant Date or
Annual Grant Date, as applicable; (2) the
date which is six months following the
Initial Grant Date or Annual Grant Date, as
applicable; (3) the date which is nine
months following the Initial Grant Date or
Annual Grant Date, as applicable; and (4)
the first anniversary of the Initial Grant
Date or Annual Grant Date, as applicable.
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(3) Each Option granted under this Section 6(g)
may be exercised, in whole or in part, with
respect to whole shares of Common Stock, to
the extent then exercisable.
(4) Each Option granted under this Section 6(g)
shall be exercised by delivering notice to
the Company's principal office, to the
attention of its Secretary. Such notice
shall be accompanied by the applicable Award
Agreement, shall specify the number of whole
shares of Common Stock with respect to which
the Option is being exercised and the
effective date of the proposed exercise and
shall be signed by the Grantee or other
person then having the right to exercise the
Option. The methods of payment with respect
to the exercise price of Options granted
under this Section 6(g) shall be consistent
with Section 6(d).
(vi) Annual Grant Election. Prior to the Annual Grant
Date, each Outside Director may elect, subject to his
or her receiving the grant provided in Section
6(g)(iii), to receive as of the Annual Grant Date, in
lieu of the Option described in Section 6(g)(iii), a
grant of a number of shares of Restricted Stock
calculated by dividing $22,000 by the Grant Value of
the Common Stock as of the Annual Grant Date. The
Award Agreement evidencing such grant of Restricted
Stock shall provide that the restrictions (as
determined in accordance with Section 7) applicable
to such Award shall cumulatively lapse with respect
to twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares covered
thereby on each of the following dates: (1) the date
which is three months following the Annual Grant
Date; (2) the date which is six months following the
Annual Grant Date; (3) the date which is nine months
following the Annual Grant Date; and (4) the first
anniversary of the Annual Grant Date.
(h) Exercise Prior to Vesting. The Committee may in its sole discretion
provide at the time of grant of any Option that the Grantee may elect at any
time during both (1) the term of such Option and (2) the period during which
such Grantee is employed by or providing services to the Company or any of its
Affiliates, that the Grantee may exercise all or any portion of such Option,
including the unvested portion of such Option; provided, however, that
(i) a partial exercise of such Option shall be deemed to
cover first vested shares and then the earliest
vesting installment of unvested shares;
(ii) any shares so purchased from installments which have
not vested as of the date of exercise shall be
subject to a repurchase option in favor of the
Company, the terms of which shall be set forth in the
Award Agreement evidencing such Option;
(iii) the Grantee shall enter into a form of Early Exercise
Stock Purchase Agreement with a vesting schedule that
will result in the same vesting as if no early
exercise had occurred; and
(iv) if such Option is an Incentive Stock Option, then,
the maximum vesting provisions of Section 6(f)(iii)
shall continue to apply with respect to such shares.
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(i) Restrictions on Transfer. The Committee may in its sole discretion
provide at the time of grant of any Option that, upon its exercise, the shares
of Common Stock to be issued to the Grantee shall be subject to such
restrictions on transfer as the Committee may determine are advisable.
7. RESTRICTED STOCK
(a) Issue Date and Vesting Date. At the time of the grant of an Award
of Restricted Stock, the Committee shall establish an Issue Date or Issue Dates
and a Vesting Date or Vesting Dates with respect to such shares. The Committee
may divide such shares into classes and assign a different Issue Date and/or
Vesting Date for each class. If the Grantee is employed by or providing services
to the Company on an Issue Date (which may be the Grant Date), the specified
number of shares of Restricted Stock shall be issued in accordance with the
provisions of Section 7(e). Provided that all conditions to the vesting of a
share of Restricted Stock imposed pursuant to Section 7(b) are satisfied, and
except as provided in Section 7(g), upon the occurrence of the Vesting Date with
respect to a share of Restricted Stock, such share shall vest and the
restrictions of Section 7(c) shall lapse.
(b) Conditions to Vesting. At the time of the grant of shares of
Restricted Stock, the Committee may impose such restrictions or conditions to
the vesting of such shares as it, in its absolute discretion, deems appropriate.
(c) Restrictions on Transfer Prior to Vesting. Prior to the vesting of
a share of Restricted Stock, no transfer of a Grantee's rights with respect to
such share, whether voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise,
shall be permitted. Immediately upon any attempt to transfer such rights, such
share, and all of the rights related thereto, shall be forfeited by the Grantee.
(d) Dividends on Restricted Stock. The Committee in its discretion may
require that any dividends paid on shares of Restricted Stock be held in escrow
until all restrictions on such shares have lapsed.
(e) Issuance of Certificates.
(i) Reasonably promptly after the Issue Date with respect
to shares of Restricted Stock, the Company shall
cause to be issued a stock certificate, registered in
the name of the Grantee to whom such shares were
granted, evidencing such shares; provided, that the
Company shall not cause such a stock certificate to
be issued unless it has received a stock power duly
endorsed in blank with respect to such shares. Each
such stock certificate shall bear the following
legend:
THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE
SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THE
RESTRICTIONS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS (INCLUDING
FORFEITURE PROVISIONS AND RESTRICTIONS AGAINST
TRANSFER) CONTAINED IN THE 2001 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
OF LENDINGTREE, INC. AND AN AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO
BETWEEN THE REGISTERED OWNER OF SUCH SHARES AND THE
COMPANY. A COPY OF THE PLAN AND AGREEMENT IS ON FILE
IN THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY, 11115
RUSHMORE DRIVE, CHARLOTTE, NC 28277.
Such legend shall not be removed until such shares
vest pursuant to the terms hereof.
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(ii) Each certificate issued pursuant to this Section
7(e), together with the stock powers relating to the
shares of Restricted Stock evidenced by such
certificate, shall be held by the Company unless the
Committee determines otherwise.
(f) Consequences of Vesting. Upon the vesting of a share of Restricted
Stock pursuant to the terms hereof, the restrictions of Section 7(c) shall lapse
with respect to such share. Reasonably promptly after a share of Restricted
Stock vests, the Company shall cause to be delivered to the Grantee to whom such
shares were granted, a certificate evidencing such share, free of the legend set
forth in Section 7(e).
(g) Effect of Termination of Employment. Subject to such other
provision as the Committee may set forth in the applicable Agreement, and to the
Committee's amendment authority pursuant to Section 15, upon the termination of
a Grantee's employment for any reason, any and all shares to which restrictions
on transferability apply shall be immediately forfeited by the Grantee and
transferred to, and reacquired by, the Company. In the event of a forfeiture of
shares pursuant to this Section 7(g), the Company shall repay to the Grantee (or
the Grantee's estate) any amount paid by the Grantee for such shares. In the
event that the Company requires a return of shares, it shall also have the right
to require the return of all dividends paid on such shares, whether by
termination of any escrow arrangement under which such dividends are held or
otherwise.
(h) Special Provisions Regarding Restricted Stock. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, Restricted Stock granted pursuant to
this Section 7 may be based on the attainment of Performance Goals. Such shares
of Restricted Stock shall be released from restrictions only after the
attainment of such Performance Goals has been certified by the Committee.
8. PHANTOM STOCK
(a) Vesting Date. At the time of the grant of shares of Phantom Stock,
the Committee shall establish a Vesting Date or Vesting Dates with respect to
such shares. The Committee may divide such shares into classes and assign a
different Vesting Date for each class. Provided that all conditions to the
vesting of a share of Phantom Stock imposed pursuant to Section 8(c) are
satisfied, and except as provided in Section 8(d), upon the occurrence of the
Vesting Date with respect to a share of Phantom Stock, such share shall vest.
(b) Benefit Upon Vesting. Upon the vesting of a share of Phantom Stock,
the Grantee shall be entitled to receive, within 30 days of the date on which
such share vests, an amount, in cash and/or shares of Common Stock, as
determined by the Committee, equal to the sum of (i) the Fair Market Value of a
share of Common Stock on the date on which such share of Phantom Stock vests and
(ii) the aggregate amount of cash dividends paid with respect to a share of
Common Stock during the period commencing on the date on which the share of
Phantom Stock was granted and terminating on the date on which such share vests.
(c) Conditions to Vesting. At the time of the grant of shares of
Phantom Stock, the Committee may impose such restrictions or conditions to the
vesting of such shares as it, in its absolute discretion, deems appropriate.
(d) Effect of Termination of Employment. Subject to such other
provision as the Committee may set forth in the applicable Agreement, and to the
Committee's amendment authority pursuant to Section 15, shares of Phantom Stock
that have not vested, together with any dividends credited on such shares, shall
be forfeited upon the Grantee's termination of employment for any reason.
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(e) Special Provisions Regarding Awards. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained herein, the vesting of Phantom Stock granted pursuant to
this Section 8 may be based on the attainment by the Company of one or more
Performance Goals. No payment in respect of any such Phantom Stock award will be
paid until the attainment of the respective Performance Goals have been
certified by the Committee.
9. STOCK BONUSES
In the event that the Committee grants a Stock Bonus, a certificate for
the shares of Common Stock comprising such Stock Bonus shall be issued in the
name of the Grantee to whom such Award was granted and delivered to such Grantee
as soon as practicable after the date on which such Stock Bonus is payable.
10. OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS
Other forms of Awards ("Other Stock-Based Awards") valued in whole or
in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Common Stock may be granted
either alone or in addition to other Awards under the Plan. Subject to the
provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to
determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Other
Stock-Based Awards shall be granted, the number of shares of Common Stock to be
granted pursuant to such Other Stock-Based Awards and all other conditions of
such Other Stock-Based Awards.
11. WITHHOLDING OF TAXES
The Company may require, as a condition to the exercise of any Option
under the Plan or the delivery of certificates for shares issued or payments of
cash to a Grantee pursuant to the Plan or an Award Agreement (hereinafter
collectively referred to as a "taxable event"), that the Grantee pay to the
Company in cash any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to
be withheld with respect to any taxable event under the Plan. The Company, to
the extent permitted or required by law, shall have the right to deduct from any
payment of any kind (including salary or bonus) otherwise due to a Grantee any
federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with
respect to any taxable event under the Plan, or to retain or sell without notice
a sufficient number of the shares to be issued to such Grantee to cover any such
taxes. If shares of Common Stock are to be withheld by the Company from shares
of Common Stock otherwise to be issued upon the exercise of an Option or in
satisfaction or settlement of any Award, for purposes of satisfying withholding
tax obligations, the number of shares to be so withheld shall be calculated
using the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax
purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to the taxable event then
applicable to such Award. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, authorize
the Company to make or guarantee loans to Grantees to assist Grantees in
satisfying such withholding obligation.
12. TRANSFERABILITY
Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, and in any event in
the case of an Incentive Stock Option, no Award granted under the Plan shall be
transferable by a Grantee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee in accord with the
provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, an Option may be exercised
during the lifetime of the Grantee, only by the Grantee or, during the period
the Grantee is under a legal disability, by the Grantee's guardian or legal
representative.
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13. CHANGE IN CONTROL
In the event of a Change in Control, 50% of the time-vesting portion of
any outstanding Award (i.e., that portion of an Award that vests or becomes
exercisable only through the passage of time and is not subject to any
Performance Goal) that is not then vested and/or exercisable shall become
immediately vested and/or exercisable. In addition to the acceleration provided
for in the immediately preceding sentence, the Committee may, in its sole
discretion, provide that all or any part of the remaining portion of an
outstanding Award that is not then vested and/or exercisable shall become
immediately vested and/or exercisable.
14. TERMINATION AND MODIFICATION OF THE PLAN
The Board, without further approval of the stockholders, may modify or
terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, except that no
modification shall become effective without prior approval of the stockholders
of the Company if stockholder approval is necessary to comply with any tax or
regulatory requirement or rule of any exchange or listing or quotation system
established by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASDAQ
System") upon which the Common Stock is listed or quoted; including for this
purpose stockholder approval that is required to enable the Committee to grant
Incentive Stock Options pursuant to the Plan or to qualify compensation paid
under the plan as "performance based compensation" within the meaning of Section
162(m) of the Code.
The Committee shall be authorized to make minor or administrative
modifications to the Plan as well as modifications to the Plan that may be
dictated by requirements of federal or state laws applicable to the Company or
that may be authorized or made desirable by such laws. The Committee may amend
or modify any outstanding Award in any manner to the extent that the Committee
would have had the authority to make such Award as so modified or amended.
15. NON-GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE
Nothing in the Plan or in any Award Agreement thereunder shall confer
any right on an employee, director, or consultant to continue in the employ or
service of the Company or shall interfere in any way with the right of the
Company to terminate an employee or sever any service relationship of an
individual at any time.
16. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
For purposes of maintaining a Grantee's continuous status as an
employee and accrual of rights under any Award granted pursuant to the Plan,
transfer of an employee among the Company and the Company's affiliates shall not
be considered a termination of employment with the employer.
17. WRITTEN AGREEMENT
Each Award Agreement entered into between the Company and a Grantee
with respect to an Award granted under the Plan shall incorporate the terms of
this Plan and shall contain such provisions, consistent with the provisions of
the Plan, as may be established by the Committee.
18. NON-UNIFORM DETERMINATIONS
The Committee's determinations under the Plan (including without
limitation determinations of the persons to receive Awards, the form, amount and
timing of such Awards, the terms and provisions of such Awards and the
agreements evidencing same) need not be uniform and may be made by it
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selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards under
the Plan, whether or not such persons are similarly situated.
19. APPLICATION OF FUNDS
The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Common Stock
pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan will be used for general corporate
purposes.
20. LISTING AND REGISTRATION
If the Company determines that the listing, registration or
qualification upon any securities exchange or upon any NASDAQ System or under
any law, of shares subject to any Award is necessary or desirable as a condition
of, or in connection with, the granting of same or the issue or purchase of
shares thereunder, no such Award may be exercised in whole or in part, unless
such listing, registration or qualification is effected free of any conditions
not acceptable to the Company.
21. COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAW
Common Stock shall not be issued with respect to an Award granted under
the Plan unless the issuance and delivery of share certificates for such Common
Stock pursuant thereto shall comply with all relevant provisions of law,
including, without limitation, the Securities Act of 1933, the Exchange Act, the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the requirements of any
national securities exchange or NASDAQ System upon which the Common Stock may
then be listed or quoted, and shall be further subject to the approval of
counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance to the extent such
approval is sought by the Committee. All certificates for Common Stock delivered
under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to
such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem
advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of
the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange or NASDAQ System upon
which such securities are then listed or quoted, and any applicable Federal or
state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any
such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
22. NO LIMIT ON OTHER COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS
Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or its Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries from adopting or continuing in effect other
compensation arrangements (whether such arrangements be generally applicable or
applicable only in specific cases) as the Committee in its discretion determines
desirable, including without limitation the granting of stock-based incentive
awards otherwise than under the Plan.
23. NO TRUST OR FUND CREATED
Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a
trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the
Company and a Grantee or any other person. To the extent that any Grantee or
other person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company pursuant to
an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general
creditor of the Company.
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24. GOVERNING LAW
The validity, construction and effect of the Plan, of Award Agreements
entered into pursuant to the Plan, and of any rules, regulations, determinations
or decisions made by the Board or Committee relating to the Plan or such Award
Agreements, and the rights of any and all persons having or claiming to have any
interest therein or thereunder, shall be determined exclusively in accordance
with applicable federal laws and the laws of the State of North Carolina,
without regard to its conflict of laws rules and principles.
25. PLAN SUBJECT TO CHARTER AND BY-LAWS
This Plan is subject to the Charter and By-Laws of the Company, as they
may be amended from time to time.
26. EFFECTIVE DATE; TERMINATION DATE
The Plan, as amended and restated, is effective as of the date on which
the Plan is approved by the Board, or such other date as the Board may specify
as the effective date, subject to approval of the stockholders within twelve
months before or after such date. No Award shall be granted under the Plan after
the close of business on the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of
the effective date of the Plan. Subject to other applicable provisions of the
Plan, all Awards made under the Plan prior to such termination of the Plan shall
remain in effect until such Awards have been satisfied or terminated in
accordance with the Plan and the terms of such Awards.
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