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EXHIBIT 10.14
U.S. FRANCHISE SYSTEMS, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
SECTION 1. Purpose. The purposes of this U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. 1996
Stock Option Plan are to promote the interests of U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc.
("USFS" or the "Company") and its stockholders by (i) attracting and retaining
exceptional officers and other key employees of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, and consultants, advisors and others whom the Committee determines
possess skills that would be an asset to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(ii) motivating such individuals by means of performance-related incentives to
achieve longer-range performance goals; and (iii) enabling such individuals to
participate in the long-term growth and financial success of the Company.
SECTION 2. Definitions. As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have
the meanings set forth below:
"Affiliate" shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is
controlled by or controls the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company
has a significant equity interest, in either case as determined by the
Committee.
"Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Change of Control" shall mean the occurrence of any of the following: (i)
the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition, in one or a series
of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company to any "person" or "group" (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d)(3)
and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) other than the Permitted Holders, (ii) any
person or group, other than the Permitted Holders, is or becomes the "beneficial
owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that
a person shall be deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of all shares that any
such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more
than 50% of the total voting power of the voting stock of the Company, including
by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise or (iii) during any period of two
consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted
the Board (together with any new directors whose election by such Board or whose
nomination for election by the stockholders of the Company was approved by a
vote of a majority of the directors of the Company then still in office who were
either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or nomination
for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to constitute a
majority of the Board.
"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time.
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"Committee" shall mean (i) a committee of the Board designated by the Board
to administer the Plan and composed of not less two directors, each of whom is
intended to be a "Non-Employee Director" (within the meaning of Rule 16b-3) and
an "outside director" (within the meaning of Code section 162(m)) to the extent
Rule 16b-3 and Code section 162(m), respectively, are applicable to the Company
or (ii) if at any time such a committee has not been so designated by the Board,
the Board or any authorized committee thereof.
"Company" shall mean U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc., together with any
successor thereto.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"Fair Market Value" shall mean, (A) with respect to any property other than
Shares, the fair market value of such property determined by such methods or
procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee and (B)
with respect to the Shares, as of any date, (i) the mean between the high and
low sales prices of the Shares as reported on the composite tape for securities
traded on the New York Stock Exchange for such date (or if not then trading on
the New York Stock Exchange, the mean between the high and low sales price of
the Shares on the stock exchange or over-the-counter market on which the Shares
are principally trading on such date), or if, there were no sales on such date,
on the closest preceding date on which there were sales of Shares or (ii) in the
event there shall be no public market for the Shares on such date, the fair
market value of the Shares as determined in good faith by the Committee.
"Incentive Stock Option" shall mean a right to purchase Shares from the
Company that is granted under Section 6 of the Plan and that is intended to meet
the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.
"Non-Qualified Stock Option" shall mean a right to purchase Shares from the
Company that is granted under Section 6 of the Plan and that is not intended to
be an Incentive Stock Option.
"Option" shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock
Option.
"Option Agreement" shall mean any written agreement, contract, or other
instrument or document evidencing any Option, which may, but need not, be
executed or acknowledged by a Participant.
"Participant" shall mean any officer or other key employee (including any
prospective officer or key employee) of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and any
consultant, advisor or other person whom the Committee determines possesses
skills that would be an asset to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each
case who is
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eligible for an Option under Section 5 and selected by the Committee
to receive an Option under the Plan.
"Permitted Holders" shall mean, as of the date of determination, any and
all of Neal K. Aronson and Michael A. Leven, their spouses, their siblings and
their siblings' spouses, their parents and descendants of any of them (whether
natural or adopted) (collectively, the "Family Group") and (iii) any trust
established and maintained primarily for the benefit of any member of the Family
Group and any entity controlled by any member of the Family Group.
"Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, association,
joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or political
subdivision thereof or other entity.
"Plan" shall mean this U.S. Franchise Systems, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan.
"Rule 16b-3" shall mean Rule 16b-3 as promulgated and interpreted by the
SEC under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule or regulation thereto as in
effect from time to time.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor
thereto and shall include the Staff thereof.
"Shares" shall mean shares of the Class A Common Stock of the Company, $.01
par value, or such other securities of the Company (i) into which such common
shares shall be changed by reason of a recapitalization, merger, consolidation,
split-up, combination, exchange of shares or other similar transaction or (ii)
as may be determined by the Committee pursuant to Section 4(b).
"Subsidiary" shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is
controlled by the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a
significant equity interest, in either case as determined by the Committee
"Substitute Awards" shall have the meaning specified in Section 4(c).
SECTION 3. Administration. (a) The Plan shall be administered by the
Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition
to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the
Plan, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate
Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Options to be granted to a
Participant; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by, or with
respect to which payments, rights, or other
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matters are to be calculated in connection with, Options; (iv) determine the
terms and conditions of any Option; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and
under what circumstances Options may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares,
other securities, or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or suspended and
the method or methods by which Options may be settled, exercised, canceled,
forfeited, or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what
circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other property, and other amounts
payable with respect to an Option shall be deferred either automatically or at
the election of the holder thereof or of the Committee; (vii) interpret,
administer reconcile any inconsistency, correct any default and/or supply any
omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Option made
under, the Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and
regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper
administration of the Plan; and (ix) make any other determination and take any
other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the
administration of the Plan.
(b) Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations,
determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to
the Plan or any Option shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may
be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all
Persons, including the Company, any Affiliate, any Participant, any holder or
beneficiary of any Option, and any shareholder.
(c) The mere fact that a Committee member shall fail to qualify as a
"Non-Employee Director" or "outside director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3
and Code section 162(m), respectively, shall not invalidate any Option granted
by the Committee which Option is otherwise validly made under the Plan.
(d) No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or
determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Option granted
hereunder.
SECTION 4. Shares Available for Options.
(a) Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(b),
the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Options may be granted
under the Plan shall be 325,000 and the maximum number of Shares with respect to
which Options may be granted to any Participant in any fiscal year shall be
250,000. If, after the effective date of the Plan, any Shares covered by an
Option granted under the Plan, or to which such an Option relates, are
forfeited, or if an Option has expired, terminated or been canceled for any
reason whatsoever (other than by reason of exercise or vesting) and in either
such case a Participant has received no benefits of
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ownership with respect to the forfeited Shares or the Shares to which such
expired, terminated or canceled Option relates (other than voting rights and
dividends that were forfeited in connection with such forfeiture, expiration,
termination or cancellation), then the Shares covered by such Option shall, to
the maximum extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code during any period
when Section 162(m) is applicable to the Company, again be, or shall become,
Shares with respect to which Options may be granted hereunder.
(b) Adjustments. In the event that the Committee determines that any
dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other
securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock
split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination,
repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance
of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the
Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such
that an adjustment is determined by the Committee in its discretion to be
appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or
potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the
Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of
(i) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind
of other securities or property) with respect to which Options may be granted,
(ii) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind
of other securities or property) subject to outstanding Options, and (iii) the
grant or exercise price with respect to any Option or, if deemed appropriate,
make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Option in
consideration for the cancellation of such Option.
(c) Substitute Awards. Options may, in the discretion of the Committee, be
made under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards
previously granted by the Company or its Affiliates or a company acquired by the
Company or with which the Company combines ("Substitute Awards"). The number of
Shares underlying any Substitute Awards shall be counted against the aggregate
number of Shares available for Options under the Plan.
(d) Sources of Shares Deliverable Under Options. Any Shares delivered
pursuant to an Option may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and
unissued Shares or of treasury Shares.
SECTION 5. Eligibility. Any officer or other key employee of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries (including any prospective officer or key employee), and
any consultant, advisor or other person whom the Committee determines possesses
skills that would be an asset to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, who is
not a member of the Committee, shall be eligible to be designated
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a Participant.
SECTION 6. Stock Options.
(a) Grant. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have
sole and complete authority to determine the Participants to whom Options shall
be granted, the number of Shares to be covered by each Option, the exercise
price therefor and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of
the Option. The Committee shall have the authority to grant Incentive Stock
Options, or to grant Non-Qualified Stock Options, or to grant both types of
Options. In the case of Incentive Stock Options, the terms and conditions of
such grants shall be subject to and comply with such rules as may be prescribed
by Section 422 of the Code, as from time to time amended, and any regulations
implementing such statute. All Options when granted under the Plan are intended
to be Non-Qualified Stock Options, unless the applicable Option Agreement
expressly states that the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option. If
an Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option, and if for any reason
such Option (or any portion thereof) shall not qualify as an Incentive Stock
Option, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option (or portion
thereof) shall be regarded as a Non-Qualified Stock Option appropriately granted
under the Plan; provided that such Option (or portion thereof) otherwise
complies with the Plan's requirements relating to Non-Qualified Stock Options.
(b) Exercise Price. The Committee shall establish the exercise price at the
time each Option is granted, which exercise price shall be set forth in the
applicable Option Agreement.
(c) Exercise. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to
such terms and conditions as the Committee may, in its sole discretion, specify
in the applicable Option Agreement or thereafter. The Committee may impose such
conditions with respect to the exercise of Options, including without
limitation, any relating to the application of federal or state securities laws,
as it may deem necessary or advisable;
(d) Payment. No Shares shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an
Option until payment in full of the aggregate exercise price therefor is
received by the Company. Such payment may be made in cash, or its equivalent,
or, if and to the extent permitted by the Committee, (i) by exchanging Shares
owned by the optionee (which are not the subject of any pledge or other security
interest and which have been owned by such optionee for at least six months) or
(ii) if permitted by and subject to such rules as may be established by the
Committee, through delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to sell such
Shares and deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the aggregate
exercise price, or by a combination of the foregoing, provided that the combined
value of all cash and cash equivalents and the Fair Market
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Value of any such Shares so tendered to the Company as of the date of such
tender is at least equal to such aggregate exercise price.
SECTION 7. Amendment and Termination.
(a) Amendments to the Plan. The Board may amend, alter, suspend,
discontinue, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided
that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination
shall be made without shareholder approval if such approval is necessary to
comply with any tax or regulatory requirement, including for these purposes any
approval requirement which is a prerequisite for exemptive relief from Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act or necessary to qualify the options granted hereunder
as performance based compensation for purposes of Code Section 162(m) (provided
that the Company is subject to the requirements of Section 16 of the Exchange
Act or Code Section 162(m), as the case may be, as of the date of such action).
(b) Amendments to Options. The Committee may waive any conditions or rights
under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate,
any Option theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively; provided that
any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation
or termination that would impair the rights of any Participant or any holder or
beneficiary of any Option theretofore granted shall not to that extent be
effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or
beneficiary.
(c) Adjustment of Options Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or
Nonrecurring Events. The Committee is hereby authorized to make adjustments in
the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Options in
recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation,
the events described in Section 4(b) hereof) affecting the Company, any
Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of
changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting 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.
SECTION 8. Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control after the
date of the adoption of this Plan, any outstanding Options then held by
Participants which are unexercisable or otherwise unvested shall automatically
be deemed exercisable or otherwise vested, as the case may be, as of immediately
prior to such Change of Control.
SECTION 9. General Provisions.
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(a) Nontransferability. Each Option and each right under any Option shall
be exercisable only by the Participant during the Participant's lifetime, or, if
permissible under applicable law, by the Participant's legal guardian or
representative. No Option may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or
otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant otherwise than by will or
by the laws of descent and distribution and any such purported assignment,
alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and
unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate; provided that the
designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation,
pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance.
(b) No Rights to Options. No Participant or other Person shall have any
claim to be granted any Option, and there is no obligation for uniformity of
treatment of Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Options. The terms and
conditions of Options and the Committee's determinations and interpretations
with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant
(whether or not such Participants are similarly situated).
(c) Share Certificates. All certificates for Shares or other securities of
the Company or any Affiliate delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Option 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 upon which such Shares or other securities are then listed,
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.
(d) Withholding. A Participant may be required to pay to the Company or any
Affiliate and the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby
authorized to withhold from any Option, from any payment due or transfer made
under any Option or under the Plan or from any compensation or other amount
owing to a Participant the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities, or other
property) of any applicable withholding taxes in respect of an Option, its
exercise, or any payment or transfer under an Option or under the Plan and to
take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to
satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes.
(e) Option Agreements. Each Option hereunder shall be evidenced by an
Option Agreement which shall be delivered to the Participant and shall specify
the terms and conditions of the Option and any rules applicable thereto,
including but not limited to the effect on such Option of the death, disability
or termination of employment or service of a Participant and the effect, if any,
of such other events as may be determined by the Committee.
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(f) No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in the
Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in
effect other compensation arrangements, which may, but need not, provide for the
grant of options (subject to shareholder approval if such approval is required),
and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in
specific cases.
(g) No Right to Employment. The grant of an Option shall not be construed
as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of, or in any
consulting relationship to, the Company or any Affiliate. Further, the Company
or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or
discontinue any consulting relationship, free from any liability or any claim
under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Option
Agreement.
(h) No Rights as Stockholder. Subject to the provisions of the applicable
Option, no Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Option shall have any
rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares to be distributed under the
Plan until he or she has become the holder of such Shares.
(i) Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and
any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Option Agreement shall be
determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
(j) Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Option is or becomes
or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as
to any Person or Option, or would disqualify the Plan or any Option under any
law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or
deemed amended to conform the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or
deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially
altering the intent of the Plan or the Option, such provision shall be stricken
as to such jurisdiction, Person or Option and the remainder of the Plan and any
such Option shall remain in full force and effect.
(k) Other Laws. The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Shares or
other consideration under an Option if, acting in its sole discretion, it
determines that the issuance or transfer of such Shares or such other
consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation or entitle the
Company to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any
payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in
connection with the exercise of such Option shall be promptly refunded to the
relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, no Option granted hereunder shall be construed as an offer to
sell securities of the Company, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless
and until the Committee in its sole discretion has
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determined that any such offer, if made, would be in compliance with all
applicable requirements of the U.S. federal and any other applicable securities
laws.
(l) No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Option shall create
or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary
relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other
Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from
the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Option, such right shall be no
greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any
Affiliate.
(m) No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered
pursuant to the Plan or any Option, and the Committee shall determine whether
cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu
of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto
shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.
(n) Headings. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the
Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be
deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of
the Plan or any provision thereof.
SECTION 16. Term of the Plan.
(a) Effective Date. The Plan shall be effective as of the date of its
approval by the shareholders of the Company.
(b) Expiration Date. No Option shall be granted under the Plan after
October 24, 2003. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an
applicable Option Agreement, any Option granted hereunder may, and the authority
of the Board or the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or
terminate any such Option or to waive any conditions or rights under any such
Option shall, continue after October 24, 2003.