EXHIBIT 10.1
STILLWATER MINING COMPANY
AMENDED AND RESTATED
GENERAL EMPLOYEE STOCK PLAN
Section 1. Purposes. The purposes of this Stillwater Mining Company
General Employee Stock Plan, as further amended from time to time (the "Plan")
are to promote the interests of Stillwater Mining Company and its stockholders
by (i) attracting and retaining personnel, including employees and consultants
of the Company and its Affiliates, as defined below, (ii) motivating such
employees by means of performance related incentives to achieve longer-range
performance goals, and (iii) enabling such employees and consultants 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 the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a
significant equity interest, in either case as determined by the Committee.
"Alternative Award" shall mean an Award granted in tandem with, either
at the same or a later time as, another Award having substantially similar
economic characteristics, the exercise of which would result in the cancellation
of such other Award.
"Award" shall mean any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted
Stock, or Other Stock-Based Award.
"Award Agreement" shall mean any written agreement, contract, or other
instrument or document evidencing any Award, which may, but need not, be
executed or acknowledged by a Participant.
"Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from
time to time.
"Committee" shall mean (i) the Board, or (ii) a committee of one or
more members of the Board designated by the Board, which may include directors
who are officers of the Company, to administer the Plan.
"Company" shall mean Stillwater Mining Company, together with any
successor thereto.
"Consultant" shall mean any Person who is engaged by the Company or any
Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services to such entity, provided
that such Person is not (i) a member of the Company's Board of Directors or (ii)
an officer of the Company, as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of Section
16 of the Exchange Act.
"Employee" shall mean any employee of the Company or of any Affiliate,
provided that such Employee is not (i) a member of the Company's Board of
Directors or (ii) an officer of the Company, as such term is defined in Rule
16a-1(f) of Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Fair Market Value" shall mean the fair market value of the property or
other item being valued, as determined by the Committee acting in good faith.
"Non-Qualified Stock Option" shall mean an option granted under Section
6(a) of the Plan that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option pursuant
to Section 422 of the Code.
"Option" shall mean a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
"Other Stock-Based Award" shall mean any right granted under Section
6(d) of the Plan.
"Participant" shall mean any Employee or Consultant selected by the
Committee to receive an Award under the Plan.
"Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership,
association, Joint-stock Company, trust, unincorporated organization, government
or political subdivision thereof or other entity.
"Restricted Period" shall mean the period of time selected by the
Committee (as may be amended by the Committee from time to time) during which a
grant of Restricted Stock may be forfeited to the Company.
"Restricted Stock" shall mean any Share granted under Section 6(c) of
the Plan.
"SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any
successor thereto and shall include the staff thereof.
"Shares" shall mean the common shares of the Company, $0.01 par value,
or, following an adjustment under Section 4(b) of the Plan, such other
securities or property as may become subject to Awards in substitution for such
common shares pursuant to such adjustment.
"Stock Appreciation Right" shall mean any right granted under Section
6(b) of the Plan.
Section 3. Administration.
(a) Authority of Committee. 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 Awards to be granted to
eligible Participants; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by, or
with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in
connection with, Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award;
(v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may
be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other
property, or cancelled, forfeited, or suspended and the method or methods by
which Awards may be settled, exercised, cancelled, forfeited, or suspended; (vi)
determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares,
other securities, other Awards, other property, and other amounts payable with
respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of
the holder thereof or of the Committee; (vii) interpret and administer the Plan
and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan;
(viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and
appoint such agents as it shall
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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) Determinations Under the Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided
in the Plan all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other
decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award 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 Award, any shareholder and any
Employee or Consultant.
Section 4. Shares Available for Awards.
(a) Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section
4(b), the number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the
Plan shall be 1,400,000. If, after the effective date of the Plan, any Shares
covered by an Award granted under the Plan, or to which such an Award relates,
are forfeited, or if an Award otherwise terminates or is canceled without the
delivery of Shares or of other consideration, then the Shares covered by such
Award, or to which such Award relates, or the number of Shares otherwise counted
against the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be
granted, to the extent of any such forfeiture, termination or cancellation,
shall again be, or shall become, Shares with respect to which Awards may be
granted.
(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 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 the kind
of equity securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or
property) with respect to which Awards may be granted, (ii) the number of Shares
or the kind of equity securities of the Company (or number and kind of other
securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and (iii) the grant or
exercise price with respect to any Award or, if deemed appropriate, make
provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award; provided, in
each case, that the number of Shares subject to any Award denominated in Shares
shall always be a whole number.
(c) Sources of Shares Deliverable Under Awards. Any Shares delivered
pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and
unissued Shares or of treasury Shares.
Section 5. Eligibility. Employees and Consultants of the Company or any
Affiliate shall be eligible to be designated as Participants.
Section 6. Awards.
(a) Options.
(i) Grant to Employees. Subject to the provisions of the Plan,
the Committee shall have authority to determine the Employees to whom
Options shall be granted, the number of
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Shares to be covered by each Option, the option price therefore and the
conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Option.
(ii) Exercise Price. The Committee shall establish the
exercise price at the time each Option is granted, which price, except
in the case of Options that are Alternative Awards, shall not be less
than 100% of the per share Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date
of grant.
(iii) Exercise. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times
and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify
in the applicable Award 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.
(iv) Grant to Consultants. Subject to the provisions of the
Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to determine the
Consultants to whom options shall be granted, the number of Shares to
be covered by each Option, the option price therefore and the
conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Option.
The exercise price of the Option granted shall not be less than 100% of
the per share Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant.
Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such
conditions as the Committee shall specify in the applicable Award
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.
(b) Stock Appreciation Rights.
(i) Grant. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the
Committee shall have authority to determine the Employees or
Consultants to whom Stock Appreciation Rights shall be granted, the
number of Shares to be covered by each Stock Appreciation Right Award,
the grant price thereof and the conditions and limitations applicable
to the exercise thereof. A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted in
tandem with another Award, in addition to another Award, or
freestanding and unrelated to another Award. A Stock Appreciation Right
granted in tandem with or in addition to another Award may be granted
either at the same time as such other Award or at a later time. A Stock
Appreciation Right shall not be exercisable earlier than six months
after grant, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, and, except
for a Stock Appreciation Right which is an Alternative Award, shall
have a per share grant price of not less than 100% of the per share
Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant.
(ii) Exercise and Payment. A Stock Appreciation Right shall
entitle the Participant to receive with respect to each Share covered
by such Stock Appreciation Right an amount equal to the excess of the
Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise of the Stock
Appreciation Right over the per share grant price thereof, provided
that the Committee may, for administrative convenience, determine that
the exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right which can only be
exercised for cash during limited periods of time in order to satisfy
the conditions of certain rules of the SEC, shall be deemed to occur
for all purposes hereunder on the day during such limited period on
which the Fair Market Value of the Shares is the highest. Any such
determination by the Committee may be changed by the Committee from
time to time and may govern the exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights
granted prior to such determination as well as Stock Appreciation
Rights thereafter granted.
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(iii) Other Terms and Conditions. Subject to the terms of the
Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall determine,
at or after the grant of a Stock Appreciation Right, the term, methods
of exercise, methods and form of settlement, and any other terms and
conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right. Any such determination by
the Committee may be changed by the Committee from time to time and may
govern the exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights granted or exercised
prior to such determination as well as Stock Appreciation Rights
granted or exercised thereafter. The Committee may impose such
conditions or restrictions on the exercise of any Stock Appreciation
Right as it shall deem appropriate.
(c) Restricted Stock.
(i) Grant. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the
Committee shall have authority to determine the Employees or
Consultants to whom Restricted Stock shall be granted and the number of
Shares of Restricted Stock to be granted to each such Participant, the
duration of the Restricted Period during which, and the conditions
under which, the Restricted Stock may be forfeited to the Company, and
the other terms and conditions of such Awards. Unless otherwise
determined by the Committee, Restricted Stock Awards shall provide for
the payment of dividends. Dividends paid on Restricted Stock may be
paid directly to the Participant and may be subject to risk of
forfeiture and/or transfer restrictions during any period established
by the Committee, or may be reinvested in additional Shares of
Restricted Stock all as determined by the Committee in its discretion.
(ii) Transfer Restrictions. During the Restricted Period,
Restricted Stock will be subject to the limitations on transfer as
provided in Section 6(e)(v).
(d) Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee shall have authority to
determine the Employees or Consultants who shall receive an "Other Stock-Based
Award", which shall consist of a right (i) which is other than an Award or right
described in Section 6(a), (b), or (c) above and (ii) which is denominated or
payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or
related to, Shares (including, without limitation, securities convertible into
Shares), deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan.
Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the
Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Other Stock-Based
Award. Except in the case of an Other Stock-Based Award that is a Substitute
Award or an Alternative Award, the price at which securities may be purchased
pursuant to any Other Stock-Based Award granted under this Plan, or the
provision, if any, of any such Award that is analogous to the purchase or
exercise price, shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the
security to which such Award relates on the date of grant.
(e) General.
(i) Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together. Awards may,
in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in
addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for, any other Award
granted under the Plan. Awards granted in addition to, or in tandem
with, other Awards may be granted either at the same time as, or at a
different time from, the grant of such other Awards.
(ii) Forms of Payment by Company Under Awards. Subject to the
terms of the Plan and of any applicable Award Agreement, payments or
transfers to be made by the Company or an Affiliate upon the grant,
exercise or payment of an Award may be made in such form or forms as
the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash,
Shares, other securities, other
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Awards or other property, or any combination thereof, and may be made
in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred
basis, in each case in accordance with rules and procedures established
by the Committee.
(iii) Limits on Transfer of Awards. Awards shall not be sold,
pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred or disposed of in any
manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution
unless specifically approved by the Committee and only then to the
extent provided in the Award Agreement.
(iv) Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for such
period as may be determined by the Committee.
(v) Share Certificates. All certificates for Shares or other
securities of the Company or any Affiliate 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 SEC, 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.
The Committee may require that, during the Restricted Period, a
certificate for Shares of Restricted Stock registered in the name of a
Participant shall be deposited by such Participant, together with a
stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company.
(vi) Consideration for Grants. Awards may be granted for no
cash consideration or for such minimal cash consideration as may be
required by applicable law.
(vii) Delivery of Shares or Other Securities and Payment by
Participant of Consideration. No Shares or other securities shall be
delivered pursuant to any Award until payment in full of any amount
required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or the applicable Award
Agreement is, or is arranged to be, received by the Company. Such
payment may be made by such method or methods and in such form or forms
as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash,
Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or any
combination thereof; provided that the combined value, as determined by
the Committee, of all cash and cash equivalents and the Fair Market
Value of any such Shares or other property so tendered, or arranged to
be tendered, to the Company, as of the date of such tender, is at least
equal to the full amount required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or
the applicable Award Agreement to the Company.
Section 7. Amendment and Termination. The Plan has not been approved by
the shareholders of the Company and, except to the extent prohibited by
applicable law and unless otherwise expressly provided in an Award Agreement or
in the Plan:
(a) Amendments to the Plan. The Board may amend, alter, suspend,
discontinue, or terminate the Plan at any time without the consent of any
shareholder, Participant, other holder or beneficiary of an Award, or other
Person; provided that notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any
Award Agreement, no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation, or
termination shall be made without shareholder approval if such approval is
necessary to comply with, or to obtain exemptive relief under, any tax or
regulatory requirement that the Board deems desirable to comply with, or obtain
exemptive relief under. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the
Committee may
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amend the Plan in such a manner as may be necessary so as to have the Plan
conform with local rules and regulations in any jurisdiction outside the United
States.
(b) Amendments to Awards. The Committee may waive any conditions or
rights under, amend any terms of, or accelerate or alter, any Award theretofore
granted, prospectively or retroactively, without the consent of any relevant
Participant or holder or beneficiary of an Award, provided that such action does
not (i) materially impair the rights of any Participant or holder or beneficiary
of an Award without such person's consent, or (ii) result in a decrease in the
Fair Market Value of an Award without such Participant's or holder's or
beneficiary's consent.
(c) Adjustments of Awards Upon Certain Acquisitions. In the event the
Company or any Affiliate shall assume outstanding employee awards or the right
or obligation to make future employee awards in connection with the acquisition
of another business or another corporation or business entity, the Committee may
make such adjustments, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, in the terms
of Awards as it shall deem appropriate in order to achieve reasonable
comparability or an equitable relationship between the assumed awards and the
Awards as so adjusted.
(d) Adjustment of Awards 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, Awards 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.
(e) Correction of Defects, Omissions and Inconsistencies. The Committee
may correct any defect, supply any omission, or reconcile any inconsistency in
the Plan or any Award or Award Agreement in the manner and to the extent it
shall deem desirable to carry the Plan into effect.
(f) Cancellation. Any provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement to
the contrary notwithstanding, the Committee may cause any Award granted
hereunder to be canceled in consideration of a cash payment or alternative Award
(equal to the Fair Market Value of the Award to be canceled) made to the holder
of such canceled Award.
Section 8. General Provisions.
(a) No Rights to Awards. No Employee, Consultant, Participant or other
Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award; provided, however, that
substantially all of the Company's Employee's are entitled to participate in the
Plan in a fair and equitable manner, as determined by the Committee. The terms
and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient.
(b) 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 Award, from any payment due or transfer
made under any Award or under the Plan or from any compensation or other amount
owing to a Participant, the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities, other
Awards or other property) of any applicable withholding taxes in respect of an
Award, its exercise, or any payment or transfer under an Award 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. In the case of
payments of Awards in the form of Shares, at the Committee's discretion the
Participant may be required to pay to the Employer the amount of any taxes
required to be withheld with respect to such Shares or, in lieu
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thereof, the Employer shall have the right to retain (or the Participant may be
offered the opportunity to elect to tender) the number of Shares whose Fair
Market Value equals the amount required to be withheld. The Committee may
provide for additional cash payments to holders of Awards to defray or offset
any tax arising from the grant, vesting, exercise or payments of any Award. In
the discretion of the Committee, the Company may offer loans to Participants to
satisfy withholding requirements on such terms as the Committee may determine,
which terms may in the discretion of the Committee be non-interest bearing.
(c) Award Agreements. Each Award hereunder shall be evidenced by an
Award Agreement, which shall be delivered to the Participant and shall specify
the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto,
including but not limited to the effect on such Award of the death, retirement
or other termination of employment of a Participant and the effect, if any, of a
change in control of the Company.
(d) 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, restricted stock and other types of security-based awards
provided for hereunder (subject to shareholder approval if such approval is
required), and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or
applicable only in specific cases.
(e) No Right to Employment. The grant of an Award shall not be
construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the
Company or any Affiliate. Further, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time
dismiss a Participant from employment, free from any liability or any claim
under the Plan, except to the extent expressly provided otherwise in the Plan or
in any Award Agreement.
(f) No Rights as Stockholder. Subject to the provisions of the
applicable Award Agreement, no Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Award
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.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with each grant of Restricted Stock
hereunder, the applicable Award shall specify if, and to what extent, the
Participant shall not be entitled to the rights of a stockholder in respect of
such Restricted Stock.
(g) Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan
and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement shall
be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and
applicable Federal law.
(h) Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or
becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any
Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be
construed or deemed amended to conform to applicable laws, or if it cannot be
construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee,
materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be
stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan
and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
(i) Other Laws. The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any
Shares or other consideration under an Award if 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
Award shall be promptly refunded to
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the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, no Award 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 has determined that any such offer, if made, would be in
compliance with all applicable requirements of Federal securities laws.
(j) 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 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 Award, such right
shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the
Company or any Affiliate.
(k) No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or
delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, 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 cancelled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.
(l) 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.
(m) Investment Representations. As a condition to the exercise of an
Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award to represent and
warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased
only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such
Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is
required.
Section 9. Term of the Plan. No Award shall be granted under the Plan
after midnight January 22, 2008. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan
or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award theretofore granted may, and the
authority of the Board or the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend,
discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights
under any such Award shall, extend beyond such date.
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