(a) | “Affiliate” shall mean any entity that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company. |
(b) | “Award” shall mean a grant of an Option, SAR, Restricted Stock Award, Performance Award or Other Stock Award pursuant to the Plan, which may, as determined by the Committee, be in lieu of other compensation owed to a Participant. |
(c) | “Award Agreement” shall mean an agreement, certification, resolution or other type or form of writing or other evidence approved by the Committee that evidences the terms and conditions of an Award granted under the Plan. An Award Agreement may be in an electronic medium, may be limited to notation on the books and records of the Company and, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, need not be signed by a representative of the Company or a Participant. |
(d) | “Board of Directors” or “Board” shall mean the board of directors of the Company. |
(e) | “Cash Incentive Award” shall mean a cash award granted pursuant to Section 10 of this Plan. |
(f) | “Change in Control” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14 of this Plan. |
(g) | “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any references to a particular section of the Code shall be deemed to include any successor provision thereto. |
(h) | “Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board (or its successor(s)), or any other Board committee designated by the Board to administer this Plan, and to the |
(i) | “Company” shall mean CTS Corporation, an Indiana corporation, and its successors. |
(j) | “Date of Grant” shall mean the date provided for by the Committee on which a grant of Options, SARs or Performance Awards, or a grant or sale of Restricted Stock Awards or Other Stock Awards pursuant to the Plan, will become effective (which date will not be earlier than the date on which the Committee or applicable authority takes action with respect thereto). |
(k) | “Employee” shall mean an employee of the Company or any Affiliate. |
(l) | “Exercise Price” shall mean an amount, as provided for by the Committee, at which an Option or SAR can be exercised by a Participant, which amount shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Date of Grant, unless such Option or SAR is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution of another Option or SAR in a manner that satisfies the requirements of Section 424(a) of the Code. |
(m) | “Existing Plan” shall mean the CTS Corporation 2014 Performance and Incentive Compensation Plan. |
(n) | “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as of a given date, the closing sale price for a Share as reported on a national securities exchange on such date if the Shares are then being traded on such an exchange. If no closing sale price was reported for such date, the closing sale price on the last preceding day on which such a price was reported shall be used. If there is no regular public trading market for the Shares, the Fair Market Value for a Share shall be the fair market value of a Share as determined in good faith by the Committee. The Committee is authorized to adopt another fair market value pricing method, provided such method is stated in the Award Agreement and is in compliance with the fair market value pricing rules set forth in Section 409A of the Code. |
(o) | “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option which is intended to meet the requirements set forth in Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision. |
(p) | “Nonqualified Stock Option” shall mean an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. |
(q) | “Option” shall mean the right to purchase Shares granted pursuant to Section 7 of this Plan, which may take the form of either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option and which shall not have a term of more than 10 years. |
(r) | “Other Stock Award” shall mean an award of Shares or other awards that are denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or that are otherwise based on or related to, Shares, including but not limited to dividend equivalents or amounts which are equivalent to any federal, state, local, domestic, foreign or other taxes relating to an Award, which may be payable in Shares, cash, other securities, or any other form of property as the Committee shall determine, subject to the terms and conditions set forth by the Committee and granted pursuant to Section 11 of this Plan. |
(s) | “Participant” shall mean an Employee or non-employee member of the Board selected by the Committee to receive Awards under the Plan. |
(t) | “Performance Awards” shall mean awards of Performance Shares or Performance Units or Cash Incentive Awards. |
(u) | “Performance Measures” shall mean the performance objective or objectives established pursuant to this Plan for Participants who have received grants of Performance Awards or, when so determined by the Committee, Options, SARs, Restricted Stock Awards or Other Stock Awards. |
(v) | “Performance Period” shall mean, in respect of a Performance Award, a period of time established by the Committee pursuant to Section 10 within which the Performance Measures relating to such Performance Award are to be evaluated or measured. |
(w) | “Performance Share” shall mean an award denominated in Shares, which is earned with respect to a Performance Period subject to the terms and conditions as determined by the Committee and granted pursuant to Section 10 of this Plan. |
(x) | “Performance Unit” shall mean an award denominated in units having a value in dollars or such other currency, as determined by the Committee, which is earned with respect to a Performance Period subject to the terms and conditions as determined by the Committee and granted pursuant to Section 10 of this Plan. |
(y) | “Plan” shall mean the CTS Corporation 2018 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan, as may be amended, or amended and restated, from time to time. |
(z) | “Restricted Stock” shall mean an award of Shares, subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee and granted pursuant to Section 9 of this Plan, as to which neither the substantial risk of forfeiture nor any prohibition on transfer has expired. |
(aa) | “Restricted Stock Award” shall mean an Award consisting of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units. |
(bb) | “Restricted Stock Unit” shall mean an Award consisting of a bookkeeping entry representing the right to receive one Share or an amount equivalent to the fair market value of one Share, payable in cash or Shares, and representing an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, except as otherwise provided by the Committee, subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee and granted pursuant to Section 9 of this Plan. |
(cc) | “Shares” shall mean the common stock, without a par value, of the Company or any security into which such common stock may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section 5(g) of this Plan. |
(dd) | “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” shall mean an award which represents the right to receive the difference between the fair market value of a Share on the date of exercise and an Exercise Price, payable in cash or Shares, subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee and granted pursuant to Section 8 and which shall not have a term of more than 10 years. |
(ee) | “Voting Power” shall mean at any time, the combined voting power of the then-outstanding securities entitled to vote generally in the election of members of the Board in the case of the Company, or members of the board of directors or similar body in the case of another entity. |
(a) | Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5(g) and the share counting rules set forth in this Plan, the maximum number of Shares available under the Plan for Awards will not exceed in the aggregate 2,500,000 Shares. The aggregate number of Shares available under this Plan will be reduced by one Share for every one Share subject to an Award granted under this Plan, subject to the share counting rules set forth in this Plan. |
(b) | If any Shares subject to an Award granted under this Plan are forfeited, or if any Award granted under this Plan is cancelled or forfeited, expires or is settled for cash (in whole or in part), or is unearned (in whole or in part), the Shares subject to such Award will, to the extent of such cancellation, forfeiture, expiration, cash settlement or unearned amount, again be available for Awards under this Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein: (i) Shares withheld, tendered or otherwise used in payment of the Exercise Price of an Option or SAR will not be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of Shares available under this Plan; (ii) Shares withheld, tendered or otherwise used to satisfy tax withholding will not be added (or added back, as applicable) to the aggregate number of Shares available under this Plan; (iii) all Shares subject to a |
(c) | Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Awards that are designed to operate in tandem with other Awards shall not be counted against the maximum number of Shares available under this Plan in order to avoid double counting. |
(d) | Notwithstanding the foregoing, the maximum number of Shares that may be issued or transferred upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options shall equal the aggregate maximum number of Shares available under this Plan, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5(g) to the extent that such adjustment does not affect the ability to grant or the qualification of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. |
(e) | Any Shares issued or transferred under the Plan shall consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares, Shares purchased in the open market or otherwise, Shares in treasury, or any combination thereof, as the Committee or, as appropriate, the Board may determine. |
(f) | Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5(g), in no event will any non-employee member of the Board in any calendar year be granted compensation for such service having an aggregate maximum value (measured at the Date of Grant as applicable, and calculating the value of any equity awards based on the grant date fair value for financial reporting purposes) in excess of $500,000. |
(g) | In the event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off, split-off, spin-out, split-up, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets, issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities, or any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing, the Committee shall make or provide for such adjustments in the number and kind of shares available for Awards under the Plan and any Plan limits, the number and kind of shares covered by outstanding Awards, the Exercise Price for outstanding Awards, Cash Incentive Awards, and in other Award terms, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, determines is equitably required to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants or the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan. In the case of any stock split, including a stock split effected by means of a stock dividend, and in the case of any other dividend paid in shares of the Company, such adjustments shall be made automatically without the necessity of Committee action, on the customary arithmetical basis. Any fractional Share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 5(g) shall be disregarded except as may be required for compliance with Section 409A of the Code. Moreover, in the event of any such transaction or event or in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding Awards |
(a) | the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of 25% or more of the then Voting Power; provided, however, that the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) any acquisition directly from the Company that is approved by the Incumbent Board (as defined below); (ii) any acquisition by the Company or any Affiliate and any change in the percentage ownership of the Voting Power of the Company that results from such acquisition; (iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate; or (iv) any acquisition by any Person pursuant to a transaction that complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 14(c) below; or |
(b) | individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a member of the Board subsequent to the Effective Date, whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the Company in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without objection to such nomination) shall be |
(c) | consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (a “Business Combination”), in each case, unless following such Business Combination, (i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Voting Power immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 75% of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that as a result of such transaction owns the Company or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions relative to each other as their ownership immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Voting Power, (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any entity resulting from such Business Combination, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or such entity resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 25% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the entity resulting from such Business Combination, and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the entity resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or |
(d) | approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company, except pursuant to a Business Combination that complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of Section 14(c). |
(a) | materially increase the maximum number of Shares that may be issued or transferred under the Plan, except as provided in Section 5(g); |
(b) | materially change the class of eligible Participants; |
(c) | permit the repricing of outstanding Options or SARs, as provided in Section 12; or |
(d) | require approval of the Company’s shareholders under any applicable law, regulation, stock exchange listing rule, or other rule. |
(a) | To the extent applicable, it is intended that this Plan and any grants made hereunder comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, so that the income inclusion provisions of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code do not apply to the Participants. This Plan and any grants made hereunder shall be administered in a manner consistent with this intent. Any reference in this Plan to Section 409A of the Code will also include any regulations or any other formal guidance promulgated with respect to such Section by the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service. |
(b) | Neither a Participant nor any of a Participant’s creditors or beneficiaries shall have the right to subject any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable under this Plan and grants hereunder to any anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment. Except as permitted under Section 409A of the Code, any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable to a Participant or for a Participant’s benefit under this Plan and grants hereunder may not be reduced by, or offset against, any amount owing by a Participant to the Company or any of its Affiliates. |
(c) | If, at the time of a Participant’s separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), (i) the Participant shall be a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time) and (ii) the Company shall make a good faith determination that an amount payable hereunder constitutes deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) the payment of which is required to be delayed pursuant to the six-month delay rule set forth in Section 409A of the Code in order to avoid taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, then the Company shall not pay such amount on the otherwise scheduled payment date but shall instead pay it, without interest, on the first business day of the seventh month after such separation from service. |
(d) | Solely with respect to any award that constitutes nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code and that is payable on account of a Change in Control (including any installments or stream of payments that are accelerated on account of a Change in Control), a Change in Control shall occur only if such event also constitutes a “change in the ownership,” “change in effective control,” and/or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion of assets” of the Company as those terms are defined under Treasury Regulation §1.409A-3(i)(5), but only to the extent necessary to establish a time and form of payment that complies with Section 409A of the Code, without altering the definition of Change in Control for any purpose in respect of such award. |
(e) | Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan and grants hereunder to the contrary, in light of the uncertainty with respect to the proper application of Section 409A of the Code, the Company reserves the right to make amendments to this Plan and grants hereunder as the Company deems necessary or desirable to avoid the imposition of taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code. In any case, a Participant shall be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on a Participant or for a Participant’s account in connection with this Plan and grants hereunder (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code), and neither the Company nor any of its affiliates shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold a Participant harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties. |
(a) | Awards may be granted under this Plan in substitution for or in conversion of, or in connection with an assumption of, stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other stock or stock-based awards held by awardees of an entity engaging in a corporate acquisition or merger transaction with the Company or any subsidiary. Any conversion, substitution or assumption will be effective as of the close of the merger or acquisition, and, to the extent applicable, will be conducted in a manner that complies with Section 409A of the Code. The Awards so granted may reflect the original terms of the awards being assumed or substituted or converted for and need not comply with other specific terms of this Plan, and may account for Shares substituted for the securities covered by the original awards and the number of shares subject to the original awards, as well as any exercise or purchase prices applicable to the original awards, adjusted to account for differences in stock prices in connection with the transaction. |
(b) | In the event that a company acquired by the Company or any subsidiary or with which the Company or any subsidiary merges has shares available under a pre-existing plan previously approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or merger, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such plan (as adjusted, to |
(c) | Any Shares that are issued or transferred by, or that are subject to any Awards that are granted by, or become obligations of, the Company under Sections 29(a) or 29(b) above will not reduce the Shares available for issuance or transfer under the Plan or otherwise count against the limits contained in the Plan. In addition, no Shares that are issued by, or that are subject to any awards that are granted by, or become obligations of, the Company under Sections 29(a) or 29(b) above will be added to the maximum number of Shares available under this Plan. |