EXHIBIT
4.1
VERIDIUM
CORPORATION
2005
Employee Incentive Plan
Article
1. Establishment and Purpose
1.1
Establishment
of the Plan.
Veridium Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company” or “Veridium”),
hereby establishes an incentive compensation plan (the “Plan”), as set forth in
this document.
1.2
Purpose
of the Plan.
The
purpose of the Plan is to promote the success and enhance the value of the
Company by linking the personal interests of Participants to those of the
Company's
shareholders, and by providing Participants with an incentive for outstanding
performance. The Plan is further intended to attract and retain the services
of
Participants upon whose judgment, interest, and special efforts the successful
operation of Veridium and its subsidiaries is dependent.
1.3
Effective
Date of the Plan.
The
Plan shall become effective on November 23, 2005.
Article
2. Definitions
Whenever
used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below
and, when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word is
capitalized:
(a)
“Award” means, individually or collectively, a grant under this Plan of Stock,
Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Restricted Stock, or
Performance Shares.
(b)
“Award Agreement” means an agreement which may be entered into by each
Participant and the Company, setting forth the terms and provisions applicable
to Awards granted to Participants under this Plan.
(c)
“Board” or “Board of Directors” means the Company’s Board of
Directors.
(d)
“Cause” shall mean willful and gross misconduct on the part of an Eligible
Person that is materially and demonstrably detrimental to the Company or
any
Subsidiary as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
(e)
“Change in Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if (i) any “person”
(as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other
than (A) a person who on November 23, 2005 was the beneficial owner of more
than
25% of the outstanding Shares, (B) a trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or (C) a corporation
owned directly or indirectly by the shareholders of the Company in substantially
the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company, is or becomes
the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under said Act), directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company representing fifty percent (50%)
or
more of the total voting power represented by the Company's then outstanding
voting securities, or (ii) during any period of two (2) consecutive years,
individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of
Directors of the Company and any new Director whose election by the Board
of
Directors or nomination for election by the Company's shareholders was approved
by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors then still in office
who
either were Directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or
nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason
to
constitute a majority thereof, or (iii) the shareholders of the Company approve
a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other
than
a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of
the
Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either
by
remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the
surviving entity) at least fifty-five percent (55%) of the total voting power
represented by the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity
outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the shareholders
of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or an
agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially
all
the Company’s assets.
(f)
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time.
(g)
“Committee” means the committee or committees, as specified in Article 3,
appointed by the Board to administer the Plan with respect to grants of
Awards.
(h)
“Consultant” means a natural person under contract with the Company to provide
bona
fide
services
to the Company which are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities
in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote
or
maintain a market for the Company’s securities.
(i)
“Director” means any individual who is a member of the Veridium Board of
Directors.
(j)
“Disability” shall mean the Participant’s inability to perform the Participant’s
normal Employment functions due to any medically determinable physical or
mental
disability, which can last or has lasted 12 months or is expected to result
in
death.
(k)
“Eligible Person” means an Employee, Director or Consultant.
(l)
“Employee” means any officer or employee of the Company or of one of the
Company's Subsidiaries. Directors who are not otherwise employed by the Company
shall not be considered Employees under this Plan.
(m)
“Employment,” with reference to an Employee, means the condition of being
an officer or employee of the Company or one of its Subsidiaries. “Employment,”
with reference to a Consultant, means the condition of being a Consultant.
“Employment,” with reference to a Director, means the condition of being a
Director. The change in status of an Eligible Person among the categories
of
Employee, Director and Consultant shall not be deemed a termination of
Employment.
(n)
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from
time to time, or any successor Act thereto.
(o)
“Exercise Price” means the price at which a Share may be purchased by a
Participant pursuant to an Option, as determined by the Committee.
(p)
“Fair Market Value” shall mean (i) at such time as there are closing prices
quoted for the Shares, the closing price of Shares on the relevant date,
or (if
there were no sales on such date) the next preceding trading date, all as
reported on the principal market for the Shares, or (ii) at such time as
there
is a public market quoted without closing prices, the mean of the closing
high
bid and low asked on the relevant date, as reported on the principal market
for
the Shares, or (iii) at such time as there is no public market for the Shares,
the value determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
(q)
“Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means an option to purchase Shares from
Veridium, granted under this Plan, which is designated as an Incentive Stock
Option and is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the
Code.
(r)
“Insider” shall mean an Eligible Person who is, on the relevant date, an
officer, director, or ten percent (10%) beneficial owner of the Company,
as
those terms are defined under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(s)
“Nonqualified Stock Option” or “NQSO” means the option to purchase Shares from
Veridium, granted under this Plan, which is not intended to be an Incentive
Stock Option.
(t)
“Option” or “Stock Option” shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a
Nonqualified Stock Option.
(u)
“Participant” means a person who holds an outstanding Award granted under
the Plan.
(v)
“Performance Share” shall mean an Award granted to an Eligible Person pursuant
to Article 8 herein.
(w)
“Plan” means this 2005 Employee Incentive Plan.
(x)
“Restricted Stock” means an Award of Stock granted to an Eligible Person
pursuant to Article 7 herein.
(y)
“Restriction Period” means the period during which Shares of Restricted
Stock are subject to restrictions or conditions under Article 7.
(z)
“Shares” or “Stock” means the shares of common stock of the
Company.
(aa)
“Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation in which the Company owns
directly, or indirectly through subsidiaries, more than fifty percent (50%)
of
the total combined voting power of all classes of Stock, or any other entity
(including, but not limited to, partnerships and joint ventures) in which
the
Company owns more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined equity
thereof.
Article
3. Administration
3.1
The
Committee.
The
Plan and all Awards hereunder shall be administered by one or more Committees
of
the Board as may be appointed by the Board for this purpose. The Board may
appoint a Committee specifically responsible for Awards to Insiders (the
“Disinterested Committee”) where each Director on such Disinterested Committee
is a “Non-Employee Director” (or any successor designation for determining who
may administer plans, transactions or awards exempt under Section 16(b) of
the
Exchange Act), as that term is used in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act,
as
that rule may be modified from time to time. If no specific Committee is
appointed by the Board, then the Board in its entirety shall be the Committee.
Any Committee may be replaced by the Board at any time.
3.2
Authority
of the Committee.
The
Committee shall have full power, except as limited by law and subject to
the
provisions herein, to select the recipients of Awards; to determine the size
and
types of Awards; to determine the terms and conditions of such Awards in
a
manner consistent with the Plan; to construe and interpret the Plan and any
agreement or instrument entered into under the Plan; to establish, amend,
or
waive rules and regulations for the Plan's administration; and (subject to
the
provisions of Article 10 herein) to amend the terms and conditions of any
outstanding Award to the extent such terms and conditions are within the
discretion of the Committee as provided in the Plan. Further, the Committee
shall make all other determinations which may be necessary or advisable for
the
administration of the Plan.
No
Award
may be made under the Plan after December 31, 2014.
All
determinations and decisions made by the Committee pursuant to the provisions
of
the Plan and all related orders or resolutions of the Board shall be final,
conclusive, and binding on all persons, including the Company, its stockholders,
Eligible Persons, Participants, and their estates and
beneficiaries.
Subject
to the terms of this Plan, the Committee is authorized, and shall not be
limited
in its discretion, to use any of the Performance Criteria specified herein
in
its determination of Awards under this Plan.
Article
4. Shares Subject to the Plan
4.1
Number
of Shares.
Subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3 herein, the number of Shares available
for grant under the Plan shall not exceed fifty million (50,000,000) Shares.
The
Shares granted under this Plan may be either authorized but unissued or
reacquired Shares.
Without
limiting the discretion of the Committee under this section, unless otherwise
provided by the Committee, the following rules will apply for purposes of
the
determination of the number of Shares available for grant under the Plan
or
compliance with the foregoing limits:
(a)
The grant of Stock, a Stock Option or a Restricted Stock Award shall reduce
the
Shares available for grant under the Plan by the number of Shares subject
to
such Award. However, to the extent the Participant uses previously owned
Shares
to pay the Exercise Price or any taxes, or Shares are withheld to pay taxes,
these Shares shall be available for regrant under the Plan.
(b)
With respect to Performance Shares, the number of Performance Shares granted
under the Plan shall be deducted from the number of Shares available for
grant
under the Plan. The number of Performance Shares which cannot be, or are
not,
converted into Shares and distributed to the Participant (after any applicable
tax withholding) following the end of the Performance Period shall increase
the
number of Shares available for regrant under the Plan by an equal
amount.
4.2
Lapsed
Awards.
If any
Award granted under this Plan is canceled, terminates, expires, or lapses
for
any reason, Shares subject to such Award shall be again available for the
grant
of an Award under the Plan.
4.3
Adjustments
in Authorized Plan Shares.
In the
event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization,
separation, liquidation, Stock dividend, split-up, Share combination, or
other
change in the corporate structure of the Company affecting the Shares, an
adjustment shall be made in the number and class of Shares which may be
delivered under the Plan, and in the number and class of and/or price of
Shares
subject to outstanding Awards granted under the Plan, and/or the number of
outstanding Options, Shares of Restricted Stock, and Performance Shares
constituting outstanding Awards, as may be determined to be appropriate and
equitable by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to prevent dilution or
enlargement of rights.
Article
5. Stock Grant
5.1
Grant
of Stock.
Subject
to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Board of Directors, at any time
and
from time to time, may grant Shares of Stock to Eligible Persons in such
amounts
and upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors shall determine.
Article
6. Stock Options
6.1
Grant
of Options.
Subject
to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Options may be granted to Eligible
Persons at any time and from time to time, and under such terms and conditions,
as shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee shall have discretion
in
determining the number of Shares subject to Options granted to each Eligible
Person. The Committee may grant ISOs, NQSOs, or a combination thereof. ISOs,
however, may be granted only to Employees and only if this Plan is approved
by
the shareholders of the Company within one year after it is adopted by the
Board
of Directors.
6.2
Form
of Issuance.
Each
Option grant may be issued in the form of an Award Agreement and/or may be
recorded on the books and records of the Company for the account of the
Participant. If an Option is not issued in the form of an Award Agreement,
then
the Option shall be deemed granted as determined by the Committee. The terms
and
conditions of an Option shall be set forth in the Award Agreement, in the
notice
of the issuance of the grant, or in such other documents as the Committee
shall
determine. Such terms and conditions shall include the Exercise Price, the
duration of the Option, the number of Shares to which an Option pertains
(unless
otherwise provided by the Committee, each Option may be exercised to purchase
one Share), and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine,
including, but not limited to whether the Option is intended to be an ISO
or a
NQSO.
6.3
Exercise
Price.
(a)
Unless a greater Exercise Price is determined by the Committee, the Exercise
Price for each ISO awarded under this Plan shall be equal to one hundred
percent
(100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted.
If, however, the Eligible Person owns stock possessing more than ten percent
(10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company
or of its parent or subsidiary corporations, then the Exercise Price of an
ISO
shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market
Value
of a Share on the date the Option is granted.
(b)
The Exercise Price of a NQSO shall be determined by the Committee in its
sole
discretion.
6.4
Duration
of Options.
Each
Option shall expire at such time as the Committee shall determine at the
time of
grant (which duration may be extended by the Committee); provided, however,
that
no Option shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10th)
anniversary date of its grant. If, however, the Eligible Person owns stock
possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power
of all
classes of stock of the Company or of its parent or subsidiary corporations,
then no Option shall be exercisable later than the fifth (5th)
anniversary date of its grant.
6.5
Vesting
of Options.
Options
shall vest at such times and under such terms and conditions as determined
by
the Committee; provided, however, unless a different vesting period is provided
by the Committee at or before the grant of an Option, the Options will vest
on
the first anniversary of the grant.
6.6
Exercise
of Options.
Options
granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such times and be subject
to such
restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve,
which need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant.
Options
shall be exercised by delivery of a written notice (including e-mail and
telecopies) to the Secretary of the Company (or, if so provided by the Company,
to its designated agent), which notice shall be irrevocable, setting forth
the
exact number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised
and
including with such notice payment of the Exercise Price. When Options have
been
transferred, the Company or its designated agent may require appropriate
documentation that the person or persons exercising the Option, if other
than
the Participant, has the right to exercise the Option. No Option may be
exercised with respect to a fraction of a Share.
6.7
Payment.
The
Exercise Price shall be paid in full at the time of exercise. No Shares shall
be
issued or transferred until full payment has been received
therefor.
Payment
may be made:
(a)
in cash, or
(b)
unless otherwise provided by the Committee at any time, and subject to such
additional terms and conditions and/or modifications as the Committee or
the
Company may impose from time to time, and further subject to suspension or
termination of this provision by the Committee or Company at any time, by
delivery of Shares of Stock owned by the Participant in partial (if in partial
payment, then together with cash) or full payment (if a fractional Share
remains
after payment of the Exercise Price in full by previously owned Shares, then
the
fractional Share shall be withheld for taxes); provided, however, as a condition
to paying any part of the Exercise Price in Stock, at the time of exercise
of
the Option, the Participant must establish to the satisfaction of the Company
that the Stock tendered to the Company has been held by the Participant for
a
minimum of six (6) months preceding the tender; or
If
payment is made by the delivery of Shares of Stock, the value of the Shares
delivered shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the day
preceding the date of exercise of the Option.
6.8
Termination
of Employment.
Unless
otherwise provided by the Committee, the following limitations on exercise
of
Options shall apply upon termination of Employment:
(a)
Termination
by Death or Disability.
In the
event the Employment of a Participant shall terminate by reason of death
or
Disability, all outstanding Options granted to that Participant shall
immediately vest as of the date of termination of Employment and may be
exercised, if at all, no more than three (3) years from the date of the
termination of Employment, unless the Options, by their terms, expire earlier.
(b)
Termination
for Cause.
If the
Employment of a Participant shall be terminated by the Company for Cause,
all
outstanding Options held by the Participant shall immediately be forfeited
to
the Company and no additional exercise period shall be allowed, regardless
of
the vested status of the Options.
(c)
Retirement
or Other Termination of Employment.
If the
Employment of a Participant shall terminate for any reason other than the
reasons set forth in (a) or (b) above, all outstanding Options which are
vested
as of the effective date of termination of Employment may be exercised, if
at
all, no more than thirty (30) days from the date of termination of Employment,
unless the Options, by their terms, expire earlier. In the event of the death
of
the Participant after termination of Employment, this paragraph (c) shall
still
apply and not paragraph (a), above.
(d)
Options
not Vested at Termination.
Except
as provided in paragraph (a) above, all Options held by the Participant which
are not vested on or before the effective date of termination of Employment
shall immediately be forfeited to the Company (and shall once again become
available for grant under the Plan).
(e)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its sole discretion,
establish different terms and conditions pertaining to the effect of termination
of Employment, but no such modification shall shorten the terms of Options
issued prior to such modification.
6.9
Restrictions
on Exercise and Transfer of Options.
Unless
otherwise provided by the Committee:
(a)
During the Participant's lifetime, the Participant’s Options shall be
exercisable only by the Participant or by the Participant’s guardian or legal
representative. After the death of the Participant, an Option shall only
be
exercised by the holder thereof (including, but not limited to, an executor
or
administrator of a decedent's estate) or his guardian or legal
representative.
(b)
No Option shall be transferable except: (i) in the case of the
Participant, only upon the Participant’s death; and (ii) in the case of any
holder after the Participant’s death, only by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution.
6.10
Competition.
Notwithstanding anything in this Article 6 to the contrary, in the event
the
Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that a Participant is engaging
in
activity competitive with the Company, any Subsidiary, or any business in
which
any of the foregoing have a substantial interest (the “Veridium Businesses”),
the Committee may cancel any Option granted to such Participant, whether
or not
vested, in whole or in part. Such cancellation shall be effective as of the
date
specified by the Committee. Competitive activity shall mean any business
or
activity if a substantially similar business activity is being carried on
by an
Veridium Business, including, but not limited to, representing or providing
consulting services to any person or entity that is engaged in competition
with
a Veridium Business or that takes a position adverse to a Veridium Business.
However, competitive activity shall not include, among other things, owning
a
nonsubstantial interest as a shareholder in a competing business.
Article
7. Restricted Stock
7.1
Grant
of Restricted Stock.
Subject
to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from
time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock to Eligible Persons in
such
amounts and upon such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.
In
addition to any other terms and conditions imposed by the Committee, vesting
of
Restricted Stock may be conditioned upon the attainment of Performance Goals
based on Performance Criteria in the same manner as provided in Section 8.3,
herein with respect to Performance Shares.
7.2
Restricted
Stock Agreement.
The
Committee may require, as a condition to an Award, that a recipient of a
Restricted Stock Award enter into a Restricted Stock Award Agreement, setting
forth the terms and conditions of the Award. In lieu of a Restricted Stock
Award
Agreement, the Committee may provide the terms and conditions of an Award
in a
notice to the Participant of the Award, on the Stock certificate representing
the Restricted Stock, in the resolution approving the Award, or in such other
manner as it deems appropriate.
7.3
Transferability.
Except
as otherwise provided in this Article 7, the Shares of Restricted Stock granted
herein may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated
or hypothecated until the end of the applicable Restriction Period established
by the Committee, if any.
7.4
Other
Restrictions.
The
Committee may impose such other conditions and/or restrictions on any Shares
of
Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan as it may deem advisable
including, without limitation, a requirement that Participants pay a stipulated
purchase price for each Share of Restricted Stock and/or restrictions under
applicable Federal or state securities laws; and may legend the certificates
representing Restricted Stock to give appropriate notice of such
restrictions.
The
Company shall also have the right to retain the certificates representing
Shares
of Restricted Stock in the Company's possession until such time as all
conditions and/or restrictions applicable to such Shares have been
satisfied.
7.5
Removal
of Restrictions.
Except
as otherwise provided in this Article 7, Shares of Restricted Stock covered
by
each Restricted Stock grant made under the Plan shall become freely transferable
by the Participant after the last day of the Restriction Period and completion
of all conditions to vesting, if any. However, unless otherwise provided
by the
Committee, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the right to
immediately waive all or part of the restrictions and conditions with regard
to
all or part of the Shares held by any Participant at any time.
7.6
Voting
Rights, Dividends and Other Distributions.
During
the Restriction Period, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted
hereunder may exercise full voting rights and shall receive all regular cash
dividends paid with respect to such Shares. Except as provided in the following
sentence, in the sole discretion of the Committee, other cash dividends and
other distributions paid to Participants with respect to Shares of Restricted
Stock may be subject to the same restrictions and conditions as the Shares
of
Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid. If any such dividends
or
distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares shall be subject to the same
restrictions and conditions as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect
to
which they were paid.
7.7
Termination
of Employment Due to Death or Disability.
In the
event the Employment of a Participant shall terminate by reason of death
or
Disability, unless otherwise provided by the Committee prior to or at the
time
of the Award, all Restriction Periods and all restrictions imposed on
outstanding Shares of Restricted Stock held by the Participant shall immediately
lapse and the Restricted Stock shall immediately become fully vested as of
the
date of termination of Employment.
7.8
Termination
of Employment for Other Reasons.
If the
Employment of a Participant shall terminate for any reason other than those
specifically set forth in Section 7.7 herein, all Shares of Restricted Stock
held by the Participant which are not vested as of the effective date of
termination of Employment immediately shall be forfeited and returned to
the
Company.
Article
8. Performance Shares
8.1
Grants
of Performance Shares.
A
Performance Share is equivalent in value to a Share of Stock. Subject to
the
terms of the Plan, Performance Shares may be granted to Eligible Persons
at any
time and from time to time, as determined by the Committee. The Committee
shall
have complete discretion in determining the number of Performance Shares
awarded
to each Participant.
8.2
Performance
Period.
The
Performance Period for Performance Shares is the period over which the
Performance Goals are measured. The Performance Period is set by the Committee
for each Award; however, in no event shall an Award have a Performance Period
of
less than six months.
8.3
Performance
Goals.
For
each Award of Performance Shares, the Committee shall establish performance
objectives (“Performance Goals”) for the Company, its Subsidiaries, and/or
divisions of any of foregoing, based on the Performance Criteria and other
factors set forth below. Performance Goals shall include payout tables, formulas
or other standards to be used in determining the extent to which the Performance
Goals are met, and, if met, the number of Performance Shares distributed
to
Participants in accordance with Section 8.5. All Performance Shares which
may
not be converted under the Performance Goals or which are reduced by the
Committee under Section 8.5 or which may not be converted for any other reason
after the end of the Performance Period shall be canceled at the time they
would
otherwise be distributable. When the Committee desires an Award to qualify
under
Section 162(m) of the Code, as amended, the Committee shall establish the
Performance Goals for the respective Performance Shares prior to or within
90
days of the beginning of the service relating to such Performance Goal, and
not
later than after 25% of such period of service has elapsed. For all other
Awards, the Performance Goals must be established before the end of the
respective Performance Period.
(a)
The Performance Criteria which the Committee is authorized to use, in its
sole
discretion, are any of the following criteria or any combination
thereof:
|
|
(1) |
Financial
performance of the Company (on a consolidated basis), of one or
more of
its Subsidiaries, and/or a division of any of the foregoing. Such
financial performance may be based on net income and/or Value Added
(after-tax cash operating profit less depreciation and less a capital
charge).
|
| |
(2)
|
Service
performance of the Company (on a consolidated basis), of one or
more of
its Subsidiaries, and/or of a division of any of the foregoing.
Such
service performance may be based upon measured customer perceptions
of
service quality.
|
| |
(3)
|
The
Company’s Stock price; return on shareholders' equity; total shareholder
return (Stock price appreciation plus dividends, assuming the reinvestment
of dividends); and/or earnings per
share.
|
| |
(4)
|
With
respect to the Company (on a consolidated basis), to one or more
of its
Subsidiaries, and/or to a division of any of the foregoing: sales,
costs,
market share of a product or service, return on net assets, return
on
assets, return on capital, profit margin, and/or operating revenues,
expenses or earnings.
|
| |
(5)
|
Completion
of a marketing or development project as defined in the Award
Agreement.
|
(b)
Except to the extent otherwise provided by the Committee in full or in part,
if
any of the following events occur during a Performance Period and would directly
affect the determination of whether or the extent to which Performance Goals
are
met, they shall be disregarded in any such computation: changes in accounting
principles; extraordinary items; changes in tax laws affecting net income
and/or
Value Added; natural disasters, including floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes;
and intentionally inflicted damage to property which directly or indirectly
damages the property of the Company or its Subsidiaries. No such adjustment
shall be made to the extent such adjustment would cause the Performance Shares
to fail to satisfy the performance-based exemption of Section 162(m) of the
Code.
8.4
Dividend
Equivalents on Performance Shares.
Unless
reduced or eliminated by the Committee, a cash payment in an amount equal
to the
dividend payable on one Share will be made to each Participant for each
Performance Share which on the record date for the dividend had been awarded
to
the Participant and not converted, distributed or canceled.
8.5
Form
and Timing of Payment of Performance Shares.
As soon
as practicable after the applicable Performance Period has ended and all
other
conditions (other than Committee actions) to conversion and distribution
of a
Performance Share Award have been satisfied (or, if applicable, at such other
time determined by the Committee at or before the establishment of the
Performance Goals for such Performance Period), the Committee shall determine
whether and the extent to which the Performance Goals were met for the
applicable Performance Shares. If Performance Goals have been met, then the
number of Performance Shares to be converted into Stock and distributed to
the
Participants shall be determined in accordance with the Performance Goals
for
such Awards, subject to any limits imposed by the Committee. Conversion of
Performance Shares shall occur as soon as reasonably administratively possible
following the determination of the number of Shares to which the Participant
is
entitled. At any time prior to the distribution of the Performance Shares,
unless otherwise provided by the Committee, the Committee shall have the
authority to reduce or eliminate the number of Performance Shares to be
converted .
8.6
Termination
of Employment Due to Death or Disability.
Unless
otherwise provided by the Committee prior to or at the time of an Award,
if the
Employment of a Participant shall terminate by reason of death or Disability,
the Participant shall receive a distribution of all outstanding Performance
Shares calculated as if all unfinished Performance Periods had ended with
100%
of the Performance Goals achieved, payable in the year following the date
of
termination of Employment.
8.7
Termination
of Employment for Other Reasons.
If the
Employment of a Participant shall terminate for other than a reason set forth
in
Section 8.6 (and other than for Cause), the number of Performance Shares
to be
converted and distributed shall be converted and distributed based upon the
achievement of the Performance Goals and in accordance with all other terms
of
the Award and the Plan; however, the Participant may receive no more than
a
prorated
payout
of
all Performance Shares, based on the portions of the respective Performance
Periods that have been completed.
8.8
Termination
of Employment for Cause.
In the
event that a Participant’s Employment shall be terminated by the Company for
Cause, all Performance Shares shall be forfeited by the Participant to the
Company.
8.9
Nontransferability.
Performance Shares may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise
alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or laws of intestacy.
Article
9. Employee Matters
9.1
Employment
Not Guaranteed.
Nothing
in the Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company
or
any Subsidiary to terminate any Participant's Employment at any time, nor
confer
upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company or
one
of its Subsidiaries.
9.2
Participation.
No
Eligible Person shall have the right to be selected to receive an Award under
this Plan, or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future
Award.
9.3
Claims
and Appeals.
Any
claim under the Plan by a Participant or anyone claiming through a Participant
shall be presented to the Committee. Any person whose claim under the Plan
has
been denied may, within sixty (60) days after receipt of notice of denial,
submit to the Committee a written request for review of the decision denying
the
claim. The Committee shall determine conclusively for all parties all questions
arising in the administration of the Plan.
Article
10. Amendment, Modification, and Termination
10.1
Amendment,
Modification, and Termination.
The
Board of Directors alone shall have the right to alter, amend or revoke the
Plan
or any part thereof at any time and from time to time, provided, however,
that
the Board of Directors may not, without the approval of the holders of a
majority of the voting Shares, make any alteration or amendment to the Plan
which changes the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which may be
issued
under the Plan, extend the term of the Plan, or change the employees or class
of
employees eligible to receive Awards thereunder. The Board may at any time
suspend or terminate the Plan in whole or in part.
10.2
Awards
Previously Granted.
No
termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan shall adversely affect
in
any material way any Award previously granted under the Plan, without the
written consent of the Participant holding such Award.
Article
11. Change in Control
Upon
the
occurrence of a Change in Control:
(a)
Any and all Options granted hereunder immediately shall become vested and
exercisable;
(b)
Any Restriction Periods and all restrictions imposed on Restricted Shares
shall
lapse and they shall immediately become fully vested;
(c)
The 100% Performance Goal for all Performance Shares relating to incomplete
Performance Periods shall be deemed to have been fully achieved and shall
be
converted and distributed in accordance with all other terms of the Award
and
this Plan; provided, however,
notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Plan, no outstanding Performance Share may
be
reduced.
Article
12. Withholding
12.1
Tax
Withholding.
The
Company shall deduct or withhold an amount sufficient to satisfy Federal,
state,
and local taxes (including the Participant's employment tax obligations)
required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising
or as a
result of this Plan (“Withholding Taxes”).
12.2
Share
Withholding.
With
respect to withholding required upon the exercise of Options, upon the lapse
of
restrictions on Restricted Stock, upon the distribution of Performance Shares
in
the form of Stock, or upon any other taxable event hereunder involving the
transfer of Stock to a Participant, the Company shall withhold Stock having
a
Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined in an amount equal
to
the Withholding Taxes on such Stock. Any fractional Share remaining after
the
withholding shall be withheld as additional Federal withholding.
Prior
to
the end of any Performance Period a Participant may elect to have a greater
amount of Stock withheld from the distribution of Performance Shares to pay
withholding taxes; provided, however, the Committee may prohibit or limit
any
individual election or all such elections at any time.
12.3
Payment
In Lieu of Share Withholding.
In any
situation in which the Company would be required to withhold Stock pursuant
to
§12.2 above, the Participant may, in lieu of all or part of such withholding,
remit to the Company an amount in cash sufficient to satisfy the federal,
state
and local withholding tax requirements or may direct the Company to withhold
from other amounts payable to the Participant, including salary.
Article
13. Successors
All
obligations of the Company under the Plan, with respect to Awards granted
hereunder, shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the
existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase,
merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business
and/or assets of the Company.
Article
14. Legal Construction
14.1
Severability.
In the
event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any
reason,
the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the
Plan,
and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid
provision had not been included.
14.2
Requirements
of Law.
The
granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under the Plan shall be subject
to
all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any
governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be
required.
14.3
Securities
Law Compliance.
With
respect to Insiders, transactions under this Plan are intended to comply
with
all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange
Act. To the extent any provision of the plan or action by the Committee fails
to
comply with a condition of Rule 16b-3 or its successors, it shall not apply
to
the Insiders or transactions thereby.
14.4
Governing
Law.
To the
extent not preempted by Federal law, the Plan, and all agreements hereunder,
shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State
of
Delaware.