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Exhibit
4.1
2005
Incentive Compensation Plan
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FRONTIER
STAFFING, INC.
2005
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
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FRONTIER
STAFFING, INC.
2005
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
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1.
Purpose
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1
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2.
Definitions
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1
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|
3.
Administration
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6
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(a)
Authority of the Committee
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6
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(b)
Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority
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6
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|
(c)
Limitation of Liability
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6
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|
4.
Shares Subject to Plan
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7
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(a)
Limitation on Overall Number of Shares Available for Delivery Under
Plan
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7 |
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(b)
Application of Limitation to Grants of Award
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7
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(c)
Availability of Shares Not Delivered under Awards and Adjustments
to Limits
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7 |
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(d)
No
Further Awards Under Prior Plan
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8
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5.
Eligibility; Per-Person Award Limitations
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8
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6.
Specific Terms of Awards
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8
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(a)
General
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8
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(b)
Options
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8
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(c)
Stock Appreciation Rights
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10
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(d)
Restricted Stock Awards
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11
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(e)
Deferred Stock Award
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12
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(f)
Bonus Stock and Awards in Lieu of Obligations
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13
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(g)
Dividend Equivalents
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13
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(h)
Performance Awards
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13
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(i)
Other Stock-Based Awards
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14
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7.
Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards.
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14
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(a)
Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards
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14
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(b)
Term of Awards.
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15
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(c)
Form and Timing of Payment Under Awards; Deferrals.
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15
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(d)
Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability
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15
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8.
Code Section 162(m) Provisions
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15
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(a)
Covered Employees
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15
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(b)
Performance Criteria
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15
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(c)
Performance Period; Timing for Establishing Performance
Goals
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16
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(d)
Adjustments
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16
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(e)
Committee Certification
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16
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9.
Change in Control
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16
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(a)
Effect of Change in Control
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16
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(b)
Definition of Change in Control
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17
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10.
General Provisions
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19
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(a)
Compliance With Legal and Other Requirements.
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19
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(b)
Limits on Transferability; Beneficiaries
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19
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(c)
Adjustments .
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19
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(d)
Taxes
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20
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(e)
Changes to the Plan and Awards
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21
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(f)
Limitation on Rights Conferred Under Plan
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21
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(g)
Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts
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21
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(h)
Nonexclusivity of the Plan
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21
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(i)
Payments in the Event of Forfeitures; Fractional Shares
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22
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(j)
Governing Law
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22
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(k)
Non-U.S. Laws
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22
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(l)
Plan Effective Date and Shareholder Approval; Termination of
Plan
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22
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FRONTIER
STAFFING, INC.
2005
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
1.
Purpose.
The
purpose of this 2005 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN (the "Plan") is to assist
FRONTIER STAFFING, INC., a Nevada corporation (the "Company") and its Related
Entities (as hereinafter defined) in attracting, motivating, retaining and
rewarding high-quality executives and other employees, officers, directors,
consultants and other persons who provide services to the Company or its Related
Entities by enabling such persons to acquire or increase a proprietary interest
in the Company in order to strengthen the mutuality of interests between such
persons and the Company's shareholders, and providing such persons with
performance incentives to expend their maximum efforts in the creation of
shareholder value.
2.
Definitions.
For
purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below,
in addition to such terms defined in Section 1 hereof.
(a)
"Award" means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award,
Deferred Stock Award, Share granted as a bonus or in lieu of another award,
Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock-Based Award or Performance Award, together
with
any other right or interest, granted to a Participant under the
Plan.
(b)
"Award Agreement" means any written agreement, contract or other instrument
or
document evidencing any Award granted by the Committee hereunder.
(c)
"Beneficiary" means the person, persons, trust or trusts that have been
designated by a Participant in his or her most recent written beneficiary
designation filed with the Committee to receive the benefits specified under
the
Plan upon such Participant's death or to which Awards or other rights are
transferred if and to the extent permitted under Section 10(b) hereof. If,
upon
a Participant's death, there is no designated Beneficiary or surviving
designated Beneficiary, then the term Beneficiary means the person, persons,
trust or trusts entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to
receive such benefits.
(d)
"Beneficial Owner" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act and any successor to such Rule.
(e)
"Board" means the Company's Board of Directors.
(f)
"Cause" shall, with respect to any Participant have the meaning specified in
the
Award Agreement. In the absence of any definition in the Award Agreement,
"Cause" shall have the equivalent meaning or the same meaning as "cause" or
"for
cause" set forth in any employment, consulting, or other agreement for the
performance of services between the Participant and the Company or a Related
Entity or, in the absence of any such agreement or any such definition in such
agreement, such term shall mean (i) the failure by the Participant to perform,
in a reasonable manner, his or her duties as assigned by the Company or a
Related Entity, (ii) any violation or breach by the Participant of his or her
employment, consulting or other similar agreement with the Company or a Related
Entity, if any, (iii) any violation or breach by the Participant of any
non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disclosure and/or other similar agreement
with the Company or a Related Entity, (iv) any act by the Participant of
dishonesty or bad faith with respect to the Company or a Related Entity, (v)
use
of alcohol, drugs or other similar substances in a manner that adversely affects
the Participant's work performance, or (vi) the commission by the Participant
of
any act, misdemeanor, or crime reflecting unfavorably upon the Participant
or
the Company or any Related Entity. The good faith determination by the committee
of whether the Participant's Continuous Service was terminated by the Company
for "Cause" shall be final and binding for all purposes hereunder.
(g)
"Change in Control" means a Change in Control as defined with related terms
in
Section 9(b) of the Plan.
(h)
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time,
including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations
thereto.
(i)
"Committee" means a committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan;
provided, however, that if the Board fails to designate a committee or if there
are no longer any members on the committee so designated by the Board, then
the
Board shall serve as the Committee. The Committee shall consist of at least
two
directors, and each member of the Committee shall be (i)a "non-employee
director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 (or any successor rule) under the
Exchange Act, unless administration of the Plan by "non-employee directors"
is
not then required in order for exemptions under Rule 16b-3 to apply to
transactions under the Plan, (ii) an "outside director" within the meaning
of
Section 162(m) of the Code, and (iii) "Independent."
(j)
"Consultant" means any person (other than an Employee or a Director, solely
with
respect to rendering services in such person's capacity as a director) who
is
engaged by the Company or any Related Entity to render consulting or advisory
services to the Company or such Related Entity.
(k)
"Continuous Service" means the uninterrupted provision of services to the
Company or any Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director, Consultant
or other service provider. Continuous Service shall not be considered to be
interrupted in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers
among the Company, any Related Entities, or any successor entities, in any
capacity of Employee, Director, Consultant or other service provider, or (iii)
any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the
Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director, Consultant
or
other service provider (except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement).
An
approved leave of absence shall include sick leave, military leave, or any
other
authorized personal leave.
(l)
"Covered Employee" means an Eligible Person who is a "covered employee" within
the meaning of Section 162(m)(3) of the Code, or any successor provision
thereto.
(m)
"Deferred Stock" means a right to receive Shares, including Restricted Stock,
cash or a combination thereof, at the end of a specified deferral
period.
(n)
"Deferred Stock Award" means an Award of Deferred Stock granted to a Participant
under Section 6(e) hereof.
(o)
"Director" means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any Related
Entity.
(p)
"Disability" means a permanent and total disability (within the meaning of
Section 22(e) of the Code), as determined by a medical doctor satisfactory
to
the Committee.
(q)
"Discounted Option" means any Option awarded under Section 6(b) hereof with
an
exercise price that is less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date
of
grant.
(r)
"Discounted Stock Appreciation Right" means any Stock Appreciation Right awarded
under Section 6(c) hereof with an exercise price that is less than the Fair
Market Value of a Share on the date of grant.
(s)
"Dividend Equivalent" means a right, granted to a Participant under Section
6(g)
hereof, to receive cash, Shares, other Awards or other property equal in value
to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of Shares, or other
periodic payments.
(t)
"Effective Date" means the effective date of the Plan, which shall be June
20,
2005.
(u)
"Eligible Person" means each officer, Director, Employee, Consultant and other
person who provides services to the Company or any Related Entity. The foregoing
notwithstanding, only employees of the Company, or any parent corporation or
subsidiary corporation of the Company (as those terms are defined in Sections
424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively), shall be Eligible Persons for
purposes of receiving any Incentive Stock Options. An Employee on leave of
absence may be considered as still in the employ of the Company or a Related
Entity for purposes of eligibility for participation in the
Plan.
(v)
"Employee" means any person, including an officer or Director, who is an
employee of the Company or any Related Entity. The payment of a director's
fee
by the Company or a Related Entity shall not be sufficient to constitute
"employment" by the Company.
(w)
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time
to time, including rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules
thereto.
(x)
"Executive Committee" means the Executive Committee of the Board.
(y)
"Fair
Market Value" means the fair market value of Shares, Awards or other property
as
determined by the Committee, or under procedures established by the Committee.
Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the Fair Market Value of a Share
as of any given date shall be the closing sale price per Share reported on
a
consolidated basis for stock listed on the principal stock exchange or market
on
which Shares are traded on the date as of which such value is being determined
or, if there is no sale on that date, then on the last previous day on which
a
sale was reported.
(z)
"Good
Reason" shall, with respect to any Participant, have the meaning specified
in
the Award Agreement. In the absence of any definition in the Award Agreement,
"Good Reason" shall have the equivalent meaning or the same meaning as "good
reason" or "for good reason" set forth in any employment, consulting or other
agreement for the performance of services between the Participant and the
Company or a Related Entity or, in the absence of any such agreement or any
such
definition in such agreement, such term shall mean (i) the assignment to the
Participant of any duties inconsistent in any material respect with the
Participant's position, authority, duties or responsibilities as assigned by
the
Company or a Related Entity, or any other action by the Company or a Related
Entity which results in a material diminution in such position, authority,
duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose any action not taken
in
bad faith and which is remedied by the Company or a Related Entity promptly
after receipt of notice thereof given by the Participant; or (ii) any material
failure by the Company or a Related Entity to comply with its obligations to
the
Participant as agreed upon, other than any failure not occurring in bad faith
and which is remedied by the Company or a Related Entity promptly after receipt
of notice thereof given by the Participant.
(aa)
"Incentive Stock Option" means any Option intended to be designated as an
incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or any
successor provision thereto.
(bb)
"Independent," when referring to either the Board or members of the Committee,
shall have the same meaning as used in the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market
or
any national securities exchange on which any securities of the Company are
listed for trading, and if not listed for trading, by the rules of the Nasdaq
Stock Market.
(cc)
"Incumbent Board" means the Incumbent Board as defined in Section 9(b)(ii)
of
the Plan.
(dd)
"Option" means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(b) hereof,
to
purchase Shares or other Awards at a specified price during specified time
periods.
(ee)
"Optionee" means a person to whom an Option is granted under this Plan or any
person who succeeds to the rights of such person under this Plan.
(ff)
"Option Proceeds" means the cash actually received by the Company for the
exercise price in connection with the exercise of Options that are exercised
after the Effective Date of the Plan, plus the maximum tax benefit that could
be
realized by the Company as a result of the exercise of such Options, which
tax
benefit shall be determined by multiplying (i) the amount that is deductible
for
Federal income tax purposes as a result of any such option exercise (currently,
equal to the amount upon which the Participant's withholding tax obligation
is
calculated), times (ii) the maximum Federal corporate income tax rate for the
year of exercise. With respect to Options, to the extent that a Participant
pays
the exercise price and/or withholding taxes with Shares, Option Proceeds shall
not be calculated with respect to the amounts so paid in Shares.
(gg)
"Other Stock-Based Awards" means Awards granted to a Participant under Section
6(i) hereof.
(hh)
"Outside Director" means a member of the Board who is not an
Employee.
(ii)
"Participant" means a person who has been granted an Award under the Plan which
remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible
Person.
(jj)
"Performance Award" shall mean any Award of Performance Shares or Performance
Units granted pursuant to Section 6(h).
(kk)
"Performance Period" means that period established by the Committee at the
time
any Performance Award is granted or at any time thereafter during which any
performance goals specified by the Committee with respect to such Award are
to
be measured.
(ll)
"Performance Share" means any grant pursuant to Section 6(h) of a unit valued
by
reference to a designated number of Shares, which value may be paid to the
Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine,
including cash, Shares, other property, or any combination thereof, upon
achievement of such performance goals during the Performance Period as the
Committee shall establish at the time of such grant or
thereafter.
(mm)
"Performance Unit" means any grant pursuant to Section 6(h) of a unit valued
by
reference to a designated amount of property (including cash) other than Shares,
which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as
the
Committee shall determine, including cash, Shares, other property, or any
combination thereof, upon achievement of such performance goals during the
Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such grant
or
thereafter.
(nn)
"Person" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of
the
Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, and shall include
a
"group" as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.
(oo)
"Prior Plan" means any prior plan.
(pp)
"Related Entity" means any Subsidiary, and any business, corporation,
partnership, limited liability company or other entity designated by Board
in
which the Company or a Subsidiary holds a substantial ownership interest,
directly or indirectly.
(qq)
"Restricted Stock" means any Share issued with the restriction that the holder
may not sell, transfer, pledge or assign such Share and with such risks of
forfeiture and other restrictions as the Committee, in its sole discretion,
may
impose (including any restriction on the right to vote such Share and the right
to receive any dividends), which restrictions may lapse separately or in
combination at such time or times, in installments or otherwise, as the
Committee may deem appropriate.
(rr)
"Restricted Stock Award" means an Award granted to a Participant under Section
6(d) hereof.
(ss)
"Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3, as from time to time in effect and applicable
to
the Plan and Participants, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission
under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(tt)
"Shareholder Approval Date" means the date on which this Plan is approved
shareholders of the Company eligible to vote in the election of directors,
by a
vote sufficient to meet the requirements of Code Sections 162(m) (if applicable)
and 422, Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act (if applicable), applicable
requirements under the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system
on which the Shares may be listed on quoted, and other laws, regulations and
obligations of the Company applicable to the Plan.
(uu)
"Shares" means the shares of common stock of the Company, par value $.001 per
share, and such other securities as may be substituted (or resubstituted) for
Shares pursuant to Section 10(c) hereof.
(vv)
"Stock Appreciation Right" means a right granted to a Participant under Section
6(c) hereof.
(ww)
"Subsidiary" means any corporation or other entity in which the Company has
a
direct or indirect ownership interest of 50% or more of the total combined
voting power of the then outstanding securities or interests of such corporation
or other entity entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or
in
which the Company has the right to receive 50% or more of the distribution
of
profits or 50% or more of the assets on liquidation or dissolution.
(xx)
"Substitute Awards" shall mean Awards granted or Shares issued by the Company
in
assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted,
or
the right or obligation to make future awards, by a company acquired by the
Company or any Related Entity or with which the Company or any Related Entity
combines.
3.
Administration.
(a)
Authority of the Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee,
except to the extent the Board elects to administer the Plan, in which case
the
Plan shall be administered by only those directors who are Independent
Directors, in which case references herein to the "Committee" shall be deemed
to
include references to the Independent members of the Board. The Committee shall
have full and final authority, subject to and consistent with the provisions
of
the Plan, to select Eligible Persons to become Participants, grant Awards,
determine the type, number and other terms and conditions of, and all other
matters relating to, Awards, prescribe Award Agreements (which need not be
identical for each Participant) and rules and regulations for the administration
of the Plan, construe and interpret the Plan and Award Agreements and correct
defects, supply omissions or reconcile inconsistencies therein, and to make
all
other decisions and determinations as the Committee may deem necessary or
advisable for the administration of the Plan. In exercising any discretion
granted to the Committee under the Plan or pursuant to any Award, the Committee
shall not be required to follow past practices, act in a manner consistent
with
past practices, or treat any Eligible Person or Participant in a manner
consistent with the treatment of other Eligible Persons or
Participants.
(b)
Manner of Exercise of Committee Authority. The Committee, and not the Board,
shall exercise sole and exclusive discretion on any matter relating to a
Participant then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to
the
Company to the extent necessary in order that transactions by such Participant
shall be exempt under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. Any action of the
Committee shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including
the
Company, its Related Entities, Participants, Beneficiaries, transferees under
Section 10(b) hereof or other persons claiming rights from or through a
Participant, and shareholders. The express grant of any specific power to the
Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed
as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. The Committee may delegate
to officers or managers of the Company or any Related Entity, or committees
thereof, the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee shall determine,
to perform such functions, including administrative functions as the Committee
may determine to the extent that such delegation will not result in the loss
of
an exemption under Rule 16b-3(d)(1) for Awards granted to Participants subject
to Section 16 of the Exchange Act in respect of the Company and will not cause
Awards intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Code
Section 162(m) to fail to so qualify. The Committee may appoint agents to assist
it in administering the Plan.
(c)
Limitation of Liability. The Committee and the Board, and each member thereof,
shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other
information furnished to him or her by any officer or Employee, the Company's
independent auditors, Consultants or any other agents assisting in the
administration of the Plan. Members of the Committee and the Board, and any
officer or Employee acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee or
the
Board, shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken
or
made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the extent permitted
by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any
such action or determination.
4.
Shares
Subject to Plan.
(a)
Limitation on Overall Number of Shares Available for Delivery Under Plan.
Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10(c) hereof, the total number
of
Shares reserved and available for delivery under the Plan shall be 2,400,000.
Any Shares delivered under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of
authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.
(b)
Application of Limitation to Grants of Award. No Award may be granted if the
number of Shares to be delivered in connection with such an Award or, in the
case of an Award relating to Shares but settled only in cash (such as cash-only
Stock Appreciation Rights), the number of Shares to which such Award relates,
exceeds the number of Shares remaining available for delivery under the Plan,
minus the number of Shares deliverable in settlement of or relating to then
outstanding Awards. The Committee may adopt reasonable counting procedures
to
ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the
case
of tandem or substitute awards) and make adjustments if the number of Shares
actually delivered differs from the number of Shares previously counted in
connection with an Award.
(c)
Availability of Shares Not Delivered under Awards and Adjustments to
Limits.
(i)
If
any Shares subject to an Award, or any award under the Prior Plan that was
outstanding on the Effective Date, are forfeited, expire or otherwise terminate
without issuance of such Shares, or any Award, or any Award under any Prior
Plan, that was outstanding on the Effective Date, is settled for cash or
otherwise does not result in the issuance of all or a portion of the Shares
subject to such Award or award the Shares shall, to the extent of such
forfeiture, expiration, termination, cash settlement or non-issuance, again
be
available for Awards under the Plan, subject to Section 4(c)(v) below.
(ii)
In
the event that any Option or other Award granted hereunder, or any Award under
the Prior Plan that was outstanding on the Effective Date, is exercised through
the tendering of Shares (either actually or by attestation) or by the
withholding of Shares by the Company, or withholding tax liabilities arising
from such option or other award are satisfied by the tendering of Shares (either
actually or by attestation) or by the withholding of Shares by the Company,
then
only the number of Shares issued net of the Shares tendered or withheld shall
be
counted for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available
for
grant under the Plan.
(iii)
Shares reacquired by the Company on the open market using Option Proceeds shall
be available for Awards under the Plan. The increase in Shares available
pursuant to the repurchase of Shares with Option Proceeds shall not be greater
than the amount of such proceeds divided by the Fair Market Value of a Share
on
the date of exercise of the Option giving rise to such Option
Proceeds.
(iv)
Substitute Awards shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the
Plan or authorized for grant to a Participant in any period. Additionally,
in
the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Related Entity or with
which the Company or any Related Entity combines has shares available under
a
pre-existing plan approved by shareholders and not adopted in contemplation
of
such acquisition or combination, the shares available for delivery pursuant
to
the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate,
using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula
used
in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to
the
holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or
combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the
Shares authorized for delivery under the Plan; provided that Awards using such
available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have
been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition
or
combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Employees or
Directors prior to such acquisition or combination.
(v)
Any
Shares that again become available for delivery pursuant to this Section 4(c)
shall be added back as one (1) Share.
(vi)
Notwithstanding anything in this Section 4(c) to the contrary and solely for
purposes of determining whether Shares are available for the delivery of
Incentive Stock Options, the maximum aggregate number of shares that may be
granted under this Plan shall be determined without regard to any Shares
restored pursuant to this Section 4(c) that, if taken into account, would cause
the Plan to fail the requirement under Code Section 422 that the Plan designate
a maximum aggregate number of shares that may be issued.
(d)
No
Further Awards Under any Prior Plan. In light of the adoption of this Plan,
no
further awards shall be made under any Prior Plan after the Effective
Date.
5.
Eligibility;
Per-Person Award Limitations.
Awards
may be granted under the Plan only to Eligible Persons. Subject to adjustment
as
provided in Section 10(c), in any fiscal year of the Company during any part
of
which the Plan is in effect, no Participant may be granted (i) Options or Stock
Appreciation Rights with respect to more than 45,000 Shares or (ii) Restricted
Stock, Deferred Stock, Performance Shares and/or Other Stock-Based Awards with
respect to more than 45,000 Shares. In addition, the maximum dollar value
payable to any one Participant with respect to Performance Units is (x)
$5,000,000 with respect to any 12 month Performance Period, and (y) with respect
to any Performance Period that is more than 12 months, $5,000,000 multiplied
by
the number of full years in the Performance Period.
6.
Specific
Terms of Awards.
(a)
General. Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this
Section 6. In addition, the Committee may impose on any Award or the exercise
thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section 10(e)), such
additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the
Plan, as the Committee shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture
of
Awards in the event of termination of the Participant's Continuous Service
and
terms permitting a Participant to make elections relating to his or her Award.
The Committee shall retain full power and discretion to accelerate, waive or
modify, at any time, any term or condition of an Award that is not mandatory
under the Plan. Except in cases in which the Committee is authorized to require
other forms of consideration under the Plan, or to the extent other forms of
consideration must be paid to satisfy the requirements of Nevada law, no
consideration other than services may be required for the grant (but not the
exercise) of any Award.
(b)
Options. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to any Eligible Person
on
the following terms and conditions:
(i)
Exercise Price. Other than in connection with Substitute Awards, the exercise
price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the
Committee, provided that such exercise price shall not, in the case of Incentive
Stock Options, be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the
date
of grant of the Option and shall not, in any event, be less than the par value
of a Share on the date of grant of the Option. If an Employee owns or is deemed
to own (by reason of the attribution rules applicable under Section 424(d)
of
the Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock
of
the Company (or any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company,
as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively)
and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such employee, the exercise price
of
such Incentive Stock Option (to the extent required by the Code at the time
of
grant) shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value a Share on the date
such Incentive Stock Option is granted.
(ii)
Time
and Method of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at
which
or the circumstances under which an Option may be exercised in whole or in
part
(including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service
requirements), the time or times at which Options shall cease to be or become
exercisable following termination of Continuous Service or upon other
conditions, the methods by which the exercise price may be paid or deemed to
be
paid (including in the discretion of the Committee a cashless exercise
procedure), the form of such payment, including, without limitation, cash,
Shares, other Awards or awards granted under other plans of the Company or
a
Related Entity, or other property (including notes or other contractual
obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred basis provided that
such deferred payments are not in violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
or any rule or regulation adopted thereunder or any other applicable law),
and
the methods by or forms in which Shares will be delivered or deemed to be
delivered to Participants.
(iii)
Incentive Stock Options. The terms of any Incentive Stock Option granted under
the Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of
the
Code. Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of the
Plan
relating to Incentive Stock Options (including any Stock Appreciation Right
issued in tandem therewith) shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall
any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be exercised, so as to
disqualify either the Plan or any Incentive Stock Option under Section 422
of
the Code, unless the Participant has first requested, or consents to, the change
that will result in such disqualification. Thus, if and to the extent required
to comply with Section 422 of the Code, Options granted as Incentive Stock
Options shall be subject to the following special terms and
conditions:
(A)
the
Option shall not be exercisable more than ten years after the date such
Incentive Stock Option is granted; provided, however, that if a Participant
owns
or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of
the
Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of
the
Company (or any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company,
as
those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively)
and the Incentive Stock Option is granted to such Participant, the term of
the
Incentive Stock Option shall be (to the extent required by the Code at the
time
of the grant) for no more than five years from the date of grant;
and
(B)
The
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date the Incentive Stock
Option is granted) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options
granted under the Plan and all other option plans of the Company (and any parent
corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined
in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively) during any calendar year
exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year
shall
not (to the extent required by the Code at the time of the grant) exceed
$100,000.
(iv)
Automatic Grants to Outside Directors and Executive Committee
Members.
(A)
Annual Grants. Upon the conclusion of each regular annual meeting of the
Company's stockholders held in the year 2005 and thereafter, (1) each Outside
Director who will continue serving as a member of the Board thereafter shall
receive an Option as determined by the Committee, (2) each member of the
Executive Committee who will continue serving as a member of the Executive
Committee shall receive an Option as determined by the Committee; and (3) the
person who will continue serving as the Chairman of the Executive Committee
shall receive, in addition to any Options granted pursuant to (1) and (2) above,
an Option as determined by the Committee. A Participant who serves in more
than
one capacity shall be eligible for the foregoing awards applicable to each
capacity in which the individual serves. Options granted under this Section
6(b)(iv)(A) shall become exercisable in 3 equal installments on each of the
first three anniversaries of the date on which the Option is granted. An Outside
Director or member of the Executive Committee who previously was an Employee
shall be eligible to receive grants under this Section 6(b)(iv)(A).
(B)
Exercise Price. The exercise price under all Options granted to an Outside
Director or member of the Executive Committee under this Section 6(b)(iv) shall
be equal to 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date on which the
Option is granted, payable in one of the forms determined by the
Committee.
(C)
Term.
All Options granted to an Outside Director or member of the Executive Committee
under this Section 6(b)(iv) shall terminate on the earliest of (a) the 10th
anniversary of the date on which the Option is granted, (b) the date three
(3)
months after the termination of the Service of the Outside Director or member
of
the Executive Committee for any reason other than death or total and permanent
disability or (c) the date 12 months after the termination of such Service
because of death or total and permanent disability.
(D)
Other
Awards. Outside Directors and members of the Executive Committee shall be
eligible to receive any other Options or other Awards awarded by the Committee
pursuant to this Plan.
(c)
Stock
Appreciation Rights. The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation Rights to any
Eligible Person in conjunction with all or part of any Option granted under
the
Plan or at any subsequent time during the term of such Option (a "Tandem Stock
Appreciation Right"), or without regard to any Option (a "Freestanding Stock
Appreciation Right"), in each case upon such terms and conditions as the
Committee may establish in its sole discretion, not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan, including the following:
(i)
Right
to Payment. A Stock Appreciation Right shall confer on the Participant to whom
it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A)
the
Fair Market Value of one Share on the date of exercise over (B) the grant price
of the Stock Appreciation Right as determined by the Committee. The grant price
of a Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 75% of the Fair Market
Value of a Share on the date of grant, in the case of a Freestanding Stock
Appreciation Right, or less than the associated Option exercise price, in the
case of a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right.
(ii)
Other Terms. The Committee
shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter, the time or times at which
and the circumstances under which a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised
in
whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or
future service requirements), the time or times at which Stock Appreciation
Rights shall cease to be or become exercisable following termination of
Continuous Service or upon other conditions, the method of exercise, method
of
settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, method by or forms
in
which Shares will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants,
whether or not a Stock Appreciation Right shall be in tandem or in combination
with any other Award, and any other terms and conditions of any Stock
Appreciation Right.
(iii)
Tandem Stock Appreciation
Rights. Any Tandem Stock Appreciation Right may be granted at the same time
as
the related Option is granted or, for Options that are not Incentive Stock
Options, at any time thereafter before exercise or expiration of such Option.
Any Tandem Stock Appreciation Right related to an Option may be exercised only
when the related Option would be exercisable and the Fair Market Value of the
Shares subject to the related Option exceeds the exercise price at which Shares
can be acquired pursuant to the Option. In addition, if a Tandem Stock
Appreciation Right exists with respect to less than the full number of Shares
covered by a related Option, then an exercise or termination of such Option
shall not reduce the number of Shares to which the Tandem Stock Appreciation
Right applies until the number of Shares then exercisable under such Option
equals the number of Shares to which the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right
applies. Any Option related to a Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall no longer
be exercisable to the extent the Tandem Stock Appreciation Right has been
exercised, and any Tandem Stock Appreciation Right shall no longer be
exercisable to the extent the related Option has been exercised.
(d)
Restricted Stock Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant Restricted Stock
Awards to any Eligible Person on the following terms and
conditions:
(i)
Grant
and Restrictions. Restricted Stock Awards shall be subject to such restrictions
on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the
Committee may impose, or as otherwise provided in this Plan, covering a period
of time specified by the Committee (the "Restriction Period"). The terms of
any
Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan shall be set forth in a written
Award Agreement which shall contain provisions determined by the Committee
and
not inconsistent with the Plan. The restrictions may lapse separately or in
combination at such times, under such circumstances (including based on
achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), in such
installments or otherwise, as the Committee may determine at the date of grant
or thereafter. Except to the extent restricted under the terms of the Plan
and
any Award Agreement relating to a Restricted Stock Award, a Participant granted
Restricted Stock shall have all of the rights of a shareholder, including the
right to vote the Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends thereon
(subject to any mandatory reinvestment or other requirement imposed by the
Committee). During the Restriction Period, subject to Section 10(b) below,
the
Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined
or otherwise encumbered by the Participant.
(ii)
Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination
of
a Participant's Continuous Service during the applicable Restriction Period,
the
Participant's Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to a risk of
forfeiture that has not lapsed or otherwise been satisfied shall be forfeited
and reacquired by the Company; provided that the Committee may provide, by
rule
or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or may determine in any individual
case, that forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock Awards shall
be
waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified
causes.
(iii)
Certificates for Stock. Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced
in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If certificates representing
Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Committee
may require that such certificates bear an appropriate legend referring to
the
terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, that
the
Company retain physical possession of the certificates, and that the Participant
deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the
Restricted Stock.
(iv)
Dividends and Splits. As a condition to the grant of a Restricted Stock Award,
the Committee may require or permit a Participant to elect that any cash
dividends paid on a Share of Restricted Stock be automatically reinvested in
additional Shares of Restricted Stock or applied to the purchase of additional
Awards under the Plan. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, Shares
distributed in connection with a stock split or stock dividend, and other
property distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a
risk
of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which
such Shares or other property have been distributed.
(v) Automatic Grants to Outside Directors and Executive Committee Members.
Upon
the conclusion of each regular annual meeting of the Company's stockholders
held
in the year 2006 and thereafter, (1) each Outside Director who will continue
serving as a member of the Board thereafter shall receive an award of Shares
of
Restricted Stock as determined by the Committee, which shall vest in two equal
installments on each of the first two anniversaries of the date on which the
Restricted Stock is granted; and, (2) each member of the Executive Committee
who
will continue serving as a member of the Executive Committee shall receive
an
award of Shares of Restricted Stock as determined by the Committee. The Shares
of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to this section 6(d)(vi) shall vest in
two
equal installments on each of the first two anniversaries of the date on which
the Restricted Stock is granted. A Participant who serves in more than one
capacity shall be eligible for the foregoing awards applicable to each capacity
in which the individual serves.
(e)
Deferred Stock Award. The Committee is authorized to grant Deferred Stock Awards
to any Eligible Person on the following terms and conditions:
(i)
Award
and Restrictions. Satisfaction of a Deferred Stock Award shall occur upon
expiration of the deferral period specified for such Deferred Stock Award by
the
Committee (or, if permitted by the Committee, as elected by the Participant).
In
addition, a Deferred Stock Award shall be subject to such restrictions (which
may include a risk of forfeiture) as the Committee may impose, if any, which
restrictions may lapse at the expiration of the deferral period or at earlier
specified times (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or
future service requirements), separately or in combination, in installments
or
otherwise, as the Committee may determine. A Deferred Stock Award may be
satisfied by delivery of Shares, cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the
specified number of Shares covered by the Deferred Stock, or a combination
thereof, as determined by the Committee at the date of grant or thereafter.
Prior to satisfaction of a Deferred Stock Award, a Deferred Stock Award carries
no voting or dividend or other rights associated with Share
ownership.
(ii)
Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, upon termination
of
a Participant's Continuous Service during the applicable deferral period or
portion thereof to which forfeiture conditions apply (as provided in the Award
Agreement evidencing the Deferred Stock Award), the Participant's Deferred
Stock
Award that is at that time subject to a risk of forfeiture that has not lapsed
or otherwise been satisfied shall be forfeited; provided that the Committee
may
provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award Agreement, or may determine
in
any individual case, that forfeiture conditions relating to a Deferred Stock
Award shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting
from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole
or in
part the forfeiture of any Deferred Stock Award.
(iii)
Dividend Equivalents. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at date
of
grant, any Dividend Equivalents that are granted with respect to any Deferred
Stock Award shall be either (A) paid with respect to such Deferred Stock Award
at the dividend payment date in ash or in Shares of unrestricted stock having
a
Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, or (B) deferred with
respect to such Deferred Stock Award and the amount or value thereof
automatically deemed reinvested in additional Deferred Stock, other Awards
or
other investment vehicles, as the Committee shall determine or permit the
Participant to elect.
(f)
Bonus
Stock and Awards in Lieu of Obligations. The Committee is authorized to grant
Shares to any Eligible Persons as a bonus, or to grant Shares or other Awards
in
lieu of obligations to pay cash or deliver other property under the Plan or
under other plans or compensatory arrangements, provided that, in the case
of
Eligible Persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the amount of such
grants remains within the discretion of the Committee to the extent necessary
to
ensure that acquisitions of Shares or other Awards are exempt from liability
under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Shares or Awards granted hereunder
shall be subject to such other terms as shall be determined by the
Committee.
(g)
Dividend Equivalents. The Committee is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents
to any Eligible Person entitling the Eligible Person to receive cash, Shares,
other Awards, or other property equal in value to the dividends paid with
respect to a specified number of Shares, or other periodic payments. Dividend
Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with
another Award. The Committee may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be
paid
or distributed when accrued or shall be deemed to have been reinvested in
additional Shares, Awards, or other investment vehicles, and subject to such
restrictions on transferability and risks of forfeiture, as the Committee may
specify.
(h)
Performance Awards. The Committee is authorized to grant Performance Awards
to
any Eligible Person payable in cash, Shares, or other Awards, on terms and
conditions established by the Committee, subject to the provisions of Section
8
if and to the extent that the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, determine
that an Award shall be subject to those provisions. The performance criteria
to
be achieved during any Performance Period and the length of the Performance
Period shall be determined by the Committee upon the grant of each Performance
Award; provided, however, that a Performance Period shall not be shorter than
12
months nor longer than five years. Except as provided in Section 9 or as may
be
provided in an Award Agreement, Performance Awards will be distributed only
after the end of the relevant Performance Period. The performance goals to
be
achieved for each Performance Period shall be conclusively determined by the
Committee and may be based upon the criteria set forth in Section 8(b), or
in
the case of an Award that the Committee determines shall not be subject to
Section 8 hereof, any other criteria that the Committee, in its sole discretion,
shall determine should be used for that purpose. The amount of the Award to
be
distributed shall be conclusively determined by the Committee. Performance
Awards may be paid in a lump sum or in installments following the close of
the
Performance Period or, in accordance with procedures established by the
Committee, on a deferred basis.
(i)
Other
Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is authorized, subject to limitations under
applicable law, to grant to any Eligible Person such other Awards that may
be
denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or
otherwise based on, or related to, Shares, as deemed by the Committee to be
consistent with the purposes of the Plan. Other Stock Based Awards may be
granted to Participants either alone or in addition to other Awards granted
under the Plan, and such Other Stock-Based Awards shall also be available as
a
form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan. The
Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards. Shares
delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under
this Section 6(i) shall be purchased for such consideration (including, without
limitation, loans from the Company or a Related Entity provided that such loans
are not in violation of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, or any rule or
regulation adopted thereunder or any other applicable law) paid for at such
times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash,
Shares, other Awards or other property, as the Committee shall determine.
7.
Certain
Provisions Applicable to Awards.
(a)
Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem and Substitute Awards. Awards granted under
the
Plan may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in
addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any other
Award
or any award granted under another plan of the Company, any Related Entity,
or
any business entity to be acquired by the Company or a Related Entity, or any
other right of a Participant to receive payment from the Company or any Related
Entity. Such additional, tandem, and substitute or exchange Awards may be
granted at any time. If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for
another Award or award, the Committee shall require the surrender of such other
Award or award in consideration for the grant of the new Award. In addition,
Awards may be granted in lieu of cash compensation,
including
in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company or any Related
Entity, in which the value of Stock subject to the Award is equivalent in value
to the cash compensation (for example, Deferred Stock or Restricted Stock),
or
in which the exercise price, grant price or purchase price of the Award in
the
nature of a right that may be exercised is equal to the Fair Market Value of
the
underlying Stock minus the value of the cash compensation surrendered (for
example, Options or Stock Appreciation Right granted with an exercise price
or
grant price "discounted" by the amount of the cash compensation
surrendered).
(b)
Term
of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined
by the Committee; provided that in no event shall the term of any Option or
Stock Appreciation Right exceed a period of ten years (or in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option such shorter term as may be required under Section 422
of
the Code).
(c)
Form
and Timing of Payment Under Awards; Deferrals. Subject to the terms of the
Plan
and any applicable Award Agreement, payments to be made by the Company or a
Related Entity upon the exercise of an Option or other Award or settlement
of an
Award may be made in such forms as the Committee shall determine, including,
without limitation, cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, and may be
made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis.
Any installment or deferral provided for in the preceding sentence shall,
however, be subject to the Company's compliance with the provisions of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the rules and regulations adopted by the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder, and all applicable rules of
the
Nasdaq Stock Market or any national securities exchange on which the Company's
securities are listed for trading and, if not listed for trading on either
the
Nasdaq Stock Market or a national securities exchange, then the rules of the
Nasdaq Stock Market. The settlement of any Award may be accelerated, and cash
paid in lieu of Stock in connection with such settlement, in the discretion
of
the Committee or upon occurrence of one or more specified events (in addition
to
a Change in Control). Installment or deferred payments may be required by the
Committee (subject to Section 10(e) of the Plan, including the consent
provisions thereof in the case of any deferral of an outstanding Award not
provided for in the original Award Agreement) or permitted at the election
of
the Participant on terms and conditions established by the Committee. Payments
may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of
a
reasonable interest rate on installment or deferred payments or the grant or
crediting of Dividend Equivalents or other amounts in respect of installment
or
deferred payments denominated in Shares.
(d)
Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability. It is the intent of the Company that
the grant of any Awards to or other transaction by a Participant who is subject
to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall be exempt from Section 16 pursuant
to an
applicable exemption (except for transactions acknowledged in writing to be
non-exempt by such Participant). Accordingly, if any provision of this Plan
or
any Award Agreement does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 then
applicable to any such transaction, such provision shall be construed or deemed
amended to the extent necessary to conform to the applicable requirements of
Rule 16b-3 so
that
such
Participant shall avoid liability under Section 16(b).
8.
Code
Section 162(m) Provisions.
(a)
Covered Employees. The Committee, in its discretion, may determine at the time
an Award is granted to an Eligible Person who is, or is likely to be, as of
the
end of the tax year in which the Company would claim a tax deduction in
connection with such Award, a Covered Employee, that the provisions of this
Section 8 shall be applicable to such Award.
(b)
Performance Criteria. If an Award is subject to this Section 8, then the lapsing
of restrictions thereon and the distribution of cash, Shares or other property
pursuant thereto, as applicable, shall be contingent upon achievement of one
or
more objective performance goals. Performance goals shall be objective and
shall
otherwise meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and regulations
thereunder including the requirement that the level or levels of performance
targeted by the Committee result in the achievement of performance goals being
"substantially uncertain." One or more of the following business criteria for
the Company, on a consolidated basis, and/or for Related Entities, or for
business or geographical units of the Company and/or a Related Entity (except
with respect to the total shareholder return and earnings per share criteria),
shall be used by the Committee in establishing performance goals for such
Awards: (1) earnings per share; (2) revenues or margins; (3) cash flow; (4)
operating margin; (5) return on net assets, investment, capital, or equity;
(6)
economic value added; (7) direct contribution; (8) net income; pretax earnings;
earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization; earnings after interest expense and before
extraordinary or special items; operating income; income before interest income
or expense, unusual items and income taxes, local, state or federal and
excluding budgeted and actual bonuses which might be paid under any ongoing
bonus plans of the Company; (9) working capital; (10) management of fixed costs
or variable costs; (11) identification or consummation of investment
opportunities or completion of specified projects in accordance with corporate
business plans, including strategic mergers, acquisitions or divestitures;
(12)
total shareholder return; and (13) debt reduction. Any of the above goals may
be
determined on an absolute or relative basis or as compared to the performance
of
a published or special index deemed applicable by the Committee including,
but
not limited to, the Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index or a group of
companies that are comparable to the Company. The Committee may exclude the
impact of an event or occurrence which the Committee determines should
appropriately be excluded, including without limitation (i) restructurings,
discontinued operations, extraordinary items, and other unusual or non-recurring
charges, (ii) an event either not directly related to the operations of the
Company or not within the reasonable control of the Company's management, or
(iii) a change in accounting standards required by generally accepted accounting
principles.
(c)
Performance Period; Timing For Establishing Performance Goals. Achievement
of
performance goals in respect of such Performance Awards shall be measured over
a
Performance Period no shorter than 12 months and no longer than five years,
as
specified by the Committee. Performance goals shall be established not later
than 90 days after the beginning of any
Performance
Period applicable to such Performance Awards, or at such other date as may
be
required or permitted for "performance-based compensation" under Code Section
162(m).
(d)
Adjustments. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of a
settlement otherwise to be made in connection with Awards subject to this
Section 8, but may not exercise discretion to increase any such amount payable
to a Covered Employee in respect of an Award subject to this Section 8. The
Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Awards shall be paid
or
forfeited in the event of termination of Continuous Service by the Participant
prior to the end of a Performance Period or settlement of
Awards.
(e)
Committee Certification. No Participant shall receive any payment under the
Plan
unless the Committee has certified, by resolution or other appropriate action
in
writing, that the performance criteria and any other material terms previously
established by the Committee or set forth in the Plan, have been satisfied
to
the extent necessary to qualify as "performance based compensation" under Code
Section 162(m).
9.
Change
in Control.
(a)
Effect of "Change in Control." Subject to Section 9(a)(iv), and if and only
to
the extent provided in the Award Agreement, or to the extent otherwise
determined by the Committee, upon the occurrence of a "Change in Control,"
as
defined in Section 9(b):
(i)
Any
Option or Stock Appreciation Right that was not previously vested and
exercisable as of the time of the Change in Control, shall become immediately
vested and exercisable, subject to applicable restrictions set forth in Section
10(a) hereof.
(ii)
Any
restrictions, deferral of settlement, and forfeiture conditions applicable
to a
Restricted Stock Award, Deferred Stock Award or an Other Stock-Based Award
subject only to future service requirements granted under the Plan shall lapse
and such Awards shall be deemed fully vested as of the time of the Change in
Control, except to the extent of any waiver by the Participant and subject
to
applicable restrictions set forth in Section 10(a) hereof.
(iii)
With respect to any outstanding Award subject to achievement of performance
goals and conditions under the Plan, the Committee may, in its discretion,
deem
such performance goals and conditions as having been met as of the date of
the
Change in Control.
(iv)
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if in the event of a Change in Control the
successor company assumes or substitutes for an Option, Stock Appreciation
Right, Restricted Stock Award, Deferred Stock Award or Other Stock-Based Award,
then each outstanding Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award,
Deferred Stock Award or Other Stock-Based Award shall not be accelerated as
described in Sections 9(a)(i), (ii) and (iii). For the purposes of this Section
9(a)(iv), an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Deferred
Stock Award or Other Stock-Based Award shall be considered assumed or
substituted for if following the Change in Control the award confers the right
to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Option, Stock Appreciation
Right, Restricted Stock Award, Deferred Stock Award or Other Stock-Based Award
immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock,
cash or other securities or property) received in the transaction constituting
a
Change in Control by holders of Shares for each Share held on the effective
date
of such transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration,
the
type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the
transaction constituting a Change in
Control
is not solely common stock of the successor company or its parent or subsidiary,
the Committee may, with the consent of the successor company or its parent
or
subsidiary, provide that the consideration to be received upon the exercise
or
vesting of an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Deferred
Stock Award or Other Stock-Based Award, for each Share subject thereto, will
be
solely common stock of the successor company or its parent or subsidiary
substantially equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received
by holders of Shares in the transaction constituting a Change in Control. The
determination of such substantial equality of value of consideration shall
be
made by the Committee in its sole discretion and its determination shall be
conclusive and binding. Notwithstanding the foregoing, on such terms and
conditions as may be set forth in an Award Agreement, in the event of a
termination of a Participant's employment in such successor company (other
than
for Cause) within 24 months following such Change in Control, each Award held
by
such Participant at the time of the Change in Control shall be accelerated
as
described in Sections 9(a)(i), (ii) and (iii) above.
(b)
Definition of "Change in Control." Unless otherwise specified in an Award
Agreement, a "Change in Control" shall mean the occurrence of any of the
following:
(i)
The
acquisition by any Person of Beneficial Ownership (within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than fifty percent (50%)
of
either (A) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the
"Outstanding Company Common Stock") or (B) the combined voting power of the
then
outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in
the
election of directors (the "Outstanding Company Voting Securities) (the
foregoing Beneficial Ownership hereinafter being referred to as a "Controlling
Interest"); provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 9(b), the
following acquisitions shall not constitute or result in a Change of Control:
(v) any acquisition directly from the Company; (w) any acquisition by the
Company; (x) any acquisition by any Person that as of the Effective Date owns
Beneficial Ownership of a Controlling Interest; (y) any acquisition by any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company
or any Subsidiary; or (z) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a
transaction which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of subsection (iii)
below; or
(ii)
During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior
to the Effective Date) individuals who constitute the Board on the Effective
Date (the "Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company's shareholders, was approved by a vote of at least
a
majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board,
but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with
respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than
the
Board; or
(iii)
Consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or
consolidation or similar corporate transaction involving the Company or any
of
its Subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the
assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity
by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each a "Business Combination"),
in
each case, unless, following such Business Combination, (A) all or substantially
all of the individuals and entities who were the Beneficial Owners,
respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company
Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially
own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of 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 corporation resulting from such Business
Combination (including, without limitation, a corporation which as a result
of
such transaction owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company's
assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) in substantially
the
same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Business
Combination of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company
Voting Securities, as the case may be, (B) no Person (excluding any employee
benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or such corporation resulting
from such Business Combination or any Person that as of the Effective Date
owns
Beneficial Ownership of a Controlling Interest) beneficially owns, directly
or
indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the then outstanding shares of common
stock of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination or the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of such
corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed prior to the
Business Combination and (C) at least a majority of the members of the Board
of
Directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were
members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial
agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Business
Combination; or
(iv)
Approval by the shareholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
10.
General
Provisions.
(a)
Compliance With Legal and Other Requirements. The Company may, to the extent
deemed necessary or advisable by the Committee, postpone the issuance or
delivery of Shares or payment of other benefits under any Award until completion
of such registration or qualification of such Shares or other required action
under any federal or state law, rule or regulation, listing or other required
action with respect to any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon
which the Shares or other Company securities are listed or quoted, or compliance
with any other obligation of the Company, as the Committee, may consider
appropriate, and may require any Participant to make such representations,
furnish such information and comply with or be subject to such other conditions
as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery
of
Shares or payment of other benefits in compliance with applicable laws, rules,
and regulations, listing requirements, or other obligations.
(b)
Limits on Transferability; Beneficiaries. No Award or other right or interest
granted under the Plan shall be pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered
or
subject to any lien, obligation or liability of such Participant to any party,
or assigned or transferred by such Participant otherwise than by will or the
laws of descent and distribution or to a Beneficiary upon the death of a
Participant, and such Awards or rights that may be exercisable shall be
exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or
his
or her guardian or legal representative, except that Awards and other rights
(other than Incentive Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights in tandem
therewith) may be transferred to one or more Beneficiaries or other transferees
during the lifetime of the Participant, and may be exercised by such transferees
in accordance with the terms of such Award, but only if and to the extent such
transfers are permitted by the Committee pursuant to the express terms of an
Award Agreement (subject to any terms and conditions which the Committee may
impose thereon). A Beneficiary, transferee, or other person claiming any rights
under the Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all terms
and
conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement applicable to such Participant,
except as otherwise determined by the Committee, and to any additional terms
and
conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
(c)
Adjustments.
(i)
Adjustments to Awards. In the event that any extraordinary dividend or other
distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, or other property),
recapitalization, forward or reverse split, reorganization, merger,
consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, share exchange, liquidation,
dissolution or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares
and/or such other securities of the Company or any other issuer such that a
substitution, exchange, or adjustment is determined by the Committee to be
appropriate, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable,
substitute, exchange or adjust any or all of (A) the number and kind of Shares
which may be delivered in connection with Awards granted thereafter, (B) the
number and kind of Shares by which annual per-person Award limitations are
measured under Section 5 hereof, (C) the number and kind of Shares subject
to or
deliverable in respect of outstanding Awards, (D) the exercise price, grant
price or purchase price relating to any Award and/or make provision for payment
of cash or other property in respect of any outstanding Award, and (E) any
other
aspect of any Award that the Committee determines to be
appropriate.
(ii)
Adjustments in Case of Certain Corporate Transactions. In the event of any
merger, consolidation or other reorganization in which the Company does not
survive, or in the event of any Change in Control, any outstanding Awards may
be
dealt with in accordance with any of the following approaches, as determined
by
the agreement effectuating the transaction or, if and to the extent not so
determined, as determined by the Committee: (a) the continuation of the
outstanding Awards by the Company, if the Company is a surviving corporation,
(b) the assumption or substitution for, as those terms are defined in Section
9(b)(iv) hereof, the outstanding Awards by the surviving corporation or its
parent or subsidiary, (c) full exercisability or vesting and accelerated
expiration
of the outstanding Awards, or (d) settlement of the value of the outstanding
Awards in cash or cash equivalents or other property followed by cancellation
of
such Awards (which value, in the case of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights,
shall be measured by the amount, if any, by which the Fair Market Value of
a
Share exceeds the exercise or grant price of the Option or Stock Appreciation
Right as of the effective date of the transaction). The Committee shall give
written notice of any proposed transaction referred to in this Section 10(c)(ii)
a reasonable period of time prior to the closing date for such transaction
(which notice may be given either before or after the approval of such
transaction), in order that Participants may have a reasonable period of time
prior to the closing date of such transaction within which to exercise any
Awards that are then exercisable (including any Awards that may become
exercisable upon the closing date of such transaction). A Participant may
condition his exercise of any Awards upon the consummation of the transaction.
(iii)
Other Adjustments. The Committee (and the Board if and only to the extent such
authority is not required to be exercised by the Committee to comply with
Section 162(m) of the Code) is authorized to make adjustments in the terms
and
conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards (including Performance
Awards, or performance goals relating thereto) in recognition of unusual or
nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, acquisitions and
dispositions of businesses and assets) affecting the Company, any Related Entity
or any business unit, or the financial statements of the Company or any Related
Entity, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting
principles, tax rates and regulations or business conditions or in view of
the
Committee's assessment of the business strategy of the Company, any Related
Entity or business unit thereof, performance of comparable organizations,
economic and business conditions, personal performance of a Participant, and
any
other circumstances deemed relevant; provided that no such adjustment shall
be
authorized or made if and to the extent that such authority or the making of
such adjustment would cause Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance
Awards granted pursuant to Section 8(b) hereof to Participants designated by
the
Committee as Covered Employees and intended to qualify as "performance-based
compensation" under Code Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder to
otherwise fail to qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Code Section
162(m) and regulations thereunder.
(d)
Taxes. The Company and any Related Entity are authorized to withhold from any
Award granted, any payment relating to an Award under the Plan, including from
a
distribution of Shares, or any payroll or other payment to a Participant,
amounts of withholding and other taxes due or potentially payable in connection
with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the
Committee may deem advisable to enable the Company or any Related Entity and
Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and
other tax obligations relating to any Award. This authority shall include
authority to withhold or receive Shares or other property and to make cash
payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participant's tax obligations,
either on a mandatory or elective basis in the discretion of the
Committee.
(e)
Changes to the Plan and Awards. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue
or terminate the Plan, or the Committee's authority to grant Awards under the
Plan, without the consent of shareholders or Participants, except that any
amendment or alteration to the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the
Company's shareholders not later than the annual meeting next following such
Board action if such shareholder approval is required by any federal or state
law or regulation (including, without limitation, Rule 16b-3 or Code Section
162(m)) or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on
which the Shares may then be listed or quoted, and the Board may otherwise,
in
its discretion, determine to submit other such changes to the Plan to
shareholders for approval; provided that, without the consent of an affected
Participant, no such Board action may materially and adversely affect the rights
of such Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award. The
Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, or amend, alter, suspend,
discontinue or terminate any Award theretofore granted and any Award Agreement
relating thereto, except as otherwise provided in the Plan; provided that,
without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Committee or the Board
action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under
such Award.
(f)
Limitation on Rights Conferred Under Plan. Neither the Plan nor any action
taken
hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible Person or Participant
the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in the employ
or
service of the Company or a Related Entity; (ii) interfering in any way with
the
right of the Company or a Related
Entity
to
terminate any Eligible Person's or Participant's Continuous Service at any
time,
(iii) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be granted any
Award
under the Plan or to be treated uniformly with other Participants and Employees,
or (iv) conferring on a Participant any of the rights of a shareholder of the
Company unless and until the Participant is duly issued or transferred Shares
in
accordance with the terms of an Award.
(g)
Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts. The Plan is intended to
constitute an "unfunded" plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With
respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant or obligation to deliver
Shares pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall
give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general
creditor of the Company; provided that the Committee may authorize the creation
of trusts and deposit therein cash, Shares, other Awards or other property,
or
make other arrangements to meet the Company's obligations under the Plan. Such
trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the "unfunded" status
of
the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines with the consent of each
affected Participant. The trustee of such trusts may be authorized to dispose
of
trust assets and reinvest the proceeds in alternative investments, subject
to
such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify and in accordance with
applicable law.
(h)
Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor
its submission to the shareholders of the Company for approval shall be
construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee
thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable
including incentive arrangements and awards which do not qualify under Section
162(m) of the Code.
(i)
Payments in the Event of Forfeitures; Fractional Shares. Unless otherwise
determined by the Committee, in the event of a forfeiture of an Award with
respect to which a Participant paid cash or other consideration, the Participant
shall be repaid the amount of such cash or other consideration. No fractional
Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. The
Committee shall determine whether cash, other Awards or other property shall
be
issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional
shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise
eliminated.
(j)
Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan, any rules
and
regulations under the Plan, and any Award Agreement shall be determined in
accordance with the laws of the State of Nevada without giving effect to
principles of conflict of laws, and applicable federal law.
(k)
Non-U.S. Laws. The Committee shall have the authority to adopt such
modifications, procedures, and sub-plans as may be necessary or desirable to
comply with provisions of the laws of foreign countries in which the Company
or
its Subsidiaries may operate to assure the viability of the benefits from Awards
granted to Participants performing services in such countries and to meet the
objectives of the Plan.
(l)
Plan
Effective Date and Shareholder Approval; Termination of Plan. The Plan shall
become effective on the Effective Date, subject to subsequent approval, within
12 months of its adoption by the Board, by shareholders of the Company eligible
to vote in the election of directors, by a vote sufficient to meet the
requirements of Code Sections 162(m) (if applicable) and 422, Rule 16b-3 under
the Exchange Act (if applicable), applicable requirements under the rules of
any
stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares may be listed
or quoted, and other laws, regulations, and obligations of the Company
applicable to the Plan. Awards may be granted subject to shareholder approval,
but may not be exercised or otherwise settled in the event the shareholder
approval is not obtained. The Plan shall terminate at the earliest of (a) such
time as no Shares remain available for issuance under the Plan, (b) termination
of this Plan by the Board, or (c) the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.
Awards outstanding upon expiration of the Plan shall remain in effect until
they
have been exercised or terminated, or have expired.
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