Registration No. 333-            

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 9, 2012

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware		25-1724540
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
600 Mayer Street Bridgeville, Pennsylvania		15017
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

(Full title of the plan)

 

 

Dennis M. Oates

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc.

600 Mayer Street

Bridgeville, Pennsylvania 15017

(Name and address of agent for service)

(412) 257-7600

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies of all communications to:

Douglas J. Ellis, Esq.

K&L Gates LLP

210 Sixth Avenue

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222

(412) 355-6500

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer		¨		Accelerated filer		x
Non-accelerated filer		¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)		Smaller reporting company		¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of each class of securities to be registered		Amount to be Registered(1)		Proposed maximum offering price per share		Proposed maximum aggregate offering price		Amount of registration fee
Common Stock, par value $.001 per share		712,318		$36.95 (2)		$26,320,150		$3,591

(1)

This Registration Statement also registers additional securities to be offered or issued upon adjustments or changes made to registered securities by reason of any stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions as permitted by Rule 416(a) and Rule 416(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

(2)	Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act. The fee is calculated on the basis of the average of the high and low prices for the Registrant’s Common Stock reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on October 5, 2012.

 

 

 

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PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

 

ITEM 1.

PLAN INFORMATION.*

 

ITEM 2.

REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN INFORMATION*

 

 

*	Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a) prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act and the Note to Part I of Form S-8.

PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

ITEM 3.

INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) are incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement:

 

1.	The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 filed with the Commission on March 6, 2012;

 

2.	The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012 filed with the Commission on May 10, 2012 and August 8, 2012 respectively;

 

3.	The Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed March 23, 2012, May 22, 2012 and August 31, 2012; and

 

4.	The description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained in the Registration Statement filed by the Registrant under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

All documents subsequently filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement, but prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement that indicates that all securities offered by this Registration Statement have been sold or which deregisters all such securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement; provided, however, that the Registrant is not incorporating by reference any information furnished (but not filed) under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K. Each document incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a part of this Registration Statement from the date of filing of such document with the Commission until the information contained therein is superseded or updated by any subsequently filed document that is incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement or by any document that constitutes part of the prospectus relating to the Registrant’s Omnibus Incentive Plan, each meeting the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.

 

ITEM 4.

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5.

INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

Not applicable.

 

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ITEM 6.

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the “DGCL”), provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed legal action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation in such capacity of another corporation or business organization. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such director, officer, employee or agent in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that such person’s conduct was unlawful. A Delaware corporation may indemnify officers and directors in an action by or in the right of a corporation under the same conditions, except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer or director is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him against the expenses that such officer or director actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith.

In addition, Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL enables a corporation in its certificate of incorporation to eliminate or limit the personal liability of a director for monetary damages for violations of a director’s fiduciary duty, except for liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Section 174 of the DGCL (providing for liability of directors for unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock purchases or redemptions) or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

Articles Eleventh and Twelfth of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Article IX, Section 1 of the Registrant’s Amended and Restated By-laws provide for the elimination of personal liability of a director for breach of fiduciary duty as permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL, and provide that the Registrant indemnify its directors and officers to the full extent permitted by Section 145 of the DGCL.

Policies of insurance are maintained by the Registrant under which the officers and directors of the Registrant are insured, within the limits and subject to the limitations of the policies, against certain expenses in connection with the defense of, and certain liabilities which might be imposed as a result of actions, suits or proceedings to which such officers and directors are parties by reason of being or having been such officers or directors.

 

ITEM 7.

EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

Not applicable

 

ITEM 8.

EXHIBITS.

The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated by reference as part of this Registration Statement:

 

Exhibit No.		Description
4.1		Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Registration No. 33-85310).
4.2		Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 27, 2007).
5.1		Opinion of K&L Gates LLP regarding the legality of the shares being registered hereunder (filed herewith).
23.1		Consent of Schneider Downs & Co., Inc., independent registered public accounting firm (filed herewith).
23.2		Consent of K&L Gates LLP (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
24.1		Power of Attorney (included on the signature page to this Registration Statement).
99.1		Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed herewith).

 

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ITEM 9.

UNDERTAKINGS

 

(a)	The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i)

To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement

 

(2)

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3)

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(b)

For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(h)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as

 

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expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-8 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Bridgeville, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on this 9th day of October, 2012.

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person, whose signature appears below, constitutes and appoints Dennis M. Oates and Paul A. McGrath, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the undersigned and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated have signed this Registration Statement below.

 

Signature		Capacity		Date
/s/ Dennis M. Oates Dennis M. Oates		Chairman, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)		October 9, 2012
/s/ Douglas M. McSorley Douglas M. McSorley		Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)		October 9, 2012
/s/ Christopher L. Ayers Christopher L. Ayers		Director		October 9, 2012

 

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Signature		Capacity		Date
/s/ Douglas M. Dunn Douglas M. Dunn		Director		October 9, 2012
/s/ M. David Kornblatt M. David Kornblatt		Director		October 9, 2012
/s/ Udi Toledano Udi Toledano		Director		October 9, 2012

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.		Description
4.1		Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Registration No. 33-85310).
4.2		Amended and Restated By-laws of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 27, 2007).
5.1		Opinion of K&L Gates LLP regarding the legality of the shares being registered hereunder (filed herewith).
23.1		Consent of Schneider Downs & Co., Inc., independent registered public accounting firm (filed herewith).
23.2		Consent of K&L Gates LLP (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
24.1		Power of Attorney (included on the signature page to this Registration Statement).
99.1		Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed herewith).

 

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Exhibit 5.1

October 9, 2012

Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc.

600 Mayer Street

Bridgeville, Pennsylvania 15017

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are counsel to Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and we have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of 712,318 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $.001 per share (the “Shares”), which Shares are to be issued from time to time in connection with the Company’s Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

This opinion is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

You have requested our opinion as to the matters set forth below in connection with the Registration Statement. For purposes of rendering that opinion, we have examined copies of the Plan, the Registration Statement, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, each as amended, and the corporate actions of the Company that provides for the issuance of the Shares, and we have made such other investigation as we have deemed appropriate. We also have examined and relied upon certificates of public officials and, in rendering our opinion, we have made the assumptions that are customary in opinion letters of this kind. We have not verified any of those assumptions.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the additional qualifications and other matters set forth below, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly and validly authorized and reserved for issuance, and that the Shares, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

The opinions expressed in this opinion letter are limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and federal law of the United States. The foregoing opinions are rendered as of the date of this letter. We assume no obligation to update or supplement any of such opinions in order to reflect any changes of law or fact that may occur.

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We are furnishing this opinion letter to you solely in connection with the Registration Statement. You may not rely on this opinion letter in any other connection, and it may not be furnished to or relied upon by any other person for any purpose, without our specific prior written consent. We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement. In giving our consent we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

Very truly yours,

/s/ K&L Gates LLP

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. and Subsidiaries of our report dated March 6, 2012 relating to the consolidated financial statements of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2011 and the financial statement schedule listed as Item 15 (2) and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. and Subsidiaries appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.

/s/ Schneider Downs & Co., Inc.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

October 9, 2012

Exhibit 99.1

UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS, INC.

OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

ARTICLE I

PURPOSE AND ADOPTION OF THE PLAN

1.01. Purpose. The purpose of the Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the “Plan”) is to assist in attracting and retaining highly competent employees, directors and consultants, to act as an incentive in motivating selected employees, directors and consultants of the Company and its Subsidiaries to achieve long-term corporate objectives and to enable stock-based and cash-based incentive awards to qualify as performance-based compensation for purposes of the tax deduction limitations under Section 162(m) of the Code.

1.02. Adoption and Term. The Plan has been approved by the Board to be effective as of May 17, 2012 (the “Effective Date”), subject to the approval of the stockholders of the Company. The Plan shall remain in effect until the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, or until terminated by action of the Board, whichever occurs sooner.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of this Plan, capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:

2.01. Award means any one or a combination of Non-Qualified Stock Options or Incentive Stock Options described in Article VI, Restricted Shares and Restricted Stock Units described in Article VII, other stock-based Awards described in Article VIII, cash-based incentive Awards described in Article IX or any other award made under the terms of the Plan.

2.02. Award Agreement means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant or a written acknowledgment from the Company to a Participant specifically setting forth the terms and conditions of an Award granted under the Plan.

2.03. Award Period means, with respect to an Award, the period of time, if any, set forth in the Award Agreement during which specified target performance goals must be achieved or other conditions set forth in the Award Agreement must be satisfied.

2.04. Beneficiary means an individual, trust or estate who or which, by a written designation of the Participant filed with the Company, or if no such written designation is filed, by operation of law, succeeds to the rights and obligations of the Participant under the Plan and the Award Agreement upon the Participant’s death.

2.05. Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

2.06. Cause unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, shall have the same meaning as that term is defined in a Participant’s offer letter or other applicable employment agreement; or, if there is no such definition, “Cause” means, as determined by the Committee in good faith, (a) willful misconduct in connection with the Participant’s performance of services for the Company or any Subsidiary, or (b) a Participant’s willful failure to perform his or her services in the best interest of the Company, as determined by the Committee, which determination shall be final and conclusive.

2.07. Change in Control means, and shall be deemed to have occurred upon the occurrence of, any one of the following events:

(a) The acquisition in one or more transactions, other than from the Company, by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), other than the Company, a Subsidiary or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or a Subsidiary, of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of a number of the Company’s Voting Securities in excess of 30% of the Company’s Voting Securities;

(b) The consummation (i.e. closing) of a reorganization, merger or consolidation involving the Company, unless, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation, all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the Outstanding Common Stock and the Company’s Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, following such reorganization, merger or consolidation beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or trustees, as the case may be, of the entity resulting from such reorganization, merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Outstanding Common Stock and the Company’s Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, as the case may be;

 

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(c) The consummation (i.e. closing) of a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, unless, following such sale or disposition, all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the respective beneficial owners of the Outstanding Common Stock and the Company’s Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or disposition, following such sale or disposition beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or trustees, as the case may be, of the entity purchasing such assets in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Outstanding Common Stock and the Company’s Voting Securities immediately prior to such sale or disposition, as the case may be; or

(d) A complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

2.08. Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. References to a section of the Code shall include that section and any comparable section or sections of any future legislation that amends, supplements or supersedes said section.

2.09. Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board.

2.10. Common Stock means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share.

2.11. Company means Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

2.12. Company’s Voting Securities means the combined voting power of all outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors to the Board.

2.13. Date of Grant means the date designated by the Committee as the date as of which it grants an Award, which shall not be earlier than the date on which the Committee approves the granting of such Award.

2.14. Dividend Equivalent Account means a bookkeeping account in accordance with Section 10.17 and related to an Award that is credited with the amount of any cash dividends or stock distributions that would be payable with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to such Awards had such shares been outstanding shares of Common Stock.

2.15. Eligible Director means any director of the Company who is not an employee and does not own, individually or together with family members, in excess of 5% of the Outstanding Common Stock.

2.16. Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

2.17. Exercise Price means the amount established by the Committee in the Award Agreement in accordance with Section 6.01(b) which is required to purchase each share of Common Stock upon exercise of an Option.

2.18. Fair Market Value means, on any date, (i) the closing sale price of a share of Common Stock as reported on an established stock exchange on which the Common Stock is regularly traded on such date or, if there were no sales on such date, on the last date preceding such date on which a sale was reported; or (ii) if shares of Common Stock are not listed for trading on an established stock exchange, Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Committee in good faith and otherwise in accordance with Section 409A of the Code, and any regulations and other guidance thereunder.

2.19. Incentive Stock Option means a stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

2.20. Merger means any merger, reorganization, consolidation, exchange, transfer of assets or other transaction having similar effect involving the Company.

2.21. Non-Qualified Stock Option means a stock option which is not an Incentive Stock Option.

2.22. Options means all Non-Qualified Stock Options and Incentive Stock Options granted at any time under the Plan.

2.23. Outstanding Common Stock means, at any time, the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock.

2.24. Participant means a person designated to receive an Award under the Plan in accordance with Section 5.01.

2.25. Performance Goals means (i) net earnings or net income (before or after taxes), (ii) earnings per share or earnings per share growth, total units, or unit growth, (iii) net sales, sales growth, total revenue, or revenue growth, (iv) net operating profit, (v) return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, capital, invested capital, equity, sales, or revenue), (vi) cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on equity, and cash flow return on investment), (vii) earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, and/or amortization, (viii) gross or operating margins, (ix) share price or relative share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return), (x) market share or change in market share, (xi) customer retention or satisfaction, (xii) working capital targets, (xiii) safety performance, and (xiv) quantifiable, objective measures of individual performance relevant to the particular individual’s job responsibilities; any one of such Goals may be measured with respect to the Company or any one or more of its Subsidiaries and divisions and either in absolute terms or as compared to another company or companies.

2.26. Plan has the meaning given to such term in Section 1.01.

 

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2.27. Restricted Shares means Common Stock subject to restrictions imposed in connection with Awards granted under Article VII.

2.28. Restricted Stock Unit means a unit representing the right to receive Common Stock or the value thereof in the future subject to restrictions imposed in connection with Awards granted under Article VII.

2.29. Rule 16b-3 means Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, as the same may be amended from time to time, and any successor rule.

2.30. Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

2.31. Substitute Award means any Award granted in assumption of or in substitution for an award of a company or business acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary or with which the Company or a Subsidiary combined.

2.32. Subsidiary means a subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code.

2.33. Termination of Service means the voluntary or involuntary termination of a Participant’s service as an employee, director or consultant with the Company or a Subsidiary for any reason, including death, disability, retirement or as the result of the divestiture of the Participant’s employer or any similar transaction in which the Participant’s employer ceases to be the Company or one of its Subsidiaries. Whether entering military or other government service shall constitute Termination of Service, or whether and when a Termination of Service shall occur as a result of disability, shall be determined in each case by the Committee in its sole discretion.

ARTICLE III

ADMINISTRATION

3.01. Committee.

(a) Duties and Authority. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee and the Committee shall have exclusive and final authority in each determination, interpretation or other action affecting the Plan and its Participants. The Committee shall have the sole discretionary authority to interpret the Plan, to establish and modify administrative rules for the Plan, to impose such conditions and restrictions on Awards as it determines appropriate, and to make all factual determinations with respect to and take such steps in connection with the Plan and Awards granted hereunder as it may deem necessary or advisable. The Committee shall not, however, have or exercise any discretion that would disqualify amounts payable under the Plan as performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee may delegate such of its powers and authority under the Plan as it deems appropriate to a subcommittee of the Committee or designated officers or employees of the Company. In addition, the full Board may exercise any of the powers and authority of the Committee under the Plan. In the event of such delegation of authority or exercise of authority by the Board, references in the Plan to the Committee shall be deemed to refer, as appropriate, to the delegate of the Committee or the Board. Actions taken by the Committee or any subcommittee thereof, and any delegation by the Committee to designated officers or employees, under this Section 3.01 shall comply with Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the performance-based provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, and the regulations promulgated under each of such statutory provisions, or the respective successors to such statutory provisions or regulations, as in effect from time to time, to the extent applicable.

(b) Indemnification. Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Board or the Committee, or an officer or employee of the Company to whom authority was delegated in accordance with the Plan, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such individual in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his or her own behalf; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnification shall not apply to any loss, cost, liability, or expense that is a result of his or her own willful misconduct. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, conferred in a separate agreement with the Company, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

3.02. Limitation on Vesting for Awards. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, any stock-settled Award granted on or after the Effective Date that vests solely on the basis of the passage of time (e.g., not on the basis of achievement of performance goals) shall not vest more quickly than ratably over a three (3)-year period following the Date of Grant, except that the Award Agreement may reflect, or the Committee may in its discretion provide after the Date of Grant for, earlier or accelerated vesting (on a full or pro rata basis) (i) in the event of the Participant’s death, disability or involuntary Termination of Service, (ii) upon a Change in Control, or (iii) in connection with establishing the terms and conditions of employment of a Participant necessary for the recruitment of the Participant. The provisions of this Section 3.02 shall not apply to (i) any Award that becomes vested based on the achievement of performance goals over a period of at least one year, (ii) Director Option Awards granted under Section 6.02 and any other Awards granted to non-employee directors, (iii) Substitute Awards, or (iv) Awards involving an aggregate number of shares of Common Stock not exceeding 4% of the number of shares available for Awards under the first sentence of Section 4.01.

 

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ARTICLE IV

SHARES

4.01. Number of Shares Issuable. The total number of shares of Common Stock authorized to be issued under the Plan in connection with Awards, including Incentive Stock Option Awards, shall be 712,318. No more than 500,000 shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Plan as Awards under Articles VII and VIII. The foregoing share limits shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 10.07. The shares to be offered under the Plan shall be authorized and unissued Common Stock, or issued Common Stock that shall have been reacquired by the Company.

4.02. Shares Subject to Terminated Awards. If any portion or all of an Award is forfeited, cancelled, exchanged or surrendered or if an Award otherwise terminates or expires without a distribution of shares to the Participant, the shares of Company Stock underlying such Award shall, to the extent of any such forfeiture, cancellation, exchange, surrender, termination or expiration, again be available for Awards under the Plan. In addition, shares of Common Stock surrendered to or withheld by the Company in payment or satisfaction of the Exercise Price of an Option, or tax withholding obligation with respect to an Award shall be available for the grant of new Awards under the Plan. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Awards that may be settled solely in cash shall not be deemed to use any shares of Common Stock which may be issued under the Plan.

4.03. Substitute Awards and Shares Issuable under Acquired Company Plans. Substitute Awards shall not be counted against or otherwise reduce the number of shares available for future issuance under the Plan. In addition, if a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant 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 available for future issuance under the Plan. Awards using such available shares under acquired plans shall not be made after the date awards could have been made under the terms of the acquired plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not eligible to participate in the Plan prior to such acquisition or combination.

ARTICLE V

PARTICIPATION

5.01. Eligible Participants and Award Limits. Participants in the Plan shall be such employees, directors and consultants of the Company and its Subsidiaries as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may designate from time to time. The Committee’s designation of a Participant in any year shall not require the Committee to designate such person to receive Awards or grants in any other year. The designation of a Participant to receive Awards or grants under one portion of the Plan does not require the Committee to include such Participant under other portions of the Plan. The Committee shall consider such factors as it deems pertinent in selecting Participants and in determining the type and amount of their respective Awards. Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 10.07, in any calendar year, no Participant shall be granted stock-based Awards in respect of more than 100,000 shares of Common Stock or cash-based Awards for more than $900,000.

ARTICLE VI

STOCK OPTIONS

6.01. Option Awards.

(a) Grant of Options. The Committee may grant, to such Participants as the Committee may select, Options entitling the Participant to purchase shares of Common Stock from the Company in such number, at such price, and on such terms and subject to such conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan, as may be established by the Committee. The terms of any Option granted under this Plan shall be set forth in an Award Agreement.

(b) Exercise Price of Options. The Exercise Price of each share of Common Stock which may be purchased upon exercise of any Option granted under the Plan shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Date of Grant; provided, however, that the Committee shall have discretion, with respect to a Non-Qualified Stock Option, to establish an Exercise Price at less than the Fair Market Value on the Date of Grant to the extent that such Option is designed to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

(c) Designation of Options. The Committee shall designate, at the time of the grant of each Option, the Option as an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option; provided, however, that an Option may be designated as an Incentive Stock Option only if the applicable Participant is an employee of the Company on the Date of Grant.

(d) Special Incentive Stock Option Rules. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the Option is granted) of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its parent and subsidiary corporations) exceeds $100,000, such Incentive Stock Options shall constitute Non-Qualified Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 6.01(d), Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted. If pursuant to the above, an Incentive Stock Option is treated as an Incentive Stock Option in part and a

 

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Non-Qualified Stock Option in part, the Participant may designate at the time of exercise which portion shall be deemed to be exercised, and in the absence of such express designation in writing, the portion of the Option treated as an Incentive Stock Option shall be deemed to be exercised first. Further, no Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any person who, at the time the Option is granted, owns stock (including stock owned by application of the constructive ownership rules in Section 424(d) of the Code) possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, unless at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted the Exercise Price of the Option is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Incentive Stock Option and the Incentive Stock Option, by its terms, is not exercisable for more than five years from the Date of Grant.

(e) Rights as a Shareholder. A Participant or a transferee of an Option pursuant to Section 10.04 shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to Common Stock covered by an Option until the Participant or transferee shall have become the holder of record of any such shares, and no adjustment shall be made for dividends in cash or other property or distributions or other rights with respect to any such Common Stock for which the record date is prior to the date on which the Participant or a transferee of the Option shall have become the holder of record of any such shares covered by the Option; provided, however, that Participants are entitled to share adjustments to reflect capital changes under Section 10.07.

6.02. Non-discretionary Formula Option Grants to Eligible Directors.

(a) Non-discretionary Formula Option Grants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, and for so long as shares of Common Stock remain available for grant under the Plan, as of each May 31, August 31, November 30 and February 28, occurring on or after the Effective Date, each person who is an Eligible Director on such date and who will continue to serve as an Eligible Director after such date shall automatically be granted Options (“Director Options”) to purchase 2,500 shares of Common Stock.

(b) Exercise Price. The Exercise Price established with respect to any Director Option granted under this Plan shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the Date of Grant.

(c) Exercise Period. The term of each Director Option shall be ten years from the Date of Grant thereof, subject to earlier termination as provided in this Section 6.02. Any Director Option that is not exercised during the applicable term specified in this Section 6.02(c) shall be deemed terminated at the end of the applicable time period and no longer exercisable. In no event may any Director Option be exercised after the expiration date of such Option.

(d) Vesting of Awards. Director Options shall be exercisable by an Eligible Director only to the extent that they have vested. Director Options shall vest based on an Eligible Director’s years of service as follows:

 

Anniversary of Date of Grant		Percentage of Award Available for Exercise (Cumulative)
1			33	%
2			66	%
3			100	%

(e) Effect of Termination of Service or Death. If an Eligible Director ceases to serve as a director of the Company or a Subsidiary, the Director Options that have been previously granted to that Eligible Director and that are vested as of the date of such cessation may be exercised by the Eligible Director during the remainder of the term after the date such Eligible Director ceases to be a director of the Company or Subsidiary. If an Eligible Director ceases to serve as a director of the Company or a Subsidiary due to the Company’s mandatory retirement policy, the Director Options that have been previously granted to that Eligible Director will continue to vest as specified in the vesting schedule set forth in Section 6.02(d) and may be exercised by the Eligible Director during the remainder of the term after the date such Eligible Director ceases to be a director of the Company or Subsidiary. If an Eligible Director dies while a director of the Company or a Subsidiary or subsequent to the Eligible Director retiring due to the mandatory retirement policy, the Director Options that have been previously granted to that Eligible Director and that are vested as of the date of such death may be exercised by the administrator of the Eligible Director’s estate, or by the person to whom such Options are transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution during the remainder of the term. In no event, however, may any Option be exercised after the expiration date of such Option. Any Option or portion thereof that is not exercised during the applicable term shall be deemed terminated at the end of the applicable time period and shall no longer be exercisable.

(f) Limitation on Amendments to Terms of Non-discretionary Grants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, the provisions of this Section 6.02 shall not be amended more than once every six months, other than to comport with changes in the Code, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules thereunder. Any reference to Option or Options in this Section 6.02 shall refer to the Director Options granted to an Eligible Director pursuant to this Section 6.02.

6.03. Terms of Stock Options.

(a) Conditions on Exercise. An Award Agreement with respect to Options may contain such waiting periods, exercise dates and restrictions on exercise (including, but not limited to, periodic installments) as may be determined by the Committee at the time of grant

 

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(b) Duration of Options. Options shall terminate upon the first to occur of the following events:

(i) Expiration of the Option as provided in the Award Agreement; or

(ii) Termination of the Award in the event of a Participant’s disability, retirement, death or other Termination of Service as provided in the Award Agreement; or

(iii) Ten years from the Date of Grant (five years in certain cases, as described in Section 6.01(d)).

(c) Extension of Exercise Time. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the right (but shall not be obligated), exercisable on or at any time after the Date of Grant, to extend the exercise period of an Option beyond the termination or expiration of the Option under the terms of the Award Agreement; provided, in no event shall the exercise period be extended beyond the date set forth in Section 6.03(b)(iii).

(d) Vesting of Awards. An Option may be exercised, and payment shall be made upon exercise of such Option, only to the extent that the Option has vested. Unless otherwise provided in this Plan or under an applicable Award Agreement, an Option shall become exercisable based on the number of full years of service that such Participant has completed with the Company or a Subsidiary since the Date of Grant of the Option, in accordance with the following schedule:

 

Anniversary of Date of Grant		Percentage of Award Available for Exercise (Cumulative)
1			25	%
2			50	%
3			75	%
4			100	%

(e) Effect of Termination of Service. Unless otherwise provided in an applicable Award Agreement or as provided under Section 6.02 with respect to Director Options, no Option may be exercised after the Participant has incurred a Termination of Service except as or as set forth below:

(i) if the Participant’s Termination of Service is for any reason other than death or disability or a termination for Cause, the right to exercise any vested portion of an Option shall terminate on the earlier of (A) three months after such Termination and (B) the expiration of the term of the Option;

(ii) if the Participant dies while providing services to the Company or a Subsidiary, or within three months after the Participant has a Termination of Service for any reason other than for Cause, any vested portion of an Option must be exercised by the administrator of the Participant’s estate, or by the person to whom the Options are transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and shall otherwise terminate on the earlier of (A) one year after the date of death and (B) the expiration of the term of the Option;

(iii) if the Participant become disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) while providing services to the Company or a Subsidiary, any vested portion of an Option must be exercised by and shall otherwise terminate on the earlier of (A) one year after the date the Participant ceases to be an employee of the Company or Subsidiary because of such disability and (B) the expiration of the term of the Option; and

(iv) if the Participant’s Termination of Service is by reason of a discharge by the Company for Cause, the right to exercise any outstanding Option shall terminate immediately upon such Termination of Service.

In no event may any Option be exercised after the expiration of the term of the Option. Any Option or portion thereof that is not exercised during the applicable time period specified above (or any other applicable period specified in an Award Agreement) shall be deemed terminated and no longer exercisable at the expiration of the applicable time period.

6.04. Exercise Procedures. Each Option granted under the Plan shall be exercised prior to the close of business on the expiration date of the Option by notice to the Company or by such other method as provided in the Award Agreement or as the Committee may establish or approve from time to time. The Exercise Price of shares purchased upon exercise of an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid in full in cash by the Participant pursuant to the Award Agreement; provided, however, that the Committee may (but shall not be required to) permit payment to be made (a) by tendering (either by actual delivery or attestation) previously acquired shares of Common Stock, (b) by a “net exercise” method under which the Company reduces the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate Exercise Price, or (c) such other consideration as the Committee deems appropriate and in compliance with applicable law (including payment under an arrangement constituting a brokerage transaction as permitted under the provisions of Regulation T applicable to cashless exercises promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board, unless prohibited by Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002). In the event that any Common Stock shall be transferred to the Company to satisfy all or any part of the Exercise Price, the part of the Exercise Price deemed to have been satisfied by such transfer of Common Stock shall be equal to the product derived by multiplying the Fair Market Value as of the date of exercise times the number of shares of Common Stock transferred to the Company. The Participant may not transfer to the Company in satisfaction of the Exercise Price any fractional share of Common Stock. Any part of the Exercise Price paid in cash upon the exercise of any Option shall be added to the general funds of the Company and may be used for any proper corporate purpose. Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine, any Common Stock transferred to the Company as payment of all or part of the Exercise Price upon the exercise of any Option shall be held as treasury shares.

 

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6.05. Change in Control. With respect to each Award of Options, the Committee shall determine whether and to what extent such Options will become immediately and fully exercisable in the event of a Change in Control or upon the occurrence of one or more specified conditions following a Change in Control. Such provisions relating to the effect of a Change in Control on an outstanding Award of Options shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

ARTICLE VII

RESTRICTED SHARES AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

7.01. Award of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. The Committee may grant to any Participant an Award of Restricted Shares consisting of a specified number of shares of Common Stock issued to the Participant subject to such terms, conditions and forfeiture and transfer restrictions, whether based on performance standards, periods of service, retention by the Participant of ownership of specified shares of Common Stock or other criteria, as the Committee shall establish. The Committee may also grant Restricted Stock Units representing the right to receive shares of Common Stock in the future subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions, whether based on performance standards, periods of service, retention by the Participant of ownership of specified shares of Common Stock or other criteria, as the Committee shall establish. With respect to performance-based Awards of Restricted Shares or Restricted Stock Units intended to qualify as “performance-based” compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code, performance targets will consist of specified levels of one or more of the Performance Goals. The terms of any Restricted Share and Restricted Stock Unit Awards granted under this Plan shall be set forth in an Award Agreement which shall contain provisions determined by the Committee and not inconsistent with this Plan.

7.02. Restricted Shares.

(a) Issuance of Restricted Shares. As soon as practicable after the Date of Grant of a Restricted Share Award by the Committee, the Company shall cause to be transferred on the books of the Company, or its agent, Common Stock, registered on behalf of the Participant, evidencing the Restricted Shares covered by the Award, but subject to forfeiture to the Company as of the Date of Grant if an Award Agreement with respect to the Restricted Shares covered by the Award is not duly executed by the Participant and timely returned to the Company. All Common Stock covered by Awards under this Article VII shall be subject to the restrictions, terms and conditions contained in the Plan and the Award Agreement entered into by the Participant. Until the lapse or release of all restrictions applicable to an Award of Restricted Shares, the share certificates representing such Restricted Shares may be held in custody by the Company, its designee, or, if the certificates bear a restrictive legend, by the Participant. Upon the lapse or release of all restrictions with respect to an Award as described in Section 7.02(d), one or more share certificates, registered in the name of the Participant, for an appropriate number of shares as provided in Section 7.02(d), free of any restrictions set forth in the Plan and the Award Agreement shall be delivered to the Participant.

(b) Stockholder Rights. Beginning on the Date of Grant of the Restricted Share Award and subject to execution of the Award Agreement as provided in Section 7.02(a), the Participant shall become a stockholder of the Company with respect to all shares subject to the Award Agreement and shall have all of the rights of a stockholder, including, but not limited to, the right to vote such shares and the right to receive dividends; provided, however, that any Common Stock distributed as a dividend or otherwise with respect to any Restricted Shares as to which the restrictions have not yet lapsed, shall be subject to the same restrictions as such Restricted Shares and held or restricted as provided in Section 7.02(a).

(c) Restriction on Transferability. None of the Restricted Shares may be assigned or transferred (other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or to an inter vivos trust with respect to which the Participant is treated as the owner under Sections 671 through 677 of the Code, except to the extent that Section 16 of the Exchange Act limits a Participant’s right to make such transfers), pledged or sold prior to lapse of the restrictions applicable thereto.

(d) Delivery of Shares upon Vesting. Upon expiration or earlier termination of the forfeiture period without a forfeiture and the satisfaction of or release from any other conditions prescribed by the Committee, or at such earlier time as provided under the provisions of the applicable Award Agreement, the restrictions applicable to the Restricted Shares shall lapse. As promptly as administratively feasible thereafter, subject to the requirements of Section 10.05, the Company shall deliver to the Participant or, in case of the Participant’s death, to the Participant’s Beneficiary, one or more share certificates for the appropriate number of shares of Common Stock, free of all such restrictions, except for any restrictions that may be imposed by law.

(e) Forfeiture of Restricted Shares. All Restricted Shares shall be forfeited and returned to the Company and all rights of the Participant with respect to such Restricted Shares shall terminate unless the Participant continues in the service of the Company or a Subsidiary as an employee until the expiration of the forfeiture period for such Restricted Shares and satisfies any and all other conditions set forth in the Award Agreement. Subject to Section 3.02, the Committee shall determine the forfeiture period (which may, but need not, lapse in installments) and any other terms and conditions applicable with respect to any Restricted Share Award.

7.03. Restricted Stock Units.

(a) Settlement of Restricted Stock Units. Payments shall be made to Participants with respect to their Restricted Stock Units as soon as practicable after the Committee has determined that the terms and conditions applicable to such Award have been satisfied or at a later date if distribution has been deferred. Payments to Participants with respect to Restricted Stock Units shall be made in the form of Common Stock, or cash or a combination of both, as the Committee may determine. The amount of any cash to be paid in lieu of Common Stock shall be determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date any such payment is processed. As to shares of Common

 

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Stock which constitute all or any part of such payment, the Committee may impose such restrictions concerning their transferability and/or their forfeiture as may be provided in the applicable Award Agreement or as the Committee may otherwise determine, provided such determination is made on or before the date certificates for such shares are first delivered to the applicable Participant.

(b) Stockholder Rights. Until the lapse or release of all restrictions applicable to an Award of Restricted Stock Units, no shares of Common Stock shall be issued in respect of such Awards and no Participant shall have any rights as a stockholder of the Company with respect to the shares of Common Stock covered by such Award of Restricted Stock Units.

(c) Dividend Equivalents. For any Restricted Stock Unit granted under the Plan, the Committee shall have the discretion, upon the Date of Grant or thereafter, to establish a Dividend Equivalent Account with respect to the Restricted Stock Unit, in accordance with Section 10.17.

(d) Deferral of Payment. If approved by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant may elect to defer the amount payable with respect to the Participant’s Restricted Stock Units in accordance with such terms as may be established by the Committee, subject to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

7.04. Change in Control. With respect to each Award of Restricted Shares or Restricted Stock Units, the Committee shall determine whether and to what extent such Award will become immediately and fully vested and nonforfeitable in the event of a Change in Control or upon the occurrence of one or more specified conditions following a Change in Control. Such provisions relating to the effect of a Change in Control on an outstanding Award of Restricted Shares or Restricted Stock Units shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

ARTICLE VIII

OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS

8.01. Grant of Other Stock-Based Awards. Other stock-based awards, consisting of Substitute Awards, stock purchase rights (with or without loans to Participants by the Company containing such terms as the Committee shall determine), Awards of Common Stock, or Awards valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Common Stock, may be granted either alone or in addition to or in conjunction with other Awards under the Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Awards shall be made, the number of shares of Common Stock to be granted pursuant to such Awards, and all other conditions of the Awards. Any such Award shall be confirmed by an Award Agreement executed by the Committee and the Participant, which Award Agreement shall contain such provisions as the Committee determines to be necessary or appropriate to carry out the intent of this Plan with respect to such Award.

8.02. Terms of Other Stock-Based Awards. In addition to the terms and conditions specified in the Award Agreement, Awards made pursuant to this Article VIII shall be subject to the following:

(a) Any Common Stock subject to Awards made under this Article VIII may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered prior to the date on which the shares are issued, or, if later, the date on which any applicable restriction, performance or deferral period lapses;

(b) For any such Award, the Committee shall have the discretion, upon the Date of Grant or thereafter, to establish a related Dividend Equivalent Account, in accordance with Section 10.17; and

(c) Subject to Section 3.02, the Award Agreement with respect to any Award shall contain provisions dealing with the disposition of such Award in the event of a Termination of Service prior to the exercise, payment or other settlement of such Award, with such provisions taking account of the specific nature and purpose of the Award.

ARTICLE IX

CASH-BASED INCENTIVE AWARDS

9.01. Eligibility. Executive officers of the Company who are from time to time determined by the Committee to be “covered employees” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code will be eligible to receive cash-based incentive awards under this Article IX.

9.02. Awards.

(a) Performance Targets. The Committee shall establish objective performance targets based on specified levels of one or more of the Performance Goals. Such performance targets shall be established by the Committee on a timely basis to ensure that the targets are considered “preestablished” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.

                (b) Amounts of Awards. In conjunction with the establishment of performance targets for a fiscal year or such other short-term performance period established by the Committee, the Committee shall adopt an objective formula (on the basis of percentages of Participants’ salaries, shares in a bonus pool or otherwise) for computing the respective amounts payable under the Plan to Participants if and to the extent that the performance targets are attained. Such formula shall comply with the requirements applicable to performance-based compensation plans under Section 162(m) of the Code and, to the extent based on percentages of a bonus pool, such percentages shall not exceed 100% in the aggregate.

 

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(c) Payment of Awards. Awards will be payable to Participants in cash each year upon prior written certification by the Committee of attainment of the specified performance targets for the preceding fiscal year or other applicable performance period.

(d) Negative Discretion. Notwithstanding the attainment by the Company of the specified performance targets, the Committee shall have the discretion, which need not be exercised uniformly among the Participants, to reduce or eliminate the Award that would be otherwise paid.

(e) Guidelines. The Committee may adopt from time to time written policies for its implementation of this Article IX. Such guidelines shall reflect the intention of the Company that all payments hereunder qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

(f) Non-Exclusive Arrangement. The adoption and operation of this Article IX shall not preclude the Board or the Committee from approving other cash-based incentive compensation arrangements for the benefit of individuals who are Participants hereunder as the Board or Committee, as the case may be, deems appropriate and in the best interests of the Company.

ARTICLE X

TERMS APPLICABLE GENERALLY TO AWARDS GRANTED UNDER THE PLAN

10.01. Plan Provisions Control Award Terms. Except as provided in Section 10.16, the terms of the Plan shall govern all Awards granted under the Plan, and in no event shall the Committee have the power to grant any Award under the Plan which is contrary to any of the provisions of the Plan. In the event any provision of any Award granted under the Plan shall conflict with any provision in the Plan as constituted on the Date of Grant of such Award, the provision in the Plan as constituted on the Date of Grant of such Award shall control. Except as provided in Section 10.03 and Section 10.07, the terms of any Award granted under the Plan may not be changed after the Date of Grant of such Award so as to materially decrease the value of the Award without the express written approval of the holder.

10.02. Award Agreement. No person shall have any rights under any Award granted under the Plan unless and until the Company and the Participant to whom such Award shall have been granted shall have executed and delivered an Award Agreement or received any other Award acknowledgment authorized by the Committee expressly granting the Award to such person and containing provisions setting forth the terms of the Award.

10.03. Modification of Award After Grant. No Award granted under the Plan to a Participant may be modified (unless such modification does not materially decrease the value of the Award) after the Date of Grant except by express written agreement between the Company and the Participant, provided that any such change (a) shall not be inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, and (b) shall be approved by the Committee.

10.04. Limitation on Transfer. Except as provided in Section 7.02(c) in the case of Restricted Shares, a Participant’s rights and interest under the Plan may not be assigned or transferred other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and during the lifetime of a Participant, only the Participant personally (or the Participant’s personal representative) may exercise rights under the Plan. The Participant’s Beneficiary may exercise the Participant’s rights to the extent they are exercisable under the Plan following the death of the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent permitted under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act with respect to Participants subject to such Section, the Committee may grant Non-Qualified Stock Options that are transferable, without payment of consideration, to a “family member” as defined in Section A.1.(5) of the general instructions of Form S-8, as may be amended from time to time, and the Committee may also amend outstanding Non-Qualified Stock Options to provide for such transferability.

10.05. Taxes. The Company shall be entitled, if the Committee deems it necessary or desirable, to withhold (or secure payment from the Participant in lieu of withholding) the amount of any withholding or other tax required by law to be withheld or paid by the Company with respect to any amount payable and/or shares issuable under such Participant’s Award, or with respect to any income recognized upon a disqualifying disposition of shares received pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, and the Company may defer payment or issuance of the cash or shares upon exercise or vesting of an Award unless indemnified to its satisfaction against any liability for any such tax. The amount of such withholding or tax payment shall be determined by the Committee and shall be payable by the Participant at such time as the Committee determines in accordance with the following rules:

(a) The Participant shall have the right to elect to meet his or her withholding requirement (i) by having withheld from such Award at the appropriate time that number of shares of Common Stock, rounded down to the next whole share, whose Fair Market Value is equal to the amount of withholding taxes due, (ii) by direct payment to the Company in cash of the amount of any taxes required to be withheld with respect to such Award or (iii) by a combination of shares and cash.

                (b) In the case of Participants who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Committee may impose such limitations and restrictions as it deems necessary or appropriate with respect to the delivery or withholding of shares of Common Stock to meet tax withholding obligations.

10.06. Surrender of Awards. Any Award granted under the Plan may be surrendered to the Company for cancellation on such terms as the Committee and the Award holder approve. With the consent of the Participant, the Committee may substitute a new Award under this Plan in connection with the surrender by the Participant of an equity compensation award previously granted under this Plan or any other plan sponsored by the Company; provided, however, that no such substitution shall be permitted without the approval of the Company’s stockholders if such approval is required by the rules of any applicable stock exchange.

 

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10.07. Adjustments to Reflect Capital Changes.

(a) Recapitalization. In the event of any corporate event or transaction (including, but not limited to, a change in the Common Stock or the capitalization of the Company) such as a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, separation, partial or complete liquidation, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split up, spin-off, or other distribution of stock or property of the Company, a combination or exchange of Common Stock, dividend in kind, or other like change in capital structure, number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, distribution (other than normal cash dividends) to stockholders of the Company, or any similar corporate event or transaction, the Committee, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under this Plan, shall make equitable and appropriate adjustments and substitutions, as applicable, to or of the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards, the Exercise Price for such shares, the number and kind of shares available for future issuance under the Plan and the maximum number of shares in respect of which Awards can be made to any Participant in any calendar year, and other determinations applicable to outstanding Awards. The Committee shall have the power and sole discretion to determine the amount of the adjustment to be made in each case.

(b) Merger. After any Merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation, each Participant shall, at no additional cost, be entitled upon any exercise of all Options or receipt of other Award to receive (subject to any required action by shareholders), in lieu of the number of shares of Common Stock receivable or exercisable pursuant to such Award, the number and class of shares or other securities to which such Participant would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the Merger if, at the time of the Merger, such Participant had been the holder of record of a number of shares equal to the number of shares receivable or exercisable pursuant to such Award. Comparable rights shall accrue to each Participant in the event of successive Mergers of the character described above. Notwithstanding Section 10.15, in the event of a Merger in which the Company is not the surviving corporation, outstanding Awards shall be subject to the agreement governing the Merger, which may provide, without limitation, for the assumption of Awards by the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary, for the substitution by the surviving corporation or its parent or subsidiary of its own awards for such Awards, for accelerated vesting and accelerated expiration, or for settlement in cash or cash equivalents. In any event, the exercise and/or vesting of any Award that was permissible solely by reason of this Section 10.07(b) shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the Merger.

(c) Options to Purchase Shares or Stock of Acquired Companies. After any Merger in which the Company or a Subsidiary shall be a surviving corporation, the Committee may grant substituted Options under the provisions of the Plan, pursuant to Section 424 of the Code, replacing old options granted under a plan of another party to the Merger whose shares or stock subject to the old options may no longer be issued following the Merger. The foregoing adjustments and manner of application of the foregoing provisions shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Any such adjustments may provide for the elimination of any fractional shares which might otherwise become subject to any Options.

10.08. No Right to Continued Service. No person shall have any claim of right to be granted an Award under this Plan. Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any Participant any right to be retained in the service of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

10.09. Awards Not Includable for Benefit Purposes. Payments received by a Participant pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall not be included in the determination of benefits under any pension, group insurance or other benefit plan applicable to the Participant which is maintained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except as may be provided under the terms of such plans or determined by the Board.

10.10. Governing Law. All determinations made and actions taken pursuant to the Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware and construed in accordance therewith.

10.11. No Strict Construction. No rule of strict construction shall be implied against the Company, the Committee, or any other person in the interpretation of any of the terms of the Plan, any Award granted under the Plan or any rule or procedure established by the Committee.

10.12. Compliance with Rule 16b-3. It is intended that, unless the Committee determines otherwise, Awards under the Plan be eligible for exemption under Rule 16b-3. The Board is authorized to amend the Plan and to make any such modifications to Award Agreements to comply with Rule 16b-3, as it may be amended from time to time, and to make any other such amendments or modifications as it deems necessary or appropriate to better accomplish the purposes of the Plan in light of any amendments made to Rule 16b-3.

10.13. Captions. The captions (i.e., all Section headings) used in the Plan are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of the Plan, and shall not be deemed to limit, characterize or affect in any way any provisions of the Plan, and all provisions of the Plan shall be construed as if no captions have been used in the Plan.

        10.14. Severability. Whenever possible, each provision in the Plan and every Award at any time granted under the Plan shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of the Plan or any Award at any time granted under the Plan shall be held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, then (a) such provision shall be deemed amended to accomplish the objectives of the provision as originally written to the fullest extent permitted by law and (b) all other provisions of the Plan and every other Award at any time granted under the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.

10.15. Amendment and Termination.

(a) Amendment. The Board shall have complete power and authority to amend the Plan at any time; provided, however, that the Board shall not, without the requisite affirmative approval of stockholders of the Company, make any amendment which requires stockholder

 

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approval under the Code or under any other applicable law or rule of any stock exchange which lists Common Stock or the Company’s Voting Securities. No termination or amendment of the Plan may, without the consent of the Participant to whom any Award shall theretofore have been granted under the Plan, adversely affect the right of such individual under such Award.

(b) Termination. The Board shall have the right and the power to terminate the Plan at any time. No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the termination of the Plan, but the termination of the Plan shall not have any other effect and any Award outstanding at the time of the termination of the Plan may be exercised after termination of the Plan at any time prior to the expiration date of such Award to the same extent such Award would have been exercisable had the Plan not terminated.

(c) No Repricing Without Stockholder Approval. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the repricing of Options is prohibited without prior approval of the Company’s stockholders. For this purpose, a “repricing” means any of the following (or any other action that has the same effect as any of the following): (i) changing the terms of an Option to lower its Exercise Price; (ii) any other action that is treated as a “repricing” under generally accepted accounting principles; and (iii) repurchasing for cash or canceling an Option at a time when its Exercise Price is greater than the Fair Market Value of the underlying Common Stock in exchange for another Award, unless the cancellation and exchange occurs in connection with a change in capitalization or similar change under Section 10.07 above. Such cancellation and exchange as described in clause (iii) of the preceding sentence would be considered a “repricing” regardless of whether it is treated as a “repricing” under generally accepted accounting principles and regardless of whether it is voluntary on the part of the Participant.

10.16. Foreign Qualified Awards. Awards under the Plan may be granted to such employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries who are residing in foreign jurisdictions as the Committee in its sole discretion may determine from time to time. The Committee may adopt such supplements to the Plan as may be necessary or appropriate to comply with the applicable laws of such foreign jurisdictions and to afford Participants favorable treatment under such laws; provided, however, that no Award shall be granted under any such supplement with terms or conditions inconsistent with the provision set forth in the Plan.

10.17. Dividend Equivalents. For any Award granted under the Plan other than an Option, the Committee shall have the discretion, upon the Date of Grant or thereafter, to establish a Dividend Equivalent Account with respect to the Award, and the applicable Award Agreement or an amendment thereto shall confirm such establishment. If a Dividend Equivalent Account is established, the following terms shall apply:

(a) Terms and Conditions. Dividend Equivalent Accounts shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine and as shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. Such terms and conditions may include, without limitation, for the Participant’s Account to be credited as of the record date of each cash dividend on the Common Stock with an amount equal to the cash dividends which would be paid with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock then covered by the related Award if such shares of Common Stock had been owned of record by the Participant on such record date.

(b) Unfunded Obligation. Dividend Equivalent Accounts shall be established and maintained only on the books and records of the Company and no assets or funds of the Company shall be set aside, placed in trust, removed from the claims of the Company’s general creditors, or otherwise made available until such amounts are actually payable as provided hereunder.

(c) Performance Award Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 10.17 or the Plan to the contrary, amounts credited to a Participant’s Dividend Equivalent Account with respect to any unvested portions of an Award whose vesting is subject to the achievement of specified Performance Goals or other performance-based criteria shall be subject to the same vesting or forfeiture restrictions as the shares or units underlying the Award to which such dividend equivalents relate.

10.18. Adjustment of Performance Goals and Targets. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee shall have the authority to adjust any Performance Goal, performance target or other performance-based criteria established with respect to any Award under the Plan if circumstances occur (including, but not limited to, unusual or nonrecurring events, changes in tax laws or accounting principles or practices or changed business or economic conditions) that cause any such Performance Goal, performance target or performance-based criteria to be inappropriate in the judgment of the Committee; provided, that with respect to any Award that is intended to qualify for the “performance-based compensation” exception under Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, any adjustment by the Committee shall be consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder.

10.19. Legality of Issuance. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan or any applicable Award Agreement to the contrary, the Committee shall have the sole discretion to impose such conditions, restrictions and limitations (including suspending exercises of Options and the tolling of any applicable exercise period during such suspension) on the issuance of Common Stock with respect to any Award unless and until the Committee determines that such issuance complies with (i) any applicable registration requirements under the Securities Act (or the Committee has determined that an exemption therefrom is available), (ii) any applicable listing requirement of any stock exchange on which the Common Stock is listed, (iii) any applicable Corporate policy or administrative rules, and (iv) any other applicable provision of state, federal or foreign law, including foreign securities laws where applicable.

10.20. Restrictions on Transfer. Regardless of whether the offering and sale of Common Stock under the Plan have been registered under the Securities Act or have been registered or qualified under the securities laws of any state, the Company may impose restrictions upon the sale, pledge, or other transfer of such Common Stock (including the placement of appropriate legends on stock certificates) if, in the judgment of the Company and its counsel, such restrictions are necessary or desirable to achieve compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act, the securities laws of any state, the United States or any other applicable foreign law.

10.21. Further Assurances. As a condition to receipt of any Award under the Plan, a Participant shall agree, upon demand of the Company, to do all acts and execute, deliver and perform all additional documents, instruments and agreements which may be reasonably required by the Company, to implement the provisions and purposes of the Plan.

 

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10.22. Compliance with Section 409A. The Plan is intended to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code to the extent an Award is intended to be subject to or otherwise exempt from Section 409A. Consistent with that intent, the Plan shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with Section 409A and in the event that any provision that is necessary for the Plan to comply with Section 409A is determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to have been omitted, such omitted provision shall be deemed included herein and is hereby incorporated as part of the Plan. In addition, and notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Company reserves the right to amend the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan, by action of the Committee, without the consent of any affected Participant, to the extent deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of maintaining compliance with Section 409A of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or in an Award Agreement to the contrary, the following provisions shall apply to any Award that is determined to be subject to, and not otherwise exempt from, Section 409A of the Code:

(a) A Termination of Service shall not be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any provision of such Award providing for payment upon or following a termination of the Participant’s service unless such termination qualifies as a “separation from service” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms with respect to such Award shall mean a “separation from service” under Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Plan or Award Agreement, if the Participant is deemed on the date of the Participant’s Termination of Service to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of that term under Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, then to the extent required to be delayed in compliance with Section 409A(a)(2)(B) of the Code, any payment with respect to the Award shall not be made prior to the earlier of (i) the expiration of the six (6)-month period measured from the date of the Participant’s separation from service, and (ii) the date of the Participant’s death.

(b) If under such Award an amount is to be paid in two or more installments, for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, each installment shall be treated as a separate payment.

10.23. Recovery of Compensation in Connection with Financial Restatement. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or any applicable Award Agreement to the contrary, if the Board determines that the Company is required to restate its financial statements due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the law, whether such noncompliance is the result of misconduct or other circumstances, a Participant shall be required to reimburse the Company for any amounts earned or payable with respect to an Award to the extent required by and otherwise in accordance with applicable law and any Company policies.

 

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