Form 8-K
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
DC 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
To Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Date
of
Report (date of earliest event reported): October
24, 2006
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
(State
or
Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
0-50761
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11-3146460
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(Commission File
Number) |
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(IRS Employer
Identification No.) |
603
Queensbury Avenue, Queensbury, New York
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12804
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(Address of Principal
Executive Offices) |
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(Zip
Code) |
(Registrant's
telephone number, including area code)
Check
the
appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions.
£
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Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
CFR
230.425)
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£
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Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
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£
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR
240.14d-2(b))
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£
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR
240.13e-4(c))
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Item
1.01. Entry
into a Material Definitive Agreement.
On
October 24, 2006, at the 2006 annual meeting of stockholders of AngioDynamics,
Inc. (the "Company"), the Company's stockholders approved an amendment to the
Company's 2004 Stock and Incentive Award Plan (the "2004 Plan"), that increased
the number of shares of the Company's common stock authorized for issuance
under
the 2004 Plan by 1,000,000 shares to 2,000,000 shares.
The
Company's Board of Directors approved the amendment to the 2004 Plan on August
15, 2006, effective upon stockholder approval at the 2006 annual
meeting.
Item
9.01. Financial
Statements and Exhibits.
(d)
Exhibits.
10.1
AngioDynamics,
Inc. 2004 Stock and Incentive Award Plan, as amended.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized.
Date:
October 27, 2006
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ANGIODYNAMICS,
INC.
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(Registrant)
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By:
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/s/
Joseph G. Gerardi
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Joseph
G. Gerardi
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Vice
President, Chief Financial Officer
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EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
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10.1
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AngioDynamics,
Inc. 2004 Stock and Incentive Award Plan, as
amended.
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4
EX-10.1
Exhibit
10.1
ANGIODYNAMICS,
INC.
2004
STOCK AND INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN
(As
amended by the Board of Directors on August 15, 2006)
1. Purposes. The
primary purposes of this Plan are (a) to provide competitive equity incentives
that will enable the Company to attract, retain, motivate and reward persons
who
render services that benefit the Company or other enterprises in which the
Company has a significant interest and (b) to align the interests of such
persons with the interests of the Company's shareholders generally
2. Definitions.
Unless
otherwise required by the context, the following terms, when used in this Plan,
shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 2.
(a) "Affiliate"
means an affiliate as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of
the
Exchange Act.
(b) "Allied
Enterprise" means a business enterprise, other than the Company or a Subsidiary,
in which the Committee determines the Company has a significant interest,
contingent or otherwise. E-Z-EM, Inc. shall be deemed to be an Allied Enterprise
while it is an Affiliate of the Company.
(c) "Appreciation-Only
Award" means (i) Options and Stock Appreciation Rights the exercise price of
which is equal to at least 100% of Fair Market Value on the date on which the
Options or Stock Appreciation Rights are granted, and (ii) Linked Stock
Appreciation Rights that are granted as an alternative to the related Option
after the date of grant of such Option, the exercise price of which Stock
Appreciation Rights is equal to at least 100% of Fair Market Value on the date
on which such Option was granted.
(d) "Award"
means an award granted under this Plan in one of the forms provided for in
Section 3(a).
(e) "Beneficiary"
means a person or entity (including but not limited to a trust or estate),
designated in writing by a Service Provider or other rightful holder of an
Award, on such forms and in accordance with such terms and conditions as the
Committee may prescribe, to whom such Service Provider's or other rightful
holder's rights under the Plan shall pass in the event of the death of such
Service Provider or other rightful holder. In the event that the person or
entity so designated is not living or in existence at the time of the death
of
the Service Provider or other rightful holder of the Award, or in the event
that
no such person or entity has been so designated, the "Beneficiary" shall mean
the legal representative of the estate of the Service Provider or other rightful
holder, or the person or entity to whom the Service Provider's or other rightful
holder's rights with respect to the Award pass by will or the laws of descent
and distribution.
(f) "Board"
or "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company, as
constituted from time to time.
(g) "Change
in Control" means that any of the following events has occurred:
(i) any
Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities
of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially owned by such
Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its Affiliates)
representing more than 40% of
the
combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities, excluding
any Person who becomes such a Beneficial Owner in connection with a transaction
described in clause (A) of paragraph (iii) below; or
(ii) the
following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the
number of directors serving on the Board: individuals who, at the beginning
of
any period of two consecutive years or less (not including any period prior
to
the Effective Date), constitute the Board and any new director (other than
a
director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual
or
threatened election contest, including but not limited to a consent
solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose
appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company's
shareholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3)
of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning
of such period or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was
previously so approved or recommended; or
(iii) there
is
consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or any Subsidiary with
any
other corporation, other than (A) a merger or consolidation which would result
in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such
merger or consolidation continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding
or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity or any
parent thereof), in combination with the ownership of any trustee or other
fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company
or
any Subsidiary, at least 60% of the combined voting power of the securities
of
the Company or such surviving entity or any parent thereof outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation, or (B) a merger or consolidation
effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction)
in which no Person is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly,
of securities of the Company (not including in the securities beneficially
owned
by such Person any securities acquired directly from the Company or its
Affiliates) representing more than 40% or more of the combined voting power
of
the Company's then outstanding securities; or
(iv) the
shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the sale
or
disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets,
other than a sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all
of
the Company's assets to an entity, at least 60% of the combined voting power
of
the voting securities of which are owned by shareholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company immediately
prior to such sale.
For
purposes of the foregoing provisions of this Section 2(g),
(A) the
term
"Beneficial Owner" shall have the meaning set forth in Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act;
(B) the
term
"Effective Date" shall mean the date on which the Plan is effective as provided
in Section 11 hereof; and
(C) the
term
"Person" shall have the meaning given in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act,
as
modified and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, except that such term
shall not include (i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) a trustee
or
other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company
or any of its Affiliates, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities
pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) a
corporation
owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in
substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the
Company.
(h) "Code"
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time
to
time. References to a particular section of the Code shall include references
to
any related Treasury Regulations and to successor provisions of the
Code.
(i) "Committee"
means the committee appointed by the Board of Directors to administer the Plan
pursuant to the provisions of Section 12(a) below.
(j) "Common
Stock" means common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share.
(k) "Company"
means AngioDynamics, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and, except for purposes
of
determining under Section 2(g) hereof whether or not a Change in Control has
occurred, shall include its successors.
(l) "Dollar-Denominated
Awards" means Performance Unit Awards and any other Incentive Award the amount
of which is based on a specified amount of money (other than an amount of money
determined by reference to the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares
of Common Stock). Options and Stock Appreciation Rights are not
Dollar-Denominated Awards.
(m) "Employee"
means any person who is employed by the Company or a Subsidiary on a full-time
or part-time basis, including an officer or director if he is so
employed.
(n) "Exchange
Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to
time.
(o) "Fair
Market Value" on a particular date means as follows:
(i) The
mean
between the high and low sale prices of a share of Common Stock on such date,
as
reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotation System or such other system then in use with regard to the Common
Stock or, if on such date the Common Stock is publicly traded but not quoted
by
any such system, the mean of the closing bid and asked prices of a share of
Common Stock on such date as furnished by a professional market maker making
a
market in the Common Stock; or
(ii) If
in (i)
above, there were no sales on such date reported as provided above, the
respective prices on the most recent prior day on which a sale was so
reported.
In
the
case of an Incentive Stock Option, if the foregoing method of determining fair
market value should be inconsistent with Section 422 of the Code, "Fair Market
Value" shall be determined by the Committee in a manner consistent with Section
422 of the Code and shall mean the value as so determined.
(p) "General
Counsel" means the General Counsel of the Company serving from time to
time.
(q) "Incentive
Award" means an amount of money that is paid or a number of shares of Common
Stock that are issued, or a right to be paid an amount of money or to be issued
a number of shares of Common Stock that is granted, subject to and in accordance
with Section 5 and the other applicable provisions of the Plan. The term
"Incentive Award" does not include Options or Stock Appreciation
Rights.
(r) "Incentive
Stock Option" means an option, including an Option as the context may require,
intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
(s) "Linked
Stock Appreciation Rights" means Stock Appreciation Rights that are linked
to
all or any part of an Option, subject to and in accordance with Section 8(a),
8(b) and the other applicable provisions of the Plan.
(t) "Non-Statutory
Stock Option" means an option, including an Option as the context may require,
which is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
(u) "Option"
means an option granted under this Plan to purchase shares of Common Stock.
Options may be Incentive Stock Options or Non-Statutory Stock
Options.
(v) "Performance-Based
Compensation" means compensation that satisfies the requirements applicable
to
"performance-based compensation" under Code Section 162(m)(4)(C).
(w) "Performance
Share Award" means a right granted subject to and in accordance with Section
5
and the other applicable provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation,
Section 5.II., 5.II.(d), and 6(e)) to receive a specified number of shares
of
Common Stock, and/or an amount of money determined by reference to the Fair
Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock, at a future time
or times if a specified performance goal is attained and any other terms or
conditions specified by the Committee are satisfied.
(x) "Performance
Unit Award" means a right granted subject to and in accordance with Section
5
and the other applicable provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation,
Section 5.II., 5.II.(d), and 6(e)) to receive a specified amount of money (other
than an amount of money determined by reference to the Fair Market Value of
a
specified number of shares of Common Stock), or shares of Common Stock having
a
Fair Market Value equal to such specified amount of money, at a future time
or
times if a specified performance goal is attained and any other terms or
conditions specified by the Committee are attained.
(y) "Plan"
means the AngioDynamics, Inc. Stock and Incentive Award Plan set forth in these
pages, as amended from time to time.
(z) "Restricted
Stock Award" means shares of Common Stock which are issued to a Service Provider
in accordance with Section 5.I. and the other applicable provisions of the
Plan
subject to restrictions and/or forfeiture provisions specified by the Committee
that will cease to apply at a future time or times if continued employment
conditions and/or other terms and conditions specified by the Committee are
satisfied.
(aa) "Restricted
Stock Unit Award" means shares of Common Stock that will be issued to a Service
Provider at a future time or times subject to and in accordance with Section
5.I. below and the other applicable provisions of the Plan if continued
employment conditions and/or other terms and conditions specified by the
Committee are satisfied.
(bb) "SEC
Rule
16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated
under the Exchange Act, as such rule or any successor rule may be in effect
from
time to time.
(cc) "Section
16 Person" means a person subject to potential liability under Section 16(b)
of
the Exchange Act with respect to transactions involving equity securities of
the
Company.
(dd) "Service
Provider" means a person who renders, has rendered or who the Committee expects
to render services that benefit or will benefit the Company or a Subsidiary
or
an Allied Enterprise, in the capacity of employee, director, independent
contractor, agent, advisor, consultant, representative or otherwise, and
includes but is not limited to (i) Employees, (ii) personal service
corporations, limited liability companies and similar entities through which
any
such person renders, has rendered or is expected to render such services, and
(iii) members of the Board who are not Employees.
(ee) "Stock
Appreciation Right" means a right granted subject to and in accordance with
Section 8 and the other applicable provisions of the Plan.
(ff) "Subsidiary"
means a corporation or other form of business association of which shares (or
other ownership interests) having more than 50% of the voting power are owned
or
controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company; provided, however, that
in
the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the term "Subsidiary" shall mean a
Subsidiary (as defined by the preceding clause) which is also a "subsidiary
corporation" as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
3. Grants
of Awards
(a) Subject
to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may at any time, and from time
to
time, grant the following types of awards to any Service Provider:
(i) Incentive
Awards, which may but need not be in the form of Performance Share Awards,
Performance Unit Awards, Restricted Stock Awards, or Restricted Stock Unit
Awards;
(ii) Options;
and
(iii) Stock
Appreciation Rights.
Any
provision above of this Section 3(a) to the contrary notwithstanding, the
Committee may grant Incentive Stock Options only to Service Providers who are
Employees.
(b) After
an
Award has been granted,
(i) the
Committee may waive any term or condition thereof that could have been excluded
from such Award when it was granted, and
(ii) with
the
written consent of the affected participant, may amend any Award after it has
been granted to include (or exclude) any provision which could have been
included in (or excluded from) such Award when it was granted,
and
no
additional consideration need be received by the Company in exchange for such
waiver or amendment.
(c) The
Committee may (but need not) grant any Award linked to another Award, including,
without limitation, Options linked to Stock Appreciation Rights. Linked Awards
may be granted as either alternatives or supplements to one another. The terms
and conditions of any such linked Awards shall be determined by the Committee,
subject to the provisions of the Plan.
(d) No
Service Provider shall acquire any rights in or to or with respect to any Award
unless and until a written instrument signed by an officer of the Company and
setting forth the terms and conditions of such Award is delivered to him and
returned to the designated Company representative subscribed by the Service
Provider within the time, if any, prescribed therefore by the Committee or
its
delegate. Any such instrument shall be consistent with this Plan and incorporate
it by reference. Subscribing such instrument and returning it to the designated
Company representative as aforesaid shall constitute the Service Provider's
irrevocable agreement to and acceptance of the terms and conditions of the
Award
set forth in such instrument and of the Plan applicable to such
Award.
(e) The
Committee may grant Awards that qualify as Performance-Based Compensation,
as
well as Awards that do not qualify as Performance-Based Compensation. Any
provision of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, the Plan shall be
interpreted, administered and construed to permit the Committee to grant Awards
that qualify as Performance-Based Compensation as well as Awards that do not
so
qualify, and any provision of the Plan that cannot be so interpreted,
administered or construed shall to that extent be disregarded.
(f) The
Plan
is intended to enable the Committee to grant Options that qualify for the tax
treatment applicable to incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code,
as well as Options and other Awards that do not qualify for such tax treatment.
Any provision of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, the Plan shall be
interpreted, administered and construed to enable the Committee to grant Options
that qualify for the tax treatment applicable to incentive stock options under
Section 422 of the Code as well as Options and other Awards that do not qualify
for such tax treatment, and any provision of the Plan that cannot be so
interpreted, administered or construed shall to that extent be
disregarded.
4. Stock
Subject to this Plan; Award Limits
(a) Subject
to the provisions below of Sections 4(c) and 4(d) and Section 10,
(i) the
maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued pursuant
to Awards is 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock. Not more than 80% of such maximum
aggregate number of shares may be issued pursuant to Options that are Incentive
Stock Options; and
(ii) the
maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Options or Stock
Appreciation Rights may be granted during any calendar year to any Employee
or
other Service Provider is 200,000 shares of Common Stock; and
(iii) the
maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which any and all
Awards other than Appreciation-Only Awards and Dollar-Denominated Awards may
be
granted in any one calendar year to any Employee or other Service Provider
is
100,000 shares of Common Stock; and
(iv) no
Employee or other Service Provider may receive more than $400,000 dollars (or
the equivalent thereof in shares of Common Stock, based on Fair Market Value
on
the date as of which the number of shares is determined) in payment of
Dollar-Denominated Awards that are granted to such Employee or other Service
Provider in any one calendar year.
If,
after
any Award is earned or exercised, the issuance or transfer of shares of Common
Stock or money is deferred, any amounts equivalent to dividends or other
earnings during the deferral period (including shares which may be distributed
in payment of any such amounts) shall be disregarded in applying the
per
Employee
or other Service Provider limitations set forth above in clauses (ii), (iii)
and
(iv) of this Section 4(a). If, in connection with an acquisition of another
company or all or part of the assets of another company by the Company or a
Subsidiary, or in connection with a merger or other combination of another
company with the Company or a Subsidiary, the Company either (A) assumes stock
options or other stock incentive obligations of such other company, or (B)
grants stock options or other stock incentives in substitution for stock options
or other stock incentive obligations of such other company, then none of the
shares of Common Stock that are issuable or transferable pursuant to such stock
options or other stock incentives that are assumed or granted in substitution
by
the Company shall be charged against the limitations set forth in this Section
4(a) above.
(b) Shares
which may be issued pursuant to Awards may be authorized but unissued shares
of
Common Stock, or shares of Common Stock held in the treasury, whether acquired
by the Company specifically for use under this Plan or otherwise, as the
Committee may from time to time determine, provided, however, that any shares
acquired or held by the Company for the purposes of this Plan shall, unless
and
until issued to a Service Provider or other rightful holder of an Award in
accordance with the terms and conditions of such Award, be and at all times
remain treasury shares of the Company, irrespective of whether such shares
are
entered in a special account for purposes of this Plan, and shall be available
for any corporate purpose.
(c) Subject
to Section 4(e) below, the maximum aggregate number of shares set forth in
Section 4(a)(i) above shall be charged only for the number of shares which
are
actually issued under the Plan; if any shares of Common Stock subject to an
Award shall not be issued to a Service Provider and shall cease to be issuable
to a Service Provider because of the termination, expiration, forfeiture or
cancellation, in whole or in part, of such Award or the settlement of such
Award
in cash or for any other reason, or if any such shares shall, after issuance,
be
reacquired by the Company because of a Service Provider's failure to comply
with
the terms and conditions of an Award, the shares not so issued, or the shares
so
reacquired by the Company, as the case may be, shall no longer be charged
against the limitations provided for in Section 4(a)(i) above and may again
be
made subject to Awards.
(d) Subject
to Section 4(e) below, if the purchase price of shares subject to an Option
is
paid in shares of Common Stock in accordance with the provisions of clause
(iv)
of Section 7(b) below, or if shares of Common Stock that are issued or issuable
pursuant to an Award are withheld by the Company in accordance with Section
13(e) below in full or partial satisfaction of withholding taxes due in respect
of the Award or the grant, exercise, vesting, distribution or payment of the
Award, the number of shares surrendered to the Company in payment of the
purchase price of the shares subject to the Option, or the number of shares
that
are withheld by the Company in payment of such withholding taxes, shall be
added
back to the maximum aggregate number of shares which may be issued pursuant
to
Awards under Section 4(a)(i) above, so that the maximum aggregate number of
shares which may be issued pursuant to Awards under Section 4(a)(i) above shall
have been charged only for the net number of shares that were issued by the
Company pursuant to the Option exercise or the Award.
(e) If
and to
the extent that the General Counsel determines that Section 4(c) or Section
4(d)
above or Section 8(f) below shall cause the Company or the Plan to fail to
satisfy any NASDAQ rules or listing standards that apply to the Company from
time to time, or shall prevent Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan
from qualifying as Incentive Stock Options under Code Section 422, then to
that
extent (and only to that extent) Section 4(c), Section 4(d) or Section 8(f)
shall be disregarded.
5. Incentive
Awards
I. Generally.
Incentive Awards shall be subject to the following provisions:
(a) Incentive
Awards may be granted in lieu of, or as a supplement to, any other compensation
that may have been earned by the Service Provider prior to the date on which
the
Incentive Award is granted. The amount of an Incentive Award may be based upon
(i) a specified number of shares of Common Stock or the Fair Market Value of
a
specified number of shares of Common Stock, or (ii) an amount not determined
by
reference to the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common
Stock. Any Incentive Award may be paid in the form of money or shares of Common
Stock valued at their Fair Market Value on the payment date, or a combination
of
money and such shares, as the Committee may provide. Performance Share Awards,
Performance Unit Awards, Restricted Stock Awards and Restricted Stock Unit
Awards are specific forms of Incentive Awards, but are not the only forms in
which Incentive Awards may be made.
(b) Any
shares of Common Stock that are to be issued pursuant to an Incentive Award,
and
any money to be paid in respect of an Incentive Award, may be issued or paid
to
the Service Provider at the time such Award is granted, or at any time
subsequent thereto, or in installments from time to time, as the Committee
shall
determine. In the event that any such issuance or payment shall not be made
to
the Service Provider at the time an Incentive Award is granted, the Committee
may but need not provide that, until such shares are issued or money is paid
in
respect of the Award or until the Award is forfeited, and subject to such terms
and conditions as the Committee may impose, the Award shall earn amounts
equivalent to interest, dividends or another investment return specified by
the
Committee, which amounts may be paid as earned or deferred and reinvested,
and
which amounts may be paid either in money or shares of Common Stock, all as
the
Committee may provide.
(c) Incentive
Awards shall be subject to such terms and conditions, including, without
limitation, restrictions on the sale or other disposition of the shares issued
or transferred pursuant to such Award, and conditions calling for forfeiture
of
the Award or the shares issued pursuant thereto in designated circumstances,
as
the Committee may determine; provided, however, that upon the issuance of shares
pursuant to any such Award, the recipient shall, with respect to such shares,
be
and become a shareholder of the Company fully entitled to receive dividends,
to
vote and to exercise all other rights of a shareholder except to the extent
otherwise provided in the Award. In the case of a Restricted Stock Award, the
recipient shall pay the par value of the shares to be issued pursuant to the
Award unless such payment is not required by applicable law.
II. Performance
Share Awards and Performance Unit Awards
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee may grant any Service
Provider a Performance Share Award and/or a Performance Unit Award. The
Committee may but need not provide that a specified portion of the Performance
Share Award or Performance Unit Award will be earned if the specified
performance goal applicable to the Award is partially attained.
(b) Subject
to Section 6(b) below, the specified performance goal applicable to a
Performance Share Award or Performance Unit Award may but need not consist,
without limitation, of any one or more of the following: completion of a
specified period of employment with or other service that benefits the Company
or a Subsidiary or an Allied Enterprise, achievement of financial or operational
goals, and/or the occurrence of a specified circumstance or event. The
performance goal applicable to Performance Share Awards and Performance Unit
Awards, and the other terms and conditions of such awards need not be the same
for each award or each Service Provider to whom an award is granted. A Service
Provider may (but need not) be granted Performance Share Awards and Performance
Unit Awards each year, and the performance period applicable to any such Award
may overlap with one or more years included in the performance period applicable
to any earlier- or later-granted Award. Subject to Section 6(d) below, the
Committee may retain discretion to adjust the determinations of the degree
of
attainment
of the performance objectives applicable to Performance Share Awards and
Performance Unit Awards.
(c) Subject
to Section 6(e) below, the Committee may but need not provide that, if the
Service Provider's death or disability or another circumstance or event
specified by the Committee occurs before the performance goal applicable to
a
Performance Share Award or Performance Unit Award is attained, and irrespective
of whether the performance goal is thereafter attained, the Performance Share
Award or Performance Unit Award will be earned in whole or in part (as the
Committee may specify).
(d) The
Committee may but need not provide for a Service Provider's Performance Share
Award or Performance Unit Award to be forfeited in whole or in part if such
Participant's employment by or other service that benefits the Company, a
Subsidiary or an Allied Enterprise terminates for any reason before shares
are
issued or money is paid (as applicable) in full settlement of such Performance
Share Award or Performance Unit Award.
(e) Except
as
otherwise provided in the instrument evidencing a Performance Share Award or
Performance Unit Award, Performance Share Awards and Performance Unit Awards
may
not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or
hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution
or
to a Beneficiary.
6. Performance
Measures and Other Provisions Applicable to Performance-Based Compensation
Awards
(a) Awards
that the Committee intends to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall
be
granted and administered in a manner that will enable such Awards to qualify
as
Performance-Based Compensation.
(b) The
performance goal applicable to any Award (other than an Appreciation-Only Award)
that the Committee intends to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall
be
based on earnings per share, total shareholder return, or any one or more of
the
following performance measures on a consolidated Company, business unit or
divisional level, or by product or product line, as the Committee may specify:
net sales, net income, operating income, return on equity, return on capital,
or
cash flow. The Committee shall select the performance measure or measures on
which the performance goal applicable to any such Award shall be based and
shall
establish the levels of performance at which such Award is to be earned in
whole
or in part. Any such performance measure or combination of such performance
measures may apply to the Service Provider's Award in its entirety or to any
designated portion or portions of the Award, as the Committee may specify.
The
foregoing performance measures shall be determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAPs") to the extent that GAAPs define such
performance measures, and otherwise shall be determined in accordance with
any
customary and reasonable definition the Committee approves. However,
notwithstanding the preceding sentence, unless the Committee determines
otherwise prior to payment of an Award to which this Section 6(b) applies,
and
subject to any exercise of "negative discretion" by the Committee,
extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items; discontinued operations; effects
of accounting changes; effects of currency fluctuations; effects of financing
activities (by way of example, without limitation, effect on earnings per share
of issuing convertible debt securities); expenses for restructuring or
productivity initiatives; non-operating items; effects of acquisitions and
acquisition expenses; and effects of divestitures and divestiture expenses,
any
of which affect any performance goal applicable to such Award (including,
without limitation, earnings per share but excluding total shareholder return)
shall be automatically excluded or included in determining the extent to which
the performance goal has been achieved, whichever will produce the higher Award.
(c) Any
provision of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, but subject to Section
6(e), Section 9 and Section 10 below, Awards to which Section 6(b) above applies
shall (i) "be paid solely on account of the attainment of one or more
preestablished, objective performance goals" (within the meaning of Treasury
Regulation 1.162-27(e)(2) or its successor) over a period of one year or longer,
which performance goals shall be based upon one or more of the performance
measures set forth in Section 6(b) above, and (ii) be subject to such other
terms and conditions as the Committee may impose.
(d) The
terms
of the performance goal applicable to any Award to which Section 6(b) above
applies shall preclude discretion to increase the amount of compensation that
would otherwise be due upon attainment of the goal.
(e) An
Award
to which Section 6(b) above applies may be earned in whole or in part if the
Service Provider's death or disability or a Change in Control or another
circumstance or event specified by the Committee occurs before the performance
goal applicable to the Award is attained, and irrespective of whether the
performance goal applicable to the Award is thereafter attained, but only if
and
to the extent that (i) the Committee so provides with respect to such Award,
and
(ii) the Award will nevertheless qualify as Performance-Based Compensation
if
the performance goal applicable to such Award is attained and the Service
Provider's death or disability, a Change in Control or any such other
circumstance or event specified by the Committee does not occur.
7. Options.
Options
shall be subject to the following provisions and such other terms and
conditions, consistent with the following provisions, as the Committee may
provide in the instrument evidencing the Options:
(a) Subject
to the provisions of Section 10, the purchase price per share shall be, in
the
case of an Incentive Stock Option, not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value
of a share of Common Stock on the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted
(or
in the case of any optionee who, at the time such Incentive Stock Option is
granted, owns stock possessing more than 10 percent of the total combined voting
power of all classes of stock of his employer corporation or of its parent
or
subsidiary corporation, not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share
of Common Stock on the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted) and, in
the
case of a Non-Statutory Stock Option, not less than the par value of a share
of
Common Stock on the date the Non-Statutory Stock Option is granted. Subject
to
the foregoing limitations, the purchase price per share may, if the Committee
so
provides at the time of grant of an Option, be indexed to the increase or
decrease in an index specified by the Committee.
(b) The
purchase price of shares subject to an Option may be paid in whole or in part
(i) in money, (ii) by bank-certified, cashier's or personal check subject to
collection, (iii) if so provided in the Option and subject to Section 402 of
the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 as amended from time to time and subject to such
terms and conditions as the Committee may impose, by delivering to the Company
a
properly executed exercise notice together with a copy of irrevocable
instructions to a stockbroker to sell immediately some or all of the shares
acquired by exercise of the option and to deliver promptly to the Company an
amount of sale proceeds (or, in lieu of or pending a sale, loan proceeds)
sufficient to pay the purchase price, or (iv) if so provided in the Option
and
subject to such terms and conditions as may be specified in the Option, in
shares of Common Stock which have been owned by the optionee for at least six
months or which were acquired on the open market and which are surrendered
to
the Company actually or by attestation. Shares of Common Stock thus surrendered
shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise.
(c) Options
may be granted for such lawful consideration, including but not limited to
money
or other property, tangible or intangible, or labor or services received or
to
be received by the Company, a
Subsidiary
or an Allied Enterprise, as the Committee may determine when the Option is
granted. The consideration for the grant of options may consist of the discharge
of an obligation of the Company or an Affiliate. Subject to the foregoing and
the other provisions of this Section 7, each Option may be exercisable in full
at the time of grant or may become exercisable in one or more installments
and
at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Committee
may determine. Without limiting the foregoing, an Option may (but need not)
provide by its terms that it will become exercisable in whole or in part upon
the completion of specified periods of service or earlier achievement of one
or
more performance objectives specified therein, or that it will become
exercisable only if one or more performance goals specified therein are
achieved. The Committee may at any time accelerate the date on which an Option
becomes exercisable, and no additional consideration need be received by the
Company in exchange for such acceleration. Unless otherwise provided in the
instrument evidencing the Option, an Option, to the extent it becomes
exercisable, may be exercised at any time in whole or in part until the
expiration or termination of the Option.
(d) Subject
to Section 13(a) below, each Option shall be exercisable during the life of
the
optionee only by him or his guardian or legal representative, and after death
only by his Beneficiary. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan,
(i)
no Option shall be exercisable after the tenth anniversary of the date on which
the Option was granted, and (ii) no Incentive Stock Option which is granted
to
any optionee who, at the time such Option is granted, owns stock possessing
more
than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
of
his employer corporation or of its parent or subsidiary corporation, shall
be
exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date such Option
is
granted. If an Option is granted for a term of less than ten years, the
Committee may, at any time prior to the expiration of the Option, extend its
term for a period ending not later than on the tenth anniversary of the date
on
which the Option was granted, and no additional consideration need be received
by the Company in exchange for such extension. Subject to the foregoing
provisions of this Section 7(d), the Committee may but need not provide for
an
Option to be exercisable after termination of the Service Provider's employment
or other service for any period and subject to any terms and conditions that
the
Committee may determine.
(e) An
Option
may, but need not, be an Incentive Stock Option; provided that the aggregate
Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the option is granted) of the
stock
with respect to which Incentive Stock Options may be exercisable for the first
time by any Employee during any calendar year (under all plans, including this
Plan, of his employer corporation and its parent and subsidiary corporations)
shall not exceed $100,000 unless the Code is amended to allow a higher dollar
amount.
(f) Shares
purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option shall be issued to the person
exercising the Option as soon as practicable after the Option is properly
exercised. However, the Committee may (but need not) permit the person
exercising an Option to elect to defer the issuance of shares purchased pursuant
to the exercise of the Option on such terms and subject to such conditions
and
for such periods of time as the Committee may in its discretion provide. In
the
event of such deferral, the Committee may (but need not) pay the person who
exercised the Option amounts equivalent to any dividends paid on or reinvested
in such shares during the deferral period. Such amounts may be paid in cash
or
shares, as the Committee may provide.
(g) The
Committee shall not have the authority to reduce the exercise price of
outstanding Options, except as permitted by Section 10 below (relating to
adjustments for changes in capitalization and similar adjustments).
(h) No
Employee shall make any elective contribution or employee contribution to the
Plan (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section
1.401(k)-1(d)(2)(iv)(B)(4) or a successor thereto) during the six months after
the Employee's receipt of a hardship distribution from a plan of the
Company
or
a
related party within the provisions of Code Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o)
containing a cash or deferred arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Code.
The
preceding sentence shall not apply if and to the extent that the General Counsel
determines it is not necessary to qualify any such plan as a cash or deferred
arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Code.
(i) No
option
shall be exercisable unless and until the Company (i) obtains the approval
of
all regulatory bodies whose approval the General Counsel may deem necessary
or
desirable, and (ii) complies with all legal requirements deemed applicable
by
the General Counsel.
(j) An
Option
shall be considered exercised if and when written notice, signed by the person
exercising the Option and stating the number of shares with respect to which
the
Option is being exercised, is received by the designated representative of
the
Company on a properly completed form approved for this purpose by the Committee,
accompanied by full payment of the Option exercise price in one or more of
the
forms authorized in the instrument evidencing such Option and described in
Section 7(b) above for the number of shares to be purchased. No Option may
at
any time be exercised with respect to a fractional share unless the instrument
evidencing such Option expressly provides otherwise.
8. Stock
Appreciation Rights.
Stock
Appreciation Rights shall be subject to such terms and conditions, not
inconsistent with the Plan, as shall from time to time be determined by the
Committee and to the following terms and conditions:
(a) Stock
Appreciation Rights that are granted under the Plan may be linked to all or
any
part of an Option ("Linked Stock Appreciation Rights"), or may be granted
without any linkage to an Option ("Free-Standing Stock Appreciation Rights").
Linked Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted on the date of grant of the
related Option or on any date thereafter, as the Committee may
determine.
(b) Linked
Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted either as an alternative or a
supplement to the Option to which they are linked (the "related" Option). Linked
Stock Appreciation Rights that are granted as an alternative to the related
Option may only be exercised when the related Option is exercisable, and at
no
time may a number of such Linked Stock Appreciation Rights be exercised that
exceeds the number of shares with respect to which the related Option is then
exercisable. Upon exercise of Linked Stock Appreciation Rights that are granted
as an alternative to an Option, the holder shall be entitled to receive the
amount determined pursuant to Section 8(e) below. Exercise of each such Linked
Stock Appreciation Right shall cancel the related Option with respect to one
share of Common Stock purchasable under the Option. Linked Stock Appreciation
Rights that are granted as a supplement to the related Option shall entitle
the
holder to receive the amount determined pursuant to Section 8(e) below if and
when the holder purchases shares under the related Option or at any subsequent
time specified in the instrument evidencing such Stock Appreciation
Rights.
(c) Stock
Appreciation Rights may be granted for such lawful consideration, including
but
not limited to money or other property, tangible or intangible, or labor or
services received or to be received by the Company, a Subsidiary or an Allied
Enterprise, as the Committee may determine when the Stock Appreciation Rights
are granted. The consideration for the grant of Stock Appreciation Rights may
consist of the discharge of an obligation of the Company or an Affiliate. .
Subject to the foregoing and the other provisions of this Section 8, Stock
Appreciation Rights may be exercisable in full at the time of grant or may
become exercisable in one or more installments and at such time or times and
subject to such terms and conditions, as the Committee may determine. Without
limiting the foregoing, Stock Appreciation Rights may (but need not) provide
by
their terms that they will become exercisable in whole or in part upon the
completion of specified periods of service or earlier achievement of one or
more
specified performance objectives, or that they will become exercisable only
if
one or more specified performance goals are achieved. The Committee may at
any
time accelerate the date on which Stock
Appreciation
Rights become exercisable, and no additional consideration need be received
by
the Company in exchange for such acceleration. Unless otherwise provided in
the
Plan or the instrument evidencing the Stock Appreciation Rights, Stock
Appreciation Rights, to the extent they become exercisable, may be exercised
at
any time in whole or in part until they expire or terminate.
(d) No
Free-Standing Stock Appreciation Rights or Linked Stock Appreciation Rights
that
are granted as a supplement to the related Option shall be exercisable after
the
tenth anniversary of the date on which the Stock Appreciation Rights were
granted, and no Linked Stock Appreciation Rights that are granted as an
alternative to the related Option shall be exercisable after the related Option
ceases to be exercisable. If the Committee grants Stock Appreciation Rights
for
a lesser term than that permitted by the preceding sentence, the Committee
may,
at any time prior to expiration of the Stock Appreciation Rights, extend their
term to the maximum term permitted by the preceding sentence, and no additional
consideration need be received by the Company in exchange for such extension.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 8(d), the Committee may
but
need not provide for Stock Appreciation Rights to be exercisable after
termination of the Service Provider's employment or other service for any period
and subject to any terms and conditions that the Committee may
determine.
(e) Upon
exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights, the holder thereof shall be entitled
to
receive an amount of money, or a number shares of Common Stock that have a
Fair
Market Value on the date of exercise of such Stock Appreciation Rights, or
a
combination of money and shares valued at Fair Market Value on such date, as
the
Committee may determine, equal to the amount by which the Fair Market Value
of a
share of Common Stock on the date of such exercise exceeds the Exercise Price
(as hereafter defined) of the Stock Appreciation Rights, multiplied by the
number of Stock Appreciation Rights exercised; provided that in no event shall
a
fractional share be issued unless the instrument evidencing such Stock
Appreciation Rights expressly provides otherwise. In the case of Linked Stock
Appreciation Rights that are granted as an alternative to the related Option,
the Exercise Price shall be the price at which shares may be purchased under
the
related Option. In the case of Linked Stock Appreciation Rights that are granted
as a supplement to the related Option, and in the case of Free-Standing Stock
Appreciation Rights, the Exercise Price shall be the Fair Market Value of a
share of Common Stock on the date the Stock Appreciation Rights were granted,
unless the Committee specified a different price when the Stock Appreciation
Rights were granted (which shall not be less than the par value of the Common
Stock).
(f) Subject
to Section 4(e) above, (i) the limitations set forth in Section 4(a)(i) above
shall be charged only for the number of shares which are actually issued in
settlement of Stock Appreciation Rights; and (ii) in the case of an exercise
of
Linked Stock Appreciation Rights that were granted as an alternative to the
related Option, if the number of shares of Common Stock previously charged
against such limitations on account of the portion of the Option that is
cancelled in connection with such exercise in accordance with Section 8(b)
exceeds the number of shares (if any) actually issued pursuant to such exercise,
the excess may be added back to the maximum aggregate number of shares available
for issuance under the Plan.
(g) Subject
to Section 13(a) below, Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable during
the life of the Service Provider only by him or his guardian or legal
representative, and after death only by his Beneficiary.
(h) The
Committee shall not have the authority to reduce the exercise price of
outstanding Stock Appreciation Rights, except as permitted by Section 10 below
(relating to adjustments for changes in capitalization and similar
adjustments).
9. Certain
Change in Control, Termination of Service, Death and Disability
Provisions.
The
Committee may at any time, and subject to such terms and conditions as it may
impose:
(a) authorize
the holder of an Option or Stock Appreciation Rights to exercise the Option
or
Stock Appreciation Rights (i) on and after a Change in Control, or (ii) after
the termination of the participant's employment or other applicable service
that
benefits the Company or a Subsidiary or an Allied Enterprise, or (iii) after
the
participant's death or disability, whether or not the Option or Stock
Appreciation Rights would otherwise be or become exercisable on or after any
such event, provided that in no event may an Option or Stock Appreciation Rights
be exercised after the expiration of their term;
(b) grant
Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, which become exercisable only in the
event of a Change in Control;
(c) provide
for Stock Appreciation Rights to be exercised automatically and only for money
in the event of a Change in Control;
(d) authorize
any Award to become non-forfeitable, fully earned and payable (i) upon a Change
in Control, or (ii) after the termination of the Service Provider's employment
with or other applicable service that benefits the Company or a Subsidiary
or an
Allied Enterprise, or (iii) after the Service Provider's death or disability,
whether or not the Award would otherwise be or become non-forfeitable, fully
earned and payable upon or after any such event;
(e) grant
Awards which become non-forfeitable, fully earned and payable only in the event
of a Change in Control; and
(f) provide
in advance or at the time of a Change in Control for money to be paid in
settlement of any Award in the event of a Change in Control, either at the
election of the participant or at the election of the Committee.
10. Adjustment
Provisions.
In the
event that any recapitalization, or reclassification, split-up, reverse split,
or consolidation of shares of Common Stock shall be effected, or the outstanding
shares of Common Stock shall be, in connection with a merger or consolidation
of
the Company or a sale by the Company of all or a part of its assets, exchanged
for a different number or class of shares of stock or other securities or
property of the Company or any other entity or person, or a spin-off or a record
date for determination of holders of Common Stock entitled to receive a dividend
or other distribution payable in Common Stock or other property (other than
normal cash dividends) shall occur, (a) the maximum aggregate number and the
class of shares or other securities or property that may be issued in accordance
with Section 4(a)(i) above pursuant to Awards thereafter granted, (b) the
maximum number and the class of shares or other securities or property with
respect to which Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, or Awards other than
Appreciation-Only Awards and Dollar-Denominated Awards, may be granted during
any calendar year to any Employee or other Service Provider pursuant to Section
4(a)(ii) or 4(a)(iii) above, (c) the number and the class of shares or other
securities or property that may be issued or transferred under outstanding
Awards, (d) the purchase price to be paid per share under outstanding and future
Awards, and (e) the price to be paid per share by the Company or a Subsidiary
for shares or other securities or property issued pursuant to Awards which
are
subject to a right of the Company or a Subsidiary to reacquire such shares
or
other securities or property, shall in each case be equitably adjusted; provided
that with respect to Incentive Stock Options any such adjustments shall comply
with Sections 422 and 424 of the Code.
11. Effective
Date and Duration of Plan.
The Plan
shall be effective on the date on which the shareholders of the Company approve
it either (a) at a duly held stockholders' meeting, or (b) by the written
consent of the holders of a majority of the securities of the Company entitled
to vote, in accordance with any applicable provisions of the Delaware General
Corporation Law. If the Plan is not so approved by shareholders, the Plan shall
be null, void and of no force or effect. If so approved, Awards may be granted
within ten years after the date of such approval by shareholders, but not
thereafter. In no event shall an Incentive Stock Option be granted under the
Plan more than ten (10) years from the date the Plan is adopted by the Board,
or
the date the Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Company, whichever
is
earlier.
12. Administration.
(a) The
Plan
shall be administered by a committee of the Board consisting of two or more
directors appointed from time to time by the Board. No person shall be appointed
to or shall serve as a member of such committee unless at the time of such
appointment and service he shall satisfy any director independence requirements
then applicable to service on such committee under any NASDAQ rules or listing
standards that apply to the Company at such time. Unless the Board determines
otherwise, such committee shall also be comprised solely of "outside directors"
within the meaning of Section 162(m)(4)(C)(i) of the Code and Treasury
Regulation Section 1.162-27(e)(3), and "non-employee directors" as defined
in
SEC Rule 16b-3.
(b) The
Committee may establish such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan, as it may deem necessary for the proper administration
of the Plan, and may amend or revoke any rule or regulation so established.
The
Committee shall, subject to the provisions of the Plan, have full power and
discretion to interpret, administer and construe the Plan and full authority
to
make all determinations and decisions thereunder including without limitation
the authority and discretion to (i) determine the persons who are Service
Providers and select the Service Providers who are to participate in the Plan,
(ii) determine when Awards shall be granted, (iii) determine the number of
shares and/or amount of money to be made subject to each Award, (iv) determine
the type of Award to grant, (v) determine the terms and conditions of each
Award, including the exercise price, in the case of an Option or Stock
Appreciation Rights, and whether specific Awards shall be linked to one another
and if so whether they shall be alternative to or supplement one another, (vi)
make any adjustments pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan, and (vii) determine
whether or not a specific Award is intended to qualify as Performance-Based
Compensation. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee
shall have the authority to establish and administer performance goals
applicable to Awards, and the authority to certify that such performance goals
are attained, within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(c)(4).
The interpretation by the Committee of the terms and provisions of the Plan
and
any instrument issued thereunder, and its administration thereof, and all action
taken by the Committee, shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Company,
its stockholders, Subsidiaries, Allied Enterprises, all participants and Service
Providers, and upon their respective Beneficiaries, successors and assigns,
and
upon all other persons claiming under or through any of them.
(c) Members
of the Board of Directors and members of the Committee acting under this Plan
shall be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the advice of counsel
and
shall incur no liability except for gross or willful misconduct in the
performance of their duties.
13. General
Provisions.
(a) No
Award,
including without limitation any Option or Stock Appreciation Rights, shall
be
transferable by the Service Provider or other rightful holder of such Award
other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or to a Beneficiary.
The preceding sentence and any other provision of
the
Plan
to the contrary notwithstanding, the Committee may (but need not) permit a
Service Provider to transfer any Award, other than an Incentive Stock Option
or
any other Award that is linked to an Incentive Stock Option, during his lifetime
to such other persons and such entities and on such terms and subject to such
conditions as the Committee may provide in the instrument evidencing such
Award.
(b) Nothing
in this Plan or in any instrument executed pursuant hereto shall confer upon
any
person any right to continue in the employment or other service of the Company
or a Subsidiary or an Allied Enterprise, or shall affect the right of the
Company or a Subsidiary or any Allied Enterprise to terminate the employment
or
other service of any person at any time with or without cause.
(c) No
shares
of Common Stock shall be issued or transferred pursuant to an Award unless
and
until all legal requirements applicable to the issuance or transfer of such
shares have, in the opinion of the General Counsel, been satisfied. Any such
issuance or transfer shall be contingent upon the person acquiring the shares
giving the Company any assurances the General Counsel may deem necessary or
desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal
requirements.
(d) No
person
(individually or as a member of a group) and no Beneficiary or other person
claiming under or through him, shall have any right, title or interest in or
to
any shares of Common Stock (i) allocated, or (ii) reserved for the purposes
of
this Plan, or (iii) subject to any Award, except as to such shares of Common
Stock, if any, as shall have been issued to him.
(e) The
Company and its Subsidiaries and any Allied Enterprises may make such provisions
as they may deem appropriate for the withholding of any taxes which they
determine they are required to withhold in connection with any Award. Without
limiting the foregoing, the Committee may, subject to such terms and conditions
as it may impose, permit or require any withholding tax obligation arising
in
connection with any Award or the grant, exercise, vesting, distribution or
payment of any Award, up to the minimum required federal, state and local
withholding taxes, including payroll taxes, to be satisfied in whole or in
part,
with or without the consent of the Service Provider or other rightful holder
of
the Award, by having the Company withhold all or any part of the shares of
Common Stock that vest or would otherwise be issued or distributed at such
time.
Any shares so withheld shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date
of
such withholding.
(f) Nothing
in this Plan is intended to be a substitute for, or shall preclude or limit
the
establishment or continuation of, any other plan, practice or arrangement for
the payment of compensation or fringe benefits to directors, officers,
employees, consultants or Service Providers generally, or to any class or group
of such persons, which the Company or any Subsidiary now has or may hereafter
lawfully put into effect, including, without limitation, any incentive
compensation, retirement, pension, group insurance, stock purchase, stock bonus
or stock option plan. A Service Provider may be granted an Award whether or
not
he is eligible to receive similar or dissimilar incentive compensation under
any
other plan or arrangement of the Company.
(g) The
Company's obligation to issue shares of Common Stock or to pay money in respect
of any Award shall be subject to the condition that such issuance or payment
would not impair the Company's capital or constitute a breach of or cause the
Company to be in violation of any covenant, warranty or representation made
by
the Company in any credit agreement to which the Company is a party before
the
date of grant of such Award.
(h) By
accepting any benefits under the Plan, each Service Provider, and each person
claiming under or through him, shall be conclusively deemed to have indicated
his acceptance and ratification of, and consent to, all provisions of the Plan
and any action or decision under the Plan by the Company, its agents and
employees, and the Board of Directors and the Committee.
(i) The
validity, construction, interpretation and administration of the Plan and of
any
determinations or decisions made thereunder, and the rights of all persons
having or claiming to have any interest therein or thereunder, shall be governed
by, and determined exclusively in accordance with, the laws of the State of
Delaware, but without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of laws
thereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the period within
which any action arising under or in connection with the Plan must be commenced,
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect
to
the principles of conflicts of laws thereof, irrespective of the place where
the
act or omission complained of took place and of the residence of any party
to
such action and irrespective of the place where the action may be brought.
A
Service Provider's acceptance of any Award shall constitute his irrevocable
and
unconditional waiver of the right to a jury trial in any action or proceeding
concerning the Award, the Plan or any rights or obligations of the Service
Provider or the Company under or with respect to the Award or the
Plan.
(j) The
use
of the masculine gender shall also include within its meaning the feminine.
The
use of the singular shall include within its meaning the plural and vice
versa.
14.
Amendment
and Termination.
Subject
to any applicable shareholder approval requirements of Delaware or federal
law,
NASDAQ rules or listing standards, or the Code, the Plan may be amended by
the
Board of Directors at any time and in any respect, including without limitation
to permit or facilitate qualification of Options theretofore or thereafter
granted (a) as Incentive Stock Options under the Code, or (b) for such other
special tax treatment as may be enacted on or after the date on which the Plan
is approved by the Board, provided that, without stockholder approval, no
amendment shall increase the aggregate number of shares which may be issued
under the Plan, or shall permit the exercise price of outstanding Options or
Stock Appreciation Rights to be reduced, except as permitted by Section 10
hereof. The Plan may also be terminated at any time by the Board of Directors.
No amendment or termination of this Plan shall adversely affect any Award
granted prior to the date of such amendment or termination without the written
consent of the holder of such Award.
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