Attached files
file | filename |
---|---|
8-K - FORM 8-K - FIRSTENERGY CORP | y41645ae8vk.htm |
EX-5.1 - EX-5.1 - FIRSTENERGY CORP | y41645aexv5w1.htm |
EX-3.1 - EX-3.1 - FIRSTENERGY CORP | y41645aexv3w1.htm |
EX-10.3 - EX-10.3 - FIRSTENERGY CORP | y41645aexv10w3.htm |
EX-10.4 - EX-10.4 - FIRSTENERGY CORP | y41645aexv10w4.htm |
EX-99.1 - EX-99.1 - FIRSTENERGY CORP | y41645aexv99w1.htm |
EX-10.5 - EX-10.5 - FIRSTENERGY CORP | y41645aexv10w5.htm |
Exhibit 10.2
ALLEGHENY ENERGY, INC.
1998 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
Effective May 14, 1998
Amended and Restated January 1, 2008
1998 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
Effective May 14, 1998
Amended and Restated January 1, 2008
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE AND ADOPTION OF THE PLAN
PURPOSE AND ADOPTION OF THE PLAN
Sec. 1.01 Purpose. The purpose of the Allegheny Energy, Inc. 1998 Long-Term Incentive
Plan (as the same may be amended from time to time, the Plan) is to assist Allegheny Energy,
Inc., a Maryland corporation (the Company), and its Subsidiaries (as defined below) in attracting
and retaining highly competent key employees and directors and to act as an incentive in motivating
selected key employees and directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined below) to
achieve long-term corporate objectives.
Sec. 1.02 Adoption and Term. The Plan has been approved by the Board of Directors of
the Company (the Board) to be effective as of the date of approval of the Plan by the
shareholders of the Company (the Effective Date). The Plan shall remain in effect until the tenth
anniversary of the Effective Date; provided, however, that the provisions of Articles VII and VIII
with respect to performance-based awards to covered employees under Section 162(m) of the Code
(as defined below) shall expire as of the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date. This Plan is
hereby amended and restated effective as of January 1, 2008 to update it for changes in applicable
law and to make certain other clarifying changes.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Plan, capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:
Sec. 2.01 Acquiring Corporation shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
9.08(b).
Sec. 2.02 Award means any grant to a Participant of one or a combination of Non-Qualified
Stock Options or Incentive Stock Options described in Article VI, Restricted Shares described in
Article VII and Performance Awards described in Article VIII.
Sec. 2.03 Award Agreement means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant or
a written notice from the Company to a Participant specifically setting forth the terms and
conditions of an Award granted under the Plan.
Sec. 2.04 Award Period means, with respect to an Award, the period of time 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.
Sec. 2.05 Beneficiary means an individual, trust or estate who or which, by a written
designation of the Participant filed with the Company or by operation of law, succeeds to the
rights and obligations of the Participant under the Plan and an Award Agreement upon the
Participants death.
Sec. 2.06 Board shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 1.02.
Sec. 2.07 Change in Control shall be deemed to have occurred at such time as (a) any
individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange
Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act),
directly or indirectly, of 25% or more of the combined voting power of the Company Voting
Securities; or (b) during any period of not more than two years, individuals who constitute the
Board as of the beginning of the period and any new director (other than a director designated by a
person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in
clause (a) or (c) of this sentence) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the
Companys shareholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then
still in office who either were directors at such time or whose election or nomination for election
was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or (c) the
shareholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other
corporation, other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the Company Voting
Securities outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) at least 50% of
the combined voting power of the Company Voting Securities or the voting securities of such
surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the shareholders of
the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or any agreement for the sale or
disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Companys assets.
Sec. 2.08 Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. References to a section
of the Code include that section and any comparable section or sections of any future legislation
that amends, supplements or supersedes said section.
Sec. 2.09 Committee means the committee established in accordance with Section 3.01.
Sec. 2.10 Company shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 1.01.
Sec. 2.11 Common Stock means Common Stock of the Company.
Sec. 2.12 Company Voting Securities means the combined voting power of all outstanding
securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company.
Sec. 2.13 Date of Grant means the date as of which the Committee grants an Award. If the
Committee contemplates an immediate grant to a Participant, the Date of Grant shall be the date of
the Committees action. If the Committee contemplates a date on which the grant is to be made other
than the date of the Committees action, the Date of Grant shall be the date so contemplated and
set forth in or determinable from the records of action of the Committee; provided, however, that
the Date of Grant shall not precede the date of the Committees action.
Sec. 2.14 Dividend Equivalent Account shall have the meaning given to such term in Section
6.03(a).
Sec. 2.15 Effective Date shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 1.02.
Sec. 2.16 Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Sec. 2.17 Exercise Price shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 6.01(b).
Sec. 2.18 Fair Market Value means, as of any applicable date, the closing price per share of
the Common Stock as quoted in the NYSE-Composite Transactions listing in The Wall Street Journal
(or such other reliable publication as the Committee, in its discretion, may determine to rely
upon) for the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined. If there are no sales on such
date, then Fair Market Value shall be the closing price per share of the Common Stock as so quoted
on the nearest date before the date as of which Fair Market Value is to be determined on which
there are sales. If the Common Stock is not listed on the New York Stock Exchange on the date as of
which Fair Market Value is to be determined, the Committee shall in good faith determine the Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock on such date. Fair Market Value shall be determined without regard
to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms, will never lapse. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, in the case of Options granted in connection with the assumption by the Company of
stock options of acquired companies, as described in Section 9.08(c) the Committee may determine
that the term Fair Market Value shall have the same meaning as is given to such term under the
provisions of such assumed stock option. All determinations regarding the Fair Market Value of the
Companys Common Stock shall be consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and
its corresponding regulations and related guidance.
Sec. 2.19 Incentive Stock Option means a stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of
the Code.
Sec. 2.20 Merger means any merger, reorganization, consolidation, share exchange, transfer
of assets or other transaction having similar effect involving the Company.
Sec. 2.21 Non-Qualified Stock Option means a stock option which is not an Incentive Stock
Option.
Sec. 2.22 Options means all Non-Qualified Stock Options and Incentive Stock Options granted
at any time under the Plan.
Sec. 2.23 Original Option shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 6.04.
Sec. 2.24 Participant means a person designated to receive an Award under the Plan in
accordance with Section 5.01.
Sec. 2.25 Performance Awards means Awards granted in accordance with Article VIII.
Sec. 2.26 Plan shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 1.01.
Sec. 2.27 Reload Option shall have the meaning given to such term in Section 6.04.
Sec. 2.28 Restricted Shares means Common Stock subject to restrictions imposed in connection
with Awards granted under Article VII.
Sec. 2.29 Retirement means early or normal retirement under a pension plan or arrangement of
the Company or one of its Subsidiaries in which the Participant participates.
Sec. 2.30 Subsidiary means a subsidiary of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f)
of the Code.
Sec. 2.31 Termination of Employment means the voluntary or involuntary termination of a
Participants employment with the Company or a Subsidiary for any reason, including death,
disability, retirement or as the result of the divestiture of the Participants employer or any
similar transaction in which the Participants employer ceases to be the Company or one of its
Subsidiaries. A leave of absence approved in accordance with Company policy shall not be deemed a
Termination of Employment. Whether entering military or other government service shall constitute
Termination of Employment, or whether a Termination of Employment shall occur as a result of
disability, shall be determined in each case by the Committee in its sole discretion. In the case
of a director who is not an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary, Termination of Employment
shall mean voluntary or involuntary cessation of Board service for any reason. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Termination of Employment for purposes of determining whether an Award that is deferred
compensation and subject to Section 409A of the Code is payable from the Plan means a separation
from service as determined under Section 409A of the Code and its corresponding regulations and
related guidance.
ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATION
ADMINISTRATION
Sec. 3.01 Committee. The Plan shall be administered by a committee of the Board (the
Committee) comprised of at least two directors of the Company. 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 take such steps in connection with the
Plan and Awards granted hereunder as it may deem necessary or advisable. The Committee may, subject
to compliance with applicable legal requirements, delegate to any designated executive officer of
the Company the power to determine the employees (other than himself or herself or any employee to
whom such designated executive officer reports) to receive Awards under the Plan and the types and
amounts of such Awards, subject in each case to the terms and conditions of the Plan. In addition,
the Board may exercise any of the authority conferred upon the Committee hereunder. In the event
of any such delegation of authority or exercise of authority by the Board, references in the Plan
to the Committee shall be deemed to refer to the delegate of the Committee or the Board, as the
case may be.
ARTICLE IV
SHARES
SHARES
Sec. 4.01 Number of Shares Issuable. The total number of shares initially authorized
to be issued under the Plan shall be 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock. The number of shares
available for issuance under the Plan shall be subject to adjustment in accordance with Section
9.08. The shares to be offered under the Plan shall be authorized and unissued shares of Common
Stock, or issued shares of Common Stock which will have been reacquired by the Company.
Sec. 4.02 Shares Subject to Terminated Awards. Shares of Common Stock covered by any
unexercised portions of terminated Options (including canceled Options) granted under Article VI,
shares of Common Stock forfeited as provided in Section 7.02(a) and shares of Common Stock subject
to any Award that are otherwise surrendered by a Participant or terminated may be subject to new
Awards under the Plan. If any shares of Common Stock are withheld from those otherwise issuable or
are tendered to the Company, by attestation or otherwise, in connection with the exercise of an
Option, only the net number of shares of Common Stock issued as a result of such exercise shall be
deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares available for delivery
under the Plan.
ARTICLE V
PARTICIPATION
PARTICIPATION
Sec. 5.01 Eligible Participants. Participants in the Plan shall be such key employees
and directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may
designate from time to time. The Committees designation of a Participant in any year shall not
require the Committee to designate such person to receive Awards in any other year. The
designation of a Participant to receive an Award 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 types
and amounts of their respective Awards. Subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 9.08,
during any calendar year no Participant shall be granted Awards in respect of more than 600,000
shares of Common Stock (whether through grants of Options or other Awards of Common Stock or rights
with respect thereto); provided, however, that if it is the Committees intention as of the Date of
Grant of an Award, as evidenced by the applicable Award Agreement, that such Award shall be earned
by the Participant over a period of more than one calendar year, then for purposes of applying the
foregoing per calendar year share limitation, the shares of Common Stock subject to such Award
shall be allocated to the first calendar year in which such shares may be earned (determined
without regard to possible vesting as a result of a Change in Control or pursuant to any provision
of this Plan authorizing the Committee to accelerate the vesting of an Award).
ARTICLE VI
STOCK OPTIONS
STOCK OPTIONS
Sec. 6.01 Option Awards.
(a) Grant of Options. The Committee may grant, to such Participants as the Committee may
select, Options entitling the Participants to purchase shares of Common Stock from the Company in
such numbers, at such prices, and on such terms and subject to such conditions, not inconsistent
with the terms of the Plan, as may be established by the Committee. The terms of any Option granted
under the 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 (the Exercise Price) shall be
determined by the Committee; provided, however, that, except in the case of any substituted Options
described in Section 9.08(c), the Exercise Price shall in all cases be equal to or greater than the
Fair Market Value on the Date of Grant.
(c) Designation of Options. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, the Committee
may designate, at the time of the grant of an Option, such 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 or a Subsidiary on
the Date of Grant.
(d) Special Incentive Stock Option Rules. No Participant may be granted Incentive Stock
Options under the Plan (or any other plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries) that would result
in Incentive Stock Options to purchase shares of Common Stock with an aggregate Fair Market Value
(measured on the Date of Grant) of more than $100,000 first becoming exercisable by such
Participant in any one calendar year. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the
contrary, 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 10% of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, unless at the time the Incentive Stock Option is
granted the Exercise Price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value on the Date of Grant 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 (5) years from the Date of Grant.
(e) Rights as a Shareholder. A Participant or a transferee of an Option pursuant to Section
9.04 shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to the shares of Common Stock covered by an
Option until that Participant or transferee shall have become the holder of record of any such
shares, and, except to the extent that Dividend Equivalent Accounts are granted in accordance with
Section 6.03, no adjustment shall be made with respect to any such shares of Common Stock for
dividends in cash or other property or distributions of other rights on the Common Stock for which
the record date is prior to the date on which that Participant or transferee shall have become the
holder of record of any shares covered by such Option; provided, however, that Participants are
entitled to the adjustments set forth in section 9.08.
Sec. 6.02 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.
(b) Duration of Options. Options shall terminate after the first to occur of the following
events:
(i) | Expiration of the Option as provided in the related Award Agreement; or |
(ii) | Termination of the Award as provided in Section 6.02(e) following the Participants Termination of Employment; or |
(iii) | Ten years from the Date of Grant. |
(c) Acceleration of Exercise Time. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the
right (but shall not in any case be obligated), exercisable at any time after the Date of Grant, to
permit the exercise of any Option prior to the time such Option would otherwise become exercisable
under the terms of the related Award Agreement.
(d) Extension of Exercise Time. In addition to the extensions permitted under Section 6.02(e)
in the event of Termination of Employment, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the
right (but shall not in any case be obligated), exercisable on or at any time after the Date of
Grant, to permit the exercise of any Option after its expiration date described in Section 6.02(e),
subject, however, to the limitations described in Sections 6.02(b)(i) and (iii).
(e) Exercise of Options Upon Termination of Employment.
(i) | Termination. In the event of Termination of Employment of a Participant other than by reason of death, disability or Retirement, all Options which were not exercisable as of the date of the Termination of Employment shall expire as of such date and the right of the Participant to exercise any Options which were exercisable as of the date of Termination of Employment shall expire ninety (90) days after the date of such Termination of Employment, unless the exercise period is extended by the Committee in accordance with Section 6.02(d). In no event, however, may the Option be exercised later than the date of expiration of the Option determined pursuant to Section 6.02(b)(i) or (iii). | ||
(ii) | Disability or Retirement. In the event of a Participants Termination of Employment on or after January 1, 2004 by reason of disability or Retirement, the right of the Participant to exercise all Options which were not exercisable as of the date of the Termination of Employment shall expire as of such date and all Options which he or she was entitled to exercise upon Termination of Employment shall expire three years after the date of such Termination of Employment, unless the exercise period is extended by the Committee in accordance with Section 6.02(d). In the event of a Participants Termination of Employment prior to January 1, 2004 by reason of disability or Retirement, the right of the Participant to exercise all Options which were not exercisable as of the date of the Termination of Employment shall expire as of such date and all Options which he or she was entitled to exercise upon Termination of Employment shall expire one year after the date of such Termination of Employment, unless the exercise period is extended by the Committee in accordance with Section 6.02(d). In no event, however, may any Option be exercised later than the date of expiration of the Option determined pursuant to Section 6.02(b)(i) or (iii). |
(iii) | Death. In the event of the death of a Participant while employed by the Company or a Subsidiary and prior to the expiration of any Option |
as provided pursuant to Section 6.02(e)(i) or Section 6.02(d) above, all Options which were not exercisable as of the date of death shall expire as of such date and to the extent the right to exercise the Option was accrued as of the date of death, the right of the Participants Beneficiary to exercise the Option shall expire one year after the date of the Participants death. In the event of the death of a Participant which occurs within any additional period of time from the date of the Participants Termination of Employment, for Terminations of Employment which occur prior to January 1, 2004, and prior to the expiration of any Option as provided pursuant to Section 6.02(e)(i) or (ii) or Section 6.02(d) above, all Options which were not exercisable as of the date of death shall expire as of such date and to the extent the right to exercise the Option was accrued as of the date of such Termination of Employment and had not expired during such additional period, the right of the Participants Beneficiary to exercise the Option shall expire one year after the date of the Participants death (but in no event more than one year from the date of the Participants Termination of Employment by reason of disability or Retirement). In the event of the death of a Participant which occurs within any additional period of time from the date of the Participants Termination of Employment, for Terminations of Employment which occur on or after January 1, 2004, and prior to the expiration of any Option as provided pursuant to Section 6.02(e)(i) or (ii) or Section 6.02(d) above, all Options which were not exercisable as of the date of death shall expire as of such date and to the extent the right to exercise the Option was accrued as of the date of such Termination of Employment and had not expired during such additional period, the right of the Participants Beneficiary to exercise the Option shall expire upon the later of one year after the date of the Participants death or, if applicable, three years from the date of the Participants Termination of Employment by reason of disability or Retirement. The exercise period may be extended by the Committee in accordance with Section 6.02(d). In no event, however, may any Option be exercised later than the date of expiration of the Option determined pursuant to Section 6.02(b)(i) or (iii). |
Sec. 6.03 Dividend Equivalent Accounts. The Committee shall have the discretion, upon
the grant of an Option or thereafter, to establish a dividend equivalent account (Dividend
Equivalent Account) with respect to the Option, and applicable Option Award Agreement or an
amendment thereto shall confirm such establishment. If a Dividend Equivalent Account is
established, the following terms apply:
(a) Crediting of Dividends. Subject to such conditions, limitations and restrictions as shall
be established by the Committee, from the Date of Grant of the Option or, if later, the date of
establishment of the Dividend Equivalent Account, to the earlier of (i) the date of payment of such
Dividend Equivalent Account or (ii) the date of cancellation, termination or expiration of the
Option, the Dividend Equivalent Account shall 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 Common Stock then covered by the Option if the Option had been
exercised and such Common Stock had been held of record on such record date. The Participant or
other holder of such Option shall be entitled to receive from the Company in cash the balance
credited to the Dividend Equivalent Account at such time, or from time to time, and subject to such
terms and conditions as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Option
Award Agreement or an amendment thereto.
(b) Other Dividend Equivalent Terms. To the extent that an Option is cancelled, terminates or
expires without being exercised, the Dividend Equivalent Account with respect to the Option shall
be eliminated, and no payment with respect to the Dividend Equivalent Account shall be made by the
Company. Dividend Equivalent Accounts shall be established and maintained only on the books and
records of the Plan and/or the Company and no assets or funds of the Company or of the Plan shall
be set aside, placed in trust, removed from the claims of the Companys general creditors, or
otherwise made available until such amounts are actually payable as provided hereunder.
Sec. 6.04 Reload Options. The Committee shall have the authority to specify, at or
after the time of grant of an Option, that, subject to the availability of shares of Common Stock
under the Plan at the time of such grant, a Participant shall be granted a reload option (Reload
Option) in the event(i) such Participant exercises all or a part of an Option (an Original
Option) by surrendering previously acquired shares of Common Stock in full or partial payment of
the Exercise Price under such Original Option, and/or (ii) a Participants withholding tax
obligation with respect to the exercise of an Original Option is satisfied in whole or in part by
the delivery of previously acquired shares of Common Stock by the Participant to the Company or the
withholding of shares of Common Stock from the shares otherwise issuable to the Participant upon
the exercise of the Original Option. Each such Reload Option shall cover a number of shares of
Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock surrendered in payment of the Exercise
Price under such Original Option and/or surrendered or withheld to pay withholding taxes with
respect to such Original Option. Each such Reload Option shall have an Exercise Price per share of
Common Stock equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise of the
Original Option in respect of which the Reload Option was granted and shall expire on the stated
expiration date of the Original Option. A Reload Option shall be exercisable at any time and from
time to time from and after the Date of Grant of such Reload Option, subject to such restrictions
on exercisability as may be imposed in the discretion of the Committee. Any Reload Option may
provide for the grant, when exercised, of subsequent Reload Options to the extent and upon such
terms and conditions, consistent with this Section 6.04, as the Committee in its sole discretion
shall specify at or after the time of grant of such Reload Option. A Reload Option shall contain
such other terms and conditions, which may include a restriction on the transferability of the
shares of Common Stock received upon exercise of the Reload Option, as the Committee in its sole
discretion shall deem desirable and which may be set forth in rules or guidelines adopted by the
Committee or in the Award Agreements evidencing the Reload Options.
Sec. 6.05 Option Exercise Procedures. Each Option granted under the Plan shall be
exercised by written notice to the Company which must be received by the officer or employee of the
Company designated in the Award Agreement at or before the close of business on the
expiration date of the Award. 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 in lieu of such cash a Participant may (if authorized by
the Committee) pay the Exercise Price in whole or in part by delivering (actually or by
attestation) to the Company shares of the Common Stock having a Fair Market Value on the date of
exercise of the Option equal to the Exercise Price for the shares being purchased; except that (i)
any portion of the Exercise Price representing a fraction of a share shall in any event be paid in
cash and (ii) no shares of the Common Stock which have been held for less than six months may be
delivered in payment of the Exercise Price of an Option. Payment may also be made, in the
discretion of the Committee, by the delivery (including, without limitation, by fax) to the Company
or its designated agent of an executed irrevocable option exercise form together with irrevocable
instructions to a broker-dealer to sell or margin a sufficient portion of the shares and deliver
the sale or margin loan proceeds directly to the Company to pay for the Exercise Price. The date of
exercise of an Option shall be determined under procedures established by the Committee, and as of
the date of exercise the person exercising the Option shall, as between the Company and such
person, be considered for all purposes to be the owner of the shares of Common Stock with respect
to which the Option has been exercised. 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 shares of 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 unauthorized but unissued shares.
Sec. 6.06 Change in Control. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the
applicable Award Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control, all Options outstanding on the
date of such Change in Control shall become immediately and fully exercisable. The provisions of
this Section 6.06 shall not be applicable to any Options granted to a Participant if any Change in
Control results from such Participants beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act) of Common Stock or Company Voting Securities.
ARTICLE VII
RESTRICTED SHARES
RESTRICTED SHARES
Sec. 7.01 Restricted Share Awards. The Committee may grant to any Participant an
Award of such number of shares of Common Stock on 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 intended to qualify for deductibility under the
performance-based compensation exception contained in Section 162(m) of the Code, performance
targets will include specified levels of one or more of the following (in absolute terms or
relative to one or more other companies or indices): operating income, return on investment, return
on shareholders equity, stock price appreciation, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization, earnings per share and/or growth in earnings per share. The terms of any
Restricted Share Award 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.
(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, shares of Common Stock, registered on behalf of the
Participant, evidencing the Restricted Shares covered by the Award, 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
shares of Common Stock covered by Awards under this Article VII shall be subject to the
restrictions, terms and conditions contained in the Plan and the applicable Award Agreements
entered into by the appropriate Participants. 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 7.01(d), one or more share certificates, registered in the name
of the Participant, for an appropriate number of shares as provided in Section 7.01(d), free of any
restrictions set forth in the Plan and the related Award Agreement shall be delivered to the
Participant.
(b) Shareholder Rights. Beginning on the Date of Grant of a Restricted Share Award and
subject to execution of the related Award Agreement as provided in Section 7.01(a), and except as
otherwise provided in such Award Agreement, the Participant shall become a shareholder of the
Company with respect to all shares subject to the Award Agreement and shall have all of the rights
of a shareholder, including, but not limited to, the right to vote such shares and the right to
receive dividends; provided, however, that any shares of 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 7.01(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), pledged or sold prior to the 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 Section 7.03, the
restrictions applicable to the Restricted Shares shall lapse. As promptly as administratively
feasible thereafter, subject to the requirements of Section 9.05, the Company shall deliver to the
Participant or, in case of the Participants death, to the Participants 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.
Sec. 7.02 Terms of Restricted Shares.
(a) Forfeiture of Restricted Shares. Subject to Sections 7.02(b) and 7.03, 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 until the expiration of the forfeiture period for such Restricted Shares
and satisfies any and all other conditions set forth in the Award Agreement. 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.
(b) Waiver of Forfeiture Period. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Article VII to
the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, waive the forfeiture period and any other
conditions set forth in any Award Agreement under appropriate circumstances (including the death,
disability or Retirement of the Participant or a material change in circumstances arising after the
date of an Award) and subject to such terms and conditions (including forfeiture of a proportionate
number of the Restricted Shares) as the Committee shall deem appropriate.
Sec. 7.03 Change in Control. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the
applicable Award Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control, all restrictions applicable to the
Restricted Share Award shall terminate fully and the Participant shall immediately have the right
to the delivery of share certificates for such shares in accordance with Section 7.01(d).
ARTICLE VIII
PERFORMANCE AWARDS
PERFORMANCE AWARDS
Sec. 8.01 Performance Awards.
(a) Award Periods and Determinations of Awards. The Committee may grant Performance Awards to
Participants. A Performance Award shall consist of the right to receive a payment (measured by the
Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock, increases in such Fair Market
Value during the Award Period and/or a fixed cash amount) contingent upon the extent to which
certain predetermined performance targets have been met during an Award Period. Performance Awards
may be made in conjunction with, or in addition to, Restricted Share Awards made under Article VII.
The Award Period shall be two or more fiscal or calendar years or other annual periods as
determined by the Committee. The Committee, in its discretion and under such terms as it deems
appropriate, may permit newly eligible Participants, such as those who are promoted or newly hired,
to receive Performance Awards after an Award Period has commenced.
(b) Performance Targets. The performance targets may include such goals related to the
performance of the Company and/or the performance of a Participant as may be established by the
Committee in its discretion. In the case of Performance Awards intended to qualify for
deductibility under the performance-based compensation exception contained in Section 162(m) of
the Code, the targets will include specified levels of one or more of the following (in absolute
terms or relative to one or more other companies or indices): operating income, return on
investment, return on shareholders equity, stock price appreciation, earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation and amortization, earnings per share and/or growth in earnings per share. The
performance targets established by the Committee may vary for different Award Periods and need not
be the same for each Participant receiving a Performance Award in an Award Period. Except to the
extent inconsistent with the performance-based compensation exception under Section 162(m) of the
Code, in the case of Performance Awards granted to Participants to whom such section is applicable,
the Committee, in its discretion, but only under extraordinary circumstances as determined by the
Committee, may change any prior determination of performance targets for any Award Period at any
time prior to the final determination of the value of a related Performance Award when events or
transactions occur to cause such performance targets to be an inappropriate measure of achievement.
(c) Earning Performance Awards. The Committee, on or as soon as practicable after the Date of
Grant, shall prescribe a formula to determine the percentage of the applicable Performance Award to
be earned based upon the degree of attainment of performance targets.
(d) Payment of Earned Performance Awards. Payments of earned Performance Awards shall be made
in cash, stock options or shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof, in the discretion of the
Committee. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide such terms and conditions with
respect to the payment of earned Performance Awards as it may deem desirable.
Sec. 8.02 Terms of Performance Awards.
(a) Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise provided below or in Section 8.03, in the case
of a Participants Termination of Employment prior to the end of an Award Period, the Participant
will not have earned any Performance Awards for that Award Period.
(b) Retirement. If a Participants Termination of Employment is because of Retirement prior
to the end of an Award Period, the Participant will not be paid any Performance Award, unless the
Committee, in its sole and exclusive discretion, determines that an Award should be paid. In such a
case, the Participant shall be entitled to receive a pro-rata portion of his or her Award as
determined under subsection (d).
(c) Death or Disability. If a Participants Termination of Employment is due to death or to
disability (as determined in the sole and exclusive discretion of the Committee) prior to the end
of an Award Period, the Participant or the Participants personal representative shall be entitled
to receive a pro-rata share of his or her Award as determined under subsection (d).
(d) Pro-Rata Payment. The amount of any payment to be made to a Participant whose employment
is terminated by Retirement, death or disability (under the circumstances described in subsections
(b) and (c)) will be the amount determined by multiplying (i) the amount of the Performance Award
that would have been earned through the end of the Award Period had such employment not been
terminated by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of whole months such
Participant was employed during the Award Period, and the Denominator of which is the total number
of months of the Award Period. Any such payment made to a Participant whose employment is
terminated prior to the end of an Award Period shall be made at the end of such Award Period,
unless otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. Any partial payment
previously made or credited to a deferred account for the benefit of a Participant in accordance
with Section 8.01(d) of the Plan shall be subtracted from the amount otherwise determined as
payable as provided in this Section 8.02(d).
(e) Other Events. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article VIII, the
Committee may, in its sole and exclusive discretion, determine to pay all or any portion of a
Performance Award to a Participant who has terminated employment prior to the end of an Award
Period under certain circumstances (including the death, disability or Retirement of the
Participant or a material change in circumstances arising after the Date of Grant), subject to such
terms and conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.
Sec. 8.03 Change in Control. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the
applicable Award Agreement, in the event of a Change in Control, all Performance Awards for all
Award Periods shall immediately become fully payable to all Participants and shall be paid to
Participants within thirty (30) days after such Change in Control.
ARTICLE IX
TERMS APPLICABLE TO ALL AWARDS GRANTED UNDER THE PLAN
TERMS APPLICABLE TO ALL AWARDS GRANTED UNDER THE PLAN
Sec. 9.01 Plan Provisions Control Award Terms. 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 the terms of which are 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 term in the Plan as
constituted on the Date of Grant of such Award, the term in the Plan as constituted on the Date of
Grant of such Award shall control. All Awards granted under the terms of the Plan and any related
Award Agreement shall be structured to comply with requirements of Section 409A of the Code and its
corresponding regulations and related guidance. Without limiting the foregoing, if and to the
extent that any Award is deemed to be deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A of the
Code, the payment of such Award shall only be made upon the occurrence of an event that is a
permissible payment event for purposes of Section 409A of the Code.
Sec. 9.02 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 the Participant shall have received
and acknowledged notice of the Award authorized by the Committee expressly granting the Award to
such person and containing provisions setting forth the terms of the Award.
Sec. 9.03 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
that Award) after its Date of Grant except by express written agreement between the Company and
such Participant, provided that any such change (a) may not be inconsistent with the terms of the
Plan, and (b) shall be approved by the Committee.
Sec. 9.04 Limitation on Transfer. Except as provided in Section 7.01(c) in the case
of Restricted Shares, a Participants 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 Participants personal representative) may
exercise rights under the Plan. The Participants Beneficiary may exercise the Participants rights
to the extent they are exercisable under the Plan following the death of the Participant.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may grant Non-Qualified Stock Options that are
transferable, without payment of consideration, to immediate family members of the Participant, to
trusts or partnerships for such family members, or to such other parties as the Committee may
approve (was evidenced by the applicable Award Agreement or an amendment thereto), and the
Committee may also amend outstanding Non-Qualified Stock Options to provide for such
transferability.
Sec. 9.05 Withholding 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 Participants 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 of cash or issuance
of 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.
With the approval of the Committee, the Participant may 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 up to the next whole share, the Fair Market Value of which is equal to the
amount of withholding taxes due, (ii) by direct payment to the Company in cash of the minimum
amount of any taxes required to be withheld with respect to such Award or (iii) by a combination of
withholding such shares and paying cash.
Sec. 9.06 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 Participant approve.
Sec. 9.07 Cancellation and Rescission of Awards.
(a) Detrimental Activities. Unless the Award Agreement specifies otherwise, the Committee may
cancel, rescind, suspend, withhold or otherwise limit or restrict any unexpired, unpaid, or
deferred Awards at any time if the Participant is not in compliance with all applicable provisions
of the Award Agreement and the Plan, or if the Participant engages in any Detrimental Activity.
For purposes of this Section 9.07, Detrimental Activity shall include: (i) the rendering of
services for any organization or engaging directly or indirectly in any business which is or
becomes competitive with the Company, or which organization or business, or the rendering of
services to such organization or business, is or becomes otherwise prejudicial to or in conflict
with the interests of the Company; (ii) the disclosure to anyone outside the Company, or the use in
other than the Companys business, without prior written authorization from the Company, of any
confidential information or material relating to the business of the Company, acquired by the
Participant either during or after employment with the Company; (iii) any attempt directly or
indirectly to induce any employee of the Company to be employed or perform services elsewhere or
any attempt directly or indirectly to solicit the trade or business of any current or prospective
customer, supplier or partner of the Company; or (iv) any other conduct or act determined to be
injurious, detrimental or prejudicial to any interest of the Company.
(b) Certification. Upon exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to an Award, the Participant
shall certify in a manner acceptable to the Company that he or she is in compliance with the terms
and conditions of the Plan. In the event a Participant fails to comply with the provisions of
paragraphs (a)(i)-(vii) of this Section 9.07 prior to, or during the six months after, any
exercise, payment or delivery pursuant to an Award, such exercise, payment or delivery may be
rescinded within two years thereafter. In the event of any such rescission, the Participant shall
pay to the Company the amount of any gain realized or payment received as a result of the rescinded
exercise, payment or delivery, in such manner and on such terms and conditions as may be required,
and the Company shall be entitled to set-off against the amount of any such gain any amount owed to
the Participant by the Company.
Sec. 9.08 Adjustments to Reflect Capital Changes.
(a) Recapitalization. The number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards, the
Exercise Price or Exercise Price for such shares, the number and kind of shares available for
Awards subsequently granted under the Plan and the maximum number of shares in respect of which
Awards can be made to any Participant in any calendar year shall be appropriately adjusted to
reflect any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation
or other change in capitalization with a similar substantive effect upon the Plan or the Awards
granted under the Plan. The Committee shall have the power and sole discretion to determine the
amount of the adjustment to be made in each case.
(b) Certain Mergers. After any Merger in which the Company is not the surviving corporation
or pursuant to which a majority of the shares which are of the same class as the shares that are
subject to outstanding Options are exchanged for, or converted into, or otherwise become shares of
another corporation, the surviving, continuing, successor or purchasing corporation, as the case
may be (the Acquiring Corporation), will either assume the Companys rights and obligations under
outstanding Award Agreements or substitute awards in respect of the Acquiring Corporations stock
for outstanding Awards, provided, however, that if the Acquiring Corporation does not assume or
substitute for such outstanding Awards, the Board shall provide prior to the Merger that any
unexercisable and/or unvested portion of the outstanding Awards shall be immediately exercisable
and vested as of a date prior to such Merger, as the Board so determines. The exercise and/or
vesting of any Award that was permissible solely by reason of this Section 9.08 shall be
conditioned upon the consummation of the Merger. Any Awards which are neither assumed by the
Acquiring Corporation nor exercised as of the date of the Merger shall terminate effective as of
the effective date of the Merger. Comparable rights shall accrue to each Participant in the event
of successive Mergers of the character described above.
(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 Options or other
Awards under the provisions of the Plan, pursuant to Section 424 of the Code or as is otherwise
permitted under the Code, in full or partial replacement of or substitution for old stock options
granted under a plan of another party to the merger whose shares of stock subject to the old
options may no longer be issued following the Merger. The manner of application of the foregoing
provisions to such options and any appropriate adjustments in the terms of such stock options 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. The
foregoing shall not be deemed to preclude the Company from assuming or substituting for stock
options of acquired companies other than pursuant to this Plan.
(d) Adjustments. Any adjustments to outstanding Awards shall be consistent with Sections 409A
and 424 of the Code, to the extent applicable.
Sec. 9.09 Legal Compliance. Shares of Common Stock shall not be issued hereunder
unless the issuance and delivery of such shares shall comply with applicable laws and shall be
further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.
Sec. 9.10 No Right to Employment. No Participant or other person shall have any claim
of right to be granted an Award under the 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.
Sec. 9.11 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.
Sec. 9.12 Governing Law. All determinations made and actions taken pursuant to the
Plan shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, other than the conflict of laws
provisions thereof, and construed in accordance therewith.
Sec. 9.13 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.
Sec. 9.14 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 had been used in the Plan.
Sec. 9.15 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, such Award and every
other Award at any time granted under the Plan shall remain in full force and effect.
Sec. 9.16 Amendment and Termination.
(a) Amendment. The Board shall have complete power and authority to amend the Plan at any
time; provided, that 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, materially
adversely affect the right of such individual under such Award; and provided further, that no such
alteration or amendment of the Plan shall, without approval by the shareholders of the Company (a)
increase the total number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued or delivered under the
Plan, (b) increase the total number of shares which may be covered by Awards to any one
Participant, or (c) change the minimum Option Exercise Price.
(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 been terminated. A termination of the Plan will comply with the requirements of
Section 409A of the Code and its corresponding regulations and related guidance.
Sec. 9.17 Compliance with Law. The Plan is intended to comply with applicable law.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Plan is intended to comply with the applicable requirements of
Section 409A of the Code and its corresponding regulations and related guidance, and shall be
administered in accordance with Section 409A of the Code to the extent it applies to the Plan. To
the extent that any provision of the Plan or an Award Agreement would cause a conflict with the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code or would cause the administration of the Plan to fail to
satisfy the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, such provision shall be deemed null and void
to the extent permitted by applicable law.