EXHIBIT 10.15
COMPASS MINERALS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
2005 INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN
ARTICLE 1
PURPOSE
     The purpose of the Compass Minerals International, Inc. 2005 Incentive
Award Plan (the “Plan”) is to promote the success and enhance the value of
Compass Minerals International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), by
linking the personal interests of the members of the Board, Employees, and
Consultants to those of Company stockholders and by providing such individuals
with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to
Company stockholders. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the
Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of members
of the Board, Employees, and Consultants upon whose judgment, interest, and
special effort the successful conduct of the Company’s operation is largely
dependent.
ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
     Wherever the following terms are used in the Plan they shall have the
meanings specified below, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The
singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.
     2.1 “Award” means an Option, a Restricted Stock award, a Stock Appreciation
Right award, a Performance Share award, a Performance Stock Unit award, a
Performance Bonus Award, a Dividend Equivalents award, a Stock Payment award, a
Deferred Stock award, a Restricted Stock Unit award, or a Performance-Based
Award granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan.
     2.2 “Award Agreement” means any written agreement, contract, or other
instrument or document evidencing an Award, including through electronic medium.
     2.3 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
     2.4 “Change of Control” means and includes each of the following:
          (a) A transaction or series of transactions (other than an offering of
Stock to the general public through a registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission) whereby any “person” or related “group” of
“persons” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange
Act) (other than the Company, any of its subsidiaries, an employee benefit plan
maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or a “person” that, prior
to such transaction, directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is
under common control with, the Company) directly or indirectly acquires
beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act)
of securities of the Company

 

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possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of
the Company’s securities outstanding immediately after such acquisition; or
          (b) During any period of two consecutive years, individuals who, at
the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new
director(s) (other than a director designated by a person who shall have entered
into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in
Section 2.4(a) or Section 2.4(c)) whose election by the Board or nomination for
election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at
the beginning of the two year period or whose election or nomination for
election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a
majority thereof; or
          (c) The consummation by the Company (whether directly involving the
Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more intermediaries)
of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business combination or (y) a
sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets or
(z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity, in each case other
than a transaction:
               (i) Which results in the Company’s voting securities outstanding
immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the Company or the
person that, as a result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly,
the Company or owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the
Company’s assets or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the
Company or such person, the “Successor Entity”)) directly or indirectly, at
least a majority of the combined voting power of the Successor Entity’s
outstanding voting securities immediately after the transaction, and
               (ii) After which no person or group beneficially owns voting
securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the
Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated
for purposes of this Section 2.4(c)(ii) as beneficially owning 50% or more of
combined voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting
power held in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; or
          (d) The Company’s stockholders approve a liquidation or dissolution of
the Company.
The Committee shall have full and final authority, which shall be exercised in
its discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change of Control of the
Company has occurred pursuant to the above definition, and the date of the
occurrence of such Change of Control and any incidental matters relating
thereto.
     2.5 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
     2.6 “Committee” means the committee of the Board described in Article 12.
     2.7 “Consultant” means any consultant or adviser if: (a) the consultant or
adviser renders bona fide services to the Company; (b) the services rendered by
the consultant or adviser are not in connection with the offer or sale of
securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not

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directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s
securities; and (c) the consultant or adviser is a natural person who has
contracted directly with the Company to render such services.
     2.8 “Covered Employee” means an Employee who is, or could be, a “covered
employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
     2.9 “Deferred Stock” means a right to receive a specified number of shares
of Stock during specified time periods pursuant to Section 8.6.
     2.10 “Disability” means that the Participant qualifies to receive long-term
disability payments under the Company’s long-term disability insurance program,
as it may be amended from time to time.
     2.11 “Dividend Equivalents” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant
to Section 8.4 to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Stock) of dividends
paid on Stock.
     2.12 “Effective Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 13.1.
     2.13 “Employee” means any officer or other employee (as defined in
accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code) of the Company or any Subsidiary.
     2.14 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
     2.15 “Fair Market Value” means, as of any given date, (a) if Stock is
traded on an exchange, the closing price of a share of Stock as reported in the
Wall Street Journal for the first trading date immediately prior to such date
during which a sale occurred; or (b) if Stock is not traded on an exchange but
is quoted on NASDAQ or a successor or other quotation system, (i) the last sales
price (if the Stock is then listed as a National Market Issue under the NASD
National Market System) or (ii) the mean between the closing representative bid
and asked prices (in all other cases) for the Stock on the date immediately
prior to such date on which sales prices or bid and asked prices, as applicable,
are reported by NASDAQ or such successor quotation system; or (c) if such Stock
is not publicly traded on an exchange and not quoted on NASDAQ or a successor
quotation system, the mean between the closing bid and asked prices for the
Stock on the day previous to such date, as determined in good faith by the
Committee; or (d) if the Stock is not publicly traded, the fair market value
established by the Committee acting in good faith.
     2.16 “Full Value Award” means any Award other than an Option or other Award
for which the Participant pays the intrinsic value (whether directly or by
forgoing a right to receive a cash payment from the Company).
     2.17 “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to meet the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.
     2.18 “Independent Director” means a member of the Board who is not an
Employee of the Company.

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     2.19 “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board who qualifies as a
“Non-Employee Director” as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) under the Exchange Act,
or any successor rule.
     2.20 “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not intended to
be an Incentive Stock Option.
     2.21 “Option” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 5
of the Plan to purchase a specified number of shares of Stock at a specified
price during specified time periods. An Option may be either an Incentive Stock
Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
     2.22 “Participant” means a person who, as a member of the Board, Consultant
or Employee, has been granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.
     2.23 “Performance-Based Award” means an Award granted to selected Covered
Employees pursuant to Articles 6 and 8, but which is subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in Article 9.
     2.24 “Performance Bonus Award” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3.
     2.25 “Performance Criteria” means the criteria that the Committee selects
for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals for a
Participant for a Performance Period. The Performance Criteria (which shall be
applicable to the organizational level specified by the Committee, including,
but not limited to the Company or a unit, division, group or plan of the
Company) that will be used to establish Performance Goals are limited to the
following: net earnings (either before or after interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization), economic value-added, sales or revenue, net income (either
before or after taxes), operating earnings, cash flow (including, but not
limited to, operating cash flow and free cash flow), cash flow return on
capital, return on net assets, return on stockholders’ equity, return on assets,
return on capital, stockholder returns, return on sales, gross or net profit
margin, productivity, expense, margins, operating efficiency, customer
satisfaction, working capital, earnings per share, price per share of Stock, and
market share, any of which may be measured either in absolute terms or as
compared to any incremental increase or as compared to results of a peer group.
The Committee shall define in an objective fashion the manner of calculating the
Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period for such
Participant.
     2.26 “Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Period, the goals
established in writing by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon
the Performance Criteria. Depending on the Performance Criteria used to
establish such Performance Goals, the Performance Goals may be expressed in
terms of overall Company performance or the performance of a division, business
unit, or an individual. The Committee, in its discretion, may adjust or modify
the calculation of Performance Goals for such Performance Period in order to
prevent the dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants (a) in the
event of, or in anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item,
transaction, event, or development, or (b) in recognition of, or in anticipation
of, any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company, or the
financial statements of the Company, or in response to, or in anticipation of,
changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, or business
conditions.

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     2.27 “Performance Period” means the one or more periods of time, which may
be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Committee may select, over which
the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose
of determining a Participant’s right to, and the payment of, a Performance-Based
Award.
     2.28 “Performance Share” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to
Section 8.1, to receive Stock, the payment of which is contingent upon achieving
certain performance goals established by the Committee.
     2.29 “Performance Stock Unit” means a right granted to a Participant
pursuant to Section 8.2, to receive Stock, the payment of which is contingent
upon achieving certain performance goals established by the Committee.
     2.30 “Plan” means this Compass Minerals International, Inc., 2005 Incentive
Award Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.
     2.31 “Qualified Performance-Based Compensation” means any compensation that
is intended to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” as
described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.
     2.32 “Restricted Stock” means Stock awarded to a Participant pursuant to
Article 6 that is subject to certain restrictions and may be subject to risk of
forfeiture.
     2.33 “Restricted Stock Unit” means an Award granted pursuant to
Section 8.7.
     2.34 “Stock” means the common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per
share, and such other securities of the Company that may be substituted for
Stock pursuant to Article 11.
     2.35 “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted pursuant to
Article 7 to receive a payment equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a
specified number of shares of Stock on the date the SAR is exercised over the
Fair Market Value on the date the SAR was granted as set forth in the applicable
Award Agreement.
     2.36 “Stock Payment” means (a) a payment in the form of shares of Stock, or
(b) an option or other right to purchase shares of Stock, as part of any bonus,
deferred compensation or other arrangement, made in lieu of all or any portion
of the compensation, granted pursuant to Section 8.5.
     2.37 “Subsidiary” means any corporation or other entity of which a majority
of the outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly
or indirectly by the Company.

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ARTICLE 3
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
     3.1 Number of Shares.
          (a) Subject to Article 11 and Section 3.1(b), the aggregate number of
shares of Stock which may be issued or transferred pursuant to Awards under the
Plan shall be 3,240,000; provided however, no more than 2,000,000 shares of
Stock may be delivered upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options.
          (b) To the extent that an Award terminates, expires, or lapses for any
reason, any shares of Stock subject to the Award shall again be available for
the grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan. To the extent permitted by
applicable law or any exchange rule, shares of Stock issued in assumption of, or
in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form
of combination by the Company or any Subsidiary shall not be counted against
shares of Stock available for grant pursuant to this Plan. Shares of Stock which
are delivered by the Participant or withheld by the Company upon the exercise of
any Award under the Plan, in payment of the exercise price thereof or tax
withholding thereon, may again be optioned, granted or awarded hereunder,
subject to the limitations of Section 3.1(a). If any shares of Restricted Stock
are forfeited by the Participant or repurchased by the Company, such shares may
again be optioned, granted or awarded hereunder, subject to the limitations of
Section 3.1(a). Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.1(b), no shares
of Stock may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an
Incentive Stock Option to fail to qualify as an incentive stock option under
Section 422 of the Code.
     3.2 Stock Distributed. Any Stock distributed pursuant to an Award may
consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Stock, treasury Stock
or Stock purchased on the open market.
     3.3 Limitation on Number of Shares Subject to Awards and Limit on
Performance Bonus Awards. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the
contrary, and subject to Article 11, the maximum number of shares of Stock with
respect to one or more Awards that may be granted to any one Participant during
any calendar year shall be 500,000. The maximum amount that may be paid in cash
during any calendar year with respect to a Performance Bonus Award shall be
$5,000,000.
ARTICLE 4
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
     4.1 Eligibility.
          (a) General. Persons eligible to participate in this Plan are
Employees, Consultants, and Independent Directors, as determined by the
Committee.
          (b) Foreign Participants. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to
the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the
Company and its

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Subsidiaries operate or have Employees, Consultants or Independent Directors,
the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to:
(i) determine which Subsidiaries shall be covered by the Plan; (ii) determine
which Employees, Consultants, or members of the Board outside the United States
are eligible to participate in the Plan; (iii) modify the terms and conditions
of any Award granted to Employees, Consultants, or members of the Board outside
the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws; (iv) establish
subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the
extent such actions may be necessary or advisable (any such subplans and/or
modifications shall be attached to this Plan as appendices); provided, however,
that no such subplans and/or modifications shall increase the share limitations
contained in Sections 3.1 and 3.3 of the Plan; and (v) take any action, before
or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply
with any necessary local governmental regulatory exemptions or approvals.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder,
and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate the Exchange Act, the Code,
any securities law, or governing statute or any other applicable law.
     4.2 Participation. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee
may, from time to time, select from among all eligible individuals, those to
whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each
Award. No individual shall have any right to be granted an Award pursuant to
this Plan.
ARTICLE 5
STOCK OPTIONS
     5.1 General. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants
on the following terms and conditions:
          (a) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Stock subject to
an Option shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award
Agreement; provided that the exercise price for any Option shall not be less
than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.
          (b) Time and Conditions of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the
time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part; provided
that the term of any Option granted under the Plan shall not exceed seven years.
The Committee shall also determine the performance or other conditions, if any,
that must be satisfied before all or part of an Option may be exercised.
          (c) Payment. The Committee shall determine the methods by which the
exercise price of an Option may be paid and the form of payment, including,
without limitation: (i) cash (or its equivalent), (ii) except with respect to
Incentive Stock Options, shares of Stock issuable to the Option holder upon
exercise of the Option, with a Fair Market Value on the date of the Option
exercise equal to the aggregate Option exercise price of the shares with respect
to which such Option or portion thereof is thereby exercised, (iii) shares of
Stock held for such period of time as may be required by the Committee in order
to avoid adverse financial accounting consequences and having a Fair Market
Value on the date of delivery equal to the

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aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof, or
(iv) through the delivery of a notice that the Participant has placed a market
sell order with a broker with respect to shares of Stock then issuable upon
exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a
sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in
satisfaction of the Option exercise price; provided that payment of such
proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale. The Committee
shall also determine the methods by which shares of Stock shall be delivered or
deemed to be delivered to Participants. Notwithstanding any other provision of
the Plan to the contrary, no Participant who is a member of the Board or an
“executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the
Exchange Act shall be permitted to pay the exercise price of an Option with a
loan from the Company or a loan arranged in violation of Section 13(k) of the
Exchange Act.
          (d) Evidence of Grant. All Options shall be evidenced by an Award
Agreement between the Company and the Participant. The Award Agreement shall
include such additional provisions as may be specified by the Committee.
     5.2 Incentive Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options shall be granted only
to Employees and the terms of any Incentive Stock Options granted pursuant to
the Plan, in addition to the requirements of Section 5.1, must comply with the
following additional provisions of this Section 5.2:
          (a) Expiration of Option. An Incentive Stock Option may not be
exercised to any extent by anyone after the first to occur of the following
events:
               (i) Seven years from the date it is granted, unless an earlier
time is set in the Award Agreement;
               (ii) Three months after the Participant’s termination of
employment as an Employee; and
               (iii) One year after the date of the Participant’s termination of
employment or service on account of Disability or death. Upon the Participant’s
Disability or death, any Incentive Stock Options exercisable at the
Participant’s Disability or death may be exercised by the Participant’s legal
representative or representatives, by the person or persons entitled to do so
pursuant to the Participant’s last will and testament, or, if the Participant
fails to make testamentary disposition of such Incentive Stock Option or dies
intestate, by the person or persons entitled to receive the Incentive Stock
Option pursuant to the applicable laws of descent and distribution.
          (b) Dollar Limitation. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as
of the time the Option is granted) of all shares of Stock with respect to which
Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in any calendar
year may not exceed $100,000 or such other limitation as imposed by Section
422(d) of the Code, or any successor provision. To the extent that Incentive
Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in excess of such
limitation, the excess shall be considered Non-Qualified Stock Options.

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          (c) Ten Percent Owners. An Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to
any individual who, at the date of grant, owns stock possessing more than ten
percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of Stock of the
Company only if such Option is granted at a price that is not less than 110% of
Fair Market Value on the date of grant and the Option is exercisable for no more
than five years from the date of grant.
          (d) Notice of Disposition. The Participant shall give the Company
prompt notice of any disposition of shares of Stock acquired by exercise of an
Incentive Stock Option within (i) two years from the date of grant of such
Incentive Stock Option or (ii) one year after the transfer of such shares of
Stock to the Participant.
          (e) Expiration of Incentive Stock Options. No Award of an Incentive
Stock Option may be made pursuant to this Plan after the tenth anniversary of
the Effective Date.
          (f) Right to Exercise. During a Participant’s lifetime, an Incentive
Stock Option may be exercised only by the Participant.
          (g) Failure to Meet Requirements. Any Option (or portion thereof)
purported to be an Incentive Stock Option, which, for any reason, fails to meet
the requirements of Section 422 of the Code shall be considered a Non-Qualified
Stock Option.
ARTICLE 6
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
     6.1 Grant of Restricted Stock. The Committee is authorized to make Awards
of Restricted Stock to any Participant selected by the Committee in such amounts
and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee. All
Awards of Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
     6.2 Issuance and Restrictions. Subject to Section 10.7, Restricted Stock
shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions
as the Committee may impose (including, without limitation, limitations on the
right to vote Restricted Stock or the right to receive dividends on the
Restricted Stock). These restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at
such times, pursuant to such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise
(including, without limitation, pursuant to the satisfaction or time-vesting
requirements, performance vesting requirements, or both), as the Committee
determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter.
     6.3 Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the time
of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of employment or
service during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock that is at
that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited; provided, however, that,
except as otherwise provided by Section 10.7, the Committee may (a) provide in
any Restricted Stock Award Agreement that restrictions or forfeiture conditions
relating to Restricted Stock will be waived in whole or in part in the event of
terminations resulting from specified causes, and (b) in other cases waive in
whole or in part restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted
Stock.

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     6.4 Certificates for Restricted Stock. Restricted Stock granted pursuant to
the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If
certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock are registered in the name
of the Participant, certificates must bear an appropriate legend referring to
the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, and
the Company may, at its discretion, retain physical possession of the
certificate until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse.
ARTICLE 7
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
     7.1 Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights.
          (a) A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to any Participant
selected by the Committee. A Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to such
terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall
impose and shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
          (b) A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the Participant (or other
person entitled to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right pursuant to the Plan)
to exercise all or a specified portion of the Stock Appreciation Right (to the
extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company
an amount equal to the product of (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of
the Stock on the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised over (B) the
Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date the Stock Appreciation Right was
granted and (ii) the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Stock
Appreciation Right is exercised, subject to any limitations the Committee may
impose.
     7.2 Payment and Limitations on Exercise.
          (a) Payment of the amounts determined under Section 7.1(b) above shall
be in cash, in Stock (based on its Fair Market Value as of the date the Stock
Appreciation Right is exercised) or a combination of both, as determined by the
Committee in the Award Agreement.
          (b) To the extent payment for a Stock Appreciation Right is to be made
in cash, the Award Agreement shall, to the extent necessary to comply with the
requirements to Section 409A of the Code, specify the date of payment which may
be different than the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right. If the
date of payment for a Stock Appreciation Right is later than the date of
exercise, the Award Agreement may specify that the Participant be entitled to
earnings on such amount until paid.
          (c) To the extent any payment under Section 7.1(b) is effected in
Stock, it shall be made subject to satisfaction of all provisions of Article 5
above pertaining to Options.

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ARTICLE 8
OTHER TYPES OF AWARDS
     8.1 Performance Share Awards. Any Participant selected by the Committee may
be granted one or more Performance Share awards which shall be denominated in a
number of shares of Stock and which may be linked to any one or more of the
Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined
appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over
any period or periods determined by the Committee. In making such
determinations, the Committee shall consider (among such other factors as it
deems relevant in light of the specific type of award) the contributions,
responsibilities and other compensation of the particular Participant.
     8.2 Performance Stock Units. Any Participant selected by the Committee may
be granted one or more Performance Stock Unit awards which shall be denominated
in unit equivalent of shares of Stock and/or units of value including dollar
value of shares of Stock and which may be linked to any one or more of the
Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined
appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over
any period or periods determined by the Committee. In making such
determinations, the Committee shall consider (among such other factors as it
deems relevant in light of the specific type of award) the contributions,
responsibilities and other compensation of the particular Participant.
     8.3 Performance Bonus Awards. Any Participant selected by the Committee may
be granted one or more Performance-Based Awards in the form of a cash bonus (a
“Performance Bonus Award”) payable upon the attainment of Performance Goals that
are established by the Committee and relate to one or more of the Performance
Criteria, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or
periods determined by the Committee, subject to Section 10.7. Any such
Performance Bonus Award paid to a Covered Employee shall be based upon
objectively determinable bonus formulas established in accordance with
Article 9.
     8.4 Dividend Equivalents. Any Participant selected by the Committee may be
granted Dividend Equivalents based on the dividends declared on the shares of
Stock that are subject to any Award, to be credited as of dividend payment
dates, during the period between the date the Award is granted and the date the
Award is exercised, vests or expires, as determined by the Committee. Such
Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional shares of Stock by
such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be
determined by the Committee.
     8.5 Stock Payments. Any Participant selected by the Committee may receive
Stock Payments in the manner determined from time to time by the Committee;
provided, that unless otherwise determined by the Committee such Stock Payments
shall be made in lieu of base salary, bonus, or other cash compensation
otherwise payable to such Participant. The number of shares shall be determined
by the Committee and may be based upon the Performance Criteria or other
specific criteria determined appropriate by the Committee, determined on the
date such Stock Payment is made or on any date thereafter.

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     8.6 Deferred Stock. Any Participant selected by the Committee may be
granted an award of Deferred Stock in the manner determined from time to time by
the Committee. The number of shares of Deferred Stock shall be determined by the
Committee and may be linked to the Performance Criteria or other specific
criteria determined to be appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a
specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the
Committee, subject to Section 10.7. Stock underlying a Deferred Stock award will
not be issued until the Deferred Stock award has vested, pursuant to a vesting
schedule or criteria set by the Committee. Unless otherwise provided by the
Committee, a Participant awarded Deferred Stock shall have no rights as a
Company stockholder with respect to such Deferred Stock until such time as the
Deferred Stock Award has vested and the Stock underlying the Deferred Stock
Award has been issued.
     8.7 Restricted Stock Units. The Committee is authorized to make Awards of
Restricted Stock Units to any Participant selected by the Committee in such
amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee.
At the time of grant, the Committee shall specify the date or dates on which the
Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable, and may
specify such conditions to vesting as it deems appropriate, subject to
Section 10.7. At the time of grant, the Committee shall specify the maturity
date applicable to each grant of Restricted Stock Units which shall be no
earlier than the vesting date or dates of the Award and may be determined at the
election of the grantee. On the maturity date, the Company shall transfer to the
Participant one unrestricted, fully transferable share of Stock for each
Restricted Stock Unit scheduled to be paid out on such date and not previously
forfeited.
     8.8 Term. Except as otherwise provided herein, the term of any Award of
Performance Shares, Performance Stock Units, Dividend Equivalents, Stock
Payments, Deferred Stock or Restricted Stock Units shall be set by the Committee
in its discretion.
     8.9 Exercise or Purchase Price. The Committee may establish the exercise or
purchase price, if any, of any Award of Performance Shares, Performance Stock
Units, Deferred Stock, Stock Payments, or Restricted Stock Units; provided,
however, that such price shall not be less than the par value of a share of
Stock, unless otherwise permitted by applicable state law.
     8.10 Form of Payment. Payments with respect to any Awards granted under
this Article 8 shall be made in cash, in Stock or a combination of both, as
determined by the Committee.
     8.11 Award Agreement. All Awards under this Article 8 shall be subject to
such additional terms and conditions as determined by the Committee and shall be
evidenced by an Award Agreement.
ARTICLE 9
PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS
     9.1 Purpose. The purpose of this Article 9 is to provide the Committee the
ability to qualify Awards other than Options and SARs and that are granted
pursuant to Articles 6 and 8 as Qualified Performance-Based Compensation. If the
Committee, in its discretion, decides to

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grant a Performance-Based Award to a Covered Employee, the provisions of this
Article 9 shall control over any contrary provision contained in Articles 6 or
8; provided, however, that the Committee may in its discretion grant Awards to
Covered Employees or other Participants that are based on Performance Criteria
or Performance Goals but that do not satisfy the requirements of this Article 9.
     9.2 Applicability. This Article 9 shall apply only to those Covered
Employees selected by the Committee to receive Performance-Based Awards. The
designation of a Covered Employee as a Participant for a Performance Period
shall not in any manner entitle the Participant to receive an Award for the
period. Moreover, designation of a Covered Employee as a Participant for a
particular Performance Period shall not require designation of such Covered
Employee as a Participant in any subsequent Performance Period and designation
of one Covered Employee as a Participant shall not require designation of any
other Covered Employees as a Participant in such period or in any other period.
     9.3 Procedures with Respect to Performance-Based Awards. To the extent
necessary to comply with the Qualified Performance-Based Compensation
requirements of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, with respect to any Award
granted under Articles 6 and 8 which may be granted to one or more Covered
Employees, no later than ninety (90) days following the commencement of any
fiscal year in question or any other designated fiscal period or period of
service (or such other time as may be required or permitted by Section 162(m) of
the Code), the Committee shall, in writing, (a) designate one or more Covered
Employees, (b) select the Performance Criteria applicable to the Performance
Period, (c) establish the Performance Goals, and amounts of such Awards, as
applicable, which may be earned for such Performance Period, and (d) specify the
relationship between Performance Criteria and the Performance Goals and the
amounts of such Awards, as applicable, to be earned by each Covered Employee for
such Performance Period. Following the completion of each Performance Period,
the Committee shall certify in writing whether the applicable Performance Goals
have been achieved for such Performance Period. In determining the amount earned
by a Covered Employee, the Committee shall have the right to reduce or eliminate
(but not to increase) the amount payable at a given level of performance to take
into account additional factors that the Committee may deem relevant to the
assessment of individual or corporate performance for the Performance Period.
     9.4 Payment of Performance-Based Awards. Unless otherwise provided in the
applicable Award Agreement, a Participant must be employed by the Company or a
Subsidiary on the day a Performance-Based Award for such Performance Period is
paid to the Participant. Furthermore, a Participant shall be eligible to receive
payment pursuant to a Performance-Based Award for a Performance Period only if
the Performance Goals for such period are achieved. In determining the amount
earned under a Performance-Based Award, the Committee may reduce or eliminate
the amount of the Performance-Based Award earned for the Performance Period, if
in its sole and absolute discretion, such reduction or elimination is
appropriate.
     9.5 Additional Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision of the
Plan, any Award which is granted to a Covered Employee and is intended to
constitute Qualified Performance-Based Compensation shall be subject to any
additional limitations set forth in Section 162(m) of the Code (including any
amendment to Section 162(m) of the Code) or any regulations or rulings issued
thereunder that are requirements for qualification as qualified

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performance-based compensation as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code,
and the Plan shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such
requirements.
ARTICLE 10
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS
     10.1 Stand-Alone and Tandem Awards. Awards granted pursuant to the Plan
may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone, in addition
to, or in tandem with, any other Award granted pursuant to the Plan. Awards
granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards may be granted either at
the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards.
     10.2 Award Agreement. Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award
Agreements that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award
which may include the term of an Award, the provisions applicable in the event
the Participant’s employment or service terminates, and the Company’s authority
to unilaterally or bilaterally amend, modify, suspend, cancel or rescind an
Award.
     10.3 Limits on Transfer. No right or interest of a Participant in any Award
may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party other
than the Company or a Subsidiary, or shall be subject to any lien, obligation,
or liability of such Participant to any other party other than the Company or a
Subsidiary. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, no Award shall be
assigned, transferred, or otherwise disposed of by a Participant other than by
will or the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee by express provision
in the Award or an amendment thereto may permit an Award (other than an
Incentive Stock Option) to be transferred to, exercised by and paid to certain
persons or entities related to the Participant, including but not limited to
members of the Participant’s family, charitable institutions, or trusts or other
entities whose beneficiaries or beneficial owners are members of the
Participant’s family and/or charitable institutions, or to such other persons or
entities as may be expressly approved by the Committee, pursuant to such
conditions and procedures as the Committee may establish. Any permitted transfer
shall be subject to the condition that the Committee receive evidence
satisfactory to it that the transfer is being made for estate, tax planning
and/or charitable purposes (or to a “blind trust” in connection with the
Participant’s termination of employment or service with the Company or a
Subsidiary to assume a position with a governmental, charitable, educational or
similar non-profit institution) and on a basis consistent with the Company’s
lawful issue of securities.
     10.4 Beneficiaries. Notwithstanding Section 10.3, a Participant may, in the
manner determined by the Committee, designate a beneficiary to exercise the
rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any
Award upon the Participant’s death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal
representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is
subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement
applicable to the Participant, except to the extent the Plan and Award Agreement
otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or
appropriate by the Committee. If the Participant is married and resides in a
community property state, a designation of a person other than the Participant’s
spouse as his or her beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the
Participant’s

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interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written consent
of the Participant’s spouse. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives
the Participant, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant
to the Participant’s will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to
the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a
Participant at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the
Committee.
     10.5 Stock Certificates. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates
evidencing shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and
until the Board has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance and
delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws,
regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of
any exchange on which the shares of Stock are listed or traded. All Stock
certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan are subject to any stop-transfer
orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to
comply with federal, state, or foreign jurisdiction, securities or other laws,
rules and regulations and the rules of any national securities exchange or
automated quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted, or traded. The
Committee may place legends on any Stock certificate to reference restrictions
applicable to the Stock. In addition to the terms and conditions provided
herein, the Board may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants,
agreements, and representations as the Board, in its discretion, deems advisable
in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. The
Committee shall have the right to require any Participant to comply with any
timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any
Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion
of the Committee.
     10.6 Paperless Exercise. In the event that the Company establishes, for
itself or using the services of a third party, an automated system for the
exercise of Awards, such as a system using an internet website or interactive
voice response, then the paperless exercise of Awards by a Participant may be
permitted through the use of such an automated system.
     10.7 Full Value Award Vesting Limitations. Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Plan to the contrary, Full Value Awards made to Participants
other than Independent Directors shall become vested over a period of not less
than three years (or, in the case of vesting based upon the attainment of
Performance Goals or other performance-based objectives, over a period of not
less than one year) following the date the Award is made and the Committee may
not accelerate the vesting for such Full Value Awards, except in the event of a
Change of Control or the Participant’s death, Disability or retirement (as
defined in the Participant’s Award Agreement).
ARTICLE 11
CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE
     11.1 Adjustments. In the event of any stock dividend, stock split,
combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation, spin-off,
recapitalization or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of
Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of
Stock or the share price of the Stock, the Committee shall make such
proportionate adjustments, if any, as the Committee in its discretion may deem
appropriate to reflect such

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change with respect to (a) the aggregate number and kind of shares that may be
issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the
limitations in Sections 3.1 and 3.3); (b) the terms and conditions of any
outstanding Awards (including, without limitation, any applicable performance
targets or criteria with respect thereto); and (c) the grant or exercise price
per share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan. Any adjustment affecting an
Award intended as Qualified Performance-Based Compensation shall be made
consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.
     11.2 Change of Control. Except as may otherwise be provided in any Award
Agreement or any other written agreement entered into by and between the Company
and a Participant, if a Change of Control occurs and a Participant’s Options,
Restricted Stock or Stock Appreciation Rights are not converted, assumed, or
replaced by a successor, such Awards shall become fully exercisable and all
forfeiture restrictions on such Awards shall lapse; and provided such Change of
Control is a change in the ownership or effective control of the Company or in
the ownership of or a substantial portion of the assets of the Company within
the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, then all Restricted Stock Units,
Deferred Stock, and Performance Stock shall become deliverable upon the Change
of Control. Upon, or in anticipation of, a Change of Control, the Committee may
in its sole discretion provide for (a) any and all Awards outstanding hereunder
to terminate at a specific time in the future and shall give each Participant
the right to exercise such Awards during a period of time as the Committee shall
determine, (b) the purchase of any Award for an amount of cash equal to the
amount that could have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or
realization of the Participant’s rights had such Award been currently
exercisable or payable or fully vested (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as
of such date the Committee determines in good faith that no amount would have
been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’
s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment),
(c) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the
Committee in its sole discretion; (d) the assumption of or substitution of such
Award by the successor or surviving corporation, or a parent or subsidiary
thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and
prices; (e) the acceleration of vesting or payment of any Award, notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in any Award Agreement; or (f) payment of Awards in
cash, as determined with reference to the value of Stock on the date of the
Change of Control plus reasonable interest on the Award through the date such
Award would otherwise be vested or have been paid in accordance with its
original terms, if necessary to comply with Section 409A of the Code.
     11.3 Outstanding Awards – Certain Mergers. Subject to any required action
by the stockholders of the Company, in the event that the Company shall be the
surviving corporation in any merger or consolidation (except a merger or
consolidation as a result of which the holders of shares of Stock receive
securities of another corporation), each Award outstanding on the date of such
merger or consolidation shall pertain to and apply to the securities that a
holder of the number of shares of Stock subject to such Award would have
received in such merger or consolidation.

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     11.4 Outstanding Awards – Other Changes. In the event of any other change
in the capitalization of the Company or corporate change other than those
specifically referred to in this Article 11, the Committee may, in its absolute
discretion, make such adjustments in the number and kind of shares or other
securities subject to Awards outstanding on the date on which such change occurs
and in the per share grant or exercise price of each Award as the Committee may
consider appropriate to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.
     11.5 No Other Rights. Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no
Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation
of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any dividend, any increase or
decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class or any dissolution,
liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or any other corporation.
Except as expressly provided in the Plan or pursuant to action of the Committee
under the Plan, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or
securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no
adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares
of Stock subject to an Award or the grant or exercise price of any Award.
ARTICLE 12
ADMINISTRATION
     12.1 Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation
Committee of the Board; provided, however that the Compensation Committee may
delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board the authority to
grant or amend Awards to Participants other than (a) senior executives of the
Company who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act or (b) Covered
Employees. The Committee shall consist of at least two individuals, each of whom
qualifies as (x) a Non-Employee Director, (y) an “outside director” pursuant to
Code Section 162(m) and the regulations issued thereunder and (z) an
“independent director” under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (or other
principal securities market on which shares of Stock are traded). Reference to
the Committee shall refer to the Board if the Compensation Committee ceases to
exist and the Board does not appoint a successor Committee. In its sole
discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all
rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan except with respect to matters
which under Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or Section 162(m) of the Code, or
any regulations or rules issued thereunder, are required to be determined in the
sole discretion of the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the full Board,
acting by a majority of its members in office, shall conduct the general
administration of the Plan with respect to Awards granted to Independent
Directors and for purposes of such Awards the term “Committee” as used in this
Plan shall be deemed to refer to the Board.
     12.2 Action by the Committee. A majority of the Committee shall constitute
a quorum. The acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which
a quorum is present, and acts approved in writing by a majority of the Committee
in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed the acts of the Committee. Each member of
the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or
other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of
the Company or any Subsidiary, the Company’s independent certified public
accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional
retained by the

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Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.
     12.3 Authority of Committee. Subject to any specific designation in the
Plan, the Committee has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to:
          (a) Designate Participants to receive Awards;
          (b) Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each
Participant;
          (c) Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of
shares of Stock to which an Award will relate;
          (d) Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant
to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, or
purchase price, any restrictions or limitations on the Award, any schedule for
lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the exercisability of an
Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, any provisions related to
non-competition and recapture of gain on an Award, based in each case on such
considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion determines;
          (e) Determine whether, to what extent, and pursuant to what
circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may
be paid in, cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be
canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;
          (f) Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be
identical for each Participant;
          (g) Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection
with an Award;
          (h) Establish, adopt, or revise any rules and regulations as it may
deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
          (i) Interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the
Plan or any Award Agreement; and
          (j) Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required
pursuant to the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to
administer the Plan.
     12.4 Decisions Binding. The Committee’s interpretation of the Plan, any
Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, any Award Agreement and all decisions and
determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and
conclusive on all parties.

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ARTICLE 13
EFFECTIVE AND EXPIRATION DATE
     13.1 Effective Date; Effect of Approval on 2001 Stock Option Plan. The Plan
is effective as of the date the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders
(the “Effective Date”). The Plan will be deemed to be approved by the
stockholders if it receives the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of
the shares of stock of the Company present or represented and entitled to vote
at a meeting duly held in accordance with the applicable provisions of the
Company’s Bylaws. No additional awards will be made under the Compass Minerals
International, Inc. 2001 Stock Option Plan on or after the Effective Date.
     13.2 Expiration Date. The Plan will expire on, and no Award may be granted
pursuant to the Plan after, the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. Any
Awards that are outstanding on the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date shall
remain in force according to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Award
Agreement.
ARTICLE 14
AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION
     14.1 Amendment, Modification, and Termination. Subject to Section 15.14,
with the approval of the Board, at any time and from time to time, the Committee
may terminate, amend or modify the Plan; provided, however, that (a) to the
extent necessary and desirable to comply with any applicable law, regulation, or
stock exchange rule, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan
amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as required, and (b) stockholder
approval is required for any amendment to the Plan that (i) increases the number
of shares available under the Plan (other than any adjustment as provided by
Article 11), (ii) permits the Committee to grant Options with an exercise price
that is below Fair Market Value on the date of grant, (iii) permits the
Committee to extend the exercise period for an Option beyond seven years from
the date of grant, or (iv) results in a material increase in benefits or a
change in eligibility requirements. Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan
to the contrary, absent approval of the stockholders of the Company, no Option
may be amended to reduce the per share exercise price of the shares subject to
such Option below the per share exercise price as of the date the Option is
granted and, except as permitted by Article 11, no Option may be granted in
exchange for, or in connection with, the cancellation or surrender of an Option
having a higher per share exercise price.
     14.2 Awards Previously Granted. Except with respect to amendments made
pursuant to Section 15.14, no termination, amendment, or modification of the
Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted
pursuant to the Plan without the prior written consent of the Participant.

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ARTICLE 15
GENERAL PROVISIONS
     15.1 No Rights to Awards. No Participant, employee, or other person shall
have any claim to be granted any Award pursuant to the Plan, and neither the
Company nor the Committee is obligated to treat Participants, employees, and
other persons uniformly.
     15.2 No Stockholders Rights. No Award gives the Participant any of the
rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until shares of Stock are in
fact issued to such person in connection with such Award.
     15.3 Withholding. The Company or any Subsidiary shall have the authority
and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the
Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local and foreign taxes
(including the Participant’s employment tax obligations) required by law to be
withheld with respect to any taxable event concerning a Participant arising as a
result of this Plan. The Committee may in its discretion and in satisfaction of
the foregoing requirement allow a Participant to elect to have the Company
withhold shares of Stock otherwise issuable under an Award (or allow the return
of shares of Stock) having a Fair Market Value equal to the sums required to be
withheld. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the number of shares
of Stock which may be withheld with respect to the issuance, vesting, exercise
or payment of any Award (or which may be repurchased from the Participant of
such Award within six months after such shares of Stock were acquired by the
Participant from the Company) in order to satisfy the Participant’s federal,
state, local and foreign income and payroll tax liabilities with respect to the
issuance, vesting, exercise or payment of the Award shall be limited to the
number of shares which have a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding or
repurchase equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the
minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income
tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable
income.
     15.4 No Right to Employment or Services. Nothing in the Plan or any Award
Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or
any Subsidiary to terminate any Participant’s employment or services at any
time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ or
service of the Company or any Subsidiary.
     15.5 Unfunded Status of Awards. The Plan is intended to be an “unfunded”
plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a
Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award
Agreement shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a
general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary.
     15.6 Indemnification. To the extent allowable pursuant to applicable law,
each member of the Committee or of the Board shall be indemnified and held
harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be
imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or
resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be
a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure
to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him
or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against
him or her;

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provided he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to
handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it
on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be
exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be
entitled pursuant to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a
matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify
them or hold them harmless.
     15.7 Relationship to other Benefits. No payment pursuant to the Plan shall
be taken into account in determining any benefits pursuant to any pension,
retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit
plan of the Company or any Subsidiary except to the extent otherwise expressly
provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.
     15.8 Expenses. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by the
Company and its Subsidiaries.
     15.9 Titles and Headings. The titles and headings of the Sections in the
Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict,
the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.
     15.10 Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued and
the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in
lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated
by rounding up or down as appropriate.
     15.11 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any
other provision of the Plan, the Plan, and any Award granted or awarded to any
Participant who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall be
subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule
under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3
under the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such
exemptive rule. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and Awards
granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to
conform to such applicable exemptive rule.
     15.12 Government and Other Regulations. The obligation of the Company to
make payment of awards in Stock or otherwise shall be subject to all applicable
laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by government agencies as
may be required. The Company shall be under no obligation to register pursuant
to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, any of the shares of Stock paid
pursuant to the Plan. If the shares paid pursuant to the Plan may in certain
circumstances be exempt from registration pursuant to the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, the Company may restrict the transfer of such shares in such
manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.
     15.13 Governing Law. The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed
in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
     15.14 Section 409A. To the extent that the Committee determines that any
Award granted under the Plan is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award
Agreement evidencing

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such Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions required by Section 409A
of the Code. To the extent applicable, the Plan and Award Agreements shall be
interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of
Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder,
including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be
issued after the Effective Date. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to
the contrary, in the event that following the Effective Date the Committee
determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and related
Department of Treasury guidance (including such Department of Treasury guidance
as may be issued after the Effective Date), the Committee may adopt such
amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other
policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with
retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Committee determines
are necessary or appropriate to (a) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the
Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with
respect to the Award, or (b) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the
Code and related Department of Treasury guidance.
*   *   *   *  *
     I hereby certify that the foregoing Plan was duly adopted by the Board of
Directors of Compass Minerals International, Inc. on June 20, 2005.
*   *   *   *   *
     I hereby certify that the foregoing Plan was approved by the stockholders
of Compass Minerals International, Inc. on                      ___, 2005.
     Executed on this ___day of                     , 2005.

         
 
 
 
Corporate Secretary    

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