Ex10_9_4FrenchPerformanceShares


Exhibit 10.9.4




SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT INTERNATIONAL, INC.
RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT
(French Participants – Performance Shares)


You have been selected to be a recipient of a grant under the Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. Restricted Stock Plan and the Sub Plan for the Administration of Grants of French-Qualified Restricted Shares to Employees in France (collectively, the “Plan”), as specified below:


GRANTEE:     
DATE OF GRANT:     
NUMBER OF RESTRICTED SHARES GRANTED:    
DATE(S) OF LAPSE OF RESTRICTIONS:     
Vesting restrictions lapse on ____________ (“Vesting Date”).  
Restrictions on transfer and sale following vesting continue for two additional years , until ___________ (“Date of Lapse of Restrictions”), in order to comply with the requirements under French law for avoiding the assessment of increased personal income tax and associated social charges payable by the individual and the company for sales occurring in less than two years following the date of vesting (the “French Favorable Regime”). This period is referred to as the “Restriction Period.”)        


THIS AGREEMENT, effective as of the Date of Grant set forth above, is between Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and the Grantee named above, and is entered into pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.  The parties hereto agree as follows:


1.    Employment by the Company.  The Restricted Stock granted hereunder is awarded on the condition that Grantee remain in the employ of the Company from the Date of Grant through (and including) the Vesting Date, as specified above.


However, neither such condition nor the award of the Restricted Stock shall impose upon the Company any obligation to retain Grantee in its employ for any given period or upon any specific terms of employment.


2.    Certificate Legend.  Each certificate representing shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan shall bear the following legend:


“The sale or other transfer of the shares of stock represented by this certificate, whether voluntary, involuntary, or by operation of law, is subject to certain restrictions on transfer set forth in Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc.’s Restricted Stock Plan and the Sub Plan for the Administration of Grants of French-qualified Restricted Shares to Employees in France (collectively, “Plan”), any rules of administration adopted pursuant to such Plan, and a Restricted Stock Agreement dated __________.  A copy of the Plan, such rules, and such Restricted Stock Agreement may be obtained from the Secretary of Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc.”



Exhibit 10.9.4






3.    Removal of Restrictions.  Except as otherwise provided herein and in the Plan, awards granted under this Agreement shall become freely transferable by Grantee after the Date of Lapse of Restrictions; provided, however, that Restricted Stock granted hereunder may not be sold by the Grantee during a Closed Period, as more fully set forth in the Plan.   Once the awards are released from the restrictions, Grantee shall be entitled to have the legend required by Section 2 of this Agreement removed from his or her stock certificate.


4.    Voting Rights and Dividends.  Before the Vesting Date, Grantee shall have no right to vote and shall not be entitled to any dividends or other distributions paid with respect to the shares of Restricted Stock.  After the Vesting Date, Grantee may exercise full voting rights and is entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect to the shares of Restricted Stock while they are held.  If any such dividends or distributions are paid in shares of common stock of the Company, the shares shall be subject to the same restrictions on transferability as are the shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid.


5.    Termination of Employment Due to Death.  In the event the employment of Grantee is terminated by reason of death during the Restriction Period, the restrictions applicable to all shares of Restricted Stock held by Grantee at the time of termination shall lapse as of the date of death.     


6.    Termination of Employment Due to Permanent Invalidity.  In the event Grantee's active employment by the Company is terminated by reason of Permanent Invalidity, as such term is defined in the Plan, during the Restriction Period, Grantee shall be entitled to a prorated award of shares on the Date of Lapse of Restrictions, based on the number of full months of employment of Grantee during the Restriction Period, in relation to the total number of full months in the Restriction Period.  The restrictions on such shares of Restricted Stock shall lapse at the same time they otherwise would have, had the employment termination not occurred.


If, after the termination of Grantee’s employment due to Permanent Invalidity, but prior to the Date of Lapse of Restrictions as set forth on the first page of this Agreement, Grantee dies, then the number of shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which restrictions shall lapse and the timing of such lapse shall be determined according to Section 5 herein, applied by treating Grantee as if he or she had remained employed by the Company until the date of his or her death.


6.    Termination of Employment for Other Reasons.  In the event that Grantee terminates employment with the Company before the Settlement Date for any reason other than those reasons set forth in Section 5  herein, all shares of Restricted Stock held by the Grantee at the time of employment termination shall be forfeited by Grantee to the Company; provided, however, that in the event of an involuntary termination of the employment of Grantee by the Company, the Compensation  Committee, in its sole discretion, may waive the automatic forfeiture provisions; further provided, that any waiver of the automatic forfeiture provision as to any participant who is a covered employee under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code must be acted upon by formal resolution or unanimous consent in lieu of a meeting and 



Exhibit 10.9.4




affirmatively recite that it is the Committee’s intention to so act notwithstanding the potential loss of a corporate tax deduction.


8.    Change in Control.  In the event of a Change in Control, (as defined in the Plan), all restrictions on the transferability of outstanding awards of Restricted Stock held by Grantee under the Plan shall immediately lapse, and thereafter such shares shall be freely transferable by Grantee, subject to applicable Federal and state securities laws. In the event that there is any change in the common stock of the Company through the declaration of stock dividends or through recapitalization resulting in stock split-ups or through merger, consolidation, or exchange of shares, or otherwise, the number of shares of Restricted Stock subject to this Agreement shall be equitably adjusted by the Compensation Committee to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights in accordance with the Plan. Notwithstanding this provision, however, in the event of a Change of Control, recapitalization, or other event incurring the accelerated vesting of Restricted Stock that is not expressly provided for under French law, the Restricted Stock may no longer qualify under the French Favorable Regime, and the Compensation Committee may, at its option, determine to lift, shorten or terminate certain restrictions applicable to the vesting, settlement or transferability of the Restricted Stock in order to benefit from the French Favorable Regime, or to take no action at all.  The failure or inability of any grant of Restricted Stock to qualify for the French Favorable Regime for any reason shall not, under any circumstances, entitle the Grantee or his or her heirs to make any claims for damages, additional compensation, other benefit or payment of taxes owed or otherwise.  


9.    Transferability.  Shares of Restricted Stock granted under this Agreement are not transferable by Grantee, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by operation of law or otherwise, during the Restriction Period, except as provided in the Plan.  If any assignment, pledge, transfer, or other disposition, voluntary or involuntary, of Restricted Stock shall be made, or if any attachment, execution, garnishment, or lien shall be issued against or placed upon the Restricted Stock, then Grantee’s right to the Restricted Stock shall immediately cease and terminate, and Grantee shall promptly surrender to the Company all certificates evidencing Restricted Stock awarded under this Agreement.
    
10.    Administration.  This Agreement and the rights of Grantee hereunder are subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan, as the same may be amended from time to time, as well as to such rules and regulations as the Compensation Committee, as such term is defined in the Plan, may adopt for administration of the Plan.  It is expressly understood that the Compensation Committee is authorized to administer, construe, and make all determinations necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan and this Agreement, all of which shall be binding upon Grantee.  Any inconsistency between this Agreement and the Plan shall be resolved in favor of the Plan.


11.    Taxation.  The sale of shares that vest under this agreement in less than four years from the date of grant may result in material personal tax liabilities. Please consult with your tax advisor before selling your shares to determine if such excess taxes will apply due to the length of time you held your shares. 
  
12.    Miscellaneous.



Exhibit 10.9.4






		
	(a)
	This Agreement shall not confer upon Grantee any right to continuation of employment by the Company, nor shall this Agreement interfere in any way with the Company’s right to terminate his or her employment at any time.




		
	(b)
	Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Compensation Committee may terminate, amend, or modify the Plan or this Agreement; provided, however, that no such termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan or this Agreement may in any way adversely affect Grantee’s rights under this Agreement without Grantee’s consent.




		
	(c)
	The Company shall have the authority to deduct or withhold, or require Grantee to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any and all taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to any provision of this agreement.




		
	(d)
	This Agreement shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.




		
	(e)
	To the extent not preempted by U.S. Federal law, this Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia.




IN WITNESS THEREOF, the parties have caused the Agreement to be executed as of the Date of Grant.


SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT INTERNATIONAL, INC. 




By: __________________________________________
Frédéric Villoutreix, Chairman and CEO


ATTEST:




_________________________________________
John W. Rumely, Jr., Secty. & General Counsel


______________________________________________
(Name of  recipient)