ex10-1.htm


    
      	
               
      

            	
              Exhibit
      10.1

            


    

     

     

    
      	
              THE
      TORO COMPANY

            


      2000
DIRECTORS STOCK PLAN

    

    (As
Amended March 18, 2009)

    


    


    1.           
Purpose of the
Plan.  The purpose of The Toro Company 2000 Directors Stock
Plan (“Plan”) is to enable The Toro Company (the “Company”) to attract and
retain experienced and knowledgeable directors to serve on the Board of
Directors of the Company or its subsidiaries, and to further align their
interests with those of the stockholders of the Company by providing for or
increasing their stock ownership interests in the Company.  It is
intended that the Plan be interpreted so that transactions under the Plan are
exempt under Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange Act”), to the extent applicable.

    


    2.           
Eligibility.  All
members of the Company’s Board of Directors who are not current employees of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries (“Nonemployee Directors”) are eligible to
participate in the Plan.

    


    3.           
Plan
Awards.

    


    a.           
Directors
Shares.  To carry out the purposes of the Plan, the Company
shall, on the first business day of each fiscal year, issue to each person who
is then a Nonemployee Director, shares of the Company’s Common Stock, $1.00 par
value (the “Common Stock”), in an amount equal to $20,000 divided by the fair
market value of one share of Common Stock rounded down to the greatest number of
whole  shares (“Directors Shares”), subject to adjustment as provided in
Section 5 hereof.  Fair market value for this purpose shall be
the average of the 4 p.m. Eastern Time closing prices of the Common Stock as
reported by the New York Stock Exchange for each of the trading days in the
three calendar months immediately prior to the date of issue of the Directors
Shares.

    


    b.           
Directors
Options.

    


    i.           
Annual
Grant.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Section 3.b., on the first business day of each fiscal year, the Company
shall grant to each person who is then a Nonemployee Director, a nonqualified option
to purchase shares of the Common Stock (a “Directors Option”).  Each
such option shall have a grant date fair value of $40,000, determined using a
standard Black-Scholes, binomial or monte carlo valuation formula, based on
assumptions consistent with those used to value option grants disclosed under
Schedule 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or successor
requirements, for the business day prior to the date of grant.

    


    ii.           
Vesting,
Transferability and Exercisability.

    


    (a)           
Vesting.  Except
as provided in Sections 3.b.ii.(c)(1) and (2) and Section 6,
Directors Options shall vest and become exercisable in three equal installments
on each of the first, second and third anniversaries following the date of
grant, and shall remain exercisable for a term of ten years after the date of
grant.

    


    (b)           
No
Transfer.   No Directors Option shall be assigned or
transferred, except by will or the laws of descent and
distribution.  An option so transferred may be exercised after the
death of the individual to whom it is granted only by such individual’s legal
representatives, heirs or legatees, not later than the earlier of the date the
option expires or one year after the date of death of such individual, and only
with respect to an option exercisable at the time of death.

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
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    (c)           
Exercise.  During
the lifetime of a Nonemployee Director, Directors Options held by such
individual may be exercised only by the Nonemployee Director and only while
serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company and only if the
Nonemployee Director has been continuously so serving since the date such
options were granted, except as follows:

    


    (1)           
Disability
or Death.  In the event of disability or death of a Nonemployee
Director, all outstanding unvested options shall vest effective as of the date
of death or termination of service by reason of disability, and all such vested
options may be exercised by such individual or his or her legal representatives
not later than the earlier of the date the option expires or one year after the
date such service as a Nonemployee Director ceases by reason of disability or
death.

    


    (2)           
Termination.  If
a Nonemployee Director has served as a member of the Board of Directors for ten
full fiscal years or longer and terminates service on the Board, (A) outstanding
unvested options shall remain outstanding and continue to vest in accordance
with their terms, and (B) the Nonemployee Director may exercise all such
vested outstanding options for up to four years after the date of termination,
but not later than the date an option expires.  If a Nonemployee
Director has served as a member of the Board of Directors for less than ten
years and terminates service on the Board, (C) all unvested options shall
expire and be canceled and (D) the Nonemployee Director may exercise any
vested outstanding options for up to three months after the date of termination,
but not later than the date an option expires.

    


    (d)           
Methods of
Exercise and Payment of Exercise Price.  Subject to the terms
and conditions of the Plan and the terms and conditions of the option agreement,
a vested option may be exercised in whole at any time or in part from time to
time, by delivery to the Company at its principal office of a written notice of
exercise specifying the number of shares with respect to which the option is
being exercised, accompanied by payment in full of the exercise price for shares
to be purchased at that time.  Payment may be made (1) in cash,
(2) by tendering (either actually or by attestation) shares of Common Stock
already owned for at least six months (or shorter period necessary to avoid a
charge to the Company’s earnings for financial statement purposes) valued at the
fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of exercise, (3) in a
combination of cash and Common Stock or (4) by delivery of a notice of
exercise of options, together with irrevocable instructions, approved in advance
by proper officers of the Company, (A) to a brokerage firm designated by
the Company, to deliver promptly to the Company the aggregate amount of sale or
loan proceeds to pay the exercise price and any related tax withholding
obligations and (B) to the Company, to deliver certificates for such
purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm, all in accordance with
regulations of the Federal Reserve Board.

    


    No shares
of Common Stock shall be issued until full payment has been made.

    


    c.           
Share
Proration.  If, on any date on which Directors Shares are to be
issued pursuant to Section 3.a. or Directors Options are to be granted
pursuant to Section 3.b., the number of  shares of Common Stock is
insufficient for the issuance of the entire number of shares to be issued or for
the grant of the entire number of options, as calculated in accordance with
Section 3.a. or Section 3.b., respectively, then the number of shares
to be issued and options to be granted to each Nonemployee Director entitled to
receive Directors Shares or Directors Options on such date shall be such
Nonemployee Director’s proportionate share of the available number of shares and
options (rounded down to the greatest number of whole  shares), provided
that if a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock is available to issue all
of the Directors Shares, then the entire number of Directors Shares shall be
issued first and the number of shares to be subjected to options shall be
prorated in accordance with this section.

    


    4.           
Shares in Lieu of
Fees.  A Nonemployee Director shall have the right to elect to
receive shares of Common Stock in lieu of annual retainer and meeting fees
otherwise payable in cash.  The election to receive Common Stock shall
be made prior to the date fees are otherwise scheduled to be paid but not later
than May 31 of the calendar year for which the fees are to be
paid.  Fees that are earned after the date a director makes an
election shall be reserved through the rest of the calendar year and shares
shall be issued in December of that year.  The number of shares to be
issued shall be determined by dividing the dollar amount of reserved fees by the
4 p.m. Eastern Time closing price of one share of Common Stock as reported by
the New York Stock Exchange for the date that the shares are
issued.

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
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    5.           
Stock Subject to
Plan.  Subject to adjustment as provided in this paragraph and
subject to increase by amendment of the Plan, the total number of shares of
Common Stock reserved and available for issuance in connection with the Plan
shall be 520,000 shares.  If any Directors Option granted hereunder
expires unexercised, terminates, is exchanged for other options without the
issuance of shares of Common Stock or is exercised by delivery or constructive
delivery of shares of Common Stock already owned by the option holder, the
shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to such option shall, to
the extent of any such termination or to the extent the shares covered by an
option are not issued or used, again be available for option grants under the
Plan, unless prohibited by applicable law or regulation.  Any shares
issued by the Company in connection with the assumption or substitution of
outstanding option grants from any acquired corporation shall not reduce the
shares available for stock awards or option grants under the Plan.  In
the event of a corporate transaction involving the Company, the Common Stock or
the Company’s corporate or capital structure, including but not limited to any
stock dividend, stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization,
reorganization, merger, consolidation, reclassification, split-up, spin-off,
combination or exchange of shares, or a sale of the Company or of all or part of
its assets or any distribution to stockholders other than a normal cash
dividend, the Committee shall make such proportional adjustments as are
necessary to preserve the benefits or potential benefits of the Directors Shares
and Directors Options. Action by the Committee may include all or any
adjustment in (a) the maximum number and kind of securities subject to the
Plan as set forth in this paragraph; (b) the maximum number and kind of
securities that may be made subject to Directors Options and the determination
of the number or kind of Directors Shares; (c) the number and kind of
securities subject to any outstanding Directors Option; and (d) any other
adjustments that the Committee determines to be equitable.

    


    6.           
Change of
Control.  In the event of a Change of Control of the Company as
hereinafter defined, all Directors Options shall fully vest, and be exercisable
in their entirety immediately, and notwithstanding any other provisions of the
Plan, shall continue to be exercisable for three years following the Change of
Control, but not later than ten years after the date of grant.

    


    Change of
Control means:

    


    a.           
The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of
Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of beneficial
ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of 15%
or more of either (i) the then-outstanding shares of Common Stock of the
Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (ii) the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting
Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection a., the
following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (i) any
acquisition directly from the Company, (ii) any acquisition by the Company,
(iii) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust)
sponsored or maintained by the Company or any corporation controlled by the
Company or (iv) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a
transaction that complies with clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of
subsection c. of this Section 6; or

    


    b.           
Individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board of Directors of the
Company (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a
majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for
election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a
majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be
considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but
excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with
respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened
solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the
Board; or

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
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    c.           
Consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company or sale
or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company or
the acquisition by the Company of assets or stock of another entity (a “Business
Combination”), in each case, unless, following such Business Combination,
(i) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the
beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and
Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Business
Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of,
respectively, the then-outstanding shares of common stock and the combined
voting power of the then-outstanding voting securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the corporation
resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, a
corporation which as a result of such transaction owns the Company or all or
substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more
subsidiaries) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership,
immediately prior to such Business Combination of the Outstanding Company Common
Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be,
(ii) no Person (excluding any corporation resulting from such Business
Combination or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) of the Company or
such corporation resulting from such Business Combination) beneficially owns,
directly or indirectly, 15% or more of, respectively, the then-outstanding
shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from such Business
Combination, or the combined voting power of the then-outstanding voting
securities of such corporation except to the extent that such ownership existed
prior to the Business Combination and (iii) at least a majority of the
members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such
Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the
execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for
such Business Combination; or

    


    d.           
Approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.

    


    7.           
Administration of the
Plan.  The Plan shall be administered by a committee composed
of those members of the Board of Directors of the Company who are also employees
of the Company (the “Committee”).  The Committee shall have the
authority to carry out all provisions of the Plan; provided, however, that it
shall have no discretion to determine which Nonemployee Directors may receive
Directors Shares or Directors Options or to set the value of such Directors
Shares or Directors Options, other than to make the calculations required by
Section 3.a., Section 3.b. or Section 5.

    


    8.           
Tax
Withholding.  The Company shall have the right to deduct from
any settlement made under the Plan, including the exercise of an option or the
sale of shares of Common Stock, any federal, state or local taxes of any kind
required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments or to require the
option holder to pay the amount of any such taxes or to take such other action
as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for
the payment of such taxes.  If Common Stock is withheld or surrendered
to satisfy tax withholding, such stock shall be valued at its fair market value
as of the date such Common Stock is withheld or surrendered.  The
Company may also deduct from any such settlement any other amounts due the
Company by the option holder.

    


    9.           
Effective Date and Term of
Plan.  The Plan first became effective March 14, 2001 and
shall end March 12, 2011, unless terminated earlier by action of the Board
of Directors.

    


    10.           
Amendment.  The
Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan at any time, with or without
advance notice to Plan participants.  The effective date of any
amendment to the Plan shall be the date of its adoption by the Board of
Directors, subject to stockholder approval, if required.  No amendment
of the Plan shall adversely affect in a material manner any right of any option
holder with respect to any option theretofore granted without such option
holder’s written consent.

     

     

    
      
         

      

      
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    11.           
Governing
Law.  The Plan, Directors Shares, Directors Options and
agreements entered into under the Plan shall be construed, administered and
governed in all respects under and by the applicable laws of the State of
Delaware, excluding any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might
otherwise refer construction or interpretation of the Plan or an option or an
award or agreement to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.