Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

WORLD FUEL SERVICES CORPORATION

2016 OMNIBUS PLAN

 

SECTION I

GENERAL

 

1.1  Purpose.  The World Fuel Services Corporation 2016 Omnibus Plan (the “Plan”) has been established by World Fuel Services Corporation (the “Company”), a Florida corporation, to: (a) attract and retain persons eligible to participate in the Plan; (b) motivate Participants, by means of appropriate incentives, to achieve long-range goals; (c) provide incentive compensation opportunities that are competitive with those of other similar companies; and (d) further align Participants’ interests with those of the Company’s other shareholders through compensation that is based on the Company’s common stock; and thereby promote the long-term financial interest of the Company and the Subsidiaries, including the growth in value of the Company’s equity and enhancement of long-term shareholder return.

 

1.2  Participation.  Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Company shall determine and designate, from time to time, from among the Eligible Persons, those persons who will be granted one or more Awards under the Plan, and thereby become “Participants” in the Plan.

 

1.3  Operation, Administration, and Definitions.  The operation and administration of the Plan, including the Awards made under the Plan, shall be subject to the provisions of Section IV (relating to operation and administration). Capitalized terms in the Plan shall be defined as set forth in the Plan (including the definition provisions of Section VIII of the Plan).

 

SECTION II

OPTIONS AND SARS

 

2.1  Definitions.

 

(a)                                 An “Option” is a right that entitles the Participant to purchase shares of Stock at an Exercise Price established by the Committee. Any Option granted under this Section II may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option, as determined in the discretion of the Committee. An “Incentive Stock Option” is an Option that is intended to satisfy the requirements applicable to an “incentive stock option” described in Section 422(b) of the Code. Only Employees of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be eligible to be awarded Incentive Stock Options under the Plan. A “Non-Qualified Stock Option” is an Option that is not intended to be an “incentive stock option” as that term is described in Section 422(b) of the Code.

 

(b)                                 A “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” is a right that entitles the Participant to receive, in cash or Stock (as determined in accordance with Section 4.7), value equal to (or otherwise based on) the excess of: (i) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock at the time of exercise; over (ii) an Exercise Price established by the Committee.

 

2.2  Exercise Price.  The “Exercise Price” of each share of Stock purchasable under an Option and each SAR shall be determined by the Committee, provided that such Exercise Price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant of the Option or SAR and shall not, in any event, be less than the par value of a share of Stock on the date of grant of the Option or SAR. If an Eligible Person owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules applicable under Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company (or any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code, respectively) and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such person, the exercise price of such Incentive Stock Option (to the extent required by the Code at the time of grant) shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date that the Incentive Stock Option is granted.

 

2.3  Exercise.  An Option and an SAR shall become exercisable in accordance with such terms and conditions and during such periods as may be established by the Committee, but in no event shall the Option or SAR remain exercisable after the seven-year anniversary of the date of grant.

 

2.4  Payment of Option Exercise Price.  The payment of the Exercise Price of an Option granted under this Section II shall be subject to the following:

 

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(a)                                 Subject to the following provisions of this Section 2.4, the full Exercise Price for shares of Stock purchased upon the exercise of any Option shall be paid at the time of such exercise (except that, in the case of an exercise arrangement described in Section 2.4(c), payment may be made as soon as practicable after the exercise).

 

(b)                                 The Exercise Price shall be payable in cash or, in the discretion of the Committee, either by tendering shares of Stock (by actual delivery of shares or by attestation), or by the withholding of shares of Stock that otherwise would have been delivered as a result of the exercise of the Option, in each case valued at Fair Market Value as of the day of exercise, or in any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee.

 

(c)                                  The Committee may permit a Participant to elect to pay the Exercise Price upon the exercise of an Option by irrevocably authorizing a third party to sell shares of Stock (or a sufficient portion of the shares) acquired upon exercise of the Option and remit to the Company a sufficient portion of the sale proceeds to pay the entire Exercise Price and any tax withholding resulting from such exercise.

 

2.5  Settlement of Award.  Settlement of Options and SARs is subject to Section 4.7.

 

SECTION III

OTHER AWARDS

 

3.1  Definitions.

 

(a)                                 A “Cash Incentive Award” is a grant of a right to receive a designated dollar value amount in cash that is not calculated by reference to the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock and is subject to a risk of forfeiture or other restrictions that will lapse upon the achievement of one or more goals relating to completion of service by the Participant, or achievement of performance or other objectives, as determined by the Committee.

 

(b)                                 An “Other Stock-Based Award” is any Award other than an Option, SAR, Stock Unit Award, Restricted Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit Award, that is denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, shares of Stock (including without limitation any award of shares of Stock that is not subject to any vesting or other restrictions and any awards of shares of Stock in lieu of obligations to pay cash or deliver other property under the Plan or under any other plan or compensatory arrangements).

 

(c)                                  A “Performance Compensation Award” is the grant of any Award, other than an Option or SAR, designated by the Committee as a Performance Compensation Award pursuant to Section 3.2(b) that is contingent on the achievement of Performance Measures or, in the event such Award is not intended to be “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, other performance objectives as determined by the Committee, during a specified period.

 

(d)                                 A “Restricted Stock Award” is a grant of shares of Stock with such shares of Stock subject to a risk of forfeiture or other restrictions that will lapse upon the achievement of one or more goals relating to completion of service by the Participant, or achievement of performance or other objectives, as determined by the Committee.

 

(e)                                  A “Restricted Stock Unit Award” is the grant of a right to receive shares of Stock, cash, other securities or other Awards (as determined in accordance with Section 4.7) in the future, with such right to future delivery of such shares of Stock, cash, other securities or other Awards subject to a risk of forfeiture or other restrictions that will lapse upon the achievement of one or more goals relating to completion of service by the Participant, or achievement of performance or other objectives, as determined by the Committee.

 

(f)                                   A “Stock Unit Award” is the grant of a right to receive shares of Stock in the future, which right is not subject to future vesting conditions.

 

3.2  Restrictions on Awards.  Each Stock Unit Award, Performance Compensation Award, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award, Other Stock-Based Award and Cash Incentive Award shall be subject to the following:

 

(a)                                 Any such Award shall be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee shall determine.

 

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(b)                                 The Committee may designate any such Award as a Performance Compensation Award that is intended to be “qualified performance-based compensation” as that term is used in Section 162(m) of the Code. The grant or vesting of any such Awards so designated shall be conditioned on the achievement of one or more “Performance Measures”, to the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code. The Performance Measures shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and regulations thereunder, including the requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the Committee result in the achievement of performance goals being “substantially uncertain.” One or more of the following business criteria for the Company, on a consolidated basis, and/or for any Subsidiary, or for business or geographical units of the Company and/or any Subsidiary (except with respect to the shareholder return measures and earnings per share criteria), shall be used by the Committee in establishing Performance Measures for such Performance Compensation Awards: (1) earnings per share or diluted earnings per share; (2) revenues or margins; (3) cash flow; (4) gross or net profitability/profit margins (including profitability of a product or service); (5) return measures (including return on net assets, investment, capital, equity, or sales); (6) economic value; enterprise value; (7) direct contribution; (8) net income; pretax earnings; earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; earnings after interest expense and before non-recurring or special items; (9) operating income; income before interest income or expense, unusual items and income taxes, local, state, federal or foreign and excluding budgeted and actual bonuses which might be paid under any ongoing bonus plans of the Company; (10) working capital; (11) costs or expenses (including specified types or categories thereof); (12) identification and/or consummation of investment opportunities or completion of specified projects, including strategic mergers, acquisitions or divestitures; (13) shareholder return measures; share price; (14) debt reduction or borrowing levels; (15) improvements in capital structure; (16) sales or product volume; days sales outstanding; (17) market share (in the aggregate or by segment); (18) ratios (including operating, leverage, combined); (19) book, economic book or intrinsic book value (including book value per share); (20) entry into new markets, either geographically or by business unit; (21) customer retention and satisfaction; (22) safety and accident rates; (23) strategic plan development and implementation, including turnaround plans; and (24) funds from operations. Any of the above goals may be determined on an absolute or relative basis or as compared to the performance of a published or special index deemed applicable by the Committee including, but not limited to, the Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index or a group of companies that are selected by the Committee. The Committee shall exclude the impact of an event or occurrence which the Committee determines should appropriately be excluded, including without limitation (i) restructurings, discontinued operations, and other unusual or non-recurring charges, (ii) an event either not directly related to the operations of the Company or any of its Affiliates, Subsidiaries, divisions, segments or operating units (to the extent applicable to such Performance Measure) or not within the reasonable control of the Company’s management, or (iii) a change in accounting standards required by generally accepted accounting principles. For Awards under this Section III intended to be “qualified performance-based compensation,” the grant of the Awards and the establishment of the Performance Measures shall be made during the period required under Section 162(m) of the Code and the determination in the immediately preceding sentence shall be consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the amount payable with respect to any Awards subject to this Section 3.2(b), but may not exercise any discretion to increase any such amount. No Participant shall receive any payment under the Plan that is subject to this Section 3.2(b) unless the Committee has certified, by resolution or other appropriate action in writing, that the Performance Measures and any other material terms previously established by the Committee, have been satisfied.

 

(c)                                  Any such Award (other than a Cash Incentive Award) shall be subject to a minimum vesting period of one (1) year, which minimum vesting period shall be deemed satisfied with respect to an Award granted to an Independent Director in connection with an annual shareholder meeting if such Award vests upon or after the immediately following annual shareholder meeting.

 

(d)                                 Notwithstanding 3.2(c) above, up to five percent (5%) of the shares of Stock available under the Plan may be granted free of any vesting requirements. Shares of Stock issued to Eligible Persons pursuant to their election to receive shares of Stock in lieu of cash compensation shall not count against this limit.

 

SECTION IV

OPERATION AND ADMINISTRATION

 

4.1  Effective Date; Term of Plan. The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date and shall remain in effect as long as any Awards under it are outstanding; provided, however, that no Awards may be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.

 

4.2  Shares Subject to Plan.  The shares of Stock for which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following:

 

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(a)                                 The shares of Stock with respect to which Awards may be made under the Plan shall be shares currently authorized but unissued or currently held or subsequently acquired by the Company as treasury shares, including shares purchased in the open market or in private transactions.

 

(b)                                 Subject to the following provisions of this Section 4.2, the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be delivered to Participants and their beneficiaries under the Plan shall be equal to the sum of (i) 2,500,000 and (ii) any Shares with respect to awards granted under the Prior Plan that are forfeited or canceled following the date that the Plan is approved by the Company’s shareholders, provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, clause (ii) shall not include any Shares with respect to awards granted under the Prior Plan that are withheld or tendered to the Company to satisfy the applicable tax withholding obligation or in payment of the exercise price of such award.

 

(c)                                  To the extent provided by the Committee, any Award may be settled in cash rather than Stock. To the extent any shares of Stock covered by an Award are not delivered to a Participant or beneficiary because the Award is forfeited or canceled, or the shares of Stock are not delivered because the Award is settled in cash, such shares shall not be deemed to have been delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of Stock available for delivery under the Plan. To the extent any shares of Stock covered by an Award are not delivered to a Participant or beneficiary because the shares of Stock are withheld or are tendered (by actual delivery or by attestation) to the Company, in either case, to satisfy the applicable tax withholding obligation or in payment of the exercise price of the Award, such shares shall be deemed to have been delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of Stock available for delivery under the Plan.

 

(d)                                 Upon exercise of a stock-settled SAR, each such stock-settled SAR originally granted shall be counted as one share of Stock against the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan as provided in Section 4.2(b), regardless of the number of shares of Stock actually delivered upon settlement of such stock-settled SAR.

 

(e)                                  Subject to Section 4.2(f), the following additional maximums are imposed under the Plan.

 

(i)                                     The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be issued as a result of the exercise of Options intended to be Incentive Stock Options shall be 2,500,000.

 

(ii)                                  With respect to Awards that are intended to be “qualified performance-based compensation” (as that term is used for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code),

 

(A)                               in the case of such Awards that are settled in shares of Stock, no more than 600,000 shares of Stock may be subject to such Awards granted to any one Participant with respect to any one fiscal-year period (multiplied by the number of complete fiscal year periods (and fractions thereof) over which the performance criteria are measured if based upon satisfaction of performance criteria measured over a period of more than one fiscal year);

 

(B)                               in the case of such Awards that are settled in cash based on the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock, the maximum aggregate amount of cash that may be paid pursuant to such Awards granted to any one Participant with respect to any one fiscal-year period shall be equal to 600,000 shares of Stock multiplied by the per share Fair Market Value as of the relevant vesting, payment or settlement date (multiplied by the number of complete fiscal year periods (and fractions thereof) over which the performance criteria are measured if based upon satisfaction of performance criteria measured over a period of more than one fiscal year); and

 

(C)                               in the case of all such Awards other than those described in clauses (A) and (B), the maximum aggregate amount of cash and other property (valued at its Fair Market Value) other than shares of Stock that may be paid or delivered pursuant to such Awards granted to any one Participant in any one fiscal-year period shall be equal to $5,000,000 (multiplied by the number of complete fiscal year periods (and fractions thereof) over which the performance criteria are measured if based upon satisfaction of performance criteria measured over a period of more than one fiscal year).

 

(iii)                               With respect to Awards granted to Independent Directors, (A) in the case of such Awards that are settled in shares of Stock, no more than 60,000 shares of Stock may be subject to such Awards granted to any one Independent Director in any fiscal year, (B) in the case of such Awards that are settled in cash based on the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock, the maximum aggregate amount of cash that may be paid pursuant to such

 

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Awards granted to any one Independent Director in any fiscal year shall be equal to 60,000 shares of Stock multiplied by the per share Fair Market Value as of the relevant vesting, payment or settlement date, and (C) in the case of all Awards other than those described in clauses (A) and (B), the maximum aggregate amount of cash and other property (valued at its Fair Market Value) other than shares of Stock that may be paid or delivered pursuant to such Awards to any one Independent Director in any fiscal year shall be equal to $500,000.

 

(iv)                              Substitute Awards shall not reduce the shares of Stock authorized for grant under the Plan or authorized for grant to a Participant in any period. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary, or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by shareholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares of stock available for delivery pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the shares of Stock authorized for delivery under the Plan; provided that Awards using such available shares of Stock shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not employees, officers, or members of the board of directors of the Company or Subsidiaries, or consultants or other persons providing services to the Company or any Subsidiary, prior to such acquisition or combination.

 

(f)                                   In the event of any equity restructuring, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, reverse stock split, split-up, rights offering, recapitalization or non-recurring cash dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of shares of Stock, other securities or other property), the Committee shall adjust each Award, in such manner as the Committee shall determine, to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of the holders with respect to outstanding awards. In addition, in the event of any merger, consolidation, combination, exchange of shares or other similar corporate transaction (including any Change of Control), the Committee may make other adjustments to outstanding Awards (and to any limitations on the number or kind of Awards that may be granted under the Plan in the future) to preserve the benefits or potential benefits of the Awards. Action by the Committee pursuant to this Section 4.2(f) may include, to the extent that the Committee determines to be appropriate: (i) adjustment to the number or kind of shares which may be delivered under the Plan, including but not limited to, increases in the limitations set forth in subsection (b) above and paragraphs (i) through (iii) of subsection (e) above; (ii) adjustment of the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards; (iii) adjustment of the Exercise Price of outstanding Options and SARs; and (iv) any other adjustments that the Committee determines to be equitable or appropriate, including but not limited to, (A) a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award in consideration for the cancelation of such Award, including, in the case of an outstanding Option or SAR, a cash payment to the holder of such Option or SAR in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value (as of a date specified by the Committee) of the shares of Stock subject to such Option or SAR over the aggregate Exercise Price of such Option or SAR and (B) cancel and terminate any Option or SAR having a per share Exercise Price equal to, or in excess of, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock subject to such Option or SAR without any payment or consideration therefor.

 

4.3  General Restrictions.  Delivery of shares of Stock or other amounts under the Plan shall be subject to the following:

 

(a)                                 Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Company shall have no liability to deliver any shares of Stock under the Plan or make any other distribution of benefits under the Plan unless such delivery or distribution would comply with all applicable laws (including, without limitation, the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933), and the applicable requirements of any securities exchange or similar entity.

 

(b)                                 To the extent that the Plan provides for issuance of stock certificates to reflect the issuance of shares of Stock, the issuance may be effected on a non-certificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of any securities exchange.

 

4.4  Tax Withholding.  All distributions under the Plan are subject to withholding of all applicable taxes, and the Committee may condition the delivery of any shares or other benefits under the Plan on satisfaction of the applicable withholding obligations. The Committee, in its discretion, and subject to such requirements as the Committee may impose prior to the occurrence of such withholding, may permit such withholding obligations to be satisfied through cash payment by the Participant, through the surrender of shares of Stock which the Participant already owns, through the withholding of shares of Stock that otherwise would have been delivered pursuant to the Award, or through the surrender of shares of Stock to which the Participant is otherwise entitled under the Plan.

 

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4.5  Grant and Use of Awards.  In the discretion of the Committee, a Participant may be granted any Award permitted under the provisions of the Plan, and more than one Award may be granted to a Participant. Awards may be granted as alternatives to or replacement of awards granted or outstanding under the Plan, or any other plan or arrangement of the Company or a Subsidiary (including a plan or arrangement of a business or entity, all or a portion of which is acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary). Subject to the overall limitation on the number of shares of Stock that may be delivered under the Plan, the Committee may use available shares of Stock as the form of payment for compensation, grants or rights earned or due under any other compensation plans or arrangements of the Company or a Subsidiary, including the plans and arrangements of the Company or a Subsidiary assumed in business combinations.

 

4.6  Dividends and Dividend Equivalents.  An Award (other than an Option or SAR Award) may provide the Participant with the right to receive dividend payments or dividend equivalent payments with respect to Stock subject to the Award (both before and after the Stock subject to the Award is earned, vested, or acquired), which payments may be either made currently or credited to an account for the Participant, and may be settled in cash or Stock, as determined by the Committee. Any such settlements, and any such crediting of dividends or dividend equivalents or reinvestment in shares of Stock, may be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee shall establish, including the reinvestment of such credited amounts in Stock equivalents or the withholding of such amounts subject to vesting of the underlying Award. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant shall be eligible to receive dividends or dividend equivalents in respect of any Award that vests or is payable upon the achievement of Performance Measures only to the extent that (a) the relevant Performance Measures are achieved and (b) all or some portion of such Award has been earned for the applicable period.

 

4.7  Settlement of Awards.  The obligation to make payments and distributions with respect to Awards may be satisfied through cash payments, the delivery of shares of Stock, the granting of replacement Awards, or combination thereof as the Committee shall determine. Satisfaction of any such obligations under an Award, which is sometimes referred to as “settlement” of the Award, may be subject to such conditions, restrictions and contingencies as the Committee shall determine. The Committee may permit or require the deferral of any Award payment, subject to applicable law and such rules and procedures as the Committee may establish, which may include provisions for the payment or crediting of interest or dividend equivalents, and may include converting such credits into deferred Stock equivalents. Each Subsidiary shall be liable for payment of cash due under the Plan with respect to any Participant to the extent that such benefits are attributable to the services rendered for that Subsidiary by the Participant. Any disputes relating to liability of a Subsidiary for cash payments shall be resolved by the Committee.

 

4.8  Transferability.  Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, Awards under the Plan are not transferable except as designated by the Participant by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

 

4.9  Form and Time of Elections.  Unless otherwise specified herein, each election required or permitted to be made by any Participant or other person entitled to benefits under the Plan, and any permitted modification, or revocation thereof, shall be in writing filed with the Committee or its designee at such times, in such form, and subject to such restrictions and limitations, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee or its designee shall require.

 

4.10  Agreement with Company.  An Award under the Plan shall be subject to such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, prescribe. The terms and conditions of any Award to any Participant shall be reflected in such form of written document as is determined by the Committee. A copy of such document shall be provided to the Participant, and the Committee may, but need not require that the Participant sign a copy of such document. Such document is referred to in the Plan as an “Award Agreement” regardless of whether any Participant signature is required.

 

4.11  Action by Company or Subsidiary.  Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Company or any Subsidiary regarding the Plan shall be by resolution of the Committee, or by action of one or more members of the Board (including a committee of the Board) who are duly authorized to act for the Board, or (except to the extent prohibited by applicable law or applicable rules of any securities exchange) by one or more duly authorized officers of the Company.

 

4.12  Gender and Number.  Where the context admits, words in any gender shall include any other gender, words in the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular.

 

4.13  Limitation of Implied Rights.

 

(a)                                 Neither a Participant nor any other person shall, by reason of participation in the Plan, acquire any right in or title to any assets, funds or property of the Company or any Subsidiary whatsoever, including, without limitation, any

 

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specific funds, assets, or other property which the Company or any Subsidiary, in its sole discretion, may set aside in anticipation of a liability under the Plan. A Participant shall have only a contractual right to the Stock or amounts, if any, payable under the Plan, unsecured by any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, and nothing contained in the Plan shall constitute a guarantee that the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary shall be sufficient to pay any benefits to any person.

 

(b)                                 The Plan does not constitute a contract of employment, and selection as a Participant will not give such Participant the right to be retained in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary, nor any right or claim to any benefit under the Plan, unless such right or claim has specifically accrued under the terms of the Plan. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, no Award under the Plan shall confer upon the holder thereof any rights as a shareholder of the Company prior to the date on which the individual fulfills all conditions for receipt of such rights.

 

4.14  Evidence.  Evidence required of anyone under the Plan may be by certificate, affidavit, document or other information which the person acting on it considers pertinent and reliable, and signed, made or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

SECTION V

CHANGE OF CONTROL

 

5.1  Change of Control.  Subject to the provisions of Section 4.2(f) (relating to the adjustment of shares), unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or an individual employment agreement, in the event of a Change of Control, all Awards that are outstanding and unvested as of immediately prior to a Change of Control (after giving effect to any action by the Committee pursuant to Section 4.2(f)) shall remain outstanding and unvested immediately thereafter, provided, however, that, if within 12 months following a Change of Control, a Participant’s employment or services, as applicable, with the Company and its Affiliates is terminated without Cause, then (a) any outstanding Options or SARs then held by Participants that are unexercisable or otherwise unvested shall automatically be deemed exercisable or otherwise vested, as the case may be, as of the date of such termination and (b) all other outstanding Awards (i.e., other than Options and SARs) then held by Participants that are unexercisable, unvested or still subject to restrictions or forfeiture, shall automatically be deemed exercisable and vested and all restrictions and forfeiture provisions related thereto shall lapse as of the date of such termination.

 

5.2  Substitution or Assumption.  Notwithstanding Section 5.1 and unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or an individual employment agreement, in the event of a Change of Control, unless provision is made in connection with the Change of Control for assumption or continuation of Awards previously granted or substitution of such Awards for new awards covering shares of a successor corporation or its “parent corporation” (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or “subsidiary corporation” (as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code) with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kinds of shares and, if applicable, Exercise Prices and Performance Measures, in each case, that the Committee determines will preserve the material terms and conditions of such Awards as in effect immediately prior to the Change of Control (including, without limitation, with respect to the vesting schedules, the intrinsic value of the awards (if any) as of the Change of Control, difficulty of achieving Performance Measures (if applicable) and transferability of the shares underlying such Awards) (a) all outstanding Options or SARs then held by Participants that are unexercisable or otherwise unvested shall automatically be deemed exercisable or otherwise vested, as the case may be, as of immediately prior to such Change of Control and (b) all other outstanding Awards (i.e., other than Options, and SARs) then held by Participants that are unvested or still subject to restrictions or forfeiture shall automatically be deemed vested and all restrictions and forfeiture provisions related thereto shall lapse as of immediately prior to such Change of Control.

 

5.3  Section 409A and Change of Control.  Notwithstanding Section 5.2 and unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or an individual employment agreement, if any amount payable pursuant to an Award constitutes deferred compensation that is subject to Section 409A of the Code, in the event of a Change of Control, to the extent provided in Section 5.2, any unvested but outstanding Awards shall automatically vest as of the date of such Change of Control and shall not be subject to the forfeiture restrictions following such Change of Control; provided that in the event that such Change of Control does not qualify as an event described in Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code or to the extent that payment upon such Change of Control would otherwise violate Section 409A of the Code, such Awards (and any other Awards that constitute deferred compensation that vested prior to the date of such Change of Control but are outstanding as of such date) shall not be settled until the earliest permissible payment event under Section 409A of the Code following such Change of Control.

 

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SECTION VI

COMMITTEE

 

6.1  Administration.  The authority to control and manage the operation and administration of the Plan shall be vested in the Committee in accordance with this Section VI. The Committee shall be selected by the Board, and shall be comprised solely of two or more members of the Board, each of whom, to the extent required under applicable laws and rules, shall be (i) an “outside director”, within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, (ii) “independent”, within the meaning of the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or, if the shares of Stock are not listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, under the rules of the applicable securities exchange on which the shares are listed or quoted and (iii) a “Non-Employee Director”, within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 as promulgated and interpreted by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act (each an “Independent Director”). If the Committee does not exist, or for any other reason determined by the Board, the Board may take any action under the Plan that would otherwise be the responsibility of the Committee; provided, however, that in that event, any such action taken by the Board shall require the approval of at least a majority of the Independent Directors.

 

6.2  Powers of Committee.  The Committee’s administration of the Plan shall be subject to the following:

 

(a)                                 Subject to the provisions of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to the other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and plenary authority to administer the Plan, including the authority (i) to select from among the Eligible Persons those persons who shall receive Awards, (ii) to determine the time or times of receipt, (iii) to determine the types of Awards and the number of shares or dollar value covered by the Awards, (iv) to establish the terms, conditions, performance and vesting criteria, restrictions, terms of exercise and settlement and other provisions of the Awards, (v) to interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any default in and/or supply any omission in, the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan, (vi) grant a replacement Award for an Award previously granted under the Plan if, in its sole discretion, the Committee determines that (A) the tax consequences of such Award to the Company or the Participant differ from those consequences that were expected to occur on the date the Award was granted or (B) clarifications or interpretations of, or changes to, tax law or regulations permit Awards to be granted that have more favorable tax consequences than initially anticipated and (vii) subject to the restrictions imposed by Section VII, to cancel or suspend Awards; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6.2, the Committee shall not have the authority to accelerate vesting of an Award in the event of a Participant’s termination of employment other than in connection with the Participant’s death or disability.

 

(b)                                 To the extent that the Committee determines that the restrictions imposed by the Plan preclude the achievement of the material purposes of the Awards in jurisdictions outside the United States, the Committee will have the authority and discretion to modify those restrictions as the Committee determines to be necessary or appropriate to conform to applicable requirements or practices of jurisdictions outside of the United States.

 

(c)                                  The Committee will have full and complete authority and discretion to interpret the Plan, to establish, amend, and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to determine the terms and provisions of any Award Agreement made pursuant to the Plan, and to make all other determinations that may be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan; it being the intention of the Plan that the Committee have the utmost authority and discretion permitted by law in making decisions and performing its other functions under the Plan.

 

(d)                                 Any interpretation of the Plan by the Committee and any decision made by it under the Plan is final and binding on all persons.

 

(e)                                  In controlling and managing the operation and administration of the Plan, the Committee shall take action in a manner that conforms to the Articles of Incorporation and By-laws of the Company, and applicable state corporate law.

 

(f)                                   In no event, however, shall the Committee have the power to cancel outstanding Options or SARs for the purpose of repricing or otherwise replacing or re-granting such Options or SARs with an exercise price that is less than the exercise price of the original Option or SAR, unless such action is approved by the Company’s shareholders. For the avoidance of doubt, an adjustment to the Exercise Price made in accordance with Section 4.2(f) or as a result of a substitution pursuant to Section V shall not be considered a re-pricing for purposes of this Section 6.2(f).

 

6.3  Delegation by Committee.  Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of a securities exchange, the Committee may allocate all or any portion of its responsibilities and powers to any one or more of its members and may delegate all or any part of its responsibilities and powers to any person or persons selected by it. Any such allocation or delegation may be revoked by the Committee at any time. In the event of any delegations described in this Section 6.3, the term “Committee”, as used herein, shall include any persons so delegated to the extent of such delegation.

 

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6.4  Awards to Independent Directors.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Board may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, grant Awards to Independent Directors or administer the Plan with respect to such Awards. In any such case, the Board shall have all the authority and responsibility granted to the Committee herein.

 

6.5  Information to be Furnished to Committee.  The Company and Subsidiaries shall furnish the Committee with such data and information as it determines may be required for it to discharge its duties. The records of the Company and Subsidiaries as to an employee’s or Participant’s employment, termination of employment, leave of absence, reemployment and compensation shall be conclusive on all persons unless determined to be incorrect. Participants and other persons entitled to benefits under the Plan must furnish the Committee such evidence, data or information as the Committee considers desirable to carry out the terms of the Plan.

 

6.6  Limitation of Liability.  The Committee, each member thereof, and any other person acting pursuant to authority delegated by the Committee shall be entitled, in good faith, to rely or act upon any report or other information furnished by any officer or employee of the Company, the Company’s independent auditors, consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan. Members of the Committee or any other person acting pursuant to authority delegated by the Committee, and any officer or employee of the Company acting at the direction or on behalf of the Committee or other delegee shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.

 

6.7  Indemnification.  Each person who is or shall have been a member of the Committee or of the Board shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he may be a party or in which he may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him, provided he shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he undertakes to handle and defend it on his own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation or By-laws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

6.8  Code Section 409A.

 

(a)                                 If any Award constitutes a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” under Section 409A of the Code (a “Section 409A Plan”), then the Award shall be subject to the following additional requirements, if and to the extent required to comply with Section 409A of the Code:

 

(i)                                     Payments under the Section 409A Plan may not be made earlier than (A) the Participant’s “separation from service”, (B) the date the Participant becomes “disabled”, (C) the Participant’s death, (D) a “specified time (or pursuant to a fixed schedule)” specified in the Award Agreement at the date of the deferral of such compensation, (E) a “change in the ownership or effective control of the corporation, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the corporation”, or (F) the occurrence of an “unforeseeable emergency”;

 

(ii)                                  The time or schedule for any payment of the deferred compensation may not be accelerated, except to the extent provided in applicable Treasury Regulations or other applicable guidance issued by the Internal Revenue Service;

 

(iii)                               Any elections with respect to the deferral of such compensation or the time and form of distribution of such deferred compensation shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A(a)(4) of the Code;

 

(iv)                              In the case of any Participant who is a “specified employee”, a distribution on account of a “separation from service” may not be made before the date which is six months after the date of the Participant’s “separation from service” (or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death); and

 

(v)                                 In the case of any such Awards that are payable upon a Change of Control, notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Company will not be deemed to have undergone a Change of Control unless the Company has undergone a “change in the ownership or effective control of the corporation, or in the

 

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ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of a corporation” within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code.

 

For purposes of the foregoing, the words and phrases in quotations in this Section 6.8 shall be defined in the same manner as those words and phrases are defined for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, and the limitations set forth herein shall be applied in such manner (and only to the extent) as shall be necessary to comply with any requirements of Section 409A of the Code that are applicable to the Award.

 

(b)                                 Any Award Agreement for any Award that the Committee reasonably determines to constitute a Section 409A Plan, and the provisions of the Plan applicable to that Award, shall be construed in a manner consistent with the applicable requirements of Section 409A, and the Committee, in its sole discretion and without the consent of any Participant, may amend any Award Agreement (and the provisions of the Plan applicable thereto) if and to the extent that the Committee determines that such amendment is necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. Further, in the event that the Plan, any Award Agreement or any Award shall be deemed not to comply with Section 409A of the Code, then neither the Company, the Committee nor its or their designees or agents shall be liable to any Participant or other person for actions, decisions or determinations made in good faith.

 

SECTION VII

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION

 

The Board may, at any time, amend or terminate the Plan, and the Board or Committee may, at any time, amend any Award outstanding thereunder, provided that no amendment or termination may, in the absence of written consent to the change by the affected Participant (or, if the Participant is not then living, the affected beneficiary), adversely affect the rights of any Participant or beneficiary under any Award granted under the Plan prior to the date such amendment is adopted by the Board; and further provided that any amendment made to comply with applicable law, tax rules, securities exchange rules or accounting rules and adjustments pursuant to Section 4.2(f) shall not be subject to the foregoing limitations of this Section VII. Notwithstanding the foregoing, approval of the Company’s shareholders shall be required for any amendment or alteration of the Plan if such shareholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation (including without limitation, Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act or Section 162(m) of the Code or the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the shares of Stock may then be listed or quoted). Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, any amendments to the Plan will apply prospectively only.

 

SECTION VIII

DEFINED TERMS

 

In addition to the other definitions contained herein, the following definitions shall apply:

 

(a)                                 Affiliate.  The term “Affiliate” means (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by, controls or is under common control with, the Company and/or (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in either case as determined by the Committee.

 

(b)                                 Award.  The term “Award” means any award or benefit granted under the Plan, including, without limitation, the grant of Options, SARs, Stock Unit Awards, Performance Compensation Awards, Restricted Stock Awards, Restricted Stock Unit Awards, Other Stock-Based Awards and Cash Incentive Awards.

 

(c)                                  Board.  The term “Board” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.

 

(d)                                 Cash Incentive Award.  The term “Cash Incentive Award” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a).

 

(e)                                  Cause.  The term “Cause” (i) shall have the meaning set forth in an Award Agreement or in an individual employment agreement between the Participant and the Company, if any or (ii) if there is no definition set forth in an Award Agreement or applicable employment agreement, means

 

(A)                               the material failure by the Participant to perform, in a reasonable manner, his or her duties as assigned by the Company or any Subsidiary (or any successor company);

 

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(B)                               any material violation or material breach by the Participant of his or her employment agreement, consulting or other similar agreement with the Company or any Subsidiary (or successor company), if any;

 

(C)                               any material violation or material breach by the Participant of any non-competition, non-solicitation, non-disclosure and/or other similar agreement with the Company or any Subsidiary (or successor company);

 

(D)                               any material violation or material breach by the Participant of the Company’s Code of Conduct or any other Company (or successor company) policy;

 

(E)                                any act by the Participant of material dishonesty or fraud that injures the reputation or business of the Company or any Subsidiary (or successor company); or

 

(F)                                 the conviction of or entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contender to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude.

 

The good faith determination by the Committee of whether the Participant’s employment or service was terminated for “Cause” shall be final and binding for all purposes hereunder.

 

(f)                                   Change of Control.  For purposes of this Plan, a “Change of Control” means any one of the following events:

 

(i)                                     any person or “group” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan or plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries, becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of thirty percent (30%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding voting securities ordinarily having the right to vote for the election of directors of the Company; provided, however, that, for purposes of this subparagraph (i), any acquisition directly from the Company shall not constitute a Change of Control; or

 

(ii)                                  any merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as a result of which the holders of the voting stock of the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar event do not directly or indirectly hold at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the aggregate voting power of the capital stock of the surviving entity; or

 

(iii)                               the individuals who, as of the Effective Date, constitute the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board” generally and as of the Effective Date the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Board, or in the case of a merger or consolidation of the Company, do not constitute or cease to constitute at least two-thirds (2/3) of the board of directors of the surviving company (or in a case where the surviving corporation is controlled, directly or indirectly by another corporation or entity, do not constitute or cease to constitute at least two-thirds (2/3) of the board of such controlling corporation or do not have or cease to have at least two-thirds (2/3) of the voting seats on any body comparable to a board of directors of such controlling entity, or if there is no body comparable to a board of directors, at least two-thirds (2/3) voting control of such controlling entity); provided that any person becoming a director (or, in the case of a controlling non-corporate entity, obtaining a position comparable to a director or obtaining a voting interest in such entity) subsequent to the Effective Date whose election, or nomination for election, was approved by a vote of the persons comprising at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Incumbent Board (other than an election or nomination of an individual whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest), shall be, for purposes of this Agreement, considered as though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board; or

 

(iv)                              there is a liquidation or dissolution of the Company or all or substantially all of the assets of the Company have been sold.

 

(g)                                  Code.  The term “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. A reference to any provision of the Code shall include reference to any successor provision of the Code.

 

(h)                                 Committee.  The term “Committee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.

 

(i)                                     Company.  The term “Company” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.

 

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(j)                                    Effective Date.  The term “Effective Date” means the date on which this Plan is approved by shareholders of the Company eligible to vote in the election of directors, by a vote sufficient to meet the requirements of Sections 162(m) (if applicable) and 422 of the Code, Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act (if applicable), applicable requirements under the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock may be listed or quoted, and any other laws, regulations and obligations of the Company applicable to the Plan.

 

(k)                                 Eligible Person.  The term “Eligible Person” means any employee, officer or member of the board of directors of the Company or a Subsidiary, or any consultant or other person who performs services for the Company or any Subsidiary, including any prospective employee, officer, member or consultant.

 

(l)                                     Exchange Act.  The term “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(m)                             Exercise Price.  The term “Exercise Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

 

(n)                                 Fair Market Value.  The term “Fair Market Value” means (i) with respect to any property other than shares of Stock, the fair market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee and (ii) with respect to a share of Stock as of any date,

 

(A)                               if the principal market for the Stock is a national securities exchange or the NASDAQ stock market, then the “Fair Market Value” as of that date shall be the closing sales price of the Stock on the day that the Award is granted on the principal exchange or market on which the Stock is then listed or admitted to trading;

 

(B)                               if sale prices are not available or if the principal market for the Stock is not a national securities exchange and the Stock is not quoted on the NASDAQ stock market, the average between the highest bid and lowest asked prices for the Stock on the day that the Award is granted as reported on the NASDAQ OTC Bulletin Board Service or by the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated or a comparable service; and

 

(C)                               if the day is not a trading day, and as a result, paragraphs (A) and (B) next above are inapplicable, the Fair Market Value of the Stock shall be determined as on the most recent trading day prior to the date the Award is granted. If paragraphs (A) and (B) next above are otherwise inapplicable, then the Fair Market Value of the Stock shall be determined in good faith by the Committee.

 

(o)                                 Incentive Stock Option.  The term “Incentive Stock Option” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

 

(p)                                 Independent Director.  The term “Independent Director” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.1.

 

(q)                                 Non-Qualified Stock Option.  The term “Non-Qualified Stock Option” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

 

(r)                                    Option.  The term “Option” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

 

(s)                                   Other Stock-Based Award.  The term “Other Stock-Based Award” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).

 

(t)                                    Participants.  The term “Participants” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.

 

(u)                                 Performance Compensation Award.  The term “Performance Compensation Award” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(c).

 

(v)                                 Performance Measure.  The term “Performance Measure” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b).

 

(w)                               Plan.  The term “Plan” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1

 

(x)                                 Prior Plan.  The term “Prior Plan” shall mean the World Fuel Services Corporation 2006 Omnibus Plan, as amended and restated.

 

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(y)                                 Restricted Stock Award.  The term “Restricted Stock Award” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(d).

 

(z)                                  Restricted Stock Unit Award.  The term “Restricted Stock Unit Award” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(e).

 

(aa)                          SAR.  The term “SAR” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).

 

(bb)                          Stock Appreciation Right.  The term “Stock Appreciation Right” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).

 

(cc)                            Stock Unit Award.  The term “Stock Unit Award” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(f).

 

(dd)                          Subsidiary.  The term “Subsidiary” means any company during any period in which it is a “subsidiary corporation” (as that term is defined in Section 424(f) of the Code) with respect to the Company.

 

(ee)                            Substitute Awards.  The term “Substitute Awards” means Awards granted or Stock issued by the Company in assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or obligation to make future awards, by a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines.

 

(ff)                              Stock.  The term “Stock” means shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company.

 

13Exhibit 10.1

 

VEECO INSTRUMENTS INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2010 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.                                      Purposes of the Plan.  The purposes of this Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel, to provide additional incentives to Employees, Directors and Consultants and to promote the success of the Company’s business.

 

2.                                      Definitions.  The following definitions shall apply as used herein and in the individual Award Agreements except as defined otherwise in an individual Award Agreement.  In the event a term is separately defined in an individual Award Agreement, such definition shall supersede the definition contained in this Section 2.

 

“Administrator” means the Board or any of the Committees appointed to administer the Plan.  Subject to further designation by the Board, the Compensation Committee of the Board shall be the Administrator.

 

“Applicable Laws” means the legal requirements relating to the Plan and the Awards under applicable provisions of federal securities laws, state corporate and securities laws, the Code, the rules of any applicable stock exchange or national market system, and the rules of any non-U.S. jurisdiction applicable to Awards granted to residents therein.

 

“Assumed” means that pursuant to a Corporate Transaction either (i) the Award is expressly affirmed by the Company, or (ii) the contractual obligations represented by the Award are expressly assumed (and not simply by operation of law) by the successor entity or its Parent in connection with the Corporate Transaction with appropriate adjustments to the number and type of securities of the successor entity or its Parent subject to the Award and the exercise or purchase price thereof which at least preserves the compensation element of the Award existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction as determined in accordance with the instruments evidencing the agreement to assume the Award.

 

“Award” means the grant of an Option, SAR, Dividend Equivalent Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit or other right or benefit under the Plan.

 

“Award Agreement” means the written agreement or notice evidencing the grant of an Award by the Company, including the terms and conditions governing the Award and any amendments to any of them.

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Cause” means, with respect to the termination by the Company or a Related Entity of the Grantee’s Continuous Service, that such termination is for “Cause” as such term (or word of like import) is expressly defined in a then-effective written agreement between the Grantee and the Company or such Related Entity, or in the absence of such then-effective written agreement and definition, is based on, in the determination of the Administrator, the Grantee’s:  (i) performance of any act or failure to perform any act in bad faith and to the detriment of the Company or a Related Entity; (ii) dishonesty, intentional misconduct or material breach of any agreement with the Company or a Related Entity; or (iii) commission of a crime involving dishonesty, breach of trust, or physical or emotional harm to any person; provided, however, that with regard to any agreement that defines “Cause” on the occurrence of or in connection with a Corporate Transaction, such definition of “Cause” shall not apply until a Corporate Transaction actually occurs.

 

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or any other committee composed of members of the Board appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.

 

“Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

 

“Company” means Veeco Instruments Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successor entity that adopts the Plan in connection with a Corporate Transaction.

 

“Consultant” means any person (other than an Employee or a Director, solely with respect to rendering services in such person’s capacity as a Director) who is engaged by the Company or any Related Entity to render consulting or advisory services to the Company or such Related Entity.

 

“Continuous Service” means that the provision of services to the Company or a Related Entity in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant is not interrupted or terminated.  In jurisdictions requiring notice in advance of an effective termination as an Employee, Director or Consultant, Continuous Service shall be deemed terminated upon the actual cessation of providing services to the Company or a Related Entity notwithstanding any required notice period that must be fulfilled before a termination as an Employee, Director or Consultant can be effective under Applicable Laws.  A Grantee’s Continuous Service shall be deemed to have terminated either upon an actual termination of Continuous Service or upon the entity for which the Grantee provides services ceasing to be a Related Entity.  Continuous Service shall not be considered interrupted in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers among the Company, any Related Entity, or any successor, in any capacity of Employee, Director or Consultant.  Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement or other agreement, any change in status from Consultant to Employee shall not cause Continuous Service to be interrupted, but change in status from Employment to Consultant shall cause Continuous Service to be interrupted.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, whether a change in status causes a “separation from service” under Code Section 409A shall be determined under rules applicable under Code Section 409A.  An approved leave of absence shall include sick leave, military leave, or any other authorized personal leave.  For purposes of each Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan, if such leave exceeds three (3) months, and reemployment upon expiration of such leave is not guaranteed by statute or contract, then the Incentive Stock Option shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option on the day three (3) months and one (1) day following the expiration of such three (3) month period.

 

“Corporate Transaction” means any of the following transactions, provided, however, that the Administrator shall determine under parts (i) and (v) whether multiple transactions are related, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive:

 

(i)                                     the acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act (each, a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) in a single transaction or a series of related transactions of 30% or more (on a fully diluted basis) of either (A) the then outstanding shares of Common Stock, taking into account as outstanding for this purpose such Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options or warrants, the conversion of convertible stock or debt, and the exercise of any similar right to acquire such common stock (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (B) 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 the Plan, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Corporate Transaction: (I) any acquisition by the Company, (II) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Related Entity, (III) any acquisition by

 

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any Person which complies with clauses (A), (B) and (C) of paragraph (v) of this definition below, or (IV) in respect of an Award held by a particular Grantee, any acquisition by the Grantee or any “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the Grantee.  Persons described in clauses (I), (II), and (IV) of the previous sentence are referred to hereafter as “Excluded Persons”;

 

(ii)                                  Individuals who, on the date hereof constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof, whose election or nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Directors then on the Board (either by a specific vote or by approval of the proxy statement of the corporation in which such person is named as a nominee for director, without written objection to such nomination) shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director; provided, however that no individual initially elected or nominated as a director of the corporation as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to directors or as a result of any other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of any person other than the Board shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director;

 

(iii)                               the dissolution or liquidation of the Company;

 

(iv)                              the sale of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company; or

 

(v)                                 the consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company that requires the approval of the Company’s stockholders, whether for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction (a “Business Combination”), unless immediately following such Business Combination: (A) more than 50% of the total voting power of (x) the corporation resulting from such Business Combination (the “Surviving Corporation”), or (y) if applicable, the ultimate parent corporation that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of sufficient voting securities eligible to elect a majority of the directors of the Surviving Corporation (the “Parent Corporation”), is represented by the Outstanding Company Voting Securities that were outstanding immediately prior to such Business Combination (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which the Outstanding Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Business Combination), (B) no Person (other than any Excluded Person), is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 30% or more of the total voting power of the outstanding voting securities eligible to elect directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there is no Parent Corporation, the Surviving Corporation) and (C) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Parent Corporation (or, if there is no Parent Corporation, the Surviving Corporation) following the consummation of the Business Combination were Incumbent Directors.

 

“Covered Employee” means an Employee who is a “covered employee” under Section 162(m)(3) of the Code.

 

“Director” means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any Related Entity.

 

“Disability” means “disability” as defined under the long-term disability policy of the Company or the Related Entity to which the Grantee provides services regardless of whether the Grantee is covered by such policy.  If the Company or the Related Entity to which the Grantee provides service does not have a long-term disability plan in place, “Disability” means that a Grantee is unable to carry out the responsibilities and functions of the position held by the Grantee by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment for a period of not less than ninety (90)

 

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consecutive days.  A Grantee will not be considered to have incurred a Disability unless he or she furnishes proof of such impairment sufficient to satisfy the Administrator in its discretion.

 

“Dividend Equivalent Right” means a right entitling the Grantee to compensation measured by dividends paid with respect to Common Stock.

 

“Employee” means any person, including an Officer or Director, who is in the employ of the Company or any Related Entity, subject to the control and direction of the Company or any Related Entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and method of performance.  The payment of director’s fees by the Company or a Related Entity shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:

 

(i)                                     If the Common Stock is listed on one or more established stock exchanges or national market systems, including without limitation The NASDAQ Global Select Market, The NASDAQ Global Market or The NASDAQ Capital Market of The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on the principal exchange or system on which the Common Stock is listed (as determined by the Administrator) on the last trading day prior to the date of determination (or, if no closing sales price or closing bid was reported on that date, as applicable, on the last trading date such closing sales price or closing bid was reported), as reported on www.wsj.com or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

 

(ii)                                  In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock of the type described in (i) above, if the Common Stock is regularly quoted on an automated quotation system (including the OTC Bulletin Board) or by a recognized securities dealer, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock as quoted on such system or by such securities dealer on the last trading day prior to the date of determination, but if selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock on the date of determination (or, if no such prices were reported on that date, on the last date such prices were reported), as reported on www.wsj.com or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable; or

 

(iii)                               In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock of the type described in (i) and (ii), above, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined by the Administrator in good faith.

 

“Grantee” means an Employee, Director or Consultant who receives an Award under the Plan.

 

“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

“Non-Qualified Stock Option” means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

“Officer” means a person who is an officer of the Company or a Related Entity within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

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“Option” means an option to purchase Shares pursuant to an Award Agreement granted under the Plan.

 

“Parent” means a “parent corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

 

“Performance-Based Compensation” means compensation qualifying as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

“Plan” means this Amended and Restated 2010 Stock Incentive Plan.

 

“Related Entity” means any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.

 

“Replaced” means that pursuant to a Corporate Transaction the Award is replaced with a comparable stock award or a cash incentive program of the Company, the successor entity (if applicable) or Parent of either of them which preserves the compensation element of such Award existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction and provides for subsequent payout in accordance with the same (or a more favorable) vesting schedule applicable to such Award.  The determination of Award comparability shall be made by the Administrator and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

“Restricted Stock” means Shares issued under the Plan to the Grantee for such consideration, if any, and subject to such restrictions on transfer, rights of first refusal, repurchase provisions, forfeiture provisions, and other terms and conditions as established by the Administrator.

 

“Restricted Stock Units” means an Award which may be earned in whole or in part upon the passage of time or the attainment of performance criteria established by the Administrator and which may be settled for cash, Shares or other securities or a combination of cash, Shares or other securities as established by the Administrator.

 

“Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor thereto.

 

“SAR” means a stock appreciation right entitling the Grantee to Shares or cash compensation, as established by the Administrator, measured by appreciation in the value of Common Stock.

 

“Share” means a share of the Common Stock.

 

“Subsidiary” means a “subsidiary corporation”, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

3.                                      Stock Subject to the Plan.

 

(a)                                 Subject to the provisions of Section 10, below, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued pursuant to all Awards is 10,550,000 Shares; provided, however, that the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Incentive Stock Options is 3,000,000 Shares.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Shares issued in connection with Awards other than Options and SARs shall be counted against the limit set forth herein as one and one-half (1.5) Shares for every one (1) Share issued in connection with such Award (and shall be counted as one and one-half (1.5) Shares for every one (1) Share returned or deemed not have been issued from the Plan pursuant to Section 3(b) below in connection with Awards other than

 

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Options and SARs).  The Shares to be issued pursuant to Awards may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.

 

(b)                                 Any Shares covered by an Award (or portion of an Award), including an Award (or portion of an Award) originally granted under the Inducement Plan, which is forfeited, canceled or expires (whether voluntarily or involuntarily) shall again be available for grant and issuance pursuant to Awards under the Plan.  Shares that actually have been issued under the Plan pursuant to an Award shall not be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future issuance under the Plan, except that if unvested Shares are forfeited, or repurchased by the Company at the lower of their original purchase price or their Fair Market Value at the time of repurchase, such Shares shall become available for future grant under the Plan.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein: (i) Shares tendered or withheld in payment of an Option exercise price shall not be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future issuance under the Plan; (ii) Shares withheld by the Company to satisfy any tax withholding obligation shall not be returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future issuance under the Plan; and (iii) all Shares covered by the portion of an SAR that is exercised (whether or not Shares are actually issued to the Grantee upon exercise of the SAR) shall be considered issued pursuant to the Plan.

 

4.                                      Administration of the Plan.

 

(a)                                 Plan Administrator.

 

(i)                                     Administration with Respect to Directors and Officers.  With respect to grants of Awards to Directors or Employees who are also Officers or Directors of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the Applicable Laws and to permit such grants and related transactions under the Plan to be exempt from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act in accordance with Rule 16b-3.  Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board.

 

(ii)                                  Administration With Respect to Consultants and Other Employees.  With respect to grants of Awards to Employees or Consultants who are neither Directors nor Officers of the Company, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the Applicable Laws.  Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board.  The Board may authorize one or more Officers to grant such Awards and may limit such authority as the Board determines from time to time.

 

(iii)                               Administration With Respect to Covered Employees.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, grants of Awards to any Covered Employee intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be made only by a Committee (or subcommittee of a Committee) which is comprised solely of two or more Directors eligible to serve on a committee making Awards qualifying as Performance-Based Compensation.  In the case of such Awards granted to Covered Employees, references to the “Administrator” or to a “Committee” shall be deemed to be references to such Committee or subcommittee.

 

(iv)                              Administration Errors.  In the event an Award is granted in a manner inconsistent with the provisions of this subsection (a), such Award shall be presumptively valid as of its grant date to the extent permitted by the Applicable Laws.

 

(b)                                 Powers of the Administrator.  Subject to Applicable Laws and the provisions of the Plan (including any other powers given to the Administrator hereunder), and except as otherwise provided by the Board, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion:

 

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(i)                                     to select the Employees, Directors and Consultants to whom Awards may be granted from time to time hereunder;

 

(ii)                                  to determine whether and to what extent Awards are granted hereunder;

 

(iii)                               to determine the number of Shares or the amount of other consideration to be covered by each Award granted hereunder;

 

(iv)                              to approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan;

 

(v)                                 to determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder;

 

(vi)                              to amend the terms of any outstanding Award granted under the Plan, provided that (A) following the approval of the Plan by stockholders in 2016, Awards of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Dividend Equivalent Rights payable in Shares covering no more than (5%) of the Shares authorized for issuance under the Plan shall be subject to acceleration of vesting that would cause such Award to vest any earlier than one year from the date of grant, except in connection with the Grantee’s death or Disability or a Corporate Transaction,  (B) any amendment that would adversely affect the Grantee’s rights under an outstanding Award shall not be made without the Grantee’s written consent, provided, however, that an amendment or modification that may cause an Incentive Stock Option to become a Non-Qualified Stock Option shall not be treated as adversely affecting the rights of the Grantee, (C) the reduction of the exercise price of any Option awarded under the Plan and the base appreciation amount of any SAR awarded under the Plan shall be subject to stockholder approval, and (D) canceling an Option or SAR at a time when its exercise price or base appreciation amount (as applicable) exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares, in exchange for another Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, or other Award, or for cash, shall be subject to stockholder approval, unless the cancellation and exchange occurs in connection with a Corporate Transaction.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, canceling an Option or SAR in exchange for another Option, SAR, Restricted Stock, or other Award with an exercise price, purchase price or base appreciation amount (as applicable) that is equal to or greater than the exercise price or base appreciation amount (as applicable) of the original Option or SAR shall not be subject to stockholder approval;

 

(vii)                           to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards, including without limitation, any Award Agreement, granted pursuant to the Plan;

 

(viii)                        to grant Awards to Employees, Directors and Consultants employed outside the United States on such terms and conditions different from those specified in the Plan as may, in the judgment of the Administrator, be necessary or desirable to further the purpose of the Plan; and

 

(ix)                              to take such other action, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Administrator deems appropriate.

 

The express grant in the Plan of any specific power to the Administrator shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Administrator; provided that the Administrator may not exercise any right or power reserved to the Board.  Any decision made, or action taken, by the Administrator or in connection with the administration of this Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in the Plan.

 

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(c)                                  Indemnification.  In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or as Officers or Employees of the Company or a Related Entity, members of the Board and any Officers or Employees of the Company or a Related Entity to whom authority to act for the Board, the Administrator or the Company is delegated shall be defended and indemnified by the Company to the extent permitted by law on an after-tax basis against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan, or any Award granted hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved by the Company) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, except in relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or intentional misconduct; provided, however, that within thirty (30) days after the institution of such claim, investigation, action, suit or proceeding, such person shall offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at the Company’s expense to defend the same.  To the extent required by Applicable Laws, the payment of expenses incurred in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking by or on behalf of the individual to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.

 

5.                                      Eligibility.  Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants.  Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees of the Company or a Parent or a Subsidiary of the Company.  An Employee, Director or Consultant who has been granted an Award may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional Awards.  Awards may be granted to such Employees, Directors or Consultants who are residing in non-U.S. jurisdictions as the Administrator may determine from time to time.

 

6.                                      Terms and Conditions of Awards.

 

(a)                                 Types of Awards. The Administrator is authorized under the Plan to award any type of arrangement to an Employee, Director or Consultant that is not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan and that by its terms involves or might involve the issuance of (i) Shares, (ii) cash or (iii) an Option, a SAR, or similar right with a fixed or variable price related to the Fair Market Value of the Shares and with an exercise or conversion privilege related to the passage of time, the occurrence of one or more events, or the satisfaction of performance criteria or other conditions.  Such awards include, without limitation, Options, SARs, sales or bonuses of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Dividend Equivalent Rights, and an Award may consist of one such security or benefit, or two (2) or more of them in any combination or alternative.

 

(b)                                 Designation of Award.  Each Award shall be designated in the Award Agreement.  In the case of an Option, the Option shall be a Non-Qualified Stock Option unless specifically designated as an Incentive Stock Option.  However, notwithstanding such designation, an Option will qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under the Code only to the extent the $100,000 limitation of Section 422(d) of the Code is not exceeded.  The $100,000 limitation of Section 422(d) of the Code is calculated based on the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to Options designated as Incentive Stock Options which become exercisable for the first time by a Grantee during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company).  For purposes of this calculation, Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the grant date of the relevant Option.  In the event that the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder are amended after the date the Plan becomes effective to provide for a different limit on the Fair Market Value of Shares permitted to be subject to Incentive Stock Options,

 

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then such different limit will be automatically incorporated herein and will apply to any Options granted after the effective date of such amendment.

 

(c)                                  Conditions of Award.  Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Administrator shall determine the provisions, terms, and conditions of each Award, which may include, without limitation, the Award vesting schedule, repurchase provisions, rights of first refusal, forfeiture provisions, form of payment (cash, Shares, or other consideration) upon settlement of the Award, payment contingencies, and satisfaction of any performance criteria.  The performance criteria established by the Administrator may be based on any one, or any combination of, the following: (1) share price, (2) earnings per share, (3) total stockholder return, (4) operating margin, (5) gross margin, (6) return on equity, (7) return on assets, (8) return on investment, (9) operating income, (10) net operating income, (11) pre-tax profit, (12) cash flow, (13) revenue, (14) expenses, (15) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation, (16) economic value added, (17) market share, (18) net income, (19) personal goals, (20) sales, (21) improvements in capital structure, (22) earnings before interest, taxes and amortization, (23) budget comparisons, (24) controllable profits, (25) expense management, (26) improvements in capital structure), (27) profit margins, (28) operating or gross margin, (29) profitability of an identifiable business unit or product, (30) cash flow, operating cash flow, or cash flow or operating cash flow per share, (31) reduction in costs, (32) return on capital, (33) improvement in or attainment of expense levels or working capital level, (34) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, and (35) bookings or orders.  The performance criteria may be applicable to the Company, Related Entities and/or any individual business units of the Company or any Related Entity.  Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in a payment or vesting corresponding to the degree of achievement as specified in the Award Agreement.  In addition, the performance criteria shall be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, but excluding the effect (whether positive or negative) of any change in accounting standards and any significant unusual or infrequently occurring item, as determined by the Administrator, occurring after the establishment of the performance criteria applicable to the Award intended to be performance-based compensation.  Each such adjustment, if any, shall be made solely for the purpose of providing a consistent basis from period to period for the calculation of performance criteria in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the Grantee’s rights with respect to an Award intended to be performance-based compensation.

 

(d)                                 Acquisitions and Other Transactions.  The Administrator may issue Awards under the Plan in settlement, assumption or substitution for, outstanding awards or obligations to grant future awards in connection with the Company or a Related Entity acquiring another entity, an interest in another entity or an additional interest in a Related Entity whether by merger, stock purchase, asset purchase or other form of transaction.

 

(e)                                  Deferral of Award Payment.  The Administrator may establish one or more programs under the Plan to permit selected Grantees the opportunity to elect to defer receipt of consideration upon exercise of an Award, satisfaction of performance criteria, or other event that absent the election would entitle the Grantee to payment or receipt of Shares or other consideration under an Award.  The Administrator may establish the election procedures, the timing of such elections, the mechanisms for payments of, and accrual of interest or other earnings, if any, on amounts, Shares or other consideration so deferred, and such other terms, conditions, rules and procedures that the Administrator deems advisable for the administration of any such deferral program.

 

(f)                                   Separate Programs.  The Administrator may establish one or more separate programs under the Plan for the purpose of issuing particular forms of Awards to one or more classes of Grantees on such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator from time to time.

 

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(g)                                  Individual Limitations on Awards.

 

(i)                                     Individual Limit for Options and SARs.  The maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options and SARs may be granted to any Grantee in any calendar year shall be three hundred thousand (300,000) Shares.  The foregoing limitations shall be adjusted proportionately in connection with any change in the Company’s capitalization pursuant to Section 10, below.  To the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code or the regulations thereunder, in applying the foregoing limitations with respect to a Grantee, if any Option or SAR is canceled, the canceled Option or SAR shall continue to count against the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options and SARs may be granted to the Grantee.  For this purpose, the repricing of an Option (or in the case of a SAR, the reduction of the base amount on which the stock appreciation is calculated to reflect a reduction in the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock) shall be treated as the cancellation of the existing Option or SAR and the grant of a new Option or SAR.

 

(ii)                                  Individual Limit for Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.  For awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units, the maximum number of Shares with respect to which such Awards may be granted to any Grantee in any calendar year shall be two hundred thousand (200,000) Shares.  The foregoing limitation shall be adjusted proportionately in connection with any change in the Company’s capitalization pursuant to Section 10, below.

 

(h)                                 Deferral.  If the vesting or receipt of Shares under an Award is deferred to a later date, any amount (whether denominated in Shares or cash) paid in addition to the original number of Shares subject to such Award will not be treated as an increase in the number of Shares subject to the Award if the additional amount is based either on a reasonable rate of interest or on one or more predetermined actual investments such that the amount payable by the Company at the later date will be based on the actual rate of return of a specific investment (including any decrease as well as any increase in the value of an investment).

 

(i)                                     Term of Award.  The term of each Award shall be the term stated in the Award Agreement, provided, however, that the term of an Award shall be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof.  However, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Grantee who, at the time the Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Award Agreement.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the specified term of any Award shall not include any period for which the Grantee has elected to defer the receipt of the Shares or cash issuable pursuant to the Award.

 

(j)                                    Transferability of Awards.  Awards may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Grantee, only by the Grantee.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Grantee may designate one or more beneficiaries of the Grantee’s Award in the event of the Grantee’s death on a beneficiary designation form provided by the Administrator.

 

(k)                                 Time of Granting Awards.  The date of grant of an Award shall for all purposes be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination to grant such Award, or such other later date as is determined by the Administrator.

 

(l)                                     Minimum Vesting.  Effective upon stockholder approval of the Plan in 2016, newly granted Awards of Restricted Stock, RSUs and Dividend Equivalent Rights payable in Shares which vest based on the Grantee’s Continuous Service shall not provide for vesting which is any

 

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more rapid than vesting after one (1) year, and newly granted Awards of Restricted Stock, RSUs and Dividend Equivalent Rights payable in Shares which vest upon the attainment of Performance Criteria shall provide for a Performance Period of at least one (1) year.  Notwithstanding any contrary provision of the Plan, following the effectiveness of this section 6(l), Awards of Restricted Stock, RSUs and Dividend Equivalent Rights payable in Shares covering a maximum of five percent (5%) of the Shares authorized for issuance under the Plan may be granted without regard to the limitations of this Section 6(l).

 

7.                                      Award Exercise or Purchase Price, Consideration and Taxes.

 

(a)                                 Exercise or Purchase Price.  The exercise or purchase price, if any, for an Award shall be as follows:

 

(i)                                     In the case of an Incentive Stock Option:

 

(A)                               granted to an Employee who, at the time of the grant of such Incentive Stock Option owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant; or

 

(B)                               granted to any Employee other than an Employee described in the preceding paragraph, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

 

(ii)                                  In the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, the per Share exercise price shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

 

(iii)                               In the case of Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the exercise or purchase price, if any, shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

 

(iv)                              In the case of SARs, the base appreciation amount shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

 

(v)                                 In the case of other Awards, such price as is determined by the Administrator.

 

(vi)                              Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7(a), in the case of an Award issued pursuant to Section 6(d), above, the exercise or purchase price for the Award shall be determined in accordance with the provisions of the relevant instrument evidencing the agreement to issue such Award.

 

(b)                                 Consideration.  Subject to Applicable Laws, the consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise or purchase of an Award including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator.  In addition to any other types of consideration the Administrator may determine, the Administrator is authorized to accept as consideration for Shares issued under the Plan the following, provided that the portion of the consideration equal to the par value of the Shares must be paid in cash or other legal consideration permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law:

 

(i)                                     cash;

 

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(ii)                                  check;

 

(iii)                               surrender of Shares or delivery of a properly executed form of attestation of ownership of Shares as the Administrator may require which have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender or attestation equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Award shall be exercised;

 

(iv)                              with respect to Options, payment through a broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the Grantee (A) shall provide written instructions to a Company-designated or Company-approved brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of some or all of the purchased Shares and remit to the Company sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased Shares and (B) shall provide written directives to the Company to deliver the certificates for the purchased Shares directly to such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale transaction;

 

(v)                                 with respect to Options, payment through a “net exercise” such that, without the payment of any funds, the Grantee may exercise the Option and receive the net number of Shares equal to (i) the number of Shares as to which the Option is being exercised, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the Fair Market Value per Share (on such date as is determined by the Administrator) less the Exercise Price per Share, and the denominator of which is such Fair Market Value per Share (the number of net Shares to be received shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number of Shares); or

 

(vi)                              any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.

 

The Administrator may at any time or from time to time, by adoption of or by amendment to the standard forms of Award Agreement described in Section 4(b)(iv), or by other means, grant Awards which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be used in payment for the Shares or which otherwise restrict one or more forms of consideration.

 

(c)                                  Taxes.  No Shares shall be delivered under the Plan to any Grantee or other person until such Grantee or other person has made arrangements acceptable to the Administrator for the satisfaction of any non-U.S., federal, state, or local income and employment tax withholding obligations, including, without limitation, obligations incident to the receipt of Shares.  Upon exercise or vesting of an Award, the Company shall withhold or collect from the Grantee an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations, including, but not limited to, by surrender of the whole number of Shares covered by the Award with a Fair Market Value sufficient to satisfy the minimum applicable tax withholding obligations incident to the exercise or vesting of an Award (reduced to the lowest whole number of Shares if such number of Shares withheld would result in withholding a fractional Share with any remaining tax withholding settled in cash).

 

8.                                      Exercise of Award.

 

(a)                                 Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder.

 

(i)                                     Any Award granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator under the terms of the Plan and specified in the Award Agreement.

 

(ii)                                  An Award shall be deemed to be exercised when written or electronic notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Award by the person entitled to exercise the Award and full payment for the Shares with respect to which

 

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the Award is exercised has been made, including, to the extent selected, use of the broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure to pay the purchase price as provided in Section 7(b)(iv).

 

(b)                                 Exercise of Award Following Termination of Continuous Service.

 

(i)                                     An Award may not be exercised after the termination date of such Award set forth in the Award Agreement and may be exercised following the termination of a Grantee’s Continuous Service only to the extent provided in the Award Agreement or another applicable agreement between the Company and the Grantee.

 

(ii)                                  Where the Award Agreement or another applicable agreement between the Company and the Grantee permits a Grantee to exercise an Award following the termination of the Grantee’s Continuous Service for a specified period, the Award shall terminate to the extent not exercised on the last day of the specified period or the last day of the original term of the Award, whichever occurs first.

 

(iii)                               Any Award designated as an Incentive Stock Option to the extent not exercised within the time permitted by law for the exercise of Incentive Stock Options following the termination of a Grantee’s Continuous Service shall convert automatically to a Non-Qualified Stock Option and thereafter shall be exercisable as such to the extent exercisable by its terms for the period specified in the Award Agreement or another applicable agreement between the Company and the Grantee.

 

9.                                      Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares.

 

(a)                                 If at any time the Administrator determines that the delivery of Shares pursuant to the exercise, vesting or any other provision of an Award is or may be unlawful under Applicable Laws, the vesting or right to exercise an Award or to otherwise receive Shares pursuant to the terms of an Award shall be suspended until the Administrator determines that such delivery is lawful and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.  The Company shall have no obligation to effect any registration or qualification of the Shares under federal or state laws.

 

(b)                                 As a condition to the exercise of an Award, the Company may require the person exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any Applicable Laws.

 

10.                               Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization.  Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company and Section 11 hereof, the number of Shares covered by each outstanding Award, and the number of Shares which have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Awards have yet been granted or which have been returned to the Plan, the exercise or purchase price of each such outstanding Award, the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted to any Grantee in any calendar year, as well as any other terms that the Administrator determines require adjustment shall be proportionately adjusted for (i) any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Shares, or similar transaction affecting the Shares, (ii) any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, or (iii)  any other transaction with respect to Common Stock including a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation (including a spin-off or other distribution of stock or property), reorganization, liquidation (whether partial or complete) or any similar transaction; provided, however that conversion of any

 

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convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.”  In the event of any distribution of cash or other assets to stockholders other than a normal cash dividend, the Administrator shall also make such adjustments as provided in this Section 10 or substitute, exchange or grant Awards to effect such adjustments (collectively “adjustments”).  Any such adjustments to outstanding Awards will be effected in a manner that precludes the enlargement of rights and benefits under such Awards.  In connection with the foregoing adjustments, the Administrator may, in its discretion, prohibit the exercise of Awards or other issuance of Shares, cash or other consideration pursuant to Awards during certain periods of time. Except as the Administrator determines, no issuance by the Company of shares of any class, or securities convertible into shares of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason hereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject to an Award.

 

11.                               Corporate Transactions.

 

(a)                                 Termination of Award in Connection with Corporate Transaction.  The Administrator may determine that, as provided in a definitive agreement governing a Corporate Transaction, effective upon the consummation of a Corporate Transaction, all outstanding Awards under the Plan shall terminate.  However, all such Awards shall not terminate to the extent they are Assumed in connection with the Corporate Transaction.

 

(b)                                 Acceleration of Award Upon Corporate Transaction.  Except as provided otherwise in an individual Award Agreement or other applicable agreement between the Company and the Grantee, in the event of a Corporate Transaction, for the portion of each Award that is neither Assumed nor Replaced, such portion of the Award shall automatically become fully vested and exercisable and be released from any repurchase or forfeiture rights (other than repurchase rights exercisable at Fair Market Value) for all of the Shares (or other consideration) at the time represented by such portion of the Award, immediately prior to the specified effective date of such Corporate Transaction, provided that the Grantee’s Continuous Service has not terminated prior to such date.

 

(c)                                  Effect of Acceleration on Incentive Stock Options.  Any Incentive Stock Option accelerated under this Section 11 in connection with a Corporate Transaction shall remain exercisable as an Incentive Stock Option under the Code only to the extent the $100,000 dollar limitation of Section 422(d) of the Code is not exceeded.

 

12.                               Effective Date and Term of Plan.  The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the stockholders of the Company.  It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated.  Subject to Section 17, below, and Applicable Laws, Awards may be granted under the Plan upon its becoming effective.

 

13.                               Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan.

 

(a)                                 The Board may at any time amend, suspend or terminate the Plan; provided, however, that no such amendment shall be made without the approval of the Company’s stockholders to the extent such approval is required by Applicable Laws, or if such amendment would lessen the stockholder approval requirements of Section 4(b)(vi) or this Section 13(a).

 

(b)                                 No Award may be granted during any suspension of the Plan or after termination of the Plan.

 

(c)                                  No suspension or termination of the Plan (including termination of the Plan under Section 12, above) shall adversely affect any rights under Awards already granted to a Grantee.

 

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14.                               Reservation of Shares.

 

(a)                                 The Company, during the term of the Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

 

(b)                                 The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

 

15.                               No Effect on Terms of Employment/Consulting Relationship.  The Plan shall not confer upon any Grantee any right with respect to the Grantee’s Continuous Service, nor shall it interfere in any way with his or her right or the right of the Company or any Related Entity to terminate the Grantee’s Continuous Service at any time, with or without cause including, but not limited to, Cause, and with or without notice.  The ability of the Company or any Related Entity to terminate the employment of a Grantee who is employed at will is in no way affected by its determination that the Grantee’s Continuous Service has been terminated for Cause for the purposes of this Plan.

 

16.                               No Effect on Retirement and Other Benefit Plans.  Except as specifically provided in a retirement or other benefit plan of the Company or a Related Entity, Awards shall not be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits or contributions under any retirement plan of the Company or a Related Entity, and shall not affect any benefits under any other benefit plan of any kind or any benefit plan subsequently instituted under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to level of compensation.  The Plan is not a “Pension Plan” or “Welfare Plan” under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

17.                               Stockholder Approval.  The grant of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan shall be subject to approval by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted excluding Incentive Stock Options issued in substitution for outstanding Incentive Stock Options pursuant to Section 424(a) of the Code.  Such stockholder approval shall be obtained in the degree and manner required under Applicable Laws.  The Administrator may grant Incentive Stock Options under the Plan prior to approval by the stockholders, but until such approval is obtained, no such Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable.  In the event that stockholder approval is not obtained within the twelve (12) month period provided above, all Incentive Stock Options previously granted under the Plan shall be exercisable as Non-Qualified Stock Options.

 

18.                               Unfunded Obligation.  Grantees shall have the status of general unsecured creditors of the Company.  Any amounts payable to Grantees pursuant to the Plan shall be unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes, including, without limitation, Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.  Neither the Company nor any Related Entity shall be required to segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special accounts with respect to such obligations.  The Company shall retain at all times beneficial ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Company may make to fulfill its payment obligations hereunder.  Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any trust or any Grantee account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship between the Administrator, the Company or any Related Entity and a Grantee, or otherwise create any vested or beneficial interest in any Grantee or the Grantee’s creditors in any assets of the Company or a Related Entity. The Grantees shall have no claim against the Company or any Related Entity for any changes in the value of any assets that may be invested or reinvested by the Company with respect to the Plan.

 

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19.                               Construction.  Captions and titles contained herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of the Plan.  Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular.  Use of the term “or” is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

 

20.                               Nonexclusivity of the Plan.  Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board, the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval, nor any provision of the Plan will be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such additional compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of Awards otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

 

*     *     *     *     *

 

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