Document:

Exhibit 10.7

 

MIDLAND STATES BANCORP, INC.

 

OMNIBUS STOCK OWNERSHIP AND

LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 

THIS IS THE OMNIBUS STOCK OWNERSHIP AND LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN (“Plan”) of Midland States Bancorp, Inc. (“the Corporation” or “Company”), a Delaware corporation with its principal office in Effingham County, Illinois, under which Incentive Stock Options and Non-Qualified Options to acquire shares of the Stock, Restricted Stock, Stock Appreciation Rights, and/or Units may be granted from time to time to Eligible Employees of the Corporation and of any of its Subsidiaries (the “Subsidiaries”), subject to the following provisions:

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

The following terms shall have the meanings set forth below.  Additional terms defined in this Plan shall have the meanings ascribed to them when first used herein.

 

Board.  The Board of Directors of Midland States Bancorp, Inc.

 

Change in Control Transaction.  The dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation; a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Corporation as a result of which the outstanding securities of the class then subject to Rights hereunder are changed into or exchanged for cash or property or securities not of the Corporation’s issue; or a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation to, or the acquisition of stock representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting power of the capital stock of the Corporation then outstanding by, another corporation, bank, other entity or person.

 

Code.  The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Committee.  The Compensation Committee of the Board.

 

Common Stock.  The Common Stock, $2.00 par value per share, of the Corporation.

 

Death. The date of death of an Eligible Employee who has received Rights as established by the relevant death certificate.

 

Disability.  The date on which an Eligible Employee who has received Rights becomes permanently and totally disabled within the meaning of Section 22 (e) (3) of the Code, which shall be determined by the Committee on the basis of such medical or other evidence as it may reasonably require or deem appropriate.

 

Effective Date.  The date on which this Plan is effective, which shall be the date it is approved by the shareholders of the Corporation.

 

Eligible Employees.  Those individuals who meet the following eligibility requirements:

 

 

(i)                         Such individual must be a full time employee of the Corporation or a Subsidiary.  For this purpose, an individual shall be considered to be an “employee” only if there exists between the Corporation or a Subsidiary and the individual the legal and bona fide relationship of employer and employee.  In determining whether such relationship exists, the regulations of the United States Treasury Department relating to the determination of such relationship for the purpose of collection of income tax at the source on wages shall be applied.

 

(ii)                      Such individual is identified by the Committee as a key employee who is in a position to significantly influence the long-term success of the Corporation, subject to ratification of such action by the Board.

 

(iii)                   If the Registration shall not have occurred, such individual must have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that he or she is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the investment involved in the receipt and/or exercise of a Right.

 

(iv)                  Such individual, being otherwise an Eligible Employee under the foregoing items, shall have been selected by the Committee as a person to whom a Right or Rights shall be granted under the Plan.

 

Fair Market Value.  With respect to the Corporation’s Common Stock, the market price per share of such Common Stock determined by the Committee, consistent with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and to the extent consistent therewith, as follows, as of the date specified in the context within which such term is used:

 

(i)                         if the Common Stock was traded on a stock exchange on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value will be equal to the closing price reported by the applicable composite-transactions report for such date;

 

(ii)                      if the Common Stock was traded over-the-counter on the date in question and was classified as a national market issue, then the Fair Market Value will be equal to the last transaction price quoted by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”), National Market System (“NMS”);

 

(iii)                   if the Common Stock was traded over-the-counter on the date in question but was not classified as a national market issue, then the Fair Market Value will be equal to the average of the last reported representative bid and asked prices quoted by the NASDAQ for such date; and

 

(iv)                  if none of the foregoing provisions is applicable, then the Fair Market Value will be determined by the Committee in good faith on such basis as it deems appropriate, subject to the approval of the Board.  In such case, the Committee shall maintain a written record of its method of determining Fair Market Value.

 

ISO.   An “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code.

 

Just Cause Termination.   A termination by the Corporation or a Subsidiary of an Eligible Employee’s employment by the Corporation or the Subsidiary in connection with the good faith determination of the Board or the Board of Directors of the Subsidiary, as applicable, that the Eligible Employee is incompetent or otherwise has engaged in any acts involving dishonesty or moral turpitude or in any acts

 

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that materially and adversely affect the business, affairs or reputation of the Corporation or the Subsidiary.

 

Long Term Incentive Compensation Units.   The Right of a Long Term Incentive Compensation Unit Recipient to receive cash when, as and in the amounts described in Article V.

 

Long Term Incentive Compensation Unit Agreement.  The agreement between the Corporation and Long Term Incentive Compensation Unit Recipient with respect to the award of Long Term Incentive Compensation Units to the Long Term Incentive Compensation Unit Recipient, including such terms and conditions as are necessary or appropriate under Article V.

 

Non-Qualified Option.  Any Option granted under Article III whether designated by the Committee as a Non-Qualified Option or otherwise, other than an Option designated by the Committee as an ISO, or any Option so designated but which, for any reason, fails to qualify as an ISO pursuant to Section 422 of the Code and the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Option Agreement.  The agreement between the Corporation and an Optionee with respect to Options granted to such Optionee, including such terms and provisions as are necessary or appropriate under Article III.

 

Options.  ISOs and Non-Qualified Options are collectively referred to herein as “Options;” provided, however, whenever reference is specifically made only to ISOs or Non-Qualified Options, such reference shall be deemed to be made to the exclusion of the other.

 

Plan Pool.  A total of 100,000 shares of authorized, but unissued, and/or Treasury shares of Common Stock, as adjusted pursuant to Section 2.3(b), which shall be available as Stock under this Plan.

 

Registration.   A registration by the Corporation under the 1933 Act and applicable state “Blue Sky” and securities laws of this Plan, the offering of Rights under this Plan, the offering of Stock under this Plan, and/or the Stock acquirable under this Plan.

 

Restricted Stock.  The Stock that a Holder shall be awarded with restrictions when, as, in the amounts and with the restrictions described in Article IV.

 

Restricted Stock Grant  Agreement.  The agreement between the Corporation and a Holder with respect to Rights to Restricted Stock, including such terms and provisions as are necessary or appropriate under Article IV.

 

Restricted Stock Unit.  Any unit granted under Article IV of the Plan evidencing the right to receive a Share (or a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share), or any combination of cash and Shares, at some future date.

 

Restricted Stock Unit Grant  Agreement.  The agreement between the Corporation and a Holder with respect to Rights to Restricted Stock Units, including such terms and provisions as are necessary or appropriate under Article IV.

 

Retirement.   “Retirement” shall mean

 

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(i)                         the termination of an Eligible Employee’s employment under conditions which would constitute “normal retirement” or “early retirement” under any tax qualified retirement plan maintained by the Corporation or a Subsidiary, or

 

(ii)                      termination of employment after attaining age 65 (except in the case of a Just Cause Termination).

 

Rights.  The rights to exercise, purchase or receive the Options, Restricted Stock, Units and SARs described herein.

 

Rights Agreement.  An Option Agreement, a Restricted Stock Grant Agreement, a Unit Agreement or an SAR Agreement.

 

SAR.  The Right of an SAR Recipient to receive cash when, as and in the amounts described in Article VI.

 

SAR Agreement.  The agreement between the Corporation and an SAR Recipient with respect to the SAR awarded to the SAR Recipient, including such terms and conditions as are necessary or appropriate under Article VI.

 

SEC.  The Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Stock.  The shares of Common Stock in the Plan Pool available for issuance pursuant to the valid exercise of a Right or on which the cash value of a Right is to be based.

 

Tax Withholding Liability.  All federal and state income taxes, social security tax, and any other taxes applicable to the compensation income arising from the transaction required by applicable law to be withheld by the Corporation.

 

Transfer.  The sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, loan, gift, attachment, levy upon, assignment for the benefit of creditors, by operation of law (by will or descent and distribution), transfer by a qualified domestic relations order, a property settlement or maintenance agreement, transfer by result of the bankruptcy laws or otherwise of a share of Stock or of a Right.

 

1933 Act.  The Securities Act of 1933, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

1934 Act.  The Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

ARTICLE II

GENERAL

 

Section 2.1. Purpose.

 

The purposes of this Plan are to encourage and motivate selected key employees to contribute to the successful performance of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries and the growth of the market value of the Corporation’s Common Stock; to achieve a unity of purpose between such employees and shareholders by providing ownership opportunities, and, when viewed in conjunction with potential benefit plans for

 

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members of the Board and the Boards of Directors of some or all of the Subsidiaries, to achieve a unity of purpose between such employees and directors in the achievement of the Corporation’s primary long term performance objectives; and to retain such employees by rewarding them with potentially tax-advantageous future compensation.  These objectives will be promoted through the granting of Rights to designated Eligible Employees pursuant to the terms of this Plan

 

Section 2.2. Administration.

 

(a)                     The Plan shall be administered by the Committee.  Subject to the provisions of SEC Rule 16b-3(d), the Committee may designate any officers or employees of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to assist in the administration of the Plan, to execute documents on behalf of the Committee and to perform such other ministerial duties as may be delegated to them by the Committee.

 

(b)         Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the determinations and the interpretation and construction of any provision of the Plan by the Committee shall be recommended to the Board for approval, and when so approved by the Board shall be final and conclusive upon persons affected thereby.  By way of illustration and not of limitation, the Committee shall have the discretion, subject to the approval by the Board,

 

(i)                               to construe and interpret the Plan and all Rights granted hereunder and to determine the terms and provisions (and amendments thereof) of the Rights granted under the Plan (which need not be identical);

 

(ii)                            to define the terms used in the Plan and in the Rights granted hereunder;

 

(iii)                         to prescribe, amend and rescind the rules and regulations relating to the Plan;

 

(iv)                        to determine the Eligible Employees to whom and the time or times at which such Rights shall be granted, the number of shares of Stock, as and when applicable, to be subject to each Right, the exercise price or, other relevant purchase price or value pertaining to a Right, and the determination of leaves of absence which may be granted to Eligible Employees without constituting a termination of their employment for the purposes of the Plan; and

 

(v)                           to make all other determinations and interpretations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

 

(c)                      Notwithstanding the foregoing, or any other provision of this Plan, the Committee will have no authority to determine any matters, or exercise any discretion, to the extent that the power to make such determinations or to exercise such discretion would cause the loss of exemption under SEC Rule 16b-3 of any grant or award hereunder.

 

(d)                     It shall be in the discretion of the Committee, subject to approval by the Board, to grant Options to purchase shares of Stock which qualify as ISOs under the Code or which will be given tax treatment as Non-Qualified Options.  Any Options granted which fail to satisfy the requirements for ISOs shall become Non-Qualified Options.

 

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(e)                      The Corporation shall make available to Eligible Employees receiving Rights and/or shares of Stock in connection therewith all disclosure documents required under applicable federal and state securities laws.  The Committee shall be responsible for supplying the recipient of a Right and/or shares of Stock in connection therewith with such information about the Corporation as is contemplated by the federal and state securities laws in connection with exemptions from the registration requirements of such laws, as well as providing the recipient of a Right with the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers concerning the Corporation and the terms and conditions of the Rights granted under this Plan.  In addition, if a Registration shall not occur, the Committee shall be responsible, subject to approval by the Board, for determining the maximum number of Eligible Employees and the suitability of particular persons to be Eligible Employees in order to comply with applicable federal and state securities statutes and regulations governing such exemptions.

 

(f)                       In determining the Eligible Employees to whom Rights may be granted and the number of shares of Stock to be covered by each Right, the Committee and the Board shall take into account the nature of the services rendered by such Eligible Employees, their present and potential contributions to the success of the Corporation and/or a Subsidiary and such other factors as the Committee and the Board shall deem relevant.  An Eligible Employee who has been granted a Right under this Plan may be granted an additional Right or Rights under this Plan if the Committee and the Board shall so determine.  If pursuant to the terms of this Plan, or otherwise in connection with this Plan, it is necessary that the percentage of stock ownership of an Eligible Employee be determined, the ownership attribution provisions set forth in Section 424(d) of the Code shall be controlling.

 

(g)                      The granting of Rights pursuant to this Plan is in the exclusive discretion of the Board, and until the Board acts, no individual shall have any rights under this Plan.  The terms of this Plan shall be interpreted in accordance with this intent.

 

Section 2.3.  Stock Available For Rights.

 

(a)                     Shares of the Stock shall be subject to, or underlying, grants of Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, SARs and Long Term Incentive Compensation Units under this Plan.  The total number of shares of Stock for which, or with respect to which, Rights may be granted (including the number of shares of Stock in respect of which SARs and Long Term Incentive Compensation Units may be granted) under this Plan shall be those designated in the Plan Pool.  In the event that a Right granted under this Plan to any Eligible Employee expires or is terminated unexercised as to any shares of Stock covered thereby, such shares thereafter shall be deemed available in the Plan Pool for the granting of Rights under this Plan; provided, however, if the expiration or termination date of a Right is beyond the term of existence of this Plan as described in Section 7.3, then any shares of Stock covered by unexercised or terminated Rights shall not reactivate the existence of this Plan and therefore shall not be available for additional grants of Rights under this Plan.

 

(b)                     In the event the outstanding shares of Common Stock are increased, decreased, changed into or exchanged for a different number or kind of securities as a result of a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, share exchange acquisition, combination or reclassification appropriate proportionate adjustments will be made in: (i) the aggregate number and/or kind of shares of Stock in the Plan Pool that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of, or that are underlying, Rights granted hereunder; (ii) the exercise or other purchase price or value pertaining to, and the number and/or kind of shares of Stock called for

 

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with respect to, or underlying, each outstanding Right granted hereunder; and (iii) other rights and matters determined on a per share basis under this Plan or any Rights Agreement.  Any such adjustments will be made only by the Committee, subject to approval by the Board, and when so approved will be effective, conclusive and binding for all purposes with respect to this Plan and all Rights then outstanding.  No such adjustments will be required by reason of (i) the issuance or sale by the Corporation for cash of additional shares of its Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of its Common Stock, or (ii) the issuance of shares of Common Stock in exchange for shares of the capital stock of any corporation, financial institution or other organization acquired by the Corporation or any Subsidiary in connection therewith.

 

(c)                      The grant of a Right pursuant to this Plan shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Corporation to make adjustments, reclassification, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge or to consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate or sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

 

(d)                     No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued under this Plan for any adjustment under Section 2.3(b).

 

Section 2.4.  Severable Provisions.

 

The Corporation intends that the provisions of each of Articles III, IV, V and VI, in each case together with Articles I, II and VII, shall each be deemed to be effective on an independent basis, and that if one or more of such Articles, or the operative provisions thereof, shall be deemed invalid, void or voidable, the remainder of such Articles shall continue in full force and effect.

 

ARTICLE III

OPTIONS

 

Section 3.1.  Grant of Options.

 

(a)                     The Company may grant Options to Eligible Employees as provided in this Article III.  Options will be deemed granted pursuant to this Article III only upon (i) authorization by the Committee, (ii) the approval of such grant by the Board, and (iii) the execution and delivery of an Option Agreement by the Eligible Employee optionee (“the “Optionee”) and a duly authorized officer of the Company.  Options will not be deemed granted hereunder merely upon authorization of such grant by the Committee.  The aggregate number of shares of Stock potentially acquirable under all Options granted shall not exceed the total number of shares of Stock remaining in the Plan Pool, less all shares of Stock potentially acquired under, or underlying, all other Rights outstanding under this Plan.

 

(b)                     Subject to approval by the Board, the Committee shall designate Options at the time a grant is authorized as either ISOs or Non-Qualified Options.  In accordance with Section 422 (d) of the Code, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date an ISO is granted) of the shares of Stock as to which an ISO may first become exercisable by an Optionee in a particular calendar year (pursuant to Article III and all other plans of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries) may not exceed $100,000 (the “$100,000 Limitation”).  If an Optionee is granted Options in excess of the $100,000 Limitation, or if such Options otherwise become exercisable with respect to a number of shares of Stock which would exceed the $100,000 Limitation, such excess Options shall be Non-Qualified Options.

 

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Section 3.2.  Exercise Price.

 

(a)                     Subject to approval by the Board, the initial exercise price of each Option granted under this Plan (the “Exercise Price”) shall be determined by the Committee in its discretion; provided, however, that the Exercise Price of an ISO shall not be less than (i) the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant of the Option, in the case of any Eligible Employee who does not own stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of the capital stock of the Company (within the meaning of Section 422 (b) (6) of the Code), or (ii) one hundred ten percent (110%) of such Fair Market Value in the case of any Eligible Employee who owns stock in excess of such amount.

 

(b)                     Subject to the approval of the Board and the provisions of Section 3.2(a) (as to the establishment of the Exercise Price of an Option on the date of grant), the Committee may establish that the Exercise Price of an Option shall be adjusted upward or downward, on a quarterly basis, based upon the market value performance of the Common Stock in comparison with the aggregate market value performance of one or more indices composed of publicly-traded financial institutions and financial institution holding companies deemed by the Committee to be similar (in terms of asset size, capitalization, trading volumes and other factors deemed relevant by the Committee) to the Corporation (an “Index” and the “Indices”); provided, however, that the Exercise Price of an ISO shall not be adjustable if, under the Code, such adjustable Exercise Price would disqualify the ISO as an ISO.  The Committee may utilize Indices published by third parties and/or may construct one or more Indices meeting the characteristics described above.

 

The Indices utilized will be recalculated quarterly, including in such quarterly recalculation such adjustments for stock splits, reverse stock splits and stock dividends of the companies in the indices and of the Company as are appropriate.  Each such Index shall include no fewer than fifteen (15) publicly-traded financial institutions and financial institution holding companies.  If more than one Index is utilized by the Committee, it may give such weighting to each Index utilized as the Committee may determine in its sole discretion, consistent with the provisions of this Article III.

 

Section 3.3.  Terms and Conditions of Options.

 

(a)                     All Options must be granted within ten (10) years of the Effective Date.

 

(b)                     The Committee, subject to the approval by the Board, may grant ISOs and  Non-Qualified Options, either separately or jointly, to an Eligible Employee.

 

(c)                      Each grant of Options shall be evidenced by an Option Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee in its discretion, consistent with the provisions of this Article III.

 

(d)                     At the discretion of the Committee, an Optionee, as a condition to the granting of an Option, must execute and deliver to the Company a confidential information agreement approved by the Committee.

 

(e)                      Nothing contained in Article III, any Option Agreement or in any other agreement executed in connection with the granting of an Option under this Article III will confer upon any Optionee

 

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any right with respect to the continuation of his or her status as an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(f)                       Except as otherwise provided herein, each Option Agreement may specify the period or periods of time within which each Option or portion thereof will first become exercisable (the “Vesting Period”) with respect to the total number of shares of Stock acquirable thereunder.  Such Vesting Periods will be fixed by the Committee in its discretion, and may be accelerated or shortened by the Committee in its discretion; provided, however, that the Vesting Period for any portion of each ISO shall be at least one year (1) from the date such Option was granted.

 

(g)                      Not less than one hundred (100) shares of Stock may be purchased at any one time through the exercise of an Option unless the number purchased is the total number at that time purchasable under all Options granted to the Optionee.

 

(h)                     An Optionee shall have no rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to any shares of Stock covered by Options granted to the Optionee until payment in full of the Exercise Price by such Optionee for the shares being purchased.  No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such Stock is fully paid for, except as provided in Sections 2.3(b) and 3.2(b).

 

(i)                         Additionally and notwithstanding any other provisions of this Article III, no shares of Stock obtained pursuant to an Option may be Transferred until at least six (6) months and one (1) day shall have elapsed since the date such Option was granted.

 

Section 3.4.  Exercise of Options.

 

(a)                     An Optionee must be an Eligible Employee at all times from the date of grant until the exercise of the Options granted, except as provided in Section 3.5(b).

 

(b)                     An Option may be exercised to the extent exercisable (i) by giving written notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of full shares of Stock to be purchased and, if applicable, accompanied by full payment of the Exercise Price thereof and the amount of the Tax Withholding Liability pursuant to Section 3.4(c) below; and (ii) by giving assurances satisfactory to the Company that the shares of Stock to be purchased upon such exercise are being purchased for investment and not with a view to resale in connection with any distribution of such shares in violation of the 1933 Act; provided, however, that in the event the prior occurrence of the Registration or in the event resale of such Stock without such Registration would otherwise be permissible, this second condition will be inoperative if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such condition is not required under the 1933 Act or any other applicable law, regulation or rule of any governmental agency.

 

(c)                      As a condition to the issuance of the shares of Stock upon full or partial exercise of a Non-Qualified Option, the Optionee will pay to the Company in cash, or in such other form as the Committee may determine in its discretion, the amount of the Company’s Tax Withholding Liability required in connection with such exercise.

 

(d)                     The Exercise Price of an Option shall be payable to the Company either (i) in United States dollars, in cash or by check, or money order payable to the order of the Company, or (ii) at the

 

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discretion of the Committee and the Board, through the delivery of shares of the Stock owned by the Optionee (including, if the Committee so permits, a portion of the shares of Stock as to which the Option is then being exercised) with a Fair Market Value as of the date of delivery equal to the Exercise Price, or (iii) at the discretion of the Committee and the Board, by a combination of (i) and (ii) above.  No shares of Stock shall be delivered until full payment has been made.

 

Section 3.5.  Term and Termination of Option.

 

(a)                     Subject to approval by the Board, the Committee shall determine, and each Option Agreement shall state, the expiration date or dates of each Option, but such expiration date shall be not later than ten (10) years after the date such Option was granted (the “Option Period”).  In the event an ISO is granted to a 10% Shareholder, the expiration date or dates of each Option Period shall be not later than five (5) years after the date such Option is granted.  Subject to approval by the Board, the Committee may extend the expiration date or dates of an Option Period of any Non-Qualified Option after such date was originally set; provided, however such expiration date may not exceed the maximum expiration date described in this Section 3.5(a).

 

(b)                     To the extent not previously exercised, each Option will terminate upon the expiration of the Option Period specified in the Option Agreement; provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of Section 3.5(a), each ISO will terminate upon the earlier of:  (i) ninety (90) days after the date that the Optionee ceases to be an Eligible Employee for any reason, other than by reason of Death, Disability, or a Just Cause Termination; (ii) twelve (12) months after the date that the Optionee ceases to be an Eligible Employee by reason of Disability or Death; or (iii) immediately as of the date that the Optionee ceases to be an Eligible Employee by reason of a Just Cause Termination.  The Committee may, subject to approval by the Board, and compliance with the Code requirements for ISOs, specify other events that will result in the termination of an ISO.  In the case of Non-Qualified Options, the Committee shall have discretion, subject to approval by the Board, to specify what, if any, events will terminate the Option prior to the expiration of the Option Period.

 

Section 3.6.  Change in Control Transaction.

 

At any time prior to the date of consummation of a Change in Control Transaction, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, determine that all or any part of the Options theretofore granted under this Article III shall become immediately exercisable in full and may thereafter be exercised at any time before the date of consummation of the Change in Control Transaction (except as otherwise provided in Article II hereof, and except to the extent that such acceleration of exercisability would result in an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code).  Any Option that has not been fully exercised before the date of consummation of the Change in Control Transaction shall terminate on such date, unless a provision has been made in writing in connection with such transaction for the assumption of all Options theretofore granted, or the substitution for such Options of options to acquire the voting stock of a successor employer corporation, or a parent or a subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices, in which event the Options theretofore granted shall continue in the manner and under the terms so provided.

 

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Section 3.7.  Restrictions On Transfer.

 

An Option granted under Article III may not be Transferred except by will or the laws of descent and distribution and, during the lifetime of the Optionee to whom it was granted, may be exercised only by such Optionee.

 

Section 3.8.  Stock Certificates.

 

Certificates representing the Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of Options will bear all legends required by law and necessary to effectuate the provisions hereof.  The Company may place a “stop transfer” order against such shares of Stock until all restrictions and conditions set forth in this Article III, the applicable Option Agreement, and in the legends referred to in this Section 3.8 have been complied with.

 

Section 3.9.  Amendment and Discontinuance.

 

The Board may amend, suspend or discontinue the provisions of this Article III at any time or from time to time; provided that no action of the Board will cause ISOs granted under this Plan not to comply with Section 422 of the Code unless the Board specifically declares such action to be made for that purpose; and, provided, further, that no such action may, without the approval of the shareholders of the Company, materially increase (other than by reason of an adjustment pursuant to Section 2.3(b) hereof) the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock in the Plan Pool, materially increase the benefits accruing to Eligible Employees or materially modify eligibility requirements for participation under this Article III.  Moreover, no such action may alter or impair any Option previously granted under this Article III without the consent of the applicable Optionee.

 

Section 3.10.  Compliance with Rule 16b-3.

 

With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act, transactions under this Article III are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the 1934 Act.  To the extent any provision of this Article III or action by the Board or the Committee fails so to comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee and the Board.

 

ARTICLE IV

RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANTS

 

Section 4.1 Grants of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.

 

(a)                     The Company may issue Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units to Eligible Employees as provided in this Article IV.  Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will be deemed issued only upon (i) authorization by the Committee, (ii) approval by the Board, and (iii) the execution and delivery of a Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units Grant Agreement by the Eligible Employee to whom such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit is to be issued (the “Holder”) and a duly authorized officer of the Company.   Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units will not be deemed to have been issued merely upon authorization by the Committee.

 

(b)                     Each issuance of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units pursuant to this Article IV will be evidenced by a Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units Grant Agreement between the Company and the Holder in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee in its sole discretion, consistent with this Article IV.  Each Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units

 

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Grant Agreement will specify the purchase price per share, if any, paid by the Holder for the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, such amount to be fixed by the Committee and the Board.

 

(c)                      Without limiting the foregoing, each Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units Grant Agreement shall set forth the terms and conditions of any forfeiture provisions regarding the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, (including any provisions for accelerated vesting in the event of a Change in Control Transaction) as determined by the Committee and the Board.

 

(d)                     At the discretion of the Committee, the Holder, as a condition to such issuance, may be required (i) to execute and deliver to the Company a confidential information agreement approved by the Committee, and/or (ii) to pay to the Corporation in cash, or in such other form as the Committee may determine in its discretion, the amount of the Corporation’s Tax Withholding Liability required in connection with such issuance.

 

(e)                      Nothing contained in this Article IV, any Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units Grant Agreement or in any other agreement executed in connection with the issuance of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units under this Article IV will confer upon any holder any right with respect to the continuation of his or her status as an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 4.2.  Restrictions on Transfer of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.

 

(a)                     Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units acquired by a Holder may be transferred only in accordance with the specific limitations on the Transfer of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units imposed by applicable state or federal securities laws or set forth below, and subject to certain undertakings of the transferee set forth in Section 4.2(c).  All Transfers of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units not meeting the conditions set forth in this Section 4.2(a) are expressly prohibited.

 

(b)                     Any prohibited Transfer of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units is void and of no effect.  Should such a Transfer purport to occur, the Company may refuse to carry out the Transfer on its books, attempt to set aside the Transfer, enforce any undertaking or right under this Section 4.2(b), and/or exercise any other legal or equitable remedy.

 

(c)                      Any Transfer of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units that would otherwise be permitted under the terms of this Plan is prohibited unless the transferee executes such documents as the Company may reasonably require to ensure the Company’s rights under a Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units Grant Agreement and this Article IV are adequately protected with respect to the Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units so Transferred.  Such documents may include, without limitation, an agreement by the transferee to be bound by all of the terms of this Plan applicable to Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units and of the applicable Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units Grant Agreement, as if the transferee were the original Holder of such Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units.

 

(d)                     To facilitate the enforcement of the restrictions on Transfer set forth in this Article IV, the Committee may, at its discretion, require the Holder of shares of Restricted Stock to deliver the certificate(s) for such shares with a stock power executed in blank by the Holder and the Holder’s spouse, to the Secretary of the Company or his or her designee, and the Company

 

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may hold said certificate(s) and stock power(s) in escrow and take all such actions as are necessary to insure that all Transfers and/or releases are made in accordance with the terms of this Plan.  The certificates may be held in escrow so long as the shares of Restricted Stock whose ownership they evidence are subject to any restriction on Transfer under this Article IV or under a Restricted Stock Grant Agreement.  Each Holder acknowledges that the Secretary of the Company (or his or her designee) is so appointed as the escrow holder with the foregoing authorities as a material inducement to the issuance of shares of Restricted Stock under this Article IV, that the appointment is coupled with an interest, and that it accordingly will be irrevocable.  The escrow holder will not be liable to any party to a Restricted Stock Grant Agreement (or to any other party) for any actions or omissions unless the escrow holder is grossly negligent relative thereto.  The escrow holder may rely upon any letter, notice or other document executed by any signature purported to be genuine.

 

Section 4.3.  Compliance with Law.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IV, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units may be issued pursuant to this Article IV only after there has been compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws, and such issuance will be subject to this overriding condition.  The Company may include shares of Restricted Stock in a Registration, but will not be required to register or qualify Restricted Stock with the SEC or any state agency, except that the Company will register with, or as required by local law, file for and secure an exemption from such registration requirements from, the applicable securities administrator and other officials of each jurisdiction in which an Eligible Employee would be issued Restricted Stock hereunder prior to such issuance.

 

Section 4.4.  Stock Certificates.

 

Certificates representing the Restricted Stock issued pursuant to this Article IV will bear all legends required by law and necessary to effectuate the provisions hereof.  The Company may place a “stop transfer” order against shares of Restricted Stock until all restrictions and conditions set forth in this Article IV, the applicable Restricted Stock Grant Agreement and the legends referred to in this Section 4.4 have been complied with.

 

Section 4.5.  Market Standoff.

 

To the extent requested by the Company and any underwriter of securities of the Company in connection with a firm commitment underwriting, no Holder of any shares of Restricted Stock will Transfer any such shares not included in such underwriting, or not previously registered in a Registration, during the one hundred twenty (120) day period following the effective date of the registration statement filed with the SEC under the 1933 Act in connection with such offering.

 

Section 4.6.  Amendment and Discontinuance.

 

The Board may amend, suspend or discontinue this Article IV at any time or from time to time; provided, that no such action of the Board shall alter or impair any rights previously granted to Holders under this Article IV without the consent of such affected Holders; and provided, further, that no such action may, without the approval of the Company’s shareholders, materially increase (other than by reason of an adjustment pursuant to Section 2.3(b) hereof) the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock in the Plan Pool, materially increase the benefits accruing to Eligible Employees under this Article IV or materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation under this Article IV.  Moreover, no

 

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such action may alter or impair any Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units previously granted under this Article IV without the consent of the applicable Holder.

 

Section 4.7.  Compliance with Rule 16b-3.

 

With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act, transactions under this Article IV are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the 1934 Act.  To the extent any provision of this Article IV or action by the Board or the Committee fails so to comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee and the Board.

 

Section 4.8.  Dividend Equivalent Restricted Stock Units.

 

On each record date for dividends on the Common Stock, an amount equal to the dividend payable on one share of Common Stock will be determined and credited (the “Dividend Equivalent Credit”) on the payment date to each Restricted Stock Unit Holder’s account for each Unit which has been awarded to the Unit Holder and not distributed or canceled.  Such amount will be converted within the account to an additional number of Units equal to the number of shares of Common Stock that could be purchased at Fair Market Value on such dividend payment date.  These Units will be treated for purposes of this Article IV in the same manner as those Units granted pursuant to Section 4.1.

 

Section 4.9.  Other Conditions.

 

(a)                     No person shall have any claim to be granted an award of Restricted Stock Units under this Article IV and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Eligible Employees or Unit Holders under this Article IV.

 

(b)                     The Company shall have the right to deduct from any distribution or payment in cash under this Article IV, and the Restricted Stock Unit Holder or other person receiving shares of Stock under this Article IV shall be required to pay to the Company, any Tax Withholding Liability.  The number of shares of Stock to be distributed to any individual Restricted Stock Unit Recipient may be reduced by the number of shares of Stock, the Fair Market Value of which on the Distribution Date (as defined in Section 4.9(d) below) is equivalent to the cash necessary to pay any Tax Withholding Liability, where the cash to be distributed is not sufficient to pay such Tax Withholding Liability, or the Unit Holder may deliver to the Company cash sufficient to pay such Tax Withholding Liability.

 

(c)                      Any distribution of shares of Stock under this Article IV may be delayed until the requirements of any applicable laws or regulations, and any stock exchange or NASDAQ-NMS requirements, are satisfied.  The shares of Stock distributed under this Article IV shall be subject to such restrictions and conditions on disposition as counsel for the Company shall determine to be desirable or necessary under applicable law.

 

(d)                     For the purpose of distribution of Restricted Stock Units in cash, the value of a Unit shall be the Fair Market Value on the Distribution Date.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, the “Distribution Date’’ shall be March 15th in the year of distribution (or the first business day thereafter), except that in the case of special distributions the Distribution Date shall be the first business day of the month in which the Committee and the Board determine the amount and form of the distribution.

 

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(e)                      Notwithstanding any other provision of this Article IV, no Dividend Equivalent Credits shall be made and no distributions of Restricted Stock Units shall be made if at the time a Dividend Equivalent Credit or distribution would otherwise have been made:

 

(i)                         The regular quarterly dividend on the Common Stock has been omitted and not subsequently paid or there exists any default in payment of dividends on any such outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation:

 

(ii)                      The rate of dividends on the Common Stock is lower than at the time the Restricted Stock Units to which the Dividend Equivalent Credit relates were awarded, adjusted for any change of the type referred to in Section 2.3(b).

 

(iii)                   Estimated consolidated net income of the Corporation for the twelve month  period preceding the month the Dividend Equivalent Credit or distribution would otherwise have been made is less than the sum of the amount of the Dividend Equivalent Credits and Restricted Stock Units eligible for distribution under this Article IV in that month plus all dividends applicable to such period on an accrual basis, either paid, declared or accrued at the most recently paid rate, on all outstanding shares of Common Stock; or

 

(iv)                  The Dividend Equivalent Credit or distribution would result in a default in any agreement by which the Corporation is bound.

 

(f)                       In the event net income available under Section 4.9(e) above for Dividend Equivalent Credits and awards eligible for distribution under this Article IV is sufficient to cover part but not all of such amounts, the following order shall be applied in making payments: (i) Dividend Equivalent Credits, and then (ii) Restricted Stock Units eligible for distribution under this Article IV.

 

ARTICLE V

LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION UNITS

 

Section 5.1.  Awards of Units.

 

(a)                     The Company may grant awards of Units to Eligible Employees as provided in this Article V.  Units will be deemed granted only upon (i) authorization by the Committee, (ii) approval by the Board, and (iii) the execution and delivery of a Unit Agreement by the Eligible Employee to whom Units are to be granted (a “Unit Recipient”) and an authorized officer of the Company.  Units will not be deemed granted merely upon authorization by the Committee.  Units may be granted in each of the years 2008 through 2018 in such amounts and to such Unit Recipients as the Committee may determine, subject to approval by the Board and to the limitation in Section 5.2 below.

 

(b)                     Each grant of Units pursuant to this Article V will be evidenced by a Unit Award Agreement between the Company and the Unit Recipient in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee in its sole discretion, consistent with this Article V.

 

(c)                      Except as otherwise provided herein, Units will be distributed only after the end of a performance period of two or more years (“Performance Period”) beginning with the year in which such Units were awarded.  The Performance Period shall be set by the Committee and the Board for each year’s awards.

 

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(d)                     The percentage of the Units awarded under this Section 5.1 or credited pursuant to Section 5.5 that will be distributed to Unit Recipients shall depend on the levels of financial performance and other performance objectives achieved during each year of the Performance Period; provided, however, that the Committee may, subject to approval of the Board, adopt one or more performance categories or eliminate all performance categories other than financial performance.  Financial performance shall be based on the consolidated results of the Company and its Subsidiaries prepared on the same basis as the financial statements published for financial reporting purposes and determined in accordance with Section 5.1(e) below.  Other performance categories adopted by the Committee shall be based on measurements of performance as the Committee shall deem appropriate.

 

(e)                      Distributions of Units awarded will be based on the Company’s financial performance with results from other performance categories applied as a factor, not exceeding one (1), against financial results.  The annual financial and other performance results will be averaged over the Performance Period and translated into percentage factors according to graduated criteria established by the Committee, subject to approval of the Board, for the entire Performance Period.  The resulting percentage factors shall determine the percentage of Units to be distributed.  No distributions of Units, based on financial performance and other performance, shall be made if a minimum average percentage of the applicable measurement of performance, to be established by the Committee and approved by the Board, is not achieved for the Performance Period.  The performance levels achieved for each Performance Period and percentage of Units to be distributed shall be conclusively determined by the Committee, subject to approval by the Board.

 

(f)                       The percentage of Units awarded which Unit Recipients become entitled to receive based on the levels of performance (including those Units credited under Section 5.5) will be determined as soon as practicable after each Performance Period and are called “Retained Units.”

 

(g)                      As soon as practical after determination of the number of Retained Units, such Retained Units shall be distributed in the form of cash as determined by the Committee, subject to approval by the Board.  The Units awarded, but which Unit Recipients do not become entitled to receive, shall be canceled.

 

(h)                     Notwithstanding any other provision in this Article V, the Committee, if it determines that it is necessary or advisable under the circumstances, may, subject to approval by the Board, adopt rules pursuant to which Eligible Employees by virtue of hire, or promotion or upgrade to a higher job grade classification, or special individual circumstances, may be granted the total award of Units or any portion thereof, with respect to one or more Performance Periods that began in prior years and at the time of the awards have not yet been completed.

 

Section 5.2. Limitations.

 

The aggregate number of all Units granted, including those Units credited pursuant to Section 5.5, shall not exceed the total number of shares of Stock remaining in the Plan Pool, less all shares of Stock potentially acquirable under, or underlying, all other Rights outstanding under this Plan.

 

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Section 5.3.  Terms and Conditions.

 

(a)                     All awards of Units must be made within ten (10) years of the Effective Date.

 

(b)                     The award of Units shall be evidenced by a Unit Award Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee in its discretion, consistent with the provisions of this Article V.

 

(c)                      At the discretion of the Committee and the Board, a Unit Recipient, as a condition to the award of Units, may be required to execute and deliver to the Company a confidential information agreement approved by the Committee.

 

(d)                     Nothing contained in this Article V, any Unit Award Agreement or in any other agreement executed in connection with the award of Units under this Article V will confer upon any Unit Recipient any right with respect to the continuation of his or her status as an employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(e)                      A Unit Recipient shall have no rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to any Units granted.

 

Section 5.4.  Special Distribution Rules.

 

(a)                     Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5.4, a Unit Recipient must be an Eligible Employee from the date a Unit is awarded to him or her continuously through and including the date of distribution of such Unit.

 

(b)                     In case of the Death or Disability of a Unit Recipient prior to the end of any Performance Period, the number of Units awarded to the Unit Recipient for such Performance Period shall be reduced pro rata based on the number of months remaining in the Performance Period after the month of Death or Disability.  The remaining Units, reduced in the discretion of the Committee and the Board to the percentage indicated by the levels of performance achieved prior to the date of Death or Disability, if any, shall be distributed within a reasonable time after Death or Disability.  All other Units awarded to the Unit Recipient for such Performance Period shall be canceled.

 

(c)                      If a Unit Recipient enters into Retirement prior to the end of any Performance Period, the Units awarded to such Unit Recipient under this Article V and not yet distributed shall be prorated to the end of the year in which such Retirement occurs and distributed at the end of the Performance Period based upon the Company’s performance for such period.

 

(d)                     In the event of the termination of the Unit Recipient’s status as an Eligible Employee prior to the end of any Performance Period for any reason other than Death, Disability or Retirement, all Units awarded to the Unit Recipient with respect to any such Performance Period shall be immediately forfeited and canceled.

 

(e)                      Upon a Unit Recipient’s promotion to a higher job grade classification, the Committee and the Board may award to the Unit Recipient the total Units, or any portion thereof, which are associated with the higher job grade classification for the then current Performance Period.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, the Committee may reduce or eliminate awards to a Unit Recipient who has been demoted, and where circumstances warrant, may permit continued participation, proration or early distribution, or a combination thereof, of awards which would otherwise be canceled.

 

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Section 5.5.  Adjustments.

 

(a)                     In addition to the provisions of Section 2.3(b), if an extraordinary change occurs during a Performance Period which significantly alters the basis upon which the performance levels were established under Section 5.1 for that Performance Period, to avoid distortion in the operation of this Article V, but subject to Section 5.2, the Committee may, subject to approval by the Board, make adjustments in such performance levels to preserve the incentive features of this Article V, whether before or after the end of the Performance Period, to the extent it deems appropriate in its sole discretion, which adjustments shall be conclusive and binding upon all parties concerned.  Such changes may include, without limitation, adoption of, or changes in, accounting practices, tax laws and regulatory or other laws or regulations; economic changes not in the ordinary course of business cycles; or compliance with judicial decrees or other legal authorities.

 

(b)                     At any time prior to the date of consummation of a Change in Control Transaction, the Committee may, subject to approval by the Board, determine that all or any part of the Units theretofore awarded under this Article V shall become immediately distributable (reduced pro rata based on the number of months remaining in the Performance Period after the consummation of the Change in Control Transaction) and may thereafter be distributed at any time before the date of consummation of the Change in Control Transaction (except as otherwise provided in Article II hereof, and except to the extent that such acceleration of distribution would result in an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code).  Any Units that have not been distributed before the date of consummation of a Change in Control Transaction shall terminate on such date, unless a provision has been made in writing in connection with such transaction for the assumption of all awards of Units theretofore made, or the substitution for such Units of awards of compensation units having comparable characteristics under a long term incentive award plan of a successor employer corporation, or a parent or a subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments, in which event the awards of Units theretofore made shall continue in the manner and under the terms so provided.

 

Section 5.6.  Other Conditions.

 

(a)                     No person shall have any claim to be granted an award of Units under this Article V and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Eligible Employees or Unit Recipients under this Article V.

 

(b)                     The Company shall have the right to deduct from any distribution or payment under this Article V, and the Unit Recipient shall be required to pay to the Company, any Tax Withholding Liability.

 

 

(c)                      For the purpose of distribution of Units, the cash value of a Unit shall be the Fair Market Value on the Distribution Date.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, the “Distribution Date’’ shall be March 15th in the year of distribution (or the first business day thereafter), except that in the case of special distributions the Distribution Date shall be the first business day of the month in which the Committee and the Board determine the amount and form of the distribution.

 

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Section 5.7.  Designation of Beneficiaries.

 

A Unit Recipient may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive all or part of the cash to be distributed to the Unit Recipient under this Article V in case of Death.  A designation of beneficiary may be replaced by a new designation or may be revoked by the Unit Recipient at any time.  A designation or revocation shall be on a form to be provided for that purpose and shall be signed by the Unit Recipient and delivered to the Corporation prior to the Unit Recipient’s Death.  In case of the Unit Recipient’s Death, any amounts to be distributed to the Unit Recipient under this Article V with respect to which a designation of beneficiary has been made (to the extent it is valid and enforceable under applicable law) shall be distributed in accordance with this Article V to the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries.  The amount distributable to a Unit Recipient upon Death and not subject to such a designation shall be distributed to the Unit Recipient’s Estate.  If there shall be any question as to the legal right of any beneficiary to receive a distribution under this Article V, the amount in question may be paid to the estate of the Unit Recipient, in which event the Corporation shall have no further liability to anyone with respect to such amount.

 

Section 5.8.  Restrictions On Transfer.

 

Units granted under Article V may not be Transferred, except as provided in Section 5.7, and, during the lifetime of the Unit Recipient to whom it was awarded, cash receivable with respect to Units may be received only by such Unit Recipient.

 

Section 5.10.  Amendment and Discontinuance.

 

No award of Units may be granted under this Article V after December 31, 2018.   The Board may amend, suspend or discontinue the provisions of this Article V at any time or from time to time, provided, that no such action may, without the approval of the shareholders of the Corporation, materially increase (other than by reason of an adjustment pursuant to Section 2.3(b) hereof) the maximum number of shares of Stock in the Plan Pool, materially increase the benefits accruing to Eligible Employees under this Article V or materially modify the eligibility requirements for participation under this Article V.

 

Section 5.11.  Compliance with Rule 16b-3.

 

With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act, transactions under this Article V are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the 1934 Act.  To the extent any provision of this Article V or action by the Board or the Committee fails so to comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee and the Board.

 

ARTICLE VI

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

Section 6.1.  Grants of SARs.

 

(a)                     The Corporation may grant SARs under this Article VI.  SARs will be deemed granted only upon (i) authorization by the Committee, (ii) approval by the Board, and (iii) the execution and delivery of a SAR Agreement by the Eligible Employee to whom the SARs are to be granted (the “SAR Recipient”) and a duly authorized officer of the Corporation.  SARs will not be deemed granted merely upon authorization by the Committee.  The aggregate number of shares of Stock which shall underlie SARs granted hereunder shall not exceed the total

 

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                                    number of shares of Stock remaining in the Plan Pool, less all shares of Stock potentially acquirable under or underlying all other Rights outstanding under this Plan.

 

(b)                     Each grant of SARs pursuant to this Article VI shall be evidenced by a SAR Agreement between the Corporation and the SAR Recipient, in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee in its sole discretion, consistent with this Article VI.

 

Section 6.2.  Terms and Conditions of SARs.

 

(a)                     All SARs must be granted within ten (10) years of the Effective Date.

 

(b)                     Each SAR issued pursuant to this Article VI shall have an initial base value (the “Base Value”) equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of issuance of the SAR.

 

(c)                      Subject to the approval of the Board and to the provisions of Section 6.2(b) (as to the establishment of the initial Base Value of a SAR), the Committee may establish that the Base Value of a SAR shall be adjusted, upward or downward, on a quarterly basis, based upon the market value performance of the Common Stock in comparison with the aggregate market value performance of the Index or Indices utilized under Section 3.2(b).

 

(d)                     At the discretion of the Committee and the Board, a SAR Recipient, as a condition to the granting of a SAR, must execute and deliver to the Corporation a confidential information agreement approved by the Committee.

 

(e)                      Nothing contained in this Article VI, any SAR Agreement or in any other agreement executed in connection with the granting of a SAR under this Article VI will confer upon any SAR Recipient any right with respect to the continuation of his or her status as an employee of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

(f)                       Except as otherwise provided herein, each SAR Agreement may specify the period or periods of time within which each SAR or portion thereof will first become exercisable (the “SAR Vesting Period”).  Such SAR Vesting Periods will be fixed by the Committee, subject to approval by the Board, and may be accelerated or shortened by the Committee, subject to approval by the Board.

 

(g)                      SARs relating to no less than one hundred (100) shares of Stock may be exercised at any one time unless the number exercised is the total number at that time exercisable under all SARs granted to the SAR Recipient.

 

(h)                     A SAR Recipient shall have no rights as a shareholder of the Corporation with respect to any shares of Stock underlying such SAR.  No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such Stock is fully paid for, except as provided in Sections 2.3(b) and 6.2(c).

 

Section 6.3.  Restrictions On Transfer of SARs.

 

SARs granted under this Article VI may not be Transferred, except as provided in Section 6.7, and during the lifetime of the SAR Recipient to whom it was granted, may be exercised only by such SAR Recipient.

 

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Section 6.4.  Exercise of SARs.

 

(a)                     A SAR Recipient (or his or her executors or administrators, or heirs or legatees) shall exercise a SAR by giving written notice of such exercise to the Corporation.  SARs may be exercised only upon the completion of the SAR Vesting Period, if any, applicable to such SAR (the date such notice is received by the Corporation being referred to herein as the “SAR Exercise Date”).

 

(b)                     Within ten (10) business days of the SAR Exercise Date applicable to a SAR exercised in accordance with Section 6.4(a), the SAR Recipient shall be paid in cash or shares of Stock the difference between the Base Value of such SAR (as adjusted, if applicable under Section 6.2(c), as of the most recently preceding quarterly period) and the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the SAR Exercise Date, as such difference is reduced by the Company’s Tax Withholding Liability arising from such exercise.

 

Section 6.5.  Termination of SARs.

 

Subject to approval by the Board, the Committee shall determine, and each SAR Agreement shall state, the expiration date or dates of each SAR, but such expiration date shall be not later than ten (10) years after the date such SAR is granted (the “SAR Period”).  Subject to approval by the Board, the Committee may extend the expiration date or dates of a SAR Period after such date was originally set; provided, however, such expiration date may not exceed the maximum expiration date described in this Section 6.5(a).

 

Section 6.6.  Change in Control Transaction.

 

At any time prior to the date or consummation of a Change in Control Transaction, the Committee may, in its absolute discretion, determine that all or any part of the SARs theretofore granted under this Article VI shall become immediately exercisable in full and may thereafter be exercised at any time before the date of consummation of the Change in Control Transaction (except as otherwise provided in Article II hereof, and except to the extent that such acceleration of exercisability would result in an excess parachute payment within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code).  Any SAR that has not been fully exercised before the date of consummation of the Change in Control Transaction shall terminate on such date, unless a provision has been made in writing in connection with such transaction for the assumption of all SARs theretofore granted, or the substitution for such SARs of grants of stock appreciation rights having comparable characteristics under a stock appreciation rights plan of a successor employer corporation or bank, or a parent or a subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments, in which event the SARs theretofore granted shall continue in the manner and under the terms so provided.

 

Section 6.7.  Designation of Beneficiaries.

 

A SAR Recipient may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries to receive all or part of the cash to be paid to the SAR Recipient under this Article VI in case of Death.  A designation of beneficiary may be replaced by a new designation or may be revoked by the SAR Recipient at any time.  A designation or revocation shall be on a form to be provided for that purpose and shall be signed by the SAR Recipient and delivered to the Corporation prior to the SAR Recipient’s Death.  In case of the SAR Recipient’s Death, the amounts to be distributed to the SAR Recipient under this Article VI with respect to which a designation of beneficiary has been made (to the extent it is valid and enforceable under applicable law) shall be distributed in accordance with this Article VI to the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries.  The

 

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amount distributable to a SAR Recipient upon Death and not subject to such a designation shall be distributed to the SAR Recipient’s estate.  If there shall be any question as to the legal right of any beneficiary to receive a distribution under this Article VI, the amount in question may be paid to the estate of the SAR Recipient in which event the Corporation shall have no further liability to anyone with respect to such amount.

 

Section 6.8.  Amendment and Discontinuance.

 

The Board may amend, suspend or discontinue the provisions of this Article VI at any time or from time to time provided that no action of the Board may, without the approval of the shareholders of the Corporation materially increase (other than by reason of an adjustment pursuant to Section 2.3(b) hereof) the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock in the Plan Pool, materially increase the benefits accruing to Eligible Employees or materially modify eligibility requirements for participation under this Article VI.  Moreover, no such action may alter or impair any SAR previously granted under this Article VI without the consent of the applicable SAR Recipient.

 

Section 6.9.  Compliance With Rule 16b-3.

 

With respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act, transactions under this Article VI are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the 1934 Act.  To the extent any provision of this Article VI or action by the Board or the Committee fails so to comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee and the Board.

 

ARTICLE VII

ADDITIONAL STOCK BASED AND OTHER RIGHTS

 

Section 7.1.  Stock Based Rights.

 

The Board shall have the right to grant additional Rights based on, or with respect to the Stock, which may include, without limitation, the grant of Shares based on certain conditions, the payment of cash based on the market performance of the Common Stock, and the grant of securities convertible into Shares.

 

Section 7.2.  Other Rights.

 

The Board shall have the right to provide other types of Rights under the Plan in addition to those specifically listed, if the Board believes that such Rights would further the purposes for which the Plan has been established.

 

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

 

The Board may at any time and from time to time alter or amend, in whole or in part, any or all of the provisions of the Plan, or may at any time suspend or terminate the Plan, provided that no change in any Rights theretofore granted to any Eligible Employee may be made which would impair or diminish the rights of the Eligible Employee without the Eligible Employee’s consent, and provided further, that no alteration or amendment may be made without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Common Stock then outstanding and entitled to vote if such stockholder approval is necessary to comply with the requirements of any Federal or state laws or regulations as may be applicable.  This authority of the

 

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Board to alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan is in addition to the right of the Board to amend, suspend or discontinue the various Articles of the Plan as provided herein.  By way of illustration and not limitation, of the Board’s right to amend the Plan in whole or in part, the Board shall have the authority to make such clarifying and conforming amendments to the Plan as are necessary to obtain or maintain compliance with the Code, applicable Federal and state securities laws, accounting standards and such other laws, rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out the purposes of the Plan.

 

ARTICLE IX

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 9.1.  Application of Funds.

 

The proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of Stock pursuant to the exercise of Rights will be used for general corporate purposes.

 

Section 9.2.  No Obligation to Exercise Right.

 

The granting of a Right shall impose no obligation upon the recipient to exercise such Right.

 

Section  9.3.  Term of Plan.

 

Except as otherwise specifically provide herein, Rights may be  granted pursuant to this Plan from time to time within ten (10) years from the Effective Date.

 

Section 9.4.  Captions and Headings; Gender and Number.

 

Captions and paragraph headings used herein are for convenience only, do not modify or affect the meaning of any provision herein, are not a part of, and shall not serve as a basis for, interpretation or construction of this Plan.  As used herein, the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter, and the singular number shall include the plural, and vice versa, whenever such meanings are appropriate.

 

Section 9.5.  Expenses of Administration of Plan.

 

All costs and expenses incurred in the operation and administration of this Plan shall be borne by the Corporation or by one or more Subsidiaries.  The Corporation shall also indemnify, defend and hold each member of the Committee and the Board harmless against all claims, expenses and liabilities arising out of or related to the exercise of the powers of the Committee and the Board and the discharge of the duties of the Committee and the Board hereunder.

 

Section 9.6.  Governing Law.

 

Without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws the laws of the State of Illinois shall govern and control the validity, interpretation, performance and enforcement of this Plan.

 

Section 9.7.  Inspection of Plan.

 

A copy of this Plan, and any amendments thereto, shall be maintained by the Secretary of the Corporation and shall be shown to any proper person making inquiry about it.

 

23Exhibit 10.8

 

THIRD AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT
 MIDLAND STATES BANCORP, INC.

1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN

 

Section 1. Establishment and Purpose

 

Midland States Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby establishes a long-term incentive plan to be named the Third Amended and Restated Midland States Bancorp, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”), for Key Employees of the Company or its subsidiaries. The purpose of this Plan is to encourage those Key Employees who are given awards by the Committee administering this Plan to acquire and maintain an interest in the Common Stock of the Company and thus to have additional incentive to continue to work for the success of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

Section 2. Definitions

 

Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

(a)           Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(b)           Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect from time to time.

 

(c)           Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or any successor to such Committee, the members of which shall be appointed by the Board.

 

(d)           Company means Midland States Bancorp, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

(e)           Disability means permanent and total disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, as determined by the Committee in good faith, upon receipt of and in reliance on sufficient competent medical advice.

 

(f)            Exercise  Price of an Option means a price fixed by the Committee upon grant of the Option as the purchase price for Stock under the Option, as such may be adjusted under Section 10 of this Plan.

 

(g)           Fair  Market  Value means, for any particular day, the fair market price per share of Stock for such day as determined by the Board.

 

(h)           Key Employee means an employee (including officers and directors who are also employees) of the Company or its subsidiaries designated by the Committee.

 

(i)            Option means the right to purchase Stock at the Exercise Price for a specified period of time and subject to specified conditions. For purposes of this Plan, an Option may be an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision, or a Nonqualified (nonstatutory) Stock Option.

 

 

(j)            Option  Agreement means the written agreement evidencing an Option under this Plan, which shall be executed by the Company and the Participant.

 

(k)           Participant means any Key Employee designated by the Committee to receive an Option under this Plan.

 

(l)            Stock means the Common Stock of the Company.

 

(m)          Taxable  Event means an event relating to an Option granted under this Plan which requires federal, state or local tax to be withheld by the Company or a subsidiary.

 

(n)           Terminated  for  Cause means, (i) for Key Employees serving under an employment agreement containing a provision for termination of employment for “cause,” termination of employment of the Key Employee pursuant to such provision, and (ii) for other Key Employees, termination of employment of the Key Employee by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire Board or of Effingham State Bank, an Illinois Banking Corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Bank”), or of any other subsidiary employing such Key Employee, expressly for one of the following “causes,” as evidenced in a certified resolution of such Board:

 

(A)          the willful engaging by the Key Employee in gross misconduct that is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Bank, monetarily or otherwise; or

 

(B)          the willful and continued failure by the Key Employee to substantially perform such Key Employee’s duties with the Bank or one of its affiliates (other than any such failure resulting from incapacity due to physical or mental illness or Disability), after a written demand for substantial performance is delivered to the Key Employee by the Board, which demand specifically identifies the manner in which the Key Employee has not substantially performed his or her duties, and the Key Employee fails to comply with such demand within a reasonable time.

 

Section 3. Administration

 

(a)           This Plan will be administered by the Committee; provided, however, that notwithstanding anything to the contrary that follows in the balance of this Section, or elsewhere in this Plan, all of the Committee’s actions and decisions shall be subject to the prior approval of the Board as a condition to effectiveness. The determinations of the Committee shall be made in accordance with its judgment as to the best interests of the Company and its stockholders and in accordance with the purposes of this Plan. Subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Committee shall: (i) construe and interpret this Plan and Options granted under this Plan, establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations regulating this Plan and its administration, and correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan or in any Option Agreement, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary, all of which determinations and interpretations made by the Committee, after the requisite approval by the Board, shall be conclusive and binding on all Participants and on their legal representatives and beneficiaries;

 

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(ii) determine the time or times an Option may be exercised, the number of shares as to which an Option may be exercised at any one time, when an Option may terminate, and any other term or condition of an Option; and (iii) determine all questions of policy and expediency that may arise in the administration of this Plan and generally exercise such powers and perform such acts as are deemed necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

(b)           A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and all determinations of the Committee shall be made by a majority of its members. Any determination of the Committee under this Plan may be made without notice or meeting upon the unanimous written consent of the Committee, and all actions made or taken by the Committee pursuant to the provisions of this Plan and this Section shall be final, binding and conclusive for all purposes and upon all persons.

 

Section 4. Shares Reserved Under this Plan

 

There is hereby reserved for issuance under this Plan an aggregate of 49,325 shares of Stock, subject in each case to adjustment as provided in Section 10 of this Plan. Such shares may be authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.  Shares of Stock underlying outstanding Options will be counted against this Plan maximum while such Options are outstanding; provided, however, any shares of Stock covered by an Option that are not delivered to a Participant or beneficiary because the Option is forfeited, shall not be deemed to have been delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of Stock reserved for issuance under this Plan. In addition, if the exercise price of any Option granted under this Plan is satisfied by tendering shares of Stock to the Company, only the number of shares of Stock issued net of the shares of Stock tendered shall be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of Stock reserved for issuance under this Plan.

 

Section 5. Participants

 

Persons eligible for grants of Options under this Plan will be those Key Employees of the Company or of its subsidiaries who are expected to play a significant role in the success and future growth and profitability of the Company and its subsidiaries, as determined by the Committee and as evidenced by the decision of the Committee to grant Options to such individuals, including transferees of Key Employees, to the extent the transfer is permitted by this Plan and the applicable Option Agreement. Designation of a Key Employee as a Participant to receive an Option in any year shall not require the Committee to designate such Key Employee to receive an Option in any other year or to designate any other Key Employee to receive an Option in such year or any other year. The Committee shall consider such factors as it deems pertinent in selecting Key Employees to receive Options and determining the type and amount of their respective Options.

 

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Section 6. Types of Options

 

The Committee may grant, in any proportion in accordance with this Plan, Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options, both as described below. Except as specifically limited herein, the Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the type and number of Options to be granted to any Key Employee and, subject to the provisions of this Plan, the terms and conditions which attach to each Option, which terms and conditions need not be uniform as among different Participants.  Each Option shall be evidenced by an Option Agreement, as provided in Section 7 of this Plan. From time to time, as the Committee deems appropriate and in the best long-term interests of the Company and its stockholders, the Committee may elect to modify or waive one or more terms or conditions of an outstanding Option previously granted to a Participant under this Plan, provided that: (a) no such modification or waiver shall give the Participant or any other Participant under this Plan any right to a similar modification or waiver of any other Option previously or subsequently granted under this Plan; (b) no such modification or waiver of an Option shall involve a change in the number of shares subject to the Option or a change in the Exercise Price of an Option or the purchase price, if any; and (c) any such modification or waiver which is adverse or arguably adverse to the interests of the Participant holding such Option shall not be effective unless and until the Participant shall consent thereto.

 

Section 7. Option Agreements

 

Within ten business days after the grant of an Option, the Company shall notify the Participant of the grant and shall hand deliver or mail to the Participant an Option Agreement in such form as determined by the Committee, duly executed by and on behalf of the Company, with the requirement that the Participant execute the Option Agreement within 30 days after the date of mailing or delivery by the Company and return the same to the Company. The date of execution and return of the Option Agreement shall not necessarily be or affect the date of grant of the Option, which may precede such date of execution and return, as the Committee may determine.  If the Participant shall fail to execute and return to the Company the Option Agreement within said 30-day period, the Option shall be deemed void and never to have been granted.

 

Section 8. Incentive Stock Options

 

(a)           Incentive Stock Options shall consist of Options to purchase shares of Stock at an Exercise Price established by the Committee upon grant, which Exercise Price shall not be less than, but may be more than, one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant; provided, however, if at the time an Incentive Stock Option is granted the Participant receiving the Incentive Stock Option owns or will be considered to own by reason of Section 424(d) of the Code more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, then the Exercise Price shall not be less than, but may be more than, one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date of grant) of all shares of stock under all incentive stock options granted by the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the Company (under this Plan or any other stock option plan) to any Key Employee which may vest in any one calendar year may not exceed $100,000. If the vesting of an Incentive Stock

 

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Option hereunder would cause a violation of the foregoing limitation, such portion of such Option that vests in violation of such limitation shall be deemed to be a Nonqualified Stock Option.

 

(b)           Any outstanding Incentive Stock Option and all unexercised rights thereunder shall expire and terminate automatically upon the earliest of: (i) ten (10) days after the effective date of the termination of the employment or engagement of Participant by the Company or by its subsidiaries where such employment or engagement was Terminated for Cause; (ii) the date which is ninety (90) days following the date of cessation of the employment or engagement of the Participant by the Company or by its subsidiaries for any reason other than as set forth in clause (i), death or Disability; (iii) the date which is one (1) year following the date on which the Participant’s service with the Company or its subsidiaries ceases due to death or Disability; (iv) the date of expiration of the Incentive Stock Option determined by the Committee at the time the Option is granted and specified in such Option; and (v) the tenth anniversary date of the granting of the Incentive Stock Option, or, if at the time such Option is granted the Participant owns (or would be considered to own by reason of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, then on the fifth such anniversary; provided, however, that the Committee shall have the right, but not the obligation, to extend the expiration date of the Incentive Stock Options held by a Participant whose service with the Company or its subsidiaries has ceased for any reason to the end of their original terms, notwithstanding that such Options may no longer qualify as Incentive Stock Options under the Code.

 

(c)           The Committee may provide, upon grant of an Incentive Stock Option, that full exercisability will be phased in and/or phased out over some designated period of time.  The Committee also may provide upon grant that exercisability of an Incentive Stock Option will be accelerated, to the extent such Option is not already then exercisable, upon the subsequent occurrence of a “change of control” of the Company as defined by the Committee.

 

(d)           Upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, in whole or in part, the Exercise Price with respect to the number of shares as to which the Option is then being exercised may be paid only by check or, if the Participant so elects and the Committee shall have authorized such form of payment upon grant of the Option, in whole or in part by delivery to the Company of shares of Stock, provided that such shares shall have been then owned by the Participant for a period of at least six months prior to the exercise. Any Participant-owned Stock to be used in full or partial payment of the Exercise Price shall be valued at the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of exercise. Delivery by the Company of the shares as to which an Incentive Stock Option has been exercised shall be made to the person exercising the Option or the designee of such person.  If so provided by the Committee upon grant of the Option, the shares received upon exercise may be subject to certain restrictions upon subsequent transfer or sale by the Participant.

 

Section 9. Nonqualified Stock Options

 

(a)           Nonqualified Stock Options shall consist of Options to purchase shares of Stock at an Exercise Price established by the Committee upon grant, which Exercise Price shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

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(b)           Any outstanding Nonqualified Stock Option and all unexercised rights thereunder shall expire and terminate automatically upon the earliest of: (i) ten (10) days after the effective date of the termination of the employment or engagement of Participant by the Company or by its subsidiaries where such employment or engagement was Terminated for Cause; (ii) the date which is ninety (90) days following the date of cessation of the employment or engagement of the Participant by the Company or by its subsidiaries for any reason other than as set forth in clause (i), death or Disability; (iii) the date which is one (1) year following the date on which the Participant’s service with the Company or its subsidiaries ceases due to death or Disability; (iv) the date of expiration of the Option determined by the Committee at the time the Nonqualified Stock Option is granted and specified in such Option; and (v) the tenth annual anniversary date of the granting of such Option; provided, however, that the Committee shall have the right, but not the obligation, to extend the expiration date of the Options held by a Participant whose service with the Company or its subsidiaries has ceased for any reason to the end of their original terms.

 

(c)           The Committee may provide, upon grant of a Nonqualified Stock Option, that full exercisability will be phased in and/or phased out over some designated period of time.  The Committee also may provide upon grant that exercisability of a Nonqualified Stock Option will be accelerated, to the extent such Option is not already then exercisable, upon the subsequent occurrence of a “change of control” of the Company as defined by the Committee.

 

(d)           Upon exercise of a Nonqualified Stock Option, in whole or in part, the Exercise Price with respect to the number of shares as to which the Option is then being exercised may be paid only by check or, if the Participant so elects and the Committee shall have authorized such form of payment upon grant of the Option, in whole or in part by delivery to the Company of shares of Stock, provided that such shares shall have been then owned by the Participant for a period of at least six months prior to the exercise. Any Participant-owned Stock to be used in full or partial payment of the Exercise Price shall be valued at the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of exercise. Delivery by the Company of the shares as to which a Nonqualified Stock Option has been exercised shall be made to the person exercising the Option or the designee of such person.  If so provided by the Committee upon grant of the Option, the shares received upon exercise may be subject to certain restrictions upon subsequent transfer or sale by the Participant.

 

Section 10. Adjustment Provisions

 

(a)           If the Company shall at any time change the number of issued shares of Stock without new consideration to the Company (such as by a stock dividend or stock split), the total number of shares reserved for issuance under this Plan, the maximum number of shares available for Options to a particular Participant and the number of shares and the Exercise Price covered by each outstanding Option shall be adjusted so that the aggregate consideration payable to the Company, if any, and the value of each such Option to the Participant, shall not be changed. Options may also contain provisions for their continuation or for other equitable adjustments after changes in the Stock resulting from reorganization, sale, merger, consolidation, issuance of stock rights or warrants or similar occurrence.

 

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(b)           Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, and without affecting the number of shares reserved or available for issuance hereunder, the Board shall use its best efforts to authorize the issuance or assumption of benefits under this Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization involving the liquidation, discontinuation, merger out of existence or fundamental corporate restructuring of the Company, upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate.

 

Section 11. Transfers of Options

 

Subject to any overriding restrictions and conditions as may be established from time to time by the Board, the Committee may determine that any Option granted under this Plan may be transferable prior to exercise thereof under such terms and conditions as the Committee may specify; provided, that no Incentive Stock Option granted under this Plan shall be assignable or transferable by the Participant, either voluntarily or by operation of law, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and, during the lifetime of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant.  Unless the Committee shall specifically determine that an Option is transferable prior to exercise thereof, each Option granted under this Plan to a Participant shall not be transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the Participant’s lifetime, shall be exercisable only by the Participant or, in the event of the Disability of the Participant, by the attorney-in-fact or guardian of the Participant. In the event of the death of a Participant holding an unexercised Option, exercise of the Option may be made only by the executor, administrator or personal representative of the estate of the deceased Participant or the person or persons to whom the deceased Participant’s rights under the Option shall pass by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and such exercise may be made only to the extent that the deceased Participant was entitled to exercise such Option at the date of death.

 

Section 12. Taxes

 

The Company shall be entitled to withhold, and shall withhold, the minimum amount of any Federal, state or local tax attributable to any Stock deliverable under this Plan, whether upon exercise of an Option or occurrence of any other Taxable Event, and the Committee may condition the delivery of any shares or other benefits under this Plan on satisfaction of the applicable withholding obligations.  Such withholding obligation of the Company may be satisfied by any reasonable method including, if the Committee so provides upon grant of the Option, reducing the number of shares otherwise deliverable to or on behalf of the Participant on such Taxable Event by a number of shares having a fair value, based on the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of such Taxable Event, equal to the amount of such withholding obligation.

 

Section 13. No Right to Employment

 

A Participant’s right, if any, to continue to serve the Company or its subsidiaries as an officer, employee or otherwise shall not be enhanced or otherwise affected by the designation of such employee as a Participant under this Plan.

 

Section 14. Duration, Amendment and Termination

 

No Option shall be granted under this Plan on or after the date which is the tenth

 

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anniversary date of the adoption by the Board of this Plan. The Board may, from time to time, with respect to any shares at the time not subject to Options, suspend or terminate this Plan or amend or revise the terms of this Plan; provided that any amendment to this Plan shall be approved by a majority of the shareholders of the Company if the amendment would: (a) materially increase the benefits accruing to participants under this Plan; (b) increase the number of shares of Stock which may be issued under this Plan, except as permitted under the provisions of Section 10 above; or (c) materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in this Plan. By mutual agreement between the Company and a Participant, one or more Options may be granted to such Participant in substitution and exchange for, and in cancellation of, any certain Options previously granted such Participant under this Plan, provided that any such substitution Option shall be deemed a new Option for purposes of calculating any applicable exercise period for Options.  To the extent that any Options which may be granted within the terms of this Plan would qualify under present or future laws for tax treatment that is beneficial to a Participant, any such beneficial treatment shall be considered within the intent, purpose and operational purview of this Plan and the discretion of the Committee, and to the extent that any such Options would so qualify within the terms of this Plan, the Committee shall have full and complete authority to grant Options that so qualify (including the authority to grant, simultaneously or otherwise, Options which do not so qualify) and to prescribe the terms and conditions (which need not be identical as among Participants) in respect to the grant or exercise of any such Options under this Plan.

 

Section 15. Miscellaneous Provisions

 

(a)           Naming of Beneficiaries. In connection with an Option, a Participant may name one or more beneficiaries to receive the Participant’s benefits, to the extent permissible pursuant to the various provisions of this Plan, in the event of the death of the Participant.

 

(b)           Successors.  All obligations of the Company under this Plan with respect to Options issued hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company.

 

(c)           Governing Law.  The provisions of this Plan and all Option Agreements under this Plan shall be construed in accordance with, and governed by, the laws of the State of Illinois without reference to conflict of laws provisions, except insofar as any such provisions may be expressly made subject to the laws of any other state or federal law.

 

(d)           Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, it is the intent of the Company that the administration of the Plan, and the granting of all Options under this Plan, shall be done in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including any guidance or regulations that may be issued after the effective date of this Plan, and shall not cause the acceleration of, or the imposition of the taxes provided for in Section 409A of the Code. In the event that it is reasonably determined by the Board that any amounts payable in respect of any Option under the Plan will be taxable to a Participant under Section 409A of the Code prior to the payment and/or delivery to such Participant of such amounts or will be subject to the acceleration of taxation or the imposition of penalty taxation under Section 409A of the Code, the Company may either (i) adopt such amendments to the Plan and related Option, and appropriate policies and procedures, including amendments and policies with retroactive effect,

 

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that the Board determines necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided by the Plan and Options hereunder, and/or (ii) take such other actions as the Board determines necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.

 

Section 16. Restriction on Shares

 

If the Company shall be advised by counsel that certain requirements under the Federal or state securities laws must be met before Stock may be issued under this Plan, the Company shall notify all persons who have been issued Options, and the Company shall have no liability for failure to issue Stock under any exercise of Options because of delay while such requirements are being met or the inability of the Company to comply with such requirements.

 

Section 17. Investment Purpose

 

Each Option granted hereunder may be issued on the condition that any purchase of Stock pursuant to the exercise of an Option which shall not be the subject of a registration statement permitting the sale or other distribution thereof shall be for investment purposes and not with a view to resale or distribution (the “Restricted Stock”). If requested by the Company, each Participant must agree, at the time of the purchase of any Restricted Stock, to execute an “investment representation letter” setting forth such investment intent in the form acceptable to the Company and must consent to any stock certificate issued to such Participant thereunder bearing a restrictive legend setting forth the restrictions applicable to the further resale, transfer or other conveyance thereof without registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and under the applicable securities or blue sky laws of any other jurisdiction (together, the “Securities Laws”), or the availability of exemptions from registration thereunder and to the placing of transfer restrictions on the records of the transfer agent for the Stock.  No Restricted Stock may thereafter be resold, transferred or otherwise conveyed unless:

 

(a)           an opinion of the Participant’s counsel is received, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Company, that registration under the applicable Securities Laws is not required; or

 

(b)           such Stock is registered under the applicable Securities Laws; or

 

(c)           “no action” letters are received from the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission and from the administrative agencies administering all other applicable securities or blue sky laws, based on the opinion of counsel for Participant in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Company, advising that registrations under the Securities Laws are not required.

 

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Section 18. Effective Date of Plan

 

This Plan shall become effective upon adoption by the Board and approval by the Company’s stockholders; provided, however, that prior to approval of this Plan by the Company’s stockholders but after adoption by the Board, Options may be granted under this Plan subject to obtaining such approval.

 

Adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company as of March 9, 1999.

 

Adopted by the Stockholders of the Company as of April 13, 1999.

 

Amended and Restated by the Board of Directors of the Company as of March 8, 2000 (Stockholder approval not being required).

 

Second Amendment and Restatement by the Board of Directors of the Company as of August 6, 2002. (Stockholder approval not being required).

 

Third Amendment and Restatement by the Board of Directors of the Company as of March 5, 2007.

 

Third Amendment and Restatement approved by the Stockholders of the Company as of April 2, 2007.

 

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