Exhibit 4.3
LITTELFUSE, INC.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION 1.
ESTABLISHMENT, OBJECTIVES AND DURATION
1.1.
ESTABLISHMENT
. Subject to the approval of the stockholders of Littelfuse, Inc. (the
Corporation), the Corporation has established the Littelfuse, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the
Plan), as set forth herein, effective as of February 3, 2010. The Plan supercedes and replaces
(subject to the last sentence of Section 1.4) the Equity Incentive Compensation Plan, Littelfuse,
Inc. Equity Incentive Compensation Plan, adopted effective March 1, 2006, and the Littelfuse, Inc.
Outside Directors Equity Plan, adopted effective March 1, 2006 (the Prior Plans), except that
the Prior Plans shall remain in effect with respect to awards granted under such Prior Plans until
such awards have been exercised, forfeited, canceled, expired or otherwise terminated in accordance
with the terms of such awards.
1.2.
PURPOSE
. The purpose of the Plan is to enhance stockholder value by linking long-term
incentive compensation to the financial performance of the Corporation and to further align
employees financial rewards with the financial rewards realized by the Corporation and its
stockholders. The Plan is also a vehicle to attract and retain key personnel. To accomplish the
foregoing, the Plan provides that the Corporation may grant Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified
Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance
Shares and/or Performance Units.
1.3.
DURATION
. The Plan shall remain in effect, subject to the right of the Corporations Board of
Directors to amend or terminate the Plan at any time pursuant to Section 15, until all Shares
subject to the Plan shall have been purchased or granted according to the Plans provisions.
1.4.
APPROVAL BY STOCKHOLDERS
. The Plan has been adopted by the Board of Directors subject to
approval by the stockholders of the Corporation at the first annual meeting of stockholders held
following the adoption by the Board, or any special meeting of the stockholders duly called.
Awards may be granted prior to stockholder approval, but no Award may be exercised or settled until
the Plan is approved by the stockholders, and if the Plan is not so approved by January 31, 2011,
the Plan, and all Awards granted under the Plan, shall be null and void;
provided
, however,
that to the extent any Award could have been granted under one of the Prior Plans, it shall not be
void, but shall be treated as having been granted under such Plan.
SECTION 2.
DEFINITIONS
Whenever used in the Plan, the following capitalized terms shall have the meanings set forth
below:
2.1.
AWARD
means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Nonqualified Stock
Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock
Units, Performance Shares, or Performance Units.
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2.2.
AWARD AGREEMENT
means a written (or electronic) document setting forth the terms and
provisions applicable to an Award granted to the Participant under the Plan which need not be
executed unless required by the Committee, and is a condition to the grant of an Award hereunder.
2.3.
BOARD
means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
2.4.
CHANGE IN CONTROL
means, unless the Committee otherwise determines, the first of the
following events to occur:
(a) The acquisition by any one person or more than one person acting as a group (within the
meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(v)(B)), other than the Corporation, any
Subsidiary, or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
Corporation or any Subsidiary, (a Person) of any of stock of the Corporation that, together with
stock held by such Person, constitutes more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting
power of the stock of the Corporation. For purposes of this Paragraph (a), the following
acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) the acquisition of additional stock by a
Person who is considered to own more than 50% of the total fair market value or total voting power
of the stock of the Corporation, (ii) any acquisition in which the Corporation does not remain
outstanding thereafter and (iii) any acquisition pursuant to a transaction which complies with
Paragraph (c) below. An increase in the percentage of stock owned by any one Person as a result of
a transaction in which the Corporation acquires its stock in exchange for property will be treated
as an acquisition of stock for purposes of this Paragraph;
(b) The replacement of individuals who constitute a majority of the Board, during any twelve
(12) month period, by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the
Board before the date of the appointment or election, provided that, if the Corporation is not the
relevant corporation for which no other corporation is a majority shareholder for purposes of
Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(iv)(A)(2), this Paragraph (b) shall be applied instead
with respect to the members of the board of the directors of such relevant corporation for which no
other corporation is a majority shareholder;
(c) The acquisition by any one person or more than one person acting as a group (within the
meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi)(D)), other than the Corporation, a
Subsidiary or any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the
Corporation or any Subsidiary , during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent
acquisition by such by such person or persons, of ownership of stock of the Corporation possessing
30% or more of the total voting power of the stock of the Corporation. For purposes of this
Paragraph (c), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change in Control: (i) the
acquisition of additional control by a person or more than one person acting as a group who are
considered to effectively control the Corporation within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section
1.409A-3(i)(5)(vi) and (ii) any acquisition pursuant to a transaction which complies with Paragraph
(a); or
(d) The acquisition by any individual person or more than one person acting as a group (within
the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5)(vii)(C)), other than a transfer to a
related person within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-
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3(i)(5)(vii)(B), during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition
by such by such person or persons, of assets from the Corporation that have a total gross fair
market value equal to or more than 40% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of
the Corporation immediately prior to such acquisition(s). For purposes of this Paragraph (d),
gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the Corporation, or the value of the
assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.
The above definition of Change in Control shall be interpreted by the Board, in good faith, to
apply in a similar manner to transactions involving partnerships and partnership interests, and to
comply with Code Section 409A.
2.5.
CODE
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and all regulations and formal guidance issued
thereunder, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation thereto.
2.6.
COMMITTEE
means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or such other committee as shall be
appointed by the Board as provided in Section 3 to administer the Plan, or in the absence of
either, the Board.
2.7.
CORPORATION
means Littelfuse, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor to all or
substantially all of the assets or voting stock of such entity as provided in Section 18.
2.8.
DIRECTOR
means any individual who is a member of the Board.
2.9.
DISABILITY
means, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement or in an employment,
change of control or similar agreement in effect between the Participant and the Corporation or
Subsidiary, the Participant is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of
any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death
or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; or, by reason of any
medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or
can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income
replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident and health plan
covering employees of the Corporation or a Subsidiary.
2.10.
EFFECTIVE DATE
means February 3, 2010.
2.11.
EMPLOYEE
means any Employee of the Corporation or any Subsidiary.
2.12.
EXCHANGE ACT
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and all rules and formal guidance
issued thereunder, as amended from time to time, or any successor act thereto.
2.13.
FAIR MARKET VALUE
means, with respect to the relevant date, if the Shares are duly listed
on a national securities exchange or on The Nasdaq Stock Market, the closing price of a Share on
such date, or, if there are no sales on such date, on the next preceding day on which there were
sales, or if the Shares are not so listed, the fair market value of the Shares for such date, as
determined by the Committee in good faith and in compliance with Code Section 409A. Such price
shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3.
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2.14.
INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION
OR
ISO
means the right to purchase Shares pursuant terms and
conditions that are intended to qualify as, and that satisfy the requirements applicable to, an
incentive stock option within the meaning of Code Section 422, as described in Section 6.
2.15.
NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER
means a Participant who is one of the group of covered employees as
defined in the regulations promulgated under Code Section 162(m), or any successor provision or
statute.
2.16.
NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION
OR
NQSO
means the right to purchase Shares pursuant to terms
and conditions that are not intended to be, or do not qualify as, an Incentive Stock Option as
described in Section 6.
2.17.
OPTION
means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, as described in
Section 6.
2.18.
OPTION PRICE
means the per Share purchase price of a Share purchased pursuant to an Option.
2.19.
PARTICIPANT
means an Employee, prospective Employee, or Director who has outstanding an
Award granted under the Plan, and includes those former Employees and former Directors who have
certain post-termination rights under the terms of an Award.
2.20.
PERFORMANCE-BASED EXCEPTION
means the exception for performance-based compensation from the
tax deductibility limitations of Code Section 162(m).
2.21.
PERFORMANCE PERIOD
means the time period during which performance goals must be achieved
with respect to an Award, as determined by the Committee.
2.22.
PERFORMANCE SHARE
means an Award granted to a Participant that entitles the Participant to
delivery of Shares upon achievement of performance goals, as described in Section 9.
2.23.
PERFORMANCE UNIT
means an Award that entitles the Participant to a cash payment upon
achievement of performance goals, as described in Section 9.
2.24.
PERIOD OF RESTRICTION
means the period during which the transfer of an Award or the Shares
is limited in some way (based on the passage of time, the achievement of performance goals, or upon
the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee, at its discretion), and the Award or
Shares are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture, as provided in Sections 8 and 9.
2.25.
PLAN
means the Littelfuse, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan, as set forth herein.
2.26.
RESTRICTED STOCK
means an Award of Shares subject to a Period of Restriction granted to a
Participant pursuant to Section 8.
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2.27.
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT
OR
RSUs
shall mean a right to receive Shares or cash upon the lapse
of the Period of Restriction pursuant to Section 8.
2.28.
SERVICE
shall mean the performance of services for the Corporation (or any Subsidiary)
within the meaning of Code Section 409A, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in
the Award Agreement.
2.29.
SHARE
OR
SHARES
means Shares of common stock of the Corporation.
2.30.
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT
OR
SAR
means a right, designated as an SAR, to receive the
appreciation in the Fair Market Value of Shares pursuant to the terms of Section 7.
2.31.
SUBSIDIARY
means any affiliate of the Corporation;
provided
, however, that with
respect to any ISO Subsidiary means any Corporation during any period in which it is a parent
corporation (as that term is defined in Code Section 424(e)) with respect to the corporation or a
subsidiary corporation (as that term is defined in Code Section 424(f)) with respect to the
Corporation.
SECTION 3.
ADMINISTRATION
3.1.
PLAN ADMINISTRATION
. The Committee shall administer the Plan. The Committee shall consist of
not fewer than two Directors who are non-Employee Directors of the Corporation, within the meaning
of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act; outside directors, as defined in Code Section 162(m)(4)(c)(i);
and independent directors for purposes of the rules of the exchange on which the Shares are
traded;
provided
, however, that if at any time any member of the Committee is not an
outside director, as so defined, the Committee may establish a subcommittee, consisting of all
members who are outside directors, to carry out the duties of the Committee for all purposes
relating to any Award to a Named Executive Officer, unless the Committee determines that such an
Award is not intended to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception. The Board may, from time to
time, remove members from, or add members to, the Committee. Any vacancies on the Committee shall
be filled by members of the Board.
Acts of a majority of the Committee at which a quorum is present, or acts reduced to or approved in
writing by unanimous consent of the members of the Committee, shall be valid acts of the Committee.
3.2.
AUTHORITY OF THE COMMITTEE
. Except as limited by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation
or Bylaws of the Corporation, and subject to the provisions herein, the Committee shall have full
power to select Employees, prospective Employees and Directors who shall participate in the Plan;
determine the sizes and types of Awards; determine the terms and conditions of Awards in a manner
consistent with the Plan; decide whether and to what extent Awards shall be structured to conform
with Code Section 162(m) requirements for the Performance-Based Exception; construe and interpret
the Plan and any agreement or instrument entered into under the Plan; establish, amend, or waive
rules and regulations consistent with the terms of the Plan for the Plans administration; and
amend the terms and conditions of any outstanding Award to the extent such terms and conditions are
within the sole discretion of the Committee as provided in the Plan and subject to Section 15;
provided
that the Committee shall
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not have the authority to amend any Option or SAR to reduce its Option Price or base price except
in accordance with Sections 4.3 and 4.4. Further, the Committee shall make all other
determinations which may be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, including
establishing administrative methods for the exercise of Options and SARs. The Committees
determinations, interpretations and actions under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made
selectively among Employees, prospective Employees, Directors and their beneficiaries.
3.3.
DECISIONS BINDING
. All determinations and decisions made by the Committee (or its delegate)
pursuant to the provisions of the Plan and all related orders and resolutions of the Board shall be
final, conclusive and binding on all persons, including the Corporation, its stockholders,
Employees, Directors, Participants, and their estates and beneficiaries.
3.4.
DELEGATION BY COMMITTEE
. Unless prohibited by applicable law or the applicable rules of a
stock exchange, the Committee may delegate all or some of its responsibilities and powers to any
one or more of its members. The Committee also may delegate some or all of it administrative
duties and powers to any Employee, including officers of the Corporation. The Committee may
delegate to an executive officer of the Corporation the authority to grant Awards under the Plan to
Employees who are not officers of the Corporation or any Subsidiaries,
provided
that the
terms and conditions of such Awards shall be set forth in an Award Agreement approved by the
Committee prior to the grant of said Awards, the Committee in its delegation shall specify the
maximum Shares that may be awarded to one Participant pursuant to such delegation in any calendar
year, and the executive officer shall report any such grants to the Committee at its next meeting.
In the case of any such delegation, references in this Plan to the Committee shall include any
such delegate, as applicable. The Committee hereby delegates to each of the Corporations
Corporate Secretary and General Counsel the authority to document any and all Awards made by the
Committee and/or an authorized executive officer under the Plan. The Committee may revoke any such
allocation or delegation at any time.
3.5.
INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED TO COMMITTEE
. The records of the Corporation and Subsidiaries as
to an Employees, Directors or Participants employment, termination of employment, performance of
Services, termination of Services, leave of absence, reemployment and compensation shall be
conclusive on all persons unless determined to be manifestly incorrect. Participants and other
persons entitled to benefits under the Plan must, as a condition to the receipt or settlement of
any Award hereunder, furnish the Committee with such evidence, data or information as the Committee
reasonably considers desirable to carry out the terms of the Plan.
3.6.
INDEMNIFICATION
. In addition to such other rights of indemnification that they have
as members of the Board or the Committee, the Corporation shall indemnify the members of the
Committee (and any delegates of the Committee, as permitted under Section 3.4, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, against reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys
fees) actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or
proceeding, or in connection with any appeal, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason
of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan or any Award awarded
hereunder, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (
provided
such
settlement is approved to the extent required by and in the manner provided by the Articles
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of Incorporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation relating to indemnification of the members of the
Board) or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except
in relation to such matters as to which it is adjudged in such action, suit or proceeding that such
Committee member or members (or their delegates) did not act in good faith and in a manner
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation.
SECTION 4.
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN AND MAXIMUM AWARDS
4.1.
SHARES AVAILABLE FOR AWARDS
.
(a) The Shares available for Awards may be either authorized and unissued Shares or Shares
held in or acquired for the treasury of the Corporation. The aggregate number of Shares that may
be issued or used for reference purposes under the Plan or with respect to which Awards may be
granted shall not exceed
[INSERT NUMBER]
Shares, all of which may be issued pursuant to Incentive
Stock Options and are subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3. The number of Shares
reserved for issuance under this Plan, as set forth above, shall be increased by reserved but
unissued shares under the Prior Plans, and no additional awards shall be granted under the Prior
Plans. In no event shall fractional Shares be issued under the Plan.
(b) Upon:
(i) a payout of a SAR, RSU, or Performance Unit Award under this Plan or comparable
awards under either of the Prior Plans in the form of cash; or
(ii) a cancellation, termination, expiration without exercise, forfeiture, or lapse for
any reason, of any Award under this Plan or any award granted under either of the Prior
Plans; the number of Shares underlying any such Award (or Prior Plan award) that were not
issued as a result of any of the foregoing actions shall again be available for the purposes
of Awards under the Plan. In addition, in the case of any Award granted in substitution for
an award of a company or business acquired by the Corporation or a Subsidiary, Shares issued
or issuable in connection with such substitute Award shall not be counted against the number
of Shares reserved under the Plan, but shall be available under the Plan by virtue of the
Corporations assumption of the plan or arrangement of the acquired company or business.
All Restricted Shares which vest, and all Shares issued in settlement of an Option, SAR, Restricted
Stock Unit, or Performance Share Award, or withheld for payment of the Option Price or any tax
imposed upon the exercise or settlement of the Award, shall reduce the total number of Shares
available under the Plan and shall not again be available for the grant of any Award hereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, when a stock-settled SAR is exercised under the Plan or either of
the Prior Plans, the total number of Shares subject to the SAR shall not be available for
subsequent issuance under the Plan, regardless of the number of Shares used the settle the SAR.
4.2.
INDIVIDUAL PARTICIPANT LIMITATIONS
. Unless and until the Committee determines that an Award
to a Named Executive Officer shall not be designed to comply with the
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Performance-Based Exception, the following rules shall apply to grants of such Awards under the
Plan:
(a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3, the maximum aggregate number of Shares
(including Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Performance Shares) that may be
granted to a Named Executive Officer in any year shall be 200,000 Shares.
(b) The maximum aggregate cash payout with respect to any Award to any Named Executive Officer
in any year shall be $3,000,000.
4.3.
ADJUSTMENTS
. (a) Recapitalization. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, if the
Corporation is involved in a corporate transaction or any other event which affects the Shares
(including, without limitation, any recapitalization, reclassification, reverse or forward stock
split, stock dividend, extraordinary cash dividend, split-up, spin-off, combination or exchange of
shares), then the Committee shall make or provide for such adjustments to Awards to prevent the
dilution or enlargement of rights of the Awards as follows:
(i) The Committee shall take action to adjust the number and kind of Shares that are
issuable under the Plan and the maximum limits for each type of Award;
(ii) The Committee shall take action to adjust the number and kind of Shares subject to
outstanding Awards;
(iii) The Committee shall take action to adjust the Exercise Price or base price of
outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights; and
(iv) The Committee shall make any other equitable adjustments.
Only whole Shares shall be issued in making the above adjustments. Further, the number of Shares
available under the Plan or the number of Shares subject to any outstanding Awards shall be the
next lower number of Shares, so that fractions are rounded downward. Any adjustment to or
assumption of ISOs under this Section shall be made in accordance with Code Section 424. If the
Corporation issues any rights to subscribe for additional Shares pro rata to holders of outstanding
Shares of the class or classes of stock then set aside for the Plan, then each Participant shall be
entitled to the same rights on the same basis as holders of outstanding Shares with respect to such
portion of the Participants Award as is exercised on or prior to the record date for determining
stockholders entitled to receive or exercise such rights.
(b) Reorganization. If the Corporation is part of any reorganization involving merger,
consolidation, acquisition of the Stock or acquisition of the assets of the Corporation, the
Committee, in its discretion, may decide that:
(i) any or all outstanding Awards shall pertain to and apply, with appropriate
adjustment as determined by the Committee, to the securities of the resulting corporation to
which a holder of the number of Shares subject to each such Award would have been entitled;
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(ii) any or all outstanding Options or SARs shall become immediately fully exercisable
(to the extent permitted under federal or state securities laws) and shall remain
exercisable for the remaining term of the Options or SARs under the terms of the Plan;
(iii) any or all Options or SARs shall become immediately fully exercisable (to the
extent permitted under federal or state securities laws) and shall be terminated after
giving at least 30 days notice to the Participants to whom such Options or SARs have been
granted; and/or
(iv) any or all unvested Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Stock on which
restrictions have not yet lapsed shall become immediately fully vested, nonforfeitable and
payable.
(c) Limits on Adjustments. Any issuance by the Corporation of stock of any class other than
the Stock, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall not affect, and no
adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares subject
to any Award, except as specifically provided otherwise in this Plan. The grant of Awards under
the Plan shall not affect in any way the right or authority of the Corporation to make adjustments,
reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge,
consolidate or dissolve, or to liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or
assets. All adjustments the Committee makes under this Plan shall be conclusive.
4.4.
PROHIBITION ON REPRICING
. Anything else contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding,
except as provided in Section 4.3, the Committee shall not amend any Option or SAR to reduce its
Option Price or base price, and shall not issue to any Participant a new Award in exchange for the
surrender and cancellation of any other Award, if such new Award has an Option Price or base price
(as applicable) lower than that of the Award for which it is exchanged, or take any other action
that would have the effect of reducing the Option Price or base price of an Option or SAR.
SECTION 5.
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
5.1.
ELIGIBILITY
. Persons eligible to participate in the Plan include current and future U.S. and
non-U.S. Employees (including officers), persons who have been offered employment by the
Corporation or a Subsidiary (provided that such prospective Employee may not receive any payment or
exercise any right relating to an Award until such person begins employment with the Corporation or
Subsidiary), and Directors, as designated by the Committee;
provided
, however, that ISOs
may only be granted to U.S. Employees.
5.2.
PARTICIPATION
. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, shall determine and
designate, from time to time, the Employees, prospective Employees and Directors to whom Awards
shall be granted, the terms of such Awards, and the number of Shares subject to such Award.
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SECTION 6.
STOCK OPTIONS
6.1.
GRANT OF OPTIONS AND AWARD AGREEMENT
.
(a)
Option Grant
. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Options may be
granted to one or more Participants in such number, upon such terms and provisions, and at any time
and from time to time, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. The Committee may
grant either Nonqualified Stock Options or Incentive Stock Options, and shall have complete
discretion in determining the number of Options of each granted to each Participant, subject to the
limitations of Section 4.
(b)
Award Agreement
. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, effective
as of the grant date, which shall specify the Option Price, the term of the Option, the number of
Shares subject to the Option, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine, and which
are not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan. The Award Agreement shall also
specify whether the Option is to be treated as an ISO within the meaning of Code Section 422. If
such Option is not designated as an ISO, such Option shall be deemed an NSO. No ISO may be granted
to any person more than 10 years after the Effective Date of the Plan.
6.2.
OPTION PRICE
. The Committee shall designate the Option Price for each Share subject to an
Option under the Plan,
provided
that such Option Price shall not be less than 100% of the
Fair Market Value of Shares subject to an Option on the date the Option is granted, and which
Option Price may not be subsequently decreased by the Committee except pursuant to Section 4.3 and
in compliance with Code Section 409A. With respect to a Participant who owns, directly or
indirectly, more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of the stock of the
Corporation or any Subsidiary, the Option Price of Shares subject to an ISO shall be at least 110%
of the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the ISOs grant date.
6.3.
TERM OF OPTIONS
. Each Option granted to a Participant shall expire at such time as the
Committee shall determine at the time of grant, but in no event shall be exercisable later than the
10th anniversary of the grant date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to ISOs, in the
case of a Participant who owns, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the total combined voting
power of all classes of the stock of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, no such ISO shall be
exercisable later than the fifth anniversary of the grant date.
6.4.
EXERCISE OF OPTIONS
. Options granted under this Section 6 shall be exercisable at such times
and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve,
which need not be the same for each Award or for each Participant, and shall be set forth in the
applicable Award Agreement, subject to Section 11. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the
Fair Market Value of Shares to which ISOs are exercisable for the first time by any Participant
during any calendar year may not exceed $100,000. Any ISOs that become exercisable in excess of
such amount shall be deemed NSOs to the extent of such excess. The Committee, in its sole
discretion and at any time, may establish procedures setting a minimum number of Shares that must
be exercised at any one time.
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6.5.
EXERCISE AND PAYMENT
. Options granted under this Section 6 shall be exercised by the delivery
of a written (or electronic) notice of exercise to the Corporation, setting forth the number of
Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for the
Shares and all applicable tax withholding. The Option Price and applicable tax withholding upon
exercise of any Option shall be payable to the Corporation in full either:
(a) in cash or its equivalent,
(b) by tendering previously acquired Shares (held for any minimum period needed to avoid
adverse impacts to the Corporations earnings for financial reporting purpose), valued at their
Fair Market Value at the time of exercise, with such documentation as the Committee may require, or
(c) a combination (i) and (ii).
In addition, payment of the Option Price and applicable tax withholding may be payable by one or
more of the following methods either upon written consent from the Committee or if one or more of
the following methods will not result in a charge to the Corporations earnings for financial
reporting purposes:
(d) by withholding Shares that otherwise would be acquired on exercise (valued at their Fair
Market Value at the time of exercise),
(e) by tendering other Awards payable under the Plan, or
(f) by cashless exercise through delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly
deliver to the Corporation the amount of proceeds from a sale of all or a portion of the Shares
being exercised.
As soon as practicable after receipt of a written (or electronic) notification of exercise and full
payment, the Corporation shall deliver, electronically or in paper form, the Shares to the
Participant. No Participant shall have any rights of a shareholder with respect to Shares subject
to an Option, including any right to receive dividends, to vote, or to participate in the equity of
the Company, until such Option has been exercised and payment made in full as provided herein.
SECTION 7.
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
7.1.
GRANT OF SARS AND AWARD AGREEMENT
.
(a)
SAR Grant
. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, SARs may be granted
to Participants and at any time and from time to time, as determined by the Committee, in its sole
discretion. The Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the number of SARs granted
to each Participant (subject to Section 4) and, consistent with the provisions of the Plan, in
determining the terms and conditions pertaining to such SARs. The Committee shall designate, at
the time of grant, the base price of the SAR, which base price shall be at least equal to the Fair
Market Value of a Share on the grant date of the SAR. Base prices of SARs shall not subsequently
be decreased by the Committee, except pursuant to Section 4.3. The Committee, in
11
its sole discretion, may provide a maximum dollar limit on the total aggregate payment due
under a SAR.
(b)
Award Agreement
. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall
specify the base price, the term of the SAR, and such other provisions as the Committee shall
determine, and which are not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan.
7.2.
TERM OF SARS
. The term of a SAR granted under the Plan shall be determined by the Committee,
in its sole discretion;
provided
, however, that unless otherwise designated by the
Committee, such term shall not exceed ten years from the grant date.
7.3.
EXERCISE OF SARS
. SARs shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions
and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve, which need not be the same for each
Award or for each Participant, and shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, subject to
Section 11. The Committee, in its sole discretion and at any time, may establish procedures
setting a minimum number of Shares with respect to which the SAR must be exercised at any one time.
7.4.
EXERCISE AND PAYMENT
. SARs granted under this Section 7 shall be exercised by the delivery of
a written (or electronic) notice of exercise to the Corporation, setting forth the number of Shares
with respect to which the SAR is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for all applicable
tax withholding. The applicable tax withholding upon exercise of any SAR shall be payable to the
Corporation in full in the same manner as set forth in Section 6.5 above. As soon as
administratively practicable following exercise of a SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to
receive payment from the Corporation in an amount determined by multiplying:
(a) The excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the base price
per Share; by
(b) The number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.
At the sole discretion of the Committee, exercisable at any time, the payment upon SAR exercise may
be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination thereof.
SECTION 8.
RESTRICTED STOCK AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS
8.1.
GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK OR RSUS AND AWARD AGREEMENT
.
(a)
Grant of Restricted Stock/Restricted Stock Units
. Subject to the terms and
provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of
Restricted Stock or RSUs to Participants in such amounts as the Committee shall determine in its
sole discretion. The Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the number of Shares
underlying each Award (subject to Section 4) and, consistent with the provisions of the Plan, in
determining the terms and conditions, including the Period of Restriction or vesting, pertaining to
such Restricted Stock or RSU. The Committee may designate an RSU as payable in cash, Stock, or a
combination thereof.
12
(b)
Award Agreement
. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall
specify the Period of Restriction or vesting, the number of Shares granted, and such other
provisions as the Committee shall determine pursuant to Section 8.3 or otherwise, and which shall
not be inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan.
8.2.
TRANSFERABILITY OF RESTRICTED STOCK
. Except as provided in this Section 8, the Shares of
Restricted Stock granted herein may not be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise
alienated or hypothecated, voluntarily or involuntarily, until the end of the applicable Period of
Restriction established by the Committee (subject to Section 11) and specified in the Award
Agreement, or upon earlier satisfaction of any other conditions, as specified by the Committee in
its sole discretion (subject to Section 11) and set forth in the Award Agreement.
8.3.
SETTLEMENT OF AWARD
. Except as otherwise provided in Section 18.7 or in any Award Agreement,
and subject to any deferral elected pursuant to Section 13.2, the Corporation shall retain the
certificates representing Shares of Restricted Stock in the Corporations possession, or may
deposit or transfer such Shares electronically to a custodian designated by the Committee, until
such time as all conditions and/or restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied as
soon as administratively practicable after the last day of the applicable Period of Restriction on
a Restricted Stock Award or following vesting of an RSU Award, Shares covered by such Restricted
Stock Award or, in the case of RSUs, cash, Shares, or a combination thereof, shall be delivered (in
the case of Shares, electronically or in paper form) to the Participant.
8.4.
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS
. Unless otherwise designated by the Committee in the Award Agreement, the
Participant shall have no shareholder rights with respect to the Shares subject to the Restricted
Stock or RSU Award, including voting and cash dividend rights, until after the last day of the
Period of Restriction on the Restricted Stock or vesting of the RSU and the Participant has
received and become a holder of record of the Shares;
provided
, however, that in the event
that any dividend constitutes a derivative security or an equity security pursuant to the rules
under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, such dividend shall be added to the Restricted Stock Award
and subject to a Period of Restriction equal to the remaining Period of Restriction applicable to
the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which the dividend is paid. As a condition to
receipt of Shares of Restricted Stock, the Participant shall execute any voting proxies or other
similar documents requested by the Committee.
SECTION 9.
PERFORMANCE UNITS AND PERFORMANCE SHARES
9.1.
GRANT OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/SHARES AND AWARD AGREEMENT
.
(a)
Grant of Performance Unit/Shares
. Subject to the terms of the Plan, Performance
Units and/or Performance Shares may be granted to Participants in such amounts and upon such terms,
and at any time and from time to time, as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole
discretion, which shall not be inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the Plan and shall be
set forth in an Award Agreement.
13
(b)
Award Agreement
. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall
specify the initial value of the Award, the performance goals and the Performance Period, as the
Committee shall determine, and which are not inconsistent with the terms and provisions of the
Plan.
9.2.
VALUE OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/SHARES
. Each Performance Share shall represent the Participants
right to receive a Share (subject to Section 9.4), upon satisfaction of performance goals
established by the Committee. Each Performance Unit shall represent the Participants right to
receive a cash payment equal to the value of the Performance Unit (as determined by the Committee
on the grant date, and subject to Section 9.4), upon satisfaction of the performance goals
established by the Committee. The Committee shall set performance goals in its sole discretion
which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number and/or value of
Performance Shares and/or Performance Units that will be paid out to the Participant. For purposes
of this Section 9, the time period during which the performance goals must be met shall be called a
Performance Period.
9.3.
EARNING OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/SHARES
. Subject to the terms of the Plan, after the applicable
Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units and/or Performance Shares shall be
entitled to receive payment on his or her Performance Units and/or Performance Shares earned by the
Participant over the Performance Period, based on the extent to which the corresponding performance
goals have been achieved, as determined by the Committee.
9.4.
FORM AND TIMING OF PAYMENT OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/SHARES
. Except as provided below, and subject
to any deferral elected pursuant to Section 13.2, payment of earned Performance Units and/or
Performance Shares shall be made in a single lump sum as soon as reasonably practicable following
the close of the applicable Performance Period. Any Shares paid to a Participant may be subject to
any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee.
9.5.
SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS
. Unless otherwise designated by the Committee in the Award Agreement, the
Participant shall have no shareholder rights with respect to the Shares subject to the Performance
Share Award, including voting and cash dividend rights, until after the Award has vested and the
Participant has received and become a holder of record of the Shares;
provided
, however,
that in the event that any dividend constitutes a derivative security or an equity security
pursuant to the rules under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, such dividend shall be added to the
Award and subject to the same accrual, forfeiture, and payout restrictions as apply to the
underlying Award with respect to which the dividend is paid.
SECTION 10.
PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Unless and until the Committee proposes for stockholder vote and stockholders approve a change
in the general performance measures set forth in this Section 10, the attainment of which may
determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to Awards to Named Executive Officers
that are designed to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, the performance goals to be used
for purposes of such grants shall be established by the Committee in writing and
14
stated in terms of the attainment of specified levels of or percentage changes in any one or
more of the following measurements: revenue; primary or fully-diluted earnings per Share; earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation, and/or amortization; pretax income; operating income; cash
flow from operations; total cash flow; return on equity; return on capital; return on assets; net
operating profits after taxes; economic value added; capital expenditures; expense levels; stock
price; debt levels; market share; total stockholder return or return on sales; or any individual
performance objective which is measured solely in terms of quantitative targets related to the
Corporation or the Corporations business; or any combination thereof. In addition, such
performance goals may be based in whole or in part upon the performance of the Corporation, a
Subsidiary, division and/or other operational unit under one or more of such measures.
The degree of payout and/or vesting of such Awards designed to qualify for the Performance-Based
Exception shall be determined based upon the written certification of the Committee as to the
extent to which the performance goals and any other material terms and conditions precedent to such
payment and/or vesting have been satisfied. The Committee shall have the sole discretion to adjust
the determinations of the degree of attainment of the preestablished performance goals; provided,
however, that the performance goals applicable to Awards which are designed to qualify for the
Performance-Based Exception, and which are held by Named Executive Officers, may not be adjusted so
as to increase the payment under the Award (the Committee shall retain the sole discretion to
adjust such performance goals upward, or to otherwise reduce the amount of the payment and/or
vesting of the Award relative to the preestablished performance goals).
In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit Committee sole discretion
to alter the governing performance measures without obtaining stockholder approval of such changes,
the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining stockholder
approval. In addition, in the event that the Committee determines that it is advisable to grant
Awards which shall not qualify for the Performance-Based Exception, the Committee may make such
grants without satisfying the requirements of the Performance-Based Exception or Code Section
162(m) and, thus, using performance measures other than those specified above.
SECTION 11.
VESTING AND FORFEITURES
11.1.
VESTING
. As part of making any Award, the Committee may determine the time and conditions
under which the Award will vest or the Period of Restriction will lapse. Vesting or the lapse of
the Period of Restriction may, in the Committees discretion, be based solely upon continued
employment or Service for a specified period of time, or may be based upon the achievement of
specific performance goals (Corporation-wide, Subsidiary-wide, divisional, and/or individual) which
are established by the Committee in its discretion, subject to Section 10. For all purposes of
this Plan, vesting of an Award shall mean:
(a) In the case of an Option or SAR, the time at which the Participant has the right to
exercise the Award.
(b) In the case of Restricted Stock, the end of the Period of Restriction.
15
(c) In the case of Restricted Stock Units, the end of the Period of Restriction.
(d) In the case of Performance Shares or Performance Units, the time at which the Participant
has satisfied the requirements to receive payment on such Performance Shares or Performance Units,
which shall not be less than one year from the grant date, except as otherwise provided in Section
11.2.
Vesting or lapse provisions need not be uniform among Awards granted at the same time or to persons
similarly-situated. Vesting and lapse requirements shall be set forth in the applicable Award
Agreement.
11.2.
VESTING ON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
. Unless otherwise approved by the Committee either at
the time of grant or at some later date in accordance with Code Sections 409A and 422, upon the
termination of the Participants employment or Service with the Corporation and its Subsidiaries,
all outstanding Awards shall be cancelled and no longer exercisable on the date of the termination.
To the extent that the Committee approves extended vesting or exercise provisions, such provisions
need not be uniform among all Awards issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions
based on the reasons for such termination.
11.3.
ACCELERATION OF VESTING
. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the vesting
or lapse of the Period of Restriction, in whole or in part, with respect to any Award, but no such
acceleration shall be effective unless evidenced by a writing signed by a duly authorized officer
of the Corporation. In addition, the Committee may impose additional conditions on Awards, by
inclusion of appropriate provisions in the document evidencing or governing any such Award.
11.4.
EXTENSION OF EXERCISE PERIOD.
The Committee may, in its sole discretion, subject to the
terms of the Plan, exercisable either at the time an Award is granted or at any time while the
Award remains outstanding, to extend the period of time for which the Option or SAR is to remain
exercisable following the Participants termination of Service from the limited exercise period
otherwise in effect for that Option or SAR to such greater period of time as the Committee shall
deem appropriate, but in no event beyond the expiration of the Option or SAR term, and/or to permit
the Option or SAR to be exercised, during the applicable post-termination exercise period, not only
with respect to the number of vested Shares for which such Option or SAR is exercisable at the time
of the Participants termination of Service but also with respect to one or more additional
installments in which the Participant would have vested had the Participant continued in Service.
Such an extension may result in recharacterization of an ISO as a NSO.
SECTION 12.
TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS; BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
12.1.
LIMITS ON TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS
.
(a) Except as otherwise provided below, Awards may be exercisable only by the Participant
during the Participants lifetime, and Awards shall not be transferable other than by will or the
laws of descent and distribution. Any purported transfer of any Award or any interest
16
therein that does not comply with the terms of this Plan shall be null and void and confer no
rights of any kind upon the purported transferee.
(b) The Committee may, in its discretion, permit a Participant to transfer any Award other
than an ISO to any family member of such Participant, subject to such restrictions and limitations
as the Committee may provide;
provided
, however, that any such Award shall remain subject
to all vesting, forfeiture, and other restrictions provided herein and in the Award Agreement to
the same extent as if it had not been transferred; and provided further that in no event shall any
transfer for value be permitted. For purposes of this Section 12.1(b), the terms family member
and transfer for value have the same meaning as in the General Instructions to SEC Form S-8, or
such other form as the SEC may promulgate in replacement thereof.
(c) To the maximum extent permitted by law, no Award shall be subject, in whole or in part, to
attachment, execution or levy of any kind; provided, however, that nothing contained herein shall
affect the right of setoff set forth in Section 14.3.
(d) Nothing contained in this Section 12.1 shall preclude a Participant from transferring
Restricted Shares that have vested, or Shares that are issued in settlement of an Option, SAR, RSU,
or Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units, subject to the remaining provisions of this
Plan and applicable law.
12.2.
DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY
. Each Participant under the Plan may, from time to time, name any
beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit
under the Plan is to be paid in case of his or her death before he or she receives any or all of
such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant,
shall be in a form prescribed by the Corporation, and will be effective only when filed by the
Participant in writing (or electronically, if permitted by the Committee) with the Secretary of the
Corporation (or its designee) during the Participants lifetime. In the absence of any such
designation, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participants death shall be paid to the
Participants estate.
SECTION 13.
DEFERRALS; COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 409A
13.1.
PROHIBITION ON DEFERRALS OF OPTIONS, SARS, AND RESTRICTED STOCK
. No Participant shall have
the right to defer the amount of Shares or cash payable upon the exercise or settlement of any
Option or SAR, or the transfer of any Restricted Stock upon the vesting thereof.
13.2.
DEFERRALS OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS, PERFORMANCE UNITS AND PERFORMANCE SHARES
. The Committee
may permit a Participant to defer such Participants receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery
of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant upon the satisfaction of any requirements
or goals with respect to Restricted Stock Units, Performance Units or Performance Shares. If any
such deferral election is required or permitted, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion,
establish rules and procedures for such payment deferrals, subject to the following:
(a) A deferral election may be made only at one of the following two times:
17
(i) In the case of an Award that cannot vest (other than by reason of death,
Disability, or a Change in Control) earlier than the first anniversary of the date of grant,
not later than the earlier of thirty days after the date of grant or one year prior to the
earliest date on which the Award may vest.
(ii) In the case of an Award that is subject to a Performance Period of not less than
one year, and the vesting of which is subject to the attainment of Performance Criteria that
are established within the first 90 days of the Performance Period and that are not
substantially certain of being achieved at the time of grant, not later than six months
prior to the end of the Performance Period.
(b) A deferral election shall state the time and manner of payment. Payment must either be on
a specified date, at the time of the Participants separation from Service with the Corporation and
its Subsidiaries as defined in Code Section 409A, death, or Disability, or upon the occurrence of a
Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(i) An amount payable by reason of a separation from Service to an Employee who is a
key employee of the Corporation, as defined in Code Section 409A, shall not be paid until
six months after the separation from service, and any portion of such amount that would
otherwise be payable during such six month period shall be paid instead at the end of such
period.
(ii) Payment of any amount that the Corporation reasonably determines would not be
deductible by reason of Code Section 162(m) shall be deferred until the earlier of the
earliest date on which the Corporation reasonably determines that the deductibility of the
payment will not be so limited, or the year following the termination of employment.
(iii) Any payment that the Corporation reasonably determines will violate a term of a
loan agreement to which the Corporation is a party, or other similar contract to which the
Corporation is a party, and such violation will cause material harm to the Corporation shall
be deferred until the earliest date at which the Corporation reasonably anticipates that the
making of the payment will not cause such violation, or such violation will not cause
material harm to the Corporation.
(iv) Any payment that the Corporation reasonably anticipates that will violate Federal
securities laws or other applicable law will be deferred until the earliest date at which
the Corporation reasonably anticipates that the making of the payment will not cause such
violation.
(v) The Committee may permit Participants to elect to further defer payments, provided
that any such election is made not less than one year prior to the date on which the payment
would otherwise be made, and that the deferral is for a period of at least five years.
(c) No payment that a Participant has elected to defer pursuant to this Section 13.2 may be
paid at any earlier date, except in accordance with procedures adopted by the Committee in
compliance with Code Section 409A.
18
13.3.
COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 409A
. The provisions of this Plan, including but not limited to this
Section 13, are intended to comply with the restrictions of Code Section 409A, and, notwithstanding
the Participant consent requirements of Section 15.1, the Committee reserves the right to amend any
provision of this Plan, or any outstanding Award, to the extent necessary to comply with Section
409A.
SECTION 14.
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF PARTIES
14.1.
NO GUARANTEE OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE RIGHTS
. Nothing in the Plan shall interfere with or
limit in any way the right of the Corporation to terminate any Participants employment or service
at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the
Corporation or any Subsidiary.
For purposes of the Plan, temporary absence from employment or Service because of illness,
vacation, approved leaves of absence, and transfers of employment or Service among the Corporation
and its Subsidiaries, shall not be considered to terminate employment or Service or to interrupt
continuous employment or Service. Conversion of a Participants employment relationship to a
Service arrangement, and vice versa, shall not result in termination of previously granted Awards.
14.2.
PARTICIPATION
. No Employee or Director shall have the right to be selected to receive an
Award under the Plan, or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future Award.
14.3.
RIGHT OF SETOFF
. The Corporation or any Subsidiary may, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, deduct from and set off against any amounts the Corporation or Subsidiary may owe
to the Participant from time to time, including amounts payable in connection with any Award, owed
as wages, fringe benefits, or other compensation owed to the Participant, such amounts as may be
owed by the Participant to the Corporation, although the Participant shall remain liable for any
part of the Participants payment obligation not satisfied through such deduction and setoff. By
accepting any Award granted hereunder, the Participant agrees to any deduction or setoff under this
Section 14.
14.4.
SECTION 83(B) ELECTION
. No election under Section 83(b) of the Code (to include in gross
income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in Code Section 83(b)) or under a similar
provision of the laws of a jurisdiction outside the U.S. may be made, unless expressly permitted by
the terms of the Award Agreement or by action of the Committee in writing before the making of such
election. In any case in which a Participant is permitted to make such an election in connection
with an Award, the Participant shall notify the Corporation of such election within ten days of
filing notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service or other governmental authority, in
addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to regulations issued under Code Section
83(b) or other applicable provision.
14.5.
DISQUALIFYING DISPOSITION NOTIFICATION
. If any Participant shall make any disposition of
Shares delivered pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option under the circumstances
described in Code Section 421(b) (relating to certain disqualifying
19
dispositions), such Participant shall notify the Corporation of such disposition within ten days
thereof.
SECTION 15.
AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION
15.1.
AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION
. The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan
or the Committees authority to grant Awards under the Plan without the consent of stockholders or
Participants;
provided
, however, that any amendment to the Plan shall be submitted to the
Corporations stockholders for approval not later than the earliest annual meeting for which the
record date is after the date of such Board action if such stockholder approval is required by any
federal or state law or regulation or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system
on which the Shares may then be listed or quoted and the Board may otherwise, in its sole
discretion, determine to submit other amendments to the Plan to stockholders for approval; and
provided further
, that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no Board action,
other than to the extent necessary to comply with applicable U.S. or foreign laws, may materially
and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any outstanding Award. The Committee
shall have no authority to waive or modify any other Award term after the Award has been granted to
the extent that the waived or modified term was mandatory under the Plan.
15.2.
AWARDS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED
. No termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan, other
than to the extent necessary to comply with applicable U.S. or foreign laws, shall adversely affect
in any material way any Award previously granted under the Plan, without the written (or
electronic) consent of the Participant holding such Award.
SECTION 16.
WITHHOLDING
The Corporation shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold from amounts due to
the Participant by the Corporation, or require a Participant to remit to the Corporation as a
condition of any Award, an amount (in cash or in kind, subject to the approval of the Corporation)
sufficient to satisfy the minimum Federal, state and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by
law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of the Plan.
Notwithstanding the above, in the case of Options or SARs, such tax withholding shall be
accomplished as set forth in Sections 6.5 and 7.4.
SECTION 17.
SUCCESSORS
All obligations of the Corporation under the Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder
shall be binding on any successor to the Corporation, whether the existence of such successor is
the result of a direct or indirect merger, consolidation, purchase of all or substantially all of
the business and/or assets of the Corporation or otherwise.
20
SECTION 18.
MISCELLANEOUS
18.1.
UNFUNDED PLAN
. The Plan is intended to constitute an unfunded plan for incentive and
deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant or the
obligation to deliver Shares pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall
give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the
Corporation; provided that the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts and deposit therein
cash, Shares, other Awards or other property, or make other arrangements to meet the Corporations
obligations under the Plan. Such trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the
unfunded status of the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines with the consent of each
affected Participant.
18.2.
COMPLIANCE WITH CODE SECTION 162(M)
. The Corporation intends that Awards designated as
Awards to Named Executive Officers shall constitute qualified performance-based compensation
within the meaning of Code Section 162(m), unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time
of allocation of an Award. Accordingly, the terms of Sections 4.2, 6, 7, 8.5, 8.6, 9 and 10,
including the definitions of Named Executive Officer and other terms used therein, shall be
interpreted in a manner consistent with Code Section 162(m). The foregoing notwithstanding,
because the Committee cannot determine with certainty whether a given Participant will be a Named
Executive Officer with respect to a fiscal year that has not yet been completed, the term Named
Executive Officer as used herein shall mean only a person designated by the Committee as likely to
be a Named Executive Officer with respect to a specified fiscal year. If any provision of the Plan
or any Award Agreement relating to a Performance Award that is designated as intended to comply
with Code Section 162(m) does not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of Code Section
162(m), such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to
such requirements, and no provision shall be deemed to confer upon the Committee or any other
person sole discretion to increase the amount of compensation otherwise payable in connection with
any such Award upon attainment of the applicable performance objectives.
18.3.
AWARDS TO PARTICIPANTS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
. The Committee may modify the terms of any
Award under the Plan made to or held by a Participant who is then resident or primarily employed
outside the U.S. in any manner deemed by the Committee to be necessary or appropriate in order that
the Award shall conform to laws, regulations, and customs of the country in which the Participant
is then resident or primarily employed, or so that the value and other benefits of the Award to the
Participant, as affected by foreign tax laws and other restrictions applicable as a result of the
Participants residence or employment abroad, shall be comparable to the value of such an Award to
a Participant who is resident or primarily employed in the U.S.. Such authorization shall extend
to and include establishing one or more separate sub-plans which include provisions not
inconsistent with the Plan that comply with statutory or regulatory requirements imposed by the
foreign country or countries in which the Participant resides. If determined advisable by the
Committee, an Award may be modified under this Section in a manner that is inconsistent with the
express terms of the Plan, so long as such modifications will not contravene any applicable law or
result in actual liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act for the Participant whose Award
is modified.
21
18.4.
GENDER AND NUMBER; HEADINGS
. Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine
term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural shall include the singular and the
singular shall include the plural. Headings are included for the convenience of reference only and
shall not be used in the interpretation or construction of any such provision contained in the
Plan.
18.5.
SEVERABILITY
. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for
any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the
Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
18.6.
REQUIREMENTS OF LAW
. The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under the Plan shall
be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any
governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required. If at any time on or
after the Effective Date, the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine that the requirements
of any applicable federal or state securities laws should fail to be met, no Shares issuable under
Awards and no Options or SARs shall be exercisable until the Committee has determined that these
requirements have again been met. The Committee may suspend the right to exercise an Options or
SAR at any time when it determines that allowing the exercise and issuance of Shares would violate
any federal or state securities or other laws, and may provide that any time periods to exercise
the Option or SAR are extended during a period of suspension. With respect to Insiders,
transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. To the extent any provision of the Plan or action by
the Committee fails to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law
and deemed advisable by the Committee. Each Award Agreement and each certificate representing
securities granted pursuant to the Plan (including securities issuable pursuant to the terms of
derivative securities) may bear such restrictive legend(s) as the Corporation deems necessary or
advisable under applicable law, including Federal and state securities laws. If the date of the
vesting or lapse of the Period of Restriction with respect to any Award, other than an Option or
SAR, held by Participant who is subject to the Corporations policy regarding trading of its Stock
by its officers and directors and Shares (the original vesting date) is not within a window
period applicable to the Participant, as determined by the Corporation in accordance with such
policy, then the vesting or lapse of the Period of Restriction with respect to such Award shall not
occur on such original vesting date and shall instead occur on the first day of the next window
period applicable to the Participant pursuant to such policy.
18.7.
ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS
. The Committee may impose such restrictions on any
Shares acquired pursuant to an Award, including Restricted Shares, Performance Shares, or Shares
received upon exercise of an Option or SAR or under an RSU, as it may deem advisable.
18.8.
GOVERNING LAW
. To the extent not preempted by Federal law, the Plan, and all agreements
hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
22
Exhibit 4.5
LITTELFUSE, INC. LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT
Executive
Littelfuse, Inc. (Littelfuse) hereby grants you restricted stock units, subject to terms and
restrictions as described herein (Restricted Stock Units or RSUs), through the Littelfuse, Inc.
Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan).
Participant (you):
Date of Grant: April 30, 2010
Number of Restricted Stock Units:
Vesting Schedule:
Your RSU award entitles you to receive one share of Common Stock as soon as
administratively practicable after you vest in your award. The vesting and forfeiture provisions
that apply to your Restricted Stock Units are described in detail in Sections 11 and 18.6 of the
Plan and the attached
Terms and Conditions
. In general, subject to certain accelerated vesting and
forfeiture provisions, so long as you have not previously separated from service with Littelfuse
and its affiliates, your Restricted Stock Units will vest as follows:
|
|
|
Vesting Date
|
|
Number of Restricted Stock Units Vested
|
April 30, 2011
|
|
33 1/3%
|
April 30, 2012
|
|
33 1/3%
|
April 30, 2013
|
|
33 1/3%
|
If you separate from service with Littelfuse and its affiliates before a vesting date for any
reason other than your death or Disability (as defined in the Plan), you will forfeit all RSUs in
which you have not yet vested. If you separate from service because you become Disabled or die,
a portion of your unvested RSUs may vest based on your service with Littelfuse (please see the
Terms and Conditions
for more information), and any remaining unvested RSUs will be forfeited. In
all events, if there is a sale of Littelfuses stock or assets that qualifies as a Change in
Control under the Plan, all of your RSUs will automatically vest.
Additional Terms
: Your rights and duties and those of Littelfuse with respect to your award are
governed by the provisions of this Award Agreement, and the attached
Terms and Conditions
and Plan
document, both of which are incorporated into this Award Agreement by reference. If there is any
discrepancy between these documents, the Plan document will always govern.
This Award is designated as a bonus that is in addition to your regular cash wages. Participation
in the Plan is discretionary and voluntary, and the Plan can be terminated at any time. This Award
does not create a right or entitlement to future grants or awards, whether pursuant to the Plan or
otherwise.
By accepting this Award, you consent to the collection, holding, process, use, and transfer of your
personal data across country borders that is necessary and needed to accomplish the full and
complete implementation of this Award, including the settlement of your Restricted Stock Units in
the form of shares (or their cash equivalent). You can obtain a copy of our data processing
activities upon request by contacting your Human Resources representative.
Questions:
If you have any questions regarding your award, please see the enclosed
Terms and
Conditions
, or contact the Global Director, Compensation and Benefits.
|
|
|
|
|
|
LITTELFUSE, INC.
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Gordon Hunter
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Chairman, President & CEO
|
|
LITTELFUSE, INC. LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT TERMS AND CONDITIONS
This document is intended to provide you some background on the Littelfuse, Inc. Long-Term
Incentive Plan (the Plan) and to help you better understand the terms and conditions of the
restricted stock unit award (the Restricted Stock Units or RSUs) granted to you under the Plan.
References in this document to our, us, we, and Littelfuse are intended to refer to
Littelfuse, Inc.
Background
|
|
How are award recipients chosen?
|
Under our current process, the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors (Committee)
reviews the nominations and makes recommendations to our Board of Directors regarding executive
equity awards.
|
|
What is the value of my award?
|
The value of each share covered by your RSU award is equal to the market price of one share of
Littelfuse, Inc. common stock (Common Stock).
Note that, under U.S. tax laws, and the tax laws of most countries, you will be taxed on the market
price of the share(s) of Common Stock vesting under your RSU award at the time the Common Stock is
paid to you in settlement of your award. However, we recommend that you consult your personal tax
advisor to discuss your own potential tax consequences of receiving this award of Restricted Stock
Units.
Also note that no amount of cash or Common Stock received by you pursuant to your award will be
considered compensation for purposes of any pension, retirement, insurance, or any other employee
benefit plan of Littelfuse or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.
|
|
Who keeps track of my Restricted Stock Units and vesting?
|
We have hired the financial services firm of Merrill Lynch to provide you with an on-line program
to track the value of your Restricted Stock Units and their vesting and related tax withholding,
and to handle certain related stock transactions.
Terms and Conditions
1.
|
|
When will my Restricted Stock Units vest?
|
Generally, 33 1/3% of your Restricted Stock Units will vest on each anniversary of your date of
grant indicated in your Award Agreement.
In certain special cases, your RSUs will vest earlier. If you separate from service for any reason
other than death or Disability (as defined in the Plan), any unvested RSUs will be immediately
forfeited as of the date of your separation. If you separate from service due to death or
Disability, then any unvested RSUs will vest based on your continuous service with Littelfuse
through your date of separation, as follows:
|
|
first, the total number of shares of RSUs you were originally awarded is multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full months of service you completed from
your date of grant to date of separation and the denominator of which is 36;
|
|
|
second, the amount is reduced by the number of previously vested RSUs; and
|
|
|
third, the amount is rounded down to the nearest whole number (so that no fractional shares
will vest).
|
Any RSUs that remain unvested after application of the above will be immediately forfeited as of
your separation date.
For example
: You are awarded 600 RSUs on April 30, 2010. Your award will vest 1/3
each year starting on the anniversary of your grant date (April 30, 2010). You separate from
service with Littelfuse due to Disability on November 15, 2011. Your separation date is more
than 18 months but less than 19 months from your date of grant. Since you separated from
service after 18 full months of service (from your date of grant) because of Disability,
then in addition to your 200 vested RSUs, you would also become vested in an additional 100
RSUs: (600 RSUs x 18/36)-200 = 100 RSUs. You would have a total of 300 vested RSUs. The
remaining 300 RSUs would be forfeited.
If the stock or assets of Littelfuse are sold in a transaction that qualifies as a Change in
Control under the Plan, you will become fully vested in all of your RSUs immediately prior to such
Change in Control. Also, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, choose to accelerate the
vesting of awards in special circumstances.
If you are covered by the Littelfuse, Inc. Insider Trading Policy, there may be situations where
the vesting of your RSUs will be delayed until the first day of the next open trading window.
Please see Section 18.6 of the Plan for more information.
You have no rights to shares or other compensation for the loss of rights under the Plan if you
fail to vest in any RSUs pursuant to this award.
2.
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|
When do I receive payment?
|
As soon as administratively practical after your award vests, one share of our Common Stock (or in
certain cases where set forth in your Award Agreement, its cash equivalent) will be delivered to
you for each Restricted Stock Unit that vests. Delivery of shares, either electronically or in
certificate form, as we determine, will usually be made within approximately 15 days after vesting.
Fractional shares will not be paid.
3.
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Do I have to pay any tax on my award or Common Stock that I receive?
|
Yes, if you are a United States taxpayer, when you vest and become entitled to payment of any
portion of your RSUs, you must pay us the full amount of any federal, state, foreign and local
withholding taxes we estimate to be due as a result of the vesting. In order for you to pay these
withholding taxes, we will automatically withhold a whole number of your vesting shares sufficient
to cover the minimum withholding taxes that we determine are owed (if fractional shares would be
needed to fully cover the taxes, we will round down and require you to pay the remainder in cash).
In certain cases, we may require you to satisfy your withholding taxes using other methods
permitted by the Plan and approved by the Committee. Also, if any of the above methods are
insufficient to satisfy the tax withholding estimated by us to be due, we have the right to use any
other reasonable method of satisfying our tax withholding obligation, including without limitation,
withholding taxes from other compensation owed to you. In any event, all tax withholding
requirements must be satisfied prior to the issuance or delivery of any shares of our Common Stock
or cash to you.
If you are subject to taxation in a country other than the United States, please see the separate
Summary entitled,
Tax Consequences of Restricted Stock Units
and consult your personal tax
advisor for advice on your particular situation.
Please note that we make no representations with respect to and hereby disclaim all responsibility
as to the tax treatment of your award. Please consult your personal tax advisor for advice on your
particular situation.
4.
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What are my rights as a stockholder in my Restricted Stock Units?
|
Until you actually receive shares (if any) of Common Stock in settlement of your award, you will
have no rights as a stockholder with respect to those shares, such as the right to vote shares or
the right to receive dividends on shares.
Once you actually receive shares (if any) of Common Stock upon the vesting of your RSUs, you will
normally be entitled to all rights of ownership to such shares. Under certain circumstances
described in the Plan, however, these rights may be delayed or subject to additional limitations or
restrictions.
5.
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|
Are there restrictions on the transfer of my Restricted Stock Units?
|
Generally, you may not sell, transfer, pledge, assign, or otherwise alienate or hypothecate your
Restricted Stock Units, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, by operation of law or otherwise,
except upon your death or as provided in Section 12.1 of the Plan. If you die, your beneficiary
(as described in the Plan) or the personal representative of your estate can act on your behalf.
Once you receive any share of Common Stock, you will normally be entitled to all rights of
ownership to such share. Under certain circumstances described in the Plan, however, these rights
may be delayed or subject to additional limitations or restrictions.
6.
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How do I designate my beneficiary or beneficiaries?
|
You may ask our Human Resources Department for a beneficiary designation form. You must file the
completed form with the Human Resources Department. Each time you file a beneficiary designation
form, all previously filed beneficiary designation forms will be revoked and of no further force or
effect. If you want to name multiple beneficiaries, all beneficiaries must be listed on a single
beneficiary designation form (including attachments, if necessary). If you do not file a
beneficiary designation form, benefits remaining unpaid at your death will be paid to your estate.
7.
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|
Are there restrictions on the delivery and sale of shares of stock?
|
Shares of our Common Stock issued to you upon the vesting of Restricted Stock Units are subject to
federal securities laws. In some cases, foreign, state or local securities laws may also apply.
If the Committee determines that certain registrations or filings are needed or desired to comply
with these various securities laws, then we may delay the delivery of your shares until the
necessary approvals or filings are obtained. In order for us to meet an exemption from securities
registration requirements, we may also require you to provide us with certain information,
representations and warranties before we will issue any shares of Common Stock to you. In certain
cases, the Committee may decide to instead pay you the cash equivalent of the shares of Common
Stock to which you would otherwise be entitled.
Where applicable, the certificates evidencing any shares may contain wording (or otherwise as
appropriate in electronic format) indicating that conditions, restrictions, rights and obligations
apply.
8.
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|
Does the receipt of my award guarantee continued employment with Littelfuse?
|
No. Neither the establishment of the Plan, your award of Restricted Stock Units, nor the issuance
of shares of Common Stock or other consideration in connection with your award, gives you the right
to continued employment or service with Littelfuse or any of our subsidiaries or affiliates.
9.
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|
What events can trigger forfeiture of my Restricted Stock Units?
|
One or our primary objectives in granting you a Restricted Stock Unit is to provide you with an
incentive to remain our employee or service provider. This objective will not be accomplished if
you separate from service with us. Therefore, except as may otherwise be provided in your Award
Agreement or these Terms and Conditions, your unvested RSUs will be cancelled and forfeited upon
your separation from service with Littelfuse and its affiliates. The Committee may, in its
discretion, accelerate the vesting of your award subject to certain provisions in the Plan.
10.
|
|
What documents govern my Restricted Stock Units?
|
The Plan, your Award Agreement, and these Terms and Conditions express the entire understanding of
you and Littelfuse regarding your Restricted Stock Units. In the event of any conflict between
these documents, the terms of the Plan will always govern. You should never rely on any oral
description of the Plan or your Award Agreement because the written terms of the Plan will always
govern. The Committee (or its delegate) has the authority to interpret this document and the Plan.
Any such interpretation will be binding on you, us, and other persons.
Exhibit 4.6
LITTELFUSE, INC. LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
STOCK OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT
Littelfuse, Inc. (Littelfuse) hereby grants you the option to purchase the number of shares of
Littelfuse common stock (the Option), subject to the terms and restrictions as described herein,
through the Littelfuse, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan).
Participant (you): _________
Date of Grant: April 30, 2010
Option Expiration Date: 7 years from Date of Grant
Number of Shares subject to Option: ______
Option Exercise Price (per Share): $ ______
Type of Option: ___ Incentive Stock Option
___ Nonqualified Stock Option
Vesting Schedule:
You may only exercise your Option to purchase shares during the period beginning
on the date you vest in your Option and continuing until your Option expires or is otherwise
forfeited. The vesting and forfeiture provisions that apply to your Option are described in detail
in Sections 11 and 18.6 of the Plan and the attached
Terms and Conditions.
In general, subject to
certain accelerated vesting and forfeiture provisions, so long as you have not previously separated
from service with Littelfuse and its affiliates, your Options will vest and become exercisable as
follows:
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|
|
|
|
Vesting Date
|
|
Percentage of Options Vesting
|
April 30, 2011
|
|
|
33 1/3
|
%
|
April 30, 2012
|
|
|
33 1/3
|
%
|
April 30, 2013
|
|
|
33 1/3
|
%
|
Effect of Separation from Service
: If you separate from service with Littelfuse and its affiliates
before a vesting date for reasons other than your death, Disability (as defined in the Plan), or
cause, such separation is without cause and not within two years following a Change in Control (as
defined in the Plan), and your separation occurs without cause before you have reached age 62 and
completed 5 years of service, you will forfeit the unvested portion of your Option and the vested
portion of your Option will remain exercisable for 3 months following your separation (or your
Option Expiration Date, if sooner). If you separate from service because you become Disabled or
die, within two years following a Change in Control, or on or after you have both reached age 62
and completed 5 years of service with Littelfuse and its affiliates, you will vest in your Option
and continue to be able to exercise the vested portion of your Option as described in the
Terms and
Conditions.
If your separation from service is due to cause (as determined by the Committee), your
entire Option will expire on your date of separation, regardless of its vesting.
Additional Terms
: Your rights and duties and those of Littelfuse with respect to your Options are
governed by the provisions of this Award Agreement, and the attached
Terms and Conditions
and Plan
document, both of which are incorporated into this Award Agreement by
reference. If there is any discrepancy between these documents, the Plan document will always
govern.
This award is designated as a bonus that is in addition to your regular cash wages. Participation
in the Plan is discretionary and voluntary, and the Plan can be terminated at any time. This Award
does not create a right or entitlement to future awards, whether pursuant to the Plan or otherwise.
By accepting this award, you consent to the collection, holding, process, use, and transfer of your
personal data across country borders that is necessary and needed to accomplish the full and
complete implementation of this award, including your receipt of shares upon exercise of your
Option. You can obtain a copy of our data processing activities by contacting the Global Director,
Compensation and Benefits.
Questions:
If you have any questions regarding your award, please see the enclosed
Terms and
Conditions
, or contact the Global Director, Compensation and Benefits.
|
|
|
|
|
|
LITTELFUSE, INC.
|
|
|
By:
|
|
|
|
|
Name:
|
Gordon Hunter
|
|
|
|
Title:
|
Chairman, President & CEO
|
|
LITTELFUSE, INC. LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
STOCK OPTION TERMS AND CONDITIONS
This document is intended to provide you some background on the Littelfuse, Inc. Long-Term
Incentive Plan (the Plan) and to help you better understand the terms and conditions of the stock
option (the Option) granted to you under the Plan. References in this document to our, us,
we, and the Corporation are intended to refer to Littelfuse, Inc.
Background
1. How are stock option recipients chosen?
Under our current process, recipients represent executives and a very limited group of associates
who are nominated by their VP to receive a stock option grant. In the case of executives, the
Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors (Committee) reviews the nominations and makes a
recommendation to our Board of Directors. In the case of other associates, the Executive Team
reviews the nominations and makes a recommendation to our Board of Directors.
2. What is the value of my Option?
The value of your Option, to you, is the difference between the purchase price (as described
below in Question 7) and the market price for the shares of Littelfuse common stock (Common
Stock) covered by your Option.
Note that, under the tax laws of most countries, the difference between the purchase price and
the market price will be considered income to you at the time you exercise your Option. We
recommend that you consult your personal tax advisor to discuss your own potential tax consequences
prior to your exercise of your Option.
Also note that no amount of Common Stock or income received by you pursuant to this award will be
considered compensation for purposes of any pension, retirement, insurance or any other employee
benefit plan of Littelfuse or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates.
3. Who keeps track of my Option grant and vesting?
We have hired the financial services firm of Merrill Lynch to provide you with an on-line program
to track the vesting, value and exercise of your Option, and related tax withholding, and to handle
certain related stock transactions.
Terms and Conditions
4. When may I exercise my Option?
You can exercise all or a portion of your Option to purchase our Common Stock on or after the
Options vesting date and before the Option expires. Generally, 33 1/3% of your Option will vest
on each anniversary of your date of grant, as described in your Award Agreement.
If you separate from service with Littelfuse and its affiliates before a vesting date for reasons
other than your death, Disability (as defined in the Plan) or cause (as determined by the
Committee), your separation is not within two years following a Change in Control (as defined in
the Plan), and your separation occurs before you have reached age 62 and completed 5 years
of service, you will forfeit the unvested portion of your Option and the vested portion of your
Option will remain exercisable for 3 months following your separation (or your Option Expiration
Date, if sooner). If you separate from service because you become Disabled or die, or for
reasons other than cause within two years following a Change in Control, the unvested portion of
your Option will become immediately vested. If you separate from service for reasons other than
cause on or after the date you have both (i) reached age 62 and (ii) completed 5 years of service
with Littelfuse and its affiliates (known as eligible retirement), the unvested portion of your
Option will continue to vest in accordance with your normal vesting schedule (generally, over three
years) and your Option will remain exercisable for the same periods as if you had not separated
from service. If your separation from service is due to cause, your entire Option will expire on
your date of separation, regardless of its vesting.
The Committee may, in its discretion, accelerate or extend the vesting of awards or extend the
exercise period in such circumstances as it determines.
You can not exercise your Option after it expires, as described in Question 5 below.
5. When does my Option expire?
Your Option normally expires and is no longer exercisable on the 7
th
anniversary of the
date it was granted to you. Your Option may expire on an earlier date if you separate from service
with Littelfuse and its affiliates, as follows:
|
|
|
Reason for Separation
|
|
Expiration Date
|
Death
|
|
Earlier of 12 months after your date of death or
7
th
anniversary of grant date
|
|
|
|
Eligible retirement
|
|
7
th
anniversary of grant date
|
|
|
|
Cause (as determined by the Committee)
|
|
Date of separation
|
|
|
|
All other reasons
|
|
3
rd
month after your date of separation
|
The Committee may, in its discretion, extend the period in which an Option may be exercised in such
circumstances as it determines, subject to the provisions of the Plan and applicable law.
6. How do I exercise my Option?
You may exercise all or any portion of your Option by delivering a written form called a Notice of
Exercise to us no earlier than 30 days and no later than 10 days prior to your desired exercise
date (or such other time periods as prescribed by Merrill Lynch for its on-line system and
communicated to you). You can obtain this form from the Global Director, Compensation and
Benefits.
At the time you deliver your Notice of Exercise, you must also provide us with full payment of the
exercise price for the shares of Common Stock being purchased or deliver irrevocable instructions
to a broker to promptly deliver to us the amount of the proceeds from a sale of shares of Common
Stock having a fair market value equal to the purchase price for a cashless exercise, plus any tax
withholding liability (as described below). Other alternatives for your payment of the exercise
price and tax withholding may be available. Please contact the Global Director, Compensation and
Benefits well in advance of your intended exercise date for more information.
Your notices and other communications under your Option must be in writing and are deemed to have
been given only if personally delivered, sent by e-mail, or sent by registered or certified United
States mail (return receipt requested, postage prepaid), addressed to:
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|
|
personal delivery or mail:
|
|
Littelfuse
Attn: Global Director, Compensation and Benefits
8755 W. Higgins Road, OHare Plaza, Suite 520
Chicago, IL 60631
|
|
|
|
e-mail:
|
|
dmitchell@littelfuse.com
|
We may change these addresses by providing you a written notice.
Upon receipt of a properly completed Notice of Exercise and full payment of the exercise price and
applicable tax withholding, we will issue the shares of Common Stock purchased (either
electronically or in certificate form, as we determine).
7. What is the exercise price of the stock that I may purchase under my Option?
The exercise price (the purchase price) that you must pay for each share of Common Stock that you
elect to purchase pursuant to your Option is the closing price for the Common Stock on your date of
grant. This price is set forth on your Award Agreement.
You must pay the exercise price in cash or by certified check, or by delivering irrevocable
instructions to Merrill Lynch, as your broker, to sell enough shares to pay to us the exercise
price and applicable tax withholding resulting from the exercise of your Option, and to pay it any
related brokers fees. Other alternatives for your payment of the exercise price and tax
withholding may be available. Please contact the Global Director, Compensation and Benefits well
in advance of your intended exercise date for more information.
8. Are taxes due when I exercise my Option?
Yes, if you are a United States taxpayer and employee, any federal, state, and local taxes that
become due as a result of the exercise of your Option must be paid by you as part of your exercise.
See Q. 7 above for a description of the methods available to pay these taxes.
If you are subject to taxation in a country other than the United States, please see the separate
summary entitled Tax Consequences of Stock Option and consult your personal tax advisor for
advice on your particular situation.
If you are not an employee, you will be responsible for the payment of any federal, state and local
taxes that become due as a result of the exercise of your Option.
9. What are my rights as a stockholder?
You have no rights as a stockholder until we issue shares of Common Stock to you upon exercise of
your Option. This means that you will not receive any dividends, distributions or other rights on
or with respect to shares of Common Stock for which the record date is prior to our issuance of the
Common Stock to you (except as the Plan otherwise provides).
10. Are there restrictions on the transfer of my Option and shares of stock?
You may not transfer your Option, and no other person may exercise your Option, except upon your
Disability (as defined in the Plan) or death. Any other type of attempted transfer is null and
void. If you suffer a Disability (as defined in the Plan), your legal representative can act on
your behalf. If you die, your beneficiary (as described in the Plan) or the personal
representative of your estate can act on your behalf. Once you receive any share of Common Stock,
you will normally be entitled to all rights of ownership to such share. Under certain
circumstances described in the Plan, however, these rights may be delayed or subject to additional
limitations or restrictions.
11. How do I designate my beneficiary or beneficiaries?
You may ask our Human Resources Department for a beneficiary designation form. You must file the
completed form with the Human Resources Department. Each time you file a beneficiary designation
form, all previously filed beneficiary designation forms will be revoked and of no further force or
effect. If you want to name multiple beneficiaries, all beneficiaries must be listed on a single
beneficiary designation form (including attachments, if necessary). If you do not file a
beneficiary designation form, benefits remaining unpaid at your death will be paid to your estate.
12. Are there restrictions on the delivery and sale of shares of stock?
Shares of Common Stock issued to you upon the exercise of your Option are subject to federal
securities laws. In some cases, foreign, state or local securities laws may also apply. If the
Committee determines that certain registrations or filings are needed or desired to comply with
these various securities laws, then we may delay the delivery of your shares until the necessary
approvals or filings are obtained. In order for us to meet an exemption from securities
registration requirements, we may also require you to provide us with certain information,
representations and warranties before we will issue any shares of Common Stock to you.
Where applicable, the certificates evidencing your shares may contain wording (or otherwise as
appropriate in electronic format) indicating that conditions, restrictions, rights and obligations
apply.
13. Does the receipt of my Option guarantee continued service with us?
No. Neither the establishment of the Plan, your award of an Option, nor the issuance of shares of
Common Stock to you on the exercise of your Option gives you the right to continued employment or
service with Littelfuse or any of our subsidiaries or affiliates.
14. What events can trigger forfeiture of my Option?
One or our primary objectives in granting you an Option is to provide you with an incentive to
remain our employee or service provider. This objective will not be accomplished if you separate
from service with us. Therefore, except as may otherwise be provided in your Award Agreement, your
unvested Option will be cancelled and forfeited upon your separation from service with Littelfuse
and its affiliates. If your separation from service is due to cause (as determined by the
Committee), your entire Option will expire on your date of separation, regardless of its vesting.
The Committee may, in its discretion, extend the vesting and/or exercise period of your award or
accelerate the vesting of your award subject to certain provisions of the Plan.
15. What documents govern my Option?
The Plan, the Award Agreement, and this document express the entire understanding of you and
Littelfuse with respect to your Option. In the event of any conflict between these documents, the
terms of the Plan will always govern. You should also never rely on any oral description of the
Plan, your Award Agreement or your Option because the written terms of the Plan will always govern.
The Committee (or its delegate) has the authority to interpret this document and the Plan. Any
such interpretation will be binding on you, us, and other persons.