As
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 15, 2008
Registration
No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Discovery Communications, Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
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Delaware
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One Discovery Place
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
(240) 662-2000
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35-2333914
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
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(Address of Principal
Executive Offices and Zip
Code)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
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Discovery Communications, Inc. 2005 Non-Employee Director Incentive Plan
(As Amended and Restated)
(Full title of plan)
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Copy to:
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Joseph A. LaSala, Jr.
Discovery Communications, Inc.
One Discovery Place
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
(240) 662-2000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including
area code, of agent for service)
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Robert W. Murray Jr. Esq.
Renee L. Wilm Esq.
Baker Botts L.L.P.
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, New York 10112
(212) 408-2500
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer
þ
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Accelerated filer
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Non-accelerated filer
o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
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Smaller reporting company
o
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CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed
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Maximum
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Proposed
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Offering
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Maximum
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Amount of
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Title of Each Class of Securities to be
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Amount to be
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Price per
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Aggregate
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Registration
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Registered
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Registered (1)
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Share (2)
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Offering Price
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Fee (2)
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Series A Common
Stock, par value
$.01 per share
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5,000,000
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$
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11.12
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$
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55,600,000
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$
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2,185.10
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(1)
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Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration
Statement covers, in addition to the number of shares stated above, an indeterminate number of
shares which may be issued pursuant to the Discovery Communications, Inc. 2005 Non-Employee
Director Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated) after the operation of certain anti-dilution
and other provisions contained therein.
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(2)
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Calculated based on the average of the high and low prices reported for the Series A Common
Stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on October 10, 2008 in accordance with Rule 457(h)
under the Securities Act.
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PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Note
: The document(s) containing the employee benefit plan information required by
Item 1 of Part I of this Form and the statement of availability of registrant information and other
information required by Item 2 of Part I of this Form will be sent or given to participants as
specified by Rule 428 under the Securities Act. In accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities
Act and the requirements of Part I of Form S-8, such documents are not being filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the
Commission
) either as part of this Registration
Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities
Act. Discovery Communications Inc. (
Discovery
or the
Company
) will maintain a
file of such documents in accordance with the provisions of Rule 428 under the Securities Act.
Upon request, the Company will furnish to the Commission or its staff a copy or copies of all the
documents included in such file.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference
.
The following documents, previously filed with the Commission by the Company pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
Exchange Act
), as applicable, are incorporated herein by reference.
(i) The Companys Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-151586), originally filed
with the Commission on June 11, 2008, as amended by Amendment No. 1, as filed on July 18, 2008,
Amendment No. 2, as filed on August 1, 2008 and Amendment No. 3, as filed on August 6, 2008 and
effective on August 7, 2008;
(ii) The following Current Reports on Form 8-K: Items 8.01 and 9.01 filed on September 18,
2008, Items 4.01, 5.02, 5.05, 8.01 and 9.01 filed on September 23, 2008 and Items 5.02 and 9.01
filed on October 7, 2008; and
(iii) The description of the Companys Series A common stock, par value $.01 per share
contained in the Companys Form 8-A filed under the Exchange Act on September 12, 2008, and any
amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.
All documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act (other than any report or portion thereof furnished
or deemed furnished under any Current Report on Form 8-K) prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities offered have been sold
or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference in this Registration Statement and made a part hereof from their respective dates of
filing (such documents, and the documents enumerated above, being hereinafter referred to as
Incorporated Documents
); provided, however, that the documents enumerated above or
subsequently filed by Discovery pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act
in each year during which the offering made by this Registration Statement is in effect prior to
the filing with the Commission of the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K covering such year shall
not be Incorporated Documents or be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement or be
a part hereof from and after the filing of such Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Any statement contained in this Registration Statement, in an amendment hereto or in an
Incorporated Document shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this
Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed
amendment to this Registration Statement or in any subsequent Incorporated Document modifies or
supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as
so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
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Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (
DGCL
) provides, generally, that
a corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened
to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (except
actions by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation against all expenses (including attorneys
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such
person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in
a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe his or her conduct was unlawful. A corporation may similarly indemnify such person for
expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection
with the defense or settlement of any such action or suit by or in the right of the corporation,
provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be
in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in the case of claims, issues and
matters as to which such person shall have been adjudged liable to the corporation, provided that a
court shall have determined, upon application, that, despite the adjudication of liability but in
view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.
Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL provides, generally, that the certificate of incorporation may
contain a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation
or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that
such provision may not eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the
directors duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not
in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under
section 174 of Title 8 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from
which the director derived an improper personal benefit. No such provision may eliminate or limit
the liability of a director for any act or omission occurring prior to the date when such provision
became effective.
Article V, Section E of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the
Charter
) of
the Company provides as follows:
1.
Limitation On Liability
. To the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL as the same exists or may
hereafter be amended, a director of the Corporation shall not be liable to the Corporation or any
of its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. Any amendment,
repeal or modification of this Article V, Section E.1 shall be prospective only and shall not
adversely affect any limitation, right or protection of a director of the Corporation existing at
the time of such amendment, repeal or modification.
2.
Indemnification
.
a)
Right to Indemnification
. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be
amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise
involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (a
proceeding
) by reason of the fact that he, or a person for whom
he is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation or while
a director or officer of the Corporation is or was serving at the request of the Corporation
as a director, officer, employee, representative or agent of another corporation or of a
partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, enterprise or nonprofit
entity, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and
loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by
such person. Such right of indemnification shall inure whether or not the claim asserted is
based on matters that antedate the adoption of this Article V, Section E. The Corporation
shall be required to indemnify or make advances to a person in connection with a proceeding
(or part thereof) initiated by such person only if the proceeding (or part thereof) was
authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
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b)
Prepayment of Expenses
. The Corporation shall pay the expenses (including
attorneys fees) incurred by a director or officer in defending any proceeding in advance of
its final disposition;
provided
,
however
, that the payment of expenses
incurred by a director or officer in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding
shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the director or officer to repay all
amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the director or officer is not
entitled to be indemnified under this Section or otherwise.
c)
Claims
. If a claim for indemnification or payment of expenses under this Section
is not paid in full within 30 days after a written claim therefor has been received by the
Corporation, the claimant may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, to
the extent permitted by law, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such
claim. In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the claimant
was not entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable
law.
d)
Non-Exclusivity of Rights
. The rights conferred on any person by this Section
shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire
under any statute, provision of this Restated Certificate, the Bylaws, agreement, vote of
stockholders or resolution of disinterested directors or otherwise.
e)
Insurance
.
The Board of Directors may, to the full extent permitted by applicable
law as it presently exists, or may hereafter be amended from time to time, authorize an
appropriate officer or officers to purchase and maintain at the Corporations expense
insurance: (i) to indemnify the Corporation for any obligation which it incurs as a result
of the indemnification of directors and officers under the provisions of this Article V,
Section E; and (ii) to indemnify or insure directors and officers against liability in
instances in which they may not otherwise be indemnified by the Corporation under the
provisions of this Article V, Section E.
f)
Other Indemnification
. The Corporations obligation, if any, to indemnify any
person who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust,
enterprise or nonprofit entity shall be reduced by any amount such person may collect as
indemnification from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability
company, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity.
3.
Amendment or Repeal
. Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing provisions of this
Article V, Section E shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person in
respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment, modification or
repeal.
Item 7. Exemption From Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
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Exhibit No.
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Description
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4.1
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Form of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 2 to Form S-4 on Form S-4/A of the
Company (File No. 333-151586), filed with the Commission on August 1, 2008 (the
Amendment No. 2
)).
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3
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Exhibit No.
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Description
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4.2
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Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration
Statement on Form S-4, of the Company (File No. 333-151586) filed with the
Commission on June 11, 2008 (the
S-4 Registration Statement
)).
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4.3
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Specimen certificate for shares of the Companys Series A common stock, par value
$.01 per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the S-4 Registration
Statement).
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4.4
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Discovery Communications, Inc. 2005 Non-Employee Director Incentive Plan (As
Amended and Restated).
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5.1
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Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered.
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23.1
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Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
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23.2
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Consent of KPMG LLP.
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23.3
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Consent of Baker Botts L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1).
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24.1
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Power of Attorney (included on page 7).
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Item 9. Undertakings.
(a) The Company hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the
registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or
in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration
statement;
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in
the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports
filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration
statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Companys annual report pursuant to
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing
of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), that is incorporated by
reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating
to the securities offered therein and the offering of such securities at the time shall be deemed
to be the initial bona fide offering hereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may
be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company pursuant to the
foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in
the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer or controlling person of the Company in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the
securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has
been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question
whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Company certifies
that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form
S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned
thereunto, duly authorized, in the City of Silver Spring, State of
Maryland, on October 15, 2008.
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DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
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By:
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/s/ Joseph A. LaSala, Jr.
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Name:
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Joseph A. LaSala, Jr.
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Title:
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Senior Executive Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary
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6
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and
appoints Joseph A. LaSala, Jr. and Bradley E. Singer and each of them, his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power of substitution and re-substitution for him and in his
name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign and file any or all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, with all exhibits thereto, and other
documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said
attorneys-in-fact and agents and each of them full power and authority, to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, to all intents and
purposes and as fully as they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
said attorneys-in-fact and agents or their substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration
statement has been signed by the following persons (which persons constitute a majority of the
Board of Directors) in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
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Signature
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Title
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Date
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/s/ John S. Hendricks
John S. Hendricks
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Chairman of the Board and Director
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October 15, 2008
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/s/ David M. Zaslav
David M. Zaslav
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President, Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive
Officer) and Director
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October 15, 2008
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/s/ Bradley E. Singer
Bradley E. Singer
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Senior Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
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October 15, 2008
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/s/ Thomas Colan
Thomas Colan
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Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting
Officer (Principal
Accounting Officer)
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October 15, 2008
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Director
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Director
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/s/ Paul A. Gould
Paul A. Gould
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Director
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October 15, 2008
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/s/ M. LaVoy Robison
M. LaVoy Robison
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Director
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October 15, 2008
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/s/ J. David Wargo
J. David Wargo
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Director
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October 15, 2008
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/s/ Robert R. Beck
Robert R. Beck
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Director
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October 15, 2008
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/s/ Robert J. Miron
Robert J. Miron
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Director
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October 15, 2008
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/s/ Steven A. Miron
Steven A. Miron
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Director
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October 15, 2008
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/s/ Lawrence S. Kramer
Lawrence S. Kramer
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Director
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October 15, 2008
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7
EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit No.
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Description
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4.1
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Form of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 2 to Form S-4 on Form S-4/A of the
Company (File No. 333-151586), filed with the Commission on August 1, 2008 (the
Amendment No. 2
)).
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4.2
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Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Registration
Statement on Form S-4, of the Company (File No. 333-151586) filed with the
Commission on June 11, 2008 (the
S-4 Registration Statement
)).
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4.3
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Specimen certificate for shares of the Companys Series A common stock, par value
$.01 per share (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the S-4 Registration
Statement).
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4.4
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Discovery Communications, Inc. 2005 Non-Employee Director Incentive Plan (As
Amended and Restated).
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5.1
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Opinion of Baker Botts L.L.P. as to the legality of the securities being registered.
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23.1
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Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
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23.2
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Consent of KPMG LLP.
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23.3
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Consent of Baker Botts L.L.P. (included in Exhibit 5.1).
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24.1
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Power of Attorney (included on page 7).
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8
Exhibit 4.4
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
2005 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR INCENTIVE PLAN
(As Amended and Restated)
ARTICLE I
Purpose and Amendment of Plan
1.1
Purpose
. The purpose of the Plan is to provide a method whereby eligible Nonemployee
Directors of the Company may be awarded additional remuneration for services rendered and
encouraged to invest in capital stock of the Company, thereby increasing their proprietary interest
in the Companys businesses and increasing their personal interest in the continued success and
progress of the Company. The Plan is also intended to aid in attracting Persons of exceptional
ability to become Nonemployee Directors of the Company.
1.2
Amendment and Restatement of Plan
. The Plan is hereby amended and restated as of September
17, 2008 by the Board of the Company.
ARTICLE II
Definitions
2.1
Certain Defined Terms
. Capitalized terms not defined elsewhere in the Plan shall have the
following meanings (whether used in the singular or plural):
Affiliate of the Company means any corporation, partnership or other business association
that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is
under common control with the Company.
Agreement means a stock option agreement, stock appreciation rights agreement, restricted
shares agreement, stock units agreement or an agreement evidencing more than one type of Award,
specified in Section 10.5, as any such Agreement may be supplemented or amended from time to time.
Approved Transaction means any transaction in which the Board (or, if approval of the Board
is not required as a matter of law, the stockholders of the Company) shall approve (i) any
consolidation or merger of the Company, or binding share exchange, pursuant to which shares of
Common Stock of the Company would be changed or converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or
other property, other than any such transaction in which the common stockholders of the Company
immediately prior to such transaction have the same proportionate ownership of the Common Stock of,
and voting power with respect to, the surviving corporation immediately after such transaction,
(ii) any merger, consolidation or binding share exchange to which the Company is a party as a
result of which the Persons who are common stockholders of the Company immediately prior thereto
have less than a majority of the combined voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the
Company ordinarily (and apart from the rights accruing under special circumstances) having the
right to vote in the election of directors immediately following such merger, consolidation or
binding share exchange, (iii) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company, or (iv) any sale, lease, exchange or other
transfer (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of all, or substantially all, of
the assets of the Company.
-1-
Award means a grant of Options, SARs, Restricted Shares, Stock Units and/or cash under the
Plan.
Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
Board Change means, during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the
beginning of such period constituted the entire Board cease for any reason to constitute a majority
thereof unless the election, or the nomination for election, of each new director was approved by a
vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the
beginning of the period.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor
statute or statutes thereto. Reference to any specific Code section shall include any successor
section.
Common Stock means each or any (as the context may require) series of the Company
s common
stock.
Company means Discovery Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
Control Purchase means any transaction (or series of related transactions) in which (i) any
person (as such term is defined in Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), corporation
or other entity (other than the Company, any Subsidiary of the Company or any employee benefit plan
sponsored by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company) shall purchase any Common Stock of the
Company (or securities convertible into Common Stock of the Company) for cash, securities or any
other consideration pursuant to a tender offer or exchange offer, without the prior consent of the
Board, or (ii) any person (as such term is so defined), corporation or other entity (other than the
Company, any Subsidiary of the Company, any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company or any Exempt Person (as defined below)) shall become the beneficial
owner (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of
securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of the then
outstanding securities of the Company ordinarily (and apart from the rights accruing under special
circumstances) having the right to vote in the election of directors (calculated as provided in
Rule 13d-3(d) under the Exchange Act in the case of rights to acquire the Companys securities),
other than in a transaction (or series of related transactions) approved by the Board. For purposes
of this definition, Exempt Person means each of (a) the Chairman of the Board, the President and
each of the directors of Discovery Holding Company as of the Distribution Date, and (b) the
respective family members, estates, and heirs of each of the persons referred to in clause (a)
above and any trust or other investment vehicle for the primary benefit of any of such persons or
their respective family members or heirs. As used with respect to any person, the term family
member means the spouse, siblings and lineal descendants of such person.
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Disability means the inability 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 which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
Distribution Date means the date on which the Company ceased to be a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Liberty Media Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
Dividend Equivalents means, with respect to Restricted Shares to be issued at the end of the
Restriction Period, to the extent specified by the Board only, an amount equal to all dividends and
other distributions (or the economic equivalent thereof) which are payable to stockholders of
record during the Restriction Period on a like number and kind of shares of Common Stock.
Domestic Relations Order means a domestic relations order as defined by the Code or Title I
of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or the rules thereunder.
Effective Date means May 3, 2005, the date on which the Plan originally became effective.
Equity Security shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(11) of the
Exchange Act, and an equity security of an issuer shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in Rule
16a-1 promulgated under the Exchange Act, or any successor Rule.
Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any
successor statute or statutes thereto. Reference to any specific Exchange Act section shall include
any successor section.
Fair Market Value of a share of any series of Common Stock on any day means the last sale
price (or, if no last sale price is reported, the average of the high bid and low asked prices) for
a share of such series of Common Stock on such day (or, if such day is not a trading day, on the
next preceding trading day) as reported on the consolidated transaction reporting system for the
principal national securities exchange on which shares of such series of Common Stock are listed on
such day or if such shares are not then listed on a national securities exchange, then as reported
on Nasdaq. If for any day the Fair Market Value of a share of the applicable series of Common Stock
is not determinable by any of the foregoing means, then the Fair Market Value for such day shall be
determined in good faith by the Board on the basis of such quotations and other considerations as
the Board deems appropriate.
Free Standing SAR has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 7.1.
Holder means a person who has received an Award under the Plan.
Nasdaq means The NASDAQ Stock Market.
Nonemployee Director means an individual who is a member of the Board and who is not an
employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.
Nonqualified Stock Option means a stock option granted under Article VI.
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Option means a Nonqualified Stock Option.
Person means an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust,
incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity of any kind.
Plan means this Discovery Communications, Inc. 2005 Non-Employee Director Incentive Plan.
Restricted Shares means shares of any series of Common Stock or the right to receive shares
of any specified series of Common Stock, as the case may be, awarded pursuant to Article VIII.
Restriction Period means a period of time beginning on the date of each Award of Restricted
Shares and ending on the Vesting Date with respect to such Award.
Retained Distribution has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 8.3.
SARs means stock appreciation rights, awarded pursuant to Article VII, with respect to
shares of any specified series of Common Stock.
Stock Unit Awards has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 9.1.
Subsidiary of a Person means any present or future subsidiary (as defined in Section 424(f)
of the Code) of such Person or any business entity in which such Person owns, directly or
indirectly, 50% or more of the voting, capital or profits interests. An entity shall be deemed a
subsidiary of a Person for purposes of this definition only for such periods as the requisite
ownership or control relationship is maintained.
Tandem SARs has the meaning ascribed thereto in Section 7.1.
Vesting Date, with respect to any Restricted Shares awarded hereunder, means the date on
which such Restricted Shares cease to be subject to a risk of forfeiture, as designated in or
determined in accordance with the Agreement with respect to such Award of Restricted Shares
pursuant to Article VIII. If more than one Vesting Date is designated for an Award of Restricted
Shares, reference in the Plan to a Vesting Date in respect of such Award shall be deemed to refer
to each part of such Award and the Vesting Date for such part.
ARTICLE III
Administration
3.1
Administration
. The Plan shall be administered by the Board, provided that it may delegate
to employees of the Company certain administrative or ministerial duties in carrying out the
purposes of the Plan.
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3.2
Powers
. The Board shall have full power and authority to grant to eligible persons Options
under Article VI of the Plan, SARs under Article VII of the Plan, Restricted Shares under Article
VIII of the Plan and/or Stock Units under Article IX of the Plan, to determine the terms and
conditions (which need not be identical) of all Awards so granted, to interpret the provisions of
the Plan and any Agreements relating to Awards granted under the Plan and to supervise the
administration of the Plan. The Board in making an Award may provide for the granting or issuance
of additional, replacement or alternative Awards upon the occurrence of specified events, including
the exercise of the original Award. The Board shall have sole authority in the selection of persons
to whom Awards may be granted under the Plan and in the determination of the timing, pricing, and
amount of any such Award, subject only to the express provisions of the Plan. In making
determinations hereunder, the Board may take into account such factors as the Board in its
discretion deems relevant.
3.3
Interpretation
. The Board is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Plan, to
establish, amend and rescind such rules and regulations as it deems necessary or advisable for the
proper administration of the Plan and to take such other action in connection with or in relation
to the Plan as it deems necessary or advisable. Each action and determination made or taken
pursuant to the Plan by the Board, including any interpretation or construction of the Plan, shall
be final and conclusive for all purposes and upon all persons. No member of the Board shall be
liable for any action or determination made or taken by him or the Board in good faith with respect
to the Plan.
ARTICLE IV
Shares Subject to the Plan
4.1
Number of Shares
. Subject to the provisions of this Article IV, the maximum number of
shares of Common Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted during the term of the Plan
shall be 5 million shares. Shares of Common Stock will be made available from the authorized but
unissued shares of the Company or from shares reacquired by the Company, including shares purchased
in the open market. The shares of Common Stock subject to (a) any Award granted under the Plan that
shall expire, terminate or be annulled for any reason without having been exercised (or considered
to have been exercised as provided in Section 7.2), (b) any Award of any SARs granted under the
Plan that shall be exercised for cash, and (c) any Award of Restricted Shares or Stock Units that
shall be forfeited prior to becoming vested (provided that the Holder received no benefits of
ownership of such Restricted Shares or Stock Units other than voting rights and the accumulation of
Retained Distributions and unpaid Dividend Equivalents that are likewise forfeited) shall again be
available for purposes of the Plan.
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4.2
Adjustments
. If the Company subdivides its outstanding shares of any series of Common
Stock into a greater number of shares of such series of Common Stock (by stock dividend, stock
split, reclassification, or otherwise) or combines its outstanding shares of any series of Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares of such series of Common Stock (by reverse stock split,
reclassification, or otherwise) or if the Board determines that any stock dividend, extraordinary
cash dividend, reclassification, recapitalization, reorganization, split-up, spin-off, combination,
exchange of shares, warrants or rights offering to purchase such series of Common Stock or other
similar corporate event (including mergers or consolidations other than those which
constitute Approved Transactions, adjustments with respect to which shall be governed by Section
10.1(b)) affects any series of Common Stock so that an adjustment is required to preserve the
benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Board, in
such manner as the Board, in its sole discretion, deems equitable and appropriate, shall make such
adjustments to any or all of (a) the number and kind of shares of stock which thereafter may be
awarded, optioned, or otherwise made subject to the benefits contemplated by the Plan, (b) the
number and kind of shares of stock subject to outstanding Awards, and (c) the purchase or exercise
price and the relevant appreciation base with respect to any of the foregoing,
provided, however,
that the number of shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole number. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if all shares of any series of Common Stock are redeemed, then each outstanding Award
shall be adjusted to substitute for the shares of such series of Common Stock subject thereto the
kind and amount of cash, securities or other assets issued or paid in the redemption of the
equivalent number of shares of such series of Common Stock and otherwise the terms of such Award,
including, in the case of Options or similar rights, the aggregate exercise price, and, in the case
of Free Standing SARs, the aggregate base price, shall remain constant before and after the
substitution (unless otherwise determined by the Board and provided in the applicable Agreement).
The Board may, if deemed appropriate, provide for a cash payment to any Holder of an Award in
connection with any adjustment made pursuant to this Section 4.2.
ARTICLE V
Eligibility
5.1
General
. The persons who shall be eligible to participate in the Plan and to receive
Awards under the Plan shall, subject to Section 5.2, be such persons who are Nonemployee Directors
as the Board shall select. Awards may be made to Nonemployee Directors who hold or have held Awards
under the Plan or any similar or other awards under any other plan of the Company or any of its
Affiliates.
5.2
Ineligibility
. No person who is not a Nonemployee Director shall be eligible to receive an
Award.
ARTICLE VI
Stock Options
6.1
Grant of Options
. Subject to the limitations of the Plan, the Board shall designate from
time to time those eligible persons to be granted Options, the time when each Option shall be
granted to such eligible persons, the series and number of shares of Common Stock subject to such
Option, and, subject to Section 6.2, the purchase price of the shares of Common Stock subject to
such Option.
6.2
Option Price.
The price at which shares may be purchased upon exercise of an Option shall
be fixed by the Board and may be no less than the Fair Market Value of the shares of the applicable
series of Common Stock subject to the Option as of the date the Option is granted.
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6.3
Term of Options.
Subject to the provisions of the Plan with respect to death, retirement
and termination of service, the term of each Option shall be for such period as the Board shall
determine as set forth in the applicable Agreement.
6.4
Exercise of Options
. An Option granted under the Plan shall become (and remain)
exercisable during the term of the Option to the extent provided in the applicable Agreement and
the Plan and, unless the Agreement otherwise provides, may be exercised to the extent exercisable,
in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time during such term;
provided, however,
that
subsequent to the grant of an Option, the Board, at any time before complete termination of such
Option, may accelerate the time or times at which such Option may be exercised in whole or in part
(without reducing the term of such Option).
6.5
Manner of Exercise
.
(a)
Form of Payment.
An Option shall be exercised by written notice to the Company upon such
terms and conditions as the Agreement may provide and in accordance with such other procedures for
the exercise of Options as the Board may establish from time to time. The method or methods of
payment of the purchase price for the shares to be purchased upon exercise of an Option and of any
amounts required by Section 10.9 shall be determined by the Board and may consist of (i) cash, (ii)
check, (iii) whole shares of any series of Common Stock, (iv) the withholding of shares of the
applicable series of Common Stock issuable upon such exercise of the Option, (v) the delivery,
together with a properly executed exercise notice, of irrevocable instructions to a broker to
deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds required to pay the purchase
price, or (vi) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment, or such other consideration and
method of payment as may be permitted for the issuance of shares under the Delaware General
Corporation Law. The permitted method or methods of payment of the amounts payable upon exercise of
an Option, if other than in cash, shall be set forth in the applicable Agreement and may be subject
to such conditions as the Board deems appropriate.
(b)
Value of Shares
. Unless otherwise determined by the Board and provided in the applicable
Agreement, shares of any series of Common Stock delivered in payment of all or any part of the
amounts payable in connection with the exercise of an Option, and shares of any series of Common
Stock withheld for such payment, shall be valued for such purpose at their Fair Market Value as of
the exercise date.
(c)
Issuance of Shares
. The Company shall effect the transfer of the shares of Common Stock
purchased under the Option as soon as practicable after the exercise thereof and payment in full of
the purchase price therefor and of any amounts required by Section 10.9, and within a reasonable
time thereafter, such transfer shall be evidenced on the books of the Company. Unless otherwise
determined by the Board and provided in the applicable Agreement, (i) no Holder or other person
exercising an Option shall have any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company with respect to
shares of Common Stock subject to an Option granted under the Plan until due exercise and full
payment has been made, and (ii) no adjustment shall be made for cash dividends or other rights for
which the record date is prior to the date of such due exercise and full payment.
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6.6
Nontransferability
. Unless otherwise determined by the Board and provided in the
applicable Agreement, Options shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent
and distribution or pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order, and, except as otherwise required
pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order, Options may be exercised during the lifetime of the Holder
thereof only by such Holder (or his or her court-appointed legal representative).
ARTICLE VII
SARs
7.1
Grant of SARs
. Subject to the limitations of the Plan, SARs may be granted by the Board to
such eligible persons in such numbers, with respect to any specified series of Common Stock, and at
such times during the term of the Plan as the Board shall determine. A SAR may be granted to a
Holder of an Option (hereinafter called a related Option) with respect to all or a portion of the
shares of Common Stock subject to the related Option (a Tandem SAR) or may be granted separately
to an eligible Nonemployee Director (a Free Standing SAR). Subject to the limitations of the
Plan, SARs shall be exercisable in whole or in part upon notice to the Company upon such terms and
conditions as are provided in the Agreement.
7.2
Tandem SARs.
A Tandem SAR may be granted either concurrently with the grant of the related
Option or at any time thereafter prior to the complete exercise, termination, expiration or
cancellation of such related Option. Tandem SARs shall be exercisable only at the time and to the
extent that the related Option is exercisable (and may be subject to such additional limitations on
exercisability as the Agreement may provide) and in no event after the complete termination or full
exercise of the related Option. Upon the exercise or termination of the related Option, the Tandem
SARs with respect thereto shall be canceled automatically to the extent of the number of shares of
Common Stock with respect to which the related Option was so exercised or terminated. Subject to
the limitations of the Plan, upon the exercise of a Tandem SAR and unless otherwise determined by
the Board and provided in the applicable Agreement, (a) the Holder thereof shall be entitled to
receive from the Company, for each share of the applicable series of Common Stock with respect to
which the Tandem SAR is being exercised, consideration (in the form determined as provided in
Section 7.4) equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a share of the applicable
series of Common Stock with respect to which the Tandem SAR was granted on the date of exercise
over the related Option purchase price per share, and (b) the related Option with respect thereto
shall be canceled automatically to the extent of the number of shares of Common Stock with respect
to which the Tandem SAR was so exercised.
7.3
Free Standing SARs
. Free Standing SARs shall be exercisable at the time, to the extent and
upon the terms and conditions set forth in the applicable Agreement. The base price of a Free
Standing SAR may be no less than the Fair Market Value of the applicable series of Common Stock
with respect to which the Free Standing SAR was granted as of the date the Free Standing SAR is
granted. Subject to the limitations of the Plan, upon the exercise of a Free Standing SAR and
unless otherwise determined by the Board and provided in the applicable Agreement, the Holder
thereof shall be entitled to receive from the Company, for each share of the applicable series of
Common Stock with respect to which the Free Standing SAR is being exercised, consideration (in the
form determined as provided in Section 7.4) equal in value to the excess of
the Fair Market Value of a share of the applicable series of Common Stock with respect to which the
Free Standing SAR was granted on the date of exercise over the base price per share of such Free
Standing SAR.
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7.4
Consideration
. The consideration to be received upon the exercise of a SAR by the Holder
shall be paid in the applicable series of Common Stock with respect to which the SAR was granted
(valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of such SAR). No fractional shares of Common
Stock shall be issuable upon exercise of a SAR, and unless otherwise provided in the applicable
Agreement, the Holder will receive cash in lieu of fractional shares. Unless the Board shall
otherwise determine, to the extent a Free Standing SAR is exercisable, it will be exercised
automatically on its expiration date.
7.5
Limitations
. The applicable Agreement may provide for a limit on the amount payable to a
Holder upon exercise of SARs at any time or in the aggregate, for a limit on the time periods
during which a Holder may exercise SARs, and for such other limits on the rights of the Holder and
such other terms and conditions of the SAR, including a condition that the SAR may be exercised
only in accordance with rules and regulations adopted from time to time, as the Board may
determine. Unless otherwise so provided in the applicable Agreement, any such limit relating to a
Tandem SAR shall not restrict the exercisability of the related Option. Such rules and regulations
may govern the right to exercise SARs granted prior to the adoption or amendment of such rules and
regulations as well as SARs granted thereafter.
7.6
Exercise
. For purposes of this Article VII, the date of exercise of a SAR shall mean the
date on which the Company shall have received notice from the Holder of the SAR of the exercise of
such SAR (unless otherwise determined by the Board and provided in the applicable Agreement).
7.7
Nontransferability
. Unless otherwise determined by the Board and provided in the
applicable Agreement, (a) SARs shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent
and distribution or pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order, and (b) except as otherwise required
pursuant to a Domestic Relations Order, SARs may be exercised during the lifetime of the Holder
thereof only by such Holder (or his or her court-appointed legal representative).
ARTICLE VIII
Restricted Shares
8.1
Grant
. Subject to the limitations of the Plan, the Board shall designate those eligible
persons to be granted Awards of Restricted Shares, shall determine the time when each such Award
shall be granted, shall determine whether shares of Common Stock covered by Awards of Restricted
Shares will be issued at the beginning or the end of the Restriction Period and whether Dividend
Equivalents will be paid during the Restriction Period in the event shares of the applicable series
of Common Stock are to be issued at the end of the Restriction Period, and shall designate (or set
forth the basis for determining) the Vesting Date or Vesting Dates for each Award of Restricted
Shares, and may prescribe other restrictions, terms and conditions applicable to the vesting of
such Restricted Shares in addition to those provided in the Plan. The Board shall determine the
price, if any, to be paid by the Holder for the Restricted Shares;
provided, however,
that the issuance of Restricted Shares shall be made for at least the minimum
consideration necessary to permit such Restricted Shares to be deemed fully paid and nonassessable.
All determinations made by the Board pursuant to this Section 8.1 shall be specified in the
Agreement.
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8.2
Issuance of Restricted Shares at Beginning of the Restriction Period
. If shares of the
applicable series of Common Stock are issued at the beginning of the Restriction Period, the stock
certificate or certificates representing such Restricted Shares shall be registered in the name of
the Holder to whom such Restricted Shares shall have been awarded. During the Restriction Period,
certificates representing the Restricted Shares and any securities constituting Retained
Distributions shall bear a restrictive legend to the effect that ownership of the Restricted Shares
(and such Retained Distributions), and the enjoyment of all rights appurtenant thereto, are subject
to the restrictions, terms and conditions provided in the Plan and the applicable Agreement. Such
certificates shall remain in the custody of the Company or its designee, and the Holder shall
deposit with the custodian stock powers or other instruments of assignment, each endorsed in blank,
so as to permit retransfer to the Company of all or any portion of the Restricted Shares and any
securities constituting Retained Distributions that shall be forfeited or otherwise not become
vested in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Agreement.
8.3
Restrictions
. Restricted Shares issued at the beginning of the Restriction Period shall
constitute issued and outstanding shares of the applicable series of Common Stock for all corporate
purposes. The Holder will have the right to vote such Restricted Shares, to receive and retain such
dividends and distributions, as the Board may designate, paid or distributed on such Restricted
Shares, and to exercise all other rights, powers and privileges of a Holder of shares of the
applicable series of Common Stock with respect to such Restricted Shares;
except, that
, unless
otherwise determined by the Board and provided in the applicable Agreement, (a) the Holder will not
be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate or certificates representing such Restricted
Shares until the Restriction Period shall have expired and unless all other vesting requirements
with respect thereto shall have been fulfilled or waived; (b) the Company or its designee will
retain custody of the stock certificate or certificates representing the Restricted Shares during
the Restriction Period as provided in Section 8.2; (c) other than such dividends and distributions
as the Board may designate, the Company or its designee will retain custody of all distributions
(Retained Distributions) made or declared with respect to the Restricted Shares (and such
Retained Distributions will be subject to the same restrictions, terms and vesting, and other
conditions as are applicable to the Restricted Shares) until such time, if ever, as the Restricted
Shares with respect to which such Retained Distributions shall have been made, paid or declared
shall have become vested, and such Retained Distributions shall not bear interest or be segregated
in a separate account; (d) the Holder may not sell, assign, transfer, pledge, exchange, encumber or
dispose of the Restricted Shares or any Retained Distributions or his interest in any of them
during the Restriction Period; and (e) a breach of any restrictions, terms or conditions provided
in the Plan or established by the Board with respect to any Restricted Shares or Retained
Distributions will cause a forfeiture of such Restricted Shares and any Retained Distributions with
respect thereto.
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8.4
Issuance of Stock at End of the Restriction Period
. Restricted Shares issued at the end of
the Restriction Period shall not constitute issued and outstanding shares of the applicable series
of Common Stock, and the Holder shall not have any of the rights of a stockholder with respect to
the shares of Common Stock covered by such an Award of Restricted Shares, in each case until such
shares shall have been transferred to the Holder at the end of the Restriction Period. If and to
the extent that shares of Common Stock are to be issued at the end of the Restriction Period, the
Holder shall be entitled to receive Dividend Equivalents with respect to the shares of Common Stock
covered thereby either (a) during the Restriction Period or (b) in accordance with the rules
applicable to Retained Distributions, as the Board may specify in the Agreement.
8.5
Cash Payments
. In connection with any Award of Restricted Shares, an Agreement may provide
for the payment of a cash amount to the Holder of such Restricted Shares after such Restricted
Shares shall have become vested. Such cash amounts shall be payable in accordance with such
additional restrictions, terms and conditions as shall be prescribed by the Board in the Agreement
and shall be in addition to any other compensation payments which such Holder shall be otherwise
entitled or eligible to receive from the Company.
8.6
Completion of Restriction Period
. On the Vesting Date with respect to each Award of
Restricted Shares and the satisfaction of any other applicable restrictions, terms and conditions,
(a) all or the applicable portion of such Restricted Shares shall become vested, (b) any Retained
Distributions and any unpaid Dividend Equivalents with respect to such Restricted Shares shall
become vested to the extent that the Restricted Shares related thereto shall have become vested,
and (c) any cash amount to be received by the Holder with respect to such Restricted Shares shall
become payable, all in accordance with the terms of the applicable Agreement. Any such Restricted
Shares, Retained Distributions and any unpaid Dividend Equivalents that shall not become vested
shall be forfeited to the Company, and the Holder shall not thereafter have any rights (including
dividend and voting rights) with respect to such Restricted Shares, Retained Distributions and any
unpaid Dividend Equivalents that shall have been so forfeited. The Board may, in its discretion,
provide that the delivery of any Restricted Shares, Retained Distributions and unpaid Dividend
Equivalents that shall have become vested, and payment of any cash amounts that shall have become
payable, shall be deferred until such date or dates as the recipient may elect. Any election of a
recipient pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be filed in writing with the Board in accordance
with such rules and regulations, including any deadline for the making of such an election, as the
Board may provide, and shall be made in compliance with Section 409A of the Code.
ARTICLE IX
Stock Units
9.1
Grant
. In addition to granting Awards of Options, SARs and Restricted Shares, the Board
shall, subject to the limitations of the Plan, have authority to grant to eligible persons Awards
of Stock Units which may be in the form of shares of any specified series of Common Stock or units,
the value of which is based, in whole or in part, on the Fair Market Value of the shares of any
specified series of Common Stock. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, including any rules
established pursuant to Section 9.2, Awards of Stock Units shall be subject to such terms,
restrictions, conditions, vesting requirements and payment rules as the Board may determine in
its discretion, which need not be identical for each Award. The determinations made by the Board
pursuant to this Section 9.1 shall be specified in the applicable Agreement.
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9.2
Rules
. The Board may, in its discretion, establish any or all of the following rules for
application to an Award of Stock Units:
(a) Any shares of Common Stock which are part of an Award of Stock Units may not be assigned,
sold, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered prior to the date on which the shares are issued
or, if later, the date provided by the Board at the time of the Award.
(b) Such Awards may provide for the payment of cash consideration by the person to whom such
Award is granted or provide that the Award, and any shares of Common Stock to be issued in
connection therewith, if applicable, shall be delivered without the payment of cash consideration;
provided, however,
that the issuance of any shares of Common Stock in connection with an Award of
Stock Units shall be for at least the minimum consideration necessary to permit such shares to be
deemed fully paid and nonassessable.
(c) Awards of Stock Units may relate in whole or in part to performance or other criteria
established by the Board at the time of grant.
(d) Awards of Stock Units may provide for deferred payment schedules, vesting over a specified
period of service, the payment (on a current or deferred basis) of dividend equivalent amounts with
respect to the number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Award, and elections by the Holder
to defer payment of the Award or the lifting of restrictions on the Award, if any, provided that
any such deferrals shall comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code.
(e) In such circumstances as the Board may deem advisable, the Board may waive or otherwise
remove, in whole or in part, any restrictions or limitations to which a Stock Unit Award was made
subject at the time of grant.
ARTICLE X
General Provisions
10.1
Acceleration of Awards.
(a)
Death or Disability
. If a Holders service shall terminate by reason of death or
Disability, notwithstanding any contrary waiting period, installment period, vesting schedule or
Restriction Period in any Agreement or in the Plan, unless the applicable Agreement provides
otherwise: (i) in the case of an Option or SAR, each outstanding Option or SAR granted under the
Plan shall immediately become exercisable in full in respect of the aggregate number of shares
covered thereby; (ii) in the case of Restricted Shares, the Restriction Period applicable to each
such Award of Restricted Shares shall be deemed to have expired and all such Restricted Shares, any
related Retained Distributions and any unpaid Dividend Equivalents shall become vested and any
related cash amounts payable pursuant to the applicable Agreement shall be adjusted in such
manner as may be provided in the Agreement; and (iii) in the case of Stock Units, each such Award
of Stock Units shall become vested in full.
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(b)
Approved Transactions; Board Change; Control Purchase
. In the event of any Approved
Transaction, Board Change or Control Purchase, notwithstanding any contrary waiting period,
installment period, vesting schedule or Restriction Period in any Agreement or in the Plan, unless
the applicable Agreement provides otherwise: (i) in the case of an Option or SAR, each such
outstanding Option or SAR granted under the Plan shall become exercisable in full in respect of the
aggregate number of shares covered thereby; (ii) in the case of Restricted Shares, the Restriction
Period applicable to each such Award of Restricted Shares shall be deemed to have expired and all
such Restricted Shares, any related Retained Distributions and any unpaid Dividend Equivalents
shall become vested and any related cash amounts payable pursuant to the applicable Agreement shall
be adjusted in such manner as may be provided in the Agreement; and (iii) in the case of Stock
Units, each such Award of Stock Units shall become vested in full, in each case effective upon the
Board Change or Control Purchase or immediately prior to consummation of the Approved Transaction.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Agreement, the Board
may, in its discretion, determine that any or all outstanding Awards of any or all types granted
pursuant to the Plan will not vest or become exercisable on an accelerated basis in connection with
an Approved Transaction if effective provision has been made for the taking of such action which,
in the opinion of the Board, is equitable and appropriate to substitute a new Award for such Award
or to assume such Award and to make such new or assumed Award, as nearly as may be practicable,
equivalent to the old Award (before giving effect to any acceleration of the vesting or
exercisability thereof), taking into account, to the extent applicable, the kind and amount of
securities, cash or other assets into or for which the applicable series of Common Stock may be
changed, converted or exchanged in connection with the Approved Transaction.
10.2
Termination of Service
.
(a)
General
. If a Holders service shall terminate prior to an Option or SAR becoming
exercisable or being exercised (or deemed exercised, as provided in Section 7.2) in full, or during
the Restriction Period with respect to any Restricted Shares or prior to the vesting or complete
exercise of any Stock Units, then such Option or SAR shall thereafter become or be exercisable,
such Stock Units to the extent vested shall thereafter be exercisable, and the Holders rights to
any unvested Restricted Shares, Retained Distributions, unpaid Dividend Equivalents and related
cash amounts, and any such unvested Stock Units shall thereafter vest, in each case solely to the
extent provided in the applicable Agreement;
provided, however,
that, unless otherwise determined
by the Board and provided in the applicable Agreement, (i) no Option or SAR may be exercised after
the scheduled expiration date thereof; (ii) if the Holders service terminates by reason of death
or Disability, the Option or SAR shall remain exercisable for a period of at least one year
following such termination (but not later than the scheduled expiration of such Option or SAR); and
(iii) any termination of the Holder
s service for cause will be treated in accordance with the
provisions of Section 10.2(b).
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(b)
Termination for Cause
. If a Holders service on the Board shall be terminated by the
Company for cause during the Restriction Period with respect to any Restricted Shares, or
prior to any Option or SAR becoming exercisable or being exercised in full or prior to the vesting
or complete exercise of any Stock Unit (for these purposes, cause shall include dishonesty,
incompetence, moral turpitude, other misconduct of any kind and the refusal to perform his duties
and responsibilities for any reason other than illness or incapacity;
provided, however,
that if
such termination occurs within 12 months after an Approved Transaction or Control Purchase or Board
Change, termination for cause shall mean only a felony conviction for fraud, misappropriation or
embezzlement), then, unless otherwise determined by the Board and provided in the applicable
Agreement, (i) all Options and SARs and all unvested or unexercised Stock Units held by such Holder
shall immediately terminate, and (ii) such Holders rights to all Restricted Shares, Retained
Distributions, any unpaid Dividend Equivalents and any related cash amounts shall be forfeited
immediately.
10.3
Nonalienation of Benefits
. Except as set forth herein, no right or benefit under the Plan
shall be subject to anticipation, alienation, sale, assignment, hypothecation, pledge, exchange,
transfer, encumbrance or charge, and any attempt to anticipate, alienate, sell, assign,
hypothecate, pledge, exchange, transfer, encumber or charge the same shall be void. No right or
benefit hereunder shall in any manner be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities
or torts of the person entitled to such benefits.
10.4
Written Agreement
. Each Award of Options shall be evidenced by a stock option agreement;
each Award of SARs shall be evidenced by a stock appreciation rights agreement; each Award of
Restricted Shares shall be evidenced by a restricted shares agreement; and each Award of Stock
Units shall be evidenced by a stock units agreement, each in such form and containing such terms
and provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan as the Board from time to time
shall approve;
provided
,
however
, that if more than one type of Award is made to the same Holder,
such Awards may be evidenced by a single Agreement with such Holder. Each grantee of an Option,
SAR, Restricted Shares or Stock Units shall be notified promptly of such grant, and a written
Agreement shall be promptly executed and delivered by the Company. Any such Agreement may be
supplemented or amended from time to time as approved by the Board as contemplated by Section
10.6(b).
10.5
Designation of Beneficiaries
. Each person who shall be granted an Award under the Plan
may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries and may change such designation from time to time by
filing a written designation of beneficiary or beneficiaries with the Board on a form to be
prescribed by it, provided that no such designation shall be effective unless so filed prior to the
death of such person.
10.6
Termination and Amendment
.
(a)
General
. Unless the Plan shall theretofore have been terminated as hereinafter provided,
no Awards may be made under the Plan on or after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. The
Plan may be terminated at any time prior to the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date and may,
from time to time, be suspended or discontinued or modified or amended if such action is deemed
advisable by the Board.
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(b)
Modification
. No termination, modification or amendment of the Plan may, without the
consent of the person to whom any Award shall theretofore have been granted, adversely affect the
rights of such person with respect to such Award, except as otherwise permitted by Section 10.17.
No modification, extension, renewal or other change in any Award granted under the Plan shall be
made after the grant of such Award, unless the same is consistent with the provisions of the Plan.
With the consent of the Holder, or as otherwise permitted under Section 10.17, and subject to the
terms and conditions of the Plan (including Section 10.6(a)), the Board may amend outstanding
Agreements with any Holder, including any amendment which would (i) accelerate the time or times at
which the Award may be exercised and/or (ii) extend the scheduled expiration date of the Award.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board may, but solely with the Holders
consent unless otherwise provided in the Agreement, agree to cancel any Award under the Plan and
grant a new Award in substitution therefor, provided that the Award so substituted shall satisfy
all of the requirements of the Plan as of the date such new Award is made. Nothing contained in the
foregoing provisions of this Section 10.6(b) shall be construed to prevent the Board from providing
in any Agreement that the rights of the Holder with respect to the Award evidenced thereby shall be
subject to such rules and regulations as the Board may, subject to the express provisions of the
Plan, adopt from time to time or impair the enforceability of any such provision.
10.7
Government and Other Regulations
. The obligation of the Company with respect to Awards
shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations and such approvals by any
governmental agencies as may be required, including the effectiveness of any registration statement
required under the Securities Act of 1933, and the rules and regulations of any securities exchange
or association on which the Common Stock may be listed or quoted. For so long as any series of
Common Stock are registered under the Exchange Act, the Company shall use its reasonable efforts to
comply with any legal requirements (a) to maintain a registration statement in effect under the
Securities Act of 1933 with respect to all shares of the applicable series of Common Stock that may
be issued to Holders under the Plan and (b) to file in a timely manner all reports required to be
filed by it under the Exchange Act.
10.8
Withholding
. The Companys obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock or pay cash in
respect of any Award under the Plan shall be subject to applicable federal, state and local tax
withholding requirements. Federal, state and local withholding tax due at the time of an Award,
upon the exercise of any Option or SAR or upon the vesting of, or expiration of restrictions with
respect to, Restricted Shares or Stock Units, as appropriate, may, in the discretion of the Board,
be paid in shares of the applicable series of Common Stock already owned by the Holder or through
the withholding of shares otherwise issuable to such Holder, upon such terms and conditions
(including the conditions referenced in Section 6.5) as the Board shall determine. If the Holder
shall fail to pay, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Board for the payment to the Company
of, all such federal, state and local taxes required to be withheld by the Company, then the
Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct from any payment of any
kind otherwise due to such Holder an amount equal to any federal, state or local taxes of any kind
required to be withheld by the Company with respect to such Award.
10.9
Nonexclusivity of the Plan
. The adoption of the Plan by the Board shall not be construed
as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements
as it may deem desirable, including the granting of stock options and the awarding of stock and
cash otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or
applicable only in specific cases.
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10.10
Exclusion from Other Plans
. By acceptance of an Award, unless otherwise provided in the
applicable Agreement, each Holder shall be deemed to have agreed that such Award is special
incentive compensation that will not be taken into account, in any manner, as compensation or bonus
in determining the amount of any payment under any pension, retirement or other benefit plan,
program or policy of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. In addition, each beneficiary of
a deceased Holder shall be deemed to have agreed that such Award will not affect the amount of any
life insurance coverage, if any, provided by the Company on the life of the Holder which is payable
to such beneficiary under any life insurance plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.
10.11
Unfunded Plan
. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company shall be required
to segregate any cash or any shares of Common Stock which may at any time be represented by Awards,
and the Plan shall constitute an unfunded plan of the Company. Except as provided in Article VIII
with respect to Awards of Restricted Shares and except as expressly set forth in an Agreement, no
Holder shall have voting or other rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock covered by an
Award prior to the delivery of such shares. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company
shall, by any provisions of the Plan, be deemed to be a trustee of any shares of Common Stock or
any other property, and the liabilities of the Company to any Holder pursuant to the Plan shall be
those of a debtor pursuant to such contract obligations as are created by or pursuant to the Plan,
and the rights of any Holder under the Plan shall be limited to those of a general creditor of the
Company. In its sole discretion, the Board may authorize the creation of trusts or other
arrangements to meet the obligations of the Company under the Plan,
provided, however
, that the
existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the unfunded status of the Plan.
10.12
Governing Law
. The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws
of the State of Delaware.
10.13
Accounts
. The delivery of any shares of Common Stock and the payment of any amount in
respect of an Award shall be for the account of the Company or the applicable Subsidiary of the
Company, as the case may be, and any such delivery or payment shall not be made until the recipient
shall have paid or made satisfactory arrangements for the payment of any applicable withholding
taxes as provided in Section 10.8.
10.14
Legends
. Each certificate evidencing shares of Common Stock subject to an Award shall
bear such legends as the Board deems necessary or appropriate to reflect or refer to any terms,
conditions or restrictions of the Award applicable to such shares, including any to the effect that
the shares represented thereby may not be disposed of unless the Company has received an opinion of
counsel, acceptable to the Company, that such disposition will not violate any federal or state
securities laws.
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10.15
Companys Rights
. The grant of Awards pursuant to the Plan shall not affect in any way
the right or power of the Company to make reclassifications, reorganizations or other changes of or
to its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, liquidate, sell or otherwise dispose
of all or any part of its business or assets.
10.16
Interpretation
. The words include, includes, included and including to the
extent used in the Plan shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words without
limitation.
10.17
Section 409A.
Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, if any Plan
provision or Award under the Plan would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Code
Section 409A and related regulations and United States Department of the Treasury pronouncements
(Section 409A), that Plan provision or Award will be reformed to avoid imposition of the
applicable tax and no action taken to comply with Section 409A shall be deemed to adversely affect
the Holders rights to an Award or require the consent of the Holder.
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