UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
January 4, 2008
(January 1, 2008)

Date of Report
(Date of earliest event reported)
AUTOZONE, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
         
Nevada   1-10714   62-1482048
(State or other jurisdiction of   (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)        
123 South Front Street
Memphis, Tennessee 38103

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(901) 495-6500
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o   Precommencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o   Precommencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 


 

Item 1.01 . Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement .
     Effective January 1, 2008, the Board of Directors of AutoZone, Inc. (“AutoZone”) amended AutoZone’s director compensation structure and, in connection therewith, amended and restated the AutoZone, Inc. 2003 Director Compensation Plan (the “Director Compensation Plan”) and the AutoZone, Inc. 2003 Director Stock Option Plan (the “Director Stock Option Plan”).
     Effective January 1, 2008, non-employee directors can choose each year between two compensation options. A director electing the first option will receive the same retainer fee as has previously been paid, i.e., an annual base retainer of $40,000 (the “Base Retainer”). A director electing the second option will receive, in addition to the Base Retainer, an annual supplemental retainer in the amount of $35,000 (the “Supplemental Retainer”), but will receive a smaller annual stock option award under the Director Stock Option Plan.
     The Base Retainer and the Supplemental Retainer, if applicable, plus any chairman fees are paid through the Director Compensation Plan, so that at least one-half of these fees are paid in common stock, and the director may elect to receive up to 100% of the fees in stock or to defer all or part of the fees in units with value equivalent to the value of shares of AutoZone common stock (“Stock Units”).
     The Director Stock Option Plan was amended so that directors who elect to be paid only the Base Retainer receive, on January 1 during their first two years of service as a director, an option to purchase 3,000 shares of AutoZone common stock. After the first two years, such directors will receive, on January 1 of each year, an option to purchase 1,500 shares of common stock, and each such director who owns common stock or Stock Units worth at least five times the Base Retainer will receive an additional option to purchase 1,500 shares. Directors electing to be paid the Supplemental Retainer will receive, on January 1 during their first two years of service as a director, an option to purchase 2,000 shares of AutoZone common stock. After the first two years, such directors will receive, on January 1 of each year, an option to purchase 500 shares of common stock, and each such director who owns common stock or Stock Units worth at least five times the Base Retainer will receive an additional option to purchase 1,500 shares.
     The changes in the grants during a director’s first two years of service will not apply to any director who was a member of the Board as of June 6, 2007.
     The AutoZone, Inc. Director Compensation Program, the AutoZone, Inc. Amended and Restated 2003 Director Compensation Plan, and the AutoZone, Inc. Amended and Restated 2003 Director Stock Option Plan are filed as exhibits to this current report on Form 8-K and are incorporated into this Item 1.01 by reference.

 


 

Item 9.01 . Financial Statements and Exhibits
The following exhibits are furnished with this Current Report:
(d) Exhibits
         
  99.1    
AutoZone, Inc. Director Compensation Program
       
 
  99.2    
AutoZone, Inc. Amended and Restated 2003 Director Compensation Plan
       
 
  99.3    
AutoZone, Inc. Amended and Restated 2003 Director Stock Option Plan

 


 

SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
         
  AUTOZONE, INC.
 
 
  By:   /s/ Harry L. Goldsmith    
    Harry L. Goldsmith   
    Executive Vice President, General
Counsel and Secretary 
 
 
Dated: January 4, 2008

 


 

EXHIBIT INDEX
         
  99.1    
AutoZone, Inc. Director Compensation Program
       
 
  99.2    
AutoZone, Inc. Amended and Restated 2003 Director Compensation Plan
       
 
  99.3    
AutoZone, Inc. Amended and Restated 2003 Director Stock Option Plan

 

 

EXHIBIT 99.1
 
AutoZone, Inc. Director Compensation Program
 
     SECTION 1. PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM.
     The purpose of this document is to set forth the general terms and conditions applicable to the AutoZone, Inc. Director Compensation Program (the “Program”) established by the Board of Directors of AutoZone, Inc. (the “Company”) pursuant to, and in implementation of, the AutoZone, Inc. 2003 Director Compensation Plan (the “Compensation Plan”) and the AutoZone, Inc. 2003 Director Stock Option Plan (the “Stock Option Plan”, and collectively, the “Plans”). The Program is intended to carry out the purposes of the Plans and provide a means to reinforce objectives for sustained long-term performance and value creation by providing each member of the Board of Directors who is not an employee or officer of the Company (the “Director”) with compensation, subject to the restrictions and other provisions of the Program and the Plans. The Program shall be effective January 1, 2008 (the “Effective Date”).
     SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.
     Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the same definitions as such terms are defined in the Plans.
     SECTION 3. ELECTIONS.
     With respect to each fiscal year of the Plans, which shall be the 12-month period beginning September 1 and ending August 31 of each year (the “Plan Year”), each Director who was a Director during the prior Plan Year must elect by no later than December 31 of the Plan Year to receive his or her compensation for services performed for the following calendar year under the terms of subparagraph (a) or (b) below. Each Director who becomes a Director during a Plan Year must make such election for such calendar year within 30 days after becoming a Director. Each election must be made by the Director filing an election form with the Secretary of the Company. When an election is made for a Plan Year, the Director may not revoke or change that election with respect to such Plan Year. If a Director does not file an election form for each Plan Year by the specified date, the Director will be deemed to have elected the Option specified in his or her last valid election or, if there had been no prior election, will be deemed to have elected Option 1, and the Fee earned during the Plan Year under the Compensation Plan will be paid as 50 percent in shares of Common Stock and 50 percent in cash, and will not be eligible for deferral; provided that, any such deemed election shall be irrevocable as of the end of the prior Plan Year.
     A Director may elect to receive his or her compensation for each Plan Year in either of the following forms:

 


 

     (a) Option 1.
     (i) Under the Compensation Plan, the Director shall receive an Annual Fee in the amount of $40,000 (the base retainer fee), including an additional $10,000 for any Director who serves as the Chairperson of the Audit Committee, and an additional $5,000 for any Director who serves as the Chairperson of the Compensation Committee or the Chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Director is eligible to receive the Annual Fee in such form as he or she may elect pursuant to Sections 3 and 4 of the Compensation Plan. The Director will not receive any Meeting Fees.
     (ii) Under the Stock Option Plan, the Director shall be granted an Option to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock for such Plan Year as follows: (A) 3,000 shares of Common Stock on January 1 of the Plan Year that coincides with his or her first two years of service as a Director, and (B) 1,500 shares of Common Stock on January 1 of the Plan Year that coincides with each year of service as a Director thereafter. A new Director shall be granted an initial Option to purchase 3,000 shares of Common Stock as of the date of his or her election as a Director and a pro-rata portion of that year’s annual Option grant described in the preceding sentence. On January 1 of each year, each Director who, as of December 31 of the prior year, beneficially owns shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value greater than or equal to $200,000 (or 5 times the Director’s base retainer fee (not including any supplemental retainer fees, meeting fees, or fees for being a committee chair) payable by the Company for such year), shall be granted an Option to purchase 1,500 shares of Common Stock (subject to the adjustments provided in Section 7 of the Stock Option Plan).
     (b) Option 2.
     (i) Under the Compensation Plan, the Director shall receive an Annual Fee in the amount of $75,000 (the base retainer fee of $40,000 and supplemental retainer fee of $35,000), provided that, such Annual Fee will include an additional $10,000 for any Director who serves as the Chairperson of the Audit Committee and an additional $5,000 for any Director who serves as the Chairperson of the Compensation Committee or the Chairperson of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The Director is eligible to receive the Annual Fee in such form as he or she may elect pursuant to Sections 3 and 4 of the Compensation Plan. The Director will not receive any Meeting Fees.
     (ii) Under the Stock Option Plan, the Director shall be granted an Option to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock for such Plan Year as follows: (A) 2,000 shares of Common Stock on January 1 of the Plan Year that coincides with his or her first two years of service as a Director, and (B) 500 shares of Common Stock on January 1 of the Plan Year that coincides with each year of service as a Director thereafter. A new Director shall be granted an initial Option to purchase 3,000 shares of Common Stock as of the date of his or her election as a Director and a pro-rata portion of that year’s annual Option grant described in the preceding sentence. On January 1 of each year, each Director

 


 

who, as of December 31 of the prior year, beneficially owns shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value greater than or equal to $200,000 (or 5 times the Director’s base retainer fee (not including any supplemental retainer fees, meeting fees, or fees for being a committee chair) payable by the Company for such year), shall be granted an Option to purchase 1,500 shares of Common Stock (subject to the adjustments provided in Section 7 of the Stock Option Plan).
Any election made pursuant to this Article III shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Plans.
     SECTION 4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM.
     The Program shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board.
     SECTION 5. APPLICATION OF THE PLANS.
     The Program is subject to all of the provisions of the Plans, including Section 7 of the Stock Option Plan and Section 20 of the Compensation Plan (relating to a Corporate Transaction), and their provisions are hereby made a part of the Program, and is further subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations which may from time to time be promulgated and adopted pursuant to the Plans. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Program and those of the Plans, the provisions of the Plans shall control.
     SECTION 6. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.
     Unless sooner terminated, this Program shall expire on December 31, 2012, so that no compensation may be granted hereunder after that date. Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection 5.3, the Program may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Board.
     SECTION 7. NO RIGHT TO CONTINUE AS DIRECTOR.
     Nothing contained in the Program or in any document related to the Program shall confer upon any person any right to continue as a member of the Board or constitute any contract or agreement of service for a specific term or interfere in any way with the right of the Company to reduce such person’s compensation, to change the position held by such person or to terminate the service of such person, with or without cause.
     SECTION 8. NO TRANSFER OF RIGHTS UNDER THE PROGRAM.
     Except as otherwise set forth under the terms of the Plans, a Director or former Director shall not have the right to transfer, grant any security interest in or otherwise encumber rights he or she may have under this Program. No right or interest of a Director or a former Director under the Program shall be subject to any forced or involuntary disposition or to any charge, liability, or obligation of the Director or former

 


 

Director, whether as the direct or indirect result of any action of the Director or former Director or any action taken in any proceeding, including any proceeding under any bankruptcy or other creditors’ rights law. Any action attempting to effect any transaction of that type shall be null, void, and without effect.
     SECTION 9. NATURE OF PROGRAM.
     No Director, beneficiary or other person shall have any right, title or interest in any fund or in any specific asset of the Company by reason of any compensation provided hereunder. There shall be no funding of any compensation which may become payable hereunder. Nothing contained in this Program (or in any document related thereto), nor the creation or adoption of this Program, nor any action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Program shall create, or be construed to create, a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Director, beneficiary or other person. To the extent that a Director, beneficiary or other person acquires a right to receive payment with respect to compensation provided hereunder, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or other employing entity, as applicable. All amounts payable under this Program shall be paid from the general assets of the Company or employing entity, as applicable, and no special or separate fund or deposit shall be established and no segregation of assets shall be made to assure payment of such amounts. Nothing in this Program shall be deemed to give any person any right to participate in this Program except in accordance herewith.
     SECTION 10. GOVERNING LAW.
     This Program shall be administered, interpreted and enforced under the internal laws of the State of Nevada without regard to the conflicts of laws rules thereof.

 

 

EXHIBIT 99.2
AutoZone, Inc.
First Amended and Restated
2003 Director Compensation Plan
 
     The AutoZone, Inc. 2003 Director Compensation Plan (the “Original Plan”) was adopted by the Board of Directors of AutoZone, Inc. (“AutoZone”) on October 15, 2002, and was approved by the stockholders of AutoZone on December 12, 2002. On December 14, 2005, the Board of Directors of AutoZone approved an amendment to the Original Plan creating a special deferral election for the 2005 calendar year. This AutoZone, Inc. First Amended and Restated 2003 Director Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) was adopted by the Board of Directors of AutoZone on June 5, 2007, with an effective date of January 1, 2008, in connection with the implementation of the AutoZone, Inc. Director Compensation Program, and amends and restates in its entirety the Original Plan.
     SECTION 1. PURPOSE.
     The Plan is established to allow the non-employee directors of AutoZone to participate in the ownership of AutoZone through ownership of shares of AutoZone Common Stocks or units representing the right to receive shares of AutoZone Common Stock. In addition, the Plan is intended to allow AutoZone’s non-employee directors to defer all or a portion of their compensation for their service as directors of AutoZone.
     SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS.
     As used herein, the following words shall have the definitions given them below:
          “Affiliate” means any corporation, company limited by shares, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, other entity, or other business association that is controlled by AutoZone.
          “Annual Fee” means the amount of the fixed annual Director fees set by the Board from time to time as payable to a Director in each Plan Year (including any supplemental retainer fee or compensation as a committee member or chairman) as set forth in the Program and on the terms and subject to the conditions stated in this Plan, subject to reduction for any portion thereof that a Director elects to defer as provided in this Plan.
          “Board” means the Board of Directors of AutoZone.
          “Business Day” means on a day which AutoZone’s executive offices in Memphis, Tennessee are open for business and on which trading is conducted on the New York Stock Exchange.

 


 

          “Committee” means the Compensation Committee appointed by the Board.
          “Common Stock” means the Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of AutoZone.
          “Compensation Date” means the first Business Day of each Plan Quarter.
          “Deferral Account” means an account established upon the conversion of a Unit Account by a Director and maintained in the Special Ledger for such Director to which cash equivalent amounts allocable to the Director under this Plan are credited.
          “Director” means any member of the Board who is not an employee or officer of AutoZone or an Affiliate.
          “Fair Market Value” means, as to any particular day, the average of the highest and lowest prices quoted for a share of Common Stock trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the immediately prior Business Day. The highest and lowest prices for the shares of Common Stock shall be those published in the edition of The Wall Street Journal or any successor publication reporting stock quotations for such day.
          “Fee” means the amount of compensation (including, without limitation, Annual Fees and Meeting Fees) set by the Board from time to time as payable to a Director in each Plan Year on the terms and subject to the conditions stated in this Plan.
          “First Component” means the portion of the Fee payable to a Director that accounts for at least one-half of the Fee and at the Director’s option, up to the full amount of the Fee and that is payable in Shares and may be deferred by crediting Units to a Unit Account maintained for the Director.
          “Interest Rate” means the annual rate at which interest is deemed to accrue on the amounts credited in a Deferral Account for a Director. The Interest Rate shall be set by the Board or a committee of the Board and may be changed from time to time as necessary to reflect prevailing interest rates.
          “Meeting Fee” means the amount of compensation, other than the Annual Fee, set by the Board from time to time as payable to a Director (including, without limitation, fees for attending meetings of the Board) as set forth in the Program and on the terms and subject to the conditions stated in this Plan, subject to reduction for any portion thereof that a Director elects to defer as provided in this Plan.
          “Plan Quarter” the three month period beginning each September 1, December 1, March 1, and June 1.
          “Plan Year” means each 12-month period beginning September 1 of each year.
          “Program” means the AutoZone, Inc. Director Compensation Program.

 


 

          “Second Component” means the balance, if any of the Fee (after reduction for the First Component) payable to a Director in cash.
          “Shares” means shares of Common Stock.
          “Special Ledger” means a record established and maintained by AutoZone in which the Deferral Accounts and Unit Accounts for the Directors, if any, and the Units and/or amounts credited to the accounts, are noted.
          “Termination Date” means the date on which a Director ceases to be a member of the Board.
          “Unit Account” shall mean the account maintained in the Special Ledger for a Director to which Units allocable to the Director under this Plan are credited.
          “Unit” means a credit in a Director Unit Account representing one Share.
     SECTION 3. FEE.
     During each Plan Year in which a person is a Director and is entitled to receive the Fee during the existence of the Plan, the Director will be eligible to receive the Fee payable as follows:
          (a) The First Component shall be (1) payable to the Director in Shares, or (2) at the Director’s option, deferred by having AutoZone credit Units to a Unit Account maintained for the Director as provided in this Plan, and
          (b) The Second Component, if any, shall be payable to the Director in cash.
     The Annual Fee will be payable in advance in equal quarterly installments on each Compensation Date unless deferred as provided herein. Each quarterly installment will consist of one-fourth of the First Component and one-fourth of the Second Component, if any, for each Director. The Meeting Fee will be payable or deferred in arrears on each Compensation Date. Each quarterly installment will consist of the Meeting Fees earned for Board meetings attended by the Director in the Plan Quarter immediately preceding the Compensation Date.
     SECTION 4. ELECTIONS.
     With respect to each Plan Year, each Director who was a Director during the prior Plan Year must elect by no later than December 31 of the Plan Year how he or she will receive the Fee for the following calendar year with regard to the payment of Annual Fees for services performed and Meeting Fees for Board meetings attended by the Director during such calendar year. Each Director who becomes a Director during a Plan Year must elect within 30 days after becoming a Director how he or she will receive the Fee for such calendar year. Each election must be made by the Director filing an election form with the Secretary of AutoZone. If a Director does not file an election form for each Plan Year by the specified date the Director will be deemed to have elected to

 


 

receive and defer the Fee in the manner elected by the Director in his or her last valid election or, if there had been no prior election, will be deemed to have elected to receive all of the Fee in Shares. Any election to defer a portion of the Fee made by a person who becomes a Director during a Plan Year will be valid as to the portion of the Fee received after the election is filed with the Secretary of AutoZone. When an election is made for a Plan Year, the Director may not revoke or change that election with respect to such Plan Year.
     SECTION 5. THE SHARES.
     If a Director elects (or is deemed to elect) to receive Shares in payment of all or any part of the Director’s Fee, the number of Shares to be issued on any Compensation Date shall be a whole number of shares (truncating any fractional share) nearest to one-fourth of the amount of the Fee to be paid in Shares for the Plan Year divided by the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the Compensation Date. The amount of the Fee representing a fractional share not paid in Shares shall be paid in cash. Any Shares issued under this Plan will be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and, so long as shares of the Common Stock are listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, will be listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Any payment to a Director under this Section 5 shall be made upon the applicable Compensation Date.
     SECTION 6. THE UNITS.
     If a Director defers any portion of the Fee in the form of Units, then on each Compensation Date, AutoZone will credit a Unit Account maintained for the Director with a number of Units (rounded to the nearest one-tenth) equal to (1) one-fourth of the dollar amount of the Fee that the Director has elected to defer in the form of Units for the Plan Year divided by (2) the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the Compensation Date. AutoZone will credit to the Director’s Unit Account on the date any dividend is paid on the Common Stock, an additional number of Units equal to (i) the aggregate amount of the dividend that would be paid on a number of Shares equal to the number of Units credited to the Director’s Unit Account on the date the dividend is paid divided by (ii) the Fair Market Value of a Share as of that date.
     SECTION 6A. 2005 SPECIAL ELECTION.
     Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, with respect to calendar year 2005 only, Directors shall be permitted, on or prior to March 15, 2005, to make an irrevocable election (the “Special Election”) to defer a portion of Fees which have not previously been paid or become payable in respect of services provided during calendar year 2005 in the form of Units. A Special Election shall specify, in accordance with the terms of the Plan, (i) that portion of the Fee to be paid in Units, and (ii) the distribution schedule applicable to such Units under Section 7 of the Plan. Any Director who does not make a Special Election on or prior to March 15, 2005 shall be deemed to have elected not to defer any portion of the Fee payable in respect of services performed during 2005. For the avoidance of doubt, amounts deferred pursuant to a Special Election shall include, proportionately, any Meeting Fees earned during the last Plan Quarter of 2005 that would, absent the Special Election, become payable during the first Plan Quarter of 2006.

 


 

     SECTION 7. DISTRIBUTION OF THE AMOUNTS IN A UNIT ACCOUNT.
     Upon the Termination Date for a Director, such Director shall be entitled to receive that whole number of Shares (truncating any fractional share) with which the Director’s Unit Account is credited. Subject to Section 11 hereof, the Director may elect to receive such Shares in any one of the following forms:
          (a) a single lump-sum issuable as soon as practicable after the Termination Date; or
          (b) a single lump-sum issuable as soon as practicable after the fifth anniversary of the Termination Date; or
          (c) a single lump-sum issuable as soon as practicable after the tenth anniversary of the Termination Date; or
          (d) two (2) equal installments, one of which shall be issuable as soon as practicable after the fifth anniversary of the Termination Date and the other of which shall be issuable as soon as practicable after the tenth anniversary of the Termination Date, as provided below.
     If the Director has elected to receive the Shares in the manner set forth in (d) above (i.e., in two equal installments), one-half of the Shares credited to the Unit Account as of the Termination Date will be issued to the Director for each installment plus additional Shares equal to the Units credited to the Unit Account respecting dividends paid on the Common Stock since the prior installment was made (or, in the case of the first installment, since the Termination Date). Any fractional share amount shall be valued at the Fair Market Value and be paid in cash at the date of distribution of the Shares.
     SECTION 8. CONVERSION OF UNIT ACCOUNT.
     Subject to Section 11 hereof, a Director who has a Unit Account may convert all (but not less than all) of the Unit Account into a Deferral Account. The cash amount to be credited to the Director’s Deferral Account upon the conversion shall equal (i) the number of Units credited to his or her Unit Account so converted multiplied by (ii) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of the Director’s election to convert.
     Any election to convert must be made on a form prescribed by AutoZone and filed with its Secretary. The conversion of a Unit Account into a Deferral Account shall be deemed to occur on the date of the Director’s election, except that, unless the Board provides otherwise, any portion of a Unit Account granted within six months of the date of election shall be converted to a Deferral Account six months and one day from the date in which the Units representing such portion were credited to the Unit Account.
     A Deferral Account shall accrue interest from the effective date of conversion at the Interest Rate, accrued and compounded quarterly.

 


 

     SECTION 9. DISTRIBUTION OF THE AMOUNTS IN A DEFERRAL ACCOUNT.
     Upon the Termination Date for a former Director, such former Director shall be entitled to receive an amount of cash equal to the amount with which the former Director’s Deferral Account is credited. Subject to Section 11 hereof, the former Director may elect to receive such cash in any one of the following forms:
          (a) a single lump-sum payable as soon as practicable after the Termination Date; or
          (b) a single lump-sum payable as soon as practicable after the fifth anniversary of the Termination Date; or
          (c) a single lump-sum payable as soon as practicable after the tenth anniversary of the Termination Date; or
          (d) two (2) equal installments, one of which shall be payable as soon as practicable after the fifth anniversary of the Termination Date and the other of which shall be payable as soon as practicable after the tenth anniversary of the Termination Date, as provided below.
     If the former Director has elected to receive the cash in the manner set forth in (d) above (i.e., in two equal installments), one-half of the amount credited to the Deferral Account as of the Termination Date will be paid in each installment, along with the additional amount credited to the Deferral Amount as interest (at the Interest Rate) since the prior installment was paid (or, in the case of the first installment, since the Termination Date).
     SECTION 10. DISTRIBUTION IN THE EVENT OF A DIRECTOR’S DEATH.
     With respect to a Director’s Unit Account (or, if applicable, the Director’s Deferral Account), each Director who defers any part of the Fee payable to him or her in any Plan Year may designate one or more beneficiaries which may be changed from time to time upon written notice to AutoZone. The designation of a beneficiary must be made by filing with AutoZone’s Secretary a form prescribed by AutoZone. If no designation of a beneficiary is made, any deferred benefits under this Plan will be paid to the Director’s or former Director’s estate. If a Director dies while in office or a former Director dies during the installment payment period, AutoZone will issue the Shares that are issuable (or if applicable, pay the amounts of cash that are payable) to the Director or former Director in the manner set forth in the most recent timely election filed by such Director or former Director, or if no such election has been filed, in a single lump-sum as soon as practicable after the death of the Director or the former Director.
     SECTION 11. TIMING OF ELECTION TO RECEIVE DEFERRED BENEFITS IN INSTALLMENTS.
     A Director’s election as to the time and form of distribution of his Unit Account and/or Deferral Account under Sections 7 and 9 of the Plan and election to convert the

 


 

Unit Account into the Deferral Account under Section 8 of the Plan, if applicable, shall satisfy the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(a) and the terms and conditions of the Plan. Such election shall be irrevocable when made, and shall become effective only if made no later than December 31 of the preceding Plan Year in which compensation is received for service as a Director.
     A Director may make a subsequent election with regard to the time and form of distribution of his Unit Account and/or Deferral Account under Sections 7 and 9 of the Plan, provided that, (i) such election shall have no effect until at least 12 months after the date on which the election is made, (ii) the payment with respect to which such election is made shall be deferred for an additional period of not less than five years from the date such payment would otherwise have been paid, and (iii) such election shall be made at least 12 months prior to the first date on which any amounts would otherwise be paid. Such election shall be irrevocable when made and otherwise satisfy the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-2(b) and the terms and conditions of the Plan.
     A Director may make a special election to change the time and form of distribution of his Unit Account and/or Deferral Account under Sections 7 and 9 of the Plan or convert the Unit Account into the Deferral Account under Section 8 of the Plan, in accordance with the transitional relief under Internal Revenue Service Notice 2005-1, Q/A-19(c), as extended by Internal Revenue Service Notices 2006-79 and 2007-86, and the Final Regulations under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the terms and conditions of the Plan. Such election shall be made no later than December 31, 2008, and shall be irrevocable when made.
     A Director’s election under the Plan with respect to compensation deferred under the Plan as of December 31, 2004, if any, shall be grandfathered for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, and is intended to satisfy the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-6 (including the transition and grandfather rules thereunder). Such election shall remain in effect unless otherwise modified pursuant to this Section 11.
     SECTION 12. HOLDING PERIOD
     Notwithstanding anything contained herein, unless the Board provides otherwise, (i) no Shares issued hereunder may be sold, assigned or otherwise transferred until at least six months and one day have elapsed from the date on which such Shares were issued, and (ii) no right or interest of a Director or a former Director in Units credited his or her Unit Account hereunder (including Units credited to such Unit Account respecting dividends paid on the Common Stock) shall be sold, assigned or otherwise transferred until at least six months and one day have elapsed from the date on which such Units were credited to such Unit Account, except by will or in accordance with the laws of decent and distribution.
     SECTION 13. HARDSHIP WITHDRAWALS.
     Prior to the complete distribution of a Director’s Unit Account and/or Deferral Account, such Director may request a withdrawal of any portion of his or her Unit Account or Deferral Account in an amount sufficient to meet a “hardship.” For purposes of this Plan, “hardship” shall mean a demonstrated and severe financial hardship resulting

 


 

from any one or more of the following: (i) sudden or unexpected illness or accident of the Director or of a dependent (as defined in Section 152(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) of the Director, (ii) a loss of the Director’s property due to casualty, or (iii) any other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the Director’s control; in each case only to the extent that the hardship is not relieved (a) through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, (b) by liquidation of the Director’s assets (to the extent that such liquidation does not itself cause a “hardship”), or (c) by cessation of deferrals under the Plan. The Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine the existence of a bona fide hardship based on non-discriminatory procedures, taking into account any then applicable rulings or regulations from the Internal Revenue Service. The standards established by the Board for determining the existence of hardship shall be uniformly applied to all Directors who request such a withdrawal and the Board’s decision with respect to each such request shall be final.
     An approved hardship withdrawal shall be paid to the Director in cash as soon as practicable after the approval. In the event that part or all of the withdrawal is to be made from a Unit Account, a number of Units equal to (i) the amount of the hardship withdrawal required to be made from the Unit Account, divided by (ii) the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of approval, shall be converted into cash and paid to the Director as provided herein, and the balance of the Unit Account shall be reduced accordingly.
     SECTION 14. WITHHOLDING FOR TAXES.
     AutoZone will withhold the amount of cash and Shares necessary to satisfy AutoZone’s obligation to withhold federal, state, and local income and other taxes on any benefits received by the Director, the former Director or a beneficiary under this Plan.
     SECTION 15. NO TRANSFER OF RIGHTS UNDER THE PLAN.
     A Director or former Director shall not have the right to transfer, grant any security interest in or otherwise encumber rights he or she may have under this Plan, any Deferral Account or any Unit Account maintained for the Director or former Director or any interest therein. No right or interest of a Director or a former Director in a Deferral Account or a Unit Account shall be subject to any forced or involuntary disposition or to any charge, liability, or obligation of the Director or former Director, whether as the direct or indirect result of any action of the Director or former Director or any action taken in any proceeding, including any proceeding under any bankruptcy or other creditors’ rights law. Any action attempting to effect any transaction of that type shall be null, void, and without effect.
     SECTION 16. UNFUNDED PLAN.
     This Plan will be unfunded for federal tax purposes. The Deferral Accounts and the Unit Accounts are entries in the Special Ledger only and are merely a promise to make payments in the future. AutoZone’s obligations under this Plan are unsecured, general contractual obligations of AutoZone.

 


 

     SECTION 17. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.
     Unless sooner terminated, this Plan shall expire on December 31, 2012, so that no benefits may be granted hereunder after that date. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 17, the Plan may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Board. However, without approval of AutoZone’s stockholders given within 12 months before or after the action by the Board, no action of the Board may increase the limit imposed in Section 19 on the maximum number of shares which may be issued under the Plan (other than adjustments under Section 20), change the type of equity compensation paid under the plan, extend the term of the plan, materially change the method of determining the price of equity compensation granted under the plan, materially modify the definition of “Director” under the Plan, or modify the Plan in a manner requiring stockholder approval under the listed company rules of the New York Stock Exchange, and no action of the Board may be taken that would otherwise require stockholder approval as a matter of applicable law, regulation or rule.
     An amendment or the termination of this Plan will not adversely affect the right of a Director, former Director, or Beneficiary to receive Shares issuable or cash payable at the effective date of the amendment or termination or any rights that a Director, former Director, or a Beneficiary has in any Deferral Account or Unit Account at the effective date of the amendment or termination. If the Plan is terminated, however, AutoZone may, at its option, accelerate the payment of all deferred and other benefits payable under this Plan.
     SECTION 18. GOVERNING LAW.
     This Plan shall be administered, interpreted and enforced under the internal laws of the State of Nevada without regard to the conflicts of law rules thereof. AutoZone has the right to interpret this Plan, and any interpretation by AutoZone shall be conclusive as to the meaning of this Plan.
     SECTION 19. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
     AutoZone shall reserve 100,000 Shares for issuance under the Plan. Shares issued under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares. No Plan participant shall have any of the rights or privileges of an AutoZone stockholder in respect to any of the Shares unless and until certificates representing such Shares have been issued by AutoZone.
     SECTION 20. CORPORATE EVENTS.
     (a) Subject to subsection (d) below, in the event that the Committee determines that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin- off, combination, repurchase, liquidation, dissolution, or sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of AutoZone (including, but not limited to, a Corporate Transaction, as defined below), or exchange of Common Stock or other securities,

 


 

issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Common Stock or other securities of AutoZone, or other similar corporate transaction or event, in the Committee’s sole discretion, affects the Common Stock such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of the number and kind of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) which may be granted under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Section 19 on the maximum number of shares which may be issued under the Plan, and adjustments to the number and kind of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) that may be paid upon the distribution of Units).
     (b) For purposes of the Plan, the term “Corporate Transaction” shall mean any of the following stockholder-approved transactions to which AutoZone is a party:
          (i) a merger or consolidation in which AutoZone is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the State in which AutoZone is incorporated, form a holding company or effect a similar reorganization as to form whereupon this Plan and all Units are assumed by the successor entity;
          (ii) the sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of AutoZone, in complete liquidation or dissolution of AutoZone in a transaction not covered by the exceptions to clause (i) above; or
          (iii) any reverse merger in which AutoZone is the surviving entity but in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of AutoZone’s outstanding securities are transferred or issued to a person or persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such merger.
     (c) No adjustment or action described in this Section 20 shall be authorized or occur to the extent such adjustment or action would result in short-swing profits liability under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or violate the exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act unless the Committee determines that the issuance of the Shares or other securities or property is not to comply with such exemptive conditions.
     SECTION 21. ADMINISTRATION.
     (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee which shall consist of two or more Directors, appointed by and holding office at the pleasure of the Board. Appointment of Committee members shall be effective upon acceptance of appointment. Committee members may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the Board. Vacancies on the Committee shall be filled by the Board.
     (b) The Committee shall have the power to interpret the Plan and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules.

 


 

     (c) The Committee shall act by a majority of its members in office. The Committee may act either by vote at a meeting or by a memorandum or other written instrument signed by a majority of the Committee.
     (d) All expenses and liabilities incurred by members of the Committee in connection with the administration of the Plan shall be borne by AutoZone. The Committee may employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, appraisers, brokers or other persons, and the Committee, and AutoZone and its officers and directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such persons. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee in good faith shall be final and binding on each Director participating in the Plan, AutoZone and all other interested persons. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and all members of the Committee shall be fully protected by AutoZone with respect to any such action, determination or interpretation.
     SECTION 22. STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL
     AutoZone shall take such actions with respect to the Plan as may be necessary to satisfy the stockholder approval requirements of the New York Stock Exchange. This Plan shall be submitted for the approval of AutoZone’s stockholders within twelve months after the date of the Board’s adoption of this Plan. Fees may not be paid in Common Stock under the Plan prior to such stockholder approval. This Plan shall become effective immediately upon approval by the stockholders.
     SECTION 23. SECTION 409A
     To the extent applicable, the Plan and all election forms and all other instruments evidencing amounts subject to the Plan shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan, any election form or any other instrument evidencing amounts subject to the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Committee determines that any amounts subject to the Plan may be subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may adopt such amendments to the Plan, any election form and any other instruments relating to the Plan, or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to (i) exempt such amounts from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of such amounts, or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance and thereby avoid the application of penalty taxes under Section 409A of the Code.

 

 

EXHIBIT 99.3
 
AutoZone, Inc. First Amended and Restated
2003 Director Stock Option Plan
 
     The AutoZone, Inc. 2003 Director Stock Option Plan (the “Original Plan”) was adopted by the Board of Directors of AutoZone, Inc. (“the Company”) on October 15, 2002, and was approved by the stockholders of the Company on December 12, 2002. This AutoZone, Inc. First Amended and Restated 2003 Director Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on June 5, 2007, with an effective date of January 1, 2008, in connection with the implementation of the AutoZone, Inc. Director Compensation Program, and amends and restates in its entirety the Original Plan.
     SECTION 1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.
     Under this Plan, non-qualified stock options to purchase shares of the Company’s Common Stock shall be granted to Non-Employee Directors (as defined below) of the Company. The Plan is designed to enable the Company to attract and retain Non-Employee Directors of the highest caliber and experience, and to increase their ownership of the Company’s Common Stock.
     SECTION 2. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN.
     The maximum number of shares of stock for which non-qualified stock options (“Options”) granted hereunder may be exercised shall be 400,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), subject to the adjustments provided in Section 7. All shares of stock subject to Options may be authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares of Common Stock. Shares of stock subject to the unexercised portions of any Options which expire or terminate or are canceled may again be subject to Options granted hereunder.
     SECTION 3. PARTICIPATING DIRECTORS.
     Each member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) who is not, at the time that eligible directors are granted Options pursuant to Section 5 hereof, an employee or officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (a “Non-Employee Director”), shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.
     SECTION 4. ADMINISTRATION.
     (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”) which shall consist of two or more directors who are Non-Employee

 


 

Directors, appointed by and holding office at the pleasure of the Board. Appointment of Committee members shall be effective upon acceptance of appointment. Committee members may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the Board. Vacancies on the Committee shall be filled by the Board.
     (b) The Committee shall have the power to interpret the Plan and the Options and to adopt such rules for the administration, interpretation and application of the Plan as are consistent therewith and to interpret, amend or revoke any such rules. The Board shall have no right to exercise any of the rights or duties of the Committee under the Plan.
     (c) The Committee shall act by a majority of its members in office. The Committee may act either by vote at a meeting or by a memorandum or other written instrument signed by a majority of the Committee.
     (d) All expenses and liabilities incurred by members of the Committee in connection with the administration of the Plan shall be borne by the Company. The Committee may employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, appraisers, brokers or other persons, and the Committee, the Company and its officers and directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such persons. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee in good faith shall be final and binding on each Non-Employee Director who has been granted an Option hereunder (sometimes referred to hereinafter as an “Optionee”), the Company and all other interested persons. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or the Options, and all members of the Committee shall be fully protected by the Company with respect to any such action, determination or interpretation.
     SECTION 5. GRANT OF OPTIONS.
     During the existence of the Plan, Options shall be granted as follows:
     (a) (i) On January 1 of each year, each Non-Employee Director as of such date shall be granted an Option to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock (subject to the adjustments provided in Section 7) as determined by the Board, in its discretion, and set forth in the AutoZone, Inc. Director Compensation Program (the “Program), and (ii) each new Non-Employee Director shall be granted an initial Option to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock (subject to the adjustments provided in Section 7) as of the date of his or her election as a director and a pro-rata portion of that year’s annual grant set forth in (i), as determined by the Board, in its discretion, and set forth in the Program;
     (b) On January 1 of each year, each Non-Employee Director who, as of December 31 of the prior year, beneficially owns shares of Common Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as determined below) greater than or equal to five (5) times such Non- Employee Director’s base retainer fee (not including any supplemental retainer fees, meeting fees, or fees for being a committee chair) payable by the Company for such year, shall be granted an Option to purchase a number of shares of Common Stock (subject to the adjustments provided in Section 7) as determined by the Board, in its discretion, and set forth in the Program. For purposes of this Plan, the “Fair Market

 


 

Value” of a share of Common Stock shall mean, as to any particular day, the average of the highest and lowest prices quoted for a share of Common Stock trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the immediately prior Business Day. The highest and lowest prices for the shares of Common Stock shall be those published in the edition of The Wall Street Journal or any successor publication reporting stock quotations for such day. For purposes of this Plan, the term “Business Day” shall mean a day on which the Company’s executive offices in Memphis, Tennessee, are open for business and on which trading is conducted on the New York Stock Exchange.
     Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, no Option shall be granted unless sufficient shares (subject to said adjustments) are then available therefor under Sections 2 and 7. In consideration of the granting of an Option, the Optionee shall be deemed to have agreed to remain as a Director of the Company for a period of at least one year after the date upon which the Option was granted (the “date of grant”). Nothing in the Plan shall, however, confer upon any Optionee any right to continue as a director of the Company or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company or the Company’s stockholders, which are hereby expressly reserved, to remove any Optionee at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause, to the extent permitted by the Company’s bylaws and applicable law.
     SECTION 6. OPTION PROVISIONS.
     Each Option shall be evidenced by a written agreement between the Company and the Non-Employee Director and shall contain the following terms and provisions, and such other terms and provisions as the Committee may authorize:
     (a) The exercise price of each Option shall be equal to the aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock as of the date of grant;
     (b) Payment for shares of Common Stock purchased upon any exercise of the Option shall be made in full at the time of such exercise (i) in cash, (ii) by delivery of shares of Common Stock already owned by the Optionee, duly endorsed for transfer to the Company, (iii) by delivery of a notice that the Optionee has placed a market sell order with a broker approved by the Company with respect to shares of Common Stock then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the option exercise price, or (iv) by a combination of any of the foregoing methods of payment. For purposes of exercising the Option, the value of any shares of Common Stock delivered in payment shall be the Fair Market Value of such shares of Common Stock as of the day of delivery;
     (c) Subject to subsection (d) below and Section 7 hereof, the Option shall become fully vested and exercisable on the first to occur of either:
  (i)   the date on which the Optionee ceases to be a Director of the Company; or
  (ii)   the third anniversary of the date of grant.

 


 

     (d) The Option shall terminate and may not be exercised to any extent by anyone after the first to occur of the following events:
  (i)   the expiration of ten years from the date of grant;
  (ii)   the expiration of five years from the date upon which the Non-Employee Director ceases to be a director of the Company if the Non-Employee Director has become ineligible to be reelected as a result of reaching the term limits or mandatory retirement age specified in the Company’s Corporate Governance Principles, in effect as of the applicable date (“Normal Retirement Age”);
  (iii)   the expiration of 90 days from the date of the Non-Employee Director’s death;
  (iv)   the expiration of 30 days from the date that the Non-Employee Director ceases to be a director of the Company (for a reason other than the death of the Non-Employee Director) if the Non-Employee Director has not reached Normal Retirement Age; or
  (v)   subject to Section 7(b) hereof, the effective date of a Corporate Transaction (as defined below), unless the Committee waives this provision in connection with such transaction.
     (e) Notwithstanding any other provision herein, the Option may not be exercised prior to the admission of the shares of stock issuable upon exercise of the Option to listing on notice of issuance on any stock exchange on which shares of the same class are then listed; nor unless and until, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such securities may be issued and delivered without causing the Company to be in violation of or incur any liability under any Federal, state or other securities law, any requirement of any securities exchange listing agreement to which the Company may be a party, or any other requirement of law or of any regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company; and
     (f) The Option shall not be transferable by the Optionee other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, may not be pledged or hypothecated, and shall be exercisable during the Optionee’s lifetime only by the Optionee or by his or her guardian or legal representative.
     SECTION 7. CORPORATE EVENTS.
     (a) Subject to subsection (d) below, in the event that the Committee determines that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin- off, combination, repurchase, liquidation, dissolution, or sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (including, but not limited to, a Corporate Transaction, as defined below), or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Common

 


 

Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event, in the Committee’s sole discretion, affects the Common Stock such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Option, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of:
  (i)   the number and kind of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) with respect to which Options may be granted under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Section 2 on the maximum number and kind of shares which may be issued under the Plan);
  (ii)   the number and kind of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Options; and
  (iii)   the grant or exercise price with respect to any Option.
     (b) Subject to subsection (d) below, in the event of any Corporate Transaction (as defined below), the Plan shall terminate, and all outstanding Options shall terminate, unless provisions shall be made in writing in connection with such Corporate Transaction for the continuance of the Plan and/or for the assumption of Options theretofore granted, or the substitution for such Options of options covering the stock of a successor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices, in which event the Plan and Options theretofore granted shall continue in the manner and under the terms so provided. If the Plan and unexercised Options would otherwise terminate pursuant to the foregoing sentence, then, for such period of time prior to the consummation of such Corporate Transaction as the Company shall designate, all outstanding Options shall be exercisable as to all shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 6(c) hereof or the provisions of such Option;
     (c) For purposes of the Plan, the term “Corporate Transaction” shall mean any of the following stockholder-approved transactions to which the Company is a party:
  (i)   a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the State in which the Company is incorporated, form a holding company or effect a similar reorganization as to form whereupon this Plan and all Options are assumed by the successor entity;
  (ii)   the sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, in complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company in a transaction not covered by the exceptions to clause (i) above; or
  (iii)   any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of

 


 

the total combined voting power of the Company’s outstanding securities are transferred or issued to a person or persons different from those who held such securities immediately prior to such merger.
     (d) No adjustment or action described in this Section 7 shall be authorized or occur to the extent such adjustment or action would result in short-swing profits liability under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or violate the exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act unless the Committee determines that the Option is not to comply with such exemptive conditions.
     SECTION 8. TAX WITHHOLDING.
     The Company shall be entitled to require payment in cash or deduction from other compensation payable to each Optionee of any sums required by federal, state or local tax laws to be withheld with respect to the issuance, vesting or exercise of any Option. The Committee may in its discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement allow such Optionee to elect to have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable under such Option (or allow the return of shares of Common Stock) having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the sums required to be withheld.
     SECTION 9. TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT OF PLAN.
     Unless sooner terminated, this Plan shall expire on December 31, 2012, so that no Option may be granted hereunder after that date although any option outstanding on that date may thereafter be exercised in accordance with its terms. The Board may alter, amend, suspend or terminate this Plan, provided that no such action shall deprive an Optionee, without his or her consent, of any Option previously granted pursuant to the Plan or of any of the Optionee’s rights under such Option. However, without approval of the Company’s stockholders given within 12 months before or after the action by the Board, no action of the Board may increase the limit imposed in Section 2 on the maximum number of shares which may be issued as Options under the Plan (other than adjustments under Section 7), change the types of shares issued under the Plan, extend the term of the Plan, materially change the method of determining the exercise price under the Plan, materially modify the definition of “Non-Employee Director” under the Plan, or modify the Plan in a manner requiring stockholder approval under the listed company rules of the New York Stock Exchange, and no action of the Board may be taken that would otherwise require stockholder approval as a matter of applicable law, regulation or rule.
     SECTION 10. COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS.
     This Plan, the granting and vesting of Options under this Plan and the issuance and delivery of shares of Common Stock and the payment of money under this Plan or under Options granted hereunder are subject to compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations (including but not limited to state and federal securities laws and federal margin requirements) and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, be necessary

 


 

or advisable in connection therewith. Any securities delivered under this Plan shall be subject to such restriction, and the person acquiring such securities shall, if requested by the Company, provide such assurances and representations to the Company as the Company may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal requirements. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and Options granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules or regulations.
     SECTION 11. TITLES.
     Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Plan.
     SECTION 12. GOVERNING LAW.
     This Plan and any agreements hereunder shall be administered, interpreted and enforced under the internal laws of the State of Nevada without regard to the conflicts of laws rules thereof.
     SECTION 13. STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL.
     The Company shall take such actions with respect to the Plan as may be necessary to satisfy the stockholder approval requirements of the New York Stock Exchange. This Plan shall be submitted for the approval of the Company’s stockholders within twelve months after the date of the Board’s adoption of this Plan. This Plan shall become effective immediately upon approval by the stockholders.
     SECTION 14. SECTION 409A.
     To the extent applicable, the Plan and any written agreement between the Company and the Non-Employee Director that provides for the grant of an Option (the “Option Agreement”) shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder. Any Option granted under the Plan is intended to be exempt from the provisions of Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, as providing for an option to purchase service recipient stock as described in Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(i)(A) of the Department of Treasury regulations. Notwithstanding any provisions of the Plan or any Option Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Committee determines that an Option may be subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Option Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to (i) exempt the Option from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Option, or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance and thereby avoid the application of penalty taxes under Section 409A of the Code.