0-21258 | 59-2389435 | |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
11215 Metro Parkway, Fort Myers, Florida | 33966 | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip code) |
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 | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 5.02. | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
Item 9.01. | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
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CHICOS FAS, INC.
Date: July 2, 2008
By:
/s/ Michael J. Kincaid
Michael J. Kincaid, Senior Vice President Finance,
Chief Accounting Officer and Assistant Secretary
Table of Contents
ARTICLE 1 Establishment; Purpose; Awards
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1 | |||
1.1 Establishment; Purpose
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1 | |||
1.2 Types of Awards Under Plan
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1 | |||
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ARTICLE 2 Definitions
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1 | |||
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ARTICLE 3 Eligible Persons
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5 | |||
3.1 Eligibility
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5 | |||
3.2 Selection of Participants
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5 | |||
3.3 General Effect of Award
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5 | |||
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ARTICLE 4 Shares Subject to the Plan and Maximum Awards
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6 | |||
4.1 Sources of Shares Available for Grants and Limits on Shares Subject to the Plan
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6 | |||
4.2 Maximum Awards
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7 | |||
4.3 Adjustments to Limitations
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8 | |||
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ARTICLE 5 Administration
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8 | |||
5.1 General
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8 | |||
5.2 Power and Authority
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8 | |||
5.3 Other Factors; Determinations Final
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10 | |||
5.4 Quorum; Actions
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10 | |||
5.5 Delegation
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10 | |||
5.6 No Liability; Indemnification
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10 | |||
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ARTICLE 6 Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
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11 | |||
6.1 General Method of Grant
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11 | |||
6.2 Number of Shares
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11 | |||
6.3 Option or SAR Price
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11 | |||
6.4 Date of Grant
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12 | |||
6.5 Method of Payment
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12 | |||
6.6 Option or SAR Exercise Period
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13 | |||
6.7 Certain Interpretations
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13 | |||
6.8 Exercise and Vesting of Options and SARs
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14 | |||
6.9 Multiple Grants in Single Agreement
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15 | |||
6.10 Minimum Exercise
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15 | |||
6.11 Other Provisions
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15 | |||
6.12 Special Provisions for Incentive Stock Options
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15 | |||
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ARTICLE 7 Performance Awards, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
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16 | |||
7.1 Awards of Performance Awards, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units; Restriction Period
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16 | |||
7.2 Restricted Stock
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17 | |||
7.3 Restricted Stock Units
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17 |
7.4 Performance Awards
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18 | |||
7.5 Performance Based Compensation
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18 | |||
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ARTICLE 8 Miscellaneous
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19 | |||
8.1 Adjustment of Number of Shares, Etc.
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19 | |||
8.2 Transferability
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20 | |||
8.3 Change in Control
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20 | |||
8.4 Beneficiary Designation
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20 | |||
8.5 Tax Withholding
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20 | |||
8.6 Gender and Number
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21 | |||
8.7 Choice of Law
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21 | |||
8.8 No Stockholder Rights
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21 | |||
8.9 Amendments; Exchanges, Termination or Suspension
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22 | |||
8.10 Listing and Registration of Common Stock
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23 | |||
8.11 Compliance with Applicable Laws
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23 | |||
8.12 Stock Certificates; Book Entry
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23 | |||
8.13 No Implied Rights to Employees
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24 | |||
8.14 Necessity for Delay
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24 | |||
8.15 Use of Proceeds
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24 | |||
8.16 No Obligation to Exercise
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24 | |||
8.17 Assignment by Company; Third Party Beneficiaries
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24 | |||
8.18 Effective Date
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25 | |||
8.19 Term of the Plan
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25 | |||
8.20 409A Compliance
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(a) | a change in control of the Company of a nature that is required, pursuant to the Exchange Act to be reported in response to Item 1(a) of a Current Report on Form 8-K or Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A, in each case, as such requirements are in effect on January 1, 2008; | ||
(b) | the adoption by the Company of a plan of dissolution or liquidation; | ||
(c) | the closing of a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; | ||
(d) | the closing of a merger, reorganization or similar transaction (a Transaction) involving the Company in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or, if the Company is the surviving corporation, immediately following the closing of the Transaction, persons who were stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the Transaction own less than 65% of the combined voting power of the surviving corporations voting securities; or | ||
(e) | the acquisition of Beneficial Ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act as in effect on January 1, 2008) of the Companys securities comprising 35% or more of the combined voting power of the Companys outstanding securities by any person (as that term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, but not including any trustee or fiduciary acting in that capacity for an employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company) and such persons affiliates and associates (as those terms are defined under the Exchange Act). |
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(a) | if the Common Stock is publicly traded and is then listed on a national securities exchange, its closing price on the date of determination on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable; | ||
(b) | if the Common Stock is publicly traded but is not listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on the date of determination as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Committee deems reliable; or | ||
(c) | if none of the foregoing is applicable, by the Committee in good faith. |
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(a) | Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from all Employees those to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and size of each Award. | ||
(b) | The Board of Directors shall determine the discretionary Awards to be granted to the Non-Employee Directors in accordance with the Companys compensation program for Non-Employee Directors, as such program may be determined from time to time. |
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(a) | The shares of Common Stock with respect to which Awards are made under the Plan shall be shares currently authorized but unissued or currently held or subsequently acquired by the Company as treasury shares, including shares purchased in the open market or in private transactions for use under the Plan. | ||
(b) | The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be delivered to Participants and their beneficiaries under the Plan shall be equal to the sum of: (i) ten million (10,000,000) shares of Common Stock, plus (a) that number of shares remaining available for future awards under this Plan immediately prior to the Effective Date and (b) that number of shares represented by awards granted under the Plan prior to the Effective Date which remain outstanding as of the Effective Date; (ii) any shares of Common Stock available for future awards under any prior option plan of the Company (the Prior Plans) as of the Effective Date (including without limitation the 1992 Stock Option Plan, the 1993 Stock Option Plan, and the Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan); and (iii) any shares of Common Stock that are represented by awards granted under any Prior Plans which are forfeited, expire or are canceled without delivery of shares of Common Stock. | ||
(c) | To the extent provided by the Committee (or by the Board with respect to any Awards granted to Non-Employee Directors), any Award may be settled in cash rather than Common Stock. To the extent any shares of Common Stock covered by an Award are not delivered to a Participant or beneficiary because the Award is forfeited or canceled, or the shares of Common Stock are not delivered because the Award is settled in cash or used to satisfy the applicable tax withholding obligation, such shares shall not be deemed to have been delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for delivery under the Plan. | ||
(d) | If the exercise price of any Option granted under the Plan or any Prior Plan is satisfied by tendering shares of Common Stock to the Company (by either actual delivery or by attestation), only the number of shares of Common Stock issued net of the shares of Common Stock tendered shall be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for delivery under the Plan. Only the net shares, if any, issued in payment upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for delivery under the Plan. |
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(e) | Substitute Awards shall not reduce the shares of Common Stock authorized for grant under the Plan or authorized for grant to a Participant in any calendar year. Additionally, in the event that a company acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary or with which the Company or any Subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by shareholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the shares of Common Stock authorized for grant under the Plan; provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not Employees or Directors prior to such acquisition or combination. |
(a) | The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be covered by Awards of Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights granted to any one individual shall be two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) shares (effective February 4, 2005, one million (1,000,000) shares as a result of the most recent two-for-one stock split) during any one calendar-year period. | ||
(b) | For Performance Awards denominated in shares of Common Stock, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units that are intended to be performance-based compensation (as that term is used for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code), no more than one hundred thousand (100,000) shares (effective February 4, 2005, four hundred thousand (400,000) shares as a result of the most recent two-for-one stock split) of Common Stock may be subject to such Awards granted to any one individual during any one-calendar-year period. If, after shares have been earned, the delivery is deferred, any additional shares attributable to dividends during the deferral period shall be disregarded. | ||
(c) | With respect to Performance Awards denominated in cash that are intended to be performance-based compensation (as that term is used for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code), the maximum dollar value payable to any one individual during any one-calendar-year period is $5 million. |
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(a) | to interpret the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder, and to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder; | ||
(b) | to determine the terms and provisions of Awards granted hereunder and to make such determinations as to the Participants to receive Awards, the form, amount and timing of such Awards, the terms and provisions of such Awards, and the Award Agreements evidencing the same, which need not be uniform and which the Committee may make selectively among Participants who receive, or who are to receive, Awards under the Plan, whether or not the Participants are similarly situated; | ||
(c) | to determine to whom Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be granted, the times and the prices at which Options and Stock Appreciation Rights are granted, the Option and Stock Appreciation Right periods, the number of shares of Common Stock to be subject to each Option and Stock Appreciation Right, whether each Option shall be an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option, and to determine the terms and provisions of each Option and Stock Appreciation Right (which need not be identical); |
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(d) | to determine to whom Performance Awards shall be granted, the number of shares related to each, the terms and provisions (which need not be identical) of Performance Awards and whether the Participant has met the goals associated with each; | ||
(e) | to determine to whom Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be granted, the Restriction Period, the number of shares of Restricted Stock, the terms and provisions (which need not be identical) of awards of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units and whether the Participant has met the goals on or before the close of the Restriction Period; | ||
(f) | to impose such limitations with respect to Awards and shares issued pursuant to Awards, including without limitation, any relating to the application of federal or state securities laws, as the Committee may deem necessary or desirable; | ||
(g) | to condition the granting of any Award upon a Participants entering into a confidentiality, noncompetition, nonsolicitation, nonacceptance, and/or lock-up agreement, including without limitation, a confidentiality, noncompetition, nonsolicitation, nonacceptance, and/or lock-up agreement included as part of the Award Agreement; | ||
(h) | to determine the dates of employment or service of any Participant, and the reasons for termination of any Participant; | ||
(i) | to determine whether any leave of absence constitutes a termination of employment or service for purposes of the Plan and Awards made pursuant to the Plan and the impact, if any, of such leave of absence on awards theretofore made under the Plan; | ||
(j) | to determine when a persons change of status with respect to the Company constitutes a termination of such persons employment or service for purposes of the Plan and Awards made pursuant to the Plan; | ||
(k) | to make such determinations as it deems equitable with respect to the impact, if any, of leaves of absence from the Company upon Awards hereunder; | ||
(l) | to grant dividend equivalents upon Awards (other than Restricted Stock for which Participants are entitled to receive dividends and other distributions paid with respect to shares of Common Stock so held), provided such grants shall only be made upon such terms and conditions as will satisfy the requirements under Section 409A of the Code and provided further, that any such dividend equivalents shall be subject to the terms and conditions imposed by the Committee; |
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(m) | to amend the terms and conditions of any Award Agreement after the grant of the Award to which such Award Agreement relates, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, in a manner that is not adverse to the rights of the Participant receiving such Award as set forth in the Award Agreement or under the Plan; and | ||
(n) | to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan and Awards. |
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(a) | The price at which shares of Common Stock covered by each Option granted to an Employee may be purchased pursuant thereto shall be established or determined by a method established in each case by the Committee on or as of the date of grant and such price or method shall be stated in the Stock Option Agreement; provided, however, that, other than in connection with Substitute Awards, the purchase price shall be an amount not less than the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock on the date the Option is granted. |
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(b) | With respect to Options granted to a Non-Employee Director, the price at which shares of Common Stock covered by each such Option may be purchased pursuant thereto shall be established or determined by a method established in each case by the Board on or as of the date of grant and such price or method shall be stated in the Stock Option Agreement; provided, however, that the purchase price shall be an amount not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant. | ||
(c) | With respect to SARs, the SAR Price upon which the SAR value is determined at the time of exercise shall be established or determined by a method established in each case by the Committee or Board, as applicable, on or as of the date of grant and such SAR Price or method shall be stated in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement; provided, however, that, other than in connection with Substitute Awards, the SAR Price shall be an amount not less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant. |
(a) | Subject to the other provisions of this Section 6.5, the full price for shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of any Option shall be paid at the time of exercise (except that, in the case of an exercise arrangement approved by the Committee or the Board, as the case may be, and described in Section 6.5(c), payment may be made as soon as practicable after the exercise). | ||
(b) | The Option price shall be payable (A) in United States dollars in cash or by check, bank draft or money order payable to the order of the Company, (B) by the delivery of shares of Common Stock already owned by the Participant, in a manner acceptable to the Committee or the Board, as the case may be; (C) by withholding shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable in connection with the exercise of the Option; (D) by any other legally permissible means acceptable to the Committee or the Board, as the case may be, specified in the Stock Option Agreement; or (E) at the discretion of the Committee or the Board, as the case may be, through a combination of some or all of the preceding payment methods provided such combination is specified in the Stock Option Agreement. Shares of Common Stock delivered as payment will be valued at their Fair Market Value on the day of delivery for the purpose of determining the extent to which the Option purchase price has been paid thereby, or as otherwise determined by the Committee or the Board, as the case may be, in its respective discretion pursuant to any reasonable method contemplated by Section 422 of the Code. |
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(c) | To the extent permitted by applicable law and regulations, the Committee or the Board, as the case may be, may permit a Participant to elect to pay the Option purchase price upon the exercise of an Option by irrevocably authorizing a third party to sell shares of Common Stock (or a sufficient portion of the shares) acquired upon exercise of the Option and remit to the Company a sufficient portion of the sale proceeds to pay the entire purchase price and any tax withholding resulting from such exercise and sale. |
(a) | Each Stock Option Agreement or Stock Appreciation Right Agreement with respect to any Option or, as applicable, SAR, shall provide that the Option or SAR may be exercised by the Participant in such portions and at such times as may be specified in such Stock Option Agreement or Stock Appreciation Right Agreement, subject to an Option or SAR Period ending not later than ten (10) years after the date of grant; provided, however, that the Option or SAR Period shall end on the date specified in such Stock Option Agreement or Stock Appreciation Right Agreement or, with respect to any Option or SAR granted to an Employee, if earlier, the ending date of the period specified in the next sentence. An Option or SAR granted to an Employee may be exercised only during the Option or SAR Period and only during the continuance of the Participants employment with the Company or a Subsidiary; provided, the Committee or the Board, as applicable, and in its discretion, may permit a Participant to exercise an Option or SAR post-termination of employment at such time and in such manner as is set forth in the Participants Stock Option Agreement or Stock Appreciation Right Agreement. |
(a) | Whether an authorized leave of absence or absence for military or governmental service shall constitute termination of employment for purposes of the Plan shall be determined by the Committee, whose determination shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons. Transfers of employment between the Company and any of its Subsidiaries shall not be considered to be a termination of employment for the purposes of the Plan. |
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(b) | In the event of the death of a Participant, Options or SARs held by the Participant may be exercised, to the extent permitted in the Stock Option Agreement or Stock Appreciation Right Agreement and in Section 6.6, by the person or persons entitled to do so under the Participants will, or, if the Participant fails to make testamentary disposition of said Options or SAR or dies intestate, by the Participants legal representative or representatives. |
(a) | Unless otherwise specified by the Committee or the Board, as the case may be, and reflected in the Stock Option Agreement or Stock Appreciation Right Agreement, the right to exercise each Option or SAR shall accrue in accordance with the following vesting schedule: |
Shares | |||||||
Time After | Vested and | ||||||
Date of Grant | Exercisable | ||||||
Less than 1 year
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0 | % | |||||
1 year but less than 2 years
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33 1/3 | % | |||||
2 years but less than 3 years
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66 2/3 | % | |||||
3 years or more
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100 | % | |||||
(b) | Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant shall be 100% vested in the number of shares of Common Stock originally covered by an Option or SAR in the event Participant dies or becomes totally and permanently disabled (as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee) while still employed by the Company or upon a Change in Control, provided upon such Change in Control, vesting will occur only if either (1) the successor company does not assume, convert, continue or otherwise replace the Option or SAR on proportionate and equitable terms or (2) the Participant is terminated without cause within twelve (12) months following the Change in Control. When it deems other special circumstances to exist, the Committee or the Board, as the case may be, in its discretion may accelerate the time at which an Option or SAR may be exercised or may modify the terms of the Option or SAR to provide for other special circumstances under which the right to exercise the Option or SAR would be accelerated if, under previously established exercise terms, such Option or SAR was not immediately exercisable in full, even if the acceleration would permit the Option or SAR to be exercised more rapidly than the vesting set forth above in the vesting schedule set forth above or in the Stock Option Agreement or Stock Appreciation Right Agreement, or as otherwise specified by the Committee or the Board, would permit. |
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(a) | At the time of an Award of a Performance Award, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, there shall be established for each Participant a restriction period (the Restriction Period), which shall lapse (i) upon the completion of a period of time (Time Goal) as shall be determined by the Committee or the Board, as the case may be, (ii) upon the achievement of stock price goals within certain time periods (Price/Time Goal) as shall be determined by the Committee or the Board, as the case may be, or (iii) upon achievement of performance or other objectives (Performance Goal) as shall be determined by the Committee or the Board, as the case may be. | ||
(b) | Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Section 7.1(a) and except as otherwise provided in Section 8.3, with respect to any Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units which is to be subject to a Time Goal, such Time Goal established by the Committee or the Board, as the case may be, at the time of grant shall not provide for a lapse of the applicable restrictions more rapidly than would be permitted by the following schedule: |
Time After | Shares as to Which | ||||||
Date of Grant | Restriction Lapses | ||||||
Less than 1 year
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0 | % | |||||
1 year but less than 2 years
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33 1/3 | % | |||||
2 years but less than 3 years
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66 2/3 | % | |||||
3 years or more
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100 | % | |||||
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(a) | Division/Combination of Shares . In the event of any increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split or other division or consolidation of shares or the payment of a stock dividend (but only on Common Stock) or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock effected without any receipt of consideration by the Company, then, in any such event, the number of shares of Common Stock that remain available under the Plan, the number of shares covered by each outstanding Option or SAR, the exercise price per share covered by each outstanding Option or SAR, the purchase price per share and the number and any purchase price for any other Awards involving Common Stock (or equivalents) granted but not yet issued, in each case, shall be proportionately and appropriately adjusted for any such increase or decrease. | ||
(b) | Change Affecting Shares of Common Stock . Subject to any required action by the stockholders, if any change occurs in the Common Stock by reason of any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, combination or exchange of shares, or of any similar change affecting Common Stock, then, in any such event, the number and type of shares of Common Stock then covered by each outstanding Option or SAR, the purchase price per share covered by each outstanding Option or SAR and the purchase price per share and the number and any purchase price for any other Awards involving Common Stock (or equivalents) granted but not yet issued, in each case, shall be proportionately and appropriately adjusted for any such change. | ||
(c) | Change in Par Value . In the event of a change in the Common Stock as presently constituted that is limited to a change of all of its authorized shares with par value into the same number of shares with a different par value or without par value, the shares resulting from any change shall be deemed to be Common Stock within the meaning of the Plan. |
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(d) | Discretion Concerning Adjustments . To the extent that the foregoing adjustments relate to stock or securities of the Company, such adjustments shall be required to be made and, with respect to any Incentive Stock Option granted pursuant to Article 6, such adjustment shall be done in a manner that causes such Option to continue to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code. | ||
(e) | No Affect on Companys Right to Adjust . The existence of the Plan, or the grant of an Option or other Award under the Plan, shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge or to consolidate, or to dissolve, to liquidate, to sell, or to transfer all or any part of its business or assets. |
(a) | Power to Withhold; Methods to Satisfy . The Company shall have the power to withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state or local withholding or other tax due from the Company with respect to any amount payable and/or |
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shares issuable under the Plan, and the Company may defer such payment or issuance unless indemnified to its satisfaction. Whenever under the Plan payments are to be made in cash, such payments shall be made net of an amount sufficient to satisfy any federal, state or local withholding tax liability. The Committee or the Board, as the case may be, in its discretion, and subject to such requirements as the Committee or the Board may impose prior to the occurrence of such withholding, may permit such withholding obligations to be satisfied through cash payment by the Participant, through the surrender of shares of Common Stock which the Participant already owns, or through the surrender of shares of Common Stock to which the Participant is otherwise then entitled under the Plan, provided, only the minimum amount required to satisfy statutory requirements shall be withheld. | |||
(b) | Irrevocable Elections by Participants . Subject to the consent of the Committee or the Board, as the case may be, with respect to (i) the exercise of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, (ii) the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock, or (iii) the issuance of any other stock Award under the Plan, a Participant may make an irrevocable election (an Election) to (A) have shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable under (i) withheld, or (B) tender back to the Company shares of Common Stock received pursuant to (i), (ii) or (iii), or (C) deliver back to the Company pursuant to (i), (ii), or (iii) previously acquired shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value sufficient to satisfy all or part of the Participants estimated tax obligations associated with the transaction, provided only the minimum amount required to satisfy statutory requirements shall be withheld. Such Election must be made by a Participant prior to the date on which the relevant tax obligation arises. The Committee or the Board, as the case may be, may disapprove of any Election, may suspend or terminate the right to make Elections, or may provide with respect to any Award under the Plan that the right to make Elections shall not apply to such Awards. |
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(a) | Amendment . The Plan may be amended from time to time by written resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that no Participants existing rights are adversely affected thereby without the consent of such person, and provided further that, without approval of the stockholders of the Company, no amendment shall (i) increase the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan, (ii) change the designation of the class of employees eligible to receive Awards, (iii) decrease the minimum Option or SAR price set forth in Section 6.3 of the Plan, (iv) extend the period during which an Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised beyond the maximum period specified in the Plan, (v) otherwise materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan, (vi) otherwise materially increase the benefits under the Plan, or (vii) withdraw the authority to administer the Plan as to Awards made to Employees from the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may amend the Plan to incorporate or conform to requirements imposed by and amendments made to the Code or regulations promulgated thereunder which the Board deems to be necessary or desirable to preserve (A) incentive stock option status for outstanding Incentive Stock Options and to preserve the ability to issue Incentive Stock Options pursuant to the Plan, (B) the deductibility by the Company of amounts taxed to Plan Participants as ordinary compensation income, and (C) the status of any Award as exempt from registration requirements under any securities law for which the Award was intended to be exempt. The foregoing prohibitions in this Section 8.9 shall not be affected by adjustments in shares and purchase price made in accordance with the provisions of Section 8.1. | ||
(b) | Certain Exchanges, Etc., Stockholder Approval Required . Subject to the terms and conditions and within the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify, extend or renew outstanding Awards or accept the surrender by the affected Participants of outstanding Awards (to the extent not previously exercised) and authorize the granting of a new Award in substitution therefore; provided, however, other than in connection with Section 8.1, the Committee shall not without the approval of the stockholders of the Company (i) lower the exercise price of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, (b) cancel an Option or Stock Appreciation Right when the exercise price exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying shares of Common Stock in exchange for another Award (other than in connection with Substitute Awards), and (c) take any other action with |
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respect to an Option or Stock Appreciation Right that would be treated as a repricing under the rules and regulations of the principal securities market on which the Common Stock is traded. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no modification of an Award shall, without the consent of the affected Participant, adversely affect or otherwise impair any of the rights of the Participant or obligations of the Company under any outstanding Award previously granted under the Plan. | |||
(c) | Termination; Suspension . The Board of Directors may terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time by written resolution. No suspension or termination shall impair the rights of Participants under outstanding Awards without the consent of the Participants affected thereby. |
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(a) | Existence of Plan . The existence of the Plan shall in no way give any employee the right to continued employment, give any director the right to continued service on the Board, give any employee or director the right to receive any Awards or any compensation under the Plan, or otherwise provide any employee or director any rights not specifically set forth in the Plan or in any Award Agreement. | ||
(b) | Granting of Awards . The granting of Awards under the Plan shall in no way give any employee the right to continued employment, give any director the right to continued service on the Board, give any employee or director the right to receive any additional Awards or any additional compensation under the Plan, or otherwise provide any employee or director any rights not specifically set forth in the Plan or in any Award Agreement. |
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