As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 1, 2007.

Registration No. 333-            

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM S-8

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


 

ACTIVISION, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

95-4803544

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(I.R.S. Employer

of incorporation or organization)

 

Identification No.)

 

3100 Ocean Park Boulevard
Santa Monica, California 90405
(Address of principal executive offices)

 

ACTIVISION, INC. 2007 INCENTIVE PLAN
(Full title of the plan)

 

George L. Rose
Secretary
Activision, Inc.
3100 Ocean Park Boulevard
Santa Monica, California 90405

(Name and address of agent for service)

 

(310) 255-2000
(Telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)

 


 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of Each Class of
Securities to
be Registered

 

Amount
to be
Registered (1)

 

Proposed
Maximum
Offering
Price per
Share (2)

 

Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering
Price (2)

 

Amount of
Registration
Fee (2)

 

Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (3)

 

17,685,577

 

$

21.22

 

$

375,199,516

 

$

11,519

 

 

(1)

Represents shares issuable pursuant to the Activision, Inc. 2007 Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Pursuant to Rule 416, there are also registered hereunder such indeterminate number of additional shares as may become available for issuance pursuant to the Plan as a result of the antidilution provisions contained therein.

 

 

(2)

The registration fee with respect to these shares has been computed in accordance with paragraphs (c) and (h) of Rule 457, based upon the average of the daily high and low prices of shares of the common stock on September 27, 2007, as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc.

 

 

(3)

One preferred stock purchase right (a “Right”) will also be issued with respect to each share of Common Stock.  The terms of the Rights are described in Activision, Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, File No. 001-15839, filed on April 19, 2000.

 

 



 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

The information called for by Part I of Form S-8 is included in the description of the Activision, Inc. 2007 Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to be delivered to persons acquiring shares pursuant to the Plan. Pursuant to the Note to Part I of Form S-8, this information is not being filed with or included in this registration statement on Form S-8.

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

 

The following documents, which have been filed by Activision, Inc. (the “Company”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), are incorporated by reference into this registration statement on Form S-8:

 

(a)            Annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007;

 

(b)            (i)             Quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2007;

 

(ii)            The following current reports on Form 8-K:

 

    dated March 31, 2007 and filed with the Commission on April 5, 2007;

 

    dated May 3, 2007 and filed with the Commission on May 3, 2007;

 

    dated May 31, 2007 and filed with the Commission on June 1, 2007;

 

    dated June 7, 2007 and filed with the Commission on June 7, 2007;

 

    dated June 13, 2007 and filed with the Commission on June 19, 2007;

 

    dated July 11, 2007 and filed with the Commission on July 17, 2007; and

 

    dated August 2, 2007 and filed with the Commission on August 2, 2007;

 

but in each case excluding all information that is “furnished” and not “filed” therewith; and

 

(c)            The description of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, contained in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, File No. 000-12699, filed on July 23, 1984, and the description of the preferred stock purchase rights contained in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, File No. 001-15839, filed on April 19, 2000, and any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating either such description.

 

In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold, or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this registration statement on Form S-8 and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in later-dated documents supplements, modifies or supersedes statements contained in earlier-dated documents.

 

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Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

The Company’s certificate of incorporation limits the liability of the Company’s directors to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”). The DGCL provides that a corporation may limit the personal liability of its directors for monetary damages for breach of that individual’s fiduciary duties as a director except for liability for any of the following: (a) a breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; (b) any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law; (c) certain unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions; or (d) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

Section 145 of the DGCL generally provides that a corporation may indemnify directors and officers against attorneys’ fees and other judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding in which such person was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party by reason of such person being or having been a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation. The DGCL provides that Section 145 is not exclusive of other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

 

The Company’s certificate of incorporation and by-laws provide that any officer or director of the Company who, by reason of the fact that he or she is an officer or director of the Company, is involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”) will be indemnified by the Company to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL. The by-laws further provide officers and directors a right to advancement of expenses prior to the final disposition of a proceeding.

 

The Company maintains a directors’ and officers’ insurance policy which insures the officers and directors of the Company from any claim arising out of an alleged wrongful act by such persons in their respective capacities as officers and directors of the Company.

 

In addition, the Company has entered into agreements with certain of its directors and officers that require the Company, among other things, to indemnify such persons against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers and, in some cases, to advance expenses incurred by them as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified.

 

The Commission takes the position that indemnification of directors, officers and controlling persons against liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and therefore is unenforceable.

 

Item 8. Exhibits.

 

The following is a list of all exhibits filed as a part of this registration statement on Form S-8, including those incorporated herein by reference.

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description of Exhibit

 

 

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Activision Holdings, Inc., dated June 9, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.5 of the Company’s Form 8-K, filed June 16, 2000).

 

 

 

3.2

 

Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Activision Holdings, Inc., dated as of June 9, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.7 of the Company’s Form 8-K, filed June 16, 2000).

 

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Exhibit
Number

 

Description of Exhibit

 

 

 

3.3

 

Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Preferred Stock of Activision, Inc. dated as of December 27, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2001).

 

 

 

3.4

 

Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of Activision, Inc., dated as of April 4, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K, filed April 5, 2005).

 

 

 

3.5

 

Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Preferred Stock of Activision, Inc. dated August 4, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K, filed August 5, 2005).

 

 

 

3.6

 

Third Amended and Restated By-Laws of Activision, Inc. dated September 27, 2007.

 

 

 

4.1

 

Rights Agreement dated as of April 18, 2000, between Activision, Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, which includes as exhibits the form of Right Certificates as Exhibit A, the Summary of Rights to Purchase Series A Junior Preferred Stock as Exhibit B and the form of Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Preferred Stock of Activision as Exhibit C (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, Registration No. 001-15839, filed April 19, 2000).

 

 

 

5.1

 

Opinion of Jones Day.

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

 

 

 

23.2

 

Consent of Jones Day (included in Exhibit 5.1)

 

 

 

24.1

 

Power of attorney (included on signature pages).

 

 

 

99.1

 

Activision, Inc. 2007 Incentive Plan.

 

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Item 9. Undertakings.

 

A.   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii)  To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;

 

provided, however , that paragraphs A(1)(i) and A(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

 

(2)   That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3)   To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

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B.   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

C.   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Santa Monica, State of California, on this 1 st day of October, 2007.

 

 

ACTIVISION, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ George L. Rose

 

  George L. Rose

 

  Secretary, Activision, Inc.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated.

 

SIGNATURES

 

TITLE

 

DATE

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Robert A. Kotick

 

Chairman, Chief Executive
Officer, and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

 

October 1, 2007

Robert A. Kotick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Brian G. Kelly

 

Co-Chairman and Director

 

September 28, 2007

Brian G. Kelly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Michael Griffith

 

President and Chief Executive Officer
of Activision Publishing, Inc.
(Principal Executive Officer
of Activision, Inc.)

 

October 1, 2007

Michael Griffith

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Thomas Tippl

 

 

Chief Financial Officer of
Activision Publishing, Inc.
(Principal Financial and Accounting
Officer of Activision, Inc.)

 

October 1, 2007

Thomas Tippl

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Ronald Doornink

 

Director

 

October 1, 2007

Ronald Doornink

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Robert J. Morgado

 

Director

 

October 1, 2007

Robert J. Morgado

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Richard Sarnoff

 

Director

 

October 1, 2007

Richard Sarnoff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Peter J. Nolan

 

Director

 

October 1, 2007

Peter J. Nolan

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description of Exhibit

 

 

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Activision Holdings, Inc., dated June 9, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.5 of the Company’s Form 8-K, filed June 16, 2000).

 

 

 

3.2

 

Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Activision Holdings, Inc., dated as of June 9, 2000 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.7 of the Company’s Form 8-K, filed June 16, 2000).

 

 

 

3.3

 

Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Preferred Stock of Activision, Inc. dated as of December 27, 2001 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2001).

 

 

 

3.4

 

Certificate of Amendment of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, of Activision, Inc., dated as of April 4, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K, filed April 5, 2005).

 

 

 

3.5

 

Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Preferred Stock of Activision, Inc. dated August 4, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K, filed August 5, 2005).

 

 

 

3.6

 

Third Amended and Restated By-Laws of Activision, Inc. dated September 27, 2007.

 

 

 

4.1

 

Rights Agreement dated as of April 18, 2000, between Activision, Inc. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, which includes as exhibits the form of Right Certificates as Exhibit A, the Summary of Rights to Purchase Series A Junior Preferred Stock as Exhibit B and the form of Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Preferred Stock of Activision as Exhibit C (incorporated by reference to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, Registration No. 001-15839, filed April 19, 2000).

 

 

 

5.1

 

Opinion of Jones Day.

 

 

 

23.1

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

 

 

 

23.2

 

Consent of Jones Day (included in Exhibit 5.1)

 

 

 

24.1

 

Power of attorney (included on signature pages).

 

 

 

99.1

 

Activision, Inc. 2007 Incentive Plan

 


Exhibit 3.6

 

As adopted by the Board of Directors

September 27, 2007

 

THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

BY-LAWS

 

OF

 

ACTIVISION, INC.

 

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

 

1.1.           Registered Office . The registered office of Activision, Inc. (the “Corporation”) within the State of Delaware shall be established and maintained at the location of the registered agent of the Corporation.

 

1.2.           Other Offices . The Corporation may have other offices, either within or without the State of Delaware, at such place or places as the Board of Directors may from time to time appoint or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE II

STOCKHOLDERS

 

2.1.           Place of Stockholders’ Meetings . Meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be held at such place, within or without the State of Delaware as may be designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors, by the Chairman, the Co-Chairman or the Secretary, and stated in the notice of meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that, subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt from time to time: (a) stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of the stockholders held at a designated place may, by means of remote communication, participate in such meeting and be deemed present in person and vote at such meeting or (b) a meeting of the stockholders shall not be held at any place, but shall instead be held solely by means of remote communication, and stockholders and proxyholders may, by such means, participate in such meeting and be deemed present in person and vote at such meeting.

 

2.2.           Date and Hour of Annual Meetings of Stockholders . An annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year on such date and at such time as the Board of Directors shall each year fix, which date shall be within thirteen (13) months of the last annual meeting of stockholders.

 

2.3.           Purposes of Annual Meetings . At each annual meeting, the stockholders shall elect the members of the Board of Directors to succeed those whose terms expire. At any such

 



 

annual meeting any other business as may properly come before the meeting may also be transacted.

 

2.4.           Special Meetings of Stockholders . Except as required by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation established pursuant to the provisions of the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, as amended from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), special meetings of stockholders may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the then authorized number of directors or by the Chairman or Co-Chairman. Stockholders of the Corporation are not permitted to call a special meeting or to require that the Board of Directors or the Chairman or Co-Chairman call a special meeting of stockholders. The business permitted to be transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the business specified in the notice of meeting.

 

2.5.           Notice of Meetings of Stockholders . (a)  Except as otherwise expressly required or permitted by law, not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of any stockholders’ meeting the Secretary shall give to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting a notice stating the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.

 

(b)  Except as provided in Section 2.5(c), any notice required by Section 2.5(a) shall be in writing and given in person or by mail or courier service. Such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, or with the courier service directed to the stockholder at his mailing address for notices to such stockholder as it appears on the records of the Corporation.

 

(c)  Any notice required by Section 2.5(a) may be given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Such notice shall be deemed given:  (i) if by facsimile transmission, when directed to a facsimile number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (iii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and (iv) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.

 

2.6.           Quorum of Stockholders . (a)  At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of all of the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by law.

 

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(b)  In the absence of a quorum, the officer presiding shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is present. Notice of any adjourned meeting, other than announcement at the meeting, shall not be required to be given, except as provided in Section 2.6(d) below or where expressly required by law.

 

(c)  At any adjourned session at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting originally called but only those stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting as originally noticed shall be entitled to vote at any adjournment or adjournments thereof, unless a new record date is fixed by the Board of Directors.

 

(d)  When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the date, time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than thirty (30) days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the date, time and place, if any, of the adjourned meeting, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, shall be given in conformity with these by-laws. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

2.7.           Chairman and Secretary of Meeting . Such person as the Board of Directors may have designated, or in the absence of such a person, the Chairman, or, in his absence, the Co-Chairman, or, in his absence, the Chief Executive Officer, or, in his absence, a Vice President, shall call to order any meetings of the stockholders and act as presiding officer of the meeting. The Secretary or, in his absence, an Assistant Secretary, shall act as secretary of the meeting, and if neither is present, the presiding officer shall appoint a person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

2.8.           Voting by Stockholders . Except as may be otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these by-laws, at every meeting of the stockholders each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock standing in such stockholder’s name on the books of the Corporation on the record date for the meeting. All elections shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast, and except as otherwise required by law, all other matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively.

 

2.9.           Proxies . At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy authorized in a manner permitted by Section 212 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or any successor provision. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created to authorize another person or persons to act for a stockholder as proxy may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission. Without affecting any vote previously taken, a stockholder may revoke any proxy that is not irrevocable by attending the

 

3



 

meeting and voting in person, by giving notice thereof to the Secretary of the Corporation or by a later appointment of a proxy.

 

2.10.         Inspectors . The election of directors and any other vote by ballot at any meeting of the stockholders shall be supervised by one or more inspectors. Such inspector(s) shall be appointed by the Board of Directors, the Chairman, the Co-Chairman or the Secretary in advance of such meeting. The Board of Directors, the Chairman, Co-Chairman or Secretary may designate one or more persons as alternate inspector(s) to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at the meeting of the stockholders, the presiding officer of the meeting may appoint one or more substitute inspectors.

 

2.11.         List of Stockholders . (a)  At least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders the Secretary shall prepare and make a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock, and showing the mailing address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder.

 

(b)  For a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, such list shall be open to examination by any stockholder for any purpose germane to the meeting (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation.

 

(c)   If the meeting is to be held at a place, the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time of the meeting, and it may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network and the information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.

 

(d)  In the event the Corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic network, the Corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure the information is available only to stockholders.

 

(e)  The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger and the number of shares held by each of them, the list required by this Section 2.11 or the books of the Corporation or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

2.12.         Conduct of Business . The presiding officer of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including determining any regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion. The presiding officer shall have the power to adjourn the meeting to another date, time and place, if any. The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting.

 

2.13.         Action By Consent Without Meeting . Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of

 

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stockholders, or any action which may be taken at any such meeting, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, to its principal place of business, or to an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the books in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be made by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within sixty (60) days of the date of the earliest dated consent which shall have been delivered to the Corporation in the manner prescribed in this Section 2.13, a written consent or consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take action are delivered to the Corporation in the manner prescribed in this Section 2.13. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing, and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to a notice of the meeting if the record date for such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take the action were delivered to the Corporation in accordance with applicable law.

 

2.14.         Advance Notice Procedures . Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock established pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, nominations for the election of directors and any other business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders may be made by the Board of Directors or a committee appointed by the Board of Directors, or by any stockholder entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; provided, that any such stockholder may nominate one or more persons for election as directors at an annual meeting or propose other business to be brought before an annual meeting, or both, only if such stockholder has given timely notice in proper written form of his or her intent to make such nomination or nominations or to propose such other business. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary of the Corporation not less than sixty (60) days nor more than ninety (90) days prior to the annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than seventy (70) days’ notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, a stockholder’s notice must be received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made, whichever occurs first. To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth:

 

(a)  the name and address (both mailing address and electronic mail address) of the stockholder who intends to make the nomination or nominations or propose the other business as they appear on the Corporation’s books and (i) the name and mailing address of the person or persons to be nominated or (ii) a description of the other business to be proposed;

 

(b)  a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons or propose the other business specified in the notice;

 

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(c)  a description of any arrangement or understanding between the stockholder and (i) any nominee or any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) in connection with any nomination or nominations to be made by the stockholder, or (ii) any person or persons (naming such person or persons) in connection with the other proposed business,

 

(d)  a description of any material interest of the stockholder in any proposed business;

 

(e)  all other information regarding each nominee or each other matter of business to be proposed by such stockholder that would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission if the nominee had been nominated or the matter of business had been proposed by the Board of Directors; and

 

(f)  if applicable, the consent of each nominee to serve as director of the Corporation if so elected.

 

The presiding officer of the meeting may refuse to acknowledge the nomination of any person or the proposal of any business not made in compliance with the foregoing procedure.

 

ARTICLE III

DIRECTORS

 

3.1.           Powers of Directors . Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these by-laws, the property, business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of its Board of Directors and, in connection therewith, the Board of Directors may exercise all the powers of the Corporation.

 

3.2.           Number and Terms of Office of Directors . (a) Subject to the rights of any holders of any series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation established pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, the Board of Directors shall be comprised of at least three (3) and not more than nine (9) members, with the number of authorized directors being fixed at eight (8), subject to change from time to time by a resolution of the Board of Directors adopted by the affirmative vote of directors constituting a majority of the authorized number of directors.

 

(b)  Each director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s death, resignation or removal.

 

3.3.           Resignation; Vacancies on Board of Directors; Removal . (a)  Resignation . Any director may resign his office at any time by delivering his resignation in writing or electronic transmission to the Chairman, Co-Chairman or the Secretary. Such resignation will take effect as of the date and time, or upon the happening of an event or events, specified therein, or, if no date, time or event is specified, it will be effective at the time of its receipt by the Corporation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective, unless expressly so provided in the resignation.

 

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(b)  Vacancies . Any vacancy on the Board of Directors shall, unless otherwise required by law, be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director. Any director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office for the same remaining term as that of his or her predecessor, or if such director was elected as a result of an increase in the number of directors, then for the term specified in the resolution providing for such increase.

 

(c)  Removal . Any director may be removed with or without cause at any time by the affirmative vote of stockholders holding of record in the aggregate at least a majority of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation, given at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.

 

3.4.           Meetings of the Board of Directors . (a)  The Board of Directors may hold their meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.

 

(b)  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such date, time and place, if any, as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. No notice of such regular meetings shall be required.

 

(c)  Immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders, the first meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors shall be held, and at such meeting the Board of Directors shall elect officers and transact such other business as it may determine. If such annual meeting of stockholders is held at a place rather than by means of remote communication and such meeting of the Board of Directors is held at the place of the stockholders’ meeting, no notice thereof shall be required.

 

(d)  Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held whenever called by direction of the Chairman or Co-Chairman or at the written request of any one director.

 

(e)  The Secretary shall give notice to each director of any special meeting of the Board of Directors. Such notice shall be given in person, by mail or overnight courier service or by facsimile transmission or electronic mail. Any such notice given by mail or overnight courier service shall be given at least three (3) days, in the case of mail, or two (2) days, in the case of overnight courier service, prior to the date of the meeting, and such notice shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, or with the courier service directed to the director at his mailing address for notices maintained by the Secretary. Any such notice given in person or by facsimile transmission or electronic mail shall be given at least one (1) day prior to the date of the meeting, and such notice shall be deemed given (i) if by facsimile transmission, when directed to the facsimile number for such notices maintained by the Secretary, or (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to the electronic mail address for such notices maintained by the Secretary. Unless required by law, such notice need not include a statement of the business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, any such meeting. Any and all business may be transacted at any meeting of the Board of Directors. No notice of any adjourned meeting need be given. No notice to or waiver of notice by any director shall be required with respect to any meeting at which the director is present.

 

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3.5.           Quorum and Action . Unless provided otherwise by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, directors constituting a majority of the authorized number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if there shall be less than a quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time. The vote of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary to constitute the act of the Board of Directors.

 

3.6.           Presiding Officer and Secretary of Meeting . The Chairman, or, in his absence, the Co-Chairman, or, in his absence, a member of the Board of Directors selected by the members present, shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his absence the presiding officer may appoint a secretary of the meeting.

 

3.7.           Action by Consent Without Meeting . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee designated by the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission are filed with the minutes or proceedings of the Board of Directors or any committee designated by the Board of Directors. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

3.8.           Action by Telephonic Conference . Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by such Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of such Board of Directors or committee thereof by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

3.9.           Committees . (a)  The Board of Directors may, by resolution or resolutions passed by the affirmative vote of directors constituting a majority of the authorized number of directors, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of any member or members of such committee or committees, and in the absence of a designation by the Board of Directors of an alternate member to replace the absent or disqualified member, the member or members of the committee present at any such meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.

 

(b)  Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, or in these by-laws, but subject to the limitations set forth in applicable law, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.

 

(c)  Any such committee shall be governed by Section 141(c)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

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3.10.         Compensation of Directors . Directors shall receive reasonable compensation for their service on the Board of Directors or any committees thereof, and the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix such compensation of directors. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

 

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

 

4.1.           Officers . (a)  The Corporation shall have a Chairman, Co-Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and a Secretary and such Vice Presidents and other officers as the Board of Directors or the Chairman shall from time to time determine. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. Any of the offices may be left vacant from time to time as the Board of Directors may determine.

 

(b)  Any officer may resign his office at any time by delivering such resignation in writing or electronic transmission to the Chairman, Co-Chairman or Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect as of the date and time, or upon the happening of an event or events, specified therein or, if no date, time or event is specified, at the time of its receipt by the Corporation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective, unless expressly so provided in the resignation.

 

(c)  The salaries of all officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors or by a committee of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the Board of Directors or any such committee may delegate the power to fix the compensation of any officers of the Corporation, other than the Chairman, the Co-Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, to an officer of the Corporation.

 

(d)  Except as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the Chairman, Co-Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President, Secretary and any other officer may delegate to other officers, employees and agents of the Corporation the power and authority to take any action which the Chairman, Co-Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President, Secretary or such other officer is authorized to take, with such limitations as the Chairman, Co-Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President, Secretary or such other officer may specify. Power and authority so delegated by the Chairman, Co-Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President, Secretary or any other officer may not be re-delegated by the person to whom such power and authority has been delegated without the consent of the person from whom it was delegated.

 

4.2.           Removal of Officers . Any officer may be removed at any time, either with or without cause, by resolution adopted at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors by a majority of the directors then in office.

 

4.3.           Duties . (a)  Chairman and Co-Chairman . The Chairman and Co-Chairman shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may determine, and shall

 

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have authority to execute on behalf of the Corporation any and all contracts, agreements, bonds, deeds, mortgages, leases or other obligations of the Corporation. In the absence or incapacity of the Chairman or Co-Chairman, the Board of Directors shall determine which other officer or officers shall perform the duties of that office.

 

(b)  Chief Executive Officer . The Chief Executive Officer shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Chairman or Co-Chairman may determine, and shall have authority to execute on behalf of the Corporation any and all contracts, agreements, bonds, deeds, mortgages, leases or other obligations of the Corporation. In the absence or incapacity of the Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors, Chairman or Co-Chairman shall determine which other officer or officers shall perform the duties of that office.

 

(c)  Vice President . Each Vice President, if any, shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may determine or as may be assigned to him by the Chairman, Co-Chairman or Chief Executive Officer, and shall have authority to execute on behalf of the Corporation any and all contracts, agreements, bonds, deeds, mortgages, leases or other obligations of the Corporation.

 

(d)  Secretary . The Secretary shall (1) record the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and all other committees in one or more books provided for that purpose, or designate any other person to do so; (2) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these by-laws and as required by law; (3) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation and see that the seal of the Corporation is affixed to all documents, the execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal is duly authorized; (4) keep a register of the mailing address and any facsimile number and electronic mail address of each stockholder furnished to the Secretary by such stockholder; (5) have general charge of stock transfer books of the Corporation; and (6) in general perform all duties incident to the office of secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Chairman, Co-Chairman, Chief Executive Officer or by the Board of Directors.

 

(e)  Assistant Secretaries . At the request of the Secretary or in his absence or disability, one or more Assistant Secretaries designated by him or by the Board of Directors shall have all the powers of the Secretary for such period as he or it may designate or until he or it revokes such designation for such period as he or it may designate or until he or it revokes such designation. The Assistant Secretaries, in general, shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Secretary, or by the Chairman, Co-Chairman, Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE V

CAPITAL STOCK

 

5.1.           Stock Certificates and Uncertificated Shares .

 

(a)  Every holder of stock of the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of, the Corporation by the Chairman or Co-Chairman and by the

 

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Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by him. Any such certificates shall be issued in such form not inconsistent with the Certificate of Incorporation as shall be approved by the Board of Directors. Each certificate shall be numbered and registered in the order in which they are issued. Any or all signatures on any such certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. All certificates surrendered to the Corporation shall be cancelled and shall be retained by the Secretary, together with the powers of attorney to transfer and the assignments of the shares represented by such certificates, for such period of time as shall be prescribed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

(b)  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 5.1(a), the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the stock of the Corporation may be uncertificated.

 

5.2.           Record Ownership . A record of the name and mailing address of each holder of the Corporation’s stock, the number of shares held by each such holder and the date of issue thereof shall be made on the Corporation’s books. The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of any share of stock as the holder in fact thereof, and accordingly shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in any share on the part of any other person, whether or not the Corporation shall have express or other notice thereof, except as required by law.

 

5.3.           Transfer of Record Ownership . Transfers of shares of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by direction of the record holder thereof or such record holder’s attorney, lawfully constituted in writing, in the manner prescribed by applicable law and these by-laws. If such shares are represented by a certificate, such transfer shall occur upon surrender of the certificate therefor and a written assignment of the shares evidenced thereby. Whenever any transfer of stock shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry of the transfer if, when the certificates are presented or, in the case of uncertificated shares, written notice is given to the Corporation for transfer, both the transferor and transferee request the Corporation to do so.

 

5.4.           Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates . In place of any certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may from time to time authorize, the Corporation may issue a new certificate or uncertificated shares.

 

5.5.           Transfer Agent; Registrar; Rules Respecting Certificates . The Corporation may maintain one or more transfer offices or agencies where stock of the Corporation shall be transferable. The Corporation may also maintain one or more registry offices where such stock shall be registered. The Board of Directors may make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of stock.

 

5.6.           Fixing Record Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record . The Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a date as the record date for the purpose of determining

 

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stockholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of the stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or the allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or in order to make a determination of the stockholders for the purpose of any other lawful action. Such record date in any case shall be not more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of a meeting of the stockholders, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action requiring such determination of the stockholders. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

5.7.           Dividends . Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may, out of funds legally available therefor at any regular or special meeting, declare dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation as and when they deem expedient. Before declaring any dividend there may be set apart out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends, such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time in their discretion deem proper for working capital or as a reserve fund to meet contingencies or for equalizing dividends or for such other purposes as the Board of Directors shall deem conducive to the interests of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VI

SECURITIES HELD BY THE CORPORATION

 

6.1.           Voting . Except as otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the Chairman, Co-Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President or the Secretary shall have full power and authority, on behalf of the Corporation, to attend, act and vote at any meeting of the stockholders of any corporation in which the Corporation may hold stock, and at such meeting to exercise any or all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such stock, and to execute on behalf of the Corporation a proxy or proxies empowering another or others to act as aforesaid. The Board of Directors from time to time may confer like powers upon any other person or persons.

 

6.2.           General Authorization to Transfer Securities Held by the Corporation . (a)  The Chairman, Co-Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, any Vice President or the Secretary shall be, and they hereby are, authorized and empowered to transfer, convert, endorse, sell, assign, set over and deliver any and all shares of stock, bonds, debentures, notes, subscription warrants, stock purchase warrants, evidence of indebtedness, or other securities now or hereafter standing in the name of or owned by the Corporation, and to make, execute and deliver, under the seal of the Corporation, any and all written instruments of assignment and transfer necessary or proper to effectuate the authority hereby conferred.

 

(b)  Whenever there shall be annexed to any instrument of assignment and transfer executed pursuant to and in accordance with the foregoing paragraph (a), a certificate of the Secretary of the Corporation in office at the date of such certificate setting forth the provisions of this Section 6.2 and stating that they are in full force and effect and setting forth the

 

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names of persons who are then officers of the Corporation, then all persons to whom such instrument and annexed certificate shall thereafter come, shall be entitled, without further inquiry or investigation and regardless of the date of such certificate, to assume and to act in reliance upon the assumption that the shares of stock or other securities named in such instrument were theretofore duly and properly transferred, endorsed, sold, assigned, set over and delivered by the Corporation, and that with respect to such securities the authority of these provisions of the by-laws and of such officers is still in full force and effect.

 

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS

 

7.1.           Signatories . All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

7.2.           Seal . The seal of the Corporation shall be in such form and shall have such content as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine.

 

7.3.           Notice and Waiver of Notice . Whenever any notice of the date, time, place, if any, or purpose of any meeting of the stockholders, directors or a committee of the Board of Directors is required to be given by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these by-laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after holding thereof, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice to such persons. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such waiver.

 

7.4.           Amendment of By-Laws . (a)  By Board of Directors . The by-laws of the Corporation may be altered, amended or repealed or new by-laws may be made or adopted by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board; provided however, that Section 3.3(c) and Section 7.4(a) of these by-laws may be altered, amended or repealed only by action of the stockholders acting pursuant to Section 7.4(b) hereof.

 

(b)  By Stockholders . These by-laws may also be altered, amended or repealed or new by-laws may be made or adopted by the vote of a majority in interest of the stockholders represented and entitled to vote upon the election of directors, at any meeting at which a quorum is present. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal, or adopt any provisions inconsistent with, Sections 2.4, 2.14, 3.2(a), 3.3(b), or this Section 7.4(b).

 

7.5.           Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records . Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or

 

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statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any other person as to matters which such director, committee member or officer reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

 

7.6.           Fiscal Year . Except as from time to time otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on March 31.

 

ARTICLE VIII

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

8.1.           Right to Indemnification . Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an “indemnitee”), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer or trustee or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer or trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, damages, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement (collectively “expenses”)) incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as provided in Section 8.3 with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if initiation of such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors.

 

8.2.           Right to Advancement of Expenses . In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 8.1, an indemnitee shall also have the right to advancement by the Corporation prior to the final disposition of any proceeding of any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) relating to, arising out of or resulting from any proceeding paid or incurred by indemnitee or which indemnitee determines are reasonably likely to be paid or incurred by indemnitee (hereinafter an “advancement of expenses”); provided that indemnitee shall repay, without interest, any amounts actually advanced to indemnitee that, at the final disposition of the proceeding to which the advances related, were in excess of amounts paid or payable by indemnitee in respect of expenses relating to, arising out of or resulting from such proceeding; and, provided, further, that, if the Delaware General Corporation Law requires, an advancement of expenses shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an “undertaking”), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to

 

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appeal (hereinafter a “final adjudication”) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 8.2 or otherwise.

 

8.3.           Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit . If a claim under Sections 8.1 or 8.2 is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty (60) days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period shall be twenty (20) days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii) in any suit brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the Corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its directors who are not parties to such action, committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses hereunder, or brought by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this Article VIII or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.

 

8.4.           Non-Exclusivity of Rights . The rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses conferred in this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, the Certificate of Incorporation, these by-laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or directors or otherwise.

 

8.5.           Insurance . The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

8.6.           Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation . The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and to the advancement of expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the Corporation.

 

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8.7.           Nature of Rights . The rights conferred upon indemnitees in this Article VIII shall be contract rights and such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer or trustee and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitee’s heirs, executors and administrators. Any amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VIII that adversely affects any right of an indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit or eliminate any such right with respect to any proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.

 

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Exhibit 5.1

 

JONES DAY

2727 NORTH HARWOOD    DALLAS, TEXAS 75201

TELEPHONE: (214) 220-3939    FACSIMILE: (214) 969-5100

 

October 1, 2007

 

Activision, Inc.

3100 Ocean Park Boulevard

Santa Monica, California 90405

 

Re:          Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Activision, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel for Activision, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the filing of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 to which this opinion has been filed as an exhibit (the “ Registration Statement ”) to register under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “ Act ”) up to 17,685,577 shares (the “ Shares ”) of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, of the Company (the “ Common Stock ”), together with the associated preferred stock purchase rights of the Company that may be issued to the holders of the Common Stock (the “ Rights ” and, together with the Shares, the “ Securities ”), that may be issued or delivered and sold pursuant to the Activision, Inc. 2007 Incentive Plan (the “ Plan ”).

In connection with the opinions expressed herein, we have examined such documents, records and matters of law as we have deemed relevant or necessary for purposes of this opinion.  Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

1.                                        The Shares will be, when issued or delivered and sold in accordance with the Plan, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, provided that the consideration for such Shares is at least equal to the stated par value thereof.

2.                                        When issued in accordance with the Rights Agreement, dated as of April 18, 2000 (as it may be amended from time to time, the “ Rights Agreement ”), between the Company and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as rights agent, the Rights will be validly issued.

In rendering the foregoing opinions, we have assumed that the resolutions authorizing the Company to issue or deliver and sell the Securities pursuant to the Plan will be in full force and effect at all times at which such Securities are issued or delivered and sold by the Company, and the Company will take no action inconsistent with such resolutions.  In addition, we have assumed that each award under the Plan will be approved by an authorized committee of the Board of Directors and otherwise made in accordance with the Plan.

The opinions expressed herein are limited to the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, including the applicable provisions of the Delaware Constitution and the reported judicial decisions interpreting such law, in each case as currently in effect, and we express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.



 

The opinion set forth in paragraph 2 above is limited to the corporate authorization and valid issuance of the Rights under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.  We do not express any opinion herein with respect to any other aspect of the Rights, the effect of equitable principles or fiduciary considerations relating to the adoption of the Rights Agreement or the issuance of the Rights or the enforceability of any particular provisions of the Rights Agreement.  In rendering the opinion set forth in paragraph 2 above, we have assumed that the Directors of the Company have acted and will act in the good faith exercise of their business judgment with respect to the authorization of the issuance of the Rights and the execution of the Rights Agreement.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement filed by the Company to effect registration of the Securities to be issued or delivered and sold pursuant to the Plan under the Act.  In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

Very truly yours,

 

/S/ JONES DAY

 


 

Exhibit 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed by Activision, Inc. of our report dated June 14, 2007 relating to the consolidated financial statements, financial statement schedule, management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in Activision, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2007.

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

 

Los Angeles, California

October 1, 2007

 


Exhibit 99.1

 

ACTIVISION, INC.

2007 INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.           Purpose. The purpose of the Activision, Inc. 2007 Incentive Plan is to attract and retain directors, officers and other employees of and consultants to Activision, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its Subsidiaries, and to provide to such persons incentives and rewards for performance.

 

2.           Definitions. As used in the Plan:

 

(a)       Award ” means a grant of a Stock Option, SARs, Performance Shares, Performance Units or a Senior Executive Bonus or a grant or sale of Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units or an award contemplated by Section 10.

 

(b)       Base Price ” means the price per share specified in an Evidence of Award of a Freestanding SAR.

 

(c)       Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(d)       Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

 

(e)       Committee ” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee of the Board responsible for administering the Plan pursuant to Section 11.

 

(f)        Common Shares ” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.000001 per share, of the Company or any security into which such Common Shares may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type referred to in Section 12.

 

(g)       Company ” means Activision, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its successors.

 

(h)       Covered Employee” means a Participant who is, or is determined by the Committee to be likely to become, a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor provision).

 

(i)        Date of Grant” means the date specified by the Committee on which an Award becomes effective (which date may not be earlier than the date on which the Committee takes action with respect thereto).

 

(j)        Deferral Period” means the period of time during which Restricted Share Units are subject to deferral limitations, as provided in Section 7.

 

(k)       Director ” means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(l)        Effective Date ” means the date of approval of the Plan by the Company’s stockholders.

 



 

(m)       Evidence of Award ” means an agreement, certificate, resolution or other type or form of writing or other evidence approved by the Committee that sets forth the terms and conditions of Awards. An Evidence of Award may be in an electronic medium, may be limited to notation on the books and records of the Company and, with the approval of the Committee, need not be signed by a representative of the Company or a Participant.

 

(n)       Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, as such law, rules and regulations may be amended from time to time.

 

(o)       Exercise Price ” means the purchase price per share payable on exercise of a Stock Option.

 

(p)       Fiscal Year” means the fiscal year of the Company.

 

(q)       Freestanding SAR ” means a SAR that is not granted in tandem with a Stock Option.

 

(r)        Incentive Stock Option ” means a Stock Option that is intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.

 

(s)       Management Objectives ” means the measurable performance objective or objectives established pursuant to the Plan for Participants who have received grants of Performance Shares or Performance Units or, when so determined by the Committee, Stock Options, SARs, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, dividend credits and other awards pursuant to the Plan. Management Objectives may be described in terms of Company-wide objectives or objectives that are related to the performance of the individual Participant or of a Subsidiary, division, department or function within the Company or a Subsidiary. The Committee may provide, in connection with the setting of the Management Objectives, that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude certain items that may occur during any Fiscal Year, including, without limitation, the following: (i) asset write downs; (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements; (iii) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles or other laws or provisions affecting reported results; (iv) any reorganization and restructuring programs; (v) extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the applicable year; (vi) acquisitions or divestitures; and (vii) foreign exchange gains and losses. To the extent such inclusions or exclusions affect Awards to Covered Employees, they will be prescribed in a form that meets the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code for deductibility. The Management Objectives applicable to any Award to a Covered Employee will be based on specified levels of, or relative peer company, performance in any one or more of the following objectives, or any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion:

 

(A)           Adjusted net earnings

(B)            Appreciation in and/or maintenance of the price of Common Shares (or any other publicly-traded securities of the Company),

 

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including, without limitation, comparisons with various stock market indices

(C)            Attainment of strategic and operational initiatives

(D)           Budget

(E)            Cash flow (including, without limitation, free cash flow)

(F)            Cost of capital

(G)            Cost reduction

(H)           Earnings and earnings growth (including, without limitation, earnings per share, earnings before taxes, earnings before interest and taxes, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization)

(I)             Maintenance of internal controls over financial reporting and corporate governance practices

(J)             Market share

(K)           Market value added

(L)            Net income

(M)          Net sales

(N)           Operating profit and operating income

(O)           Pretax income before allocation of corporate overhead and bonus

(P)            Quality

(Q)           Recruitment and development of associates

(R)            Reductions in costs

(S)            Return on assets and return on net assets

(T)            Return on equity

(U)           Return on invested capital

(V)            Sales and sales growth

(W)          Successful acquisition/divestiture

(X)           Total stockholder return and improvement of stockholder return

 

If the Committee determines that a change in the business, operations, corporate structure or capital structure of the Company, or the manner in which it conducts its business, or other events or circumstances, render previously established Management Objectives unsuitable, the Committee may in its discretion modify such Management Objectives or the related levels of achievement, in whole or in part, as the Committee deems appropriate and equitable, except in the case of a Covered Employee where such action would result in the loss of the otherwise available exemption of the Award under Section 162(m) of the Code. In such case, the Committee will not make any modification of the Management Objectives or the level or levels of achievement with respect to such Covered Employee.

 

(t)         Market Value per Share ” means, as of any particular date, (i) the closing price per Common Share as reported on the principal securities exchange, association or quotation system on which Common Shares are then listed or quoted, or (ii) if clause (i) does not apply, the fair market value of a Common Share as determined by the Committee.

 

(u)       Optionee ” means the optionee named in an Evidence of Award evidencing an outstanding Stock Option.

 

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(v)        Participant ” means a person who is selected by the Committee to receive benefits under the Plan and who is at the time an officer, employee, consultant, advisor or director of the Company or of any Subsidiary.

 

(w)       Performance Period ” means, in respect of a Performance Share, Performance Unit or Senior Executive Plan Bonus, a period of time established pursuant to Section 8 or Section 9 within which the Management Objectives relating to such Award are to be achieved. The Performance Period for a Senior Executive Plan Bonus will be the Fiscal Year and, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, the Performance Period for all other Awards will be established by the Committee at the time of the Award.

 

(x)        Performance Share ” means a bookkeeping entry that records the equivalent of one Common Share awarded pursuant to Section 8.

 

(y)        Performance Unit ” means a bookkeeping entry awarded pursuant to Section 8 that records a unit equivalent to $1.00 or such other value as is determined by the Committee.

 

(z)        Plan ” means this Activision, Inc. 2007 Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time.

 

(aa)       Related SAR ” means a SAR granted pursuant to Section 5 that is granted in tandem with a Stock Option.

 

(bb)     Restricted Shares ” means Common Shares granted or sold pursuant to Section 6 as to which neither the substantial risk of forfeiture nor the prohibition on transfers has expired.

 

(cc)      Restricted Share Unit ” means an award granted pursuant to Section 7 of the right to receive Common Shares or cash at the end of a specified period.

 

(dd)     Rolled-Up Plan ” means any of the following:  (i) Activision, Inc. 1998 Incentive Plan, as amended, (ii) Activision, Inc. 1999 Incentive Plan, as amended, (iii) Activision, Inc. 2001 Incentive Plan, as amended, (iv) Activision, Inc. 2002 Incentive Plan, as amended, (v) Activision, Inc. 2002 Executive Incentive Plan, (vi) Activision, Inc. 2002 Studio Employee Retention Incentive Plan, and (v) Activision, Inc. 2003 Incentive Plan.

 

(ee)      SAR ” or “ Share Appreciation Right ” means a right granted pursuant to Section 5 to receive a percentage of the Spread upon exercise, and includes both Freestanding SARs and Related SARs.

 

(ff)       Senior Executive Plan Bonus” means an award of annual incentive compensation made pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in Section 9.

 

(gg)     Spread ” means the excess of the Market Value per Share on the date when a SAR is exercised over the Exercise Price or Base Price provided for in the related Stock Option or Freestanding SAR, respectively.

 

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(hh)     Stock Option ” means the right to purchase Common Shares upon exercise of an option granted pursuant to Section 4.

 

(ii)        Subsidiary ” means a corporation, company or other entity (i) at least 50 percent of whose outstanding shares or securities (representing the right to vote for the election of directors or other managing authority) are, or (ii) which does not have outstanding shares or securities (as may be the case in a partnership, joint venture or unincorporated association), but at least 50 percent of whose ownership interests representing the right generally to make decisions for such other entity are, now or hereafter, owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the Company, except that for purposes of determining whether any person may be a Participant for purposes of any grant of Incentive Stock Options, “Subsidiary” means any corporation in which at the time the Company owns or controls, directly or indirectly, at least 50 percent of the total combined voting power represented by all classes of stock issued by such corporation.

 

3.           Shares Available Under the Plan.

 

(a)        Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12, the number of Common Shares that may be issued or transferred (i) upon the exercise of Stock Options, (ii) in payment of SARs, (iii) as Restricted Shares, (iv) in payment of Restricted Share Units, (v) in payment of Performance Shares or Performance Units, (vi) in payment of Senior Executive Bonuses, (vii) as or pursuant to Awards contemplated by Section 10, or (viii) in payment of dividend equivalents paid with respect to Awards made under the Plan will not exceed in the aggregate 15,000,000 Common Shares, which maximum number will be increased by the following:  (A) the number of shares reserved for issuance and not subject to outstanding awards under each Rolled-Up Plan as of the Effective Date; (B) the number of shares relating to awards outstanding under any Rolled-Up Plan as of the Effective Date that (1) expire, or are forfeited, terminated or cancelled, without the issuance of shares, (2) are settled in cash in lieu of shares, or (3) are exchanged prior to the issuance of Common Shares, for awards not involving Common Shares; and (C) if the exercise price of any stock option outstanding under any Rolled-Up Plan as of the Effective Date is, or the tax withholding requirements with respect to any award outstanding under any Rolled-Up Plan as of the Effective Date are, satisfied by withholding shares otherwise then deliverable in respect of the award or the actual or constructive transfer to the Company of shares already owned, the number of shares equal to the withheld or transferred shares.

 

(b)        Under the Plan, (i) if all or any portion of an Award expires, or is forfeited, terminated or cancelled, without the issuance of Common Shares, or is settled in cash in lieu of Common Shares, or is exchanged with the Committee’s permission, prior to the issuance of Common Shares, for an Award not involving Common Shares, the number of Common Shares expired, forfeited, terminated or cancelled, or settled or exchanged, as the case may be, will again be available for issuance or transfer under the Plan; (ii) if the Exercise Price of any Stock Option granted under the Plan is, or the tax withholding requirements with respect to any Award granted under the Plan are, satisfied through the withholding by the Company of shares otherwise then deliverable in respect of such Award or actual or constructive transfer to the Company of shares already owned, a number of shares equal to such withheld or transferred shares will again be available for issuance or transfer under the Plan; and (iii) if a SAR is exercised and settled in Common Shares, a number of shares equal to the difference between the

 

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total number of shares for which the SAR was exercised and the number of shares actually issued or transferred will again be available for issuance or transfer under the Plan, with the result being that only the number of Common Shares actually issued or transferred upon exercise of the SAR are counted against the maximum number of Common Shares available for issuance or transfer under the Plan. Shares utilized under the Plan may be shares of original issuance or treasury shares or a combination of the foregoing.

 

(c)            Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12:

 

(i)             The number of Common Shares actually issued or transferred by the Company upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options will not exceed 15,000,000 in the aggregate.

 

(ii)            The number of Common Shares actually issued or transferred by the Company as or pursuant to Awards other than Options or SARs will not exceed 7,500,000 in the aggregate, including no more than 3,000,000 in the aggregate as or pursuant to Awards granted under Section 10.

 

(iii)           The number of shares issuable or transferable in respect of Stock Options and SARs granted to any one Participant in a single Fiscal Year may not exceed 2,000,000 in the aggregate.

 

(iv)           The number of (A) Restricted Shares granted to any one Participant in a single Fiscal Year and (B) Common Shares issuable or transferable in respect of Restricted Share Units granted to such Participant in such Fiscal Year, may not exceed 1,000,000 in the aggregate.

 

(v)            The number of Performance Shares granted to any one Participant in a single Fiscal Year may not exceed 1,500,000 in the aggregate.

 

(vi)           The value of Performance Units granted to any one Participant in a single Fiscal Year may not exceed $2,000,000 in the aggregate (with the value of any such award to be determined as of the date of such award).

 

(vii)          The amount of any Senior Executive Plan Bonuses paid to any one Participant for any single Fiscal Year may not exceed $4,000,000 in the aggregate.

 

(viii)         The number of Common Shares issuable or transferable in respect of Awards contemplated by Section 10 granted to any one Participant in a single Fiscal Year may not exceed 1,500,000 in the aggregate. The value of any Awards contemplated by Section 10 that do not involve the issuance or transfer of Common Shares granted to any one Participant in a single Fiscal Year may not exceed $2,000,000 in the aggregate (with the value of any such award to be determined as of the date of such award).

 

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(d)       If a Participant has elected to give up the right to receive compensation in exchange for Common Shares based on fair market value, such Common Shares will not count against the number of shares available in Section 3(a) above.

 

4.          Stock Options. The Committee may, from time to time and upon such terms and conditions as it may determine, authorize the grant to Participants of options to purchase Common Shares. Each such grant may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

 

(a)        Each grant will specify the number of Common Shares to which it pertains.

 

(b)        Each grant will specify an Exercise Price per share, which may not be less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.

 

(c)        Each grant may specify that the Exercise Price will be payable (i)  by bank check or certified check or by wire transfer of immediately available funds, (ii) through the delivery of irrevocable instructions, in form acceptable to the Company, to a brokerage firm approved by the Optionee to sell some or all of the Common Shares being purchased upon such exercise and to thereafter deliver promptly to the Company from the proceeds of such sale an amount in cash equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Common Shares being purchased, (iii) by a combination of such methods of payment, or (iv) by such other methods as may be approved by the Committee.

 

(d)       Successive grants may be made to the same Participant whether or not any Stock Options previously granted to such Participant remain unexercised.

 

(e)        Each grant will specify the period or periods of continuous employment or other service by the Optionee with the Company or a Subsidiary that is necessary before the Stock Options or installments thereof will become exercisable. A grant of Stock Options may provide for the accelerated vesting and exercisability of all or a portion of such Stock Options in the event of the retirement, death, disability or other termination of the Optionee’s service or a change of control of the Company or a Subsidiary (or other similar transaction or event).

 

(f)        A grant of Stock Options may specify Management Objectives or other performance criteria that must be achieved as a condition to the exercise of such rights or that may result in the accelerated exercisability of such rights.

 

(g)        Stock Options may be (i) options that are intended to qualify under the Code as Incentive Stock Options, (ii) options that are not intended to so qualify, or (iii) combinations of the foregoing.

 

(h)        The exercise of a Stock Option will result in the cancellation on a share- for-share basis of any Related SAR authorized under Section 5.

 

(i)         No Stock Option will be exercisable more than 10 years from the Date of Grant.

 

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(j)         Each grant of Stock Options will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award. Each Evidence of Award will be subject to the Plan and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with the Plan, as the Committee may approve from time to time.

 

5.           SARs. The Committee may also authorize the grant to any Optionee of Related SARs in respect of Stock Options granted hereunder and the grant to any Participant of Freestanding SARs. A Related SAR will be a right of the Optionee, exercisable by surrender of the related Stock Option, to receive from the Company an amount determined by the Committee, which will be expressed as a percentage of the Spread (not exceeding 100 percent) at the time of exercise. Related SARs must be granted concurrently with the related Stock Option. A Freestanding SAR will be a right of the Participant to receive from the Company an amount determined by the Committee, which will be expressed as a percentage of the Spread (not exceeding 100 percent) at the time of exercise. Each grant of SARs may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

 

(a)        Each grant will specify the number of Common Shares to which it pertains.

 

(b)       Each grant of Freestanding SARs will specify the Base Price, which may not be less than the Market Value per Share on the Date of Grant.

 

(c)        Upon exercise, each SAR will be payable in Common Shares having an aggregate Market Value per Share equal to the Spread (or the designated percentage of the Spread).

 

(d)       A grant may specify that the amount payable on exercise of a SAR may not exceed a maximum specified by the Committee at the Date of Grant.

 

(e)        A grant may specify waiting periods before exercise and permissible exercise dates or periods.

 

(f)        A grant may specify that the exercisability of a SAR may be conditioned on, or may be accelerated in whole or in part in the event of, the retirement, death, disability or other termination of the Participant’s service or a change of control of the Company or a Subsidiary (or other similar transaction or event).

 

(g)       A grant of SARs may specify Management Objectives or other performance criteria that must be achieved as a condition of the exercise of such SARs or that may result in the accelerated exercisability of such SARs.

 

(h)       Each grant of SARs will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award, which Evidence of Award will describe such SARs, identify the related Stock Options (if applicable), and contain such other terms and provisions, consistent with the Plan, as the Committee may approve from time to time.

 

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(i)         A grant of Related SARs will provide that such Related SARs may be exercised only at a time when the related Stock Option is also exercisable and at a time when the Spread is positive, and by surrender of the related Stock Option for cancellation. Successive grants of Related SARs may be made to the same Participant regardless of whether any Related SARs previously granted to the Participant remain unexercised.

 

(j)         Successive grants of Freestanding SARs may be made to the same Participant regardless of whether any Freestanding SARs previously granted to the Participant remain unexercised.

 

(k)        No Freestanding SAR granted under the Plan may be exercised more than 10 years from the Date of Grant.

 

6.           Restricted Shares. The Committee may also authorize the grant or sale of Restricted Shares to Participants. Each such grant or sale will constitute an immediate transfer of the ownership of Common Shares to the Participant in consideration of the performance of services or other benefit to the Company, entitling such Participant to voting, dividend and other ownership rights, but subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture (within the meaning of Section 83 of the Code) and restrictions on transfer hereinafter referred to. Each such grant or sale may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

 

(a)        Each grant will specify the number of Common Shares to which it pertains.

 

(b)       Each such grant or sale may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by the Participant that is less than the Market Value per Share at the Date of Grant.

 

(c)        Each such grant or sale will specify the period or periods of continuous employment or other service by the Participant with the Company or a Subsidiary (or other risk of forfeiture) that must be satisfied before the restrictions described in Section 6(c) will lapse and the Restricted Shares will become vested, and/or may provide that all or a portion of the restrictions on the Restricted Shares will lapse upon the achievement of Management Objectives or other performance criteria (as provided in Section 6(d) below).

 

(d)       Each such grant or sale will provide that, during the period for which the risk of forfeiture continues, the transferability of the Restricted Shares will be prohibited or restricted in the manner and to the extent prescribed by the Committee at the Date of Grant (which restrictions may include, without limitation, rights of repurchase or first refusal in the Company or provisions subjecting the Restricted Shares to a continuing substantial risk of forfeiture in the hands of any transferee).

 

(e)        A grant of Restricted Shares may specify Management Objectives or other performance criteria that, if achieved, will result in the lapse or early lapse of the restrictions applicable to all or a portion of such Restricted Shares. Each grant may specify in respect of such Management Objectives or other performance criteria a minimum acceptable level of achievement and may set forth a formula for determining the number of Restricted Shares with

 

9



 

respect to which restrictions will lapse if performance is at or above the minimum level, but falls short of maximum achievement of the specified Management Objectives or criteria.

 

(f)        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan, a grant or sale of Restricted Shares may provide for the acceleration in whole or in part of the lapse of the restrictions on the Restricted Shares in the event of the retirement, death, disability or other termination of the Participant’s service or a change of control of the Company or a Subsidiary (or other similar transaction or event).

 

(g)       A grant or sale of Restricted Shares may require that any or all dividends or other distributions paid thereon during the period of such restrictions be automatically deferred and reinvested in additional shares of Restricted Shares, which may be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying Award.

 

(h)       Each grant or sale of Restricted Shares will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with the Plan, as the Committee may approve. Unless otherwise directed by the Committee, all Restricted Shares will be held in custody by the Company or its transfer agent and registrar until all restrictions thereon have lapsed.

 

7.           Restricted Share Units. The Committee may also authorize the grant or sale of Restricted Share Units to Participants. Each such grant or sale will constitute the agreement by the Company to deliver Common Shares or cash to the Participant in the future in consideration of the performance of services or other benefit to the Company, but subject to the fulfillment of such conditions (which may include the achievement of Management Objectives or other performance criteria) during the Deferral Period as the Committee may specify. Each such grant or sale may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

 

(a)        Each grant will specify the number of Common Shares to which it pertains.

 

(b)       Each grant may specify in respect of such Management Objectives or other performance criteria a minimum acceptable level of achievement and may set forth a formula for determining the number of Restricted Share Units which will vest if performance is at or above the minimum level, but falls short of maximum achievement of the specified Management Objectives or criteria.

 

(c)        Each such grant or sale may be made without additional consideration or in consideration of a payment by such Participant that is less than the Market Value per Share at the Date of Grant.

 

(d)       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Plan, a grant or sale may provide for the accelerated vesting of Restricted Share Units and the lapse or other modification of the Deferral Period in whole or in part in the event of the retirement, death, disability or other termination of the Participant’s service or a change of control of the Company or a Subsidiary (or other similar transaction or event).

 

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(e)        During the Deferral Period, the Participant will have no rights of ownership in the Restricted Share Units and will have no right to vote Common Shares underlying the Restricted Share Units, but an Evidence of Award may authorize the payment of dividend equivalents on such Restricted Share Units on either a current or deferred or contingent basis, either in cash or in Common Shares.

 

(f)        Each grant or sale will specify the time and manner of payment of the Restricted Share Units that have been earned. A grant or sale may specify that the amount payable with respect thereto may be paid by the Company in cash, in Common Shares or in any combination thereof and may either grant to the Participant or retain in the Committee the right to elect among those alternatives.

 

(g)       Each grant or sale of Restricted Share Units will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award and will contain such terms and provisions, consistent with the Plan, as the Committee may approve from time to time.

 

8.           Performance Shares and Performance Units. The Committee may also authorize the grant of Performance Shares and Performance Units that will become payable to a Participant upon achievement of specified Management Objectives or other performance criteria during the Performance Period. Each such grant may utilize any or all of the authorizations, and will be subject to all of the requirements, contained in the following provisions:

 

(a)        Each grant will specify the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units to which it pertains, which number may be subject to adjustment to reflect changes in compensation or other factors; provided , however , that no such adjustment will be made in the case of a Covered Employee where such action would result in the loss of the otherwise available exemption of the Award under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(b)       The Performance Period with respect to each Performance Share or Performance Unit will be such period of time as will be determined by the Committee at the Date of Grant, which may be subject to earlier lapse or other modification in the event of the retirement, death, disability or other termination of the Participant’s service or a change of control of the Company or a Subsidiary (or other similar transaction or event).

 

(c)        A grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units will specify Management Objectives or other performance criteria which, if achieved, will result in payment or early payment of the Award, and each grant may specify in respect of such specified Management Objectives or other performance criteria a level or levels of achievement and will set forth a formula for determining the number of Performance Shares or Performance Units that will be earned if performance is at or above the minimum level or levels, but falls short of maximum achievement of the specified Management Objectives or criteria.

 

(d)       Each grant will specify the time and manner of payment of Performance Shares or Performance Units that have been earned. A grant may specify that the amount payable with respect thereto may be paid by the Company in cash, in Common Shares or in any combination thereof and may either grant to the Participant or retain in the Committee the right to elect among those alternatives.

 

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(e)        A grant of Performance Shares may specify that the amount payable with respect thereto may not exceed a maximum specified by the Committee at the Date of Grant. A grant of Performance Units may specify that the amount payable or the number of Common Shares issued with respect thereto may not exceed maximums specified by the Committee at the Date of Grant.

 

(f)        The Committee may, at the Date of Grant of Performance Shares, provide for the payment of dividend equivalents to the holder thereof on either a current or deferred or contingent basis, either in cash or in Common Shares.

 

(g)       Each grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units will be evidenced by an Evidence of Award and will contain such other terms and provisions, consistent with the Plan, as the Committee may approve from time to time.

 

9.           Senior Executive Plan Bonuses . The Committee may from time to time authorize the payment of annual incentive compensation to a Participant who is a Covered Employee, which incentive compensation will become payable upon achievement of specified Management Objectives. Subject to Section 3(b)(vii), Senior Executive Plan Bonuses will be payable upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in accordance with the following provisions:

 

(a)        No later than 90 days after the first day of the Fiscal Year, the Committee will specify the Management Objectives that, if achieved, will result in the payment of a Senior Executive Plan Bonus for such Fiscal Year.

 

(b)       Following the close of the Fiscal Year, the Committee will certify in writing whether the specified Management Objectives have been achieved. Approved minutes of a meeting of the Committee at which such certification is made will be treated as written certification for this purpose. The Committee will also specify the time and manner of payment of a Senior Executive Plan Bonus which becomes payable, which payment may be made in (i) cash, (ii) Common Shares having an aggregate Market Value per Share equal to the aggregate value of the Senior Executive Plan Bonus which has become payable, or (iii) any combination thereof, as determined by the Committee in its discretion at the time of payment.

 

(c)        The Committee may provide that, if a change in control of the Company occurs during a Performance Period, the Senior Executive Plan Bonus payable to each Participant for the Performance Period will be determined at the highest level of achievement of the Management Objectives, without regard to actual performance and without proration for less than a full Performance Period. In such event, the Senior Executive Plan Bonus will be paid at such time following the change in control as the Committee determines in its discretion, but in no event later than 30 days after the date of an event which results in a change in control.

 

(d)       Each grant may be evidenced by an Evidence of Award, which will contain such terms and provisions as the Committee may determine consistent with the Plan, including without limitation provisions relating to the Participant’s termination of employment by reason of retirement, death, disability or otherwise.

 

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10.         Other Awards.

 

(a)        In addition to Stock Options, SARs, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units and Senior Executive Plan Bonuses, the Committee may, subject to limitations under applicable law, make other Awards (i) that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Common Shares or factors that may influence the value of such shares, including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Common Shares, purchase rights for Common Shares, (ii) with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or specified Subsidiaries or other business units thereof or any other factors designated by the Committee, or (iii) valued by reference to the book value of Common Shares or the value of securities of, or the performance of specified Subsidiaries or other business units of the Company. The Committee will determine the terms and conditions of such Awards. Common Shares delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 10 will be purchased for such consideration, paid for at such time, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Common Shares, other Awards, notes or other property, as the Committee determines.

 

(b)       Cash awards, as an element of or a supplement to any other Award made under the Plan, may also be made pursuant to this Section 10.

 

(c)        The Committee may grant Common Shares as a bonus, or may make other Awards in lieu of obligations of the Company or a Subsidiary to pay cash or deliver other property under the Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, subject to such terms as are determined by the Committee from time to time.

 

11.         Administration of the Plan.

 

(a)        The Plan will be administered by the Committee. The composition of the Committee will comply with applicable independence requirements under the rules and regulations of any securities exchange, association or quotation system on which Common Shares are then listed or quoted, and the Board will also consider the advisability of appointing to the Committee members who satisfy the requirements of (i) the definition of the term “non-employee director” used Rule 16b - 3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and (ii) the definition of the term “outside director” used in Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(b)       The Committee may from time to time delegate all or any part of its authority under the Plan to a subcommittee of the Committee or to any other committee of the Board or a subcommittee thereof. To the extent of any such delegation, references in the Plan to the Committee will be deemed to be references to such committee or subcommittee.

 

(c)        Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, any Award to a member of the Committee must be approved by the Board to be effective.

 

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(d)       The Committee will have sole discretion to (i) interpret any provision of the Plan or an Evidence of Award, (ii) make any determination necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan and Awards hereunder, and (iii) waive any condition or right of the Company under an Award or discontinue or terminate an Evidence of Award. Without intending to limit the generality or effect of the foregoing, any decision or determination made by the Committee with respect to the Plan or an Award, including whether to grant or withhold any required consent, will be made by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion, subject to the terms of the Plan. The interpretation and construction by the Committee of any provision of the Plan or of any Evidence of Award and any determination by the Committee pursuant to any provision of the Plan or of any such Evidence of Award will be final and conclusive.

 

(e)        The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or more officers of the Company, or to one or more agents or advisors, such administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable, and the Committee, or any person to whom duties or powers have been so delegated, may employ one or more persons to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee or such person may have under the Plan. Without limiting the foregoing and subject to applicable law, the Committee may, by resolution, authorize one or more officers of the Company to do one or both of the following on the same basis as the Committee: (i) designate employees to be recipients of Awards under the Plan; and (ii) determine the size of any such Awards; provided , however , that (A) the Committee will not delegate such responsibilities to any such officer for Awards to an executive officer or any person subject to Section 162(m) of the Code; (B) the resolution providing for such authorization sets forth the total number of Common Shares such officer(s) may grant; and (C) the officer(s) will report periodically to the Committee regarding the nature and scope of the Awards made pursuant to the authority delegated.

 

12.         Adjustments. The Committee will make or provide for such adjustments in the number of Common Shares authorized under Section 3, in the number of Common Shares covered by outstanding Awards, in the Exercise Price of outstanding Stock Options and any amounts payable for Common Shares under other outstanding Awards, in the Base Price of outstanding SARs, and in the kind of shares covered thereby, as is equitably required to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants or Optionees that otherwise would result from (a) any stock dividend, extraordinary dividend, stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the Company, or (b) any change of control, merger, consolidation, spin-off, split- off, spin-out, split-up, reorganization, partial or complete liquidation or other distribution of assets, or issuance of rights or warrants to purchase securities, or (c) any other corporate transaction or event having an effect similar to any of the foregoing. Moreover, in the event of any such transaction or event, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in substitution for any or all outstanding Awards under the Plan such alternative consideration (including, without limitation, cash), if any, as it may determine to be equitable in the circumstances and may require in connection therewith the surrender of all Awards so replaced. The Committee will also make or provide for such adjustments in the numbers of shares specified in Section 3(c) as the Committee in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, may determine is appropriate to reflect any transaction or event described in this Section 12; provided , however , that any such adjustment to the numbers specified in Sections 3(c)(i) and 3(c)(ii) will be made only if and to the extent that (i) such adjustment would not cause any option intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option to fail to so qualify and

 

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(ii) such adjustment would not result in negative tax consequences under Section 409A of the Code. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event that the Company issues warrants or other rights to acquire Common Shares on a pro rata basis to all stockholders, the Committee will make such adjustments in the number of Common Shares authorized under the Plan and in the limits contained herein as it may deem to be equitable, including, without limitation, proportionately increasing the number of authorized Common Shares or any such limit.

 

13.         Non U.S. Participants . In order to facilitate the making of any grant or combination of grants under the Plan, the Committee may provide for such special terms for Awards to Participants who are foreign nationals or who are employed by the Company or any Subsidiary outside of the United States of America or who provide services to the Company under an agreement with a foreign nation or agency, as the Committee may consider necessary or appropriate to accommodate differences in local law, tax policy or custom. Moreover, the Committee may approve such supplements to or amendments, restatements or alternative versions of the Plan (including, without limitation, sub-plans) as it may consider necessary or appropriate for such purposes, without thereby affecting the terms of the Plan as in effect for any other purpose, and the Secretary or other appropriate officer of the Company may certify any such document as having been approved and adopted in the same manner as the Plan. No such special terms, supplements, amendments or restatements, however, will include any provisions that are inconsistent with the terms of the Plan as then in effect unless the Plan could have been amended to eliminate such inconsistency without further approval by the stockholders of the Company.

 

14.         Transferability .

 

(a)        Except as provided below or as otherwise determined by the Committee, (i) no Award will be transferable by a Participant except by will or the laws of descent and distribution and (ii) Stock Options and SARs will be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant or, in the event of the Participant’s legal incapacity to do so, by the Participant’s guardian or legal representative acting on behalf of the Participant in a fiduciary capacity under state law and/or court supervision. With the consent of the Company, which may be granted or withheld in its sole and absolute discretion, a Participant may transfer an Award for estate planning purposes or pursuant to a domestic relations order; provided that such transferee will be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and the Evidence of Award relating to the Award and executes an agreement satisfactory to the Company evidencing such obligations; and provided further that such Participant will remain bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Stock Option that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option or any Related SAR granted in tandem therewith may be transferred.

 

(b)       The Committee may specify at the Date of Grant that part or all of the Common Shares that are (i) to be issued or transferred by the Company upon the exercise of Stock Options or SARs, upon the termination of the Deferral Period applicable to Restricted Share Units or upon payment under any grant of Performance Shares, Performance Units or a Senior Executive Plan Bonus or (ii) no longer subject to the substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer referred to in Section 6, will be subject to further restrictions on transfer.

 

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15.         Withholding Taxes. To the extent that the Company or a Subsidiary is required to withhold federal, state, local or foreign taxes in connection with any payment made or benefit realized by a Participant or other person under the Plan, and the amounts available to the Company or Subsidiary for such withholding are insufficient, it will be a condition to the receipt of such payment or the realization of such benefit that the Participant or such other person make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for payment of the balance of such taxes required to be withheld, which arrangements (in the discretion of the Committee) may include relinquishment of a portion of such benefit.

 

16.         Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. To the extent applicable, it is intended that the Plan and any Awards hereunder comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code. The Plan and any Awards hereunder will be administrated in a manner consistent with this intent, and any provision that would cause the Plan or any Award to fail to satisfy Section 409A of the Code will have no force and effect until amended to comply with Section 409A of the Code (which amendment may be retroactive to the extent permitted by Section 409A of the Code and may be made by the Company without the consent of Participants). Any reference in the Plan to Section 409A of the Code will also include any proposed, temporary or final regulations, or any other guidance, promulgated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury or the Internal Revenue Service.

 

17.         Amendments.

 

(a)        The Committee may at any time and from time to time amend or suspend the Plan in whole or in part; provided , however , that, if an amendment must be approved by the stockholders of the Company in order to comply with applicable legal requirements or the requirements of the principal securities exchange, association or quotation system on which the Common Shares are then listed or quoted, then such amendment will be subject to stockholder approval and will not be effective unless and until such approval has been obtained. Without intending to limit the generality or effect of the foregoing, if an amendment to the Plan would increase the number of Common Shares that may be issued or transferred upon the exercise of Incentive Stock Options, then such amendment will be subject to stockholder approval and will not be effective unless and until such approval has been obtained.

 

(b)       The Committee will not, without the further approval of the stockholders of the Company, authorize the amendment of any outstanding Stock Option or SAR to reduce the Exercise Price or Base Price. Furthermore, no Stock Option or SAR will be cancelled and replaced with Awards having a lower Exercise Price or Base Price without further approval of the stockholders of the Company. This Section 17(b) is intended to prohibit the repricing of “underwater” Stock Options and SARs and will not be construed to prohibit the adjustments provided for in Section 12.

 

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(c)        Subject to Section 17(b) hereof, the Committee may amend the terms of any Award under the Plan prospectively or retroactively, except in the case of a Covered Employee where such action would result in the loss of the otherwise available exemption of the Award under Section 162(m) of the Code. In such case, the Committee will not make any modification of the Management Objectives or the level or levels of achievement with respect to such Covered Employee. Subject to Section 12, no amendment to any Award may materially and adversely affect the rights of any Participant taken as a whole without his or her consent.

 

(d)       If permitted by Section 409A of the Code, in case of termination of employment by reason of the death, disability or normal or early retirement, or in the case of unforeseeable emergency or other special circumstances, of a Participant who holds a Stock Option or SAR not immediately exercisable in full, or any Restricted Shares as to which the risk of forfeiture or the prohibition or restriction on transfer has not lapsed, or any Restricted Share Units as to which the Deferral Period has not been completed, or any Performance Shares or Performance Units which have not been fully earned, or any other Award made pursuant to Section 10 subject to any vesting schedule or transfer restriction, or who holds Common Shares subject to any transfer restriction imposed pursuant to Section 12(b), the Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the time at which such Stock Option, SAR or other Award may be exercised, the time at which such risk of forfeiture or prohibition or restriction on transfer will lapse, the time when such Deferral Period will end, the time at which such Performance Shares or Performance Units will be deemed to have been fully earned or the time when such transfer restriction will terminate, or may waive any other limitation or requirement under any such Award.

 

(e)        The Committee may, in its discretion, terminate the Plan at any time. Termination of the Plan will not affect the rights of Participants or their successors under any Awards outstanding hereunder and not exercised in full on the date of termination.

 

18.         Governing Law. The Plan and all Awards and actions taken thereunder will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal substantive laws of the State of Delaware.

 

19.         Term of Plan. The Plan will be effective as of the Effective Date. No Award will be made under the Plan more than 10 years after the Effective Date, but all Awards made on or prior to such date will continue in effect thereafter subject to the terms thereof and of the Plan.

 

20.         Miscellaneous Provisions.

 

(a)        The Company will not be required to issue any fractional Common Shares pursuant to the Plan. The Committee may provide for the elimination of fractions or for the settlement of fractions in cash.

 

(b)       The Plan will not confer upon any Participant any right with respect to continuance of employment or other service with the Company or a Subsidiary, nor will it interfere in any way with any right the Company or a Subsidiary would otherwise have to terminate such Participant’s employment or other service at any time. Except as specifically provided by the Committee, the Company will not be liable for the loss of existing or potential

 

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profit with respect to an Award hereunder in the event of termination of employment or other relationship, even if the termination is in violation of an obligation of the Company or a Subsidiary to the Participant. The Committee’s making of an Award to a Participant hereunder will not confer upon the Participant any right to receive any other Awards hereunder or under any other plan or arrangement.

 

(c)        Any Evidence of Award may provide for the effect on any Common Shares issued or other payment made with respect to the Award of any conduct of the Participant determined by the Committee to be injurious, detrimental or prejudicial to the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

(d)       Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award to the contrary, no Award may be effectuated, through exercise by the holder thereof or otherwise, if the delivery of cash or stock to the holder of such Award pursuant to the terms thereof would be, based on advice of counsel to the Company, contrary to law or the regulations of any duly constituted authority having jurisdiction over the Plan. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, each issuance of Common Shares to a Participant pursuant to the Plan or an Award will be made for such consideration as is required by applicable law to ensure that such Common Shares are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable upon such issuance.

 

(e)        Absence on leave approved by a duly constituted officer of the Company or a Subsidiary will not be considered interruption or termination of service of any employee for any purposes of the Plan or an Award, except that no Award may be made to an employee while he or she is absent on leave.

 

(f)        No Participant will have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any Common Shares subject to an Award made to him or her under the Plan prior to the date as of which he or she is actually recorded as the holder of such Common Shares upon the stock records of the Company.

 

(g)       The Committee may condition any Award or combination of Awards authorized under the Plan on the surrender or deferral by the Participant of his or her right to receive a cash bonus or other compensation otherwise payable by the Company or a Subsidiary to the Participant.

 

(h)       If any provision of the Plan is or becomes invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision will be construed or deemed amended or limited in scope to conform to applicable laws or, in the discretion of the Committee, will be stricken and the remainder of the Plan will remain in full force and effect.

 

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(i)         Each individual who is or has been a member of the Board or a committee appointed by the Board will be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid in settlement thereof with the Company’s approval, or paid in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against the individual, provided the Company is given the opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend such claim, action, suit or proceeding before the individual undertakes to handle and defend such claim, action, suit or proceeding on his or her own behalf, unless such loss, cost, liability or expense is a result of such individual’s own willful misconduct or except as expressly provided by statute. The foregoing right of indemnification will not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such individuals may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 

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