SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 10, 2007
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
|
1-9712 |
|
62-1147325 |
(State or other |
|
(Commission |
|
(IRS Employer |
jurisdiction of |
|
File Number) |
|
Identification No.) |
incorporation) |
|
|
|
|
8410 West Bryn Mawr, Suite 700, Chicago, Illinois |
|
60631 |
(Address of principal executive offices) |
|
(Zip Code) |
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (773) 399-8900
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers .
On December 10, 2007, U.S. Cellular approved the Executive Deferred Compensation Interest Account Plan in which named executive officers of U.S. Cellular participate. This Plan is an unfunded nonqualified deferred compensation arrangement established for the purpose of providing deferred compensation for officers and key employees of U.S. Cellular. The foregoing brief description is qualified by reference to a copy of the Plan which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated by reference herein.
Item 8.01. Other Events .
This Form 8-K includes as exhibits the following documents in which named executive officers of U.S. Cellular participate:
1. U.S. Cellular Executive Deferred Compensation Interest Account Plan (Interest Plan)
2. Election Form for Interest Plan
3. Form of U.S. Cellular Executive Deferred Compensation Agreement Phantom Stock Account for Deferred Bonus.
4. Second Amendment to U.S. Cellular 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan
5. Third Amendment to U.S. Cellular 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan
6. Fourth Amendment to U.S. Cellular 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan
The foregoing is qualified by reference to the documents that are attached hereto as Exhibits and incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits:
In accordance with the provisions of Item 601 of Regulation S-K, any Exhibits filed or furnished herewith are set forth on the Exhibit Index attached hereto.
2
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
United States Cellular Corporation |
|
||
(Registrant) |
|
||
|
|
||
Date: December 14, 2007 |
|
||
|
|
||
|
|||
By: |
/s/ Steven T. Campbell |
|
|
|
Steven T. Campbell |
||
|
Executive Vice President Finance, |
||
|
Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |
||
3
EXHIBIT INDEX
The following exhibits are filed or furnished herewith as noted below.
Exhibit |
|
|
No. |
|
Description |
|
|
|
10.1 |
|
U.S. Cellular Executive Deferred Compensation Interest Account Plan (Interest Plan) |
|
|
|
10.2 |
|
Election Form for Interest Plan |
|
|
|
10.3 |
|
Form of U.S. Cellular Executive Deferred Compensation Agreement Phantom Stock Account for Deferred Bonus. |
|
|
|
10.4 |
|
Second Amendment to U.S. Cellular 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan |
|
|
|
10.5 |
|
Third Amendment to U.S. Cellular 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan |
|
|
|
10.6 |
|
Fourth Amendment to U.S. Cellular 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan |
4
EXHIBIT 10.1
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION INTEREST ACCOUNT PLAN
(Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008)
Table of Contents
|
|
Page |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 1 |
Introduction |
1 |
|
|
|
Section 1.1 |
Title |
1 |
Section 1.2 |
Purpose |
1 |
Section 1.3 |
Effective Date |
1 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 2 |
Definitions |
1 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 3 |
Participation |
4 |
|
|
|
Section 3.1 |
Eligibility |
4 |
Section 3.2 |
Participation |
4 |
Section 3.3 |
Election of Payment Date and Form of Payment |
4 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 4 |
Accounts |
5 |
|
|
|
Section 4.1 |
Deferred Compensation Account |
5 |
Section 4.2 |
Crediting of Interest |
5 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 5 |
Payment of Deferred Compensation Account |
6 |
|
|
|
Section 5.1 |
Normal Distribution |
6 |
Section 5.2 |
Distribution Upon Disability |
6 |
Section 5.3 |
Distribution at Death |
6 |
Section 5.4 |
Timing of Distribution Upon Occurrence of Distribution Event |
6 |
Section 5.5 |
Withdrawals for an Unforeseeable Emergency |
7 |
Section 5.6 |
Subsequent Election |
7 |
Section 5.7 |
Designation of Beneficiaries |
7 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 6 |
Administration |
8 |
|
|
|
Section 6.1 |
In General |
8 |
Section 6.2 |
Claims Procedure |
8 |
Section 6.3 |
Immunity of SVPHR and Plan Administrator |
9 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 7 |
General Provisions |
10 |
|
|
|
Section 7.1 |
Base Salary Payable for Final Payroll Period |
10 |
Section 7.2 |
Leaves of Absence |
10 |
Section 7.3 |
Source of Payment |
10 |
Section 7.4 |
Withholding |
10 |
Section 7.5 |
Assignment |
10 |
i
Section 7.6 |
Applicable Law |
11 |
Section 7.7 |
Plurals and Headings |
11 |
Section 7.8 |
Plan Not to Affect Employment Relationship |
11 |
Section 7.9 |
Inability to Locate Participant or Designated Beneficiary |
11 |
Section 7.10 |
Distributions to Minors and Incapacitated Individuals |
11 |
Section 7.11 |
Successors and Assigns |
11 |
Section 7.12 |
Election Form Subject to Plan |
11 |
Section 7.13 |
Severability |
12 |
Section 7.14 |
Compliance with Section 409A of the Code |
12 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE 8 |
Amendment or Termination |
12 |
|
|
|
Section 8.1 |
Amendment |
12 |
Section 8.2 |
Plan Termination |
12 |
ii
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION INTEREST ACCOUNT PLAN
(Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008)
ARTICLE 1
ARTICLE 2
Affiliate means (i) a corporation that is a member of the same controlled group of corporations (within the meaning of section 414(b) of the Code) as an Employer or (ii) a trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control (within the meaning of section 414(c) of the Code) with an Employer.
Base Salary means the base salary payable by an Employer to a Participant for services to be performed during the Plan Year for which the Participant is submitting an Election Form.
Bonus means a Participants quarterly sales bonus (including any annual component to the sales bonus) and annual bonus, if any, for services to be performed during the Plan Year for which the Participant is submitting an Election Form.
Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
Company means United States Cellular Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or any
successor thereto.
Deferred Compensation means the amount of Base Salary and Bonus that a Participant elects to defer pursuant to Section 3.2.
Deferred Compensation Account means the bookkeeping account maintained by the Company for each Participant to which shall be credited (i) the Participants Deferred Compensation and (ii) interest credited pursuant to Section 4.2. A Deferred Compensation Account may consist of subaccounts for each Plan Year with respect to which a Participant defers compensation under the Plan.
Designated Beneficiary means the Participants beneficiary designated pursuant to Section 5.7.
Disabled or Disability means that a Participant (i) is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, or (ii) is, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, receiving income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Participants employer.
Election Form means the form prescribed by the Plan Administrator which is completed by the Participant pursuant to Sections 3.2 and 3.3. For Plan Years prior to 2008, the Election Form was in the form of the Executive Deferred Compensation AgreementInterest Account. References herein to the Election Form also shall include any revisions to the payment provisions of the Election Form pursuant to Section 3.3(c) or 5.6.
Elective Account Balance Plan means an account balance plan within the meaning of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(c)(2)(i)(A) maintained by the Employers or any of their Affiliates pursuant to which an individual may elect to defer compensation. For this purpose, an Elective Account Balance Plan shall include, without limitation, (i) this Plan, (ii) the phantom stock deferral arrangements maintained by the Company and (iii) the interest-bearing and phantom stock deferral arrangements maintained by Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. and TDS Telecommunications Corporation.
Eligible Employee shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
Employer means the Company and each Affiliate that with the consent of the Company elects to participate in the Plan.
ERISA means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.
Key Employee shall have the meaning set forth in the United States Cellular Corporation Key Employee Policy, which policy hereby is incorporated herein.
2
Newly Eligible Employee means an individual who (i) newly is eligible to participate in this Plan and (ii) was not, at any time during the 24-month period ending on the date on which he or she became eligible to participate in this Plan, eligible to participate in any Elective Account Balance Plan (irrespective of whether such individual in fact elected to participate in such plan). For this purpose, an individual is not eligible to participate in an Elective Account Balance Plan solely on account of the accrual of interest or earnings on amounts previously deferred thereunder.
Officer means an employee who is a Vice President of an Employer or who holds a title with an Employer that is senior to that of a Vice President.
Participant means an Eligible Employee who participates in the Plan pursuant to Article 3.
Payment Date means the date elected by the Participant pursuant to Section 3.3, subject to any subsequent election pursuant to Section 5.6, on which the Participants Deferred Compensation Account becomes payable.
Plan means this United States Cellular Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Interest Account Plan, as amended from time to time.
Plan Administrator means the Senior Director of Compensation of the Company. References herein to the Plan Administrator also shall include any person or committee to whom the Plan Administrator has delegated any of his or her responsibilities hereunder to the extent of the delegation.
Plan Year means the calendar year.
Separation from Service means a termination of employment with the Employers and their affiliates within the meaning of Treasury Regulation §1.409A-1(h) (without regard to any permissible alternative definition thereunder). Notwithstanding any other provision herein, affiliate for purposes of determining whether a Participant has incurred a Separation from Service shall be defined to include all entities that would be treated as part of the group of entities comprising the Employers under sections 414(b) and (c) of the Code, but substituting a 50% ownership level for the 80% ownership level set forth therein.
SVP-HR means the Senior Vice President of Human Resources of the Company.
Unforeseeable Emergency means a severe financial hardship to a Participant resulting from (i) an illness or accident of the Participant, the Participants spouse, the Participants Designated Beneficiary or the Participants dependent (as defined in section 152 of the Code, without regard to sections 152(b)(1), (b)(2) and (d)(1)(B)), (ii) the loss of a Participants property due to casualty (including the need to rebuild a home following damage to a home not otherwise covered by insurance, irrespective of whether caused by a natural disaster) or (iii) other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Participant. Examples of what may be considered to be Unforeseeable Emergencies include (a) the imminent foreclosure of or eviction from the Participants primary residence, (b) the need
3
to pay for medical expenses, including non-refundable deductibles and the cost of prescription drug medication and (c) the need to pay for funeral expenses of a Participants spouse, Designated Beneficiary or dependent.
ARTICLE 3
4
the Plan Year for which the deferral election is effective. The Participant shall elect as a form of payment for receiving his or her Deferred Compensation Account either (a) a lump sum or (b) quarterly installments. If the Participant elects the installment payment method, the Participant must designate in the Election Form the number of quarterly installment payments he or she wishes to receive, which cannot exceed 20. If an individual who has elected to participate in the Plan for a Plan Year fails, prior to the end of the election period described in Section 3.2, to make a valid election as to the Payment Date for his or her Deferred Compensation Account for such year, the Participant shall be deemed to have elected payment upon Separation from Service. If such an individual fails, prior to the end of such period, to make a valid election as to the form of payment for his or her Deferred Compensation Account for such year, the Participant shall be deemed to have elected payment in a lump sum.
ARTICLE 4
5
twenty (20) year Treasury Bond rate of interest (as published on the U.S. Department of Treasury website for the last business day of the preceding calendar month) plus (ii) 1.25 percentage point. Crediting of interest to a Deferred Compensation Account shall occur before any Deferred Compensation is credited pursuant to Section 4.1 for the month then ending.
ARTICLE 5
6
7
married and names someone other than his or her spouse as a primary beneficiary, the designation is invalid unless the spouse consents by signing the beneficiary designation form in the presence of a Notary Public. If all Designated Beneficiaries predecease the Participant or, in the case of corporations, partnerships, trusts or other entities which are Designated Beneficiaries, are terminated, dissolved, become insolvent or are adjudicated bankrupt prior to the date of the Participants death, or if the Participant fails to designate a beneficiary, then the following persons in the order set forth below shall be the Participants Designated Beneficiaries: (i) the Participants spouse, if living; or if none, (ii) the Participants then living descendants, per stirpes; or if none, (iii) the Participants estate.
ARTICLE 6
8
the claim shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the claimant and, if the claim is wholly or partially denied, shall set forth the specific reasons for the denial, specific references to the pertinent Plan provisions on which the denial is based, a description of any additional material or information necessary for the claimant to perfect the claim and an explanation of why such material or information is necessary, and an explanation of the appeals procedure under the Plan and the time limits applicable to such procedure (including a statement of the claimants right to bring a civil action under section 502(a) of ERISA following the final denial of a claim).
9
ARTICLE 7
10
11
inconsistency between the terms of an Election Form and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall govern.
ARTICLE 8
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused the Plan, as amended and restated herein, to be executed by its SVP-HR this 10th day of December, 2007.
|
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION |
||
|
|
||
|
By: |
/s/ Jeffrey J. Childs |
|
|
|
Jeffrey J. Childs |
12
EXHIBIT 10.2
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
EXECUTIVE DEFERRED COMPENSATION INTEREST ACCOUNT PLAN
2008 Election Form
|
|
Executives Name (please print) |
Election to Participate
I choose to participate in the United States Cellular Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Interest Account Plan (the Plan) for calendar year 2008.
Deferral of Base Salary
On each issuance of my payroll check for services to be performed in calendar year 2008, I elect to have USCC deduct an amount equivalent to percent of my gross base salary for the pay period, which amount will be credited to my 2008 Deferred Compensation Account under the Plan as of the last day of the calendar month during which such check is to be issued. The first deduction will occur on my payroll check dated January 31, 2008.
Deferral of Bonus
On each issuance of a check in full or partial payment of my quarterly sales bonus (or any annual component to my sales bonus) and annual bonus, if any, for services to be performed in calendar year 2008, I elect to have USCC deduct an amount equivalent to percent of such gross bonus payment, which amount will be credited to my 2008 Deferred Compensation Account under the Plan as of the last day of the calendar month during which such check is to be issued.
Date of Payment of 2008 Deferred Compensation Account (choose one option) :
(a) |
|
Separation from service (as defined in the Plan); or |
|
|
|
(b) |
|
Specified date: (must be a month and year in 2009 or later). |
I understand that if I am a key employee (as defined in USCCs Key Employee Policy) and am entitled to payment by reason of my separation from service, no payment shall be made from my 2008 Deferred Compensation Account before the date which is six months after the date of my separation from service (or, if earlier than the end of such six-month period, the date of my death).
Form of Payment of 2008 Deferred Compensation Account (choose one option) :
(a) |
|
Lump sum distribution; or |
|
|
|
(b) |
|
Quarterly installment method. The amount of each installment shall be equal to one- (cannot be less than one-twentieth) of the value of my 2008 Deferred Compensation Account immediately preceding the first installment payment, plus accrued interest compounded monthly for the current calendar quarter. |
I understand that if I die prior to the total distribution of my 2008 Deferred Compensation Account, the unpaid balance of such account will be paid in a lump sum to my designated beneficiary within 60 days of my death.
Acknowledgement of Executive
I acknowledge and agree that the elections set forth herein to defer my base salary and/or bonus for calendar year 2008 are irrevocable and, except in the event of any withdrawal under the Plan (or under any other nonqualified deferred compensation plan maintained by USCC or its affiliates) due to my unforeseeable emergency, shall be in effect for the entire calendar year.
I understand that the Internal Revenue Code significantly restricts my ability to change the elections set forth herein regarding the date and form of payment of my 2008 Deferred Compensation Account. I generally will not be allowed to elect to accelerate the payment date of my 2008 Deferred Compensation Account. I may elect to delay the payment date of my 2008 Deferred Compensation Account or change the form of payment only if (i) such election is made at least 12 months prior to the date of the scheduled payment (or, in the case of installment payments, 12 months prior to the date the first amount is scheduled to be paid) and (ii) except in the event of my death, disability or unforeseeable emergency, the payment subject to such election is deferred for a period of at least 5 years from the date such payment otherwise would have been made (or, in the case of installment payments, 5 years from the date the first amount is scheduled to be paid).
I acknowledge and agree that my elections set forth herein are subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, as it may be amended from time to time, including any amendment necessary to satisfy any requirement of section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code.
|
|
|
Executives Signature |
|
Date |
YOUR COMPLETED ELECTION FORM MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 21, 2007 TO BE EFFECTIVE. PLEASE RETURN THIS COMPLETED ELECTION FORM TO TRISHA MCKILLOP AT THE RSO.
2
EXHIBIT 10.3
EXECUTIVE DEFERRED
COMPENSATION AGREEMENT
PHANTOM STOCK ACCOUNT2008 BONUS YEAR
THIS AGREEMENT , entered into this day of , , by and between (hereinafter referred to as the Executive) and United States Cellular Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the Company), a Delaware corporation, located at 8410 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60631-3486.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS , the Executive is now and will in the future be rendering valuable services to the Company, and the Company desires to ensure the continued loyalty, service and counsel of the Executive; and
WHEREAS , the Executive desires to defer a portion of his or her annual bonus for services to be performed in calendar year 2008 (the Bonus Year) until separation from service, permanent disability, death, a specified date in 2012 or later or unforeseeable emergency.
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the covenants and agreements herein set forth, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:
1. Deferred Compensation Account. The Company agrees to establish and maintain a book reserve (the Deferred Compensation Account) for the purpose of measuring the amount of deferred compensation payable to the Executive under this Agreement. Credits shall be made to the Deferred Compensation Account as follows:
(a) Annual Bonus Deferral. On each issuance of a check in full or partial payment of the Executives annual bonus, if any, for services to be performed in the Bonus Year, there shall be deducted an amount equivalent to percent of the gross bonus payment which will be credited to the Deferred Compensation Account as of the date on which such check is to be issued.
The bonus deferral selected in this paragraph 1(a) shall be irrevocable except in the event that, prior to the date of the bonus deferral, the Executive receives a withdrawal due to the Executives unforeseeable emergency (as defined in paragraph 3(g)) from a nonqualified deferred compensation plan maintained by the Company or any affiliate thereof. In such event, the bonus deferral shall be cancelled in its entirety.
(b) Company Match. As of each date on which an amount is credited to the Deferred Compensation Account pursuant to paragraph 1(a), there shall also be credited to the Deferred Compensation Account a Company Match amount equal to the sum of (i) 25% of the amount credited to the Deferred Compensation Account pursuant to paragraph 1(a) which is not in excess of one-half of the Executives total gross bonus for the Bonus Year and (ii) 33 1/3% of the amount credited to the Deferred Compensation Account pursuant
1
to paragraph 1(a) which is in excess of one-half of the Executives total gross bonus for the Bonus Year.
(c) Deemed Investment of Deferred Compensation Account. An amount credited to the Deferred Compensation Account pursuant to paragraph 1(a) or 1(b) shall be deemed to be invested in whole and fractional shares of common stock of the Company at the closing sale price on the principal national stock exchange on which such stock is traded on the date as of which the amount is credited to the Deferred Compensation Account or, if there is no reported sale for such date, on the next preceding date for which a sale was reported.
2. Vesting of Deferred Compensation.
(a) Annual Bonus Deferral. The bonus deferral amount credited to the Deferred Compensation Account pursuant to paragraph 1(a) (as adjusted for deemed investment returns) shall be 100% vested at all times.
(b) Company Match. One-third of the Company Match amount credited to the Executives Deferred Compensation Account pursuant to paragraph 1(b) (as adjusted for deemed investment returns) shall become vested on each of the first three annual anniversary dates of December 31, 2008, provided that the Executive is an employee of the Company (or an affiliate of the Company) on such date and the amount credited to the Deferred Compensation Account pursuant to paragraph 1(a) has not been withdrawn or distributed before such date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company Match amount shall become 100% vested upon (i) the Executives separation from service as a result of the Executives retirement or death or (ii) the Executive suffering a permanent disability prior to the Executives separation from service.
For all purposes of this Agreement, separation from service shall have the meaning set forth in the United States Cellular Corporation 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time (the LTIP). Retirement shall mean the Executives separation from service on or after attaining his or her Early or Normal Retirement Date (as defined in the Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. Pension Plan). Permanent disability shall mean (i) the Executives inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months or (ii) the Executives receipt, by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months, of income replacement benefits for a period of not less than three months under an accident and health plan covering employees of the Executives employer.
3. Payment of Deferred Compensation.
(a) Medium of Payment. All payments of deferred compensation hereunder will be made in whole shares of common stock of the Company and cash equal to the fair market value of any fractional share.
(b) Election of Payment Date. The Executive must elect in this paragraph 3(b) the date on which his or her vested Deferred Compensation Account for the Bonus Year (the
2
Distributable Balance) becomes payable. The Executive may elect payment either upon his or her separation from service, or at a specified month and year in 2012 or later (choose one option). This determination must be made at the time of execution of this Agreement and will apply to the entire Distributable Balance.
i) |
|
Separation from service; or |
|
|
|
ii) |
|
Specified Date: (must be a month and year in 2012 or later). |
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision within this Agreement, if the Executive is a key employee (as defined in the Companys Key Employee Policy) as of the date of his or her separation from service and is entitled to payment hereunder by reason of such separation from service, no payment (including on account of the Executives permanent disability or unforeseeable emergency) shall be made from the Deferred Compensation Account before the date which is six months after the date of the Executives separation from service (or, if earlier than the end of such six-month period, the date of the Executives death). The aggregate amount of any payments which the Executive cannot receive, due to being a key employee, during the six-month period following the Executives separation from service shall be paid to the Executive in a lump sum during the seventh calendar month following the calendar month during which the Executive separates from service.
(c) Election of Form of Payment. The Executive must elect in this paragraph 3(c) the form of payment for receiving his/her Distributable Balance. The Executive may elect payment either in a lump sum or in an indicated number of quarterly installments (not to exceed 40) (choose one option). This determination must be made at the time of execution of this Agreement and will apply to the entire Distributable Balance.
i) |
|
Lump sum distribution; or |
|
|
|
ii) |
|
Quarterly installment method. The amount of each installment shall be equal to one- (cannot be less than one-fortieth) of the Distributable Balance immediately preceding the first installment payment. |
(d) Distribution Upon Permanent Disability. If the Executive becomes permanently disabled prior to the commencement of the payment of his or her Distributable Balance, the Distributable Balance immediately shall become payable to the Executive (irrespective of the payment date elected by the Executive in paragraph 3(b)). Payment shall be made either in a lump sum or installments, as elected by the Executive in paragraph 3(c), in accordance with the payment schedule set forth in paragraph 3(f). Payment of the Distributable Balance of a key employee who incurs a permanent disability after he or she has separated from service shall be subject to any delay required by paragraph 3(b).
(e) Distribution at Death. If the Executive dies prior to the total distribution of his or her Distributable Balance, the Executives unpaid Distributable Balance immediately shall become payable in full to the Executives Designated Beneficiary (as defined in paragraph 4).
3
Payment shall be made in a lump sum at the time determined by the Company within sixty (60) days following the Executives death.
(f) Timing of Distribution Upon Occurrence of Distribution Event. If the Executive elected distribution of his or her Distributable Balance in the form of a lump sum, the Distributable Balance shall be paid at the time determined by the Company within sixty (60) days after the occurrence of the event causing such balance to be payable (the payment date elected by the Executive pursuant to paragraph 3(b) or the Executives permanent disability, as applicable). If the Executive elected distribution of his or her Distributable Balance in the form of installments, the Distributable Balance shall be paid quarterly commencing with the fifteenth day of the first month of the calendar quarter following the calendar quarter of the occurrence of the event causing such balance to be payable. Installments then will be paid on the fifteenth day of the first month of each succeeding calendar quarter until the entire Distributable Balance has been paid. For purposes of section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code), the entitlement to a series of installment payments under this Agreement shall be treated as the entitlement to a single payment as of the date the first installment is scheduled to be paid.
(g) Withdrawals for an Unforeseeable Emergency. In the event that the Executive experiences an unforeseeable emergency and as a result thereof requests in writing payment of all or any portion of his or her Distributable Balance, the Stock Option Compensation Committee of the Company (the Committee) may, in its sole discretion, direct such payment to the Executive. An unforeseeable emergency means a severe financial hardship to the Executive resulting from (i) an illness or accident of the Executive, the Executives spouse, the Executives Designated Beneficiary or the Executives dependent, (ii) the loss of the Executives property due to casualty or (iii) other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the Executive. The circumstances that will constitute an unforeseeable emergency will depend upon the facts of each case, but, in any case, payment may not exceed an amount reasonably necessary to satisfy such unforeseeable emergency plus amounts necessary to pay taxes or penalties reasonably anticipated as a result of such payment after taking into account the extent to which such unforeseeable emergency is or may be relieved (a) through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, (b) by liquidation of the Executives assets, to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship or (c) by cessation of deferrals hereunder or under any similar nonqualified deferred compensation plan maintained by the Company or its affiliates. Examples of what are not considered to be unforeseeable emergencies include the need to send an Executives child to college or the desire to purchase a home. Examples of what may be considered to be unforeseeable emergencies include (i) the imminent foreclosure of or eviction from the Executives primary residence, (ii) the need to pay for medical expenses, including non-refundable deductibles and the cost of prescription drug medication and (iii) the need to pay for funeral expenses of an Executives spouse, Designated Beneficiary or dependent.
In the event the Committee approves a withdrawal due to an unforeseeable emergency, such payment shall be made to the Executive in a lump sum at the time determined by the Company within sixty (60) days after approval of such request. A request for an unforeseeable emergency withdrawal by a key employee who has separated from service shall be subject to any delay required by paragraph 3(b).
4
(h) Subsequent Election. The Executive may make a subsequent election to delay the payment date of his or her Distributable Balance, or change the form of payment, provided that (i) such election shall not be effective until 12 months after the date on which the election is made; (ii) except in the case of payment on account of death, permanent disability or unforeseeable emergency, the payment with respect to such election must be deferred for a period of not less than five years from the date such payment otherwise would have been made (or, in the case of installment payments, five years from the date the first amount was scheduled to be paid); and (iii) such election cannot be made less than 12 months prior to the date of the scheduled payment (or, in the case of installment payments, 12 months prior to the date the first amount was scheduled to be paid). A subsequent election pursuant to this paragraph 3(h) shall be delivered to the Company in the manner prescribed by the Company and upon such delivery shall be irrevocable.
4. Designation of Beneficiaries.
(a) In General. The Executive may designate one or more beneficiaries to receive any amount payable pursuant to paragraph 3(e) (a Designated Beneficiary) by executing and filing with the Company during his/her lifetime, a beneficiary designation in the form attached hereto. The Executive may change or revoke any such designation by executing and filing with the Company during his/her lifetime a new Beneficiary Designation Form. If the Executive is married and names someone other than his/her spouse (e.g., a child) as a primary beneficiary, the designation is invalid unless the spouse consents by signing the designated area of the Beneficiary Designation Form in the presence of a Notary Public.
(b) No Designated Beneficiary. If all Designated Beneficiaries predecease the Executive, or, in the case of corporations, partnerships, trusts or other entities which are Designated Beneficiaries, are terminated, dissolved, become insolvent or are adjudicated bankrupt prior to the date of the Executives death, or if the Executive fails to designate a beneficiary, then the following persons in the order set forth below shall be the Executives beneficiaries:
i) Executives spouse, if living; otherwise
ii) Executives then living descendants, per stirpes; and otherwise
iii) Executives estate.
5. Miscellaneous.
(a) Assignment. Except as provided in paragraph 4, the right of the Executive or any other person to any payment of benefits under this Agreement may not be assigned, transferred, pledged or encumbered.
(b) Distributions to Minors and Incapacitated Individuals. If a payment hereunder is to be made to a minor or to an individual who, in the opinion of the Company, is unable to manage his or her affairs by reason of illness, accident or mental incompetency, such payment may be made to or for the benefit of such individual in such of the following ways as the legal representative of such individual shall direct: (i) directly to any such minor individual, if in the opinion of such legal representative, such individual is able to manage his or her affairs, (ii) to such legal representative, (iii) to a custodian under a Uniform Gifts to Minors Act for any such minor individual, or (iv) to some near relative of
5
any such individual to be used for the latters benefit. The Company shall not be required to see to the application by any third party other than the legal representative of an individual of any payment made to or for the benefit of such individual pursuant to this paragraph. Any such payment shall be a complete discharge of the liability of the Company under this Agreement for such payment.
(c) Inability to Locate Executive or Designated Beneficiary. If, as of the Latest Payment Date, the Company is unable to make payment of all or a portion of an Executives Distributable Balance to the Executive or his or her Designated Beneficiary because the whereabouts of such person cannot be ascertained (notwithstanding the mailing of notice to any last known address or addresses and the exercise by the Company of other reasonable diligence), then such Executives Distributable Balance, or portion thereof, as applicable, shall be forfeited. For this purpose, the Latest Payment Date shall be the latest date on which the Executives Distributable Balance, or portion thereof, as applicable, may be paid to the Executive or the Executives Designated Beneficiary without the imposition of excise taxes and other penalties under section 409A of the Code.
(d) Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware to the extent that the latter are not preempted by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA) or other federal law.
(e) Source of Payment. Amounts payable under this Agreement shall be paid from the general funds of the Company, and the Executive shall be no more than an unsecured general creditor of the Company with no right to any specific assets of the Company (whose claim may be subordinated to those of other creditors of the Company). Nothing contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to create a trust of any kind for the benefit of the Executive, or create any fiduciary relationship between the Company and the Executive with respect to any assets of the Company.
(f) Withholding. Appropriate amounts shall be withheld from any payments made hereunder or from an Executives compensation as may be required for purposes of complying with Federal, state, local or other tax withholding requirements applicable to the benefits provided hereunder.
(g) Agreement Subject to LTIP. This Agreement is subject to the provisions of the LTIP, and shall be interpreted in accordance therewith. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the LTIP, the terms of the LTIP shall govern. This Agreement and the LTIP contain the entire understanding of the Company and the Executive with respect to the subject matter hereof.
(h) Decisions of Committee. The Committee shall have the right to resolve all questions which may arise in connection with this Agreement. Any interpretation, determination or other action made or taken by the Committee regarding this Agreement or the LTIP shall be final, binding and conclusive. Amounts will be paid hereunder only if the Committee decides, in its sole discretion, that the Executive, Designated Beneficiary or other person is entitled to them.
(i) Severability. In the event any provision of this Agreement is held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the
6
Agreement, and the Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included herein.
(j) Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. This Agreement is intended to comply with section 409A of the Code and shall be interpreted and construed accordingly. The Executive and the Company agree that the Company shall have sole discretion and authority to amend this Agreement, unilaterally, at any time in the future to satisfy any requirements of section 409A of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, under no circumstance shall the Company be responsible for any taxes, penalties, interest or other losses or expenses incurred by the Executive or any other person due to any failure to comply with section 409A of the Code.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
|
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION |
|||
|
|
|||
|
By: |
|
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
EXECUTIVE |
|||
|
|
|||
|
|
|
||
7
EXHIBIT 10.4
SECOND AMENDMENT
TO THE
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
2005 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
WHEREAS, United States Cellular Corporation (the Corporation) has adopted the United States Cellular Corporation 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan) for the benefit of certain key executives and management personnel;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Board) previously determined that certain officers of the Corporation are required to pay the exercise price of, and satisfy tax withholding obligations with respect to, stock options granted to them on or after March 7, 2006 either by (i) authorizing the Corporation to withhold whole Common Shares of the Corporation which otherwise would be delivered as a result of the settlement of the award (Share Netting) or (ii) delivery to the Corporation of previously-acquired Common Shares of the Corporation (Share Delivery);
WHEREAS, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of the Corporation that the tax withholding obligations with respect to all newly granted awards under the Plan, with the exception of stock options granted to recipients who are not officers, be satisfied either by Share Netting or Share Delivery;
WHEREAS, in order to facilitate the prompt delivery of shares when Share Netting is utilized to pay the exercise price of a stock option or to satisfy the tax withholding obligations with respect to an award, the Board desires to permit the Corporation to withhold a number of whole Common Shares of the Corporation that exceeds by a fraction of one share the number of Common Shares of the Corporation necessary to satisfy the aggregate of the exercise price, if any, and tax withholding obligations with respect to such award; provided , however , that the Corporation shall deliver to the award holder, as soon as administratively practicable after the settlement of the award, a cash payment equal to the value of the excess fractional Common Share so withheld (such procedure hereinafter referred to as Limited Excess Share Withholding);
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.2 of the Plan, the Board may amend the Plan as it deems advisable, subject to any requirement of stockholder approval; and
WHEREAS, the Board desires to amend the Plan (i) to require that the tax withholding obligations with respect to all awards granted on or after September 14, 2006, with the exception of stock options granted to recipients who are not officers, be satisfied either by Share Netting or Share Delivery and (ii) to permit Limited Excess Share Withholding.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that effective as of September 14, 2006, the Plan hereby is amended as follows:
1. Section 4.4(b) hereby is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
(b) Purchase Price Payment by Officers . The holder of an option awarded to an Officer before March 7, 2006 may pay for the shares of Stock to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of such option (i) by any of the methods set forth in Section 4.4(a) or (ii) by authorizing the Company to withhold whole shares of Stock which would otherwise be delivered having a Fair Market Value, determined as of the date of exercise, of no less than the aggregate purchase price payable by reason of such exercise, in each case to the extent authorized by the Committee. Payment for shares of Stock to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of an option granted to an Officer on or after March 7, 2006 shall be by (i) the delivery of Mature Shares having a Fair Market Value, determined as of the date of exercise, equal to the aggregate purchase price payable by reason of such exercise (provided that any fractional Mature Share which would be required to pay such purchase price shall be disregarded and the remaining amount due shall be paid in cash by the option holder) or (ii) by authorizing the Company to withhold whole shares of Stock which would otherwise be delivered having a Fair Market Value, determined as of the date of exercise, of no less than the aggregate purchase price payable by reason of such exercise. No share of Stock shall be delivered until the full purchase price therefor and any withholding taxes thereon, as described in Section 9.6, have been paid (or arrangement has been made for such payment to the Companys satisfaction).
2. Section 9.6 hereby is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
2
option and to the extent legally permissible, a cash payment by a broker-dealer acceptable to the Company to whom the option holder has submitted an irrevocable notice of exercise or (v) any combination of (i), (ii) and (iii).
3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this amendment as of this 14 th day of September, 2006.
|
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Kenneth R. Meyers |
|
|
|
|
Its: |
Executive Vice President - Finance |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO
SECOND AMENDMENT TO
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
2005 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
4
EXHIBIT 10.5
THIRD AMENDMENT
TO THE
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
2005 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
WHEREAS, United States Cellular Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Company) has adopted and maintains the United States Cellular Corporation 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan) for the benefit of certain key executives and management personnel;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.2 of the Plan, the Board of Directors of the Company (the Board) may amend the Plan as it deems advisable, subject to any requirement of shareholder approval;
WHEREAS, Section 9.8 of the Plan provides for adjustment of awards under the Plan in the event of an equity restructuring of the Company or certain other changes in capitalization or events impacting the Company (an Adjustment Event);
WHEREAS, the Companys accountants have notified the Board that Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R)Share-Based Payment provides that companies that adjust their stock-based compensation awards to preserve their value after an equity restructuring event may incur significant incremental compensation costs unless the adjustment is required to be made; and
WHEREAS, although the Board interprets the current provisions of Section 9.8 of the Plan to require adjustment of awards under the Plan upon an Adjustment Event, it desires to amend Section 9.8 in certain minor respects to eliminate any question as to the mandatory nature of such adjustment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that effective as of the latest date on which this Third Amendment is approved by a member of the Board, Section 9.8 of the Plan hereby is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
9.8 Adjustment . In the event of any conversion, stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reclassification, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination of shares in a reverse stock split, exchange of shares, liquidation, spin-off or other similar change in capitalization or event, or any distribution to holders of Stock other than a regular cash dividend, the number and class of securities available under the Plan, the maximum number of securities with respect to which options or SARs, or a combination thereof, Restricted Stock Awards or Restricted Stock Unit Awards may be granted during any calendar year to any employee, the maximum amount payable in connection with a Performance Award for any Performance Period, the maximum number of securities with respect to which Incentive Stock Options may be granted under the Plan, the number and class of securities subject to each outstanding option and the purchase price per security, the terms of each outstanding SAR, the number and class of securities subject to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award and Restricted Stock Unit Award, the terms of each outstanding Performance Award and the number and class of securities deemed to be held in each Deferred Compensation
Account shall be appropriately and equitably adjusted by the Committee, such adjustment to be made in the case of outstanding options and SARs without an increase in the aggregate purchase price or base price. Such adjustment shall be final, binding and conclusive. If such adjustment would result in a fractional security being (a) available under the Plan, such fractional security shall be disregarded, or (b) subject to an award under the Plan, the Company shall pay the holder of such award, in connection with the first vesting, exercise or settlement of such award in whole or in part occurring after such adjustment, an amount in cash determined by multiplying (i) the fraction of such security (rounded to the nearest hundredth) by (ii) the excess, if any, of (A) the Fair Market Value on the vesting, exercise or settlement date over (B) the purchase or base price, if any, of such award.
* * * * *
2
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Third Amendment as of this 29 th day of August, 2007.
|
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ LeRoy T. Carlson, Jr. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Its: |
Chairman |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO
THIRD AMENDMENT TO
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
2005 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
3
EXHIBIT 10.6
FOURTH AMENDMENT
TO THE
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
2005 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
WHEREAS, United States Cellular Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the Corporation) has adopted and maintains the United States Cellular Corporation 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the Plan) for the benefit of certain key executives and management personnel;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.2 of the Plan, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the Board) may amend the Plan as it deems advisable, subject to any requirement of shareholder approval;
WHEREAS, the Board desires to amend the Plan to change in certain minor respects the tax withholding procedure utilized under the Plan; and
WHEREAS, such amendment to the Plan is not material and is not required to be submitted for approval by shareholders of the Corporation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that effective as of December 5, 2007, the Plan hereby is amended as follows:
1. The final two sentences of Section 4.4(a) hereby are amended in their entirety to read as follows:
2. Section 4.4(b) hereby is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
3. Section 9.6 hereby is amended in its entirety to read as follows:
2
3
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Fourth Amendment as of this 5th day of December, 2007.
|
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: |
/s/ Steven T. Campbell |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Its: |
EVP Finance , CFO & Treasurer |
|
SIGNATURE PAGE TO
FOURTH AMENDMENT TO
UNITED STATES CELLULAR CORPORATION
2005 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN