FORM 8-K

 

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

 

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-14157

 

36-2669023

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 4000, Chicago, Illinois

 

60602

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (312) 630-1900

 

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 8.01.        Other Events .

 

The purpose of this Form 8-K is to file exhibits of the following documents relating to the Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (“TDS”) 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan:

 

1.                      TDS Bonus Deferral and Stock Unit Match Program 2008 Bonus Year (“Program”)

 

2.                      Election Form for Program

 

3.                      First Amendment to TDS 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

4.                      Second Amendment to TDS 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

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.

 

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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.

 

 

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

(Registrant)

 

Date:  December 14, 2007

 

 

By:

/s/ Douglas D. Shuma

 

 

Douglas D. Shuma

 

Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

The following exhibits are filed or furnished herewith as noted below.

 

Exhibit

 

 

No.

 

Description

 

 

 

10.1

 

TDS Bonus Deferral and Stock Unit Match Program 2008 Bonus Year (“Program”)

 

 

 

10.2

 

Election Form for Program

 

 

 

10.3

 

First Amendment to TDS 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

 

 

10.4

 

Second Amendment to TDS 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

TDS BONUS DEFERRAL AND
STOCK UNIT MATCH PROGRAM
2008 BONUS YEAR

 

Purpose

 

The TDS Bonus Deferral and Stock Unit Match Program (the “Program”) is designed to provide TDS Corporate executives with a significant incentive to acquire additional shares of TDS stock.  This document sets forth the terms and conditions of the Program as offered for the 2008 bonus year.

 

Eligibility

 

Executives who hold TDS Vice Presidential and above positions are eligible to participate.

 

Program Overview

 

Eligible executives may defer up to 100% of their annual bonus up to a maximum of $400,000 and receive Company Stock Unit Matches on the amount deferred.  Company Stock Unit Match amounts will depend on the amount of annual bonus that the executive deferred into stock units and the price of TDS Special Common Stock on the date his/her bonus was determined by TDS.  Executives will receive a 25% Company Stock Unit Match for amounts deferred up to 50% of their total annual bonus and a 33% match for any amounts that they elect to defer that exceed 50% of their total annual bonus award.  The Company Stock Unit Matches will vest ratably over three years.

 

TDS will establish bookkeeping accounts that reflect the executive’s deferral amount, Company Stock Unit Match and any earned dividends.  The value of the executive’s accounts will change in direct proportion to the performance of TDS Special Common Stock.  However, the amounts credited to an executive’s accounts will not actually be invested in TDS Special Common Stock.  The amounts credited to the executive’s accounts will be distributed in TDS Special Common Stock during the earlier of (i) the seventh calendar month following the calendar month during which he/she separates from service and (ii) the calendar year elected by the executive that is at least three years following the calendar year during which the executive makes the deferral election.  Distribution will be in the form of a single lump sum payment.  If the executive separates from service earlier than January 1 st of the fourth calendar year following the calendar year during which the bonus is earned (the “Performance Year”), and such separation from service is for a reason other than death or “Disability”, a portion of the Company match will be lost.

 

For purposes hereof, “Disability” shall mean an executive’s (i) inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity or (ii) receipt of income replacement benefits for a period of not less than 3 months under an accident and health plan covering employees of TDS, in each case as a result of a 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.

 

The executive is considered to be a general unsecured creditor of TDS with regard to the deferred compensation amounts to which the Program pertains.

 

The Program is subject to the provisions of the Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as it may be amended from time to time (the “LTIP”), and shall be interpreted in accordance therewith.  In the event of any inconsistency between the terms of the Program and the terms of the LTIP, the terms of the LTIP shall govern.  The TDS Compensation Committee shall have the right to resolve all questions which may arise in connection with the Program.  Any interpretation, determination or other action made or taken by the TDS Compensation Committee regarding the Program shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

Administrative Overview

 

In November or December of each year, the Corporate Vice President of Human Resources will send a Bonus Deferral Form similar to Attachment I for the upcoming Performance Year to all eligible TDS executives.  Executives wishing to take advantage of this bonus deferral opportunity must fill out this Form and return it (delivered or faxed with signature) to the Corporate Vice President of Human Resources no later than the date specified by TDS (which in no event will be later than December 31 st ) (see Administrative Ground Rules – Taxes).  Except in the event that an executive experiences an “Unforeseeable Emergency” (as defined below), the elections made by the executive on the Bonus Deferral Form shall be irrevocable upon the commencement of the Performance Year.

 

Before the first of each year, the Corporate Vice President of Human Resources will confirm all election deferral decisions with the executives making them, as well as advise the administrative personnel who need to be aware of the specifics of these bonus deferral election decisions.

 

After a participating executive’s bonus award has been determined and the amount he/she has deferred is known, two separate accounts will be established for each participating executive:  (i) the “Deferred Compensation Stock Account”, which will be credited with the bonus monies that the executive has deferred under the Program, and (ii) the “Stock Unit Match Account”, which will be credited with the Company Stock Unit Match awards.

 

The value of your accounts for the 2008 Performance Year will rise or fall in direct proportion to the price of TDS Special Common Stock. (1) All participating executives will receive statements of the

 


(1)    Please note that if you participated in the Program for Performance Years prior to the 2005 Performance Year, the value of your accounts for such years will rise or fall in direct proportion to the price of TDS Special Common Stock and TDS Common Stock.  Accounts for Performance Years prior to the 2005 Performance Year are deemed to be invested in an equal number of shares of TDS Special Common Stock and TDS Common Stock.  Accounts for the 2005 Performance Year and any Performance Year thereafter are deemed to be invested solely in shares of TDS Special Common Stock.

 

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number of vested and unvested share units they have in their accounts as of each December 31 st (see Attachment II for the information that will be included in each account statement).  These statements will be sent out annually as early in the first quarter as possible.

 

Administrative Ground Rules

 

This 2008 Program will be administered in accordance with the following ground rules:

 

      Vesting:

 

The executive is always 100% vested in all bonus amounts that have been deferred under the Program and any dividends credited under the Program.  Provided that the executive does not separate from service or receive a distribution of his/her accounts for the 2008 Performance Year prior to the vesting date, the Company Stock Unit Matches will vest ratably over three years in accordance with the following schedule:

 

        33% on December 31 st of the year following the Performance Year.

 

        an additional 33% on December 31 st of the second year following the Performance Year, and

 

        the remaining 34% on December 31 st of the third year following the Performance Year.

 

      Taxes:

 

Since all bonus deferral decisions under the Program will be made in accordance with IRS requirements, income taxes on all Bonus Deferrals and Company Stock Unit Match awards will be deferred until the proceeds from the executive’s Deferred Compensation Stock Account and Stock Unit Match Account are distributed.  The IRS has taken the position that the executive must make his/her deferral election prior to the beginning of the Performance Year in order that the deferred monies not be considered in “constructive receipt”, and therefore taxable income in the year they would have been paid to the executive.

 

Please note, however, that Bonus Deferrals and Company Stock Unit Match awards will be subject to social security and unemployment tax prior to the date they are distributed.  Bonus Deferrals will be subject to social security and unemployment tax at the time of the deferral and Company Stock Unit Match awards will be subject to social security and unemployment tax at the time they become vested.

 

Appropriate amounts shall be withheld from any distributions under the Program or from an executive’s compensation as may be required for purposes of complying with federal, state, local or other tax withholding requirements applicable to the Program.

 

      Separation from Service:

 

If the executive separates from service prior to the completion of the vesting schedule, as

 

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previously described, all unvested share units credited to the executive’s Stock Unit Match Account will be forfeited, except if the executive separates from service as a result of his/her Disability or death.  If the executive separates from service as a result of his/her Disability or death, the executive, or his/her beneficiary/beneficiaries, will be 100% vested in all share units credited to the executive’s Stock Unit Match Account.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the executive separates from service as a result of his/her negligence, willful misconduct, competition with TDS or an affiliate thereof or misappropriation of confidential information of TDS or an affiliate thereof, then the executive’s Stock Unit Match Account, whether vested or nonvested, automatically will be forfeited as of the date of such separation.

 

      Beneficiaries:

 

An executive who defers any portion of his/her annual bonus under the Program should complete a “Bonus Deferral and Stock Unit Match Program Beneficiary Designation Form” (see Attachment III) and return it to the Corporate Vice President of Human Resources as soon as possible.  In the event of the executive’s death, this Form will govern distribution of the executive’s unpaid vested accounts for the 2008 Performance Year and all other Performance Years with respect to which the executive participated in the Program.  The Form does not have to be completed again unless the executive wishes to make some change to the previous Beneficiary Designation Form.  If an executive is married and names someone other than his/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 an executive fails to complete such a form, the executive’s spouse, if any, will be the beneficiary.  Otherwise, the executive’s beneficiary will be determined by the terms of the LTIP document.

 

Notwithstanding any provision within the Program to the contrary, in the event of the executive’s death, his/her unpaid vested accounts will be distributed in their entirety at the time determined by TDS within 60 days following the executive’s death.

 

      Initial Value of the Executive’s Deferred Compensation Stock and Stock Unit Match Accounts:

 

After verification of the executive’s bonus, and the amount that was deferred, the amount credited to the executive’s accounts for the 2008 Performance Year will be determined as follows:

 

        The initial value of the bonus deferral amount will be determined by dividing the bonus deferral by the closing price of TDS Special Common Stock on the date that the bonus was determined.  Share units will be calculated to three decimal places and fractional share units will accumulate.

 

For example, if the executive elected to defer 75% of his/her bonus for a year and his/her bonus was $40,000 for that year, the executive would have deferred $30,000.  If the closing price of a share of TDS Special Common Stock on the day this bonus was approved was

 

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$100, then 300 share units will be credited to the executive’s Deferred Compensation Stock Account.

 

        The initial value of the Stock Unit Match Account will be determined the same way.  Using the above example, the initial dollar value of share units credited to his/her Stock Unit Match Account is $8,300, calculated as follows:

 

        25% of $20,000 (50% of the executive’s total bonus) = $5,000

 

        33% of $10,000 (the deferral amount over 50% of the executive’s total bonus) = $3,300

 

        Total = $8,300

 

Since the closing price of TDS Special Common Stock on the date the bonus award was approved was assumed to be $100, the executive’s Stock Unit Match Account would be credited 83.00 share units, which would vest in accordance with the following schedule:

 

        27.39(2) share units – vests on December 31 st of the year following the Performance Year.

 

        27.39(2) share units – vests on December 31 st two years after the Performance Year.

 

        28.22(3) share units – vests on December 31 st three years after the Performance Year.

 

        83.00 share units – Total Stock Unit Match

 

      Value of an Executive’s Deferred Compensation Stock Account and Stock Unit Match Account:

 

The value of an executive’s accounts for the 2008 Performance Year will increase or decrease in an amount equal to the gains or losses that would have been realized if assets in an amount equal to the balance in the executive’s accounts were actually invested in TDS Special Common Stock.  Hence, if the price of TDS Special Common Stock rises by $1, each share unit credited in the executive’s accounts will be worth an additional $1.

 

      Dividends:

 

The executive’s Deferred Compensation Stock Account and Stock Unit Match Account will be credited with dividend share units as follows:

 

        On Bonus Deferral Share Units: Dividend share units on the executive’s share units in his/her Deferred Compensation Stock Account will be credited on an annual basis and based on the number of share units credited to the executive’s Deferred Compensation Stock Account as of the record date for each quarter of the year.

 

This will be done by totaling up the quarterly dividend dollar amounts as per the above (as if the share units actually were outstanding shares of TDS), and dividing this sum by the closing price of TDS Special Common Stock on December 31 st of that year.  The result is the number

 


(2)            33% of the total Company Stock Unit Match

(3)            34% of the total Company Stock Unit Match.

 

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of dividend share units that will be credited to the executive’s account for that year.

 

On Match Share Units:  For all vested share units credited in the executive’s Stock Unit Match Account, the procedure for determining the dividend share units to be credited to this account is the same as for the Deferred Compensation Stock Account.  Unvested share units credited to a Stock Unit Match Account will not be credited with dividend share units.

 

      Unforeseeable Emergency Withdrawals:

 

In the event of an Unforeseeable Emergency, an executive may request a payment of all or a portion of the share units credited to his/her Deferred Compensation Stock Account and the vested share units credited to his/her Stock Unit Match Account.  Withdrawals will first come from the vested Stock Unit Match Account.  For this purpose, “Unforeseeable Emergency” shall mean a severe financial hardship to an executive resulting from (i) an illness or accident of the executive, the executive’s spouse or the executive’s dependent; (ii) the loss of the executive’s property due to casualty; or (iii) other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of the executive.  Payment may not exceed an amount reasonably necessary to satisfy such 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 the hardship may be relieved (a) through reimbursement or compensation by insurance or otherwise, (b) by liquidation of the executive’s assets (to the extent the liquidation of such assets would not itself cause severe financial hardship) or (c) by cancellation of any deferral election hereunder or under any other nonqualified deferral program for the year of the hardship. College expenses and expenses incurred in purchasing a residence do not qualify as Unforeseeable Emergencies.  The following may be considered Unforeseeable Emergencies:  (i) the imminent foreclosure of or eviction from the executive’s 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 the executive’s spouse or dependent.  In the event an executive’s Unforeseeable Emergency withdrawal request is approved, such payment shall be made to the executive in a lump sum at the time determined by TDS within 60 days after such approval.  No Unforeseeable Emergency withdrawal request will be approved during the six-month period following an executive’s separation from service.

 

In addition, in the event an executive receives an Unforeseeable Emergency withdrawal, whether under this Program or any other nonqualified deferred compensation plan maintained by TDS or its affiliates, then any deferral election made by the executive under this Program or such other plan with respect to the calendar year during which the withdrawal occurs shall be cancelled for the remainder of such year.

 

      Distributions:

 

Except in the event of the executive’s death, the executive will receive the distributable balance credited to his/her accounts for the 2008 Performance Year as of the earlier of (i) the seventh calendar month following the calendar month during which he or she separates from service, or (ii) the distribution date that he/she selected on the Bonus Deferral Form (which must be a

 

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calendar year at least three years following the calendar year during which the executive makes the deferral election).  In the event of the executive’s death, the executive will receive such balance at the time determined by TDS within 60 days following the executive’s death.  All distributions for the 2008 Performance Year will be made in TDS Special Common Stock, except that the value of any partial share units credited to an executive’s accounts will be paid in cash.

 

The total distributable balance in an executive’s accounts will be determined by adding:

 

        The sum of all share units credited to his/her Deferred Compensation Stock Account (including any credited dividend share units) reduced by any Unforeseeable Emergency or other withdrawals made prior to the distribution date, and

 

        The sum of vested share units credited to his/her Stock Unit Match Account (including any credited dividend share units) reduced by any Unforeseeable Emergency or other withdrawals made prior to the distribution date.

 

If, for example, the total vested share units credited to the executive’s accounts is 500 share units on the distribution date, the executive will receive 500 shares of TDS Special Common Stock less any taxes TDS is required to withhold (taxes may be withheld in the form of shares).  In this example, the dollar value, which is taxable income, would be calculated by multiplying the closing price of TDS Special Common Stock on the distribution date by 500.

 

Compliance with Law

 

This 2008 Program is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and shall be interpreted and construed accordingly.  TDS shall have sole discretion and authority to amend this Program, unilaterally, at any time in the future to satisfy any requirements of Section 409A or applicable guidance thereunder (irrespective of whether such amendment has retroactive or prospective effect).  Notwithstanding the foregoing, under no circumstance shall TDS be responsible for any taxes, penalties, interest or other losses or expenses incurred by an executive or other person due to any failure to comply with Section 409A.

 

Questions

 

Questions on the Program should be directed to the Corporate Vice President of Human Resources.

 

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Exhibit 10.2

 

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.

2008 BONUS DEFERRAL FORM

 

NAME

 

 

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

 

 

 

 

 

 

DATE OF BIRTH

 

 

Deferral election with respect to my annual Bonus earned in 2008:

 

o                                     I hereby elect to defer, under the terms and conditions of the TDS Bonus Deferral and Stock Unit Match Program for the 2008 Bonus Year  (the “2008 Program”) and the Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “LTIP”), as each may be amended from time to time, the following whole percentage of my 2008 Bonus that would otherwise be paid to me in 2009 (deferral not to exceed $400,000).

 

            %

 

DISTRIBUTION DATE ELECTION:   I understand that my deferred 2008 Bonus and the stock unit matches thereon will be paid upon the earlier of (i) the seventh calendar month following the calendar month during which I separate from service and (ii) the date that I elect herein. I elect that such deferrals and match be paid as follows ( select one ):

 

o             I elect to receive my deferred 2008 Bonus and the stock unit matches thereon in a single lump sum payment in the seventh calendar month following the calendar month during which I separate from service.

 

- OR -

 

o   I elect to receive my deferred 2008 Bonus and the stock unit matches thereon in a single lump sum payment in the following month and year (which year may not be earlier than three years after the year this election is made). If such date is earlier than January, 2012, I recognize that a portion of the company match will be lost.

 

Month and Year:           

 

                  I understand that my elections set forth herein are irrevocable.

 

                  I understand that my deferred 2008 Bonus and the stock unit matches thereon will be recorded in accounts established in my name on TDS’s books and records and that these accounts will be governed by the terms of the 2008 Program and the LTIP, as each may be amended from time to time.

 

                  I acknowledge that my accounts under the 2008 Program will rise or decline in value equal to the earnings or losses that would have been realized if assets in an amount equal to the balances in my accounts were actually invested in TDS Special Common Stock.

 

                  I acknowledge that the 2008 Program is intended to comply with provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code and shall be interpreted and construed accordingly. I agree that TDS shall have sole discretion and authority to amend such program or this 2008 Bonus Deferral Form, unilaterally, at any time to satisfy any requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code or applicable guidance provided by the Treasury.

 

 

 

 

 

Signature

 

Date

 

Note:  This Form must be returned to the Corporate Vice President of Human Resources on or before December 28, 2007 .

 


Exhibit 10.3

 

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE
TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
2004 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
(AS AMENDED AND RESTATED)

 

WHEREAS, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) has adopted and maintains the Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated) (the “Plan”) for the benefit of certain key executives, management personnel and other employees;

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 8.2 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 8.8 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 Company’s 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 8.8 of the Plan to require adjustment of awards under the Plan upon an Adjustment Event, it desires to amend Section 8.8 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 First Amendment is approved by a member of the Board, Section 8.8 of the Plan hereby is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

8.8           Adjustment . In the event of any conversion, stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, reclassification, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination of shares in a reverse stock split, exchange of shares, liquidation 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 awards of Bonus Stock, Performance Shares, Stock Options, Performance Stock Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or any combination thereof may be granted during any three year period to any employee, 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 Stock Award, the terms of each outstanding Performance Share 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 available under the Plan, then such fractional security shall be disregarded. If such adjustment would result in a fractional security being subject to an award under the Plan, then the Company shall pay the holder of such award, in connection with the first vesting, exercise or settlement of such award, in whole or 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.

 

* * * * *

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this First Amendment as of this         day of June, 2007.

 

 

 

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its:

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO
FIRST AMENDMENT TO
TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
2004 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED)

 


Exhibit 10.4

 

SECOND AMENDMENT
TO THE
TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
2004 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
(AS AMENDED AND RESTATED)

 

WHEREAS, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) has adopted and maintains the Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated) (the “Plan”) for the benefit of certain key executives, management personnel and other employees;

 

WHEREAS, Section 4.1(d) of the Plan provides various methods pursuant to which the exercise price of a stock option granted under the Plan may be paid, none of which include the holder’s authorization of the Company to withhold whole shares of stock of the Company which otherwise would be delivered to the holder as a result of the settlement of the stock option (“Share Netting”);

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company to amend the Plan to permit, in addition to the exercise methods currently available under the Plan, an officer to pay the exercise price of a stock option by Share Netting; and

 

WHEREAS, the Board also desires to amend the Plan to clarify that shares of stock to be delivered or withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations with respect to an award may not have an aggregate fair market value in excess of the minimum amount required to be withheld.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Plan hereby is amended, effective as of November 13, 2007, as follows:

 

1.             Article II hereby is amended to add the following new Section 2.24 thereto and to renumber the existing Sections 2.24 through 2.43 accordingly:

 

2.24         “Officer” shall mean an employee designated as an officer of an Employer by the Board of Directors of the Employer.

 

2.             Section 4.1(d) hereby is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

(d)           Method of Exercise . An option may be exercised (i) by giving written notice to the Vice President-Human Resources of the Company specifying the number of whole shares of Stock to be purchased and by arranging for the payment therefore in accordance with Section 4.1(d)(1) or 4.1(d)(2), as applicable and (ii) by executing such documents and taking any other actions as the Company may reasonably request. No share of Stock shall be delivered until the full purchase price therefor and any withholding taxes thereon, as described in Section 8.6, have been paid (or arrangement has been made for such payment to the Company’s satisfaction).

 



 

(1)  Purchase Price Payment by Nonofficers . The holder of an option awarded to an employee who is not an Officer may pay for the shares of Stock to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of such option (A) in cash, (B) in Mature Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value, determined as of the date of exercise, equal to the aggregate purchase price payable by reason of such exercise, (C) to the extent legally permissible, in cash by a broker-dealer acceptable to the Company to whom the holder has submitted an irrevocable notice of exercise or (D) by a combination of (A) and (B), in each case to the extent set forth in the Agreement or any amendment thereto. If payment is to be made pursuant to clause (B) of this Section 4.1(d)(1), then any fraction of a 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 holder.

 

(2)  Purchase Price Payment by Officers . The holder of an option awarded to an Officer may pay for the shares of Stock to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of such option (A) in cash, (B) in Mature Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value, determined as of the date of exercise, equal to the aggregate purchase price payable by reason of such exercise, (C) by authorizing the Company to withhold whole shares of Stock which otherwise would be delivered having an aggregate Fair Market Value, determined as of the date of exercise, equal to the aggregate purchase price payable by reason of such exercise, (D) to the extent legally permissible, in cash by a broker-dealer acceptable to the Company to whom the holder has submitted an irrevocable notice of exercise or (E) by a combination of (A), (B) and (C), in each case to the extent set forth in the Agreement or any amendment thereto. If payment is to be made pursuant to clause (B) or (C) of this Section 4.1(d)(2), then any fraction of a 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 holder.

 

3.             The penultimate sentence of Section 8.6 hereby is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

 

An Agreement may not provide for shares of Stock to be delivered or withheld having an aggregate Fair Market Value in excess of the minimum amount required to be withheld.

 

* * * * * *

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Second Amendment as of this         day of           , 2007.

 

 

TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its:

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE TO
SECOND AMENDMENT TO
TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
2004 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED)

 

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