UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): 05/05/2010

 

Knoll, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Commission File Number: 001-12907

 

Delaware

 

13-3873847

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(IRS Employer

incorporation)

 

Identification No.)

 

1235 Water Street, East Greenville, Pennsylvania 18041

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(215) 679-7991

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

(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:

 

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

 

At the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders of Knoll, Inc. (the “Company”), held on May 5, 2010, the Company’s stockholders approved the Knoll, Inc. 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2010 Plan”). Officers, certain other key employees, directors and consultants of the Company are eligible to participate in the 2010 Plan. A total of 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock are reserved and available for issuance pursuant to awards granted under the 2010 Plan. The 2010 Plan will terminate on May 5, 2020, after which no further awards may be granted under it. The 2010 Plan will be administered by the compensation committee of the board of directors, or another committee appointed by the board from among its members. Unless the board of directors determines otherwise, the committee shall be comprised of at least two “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. A description of the material terms of the 2010 Plan was included in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 24, 2010.

 

Subsequent to the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, the board of directors of the Company approved an amendment to the 2010 Plan to clarify that the definition of “Change of Control” in Sections 13(b)(2) and 13(b)(3) of the 2010 Plan requires that consummation of the transaction (i.e., the sale of substantially all of the Company’s assets or the consolidation or merger of the Company with another corporation) actually occur prior to the trigger of any accelerated vesting of awards under the 2010 Plan. Stockholder approval of the transaction will not, by itself, be enough to trigger the “Change of Control” provision in Sections 13(b)(2) and Sections 13(b)(3) of the 2010 Plan.

 

The above summary of the amended and restated 2010 Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the full text of the amended and restated 2010 Plan, a copy of which is attached to this report as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

The following matters were voted on at the 2010 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, which took place on May 5, 2010:

 

Proposal One - The following directors were elected to serve for a term ending at the Company’s 2013 annual meeting of stockholder:

 

 

 

Total Votes For

 

Total Votes Withheld

 

Broker Non-Votes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeffrey A. Harris

 

34,110,975

 

7,093,472

 

1,712,838

 

John F. Maypole

 

39,950,359

 

1,254,088

 

1,712,838

 

Kathleen G. Bradley

 

34,215,406

 

6,989,041

 

1,712,838

 

 

Proposal Two - The 2010 Knoll, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan was approved by the following vote:

 

Votes For

 

31,764,010

 

 

 

 

 

Votes Against

 

9,417,656

 

 

 

 

 

Abstain

 

22,781

 

 

 

 

 

Broker Non-Votes

 

1,712,838

 

 

Proposal Three - The appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010 was ratified by the following vote:

 

Votes For

 

42,650,611

 

 

 

 

 

Votes Against

 

248,696

 

 

 

 

 

Abstain

 

17,978

 

 

 

 

 

Broker Non-Votes

 

0

 

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit 10.1 - Amended and Restated Knoll, Inc. 2010 Stock Incentive Plan

 

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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

Knoll, Inc.

 

 

Date: May 11, 2010

 

 

By:

/s/ Michael A. Pollner

 

 

Michael A. Pollner

 

 

Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

 

3



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

EX-10.1

 

Amended and Restated Knoll, Inc. 2010 Stock Incentive Plan

 

4


Exhibit 10.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

KNOLL, INC.

 

2010 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(effective as of May 5, 2010)

 

1.                                       Purpose

 

The Amended and Restated Knoll, Inc. 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, as set forth herein and as amended from time to time, (the “Plan”) is intended to provide incentives that will attract, retain, motivate and reward highly competent persons as officers, certain other key employees, directors and consultants of Knoll, Inc. (the “Company”) or any of its subsidiary corporations, limited liability companies or other forms of business entities now existing or hereafter formed or acquired (“Subsidiaries”), by providing them opportunities to acquire shares of the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) or to receive monetary payments based on the value of such shares pursuant to Awards (as defined in Section 4) described herein.  Furthermore, the Plan is intended to assist in further aligning the interests of the Company’s officers, other key employees, directors and consultants with those of its stockholders.

 

2.                                       Administration

 

a.             The Plan shall be administered by a committee (the “Committee”) which shall be the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) or another committee appointed by the Board from among its members.  Unless the Board determines otherwise, the Committee shall be comprised solely of at least two members who each shall qualify as a (i) “Non-Employee Director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) (or any successor rule) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and (ii) an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the regulations thereunder.  The Committee is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Plan to establish such rules and regulations as it deems necessary for the proper administration of the Plan, to make such determinations and interpretations and to take such action in connection with the Plan and any Awards granted hereunder as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion.  All determinations and interpretations made by the Committee shall be binding and conclusive on all participants and their legal representatives.

 

b.             No member of the Board, no member of the Committee and no agent of the Committee who is an employee of the Company shall be liable for any act or failure to act hereunder, except in circumstances involving his or her bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct, or for any act or failure to act hereunder by any other member or employee or by any agent to whom duties in connection with the administration of this Plan have been delegated.  The Company shall indemnify members of the Board, members of the Committee and any agent of the Committee who is an employee of the Company against any and all liabilities or expenses to which they may be subjected by reason of any act or failure to act with respect to their duties

 



 

on behalf of the Plan, except in circumstances involving such person’s bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

c.             The Committee shall have the authority to grant Awards to officers, other key employees, directors and consultants of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.  The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members, or to one or more agents, such administrative duties as it may deem advisable, and the Committee, or any person to whom it has delegated duties as aforesaid, may employ one or more persons to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee or such person may have under the Plan.  The Committee may employ such legal or other counsel, consultants and agents as it may deem desirable for the administration of the Plan and may rely upon any opinion or computation received from any such counsel, consultant or agent.  Expenses incurred by the Committee in the engagement of such counsel, consultant or agent shall be paid by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries whose employees have benefited from the Plan, as determined by the Committee.

 

3.                                       Participants

 

Participants shall consist of such officers, other key employees, directors and consultants (including employees of a consultant, provided that such employee is actually providing bona fide consulting services to the Company) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as the Committee in its sole discretion determines to have significant responsibility for the success and future growth and profitability of the Company and whom the Committee may designate from time to time to receive Awards under the Plan.  Designation of a participant in any year shall not require the Committee to designate such person to receive an Award in any other year or, once designated, to receive the same type or amount of Award as granted to the participant in any other year.  The Committee shall consider such factors as it deems pertinent in selecting participants and in determining the type and amount of Awards.

 

4.                                       Types of Awards and Vesting Restrictions

 

a.             Awards under the Plan may be granted in any one or a combination of (1) Stock Options, (2) Stock Appreciation Rights, (3) Stock Awards, (4) Performance Awards and (5) Stock Units (each as described above an “Award,” and collectively, “Awards”).  Stock Awards, Performance Awards and Stock Units may, as determined by the Committee in its discretion, constitute Performance-Based Awards, as described in Section 11.  Awards shall be evidenced by Award agreements (which need not be identical) in such forms as the Committee may from time to time approve; provided, however , that in the event of any conflict between the provisions of the Plan and any such agreements, the provisions of the Plan shall prevail.

 

b.             Awards shall be subject to forfeiture as determined by the Committee and set forth in the applicable Award agreement, provided however, that:

 

(1)                                   No more than one-third of any Stock Award or Stock Unit shall become vested in any single annual period, except, as determined by the Committee, in the case of the participant’s death, disability or retirement or a Change in Control (as defined in Section 13b), provided that this restriction shall not apply to (A) a Performance Award (as defined in

 

2



 

Section 10) or (B) an Award that is  granted in lieu of cash compensation foregone at the election of an employee, director or consultant of the Company; and

 

(2)                                   A Stock Award or Stock Unit that is a Performance Award shall become vested no sooner than the first anniversary of the date of grant of such Award except, as determined by the Committee, in the case of the participant’s death, disability or retirement or a Change in Control.

 

5.                                       Common Stock Available Under the Plan

 

a.             Shares Available.   Subject to any adjustments made in accordance with Section 12, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be granted or issued pursuant to Awards, including shares of Common Stock subject to Stock Options, shall be 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock, all of which may be issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options, which may be authorized and unissued or treasury shares.

 

b.             Individual Limitation .  The number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted to any individual during any calendar year shall not exceed 500,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 12.  The number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Stock Awards, Performance Awards and Stock Units may be granted during any calendar year shall not exceed 250,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section 12.

 

c.             Shares Underlying Awards That Again Become Available .  Any shares of Common Stock subject to a Stock Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Stock Award, Performance Award, or Stock Unit which for any reason is cancelled or forfeited shall again be available for Awards under the Plan.  The preceding sentence shall apply only for purposes of determining the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards pursuant to Section 5a but shall not apply for purposes of determining the maximum number of Awards that any individual participant may be granted in any calendar year.

 

6.                                       Stock Options

 

a.             In General .  The Committee is authorized to grant Stock Options to officers, other key employees, directors and consultants of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and shall, in its sole discretion, determine such participants in the Plan who will receive Stock Options and the number of shares of Common Stock underlying each Stock Option.  Stock Options may be (i) incentive stock options (“Incentive Stock Options”) within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, or (ii) Stock Options which do not qualify as Incentive Stock Options (“Nonqualified Stock Options”).  The Committee may grant to any participant one or more Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock Options, or both types of Stock Options.  Each Stock Option shall be subject to such terms and conditions consistent with the Plan as shall be determined by the Committee and as set forth in the Award agreement.  In addition, each Stock Option shall be subject to the following limitations set forth in this Section 6.

 

3



 

b.             Exercise Price .  Each Stock Option granted hereunder shall have such per-share exercise price as the Committee may determine on the date of grant; provided, however , subject to Section 6(e), that the per-share exercise price shall not be less than 100 percent of the Fair Market Value (as defined in Section 16) of Common Stock on the date the Stock Option is granted.

 

c.             Payment of Exercise Price .  The Stock Option exercise price may be paid in cash or, in the discretion of the Committee, by the delivery of shares of Common Stock then owned by the participant, by the withholding of shares of Common Stock for which a Stock Option is exercisable, or by a combination of these methods.  In the discretion of the Committee, a payment may also be made by delivering a properly executed exercise notice to the Company together with a copy of irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the exercise price with the requirement of the broker same day reconciliation or as otherwise determined by the Company.  To facilitate the foregoing, the Company may enter into agreements for coordinated procedures with one or more brokerage firms.  The Committee may prescribe any other method of paying the exercise price that it determines to be consistent with applicable law and the purpose of the Plan, including, without limitation, in lieu of the exercise of a Stock Option by delivery of shares of Common Stock then owned by a participant for at least six months, providing the Company with a notarized statement attesting to the number of shares owned, where upon verification by the Company, the Company would issue to the participant only the number of incremental shares to which the participant is entitled upon exercise of the Stock Option.  In determining which methods a participant may utilize to pay the exercise price, the Committee may consider such factors as it determines are appropriate; provided, however , that with respect to Incentive Stock Options, all such discretionary determinations shall be made at the time of grant and specified in the Award agreement.

 

d.             Exercise Period .  Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such time or times as specified in the Plan and the Award agreement; provided, however , that no Stock Option shall be exercisable later than ten years after the date it is granted.

 

e.             Limitations on Incentive Stock Options .  Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to participants who are officers or other key employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on the date of grant.  The aggregate market value (determined as of the time the Stock Option is granted) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options (under all option plans of the Company) are exercisable for the first time by a participant during any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000.  For purposes of the preceding sentence, Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they are granted.  Incentive Stock Options may not be granted to any participant who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing (after the application of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10 percent of the total combined voting power of all outstanding classes of stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, unless the exercise price is fixed at not less than 110 percent of the Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the date of grant and the exercise of such option is prohibited by its terms after the expiration of 5 years from the date of grant of such option.

 

4



 

7.                                       Stock Appreciation Rights

 

The Committee is authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to officers, other key employees, directors and consultants of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and shall, in its sole discretion, determine such participants who will receive Stock Appreciation Rights and the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to each Stock Appreciation Right.  A “Stock Appreciation Right” shall mean a right to receive a payment in cash, Common Stock or a combination thereof, in an amount equal to the excess of (x) the Fair Market Value (or some lesser amount), of a specified number of shares of Common Stock on the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised over (y) the Fair Market Value of such shares of Common Stock on the date the Stock Appreciation Right is granted, or other specified valuation (which shall be no less than the Fair Market Value as of the date the Stock Appreciation Right is granted) (the “Grant Price”), with the number of shares of Common Stock represented by the Stock Appreciation Right as determined by the Committee.  Each Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to such terms and conditions consistent with the Plan as shall be determined by the Committee and as set forth in the Award agreement.

 

8.                                       Stock Awards

 

The Committee is authorized to grant Stock Awards to officers, other key employees, directors and consultants of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and shall, in its sole discretion, determine such participants in the Plan who will receive Stock Awards and the number of shares of Common Stock underlying each Stock Award.  A “Stock Award” is an immediate grant of a specified number of shares of Common Stock, with such number of shares of Common Stock determined by the Committee.  Each Stock Award shall be subject to such terms and conditions consistent with the Plan as shall be determined by the Committee and as set forth in the Award agreement, including, without limitation, restrictions on the sale or other disposition of such shares, and the right of the Company to reacquire such shares for no consideration upon termination of the participant’s employment within specified periods.  The Committee may require the participant to deliver a duly signed stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to Common Stock covered by such Stock Award and/or that the stock certificates evidencing such shares be held in custody or bear restrictive legends until the restrictions thereon shall have lapsed.  The Stock Award agreement shall specify whether the participant shall have, with respect to the shares of Common Stock subject to a Stock Award, all of the rights of a holder of shares of Common Stock, including the right to receive dividends and to vote the shares.

 

9.                                       Stock Units

 

a.             In General .  The Committee is authorized to grant Stock Units to officers, other key employees, directors and consultants of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and shall, in its sole discretion, determine such officers, other key employees, directors and consultants who will receive Stock Units and the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to each Stock Unit.  The Committee shall determine the criteria for the vesting of Stock Units.  A Stock Unit granted by the Committee shall provide payment in shares of Common Stock at such time as the Award agreement shall specify.  Shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to this Section 9 may

 

5



 

be issued with or without other payments therefor as may be required by applicable law or such other consideration as may be determined by the Committee.  The Committee shall determine whether a participant granted a Stock Unit shall be entitled to a Dividend Equivalent Right (as defined below).  Each Stock Unit shall be subject to such terms and conditions consistent with the Plan as shall be determined by the Committee and as set forth in the Award agreement.

 

b.             Payout .  Upon vesting of a Stock Unit, unless the Committee has determined to defer payment with respect to such unit or a participant has elected to defer payment under Section 10(c), shares of Common Stock representing the Stock Units shall be distributed to the participant unless the Committee, with the consent of the participant, provides for the payment of the Stock Units in cash or partly in cash and partly in shares of Common Stock equal to the value of the shares of Common Stock which would otherwise be distributed to the participant.

 

c.             Definitions .  A “Stock Unit” shall mean a notional account representing one share of Common Stock.  A “Dividend Equivalent Right” shall mean the right to receive the amount of any dividend paid on the share of Common Stock underlying a Stock Unit, which shall be payable in cash or in the form of additional Stock Units, at the time set forth in the Award Agreement or as deferred pursuant to Section 10(c).

 

10.                                Performance Awards

 

a.             In General .  The Committee is authorized to grant Performance Awards to officers and other key employees, directors and consultants of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and shall, in its sole discretion, determine such participants who will receive Performance Awards, provided however that directors may not receive Incentive Stock Options.  A “Performance Award” is a Stock Option, Stock Award or Stock Unit, the vesting or payment of which is conditioned on the satisfaction of performance criteria.  Each Performance Award shall be subject to such terms and conditions consistent with the Plan as shall be determined by the Committee and as set forth in the Award agreement.  The Committee shall set performance targets at its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the number and/or value of Performance Awards that will be paid out to the participants, and may attach to such Performance Awards one or more restrictions.  Performance targets may be based upon, without limitation, Company-wide, divisional and/or individual performance.

 

b.             Adjustment of Performance Targets .  With respect to those Performance Awards that are not intended to qualify as Performance-Based Awards (as described in Section 11), the Committee shall have the authority at any time to make adjustments to performance targets for any outstanding Performance Awards which the Committee deems necessary or desirable to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of participants in the event of, in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any unanticipated, unusual nonrecurring or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event or development; or in response to, or in anticipation of, changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, or business conditions.

 

c.             Payout .  Payment of earned Performance Awards may be made in shares of Common Stock, in cash or any combination of the two and shall be made in accordance with the terms and conditions prescribed or authorized by the Committee.  The participant may elect to

 

6



 

defer, or the Committee may require or permit the deferral of, the receipt of Performance Awards, provided that, the election to defer receipt of Performance Awards must occur no later than thirty (30) days after such Performance Award is granted, and otherwise in compliance with applicable tax law.

 

11.                                Performance-Based Awards

 

a.             In General .  All Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted under the Plan, and the compensation attributable to such Awards, are intended to qualify as  “performance-based compensation” (as such term is used in Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder) and thus be exempt from the deduction limitation imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code.  Stock Awards, Performance Awards and Stock Units may be granted in a manner such that such Awards qualify as “performance-based compensation” and thus be exempt from the deduction limitation imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code  All Awards that qualify as “performance-based compensation” are referred to herein as “Performance-Based Awards.”  An Award shall qualify as a Performance-Based Award only if at the time of grant the Committee is comprised solely of two or more “outside directors” (as such term is used in Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder).

 

b.             Performance Measures .  Stock Awards, Performance Awards, and Stock Units granted under the Plan should qualify as Performance-Based Awards if, as determined by the Committee, in its discretion, either the granting or vesting of such Award is subject to the achievement of a performance target or targets based on one or more performance measures.  The Committee may use the following performance measures (either individually or in any combination) to set performance targets with respect to Awards intended to qualify as Performance-Based Awards:  operating profits, revenue growth, gross profit margin, operating profit margin, net sales; pretax income before allocation of corporate overhead and bonus; budget; earnings per share; net income; division, group or corporate financial goals; return on stockholders’ equity; return on assets; attainment of strategic and operational initiatives; appreciation in and/or maintenance of the price of Common Stock or any other publicly-traded securities of the Company; market share; gross profits; earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization; economic value-added models; comparisons with various stock market indices; and/or reductions in costs.

 

c.             Adjustment of Performance Measures .  The Committee shall have the authority at any time to make adjustments to performance measures for any outstanding Performance-Based Awards which the Committee deems necessary or desirable to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of participants in the event of, in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any unanticipated, unusual nonrecurring or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event or development; or in response to, or in anticipation of, changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, or business conditions.

 

12.                                Adjustment Provisions

 

If there shall be any change in Common Stock of the Company, through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split,

 

7



 

split up, spinoff, combination of shares, exchange of shares, dividend in kind or other like change in capital structure or distribution (other than normal cash dividends) to stockholders of the Company, an adjustment shall be made to each outstanding Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Right such that each such Stock Option and Stock Appreciation Right shall thereafter be exercisable for such securities, cash and/or other property as would have been received in respect of Common Stock subject to such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right had such Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right been exercised in full immediately prior to such change or distribution, and such an adjustment shall be made successively each time any such change shall occur.  In addition, in the event of any such change or distribution, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of participants’ rights under the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to adjust, in an equitable manner, the number and kind of shares that may be issued under the Plan, the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding Awards, the exercise price applicable to outstanding Awards, and the Fair Market Value of Common Stock and other value determinations applicable to outstanding Awards.  Appropriate adjustments may also be made by the Committee in the terms of any Awards under the Plan to reflect such changes or distributions and to modify any other terms of outstanding Awards on an equitable basis, including modifications of performance targets and changes in the length of performance periods.  In addition, other than with respect to Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and other Awards intended to constitute Performance-Based Awards, the Committee is authorized to make adjustments to the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the financial statements of the Company, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) any adjustment with respect to an Incentive Stock Option shall comply with the rules of 424(a) of the Code, (ii) any adjustment with respect to a Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option shall comply with the rules of Section 409A of the Code, and (iii) in no event shall any adjustment be made which would render any Incentive Stock Option granted hereunder other than an incentive stock option for purposes of Section 422 of the Code.

 

13.                                Change In Control

 

a.             Accelerated Vesting .  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, if there is a Change in Control of the Company (as defined in Section 13b), all unvested Awards granted under the Plan shall become fully vested immediately upon the occurrence of the Change of Control, unless otherwise determined by the Committee as set forth in the Award Agreement, and such vested Awards shall be paid out or settled, as applicable, to the extent determined by the Committee.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent an amount is subject to Section 409A of the Code, no amounts payable pursuant to this Section 13 shall be payable unless the event triggering such payment would constitute a “change in control” as defined in Section 409A of the Code.

 

b.             Definition .  For purposes of this Section 13, (i) if there is an employment agreement or a change in control agreement between the participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in effect, “Change in Control” shall have the same definition as the definition of “Change in Control” contained in such employment agreement or change in control agreement (unless such definition does not comply with Section 409A(2)(c)(v) of the Code), or (ii) if

 

8



 

“Change in Control” is not defined in such employment agreement or change in control agreement (or such definition does not comply with Section 409A(2)(c)(v) of the Code), or if there is no employment agreement or change in control agreement between the participant and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in effect, a “Change in Control” of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred upon any of the following events:

 

(1)                                   any person or other entity (other than any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) including any person as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, becomes the beneficial owner, as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of capital stock of the Company normally entitled to vote for the election of directors of the Company (the “Voting Stock”);

 

(2)                                   the Company consummates the sale of all or substantially all of the property or assets of the Company;

 

(3)                                   the Company consummates a consolidation or merger of the Company with another corporation (other than with any of the Company’s Subsidiaries), and as a result,  the stockholders of the Company immediately before the occurrence of the consolidation or merger own, in the aggregate, not more than 50% of the Voting Stock of the surviving entity; or

 

(4)                                   a change in the Company’s Board occurs with the result that, within any 12-month period, the members of the Board as of the beginning of such period (the “Incumbent Directors”) no longer constitute a majority of such Board, provided that any person becoming a director (other than a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest or the settlement thereof, including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company) whose election or nomination for election was supported by at least a majority of the then Incumbent Directors shall be considered an Incumbent Director for purposes hereof.

 

This definition shall be interpreted and applied as necessary to avoid imposition of the taxes and interest under Section 409A of the Code.

 

14.                                Transferability

 

Each Award granted under the Plan to a participant shall not be transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable, during the participant’s lifetime, only by the participant.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may in its sole discretion allow for the transfer of an Award (other than an Incentive Stock Option) to other persons or entities, subject to such conditions or limitations as the Committee may establish.

 

9



 

15.                                Other Provisions

 

Awards granted under the Plan may also be subject to such other provisions (whether or not applicable to the Award granted to any other participant) as the Committee determines on the date of grant to be appropriate, including, without limitation, for the installment purchase of Common Stock under Stock Options, for the installment exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights, to assist the participant, excluding an officer or a director, in financing the acquisition of Common Stock, for the forfeiture of, or restrictions on resale or other disposition of, Common Stock acquired under any form of the Award, for the acceleration of exercisability or vesting of Awards in the event of a change in control of the Company, or to comply with federal and state securities laws, or understandings or conditions as to the participant’s employment, in addition to those specifically provided for under the Plan.  In addition, except as otherwise provided herein, a participant may defer receipt or payment of any Award granted under this Plan, in accord with the terms of any deferred compensation plan or arrangement of the Company.

 

16.                                Fair Market Value

 

For purposes of this Plan and any Awards granted hereunder, Fair Market Value shall mean (i) the closing price of Common Stock on the date of calculation (or on the last preceding trading date if Common Stock was not traded on such date) if Common Stock is readily tradeable on a national securities exchange or other market system or (ii) if Common Stock is not readily tradeable, the amount determined by the Committee in a manner consistent with Section 409A of the Code, or, in the case of shares of Common Stock underlying Incentive Stock Options, the amount determined by the Committee in a manner consistent with Section 422 of the Code.

 

17.                                Withholding

 

At such time that the delivery of shares of Common Stock or other disposition of an Award to a participant becomes subject to tax withholding requirements, the Company may require that the participant pay to the Company such amount as the Company deems necessary to satisfy its obligation to withhold Federal, state or local income or other taxes.  The Committee, in its discretion, may elect to pay such amount by having the Company withhold shares of Common Stock which would otherwise be delivered to such participant having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to such amount.

 

18.                                Tenure

 

A participant’s right, if any, to continue to serve the Company as an officer, other key employee, director or otherwise shall not be enlarged or otherwise affected by his or her designation as a participant under the Plan.

 

19.                                Unfunded Plan

 

Participants shall have no right, title, or interest whatsoever in or to any investments which the Company may make to aid it in meeting its obligations under the Plan.  Nothing contained in the Plan, and no action taken pursuant to its provisions, shall create or be construed to create a trust of any kind, or a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any

 

10



 

participant, beneficiary, legal representative or any other person.  To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under the Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company.  All payments to be made hereunder shall be paid from the general funds of the Company and no special or separate fund shall be established and no segregation of assets shall be made to assure payment of such amounts except as expressly set forth in the Plan.  The Plan is not intended to be subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

20.                                No Fractional Shares

 

No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award.  The Committee shall determine whether cash, or Awards, or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

21.                                Duration, Amendment and Termination

 

No Award shall be granted more than ten years after the Effective Date; provided, however, that the terms and conditions applicable to any Award granted prior to such date may thereafter be amended or modified by mutual agreement between the Company and the participant or such other persons as may then have an interest therein.  Also, by mutual agreement between the Company and a participant under this Plan or under any other present or future plan of the Company, Awards may be granted to such participant in substitution and exchange for, and in cancellation of, any Awards previously granted to such participant under this Plan, or any other present or future plan of the Company, provided that, such substitution or exchange is permitted under applicable law, including, but not limited to, Sections 409A and 422 of the Code.  The Board or the Committee may amend the Plan from time to time or suspend or terminate the Plan at any time.  However, no action authorized by this Section 21 shall reduce the amount of any existing Award or change the terms and conditions thereof without the participant’s consent.  Notwithstanding the foregoing in this Section 21, no amendment of the Plan and no amendment of any Award shall, without approval of the stockholders of the Company, (i) increase the total number of shares which may be issued under the Plan or the maximum number of shares with respect to Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and other Awards that may be granted to any individual under the Plan; (ii) modify the requirements as to eligibility for Awards under the Plan; (iii) permit Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights or other Awards encompassing rights to purchase Common Stock to be repriced, replaced or regranted through cancellation, or by lowering the per-share exercise price of a previously granted Stock Option or the Grant Price of a previously granted Stock Appreciation Right, or the purchase price of any other previously granted Award that encompasses the right to purchase Common Stock; or (iv) have the effect of disqualifying any Incentive Stock Options previously granted hereunder.

 

11



 

22.                                Compliance with Law

 

a.             Governing Law.  This Plan, Awards granted hereunder and actions taken in connection herewith shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of Delaware (regardless of the law that might otherwise govern under applicable Delaware principles of conflict of laws).

 

b.             Section 409A Compliance.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, all Awards under this Plan shall be designed and administered in a manner that does not result in the imposition of tax or penalties under Section 409A of the Code.

 

23.                                Severability

 

In case any provision of this Plan shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining  provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

24.                                Effective Date

 

a.             The Plan shall be effective as of the date on which the Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company at an annual meeting or any special meeting of stockholders of the Company (the “Effective Date”) and such approval of stockholders shall be a condition to the right of each participant to receive Awards hereunder.

 

b.             This Plan shall terminate on the 10th anniversary of the Effective Date (unless sooner terminated by the Board).

 

*   *   *

 

As adopted by the Board of Directors of

Knoll, Inc. as of May 5, 2010

 

12