As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 11, 2010
Registration No. 333-

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

New York
3536
16-0547600
(State or other jurisdiction of
(Primary Standard Industrial
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
 Classification Code)
Identification Number)

140 John James Audubon Parkway
Amherst, New York 14228-1197
(716) 689-5400
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Columbus McKinnon Corporation 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan
 (Full title of the plan)

Karen L Howard
Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Columbus McKinnon Corporation
140 John James Audubon Parkway
Amherst, New York 14228-1197
(716) 689-5400
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of agent for service)

Copy To:
Robert J. Olivieri, Esq.
Hodgson Russ LLP
One M&T Plaza, Suite 2000
Buffalo, New York  14203-2391
(716) 856-4000
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer
o
 
 
Accelerated filer
þ
 
Non-accelerated filer
(Do not check if a smaller
reporting company)
o
 
 
Smaller reporting company
o
 
 
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
 
Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered
 
Amount
to be
Registered
Proposed
Maximum
Offering Price
per Share (2)
Proposed
Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price (2)
 
 
Amount of
Registration Fee
Common Stock ($.01 par value)
1,250,000 shares (1)
$ 15.41
$ 19,262,500
$  1,374

(1) 
This Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of shares of Columbus McKinnon Corporation common stock that may be issuable by reason of stock splits, stock dividends, or other adjustment provisions of the 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan in accordance with Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933.
(2) 
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee computed pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h), upon the basis of the average of the high and low prices of the common stock as quoted on The NASDAQ Global Market on August 9, 2010.
 


 
 

 
 
PART I

Information Required in the Section 10(a) Prospectus

The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 will be sent or given to participants as specified in Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).  Such documents need not be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) either as part of this Registration Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act.  These documents and the documents incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the securities Act.


PART II

Information Required in the Registration Statement

Item 3.
Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are incorporated herein by reference:

(a)        The Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010;

(b)        The Registrant’s Proxy Statement filed on Schedule 14A on June 23, 2010.

 
(c)
The Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2010, filed with the Commission on July 30, 2010;

 
(d)
The Registrant’s Current Report on form 8-K filed with the Commission on July 29, 2010; and

 
(e)
The description of the Registrant’s Common Stock contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the Commission on January 24, 1996, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 8-A/A filed with the Commission on February 22, 1996.

In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities registered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.

 
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Item 4.
Description of Securities.

Not applicable.
 
 
Item 5.
Interests of Named Persons and Counsel.

Certain legal matters with respect to the validity of the shares of Common stock offered pursuant to this Registration Statement are being passed upon for the Registrant by Hodgson Russ LLP, counsel to the Registrant.
 
 
Item 6.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Sections 722 through 726 of the New York Business Corporation Law (“BCL”), grant New York corporations broad powers to indemnify their present and former directors and officers and those of affiliated corporations against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with threatened, pending or completed actions, suits or proceedings to which they are parties or are threatened to be made parties by reason of being or having been such directors or officers, subject to specified conditions and exclusions; give a director or officer who successfully defends an action the right to be so indemnified; and permit a corporation to buy directors' and officers' liability insurance.  Such indemnification is not exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any by-laws, agreement, vote of shareholders or otherwise.
 
Section 402(b) of the BCL permits a New York corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a provision eliminating the potential monetary liability of a director to the corporation or its shareholders for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision may not eliminate the liability of a director (i) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (ii) for any transaction from which the director receives an improper personal benefit or (iii) for any acts in violation of Section 719 of the BCL.  Section 719 provides that a director who votes or concurs in a corporate action will be liable to the corporation for the benefit of its creditors and shareholders for any damages suffered as a result of an action approving (i) an improper payment of a dividend, (ii) an improper redemption or purchase by the corporation of shares of the corporation,  (iii) an improper distribution of assets to shareholders after dissolution of the corporation without adequately providing for all known liabilities of the corporation or (iv) the making of an improper loan to a director of the corporation.  The Registrant’s Certificate of Incorporation provides that its directors shall not be liable to the Registrant or its shareholders for a breach of their duties to the fullest extent in which elimination or limitation of the liability of directors is permitted by the BCL.  The Registrant’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation includes the provision permitted by Section 402(b) of the BCL.
 
The Registrant’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation also provides that the Registrant shall indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by the BCL, each person (and the heirs, executors, or administrators of such person) who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in, any civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Registrant or is or was serving at the Registrant’s request as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise.  The Registrant is also obligated to pay the cost of the expenses incurred by our officers and directors (including attorney’s fees) in defending themselves in such proceedings in advance of final disposition if the officer or director agrees to repay the amount advanced in the event it is ultimately determined that the officer or director was not entitled to be indemnified by the Registrant as authorized by its Certificate of Incorporation.  The Registrant is not obligated to indemnify any director or officer (or his or her heirs, executors or administrators) in connection with a proceeding initiated by such person unless such proceeding was authorized or consented to by the Registrant’s Board of Directors.  The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its current directors to effectuate the indemnification provisions of its Certificate of Incorporation.

 
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Item 7.
Exemption from Registration Claimed.

Not applicable.


Item 8.
Exhibits.

Columbus McKinnon 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan.

Opinion of Hodgson Russ LLP.

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

23.2 
Consent of Hodgson Russ LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1 to this Registration Statement).


Item 9.
Undertakings.
 
(a)        The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

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

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

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

(iii)     To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the Registration Statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8, or Form F-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

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

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

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

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



[ REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ]
 
 
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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Amherst, State of New York, on August 11, 2010.

 
    COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
     
     
   By: s/   Timothy T. Tevens
    Timothy T. Tevens
    President and Chief Executive Officer
     
 


POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS , that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Timothy T. Tevens and Karen L Howard, or either of them, as his attorney in fact, to sign any amendments to this registration statement (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact, or his substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
 
E -5

 
 
Signature
 
Title
 
Date
         
s/    Timothy T. Tevens
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
August 11, 2010
Timothy T. Tevens
 
 
(Principal Executive Officer)
   
         
s/ Karen L. Howard
 
Vice President – Finance and Chief Financial Officer
 
August 11, 2010
Karen L. Howard
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)
   
         
s/ Joseph J. Maliekel
 
Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
 
August 11, 2010
Joseph J. Maliekel
 
 
(Principal Accounting Officer)
   
         
s/ Ernest R. Verebelyi
 
Chairman of the Board of Directors
 
August 11, 2010
Ernest R. Verebelyi
 
       
         
s/ Richard H. Fleming
 
Director
 
August 11, 2010
Richard H. Fleming
 
       
         
s/ Wallace W. Creek
 
Director
 
August 11, 2010
Wallace W. Creek
 
       
         
s/ Linda A. Goodspeed
 
Director
 
August 11, 2010
Linda A. Goodspeed
 
       
         
s/ Stephen Rabinowitz
 
Director
 
August 11, 2010
Stephen Rabinowitz
 
       
         
s/    Nicholas T. Pinchuk
 
Director
 
August 11, 2010
Nicholas T. Pinchuk
 
       
         
s/ Liam McCarthy
 
Director
 
August 11, 2010
Liam McCarthy
 
       
         
s/ Christian B. Ragot
 
Director
 
August 11, 2010
Christian B. Ragot
 
       
 
E - 6


EXHIBIT 4.1

Columbus McKinnon Corporation
2010 Long Term Incentive Plan
Effective July 26, 2010

 
 

 

Table of Contents

Article 1. Establishment, Purpose, and Duration
3
   
Article 2. Definitions
3
   
Article 3. Administration
12
   
Article 4. Shares Subject to This Plan and Maximum Awards
14
   
Article 5. Eligibility and Participation
17
   
Article 6. Stock Options
17
   
Article 7. Stock Appreciation Rights
19
   
Article 8. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
20
   
Article 9. Deferred Stock Units
21
   
Article 10. Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, and Performance Units
23
   
Article 11. Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards
24
   
Article 12. Covered Employee Annual Incentive Awards
25
   
Article 13. Nonemployee Director Awards
25
   
Article 14. Performance Measures
26
   
Article 15. Transferability of Awards
27
   
Article 16. Impact of Termination of Employment/Service on Awards
28
   
Article 17. Substitution Awards
30
   
Article 18. Dividend Equivalent Rights
31
   
Article 19. Beneficiary Designation
31
   
Article 20. Rights of Participants
31
   
Article 21. Change in Control
32
   
Article 22. Amendment, Modification, Suspension, and Termination
32
   
Article 23. Withholding
33
   
Article 24. Successors
33
   
Article 25. General Provisions
34

 
 

 

Columbus McKinnon Corporation
2010 Long Term Incentive Plan

Article 1. Establishment, Purpose, and Duration
 
1.1             Establishment . Columbus McKinnon Corporation, a New York corporation (hereinafter referred to as the Company ), establishes an incentive compensation plan to be known as the Columbus McKinnon Corporation 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan (hereinafter referred to as the Plan ), as set forth in this document.

This Plan permits the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, Performance Units, Covered Employee Annual Incentive Awards, Cash-Based Awards, and Other Stock-Based Awards.

This Plan shall become effective upon shareholder approval (the “Effective Date”) and shall remain in effect as provided in Section 1.3 (Duration/Duration of This Plan) hereof.

1.2             Purpose of This Plan . The purpose of this Plan is to provide a means whereby Employees, Directors, and Third-Party Service Providers of the Company develop a sense of proprietorship and personal involvement in the development and financial success of the Company, and to encourage them to devote their best efforts to the business of the Company, thereby advancing the interests of the Company and its shareholders. A further purpose of this Plan is to provide a means through which the Company may attract able individuals to become Employees or serve as Directors or Third-Party Service Providers of the Company and to provide a means whereby those individuals upon whom the responsibilities of the successful administration and management of the Company are of importance can acquire and maintain stock ownership, thereby strengthening their concern for the welfare of the Company.

1.3             Duration of This Plan . Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, this Plan shall terminate ten (10) years from the Effective Date. After this Plan is terminated, no Awards may be granted but Awards previously granted shall remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and this Plan’s terms and conditions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Incentive Stock Options may be granted more than ten (10) years after the earlier of (a) adoption of this Plan by the Board, or (b) the Effective Date.

1.4             No More Grants Under Prior Plans . After the Effective Date, no more grants will be made under the Prior Plans.

Article 2. Definitions

 
3

 

Whenever used in this Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below, and when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word shall be capitalized.

 
2.1
Affiliate ” shall mean any corporation or other entity (including, but not limited to, a partnership or a limited liability company) that is affiliated with the Company through stock or equity ownership or otherwise, and is designated as an Affiliate for purposes of this Plan by the Committee.

 
2.2
Alternative Award ” has the meaning set forth in Section 21.2 (Alternative Awards) .

 
2.3
Annual Award Limit ” or “ Annual Award Limits ” have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3 (Annual Award Limits) .

 
2.4
Award ” means, individually or collectively, a grant under this Plan of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, Performance Units, Covered Employee Annual Incentive Awards, Cash-Based Awards, or Other Stock-Based Awards, in each case subject to the terms of this Plan.

 
2.5
Award Agreement ” means either (a) a written agreement entered into by the Company and a Participant setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award granted under this Plan, or (b) a written or electronic statement issued by the Company to a Participant describing the terms and provisions of such Award, including any amendment or modification thereof. The Committee may provide for the use of electronic, Internet, or other non-paper Award Agreements, and the use of electronic, Internet, or other non-paper means for the acceptance thereof and actions thereunder by a Participant.

 
2.6
Beneficial Owner ” or “ Beneficial Ownership ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act.

 
2.7
Board ” or “ Board of Directors ” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 
2.8
Cash-Based Award ” means an Award, denominated in cash, granted to a Participant as described in Article 11 (Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards) .

 
2.9
Cause ” means, unless otherwise specified in an Award Agreement or in an applicable employment agreement between the Company and a Participant, with respect to any Participant, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion:

 
4

 

 
(a)
Commission of a willful serious act, such as embezzlement, against the Company which is intended to enrich the Participant at the expense of the Company;

 
(b)
Conviction of a felony involving moral turpitude; or

 
(c)
Any willful, gross neglect or willful, gross misconduct resulting in either case in material harm to the Company, or a violation of the Company’s Code of Conduct. For purposes of this Section 2.9(c), no act, or failure to act, on a Participant’s behalf will be deemed “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Participant not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the Participant’s action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.

 
2.10
Change in Control ” means, unless otherwise defined in an Award Agreement, any of the following events:

 
(a)
Any “Person,” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, or any Company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company), is or becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing twenty percent (20%) or more of either (i) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company or (ii) the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities;

 
(b)
During any period of two (2) consecutive years (not including any period prior to the execution of this Agreement), individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in paragraph (a), (c), (d) or (e) of this Section 2.10 whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof;

 
(c)
There shall be consummated any reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company with any other entity, other than (i) a reorganization, merger or consolidation which would result in the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than sixty percent (60%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such reorganization, merger or consolidation or (ii) a reorganization, merger or consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or similar transaction) in which no “Person” (as herein above defined) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities;

 
5

 

 
(d)
Any Person or Persons acquire all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, whether in a single transaction or series of transactions; or

 
(e)
The stockholders of the Company approve a plan of dissolution or complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.

For purposes hereof, ownership of voting securities shall take into account and shall include ownership as determined by applying the provisions of Rule 13d-3(d)(1)(i) (as in effect on the date hereof) pursuant to the Exchange Act.

A “Change in Control” shall not result from any transaction precipitated by the Company’s insolvency, appointment of a conservator, or determination by a regulatory agency that the Company is insolvent, nor from any transaction initiated by the Company in regard to converting from a publicly traded company to a privately held company.

 
2.11
Change-in-Control Price ” means the price per share on a fully diluted basis offered in conjunction with any transaction resulting in a Change in Control, as determined in good faith by the Committee as constituted before the Change in Control, if any part of the offered price is payable other than in cash.

 
2.12
Code ” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. For purposes of this Plan, references to sections of the Code shall be deemed to include references to any applicable regulations thereunder and any successor or similar provision.

 
2.13
Committee ” means the Compensation and Succession Committee of the Board or a subcommittee thereof, or any other committee designated by the Board to administer this Plan. The members of the Committee shall be appointed from time to time by and shall serve at the discretion of the Board. If the Committee does not exist or cannot function for any reason, the Board may take any action under the Plan that would otherwise be the responsibility of the Committee.

 
6

 

 
2.14
Company ” means Columbus McKinnon Corporation, a New York corporation, and any successor thereto as provided in Article 24 (Successors) herein.

 
2.15
Consolidated Operating Earnings ” means the consolidated earnings before income taxes of the Company, computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, but shall exclude the effects of Extraordinary Items.

 
2.16
Covered Employee ” means any Employee who is or may become a “Covered Employee,” as defined in Code Section 162(m), and who is designated, either as an individual Employee or class of Employees, by the Committee within the shorter of (a) ninety (90) days after the beginning of the Performance Period, or (b) twenty-five percent (25%) of the Performance Period has elapsed, as a “Covered Employee” under this Plan for such applicable Performance Period.

 
2.17
Covered Employee Annual Incentive Award ” means an Award granted to a Covered Employee as described in Article 12 (Covered Employee Annual Incentive Awards) .

 
2.18
Deferred Stock Unit ” means a Participant’s contractual right to receive a stated number of Shares, or if provided by the Committee on the Grant Date, cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such Shares, under the Plan at the end of a specified period of time or upon the occurrence of a specified event.

 
2.19
Director ” means any individual who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 
2.20
Disability ” means, unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement:

 
(a)
With respect to a Participant who is a party to a written employment agreement with the Company, which agreement contains a definition of “disability” or “permanent disability” (or words of like import) for purposes of termination of employment thereunder by the Company, “disability” or “permanent disability” as defined in the most recent of such agreements; or

 
(b)
In all other cases, means such Participant’s inability to perform substantially his or her duties to the Company by reason of physical or mental illness, injury, infirmity, or condition: (i) for a continuous period for one hundred eighty (180) days or one or more periods aggregating one hundred eighty (180) days in any twelve (12) month period; (ii) at such time as such Participant is eligible to receive disability income payments under any long-term disability insurance plan maintained by the Company; or (iii) at such earlier time as such Participant or the Company submits medical evidence, in the form of a physician’s certification, that such Participant has a physical or mental illness, injury, infirmity, or condition that will likely prevent such Participant from substantially performing his duties for one hundred eighty (180) days or longer.

 
7

 

 
2.21
Dividend Equivalent Right ” means the right to receive an amount, calculated with respect to a Full-Value Award, which is determined by multiplying the number of Shares subject to the applicable Award by the per-Share cash dividend, or the per-Share Fair Market Value (as determined by the Committee) of any dividend in consideration other than cash, paid by the Company on Shares.

 
2.22
Effective Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1 (Establishment) .

 
2.23
Eligible Individual ” means an individual who is an Employee, Director, and/or Third-Party Service Provider.

 
2.24
Employee ” means any individual designated as an employee of the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries on the payroll records thereof. An Employee shall not include any individual during any period he or she is classified or treated by the Company, Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary as an independent contractor, a consultant, or any employee of an employment, consulting, or temporary agency or any other entity other than the Company, Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary, without regard to whether such individual is subsequently determined to have been, or is subsequently retroactively reclassified as, a common-law employee of the Company, Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary during such period.

 
2.25
Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor act thereto.

 
2.26
Extraordinary Items ” means (a) extraordinary, unusual, and/or nonrecurring items of gain or loss; (b) gains or losses on the disposition of a business; (c) changes in tax or accounting regulations or laws; or (d) the effect of a merger or acquisition, all of which must be identified in the audited financial statements, including footnotes, or Management Discussion and Analysis section of the Company’s annual report.

 
2.27
Fair Market Value ” or “ FMV ” means a price that is based on the opening, closing, actual, high, low, or average selling prices of a Share reported on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) or other established stock exchange (or exchanges) on the applicable date, the preceding trading day, the next succeeding trading day, or an average of trading days, as determined by the Committee in its discretion. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be equal to the average of the opening and closing prices of a Share on the most recent date on which Shares were publicly traded. In the event Shares are not publicly traded at the time a determination of their value is required to be made hereunder, the determination of their Fair Market Value shall be made by the Committee in such manner as it deems appropriate.

 
8

 

 
2.28
Full-Value Award ” means an Award other than an ISO, NQSO, or SAR, which is settled by the issuance of Shares.

 
2.29
Grant Date ” means the date an Award is granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan.

 
2.30
Grant Price ” means the price established at the time of grant of an SAR pursuant to Article 7 (Stock Appreciation Rights) , used to determine whether there is any payment due upon exercise of the SAR.

 
2.31
Incentive Stock Option ” or “ ISO ” means an Option to purchase Shares granted under Article 6 (Stock Options) to an Employee and that is designated as an Incentive Stock Option and that is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422, or any successor provision.

 
2.32
Insider ” shall mean an individual who is, on the relevant date, an officer or Director of the Company, or a more than ten percent (10%) Beneficial Owner of any class of the Company’s equity securities that is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act, as determined by the Board in accordance with Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 
2.33
Net Income ” means the consolidated net income before taxes for the Plan Year, as reported in the Company’s annual report to shareholders or as otherwise reported to shareholders.

 
2.34
New Employer ” means a Participant’s employer, or the parent or a subsidiary of such employer, immediately following a Change in Control.

 
2.35
New Nonemployee Director Award ” means an Award for a Nonemployee Director of up to an additional fifteen thousand (15,000) Shares in the Plan Year in which an individual is first appointed or elected to the Board as a Nonemployee Director.

 
2.36
Nonemployee Director ” means a Director who is not an Employee.

 
2.37
Nonemployee Director Award ” means any NQSO, SAR, or Full-Value Award granted, whether singly, in combination, or in tandem, to a Participant who is a Nonemployee Director pursuant to such applicable terms, conditions, and limitations as the Board or Committee may establish in accordance with this Plan.

 
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2.38
Nonqualified Stock Option ” or “ NQSO ” means an Option that is not intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422, or that otherwise does not meet such requirements.

 
2.39
Option ” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, as described in Article 6 (Stock Options) .

 
2.40
Option Price ” means the price at which a Share may be purchased by a Participant pursuant to an Option.

 
2.41
Other Stock-Based Award ” means an equity-based or equity-related Award not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan, granted pursuant to Article 11 (Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards) .

 
2.42
Participant ” means any Eligible Individual as set forth in Article 5 (Eligibility and Participation) to whom an Award is granted.

 
2.43
Performance-Based Compensation ” means compensation under an Award that is intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for certain performance-based compensation paid to Covered Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Plan shall be construed to mean that an Award which does not satisfy the requirements for performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m) does not constitute performance-based compensation for other purposes, including Code Section 409A.

 
2.44
Performance Measures ” means measures as described in Article 14 (Performance Measures) on which the performance goals are based and which are approved by the Company’s shareholders pursuant to this Plan in order to qualify Awards as Performance-Based Compensation.

 
2.45
Performance Period ” means the period of time during which the performance goals must be met in order to determine the degree of payout and/or vesting with respect to an Award.

 
2.46
Performance Share ” means a grant of a stated number of Shares to a Participant under the Plan that is forfeitable by the Participant until the attainment of specified performance goals, or until otherwise determined by the Committee or in accordance with the Plan, subject to the continuous employment of the Participant through the applicable Performance Period.

 
2.47
Performance Share Unit ” means a Participant’s contractual right to receive a stated number of Shares, or if provided by the Committee on or after the grant date, cash equal to the Fair Market Value of such Shares, under the Plan at a specified time that are forfeitable by the Participant until the attainment of specified performance goals, or until otherwise determined by the Committee or in accordance with the Plan, subject to the continuous employment of the Participant through the applicable Performance Period.

 
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2.48
Performance Unit ” means a Participant’s contractual right to receive a cash-denominated award, payable in cash or Shares, under the Plan at a specified time that is forfeitable by the Participant until the attainment of specified performance goals, or until otherwise determined by the Committee or in accordance with the Plan, subject to the continuous employment of the Participant through the applicable Performance Period.

 
2.49
Person ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.

 
2.50
Plan ” means the Columbus McKinnon Corporation 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan.

 
2.51
Plan Year ” means the Company’s fiscal year which currently begins April 1 and ends March 31.

 
2.52
Prior Plans ” means the Company’s 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan, the 1995 Incentive Stock Option Plan, the Non-Qualified Stock Option Plan, and the Restricted Stock Plan.

 
2.53
Restricted Stock ” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 8 (Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units) .

 
2.54
Restricted Stock Unit ” means an Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Article 8 (Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units) , except no Shares are actually awarded to the Participant on the Grant Date.

 
2.55
Restriction Period ” means the period when Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units, and/or Other Stock-Based Awards are subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture (based on the passage of time, the achievement of performance goals, or upon the occurrence of other events as determined by the Committee, in its discretion).

 
2.56
Retirement ” shall be reached when a Participant’s employment terminates from the Company, Affiliates, and any Subsidiary and at the time of such termination the Participant’s age and years of service as an employee of the Company, Affiliate, or any Subsidiary were either (a) age sixty-five (65) or older with at least five (5) years of service, or (b) age sixty-two (62) or older, with at least twenty-five (25) years of service.

 
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2.57
Share ” means a share of common stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share.

 
2.58
Share Authorization ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a) (Share Authorization) .

 
2.59
Stock Appreciation Right ” or “ SAR ” means an Award, designated as an SAR, pursuant to the terms of Article 7 (Stock Appreciation Rights) herein.

 
2.60
Subsidiary ” means any corporation or other entity, whether domestic or foreign, in which the Company has or obtains, directly or indirectly, a proprietary interest of more than fifty percent (50%) by reason of stock ownership or otherwise.

 
2.61
Tax Laws ” means any applicable federal, state, local, or foreign laws and regulations thereunder.

 
2.62
Third-Party Service Provider ” means any consultant, agent, advisor, or independent contractor who renders services to the Company, a Subsidiary, or an Affiliate that (a) are not in connection with the offer and sale of the Company’s securities in a capital-raising transaction, and (b) do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities.

Article 3. Administration
 
3.1             General . The Committee shall be responsible for administering this Plan, subject to this Article 3 (Administration) and the other provisions of this Plan. The Committee may employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, agents, and other individuals, any of whom may be an Employee, and the Committee, the Company, and its officers and Directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions, or valuations of any such individuals. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee shall be final and binding upon the Participants, the Company, and all other interested individuals.

3.2             Authority of the Committee . The Committee shall have full and exclusive discretionary power to interpret the terms and the intent of this Plan and any Award Agreement or other agreement or document ancillary to or in connection with this Plan, to determine eligibility for Awards and to adopt such rules, regulations, forms, instruments, and guidelines for administering this Plan as the Committee may deem necessary or proper. Such authority shall include, but not be limited to, (a) selecting Award recipients, (b) establishing all Award terms and conditions, including the terms and conditions set forth in Award Agreements and any ancillary document or materials, (c) granting Awards as an alternative to or as the form of payment for grants or rights earned or due under compensation plans or arrangements of the Company, (d) construing any ambiguous provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement, (e) establishing and certifying satisfaction of performance goals for purposes of satisfying the requirements of Code Section 162(m), (f) subject to Article 22 (Amendment, Modification, Suspension, and Termination) , adopting modifications and amendments to this Plan or any Award Agreement, including without limitation, any that are necessary to comply with the laws of the countries and other jurisdictions in which the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries operate, and (g) making any other determination and taking any other action that it deems necessary or desirable for the administration or operation of the Plan and/or any Award Agreement.

 
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3.3             Delegation . The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or more officers of the Company, and/or its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, or to one or more agents or advisors such administrative duties or powers as it may deem advisable, and the Committee or any individuals to whom it has delegated duties or powers as aforesaid may employ one or more individuals to render advice with respect to any responsibility the Committee or such individuals may have under this Plan. The Committee may, by resolution, authorize one or more officers of the Company to do one or both of the following on the same basis as can the Committee: (a) designate Employees to be recipients of Awards; (b) designate Third-Party Service Providers to be recipients of Awards; and (c) determine the size of any such Awards; provided, however, (i) the Committee shall not delegate such responsibilities to any such officer for Awards granted to a Nonemployee Director or an Employee who is considered an Insider; (ii) the resolution providing such authorization sets forth the total number of Shares and/or Awards such officer(s) may grant; and (iii) the officer(s) shall report periodically to the Committee regarding the nature and scope of the Awards granted pursuant to the authority delegated.

 
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Article 4. Shares Subject to This Plan and Maximum Awards
 
4.1             Number of Shares Available for Awards .

 
(a)
Share Authorization .

Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.4 (Shares Subject to This Plan and Maximum Awards/Adjustments in Authorized Shares) herein, the maximum number of Shares available for issuance to Participants under this Plan (the Share Authorization ) shall be one million two hundred fifty thousand (1,250,000) Shares consisting of Shares not previously authorized for issuance under any plan and any Shares not issued or subject to outstanding awards under the Company’s Prior Plans as of the Effective Date. Additionally, any Shares subject to outstanding awards as of the Effective Date under the Prior Plans that on or after the Effective Date cease for any reason to be subject to such awards (other than by reason of exercise or settlement of the awards to the extent they are exercised for or settled in vested and non-forfeitable Shares) shall be added to the Share Authorization.

 
(b)
Limits on ISOs . The maximum number of Shares of the Share Authorization that may be issued pursuant to ISOs under this Plan shall be one million two hundred fifty thousand (1,250,000) Shares.

 
(c)
Limit on Nonemployee Director Awards . Subject to adjustment in Section 4.4 (Adjustments in Authorized Shares), the maximum number of Shares of the Share Authorization that may be issued to Nonemployee Directors shall be two hundred fifty thousand (250,000) Shares, and no Nonemployee Director may be granted an Award covering more than fifteen thousand (15,000) Shares in any Plan Year, except that this annual limit on Nonemployee Director Awards shall be increased to thirty thousand (30,000) Shares for any Nonemployee Director serving as Chairman of the Board; provided, however, that in the Plan Year in which an individual is first appointed or elected to the Board as a Nonemployee Director, such individual may be granted an Award covering up to an additional fifteen thousand (15,000) Shares (a “New Nonemployee Director Award” ).

 
(d)
Minimum Vesting Requirements for Awards . Except with respect to a maximum of ten percent (10%) of the Share Authorization, any Full-Value Awards which vest on the basis of the Participant’s continued employment with or provision of service to the Company shall not provide for vesting which is any more rapid than over a three (3) year period, and any Full-Value Awards which vest upon the attainment of performance goals shall provide for a performance period of at least twelve (12) months. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may permit acceleration of vesting of such Full-Value Awards in the event of the Participant’s death, disability, or retirement, or a Change in Control.

 
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4.2             Share Usage . Shares covered by an Award shall only be counted as used to the extent they are actually issued. Any Shares related to Awards which terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation, or otherwise without the issuance of such Shares, are settled in cash in lieu of Shares, or are exchanged with the Committee’s permission, prior to the issuance of Shares, for Awards not involving Shares, shall be available again for grant under this Plan. Moreover, if the Option Price of any Option granted under this Plan or the tax withholding requirements with respect to any Award granted under this Plan are satisfied by tendering Shares to the Company (by either actual delivery or by attestation), or if an SAR is exercised, only the number of Shares issued, net of the Shares tendered, if any, will be deemed delivered for purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for delivery under this Plan. To the extent permitted by applicable law or any exchange rule, Shares issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form of combination by the Company or any Affiliate shall not be counted against Shares available for grant pursuant to the Plan. The Shares available for issuance under this Plan may be authorized and unissued Shares or treasury Shares.

4.3             Annual Award Limits . The following limits (each an Annual Award Limit and, collectively, Annual Award Limits ), as adjusted pursuant to Sections 4.4 (Adjustments in Authorized Shares) and/or 22.2 (Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events) , shall apply to grants of such Awards under this Plan:

 
(a)
Options : The maximum aggregate number of Shares subject to Options granted in any one Plan Year to any one Participant shall be two hundred thousand (200,000).

 
(b)
SARs : The maximum number of Shares subject to Stock Appreciation Rights granted in any one Plan Year to any one Participant shall be two hundred thousand (200,000).

 
(c)
Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units : The maximum aggregate grant with respect to Awards of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units in any one Plan Year to any one Participant shall be one hundred fifty thousand (150,000).

 
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(d)
Deferred Stock Units : The maximum aggregate grant with respect to Awards of Deferred Stock Units in any one Plan Year to any one Participant shall be one hundred fifty thousand (150,000).

 
(e)
Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, or Performance Units : The maximum aggregate Award of Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, or Performance Units that a Participant may receive in any one Plan Year shall be one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) Shares, or equal to the value of one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) Shares, determined as of the date of vesting or payout, as applicable.

 
(f)
Covered Employee Annual Incentive Awards : The maximum aggregate amount awarded or credited in any one Plan Year with respect to a Covered Employee Annual Incentive Award pursuant to Article 12 (Covered Employee Annual Incentive Awards) may not exceed four million   dollars ($4,000,000).

 
(g)
Cash-Based Awards : The maximum aggregate amount awarded or credited with respect to Cash-Based Awards to any one Participant in any one Plan Year may not exceed the greater of three million dollars ($3,000,000) or the value of one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) Shares, determined as of the date of vesting or payout, as applicable.

 
(h)
Other Stock-Based Awards : The maximum aggregate grant with respect to Other Stock-Based Awards pursuant to Section 11.2 (Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards/Other Stock-Based Awards) in any one Plan Year to any one Participant shall be one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) Shares.

4.4             Adjustments in Authorized Shares . In the event of any corporate event or transaction (including, but not limited to, a change in the Shares of the Company or the capitalization of the Company) such as a merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, separation, partial or complete liquidation, stock dividend, special cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split up, spin-off, or other distribution of stock or property of the Company, combination of Shares, exchange of Shares, dividend in-kind, or other like change in capital structure, number of outstanding Shares or distribution (other than normal cash dividends) to shareholders of the Company, or any similar corporate event or transaction, the Committee, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participants’ rights under this Plan, shall substitute or adjust, as applicable, the number and kind of Shares that may be issued under this Plan or under particular forms of Awards, the number and kind of Shares subject to outstanding Awards, the Option Price or Grant Price applicable to outstanding Awards, the Annual Award Limits, and other value determinations applicable to outstanding Awards. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may also make appropriate adjustments in the terms of any Awards under this Plan to reflect such changes or distributions, including modifications of performance goals and changes in the length of Performance Periods. The determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, shall be at the discretion of the Committee and shall be conclusive and binding on Participants under this Plan.

 
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Subject to the provisions of Article 22 (Amendment, Modification, Suspension, and Termination) and notwithstanding anything else herein to the contrary, without affecting the number of Shares reserved or available hereunder, the Committee may authorize the issuance or assumption of benefits under this Plan in connection with any merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, or reorganization upon such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate (including, but not limited to, a conversion of equity awards into Awards under this Plan), subject to compliance with the rules under Code Sections 409A, 422, and 424, as and where applicable.
 
Article 5. Eligibility and Participation
 
5.1             Eligibility . Individuals eligible to participate in this Plan include all Employees, Directors, and Third-Party Service Providers.

5.2             Actual Participation . Subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Committee may, from time to time, select from the Eligible Individuals those individuals to whom Awards shall be granted.

Article 6. Stock Options
 
6.1             Grant of Options . Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan, Options may be granted to Eligible Individuals in such number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion; provided that ISOs may be granted only to Employees of the Company or of any parent or subsidiary corporation (as permitted under Code Sections 422 and 424). However, unless legitimate business criteria exist (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. 1.409A-1(b)(5)(E)(1)), an Employee who is employed by an Affiliate and/or Subsidiary and is subject to Code Section 409A may only be granted Options to the extent the Affiliate and/or Subsidiary is part of the Company’s consolidated group for United States federal tax purposes, in accordance with Section 25.14(d) (Determining “Controlled Group”) .

6.2             Award Agreement . Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Option Price, the maximum duration of the Option, the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, the conditions upon which an Option shall become vested and exercisable, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine which are not inconsistent with the terms of this Plan. The Award Agreement also shall specify whether the Option is intended to be an ISO or an NQSO.

 
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6.3             Option Price . The Option Price for each grant of an Option under this Plan shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and shall be specified in the Award Agreement; provided, however, the Option Price must be at least equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the FMV of the Shares as determined on the Grant Date.

6.4             Term of Options . Each Option granted to a Participant shall expire at such time as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant; provided, however, no Option shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10 th ) anniversary date of its grant.

6.5             Exercise of Options . Options granted under this Article 6 (Stock Options) shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall in each instance approve, which terms and restrictions need not be the same for each grant or for each Participant.

Options granted under this Article 6 (Stock Options) shall be exercised by the delivery of a notice of exercise to the Company or an agent designated by the Company in a form specified or accepted by the Committee (setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for the Shares), or by complying with any alternative exercise procedure(s) the Committee may authorize.

6.6             Payment . A condition of the issuance of the Shares as to which an Option shall be exercised shall be the payment of the Option Price. The Option Price of any Option shall be payable to the Company in full either: (a) in cash or its equivalent; (b) by tendering (either by actual delivery or attestation) previously acquired Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to the Option Price; (c) by a cashless (broker-assisted) exercise; (d) by a combination of (a), (b), and/or (c); or (e) any other method approved or accepted by the Committee in its sole discretion.

Subject to any governing rules or regulations, as soon as practicable after receipt of written notification of exercise and full payment (including satisfaction of any applicable tax withholding), the Company shall deliver to the Participant evidence of book entry Shares, or upon the Participant’s request, Share certificates in an appropriate amount based upon the number of Shares purchased under the Option(s).

Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, all payments under all of the methods indicated above shall be paid in United States dollars.

6.7             Restrictions on Share Transferability . The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option granted under this Article 6 (Stock Options) as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, minimum holding period requirements, restrictions under applicable federal securities laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are then listed and/or traded, or under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such Shares.

 
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6.8             Notification of Disqualifying Disposition . If any Participant shall make any disposition of Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of an ISO under the circumstances described in Code Section 421(b) (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions), such Participant shall notify the Company of such disposition within ten (10) days thereof.

Article 7. Stock Appreciation Rights
 
7.1             Grant of SARs . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, SARs may be granted to Eligible Participants at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee. However, unless legitimate business criteria exist (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. 1.409A-1(b)(5)(E)(1)), an Employee who is employed by an Affiliate and/or Subsidiary and is subject to Code Section 409A may only be granted SARs to the extent the Affiliate and/or Subsidiary is part of the Company’s consolidated group for United States federal tax purposes, in accordance with Section 25.14(d) (Determining “Controlled Group”) .

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, the Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the number of SARs granted to each Participant and, consistent with the provisions of this Plan, in determining the terms and conditions pertaining to such SARs.

The Grant Price for each grant of an SAR shall be determined by the Committee and shall be specified in the Award Agreement; provided, however, the Grant Price on the Grant Date must be at least equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the FMV of the Shares as determined on the Grant Date.

7.2             SAR Agreement . Each SAR Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Grant Price, the term of the SAR, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.

7.3             Term of SAR . The term of an SAR granted under this Plan shall be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, and except as determined otherwise by the Committee and specified in the SAR Award Agreement, no SAR shall be exercisable later than the tenth (10 th ) anniversary date of its grant.

7.4             Exercise of SARs . SARs may be exercised upon whatever terms and conditions the Committee, in its sole discretion, imposes.

7.5             Settlement of SARs . Upon the exercise of an SAR, a Participant shall be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by multiplying:

 
(a)
The excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over the Grant Price; by

 
(b)
The number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised.

At the discretion of the Committee, the payment upon SAR exercise may be in cash, Shares, or any combination thereof, or in any other manner approved by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee’s determination regarding the form of SAR payout shall be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the SAR.

 
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7.6             Other Restrictions . The Committee shall impose such other conditions and/or restrictions on any Shares received upon exercise of an SAR granted pursuant to this Plan as it may deem advisable or desirable. These restrictions may include, but shall not be limited to, a requirement that the Participant hold the Shares received upon exercise of an SAR for a specified period of time.

Article 8. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
 
8.1             Grant of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units . Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units to Eligible Individuals in such amounts as the Committee shall determine. Restricted Stock Units shall be similar to Restricted Stock except that no Shares are actually awarded to the Eligible Individual on the Grant Date.

8.2             Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Agreement . Each Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Unit grant shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Period(s) of Restriction, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock or the number of Restricted Stock Units granted, and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine.

8.3             Other Restrictions . The Committee shall impose such other conditions and/or restrictions on any Shares of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units granted pursuant to this Plan as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, a requirement that Participants pay a stipulated purchase price for each Share of Restricted Stock or each Restricted Stock Unit, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific performance goals, time-based restrictions on vesting following the attainment of the performance goals, time-based restrictions, and/or restrictions under applicable laws or under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such Shares are listed or traded, or holding requirements or sale restrictions placed on the Shares by the Company upon vesting of such Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units.

To the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee, the Company may retain the certificates representing Shares of Restricted Stock in the Company’s possession until such time as all conditions and/or restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied or lapse.

Except as otherwise provided in this Article 8 (Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units) , Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock Award shall become freely transferable by the Participant after all conditions and restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied or lapse (including satisfaction of any applicable tax withholding obligations), and Restricted Stock Units shall be paid in cash, Shares, or a combination of cash and Shares as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine, and unless otherwise required to be paid at a different time in accordance with Code Section 409A, any such payment shall be made by the fifteenth (15 th ) day of the third (3 rd ) month following the completion of the year in which the restrictions on such Restricted Stock Units lapse.

 
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8.4             Certificate Legend . In addition to any legends placed on certificates pursuant to Section 8.3 (Other Restrictions) , each certificate representing Shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to this Plan may bear a legend such as the following or as otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion:

“The sale or transfer of Shares of stock represented by this certificate, whether voluntary, involuntary, or by operation of law, is subject to certain restrictions on transfer as set forth in the Columbus McKinnon Corporation 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan and in the associated Award Agreement. A copy of this Plan and such Award Agreement may be obtained from Columbus McKinnon Corporation.”

8.5             Voting Rights . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in a Participant’s Award Agreement, to the extent permitted or required by law, as determined by the Committee, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may be granted the right to exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares during the Period of Restriction. A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder.

8.6             Section 83(b) Election . The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement that the Award of Restricted Stock is conditioned upon the Participant making or refraining from making an election with respect to the Award under Code Section 83(b). If a Participant makes an election pursuant to Code Section 83(b) concerning a Restricted Stock Award, the Participant shall be required to file promptly a copy of such election with the Company.

Article 9. Deferred Stock Units
 
9.1             In General . Deferred Stock Units may be granted to Eligible Individuals at such time or times as shall be determined by the Committee without regard to any election by the Participant to defer receipt of any compensation or bonus amount payable to him. Deferred Stock Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the number of Shares to which the Deferred Stock Unit pertains, and such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall determine, including customary representations, warranties, and covenants with respect to securities law matters. Upon the grant of Deferred Stock Units pursuant to the Plan, the Company shall establish a notional account for the Participant and will record in such account the number of Shares underlying the Deferred Stock Units awarded to the Participant. No Shares will be issued to the Participant at the time an award of Deferred Stock Units is granted.

9.2             Rights as a Stockholder . The Committee shall determine whether and to what extent Dividend Equivalent Rights will be credited to the account of, or paid currently to, a Participant receiving an Award of Deferred Stock Units. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee at or after the grant date, (a) any cash dividends or distributions credited to the Participant’s account shall be deemed to have been invested in additional Deferred Stock Units on the record date established for the related dividend or distribution in an amount equal to the number which may be obtained by dividing (i) the value of such dividend or distribution on the record date by (ii) the Fair Market Value of one Share on such date, and such additional Deferred Stock Units shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as are applicable in respect of the Deferred Stock Units with respect to which such dividends or distributions were payable, and (b) if any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares or other securities, such shares and other securities shall be subject to the same Restriction Period and other restrictions, if any, as apply to the Deferred Stock Units with respect to which they were paid. A Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder in respect of Deferred Stock Units awarded pursuant to the Plan (including, without limitation, the right to vote on any matter submitted to the Company’s stockholders) until such time as the Shares attributable to such Deferred Stock Units have been issued to such Participant or his beneficiary.

 
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9.3             Vesting . Unless the Committee provides otherwise at or after the Grant Date, the portion of each Award of Deferred Stock Units that consists of Deferred Stock Units, together with any Dividend Equivalent Rights credited with respect thereto, will be subject to a Restriction Period that shall lapse based on the performance of a minimum period of service or the occurrence of any event or events, including a Change in Control, as the Committee shall determine, either at or after the grant date. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, the Board may accelerate the lapse of the Restriction Period of any Deferred Stock Units at or after the Grant Date. The portion of each Award of Deferred Stock Units that consists of Elective Deferred Stock Units, together with any Dividend Equivalent Rights credited with respect thereto, shall not be subject to any Restriction Period and shall be non-forfeitable at all times.

9.4             Settlement . Subject to Articles 15 (Transferability of Awards) , 21 (Change in Control) , and 25 (General Provisions) , and the last sentence of Section 9.1 (In General) , unless the Committee determines otherwise at or after the Grant Date, the Company shall issue the Shares underlying any of a Participant’s Deferred Stock Units (and related Dividend Equivalent Rights) for which the Restriction Period shall have lapsed other than a termination for Cause, as soon as administratively practicable, but not later than two and one-half (2½) months following the end of the year in which the Participant’s termination of employment or service occurs. In the event of the termination of a Participant’s employment with or service to the Company, Affiliates, and the Subsidiaries for Cause, the Participant shall immediately forfeit all rights with respect to any shares of Deferred Stock Units (and related Dividend Equivalent Rights) credited to his account, whether or not the Restriction Period shall have then lapsed. Subject to Articles 15 (Transferability of Awards) , 21 (Change in Control) , and 25 (General Provisions) , and the last sentence of Section 9.1 (In General) , unless the Committee determines otherwise at or after the grant date, the Company shall issue the Shares underlying any of a Participant’s Elective Deferred Stock Units (and related Dividend Equivalent Rights) credited to such Participant’s account under the Plan as soon as administratively practicable, but not later than two and one-half (2½) months following the date of such Participant’s termination of employment or service (or such later date as may be elected by the Participant in accordance with the rules and procedures of the Committee). The Committee may provide in the Award Agreement applicable to any Award of Deferred Stock Units that, in lieu of issuing Shares in settlement of any Deferred Stock Units, the Committee may direct the Company to pay to the Participant the Fair Market Value of the Shares corresponding to such Deferred Stock Units in cash. For each Share received in settlement of Deferred Stock Units, the Company shall deliver to the Participant a certificate representing such Share, bearing appropriate legends, if applicable. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.4 (Settlement) , the Committee may accelerate the distribution of any and all Shares subject to any Award of Deferred Stock Units prior to the time otherwise specified in this Section 9.4 (Settlement) .

 
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9.5             Further Deferral Elections . A Participant may elect to further defer receipt of Shares issuable in respect of Deferred Stock Units (or an installment of an Award) for a specified period or until a specified event, subject in each case to the Committee’s approval and to such terms as are determined by the Committee, all in its sole discretion, in accordance with Section 25.14(c)(iii) (Subsequent Deferral Elections) .

Article 10. Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, and Performance Units

10.1           Grant of Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, and Performance Units . Subject to the terms and provisions of this Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, and/or Performance Units to Eligible Individuals in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine.

10.2          Value of Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, and Performance Units . Each Performance Share and each Performance Share Unit shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Grant Date. Each Performance Unit shall have an initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant. The Committee shall set performance goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the value and/or number of Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, and/or Performance Units that will be paid out to the Participant.

10.3          Earning of Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, and Performance Units . Subject to the terms of this Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, and/or Performance Units shall be entitled to receive payout on the value and number of Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, and/or Performance Units earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the corresponding performance goals have been achieved.

 
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10.4          Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, and Performance Units . Payment of earned Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, and/or Performance Units shall be as determined by the Committee and as evidenced in the Award Agreement. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, and/or Performance Units in the form of cash or in Shares (or in a combination thereof) equal to the value of the earned Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, and/or Performance Units at the close of the applicable Performance Period, but no later than the fifteenth (15 th ) day of the third (3 rd ) month after the year in which the Performance Period ended. Any Shares may be granted subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee. The determination of the Committee with respect to the form of payout of such Awards shall be set forth in the Award Agreement pertaining to the grant of the Award. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit the deferrals of any such Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, and Performance Units in a manner that complies with the requirements of Code Section 409A.

Article 11. Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards
 
11.1          Grant of Cash-Based Awards . Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Cash-Based Awards to Eligible Individuals in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee may determine.

11.2          Other Stock-Based Awards . The Committee may grant to Eligible Individuals other types of equity-based or equity-related Awards not otherwise described by the terms of this Plan (including the grant or offer for sale of unrestricted Shares) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine. Such Awards may involve the transfer of actual Shares to Participants, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Shares and may include, without limitation, Awards designed to comply with or take advantage of the applicable local laws of jurisdictions other than the United States.

11.3          Value of Cash-Based and Other Stock-Based Awards . Each Cash-Based Award shall specify a payment amount or payment range as determined by the Committee. Each Other Stock-Based Award shall be expressed in terms of Shares or units based on Shares, as determined by the Committee. The Committee may establish performance goals in its discretion. If the Committee exercises its discretion to establish performance goals, the number and/or value of Cash-Based Awards or Other Stock-Based Awards that will be paid out to the Participant will depend on the extent to which the performance goals are met.

11.4          Payment of Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards . Payment, if any, with respect to a Cash-Based Award or an Other Stock-Based Award shall be made in accordance with the terms of the Award, in cash or Shares as the Committee determines. The Company may pay earned Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards in the form of cash or in Shares (or in a combination thereof) equal to the value of the earned Award at the close of the applicable Performance Period, if any, but no later than the fifteenth (15 th ) day of the third (3 rd ) month after the year in which the Performance Period ended, the award vests (unless a valid deferral election has been made), or the payment was otherwise scheduled to be made.

 
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Article 12. Covered Employee Annual Incentive Awards
 
12.1          Establishment of Annual Incentive Awards . The Committee may designate Covered Employees who are eligible to receive a monetary payment in any Plan Year based on achievement of performance goals established for the year using the Performance Measures set out in Article 14 (Performance Measures) . Within the first ninety (90) days of the beginning of a Plan Year, the Committee shall establish the potential amounts that each Covered Employee could earn based on performance for the year under one or more Performance Measures, select the Performance Measure(s) to be used, and establish the goals for each Performance Measure selected.

12.2          Determination of Covered Employees’ Portions . As soon as possible after the end of a Plan Year, the Committee shall assess the performance achieved under each Performance Measure used for that Plan Year, and determine the payout to each Covered Employee based upon Company and individual performance for the Plan Year.

Article 13. Nonemployee Director Awards
 
Nonemployee Directors may only be granted Awards under the Plan in accordance with this Article 13 ( Nonemployee Director Awards ) and which shall not be subject to management’s discretion. From time to time, the Board shall set the amount(s) and type(s) of equity awards that shall be granted to all Nonemployee Directors on a periodic, nondiscriminatory basis pursuant to the Plan, as well as any additional amount(s), if any, to be awarded, also on a periodic, nondiscriminatory basis, based on each of the following: the number of committees of the Board on which a Nonemployee Director serves, service of a Nonemployee Director as the chair of a committee of the Board, service of a Nonemployee Director as Chairman of the Board, or the first selection or appointment of an individual to the Board as a Nonemployee Director. Subject to the limits set forth in Section 4.1(d) (Limit on Nonemployee Director Awards) the foregoing, the Board shall grant such Awards to Nonemployee Directors and any Nonemployee Chairman of the Board, and grant New Nonemployee Director Awards, as it shall from time to time determine.

If a Nonemployee Director subsequently becomes an Employee while remaining a member of the Board, any Award held by such individual at the time of such commencement of employment will not be affected thereby.

Nonemployee Directors, pursuant to this Article 13 (Nonemployee Director Awards) , may be awarded, or may be permitted to elect to receive, pursuant to the procedures established by the Board or a committee of the Board, all or any portion of their annual retainer, meeting fees, or other fees in Shares, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Deferred Stock Units, or other Awards as contemplated by this Plan in lieu of cash.

 
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Article 14. Performance Measures
 
14.1          In General . The performance goals upon which the payment or vesting of an Award to a Covered Employee (other than a Covered Employee Annual Incentive Award awarded or credited pursuant to Article 12 (Covered Employee Annual Incentive Awards) ) that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation shall be limited to the following Performance Measures:

 
(a)
Net earnings or net income (before or after taxes);
 
(b)
Operating earnings or income;
 
(c)
Earnings or diluted earnings per share;
 
(d)
Net sales or revenue growth;
 
(e)
Net operating profit;
 
(f)
Return measures (including, but not limited to, return on assets, net assets, capital, investment, invested capital, equity, shareholders’ equity sales, or revenue);
 
(g)
Cash flow (including, but not limited to, operating cash flow, free cash flow, cash flow return on equity, cash flow return on capital, and cash flow return on investment);
 
(h)
Earnings before or after taxes, interest, depreciation, and/or amortization;
 
(i)
Gross or operating margins;
 
(j)
Productivity ratios;
 
(k)
Share price (including, but not limited to, growth measures and total shareholder return);
 
(l)
Expense targets;
 
(m)
Debt reduction;
 
(n)
Cost reduction or savings;
 
(o)
Margins;
 
(p)
Operating efficiency;
 
(q)
Market share;
 
(r)
Customer and/or employee satisfaction;
 
(s)
Safety;
 
(t)
Working capital targets and change in working capital; and
 
(u)
Economic value added or EVA® (net operating profit after tax minus the sum of capital multiplied by the cost of capital).

 
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Any Performance Measure(s) may be used to measure the performance of the Company, Subsidiary, and/or Affiliate as a whole or any business unit of the Company, Subsidiary, and/or Affiliate or any combination thereof, as the Committee may deem appropriate, or any of the above Performance Measures as compared to the performance of a group of comparator companies, or published or special index that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, or the Company may select Performance Measure (j) above as compared to various stock market indices. The Committee also has the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Award based on the achievement of performance goals pursuant to the Performance Measures specified in this Article 14 (Performance Measures) .

14.2          Evaluation of Performance . The Committee may provide in any such Award that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events that occur during a Performance Period: (a) asset write-downs, (b) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles, or other laws or provisions affecting reported results, (d) any reorganization and restructuring programs, (e) extraordinary nonrecurring items as described in Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 225 and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to shareholders for the applicable year, (f) acquisitions or divestitures, and (g) foreign exchange gains and losses. To the extent such inclusions or exclusions affect Awards to Covered Employees, they shall be prescribed in a form that meets the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for deductibility.

14.3          Adjustment of Performance-Based Compensation . Awards that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation may not be adjusted upward. The Committee shall retain the discretion to adjust such Awards downward, either on a formula or discretionary basis or any combination, as the Committee determines.

14.4          Committee Discretion . In the event that applicable tax and/or securities laws change to permit Committee discretion to alter the governing Performance Measures without obtaining shareholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining shareholder approval. In addition, in the event that the Committee determines that it is advisable to grant Awards that shall not qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the Committee may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and base vesting on Performance Measures other than those set forth in Section 14.1 ( In General ).

Article 15. Transferability of Awards
 
15.1          In General . Except as provided in Section 15.2 ( Committee Action ) below, during a Participant’s lifetime, his or her Awards shall be exercisable only by the Participant. Awards shall not be transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; no Awards shall be subject, in whole or in part, to attachment, execution, or levy of any kind; and any purported transfer in violation hereof shall be null and void.

 
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15.2          Committee Action . The Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine that notwithstanding Section 15.1 (In General) , any or all Awards (other than ISOs) shall be transferable to and exercisable by such transferees, and subject to such terms and conditions, as the Committee may deem appropriate; provided, however, no Award may be transferred for value (as defined in the General Instructions to Form S-8).

Article 16. Impact of Termination of Employment/Service on Awards
 
16.1          In General . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, upon the termination of a Participant’s employment with the Company, Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary or service as a Nonemployee Director or to the Company, Affiliate and/or Subsidiary, for any reason whatsoever, except as otherwise set forth in this Article 16 (Impact of Termination of Employment/Service on Awards) , in an Award Agreement or, with the consent of such individual, as determined by the Committee at any time prior to or after such termination, Awards granted to such Participant will be treated as follows:

 
(a)
Any Options and SARs will (i) to the extent not vested and exercisable as of the date of such termination of employment or of service as a Nonemployee Director or to the Company, Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary, terminate on the date of such termination, and (ii) to the extent vested and exercisable as of the date of such termination of employment or of service as a Nonemployee Director or to the Company, Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary, remain exercisable for a period of thirty (30) days following the later of the date of such termination or the date of any period of non-trading, or, in the event of the Participant’s death during such thirty (30) day period, remain exercisable by the estate of the deceased Participant until the end of the period of one (1) year following the date of such termination (but in no event beyond the maximum term of such Award).

 
(b)
Any unvested portion of any Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Deferred Stock Units will be immediately forfeited.

 
(c)
Any Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, or Performance Units will be immediately forfeited and terminate.

 
(d)
Any other Awards, including, but not limited to, Cash-Based Awards and Other Stock-Based Awards, to the extent not vested will be immediately forfeited and terminate.

16.2          Upon Death or Disability . Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, in the event a Participant’s employment is terminated with the Company, Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary or Participant’s service on the Board or to the Company, Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary is terminated as a result of the Participant’s death or Disability, Awards granted to such Participant will be treated as follows:

 
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(a)
Any Options and SARs shall become immediately exercisable as of the date of such termination of employment or service, and the Participant, or in the event the Participant is incapacitated and unable to exercise the rights granted hereunder, the Participant’s legal guardian or legal representative, or in the event the Participant dies, the estate of the Participant, shall have the right to exercise any rights the Participant would otherwise have had under the Plan for a period of one (1) year after the date of such termination (but in no event beyond the maximum term of the Award).

 
(b)
Any unvested portion of any Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Deferred Stock Units will become immediately vested.

 
(c)
Any Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, or Performance Units will remain outstanding and the Participant or the Participant’s estate will be entitled to the payment of the Award earned (based on the actual performance achieved during the applicable Performance Period), which will be paid on the date the Award would have been paid if the Participant had remained employed with or continued to provide service to the Company, Affiliate, or Subsidiary.

16.3          Upon Retirement . Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, in the event a Participant’s employment with the Company, Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary or service on the Board is terminated by reason of the Participant’s Retirement, Awards granted to such Participant will be treated as follows:

 
(a)
With respect to any Options and SARs, for a period of thirty-six (36) months following the date of such Retirement (but in no event beyond the maximum term of the Award), the Options or SARs shall remain outstanding and (i) to the event not then fully vested, will continue to vest in accordance with the applicable vesting schedule, and (ii) the Participant shall have the right to exercise any rights the Participant would otherwise have had under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event a Participant does not exercise an Incentive Stock Option prior to the expiration of the three (3) month period after the date of the Participant’s Retirement, such Option shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option upon exercise.

 
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(b)
Any unvested portion of any Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Deferred Stock Units will become immediately vested.

 
(c)
Any Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, or Performance Units will remain outstanding and the Participant will be entitled to the payment of the Award earned (based on the actual performance achieved during the applicable Performance Period), which will be paid on the date the Award would have been paid if the Participant had remained employed with or continued to provide service to the Company, Affiliate, or Subsidiary.

16.4          For Cause . Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, in the event a Participant’s employment with the Company, Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary or service on the Board is terminated for Cause, Awards granted to such Participant will be treated as follows:

 
(a)
Any Options and SARs, whether vested or unvested, will be immediately forfeited and terminate.

 
(b)
Any unvested portion of any Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, or Deferred Stock Units will be immediately forfeited and terminate.

 
(c)
Any Performance Shares, Performance Share Units, or Performance Units will be immediately forfeited and terminate.

 
(d)
Any other Awards to the extent not vested will be immediately forfeited and terminate.

16.5          Upon Termination of Employment in Connection With a Change in Control . Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, upon a termination in connection with a Change in Control, Awards granted to a Participant will be treated as set forth in Article 21 (Change in Control) .

16.6          Bona Fide Leave . Notwithstanding the fact that a Participant’s employment ostensibly terminates and except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, if the Participant is on a bona fide leave of absence, as defined in Treas. Reg. 1.409A- 1(h)(1), then the Participant will be treated as having a continuing employment relationship (and not as having terminated employment for purposes of this Plan) so long as the period of the leave does not exceed six (6) months, or if longer, so long as the Participant retains a right to reemployment with the Company, Subsidiary, and/or Affiliate under an applicable statute or by contract.

Article 17. Substitution Awards
 
Awards may be granted under the Plan from time to time in substitution for stock options and other awards held by employees or directors of other entities who are about to become Employees, whose employer is about to become an Affiliate as the result of a merger or consolidation of the Company with another corporation, or the acquisition by the Company of substantially all the assets of another corporation, or the acquisition by the Company of at least fifty percent (50%) of the issued and outstanding stock of another corporation as the result of which such other corporation will become a Subsidiary. The terms and conditions of the substitute Awards so granted may vary from the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan to such extent as the Board at the time of grant may deem appropriate to conform, in whole or in part, to the provisions of the award in substitution for which they are granted.

 
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Article 18. Dividend Equivalent Rights
 
Any Participant selected by the Committee may be granted Dividend Equivalent Rights based on the dividends declared on Shares that are subject to any Award, to be credited as of dividend payment dates, during the period between the date the Award is granted and the date the Award is exercised, vests, or expires, as determined by the Committee. Such Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be converted to cash or additional Shares by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Award for which Dividend Equivalent Rights have been granted has its vesting or grant dependent upon the achievement of one or more Performance Measures, then the Dividend Equivalent Rights shall accrue and only be paid to the extent the Award becomes vested. Under no circumstances may Dividend Equivalent Rights be granted for any Option or SAR.

Article 19. Beneficiary Designation
 
Each Participant under this Plan may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to whom any benefit under this Plan is to be paid in case of his death before he receives any or all of such benefit. Each such designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall be in a form prescribed by the Committee, and will be effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Company during the Participant’s lifetime. In the absence of any such beneficiary designation, benefits remaining unpaid or rights remaining unexercised at the Participant’s death shall be paid to or exercised by the Participant’s executor, administrator, or legal representative.

Article 20. Rights of Participants
 
20.1          Employment/Service . Nothing in this Plan or an Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries to terminate any Participant’s employment or service on the Board or to the Company at any time or for any reason not prohibited by law, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue his employment or service as a Director or Third-Party Service Provider for any specified period of time.

Neither an Award nor any benefits arising under this Plan shall constitute an employment contract with the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries and, accordingly, subject to Articles 3 (Administration) and 22 (Amendment, Modification, Suspension, and Termination) , this Plan and the benefits hereunder may be terminated at any time in the sole and exclusive discretion of the Committee without giving rise to any liability on the part of the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries.

 
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20.2          Participation . No individual shall have the right to be selected to receive an Award under this Plan, or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future Award.

20.3          Rights as a Shareholder . Except as otherwise provided herein, a Participant shall have none of the rights of a shareholder with respect to Shares covered by any Award until the Participant becomes the record holder of such Shares.

Article 21. Change in Control
 
Unless the Committee otherwise determines and sets forth in an Award Agreement, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, Awards shall have their vesting and payment accelerated based on a “double trigger” which shall require the occurrence of a Change in Control coupled with the termination of the Participant’s employment or service to the Company, Subsidiary, or Affiliate within two (2) years, or such other events as the Committee may decide, with the specific details of the treatment of Awards as determined by the Compensation Committee, in its sole discretion, and set forth in the Award Agreement at the time of grant.

Article 22. Amendment, Modification, Suspension, and Termination
 
22.1          Amendment, Modification, Suspension, and Termination . Subject to Sections 22.3 (Awards Previously Granted) and 22.5 (Repricing Prohibition) , the Committee may, at any time and from time to time, alter, amend, modify, suspend, or terminate this Plan and/or any Award Agreement in whole or in part; provided, however, that no material amendment of this Plan shall be made without shareholder approval if shareholder approval is required by law, regulation, or stock exchange rule.

22.2          Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events . The Committee may make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (other than those described in Section 4.4 (Adjustments in Authorized Shares) hereof) affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent unintended dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under this Plan. The determination of the Committee as to the foregoing adjustments, if any, shall be conclusive and binding on Participants under this Plan.

22.3          Awards Previously Granted . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary (other than Section 22.4 (Amendment to Conform to Law) ), no termination, amendment, suspension, or modification of this Plan or an Award Agreement shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously granted under this Plan without the written consent of the Participant holding such Award.

 
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22.4          Amendment to Conform to Law . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, the Board of Directors may amend the Plan or an Award Agreement, to take effect retroactively or otherwise, as deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of conforming the Plan or an Award Agreement to any present or future law relating to plans of this or similar nature (including, but not limited to, Code Section 409A), and to the administrative regulations and rulings promulgated thereunder. By accepting an Award under this Plan, a Participant agrees to any amendment made pursuant to this Section 22.4 (Amendment to Conform to Law) to any Award granted under the Plan without further consideration or action.

22.5          Repricing Prohibition . Except to the extent (a) approved in advance by holders of a majority of the Shares of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors or (b) provided in Section 4.4 (Adjustments in Authorized Shares) , the Committee shall not have the power or authority to reduce, whether through amendment or otherwise, the Option Price or the Grant Price of any outstanding Option or SAR or to grant any new Award, or make any cash payment, in substitution for or upon the cancellation of Options or SARs previously granted.

Article 23. Withholding
 
23.1          Tax Withholding . The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, the minimum statutory amount to satisfy federal, state, and local taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan.

23.2          Share Withholding . With respect to withholding required upon the exercise of Options or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units, or upon the achievement of performance goals related to Performance Shares, or any other taxable event arising as a result of an Award granted hereunder, Participants may elect, subject to the approval of the Committee, to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company withhold Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date the tax is to be determined equal to the minimum statutory total tax that could be imposed on the transaction. All such elections shall be irrevocable, made in writing, and signed by the Participant, and shall be subject to any restrictions or limitations that the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

Article 24. Successors
 
All obligations of the Company under this Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.

 
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Article 25. General Provisions
 
25.1          Forfeiture Events .

 
(a)
The Committee may specify in an Award Agreement that the Participant’s rights, payments, and benefits with respect to an Award shall be subject to reduction, cancellation, forfeiture, or recoupment upon the occurrence of certain specified events, in addition to any otherwise applicable vesting or performance conditions of an Award. Such events may include, but shall not be limited to, termination of employment for Cause, termination of the Participant’s provision of services to the Company, Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary, violation of material Company, Affiliate, and/or Subsidiary policies, breach of noncompetition, confidentiality, or other restrictive covenants that may apply to the Participant, or other conduct by the Participant that is detrimental to the business or reputation of the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries.

 
(b)
If the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement due to the material noncompliance of the Company, as a result of misconduct, with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, if the Participant knowingly or grossly negligently engaged in the misconduct, or knowingly or grossly negligently failed to prevent the misconduct, or if the Participant is one of the individuals subject to automatic forfeiture under Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Participant shall reimburse the Company the amount of any payment in settlement of an Award earned or accrued during the twelve (12) month period following the first public issuance or filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (whichever just occurred) of the financial document embodying such financial reporting requirement.

25.2          Legend . The certificates for Shares may include any legend which the Committee deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer of such Shares.

25.3          Gender and Number . Except where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine, the singular shall include the plural, and the plural shall include the singular.

25.4          Severability . In the event that any one or more of the provisions of this Plan shall be or become invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected thereby. If, in the opinion of any court of competent jurisdiction, such covenants are not reasonable in any respect, such court shall have the right, power, and authority to excise or modify such provision or provisions of these covenants as to the court shall appear not reasonable and to enforce the remainder of these covenants as so amended.

 
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25.5          Compliance With Legal and Exchange Requirements . The Plan, the granting and exercising of Awards thereunder, and any obligations of the Company under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any regulatory or governmental agency as may be required, and to any rules or regulations of any exchange on which the Shares are listed. The Company, in its discretion, may postpone the granting and exercising of Awards, the issuance or delivery of Shares under any Awards, or any other action permitted under the Plan to permit the Company, with reasonable diligence, to complete such stock exchange listing or registration or qualification of such Shares or other required action under any federal or state law, rule, or regulation, and may require any Participant to make such representations and furnish such information as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of Shares in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations. The Company shall not be obligated by virtue of any provision of the Plan to recognize the exercise of any Award or to otherwise sell or issue Shares in violation of any such laws, rules, or regulations, and any postponement of the exercise or settlement of any Award under this provision shall not extend the term of such Awards. Neither the Company nor its Directors or officers shall have any obligation or liability to a Participant with respect to any Award (or Shares issuable thereunder) that shall lapse because of such postponement.

25.6          No Limitation on Compensation . Nothing in the Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company to establish other plans or to pay compensation to its employees, in cash or property, in a manner which is not expressly authorized under the Plan.

25.7          Deferrals . The Committee may postpone the exercising of Awards, the issuance or delivery of Shares under any Award or any action permitted under the Plan to prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from being denied a federal income tax deduction with respect to any Award other than an ISO, in accordance with Treas. Reg. 1.409A-1(b)(4)(ii). In such case, payment of such deferred amounts must be made as soon as reasonably practicable following the first date on which the Company, Subsidiary, and/or Affiliate anticipates or reasonably should anticipate that, if the payment were made on such date, the Company’s, Affiliate’s, and/or Subsidiary’s deduction with respect to such payment would no longer be restricted due to the application of Code Section 162(m).

25.8          Investment Representations . The Committee may require any individual receiving Shares pursuant to an Award under this Plan to represent and warrant in writing that the individual is acquiring the Shares for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares.

25.9          Employees Based Outside of the United States . Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, in order to comply with the laws in other countries in which the Company, its Affiliates, and/or its Subsidiaries operate or have Employees, Directors, or Third-Party Service Providers, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the power and authority to:

 
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(a)
Determine which Affiliates and Subsidiaries shall be covered by this Plan;

 
(b)
Determine which Employees, Directors, and/or Third-Party Service Providers outside the United States are eligible to participate in this Plan;

 
(c)
Modify the terms and conditions of any Award granted to Employees, Directors, and/or Third-Party Service Providers outside the United States to comply with applicable foreign laws;

 
(d)
Establish subplans and modify exercise procedures and other terms and procedures, to the extent such actions may be necessary or advisable. Any subplans and modifications to Plan terms and procedures established under this Section 25.9 (Employees Based Outside of the United States) by the Committee shall be attached to this Plan document as appendices; and

 
(e)
Take any action, before or after an Award is made, that it deems advisable to obtain approval or comply with any necessary local government regulatory exemptions or approvals.

Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate applicable law.

25.10        Uncertificated Shares . To the extent that this Plan provides for issuance of certificates to reflect the transfer of Shares, the transfer of such Shares may be effected on a non-certificated basis, to the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange.

25.11        Unfunded Plan . Participants shall have no right, title, or interest whatsoever in or to any investments that the Company, its Subsidiaries, and/or its Affiliates may make to aid it in meeting its obligations under this Plan. Nothing contained in this 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 Participant, beneficiary, legal representative, or any other individual. To the extent that any individual acquires a right to receive payments from the Company, its Subsidiaries, and/or its Affiliates under this Plan, such right shall be no greater than the right of an unsecured general creditor of the Company, a Subsidiary, or an Affiliate, as the case may be. All payments to be made hereunder shall be paid from the general funds of the Company, a Subsidiary, or an Affiliate, as the case may be, 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 this Plan.

25.12        No Fractional Shares . No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to this Plan or any Award. The Committee shall determine whether cash, 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.

 
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25.13        No Impact on Benefits . Except as may otherwise be specifically stated under any employee benefit plan, policy, or program, no amount payable in respect of any Award shall be treated as compensation for purposes of calculating a Participant’s right under any such plan, policy, or program.

25.14        Compliance With Code Section 409A .

 
(a)
In General . The Plan is intended to be administered in a manner consistent with the requirements, where applicable, of Code Section 409A. Where reasonably possible and practicable, the Plan shall be administered in a manner to avoid the imposition on Participants of immediate tax recognition and additional taxes pursuant to such Section 409A. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Company nor the Committee shall have any liability to any person in the event such Section 409A applies to any such Award in a manner that results in adverse tax consequences for the Participant or any of his beneficiaries or transferees.

 
(b)
Elective Deferrals . No elective deferrals or re-deferrals of compensation (as defined under Code Section 409A and/or guidance thereto) other than in regard to Deferred Stock Units and/or Restricted Stock Units are permitted under this Plan. Instead, any such elective deferrals of compensation shall only be permitted pursuant to the Company’s nonqualified deferred compensation plan, as may be in effect from time to time.

 
(c)
Applicable Requirements . To the extent any of the Awards granted under this Plan are deemed “deferred compensation” and hence subject to Code Section 409A, the following rules shall apply to such Awards:

 
(i)
Mandatory Deferrals . If the Company decides that the payment of compensation under this Plan shall be deferred within the meaning of Code Section 409A, then, except as provided pursuant to Treas. Reg. 1.409A-1(b)(4)(ii), at grant of the Award to which such compensation payment relates, the Company shall specify the date(s) at which such compensation will be paid in the Award Agreement.

 
(ii)
Initial Deferral Elections . For Awards of Deferred Stock Units and Restricted Stock Units where the Participant is given the opportunity to elect the timing and form of the payment of the underlying Shares at some future time once any requirements have been satisfied, the Participant must make his or her initial deferral election for such Award in accordance with the requirements of Code Section 409A, i.e., within thirty (30) days of first becoming eligible to receive such award or prior to the start of the year in which the Award is granted to the Participant, in each case pursuant to the requirements of Code Section 409A and Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-2.

 
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(iii)
Subsequent Deferral Elections . To the extent the Company or Committee decides to permit compensation subject to Code Section 409A to be re-deferred pursuant to Treas. Reg. 1.409A-2(b), then the following conditions must be met: (A) such election will not take effect until at least twelve (12) months after the date on which it is made; (B) in the case of an election not related to a payment on account of Disability, death, or an unforeseeable emergency, the payment with respect to which such election is made must be deferred for a period of not less than five (5) years from the date such payment would otherwise have been paid; and (C) any election related to a payment at a specified time or pursuant to a fixed schedule (within the meaning of Treas. Reg. 1.409A-3(a)(4)) must be made not less than twelve (12) months before the date the payment is scheduled to be paid.

 
(iv)
Timing of Payments . Payment(s) of compensation that is subject to Code Section 409A shall only be made upon an event or at a time set forth in Treas. Reg. 1.409A-3, i.e., the Participant’s separation from service, the Participant’s becoming disabled, the Participant’s death, at a time or a fixed schedule specified in the Plan or an Award Agreement, a change in the ownership or effective control of the corporation, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets of the corporation, or the occurrence of an unforeseeable emergency.

 
(v)
Certain Delayed Payments . Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent an amount was intended to be paid such that it would have qualified as a short-term deferral under Code Section 409A and the applicable regulations, then such payment is or could be delayed if the requirements of Treas. Reg. 1.409A-1(b)(4)(ii) are met.

 
(vi)
Acceleration of Payment . Any payment made under this Plan to which Code Section 409A applies may not be accelerated, except in accordance with Treas. Reg. 1.409A-3(j)(4), i.e., upon a Participant’s separation from service, the Participant becomes disabled, the Participant’s death, a change of ownership or effective control, or in the ownership of a substantial portion of the assets, or upon an unforeseeable emergency (all as detailed in Treas. Reg. 1.409A-3(a)).

 
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(d)
Determining “Controlled Group .” In order to determine for purposes of Code Section 409A whether a Participant or Eligible Individual is employed by a member of the Company’s controlled group of corporations under Code Section 414(b) (or by a member of a group of trades or businesses under common control with the Company under Code Section 414(c)) and, therefore, whether the Shares that are or have been purchased by or awarded under this Plan to the Participant are shares of “service recipient” stock within the meaning of Code Section 409A:

 
(i)
In applying Code Section 1563(a)(1), (2), and (3) for purposes of determining the Company’s controlled group under Code Section 414(b), the language “at least 50 percent” is to be used instead of “at least 80 percent” each place it appears in Code Section 1563(a)(1), (2), and (3);

 
(ii)
In applying Treasury Regulation Section 1.414(c)-2 for purposes of determining trades or businesses under common control with the Corporation for purposes of Code Section 414(c), the language “at least 50 percent” is to be used instead of “at least 80 percent” each place it appears in Treasury Regulation Section 1.414(c)-2; and

 
(iii)
Notwithstanding the above, to the extent that the Company finds that legitimate business criteria exist within the meaning of Treas. Reg. 1.409A-1(b)(5)(E)(1), then the language “at least 50 percent” in clause (i) and (ii) above shall instead be “at least 20 percent.”

25.15       Non-exclusivity of This Plan . The adoption of this Plan shall not be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or Committee to adopt such other compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable for any Participant.

25.16        No Constraint on Corporate Action . Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to: (a) limit, impair, or otherwise affect the Company’s or a Subsidiary’s or an Affiliate’s right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell, or transfer all or any part of its business or assets; or (b) limit the right or power of the Company or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate to take any action which such entity deems to be necessary or appropriate.

 
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25.17        Headings and Captions . The headings and captions herein are provided for reference and convenience only, shall not be considered part of this Plan, and shall not be employed in the construction of this Plan.

25.18        Governing Law . The Plan and each Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, excluding any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of this Plan to the substantive law of another jurisdiction. Unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, recipients of an Award under this Plan are deemed to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the federal or state courts of New York to resolve any and all issues that may arise out of or relate to this Plan or any related Award Agreement.

25.19        Delivery and Execution of Electronic Documents . To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Company may (a) deliver by email or other electronic means (including posting on a Web site maintained by the Company or by a third party under contract with the Company) all documents relating to the Plan or any Award thereunder (including without limitation, prospectuses required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) and all other documents that the Company is required to deliver to its security holders (including without limitation, annual reports and proxy statements), and (b) permit Participants to electronically execute applicable Plan documents (including, but not limited to, Award Agreements) in a manner prescribed by the Committee.

25.20        No Representations or Warranties Regarding Tax Effect . Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Company, its Affiliates and Subsidiaries, the Board, and the Committee neither represent nor warrant the tax treatment under any federal, state, local, or foreign laws and regulations thereunder (individually and collectively referred to as the Tax Laws ) of any Award granted or any amounts paid to any Participant under the Plan including, but not limited to, when and to what extent such Awards or amounts may be subject to tax, penalties, and interest under the Tax Laws.

25.21        Indemnification . Subject to requirements of New York law, each individual who is or shall have been a member of the Board, or a committee appointed by the Board, or an officer of the Company to whom authority was delegated in accordance with Article 3 (Administration) shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with or resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under this Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him or her in settlement thereof, with the Company’s approval, or paid by him or her in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding against him or her, provided he or she shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and defend it on his/her own behalf, unless such loss, cost, liability, or expense is a result of his/her own willful misconduct or except as expressly provided by statute.

The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such individuals may be entitled under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.

 
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EXHIBIT 5.1


Columbus McKinnon Corporation
140 John James Audubon Parkway
Amherst, New York  14228-1197

Dear Sirs:

We have acted as counsel to Columbus McKinnon Corporation, a New York corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed on or about August 11, 2010 with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) with respect to 1,250,000 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $.01 par value, for issuance the Columbus McKinnon Corporation 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”).

In connection with the opinions set forth in this letter, we have (1) examined and relied upon originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of documents, corporate records and other instruments, (2) made such inquiries as to questions of fact of officers and representatives of the Company and the proceedings relating to and actions taken by the Company in connection with the adoption or amendment of the Plan, and (3) made such examination of law, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purpose of giving the opinions expressed herein.  We do not express any opinion concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States of America.

In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.  As to all questions of fact material to these opinions that have not been independently established, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of officers and representatives of the Company.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and sold in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be legally issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.

We hereby consent to be named in the Registration Statement as the attorneys who have passed upon the legality of the Shares being offered thereby, and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
 
 
      Very truly yours,
     
     /s/  HODGSON RUSS LLP
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EXHIBIT 23.1





Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 333-________) pertaining to the Columbus McKinnon Corporation 2010 Long Term Incentive Plan of our reports dated May 28, 2010, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Columbus McKinnon Corporation and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of Columbus McKinnon Corporation included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended March 31, 2010, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


 
      /s/ Ernst & Young LLP
     
     
 
 
Buffalo, New York
August 11, 2010
 
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