As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 30, 2010
Registration No. 333-______
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

Benchmark Electronics, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Texas
74-2211011
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)
   
3000 Technology Drive
77515
(Zip Code)
Angleton, Texas
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS, INC. 2010 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS, INC. 2000 STOCK AWARDS PLAN
(Full title of plans)

Cary T. Fu
Chief Executive Officer
3000 Technology Drive
Angleton, Texas 77515
(Name and address of agent for service)

(979) 849-6550
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

Copies to:
William J. Whelan, Esq.
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Worldwide Plaza
825 Eighth Avenue
New York, New York 10019
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.
Large accelerated filer þ
Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company ¨
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of securities
to be registered
 
Amount to be
Registered (1), (2)
   
Proposed
maximum offering
price per share
   
Proposed
maximum aggregate
offering price
   
Amount of
registration fee
 
Common Shares, par value $0.10 per share:
          N/A       N/A       N/A  
Outstanding Award Shares (1)
    5,267,613                          
2010 Plan Shares (2)
    5,038,930     $ 17.01
(3)
  $ 85,050,000
(3)
  $ 6,064
(3)
Total
    10,306,543     $ 17.01
(3)
  $ 85,050,000
(3)
  $ 6,064
(3)
(1)
The Outstanding Award Shares are shares of the Registrant’s Common Shares that are currently subject to outstanding awards under the Registrant’s 2000 Stock Awards Plan (the “2000 Plan”). Pursuant to the 2010 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2010 Plan”), the Outstanding Award Shares will become available for issuance under the 2010 Plan if such Outstanding Award Shares under the 2000 Plan are forfeited on or after May 18, 2010 (the “Approval Date”), the date of approval of the 2010 Plan. The Outstanding Award Shares were previously registered by the Registrant under a Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on January 23, 2001 (File No. 333-54186) and a Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed on August 21, 2006 (File No. 333-136798) (collectively, the “2000 Plan Registration Statements”) and the Registrant paid the required registration fees. Pursuant to Interpretation 89 under Section G of the Manual of Publicly Available Telephone Interpretations of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (July 1997) and Instruction E to the General Instructions to Form S-8, the Registrant has carried forward the registration fee for the Outstanding Award Shares. The Registrant has concurrently filed post-effective amendments to the 2000 Plan Registration Statements deregistering the Outstanding Award Shares under the 2000 Plan.

 
(2)
The 2010 Plan Shares are shares available for issuance under the 2010 Plan and include (a) 5,000,000 Common Shares not previously registered and (b) 38,930 Common Shares that were subject to outstanding awards under the 2000 Plan and were forfeited after the Approval Date (the “2000 Plan Forfeited Shares”). In accordance with the terms of the 2010 Plan, the 2000 Plan Forfeited Shares became available for issuance under the 2010 Plan. Such 2000 Plan Forfeited Shares were previously registered by the Registrant under the 2000 Plan Registration Statements and, pursuant to Interpretation 89 under Section G of the Manual of Publicly Available Telephone Interpretations of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (July 1997) and Instruction E to the General Instructions to Form S-8, the Registrant has carried forward the registration fee for the 2000 Plan Forfeited Shares.

(3)
Estimated, pursuant to Rule 457(h), solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee for the 2010 Plan Shares not previously registered, based on the average of the high and low sale prices of the Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange on July 29, 2010, which was $17.01, for a total maximum offering price for such 5,000,000 Common Shares of $85,050,000.

 
 

 

PART I.  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS

ITEM 1. PLAN INFORMATION.

All information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a) prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Note to Part I of Form S-8.

ITEM 2. REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION.

All information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a) prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act and the Note to Part I of Form S-8.

PART II.  INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

The following documents previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) by Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (the “Registrant”) pursuant to the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) are incorporated by reference herein and shall be deemed a part hereof:

(1) the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, filed with the Commission on March 1, 2010;

(2) the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010, filed with the Commission on May 7, 2010;

(3) the Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K , filed with the Commission on March 4, 2010   and May 20, 2010; and

(4) the description of the Registrant’s Common Shares contained in the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A12B filed on May 6, 1997 (Commission file number 1-10560) pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

All documents filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents (excluding any Current Reports on Form 8-K to the extent disclosure is furnished and not filed).

Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement herein or in any subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such 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 EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

Kenneth S. Barrow, Vice President and General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of the Registrant, is providing an opinion on the legality of the Common Shares being registered hereby. Mr. Barrow beneficially owns 13,500 Common Shares of the Registrant, 11,500 of which are unvested. Mr. Barrow participates in employee benefit plans of the Registrant on the same basis as other eligible employees, pursuant to which he owns or has options or other rights to acquire an aggregate of less than 1% of the Registrant’s outstanding Common Shares. Mr. Barrow is eligible to participate in the Plan, although the amount of the incentive compensation issuable to him thereunder is not presently determinable.

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

TEXAS BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT

Article 2.02-1.B of the Texas Business Corporation Act, as amended (the “TBCA”), grants to a corporation the power to indemnify a person who was, is or is threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent in a proceeding because the person is or was a director of the corporation against judgments, penalties (including excise and similar taxes), fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred in connection therewith, only if it is determined that the person (1) conducted himself in good faith; (2) reasonably believed that (a) in the case of conduct in his official capacity as a director of the corporation, his conduct was in the corporation's best interests, and (b) in all other cases, his conduct was at least not opposed to the corporation's best interests; and (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful. Article 2.02-1.C limits the allowable indemnification by providing that, except to the extent permitted by Article 2.02-1.E, a director may not be indemnified in respect of a proceeding in which the person is found liable (1) on the basis that he improperly received a personal benefit, whether or not the benefit resulted from an action taken in his official capacity, or (2) to the corporation. Article 2.02-1.E provides that if a director is found liable to the corporation or is found liable on the basis that he improperly received a personal benefit, the permissible indemnification (1) is limited to reasonable expenses actually incurred by the person in connection with the proceeding, and (2) shall not be made in respect of any proceeding in which the person shall have been found liable for willful or intentional misconduct in the performance of his duty to the corporation. Finally, Article 2.02-1.H provides that a corporation shall indemnify a director against reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with a proceeding in which he is a named defendant or respondent because he is or was a director if he has been wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defense of the proceeding.

With respect to the officers of a corporation, Article 2.02-1.O of the TBCA provides that a corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to an officer of the corporation to the same extent that it may indemnify and advance expenses to directors under Article 2.02-1. Further, Article 2.02-1.O provides that an officer of a corporation shall be indemnified as, and to the same extent, provided by Article 2.02-1.H for a director.

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (1) make mandatory the indemnification of its directors as permitted under the TBCA and (2) provides for the advancement of reasonable expenses to its directors who become involved in indemnifiable legal proceedings subject to their compliance with certain requirements imposed by the TBCA.

 
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INDEMNITY AGREEMENTS

The Registrant has entered into Indemnity Agreements with its directors and officers pursuant to which the Registrant generally is obligated to indemnify its directors and officers to the full extent permitted by Texas law.

INSURANCE

The Registrant has obtained officers’ and directors’ liability insurance which insures against liabilities that officers and directors of the Registrant may incur in such capacities.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

Not applicable.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.

The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:

  4.1 -
Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-46316) (the “Registration Statement”)).
  4.2 -
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 18, 2006 and filed on May 19, 2006 (Commission file number 1-10560)).
  4.3 -
Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant adopted by the shareholders of the Registrant on May 20, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998 (Commission file number 1-10560)).
  4.4 -
Specimen form of certificate evidencing the Common Share (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement).
  4.5 -
Rights Agreement dated December 11, 1998 between the Registrant and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as Rights Agent, together with the following exhibits thereto: Exhibit A - Form of Statement of Resolution Establishing Series A Cumulative Participating Preferred Stock of Benchmark Electronics, Inc.; Exhibit B - Form of Right Certificate; and Exhibit C - Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock of Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-A12B filed December 11, 1998 (Commission file number 1-10560)).
  4.6 -
Amendment No. 1 dated as of December 10, 2008, to the Rights Agreement dated as of December 11, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated December 10, 2008 and filed on December 11, 2008 (Commission file number 1-10560)).
  4.7 -
Amendment No. 2 dated as of May 18, 2010, to the Rights Agreement dated as of December 11, 1998, as amended by Amendment No. 1 dated as of December 10, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-A12B/A filed May 25, 2010 (Commission file number 1-10560)).
  4.8 -
Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant approved by the shareholders of the Registrant on August 13, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Registrant’s Form S-8 (Registration Number 333-103183)).
  4.9 -
Amendment to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant approved by the shareholders of the Registrant on May 10, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registrant’s Form 8-K dated October 16, 2006 and filed on October 16, 2006 (Commission file number 1-10560)).
 
 
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4.10 -
Form of option award agreement for use under the Plan.
4.11 -
Form of restricted share award agreement for use under the Plan.
4.12 -
Form of restricted stock unit award agreement for use under the Plan.
  5.1 -
Opinion of Counsel.
23.1 -
Consent of KPMG LLP.
23.2 -
Consent of Kenneth S. Barrow (included in Exhibit 5.1).
99.1 -
Benchmark Electronics, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

(a)   The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

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

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

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

(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) above shall not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.

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

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

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

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

 
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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Angleton, State of Texas, on July 30, 2010.

 
BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS, INC.
   
 
By:
Cary T. Fu
   
Chief Executive Officer

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

Name
 
Position
 
Date
         
   
Chairman of the Board and
   
Cary T. Fu
 
Chief Executive Officer
 
July 30, 2010
Cary T. Fu
 
(principal executive officer)
   
         
Donald F. Adam
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
July 30, 2010
Donald F. Adam
 
(principal financial
   
   
and accounting officer)
   
         
Michael R. Dawson
 
Director
 
July 30, 2010
Michael R. Dawson
       
         
Peter G. Dorflinger
 
Director
 
July 30, 2010
Peter G. Dorflinger
       
         
Douglas G. Duncan
 
Director
 
July 30, 2010
Douglas G. Duncan
       
         
Laura W. Lang
 
Director
 
July 30, 2010
Laura W. Lang
       
         
Bernee D.L. Strom
 
Director
 
July 30, 2010
Bernee D.L. Strom
       
         
Clay C. Williams
 
Director
 
July 30, 2010
Clay C. Williams
       

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the trustee (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Angleton, State of Texas, on July 30, 2010.

 
BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS, INC.
   
 
By:
/s/ Kenneth S. Barrow
   
Kenneth S. Barrow
   
General Counsel
 
 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
   
Number
 
Description
       
4.10
   
Form of option award agreement for use under the Plan.
       
4.11
   
Form of restricted share award agreement for use under the Plan.
       
4.12
   
Form of restricted stock unit award agreement for use under the Plan.
       
5.1
   
Opinion of Counsel.
       
23.1
   
Consent of KPMG LLP.
       
23.2
   
Consent of Kenneth Barrow (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1 hereto).
       
99.1
   
Benchmark Electronics, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.
 
 

 

Exhibit 4.10

[FORM OF OPTION AWARD AGREEMENT]
 
Option Award Agreement under the Benchmark Electronics, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, dated as of [●], between Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (the “ Company ”), a Texas corporation, and [NAME].
 
This Option Award Agreement (this “ Award Agreement ”) sets forth the terms and conditions of an award (the “ Award ”) of options to purchase [●] shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.10 par value per share (each, a “ Share ”), that are being granted to you on the date hereof (such date, the “ Grant Date ”), at an exercise price of $[●] per Share (the “ Exercise Price ”), that are subject to the terms and conditions specified herein (each such option to purchase one Share, an “ Option ”), and that are granted to you under the Benchmark Electronics, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “ Plan ”). The Options are not intended to qualify as “incentive stock options” (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended).
 
THIS AWARD IS SUBJECT TO ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLAN AND THIS AWARD AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 10 OF THIS AWARD AGREEMENT. BY SIGNING YOUR NAME BELOW, YOU SHALL HAVE CONFIRMED YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AWARD AGREEMENT.
 
SECTION 1. The Plan. This Award is made pursuant to the Plan, all the terms of which are hereby incorporated in this Award Agreement. In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Plan and the terms of this Award Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall govern. In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Award Agreement and the terms of any individual employment agreement between you and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (an “ Employment Agreement” ), the terms of your Employment Agreement shall govern.
 
SECTION 2. Definitions. Capitalized terms used in this Award Agreement that are not defined in this Award Agreement have the meanings as used or defined in the Plan. As used in this Award Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:
 
(a) Business Day ” means a day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are legally permitted to be closed in the City of New York.
 
(b) Cause ” means the occurrence of any one of the following:
 
(i) your gross negligence in the performance of your duties with the Company, which gross negligence results in a material adverse effect on the Company, provided that no such gross negligence shall constitute “Cause” if it relates to an action taken or omitted by you in the good faith, reasonable belief that such action or omission was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company;
 
 
 

 
 
(ii)   your habitual neglect or disregard of your duties with the Company that is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company, after written notice from the Company stating the duties you have failed to perform;
 
(iii)   your engaging in conduct or misconduct that materially harms the reputation or financial position of the Company;
 
(iv)   your obstruction, impedance or failure to materially cooperate with an investigation authorized by the Board, a self-regulatory organization empowered with self-regulatory responsibilities under Federal or state laws, or a governmental department or agency; or
 
(v)   your conviction of a felony, provided that no such conviction will constitute “Cause” if it relates to an action taken or omitted by you in the good faith, reasonable belief that such action or omission was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.
 
(c)   Good Reason ” means the occurrence of any one of the following:
 
(i)   a material diminution of your duties or responsibilities;
 
(ii)   a greater than 10% reduction in your base salary, annual bonus opportunity or long-term incentive compensation opportunity; or
 
(iii)   a material breach by the Company of any provision of your Employment Agreement or any other agreement between you and the Company.
 
A termination of your employment by you for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice (“ Notice of Termination for Good Reason ”), not later than 90 days following the date of the occurrence of the circumstance that constitutes Good Reason, setting forth in reasonable detail the specific conduct of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that constitutes Good Reason and the specific provisions of this Award Agreement, your Employment Agreement or any other agreement between you and the Company on which you relied. The Company shall be entitled, during the 30-day period following receipt of a Notice of Termination for Good Reason, to cure the circumstances that gave rise to Good Reason, provided that the Company shall be entitled to waive its right to cure or reduce the cure period by delivery of written notice to that effect to you (such 30-day or shorter period, the “ Cure Period ”). If, during the Cure Period, such circumstance is remedied, you shall not be permitted to terminate your employment for Good Reason as a result of such circumstance. If, at the end of the Cure Period, the circumstance that constitutes Good Reason has not been remedied, you shall be entitled to terminate your employment for Good Reason during the 90-day period that follows the end of the Cure Period (the “ Termination Period ”). If you do not terminate your employment during the Termination Period, you shall not be permitted to terminate your employment for Good Reason as a result of such circumstance.

 
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(d)   Vesting Date ” means each date on which your rights with respect to all or a portion of the Options subject to this Award Agreement may become fully vested, and such Options shall become exercisable, as provided in Section 3(a) or 3(b) of this Award Agreement.
 
SECTION 3.   Vesting and Exercise.   (a)   Regularly Scheduled Vesting.   On each Vesting Date set forth below, your rights with respect to the number of Options that corresponds to such Vesting Date, as specified in the chart below, shall become vested and such Options shall become exercisable, provided that you must be employed by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries on the relevant Vesting Date, except as otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion or as otherwise provided in your Employment Agreement.
 
Scheduled Vesting Date
 
Incremental
Percentage Vested
 
Incremental Number
of Options Vested
         
«Vesting_Date_1»
 
[   ]%
   
         
«Vesting_Date_2»
 
[   ]%
   
         
«Vesting_Date_3»
 
[   ]%
   
         
«Vesting_Date_4»
 
[   ]%
   

(b)   Vesting following a Change of Control.   If, during the two-year period immediately following a Change of Control, your employment is terminated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries without Cause or you terminate your employment for Good Reason, then the date of such termination shall be deemed to be the Vesting Date of any then outstanding Options.
 
(c)    Exercise of Options.   Options, to the extent that they are vested, may be exercised, in whole or in part (but for the purchase of whole Shares only), by delivery to the Company (i) of a written or electronic notice, complying with the applicable procedures established by the Committee or the Company, stating the number of Options that are thereby exercised, and (ii) full payment, in accordance with Section 6(b) of the Plan, of the aggregate Exercise Price for the Shares with respect to which the Options are thereby exercised.  The notice shall be signed by you or any other person then entitled to exercise the Options.  Upon exercise and full payment of the Exercise Price for Shares with respect to which the Options are thereby exercised, subject to Section 7(a) of this Award Agreement, the Company shall issue to you or your legal representative (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company, the delivery of share certificates or as otherwise determined by the Company) one Share for each Option you have exercised.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, vested and unexercised Options shall expire (A) automatically on the date of the termination of your employment for Cause or (B) [PERIOD OF TIME] after the date of the termination of your employment if your employment is terminated as a result of death or disability or by the Company for any reason other than Cause or you resign voluntarily for any reason.  You shall be deemed to be disabled if, in the opinion of a physician selected by the Committee, you are incapable of performing services for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or to be of long, continued and indefinite duration.  Notwithstanding any provision of this Award Agreement, your Employment Agreement or any other contract between you and the Company to the contrary, all Options shall automatically expire on the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date.
 
 
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SECTION 4.   Forfeiture of Options.   Unless the Committee determines otherwise, and except as otherwise provided in your Employment Agreement or Section 3(b) of this Award Agreement, if your rights with respect to any Options awarded to you pursuant to this Award Agreement have not become vested prior to the date on which your employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates, your rights with respect to such unvested Options shall immediately terminate, and you shall be entitled to no further payments or benefits with respect thereto.
 
SECTION 5.   Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalents.   Prior to the date on which your rights with respect to an Option have become vested and you exercise your right to purchase the Share underlying such Option, you shall not be entitled to exercise any voting rights with respect to such Share and shall not be entitled to receive dividends or other distributions with respect thereto.
 
SECTION 6.   Non-Transferability of Options.   Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in its discretion, Options may not be sold, assigned, alienated, transferred, pledged, attached or otherwise encumbered except as provided in Section 9(a) of the Plan.  Any purported sale, assignment, alienation, transfer, pledge, attachment or other encumbrance of an Option in violation of the provisions of this Section 6 and Section 9(a) of the Plan shall be void.
 
SECTION 7. Withholding, Consents and Legends. (a) Withholding. The delivery of Shares pursuant to Section 3(c) of this Award Agreement is conditioned on satisfaction of any applicable withholding taxes in accordance with Section 9(d) of the Plan. In the event that there is withholding tax liability in connection with the exercise of the Options, you may satisfy, in whole or in part, any withholding tax liability by having the Company withhold from the Shares you would be entitled to receive upon exercise of the Options a number of Shares having a Fair Market Value (which shall either have the meaning set forth in the Plan or shall have such other meaning as determined by the Company in accordance with applicable withholding requirements) equal to such withholding tax liability.
 
(b)   Consents; Compliance with Law.   Your rights in respect of the Options are conditioned on the receipt to the full satisfaction of the Committee of any required consents that the Committee may determine to be necessary or advisable (including your consenting to the Company’s supplying to any third-party recordkeeper of the Plan such personal information as the Committee deems advisable to administer the Plan) and, in accordance with Section 9(l) of the Plan, subject to the Committee’s determination that the issuance of Shares pursuant to this Award Agreement is compliant with applicable law.
 
 
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(c)   Legends.   The Company may affix to certificates for Shares issued pursuant to this Award Agreement any legend that the Committee determines to be necessary or advisable (including to reflect any restrictions to which you may be subject under any applicable securities laws).  The Company may advise the transfer agent to place a stop order against any legended Shares.
 
SECTION 8.   Successors and Assigns of the Company.   The terms and conditions of this Award Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns.
 
SECTION 9.   Committee Discretion.   Subject to the terms of this Award Agreement and your Employment Agreement, the Committee shall have discretion with respect to any actions to be taken or determinations to be made in connection with this Award Agreement, and its determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive.
 
SECTION 10. Dispute Resolution. (a) Jurisdiction and Venue. Notwithstanding any provision in your Employment Agreement, you and the Company hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of (i) the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and (ii) the courts of the State of Texas for the purposes of any action, suit or other proceeding arising out of this Award Agreement or the Plan. You and the Company agree to commence any such action, suit or other proceeding either in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas or, if such action, suit or other proceeding may not be brought in such court for jurisdictional reasons, in the courts of the State of Texas. You and the Company further agree that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to the applicable address set forth in Section 11 of this Award Agreement shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or other proceeding in Texas with respect to any matters to which you have submitted to jurisdiction in this Section 10(a). You and the Company irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or other proceeding arising out of this Award Agreement or the Plan in (A) the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas or (B) the courts of the State of Texas, and hereby and thereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
 
(b)   Waiver of Jury Trial.   You and the Company hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right either of you may have to a trial by jury in respect to any litigation directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Award Agreement or the Plan.
 
 
5

 

(c)   Confidentiality.   You hereby agree to keep confidential the existence of, and any information concerning, a dispute described in this Section 10, except that you may disclose information concerning such dispute to the court that is considering such dispute or to your legal counsel, accountants and other representatives (provided that such counsel, accountants and other representatives agree not to disclose any such information other than as necessary to the prosecution or defense of the dispute).
 
SECTION 11.   Notice.   All notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Award Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or overnight courier or three Business Days after they have been mailed by U.S. registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the other party as set forth below:
 
If to the Company:
Benchmark Electronics, Inc.
3000 Technology Drive
Angleton, Texas 77515
Attention:  Legal Dept.
   
If to you:
To your address as most recently supplied to the Company and set forth in the Company’s records

The parties may change the address to which notices under this Award Agreement shall be sent by providing written notice to the other in the manner specified above.
 
SECTION 12.   G overning Law.   This Award Agreement shall be deemed to be made in the State of Texas, and the validity, construction and effect of this Award Agreement in all respects shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof.
 
SECTION 13.   Headings and Construction.   Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of this Award Agreement solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Award Agreement or any provision thereof.  Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Award Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “but not limited to”.  The term “or” is not exclusive.
 
SECTION 14. Amendment of this Award Agreement. The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate this Award Agreement prospectively or retroactively; provided , however , that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancelation or termination that would materially and adversely impair your rights under this Award Agreement shall not to that extent be effective without your consent (it being understood, notwithstanding the foregoing proviso, that this Award Agreement and the Options shall be subject to the provisions of Section 7(c) of the Plan).
 
 
6

 
 
SECTION 15.   Counterparts.   This Award Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Award Agreement as of the date first written above.
 
BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS, INC.,
 
by
   
 
Name:
 
Title:

[NAME],
 
   
 
 
7

 

Exhibit 4.11

[FORM OF RESTRICTED SHARE AWARD AGREEMENT]
 
Restricted Share Award Agreement under the Benchmark Electronics, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, dated as of [●], between Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (the “ Company ”), a Texas corporation, and [NAME].
 
This Restricted Share Award Agreement (this “ Award Agreement ”) sets forth the terms and conditions of an award (the “ Award ”) of [●] shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.10 par value per share (each, a “ Share ”), that are being granted to you on the date hereof (such date, the “ Grant Date ”), that are subject to the terms and conditions specified herein (“ Restricted Shares ”), and that are granted to you under the Benchmark Electronics, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “ Plan ”).
 
THIS AWARD IS SUBJECT TO ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLAN AND THIS AWARD AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 10 OF THIS AWARD AGREEMENT.  BY SIGNING YOUR NAME BELOW, YOU SHALL HAVE CONFIRMED YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AWARD AGREEMENT.
 
SECTION 1.   The Plan.   This Award is made pursuant to the Plan, all the terms of which are hereby incorporated in this Award Agreement.  In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Plan and the terms of this Award Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall govern.  In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Award Agreement and the terms of any individual employment agreement between you and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (an “ Employment Agreement” ), the terms of your Employment Agreement shall govern.
 
SECTION 2.   Definitions.   Capitalized terms used in this Award Agreement that are not defined in this Award Agreement have the meanings as used or defined in the Plan.  As used in this Award Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:
 
(a)   Business Day ” means a day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are legally permitted to be closed in the City of New York.
 
(b)   Cause ” means the occurrence of any one of the following:
 
(i)   your gross negligence in the performance of your duties with the Company, which gross negligence results in a material adverse effect on the Company, provided that no such gross negligence shall constitute “Cause” if it relates to an action taken or omitted by you in the good faith, reasonable belief that such action or omission was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company;
 
 
 

 
 
(ii)   your habitual neglect or disregard of your duties with the Company that is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company, after written notice from the Company stating the duties you have failed to perform;
 
(iii)   your engaging in conduct or misconduct that materially harms the reputation or financial position of the Company;
 
(iv)   your obstruction, impedance or failure to materially cooperate with an investigation authorized by the Board, a self-regulatory organization empowered with self-regulatory responsibilities under Federal or state laws, or a governmental department or agency; or
 
(v)   your conviction of a felony, provided that no such conviction will constitute “Cause” if it relates to an action taken or omitted by you in the good faith, reasonable belief that such action or omission was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.
 
(c)   Good Reason ” means the occurrence of any one of the following:
 
(i)   a material diminution of your duties or responsibilities;
 
(ii)   a greater than 10% reduction in your base salary, annual bonus opportunity or long-term incentive compensation opportunity; or
 
(iii)   a material breach by the Company of any provision of your Employment Agreement or any other agreement between you and the Company.
 
A termination of your employment by you for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice (“ Notice of Termination for Good Reason ”), not later than 90 days following the date of the occurrence of the circumstance that constitutes Good Reason, setting forth in reasonable detail the specific conduct of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that constitutes Good Reason and the specific provisions of this Award Agreement, your Employment Agreement or any other agreement between you and the Company on which you relied.  The Company shall be entitled, during the 30-day period following receipt of a Notice of Termination for Good Reason, to cure the circumstances that gave rise to Good Reason, provided that the Company shall be entitled to waive its right to cure or reduce the cure period by delivery of written notice to that effect to you (such 30-day or shorter period, the “ Cure Period ”).  If, during the Cure Period, such circumstance is remedied, you shall not be permitted to terminate your employment for Good Reason as a result of such circumstance.  If, at the end of the Cure Period, the circumstance that constitutes Good Reason has not been remedied, you shall be entitled to terminate your employment for Good Reason during the 90-day period that follows the end of the Cure Period (the “ Termination Period ”).  If you do not terminate your employment during the Termination Period, you shall not be permitted to terminate your employment for Good Reason as a result of such circumstance.

(d)   Vesting Date ” means each date on which your rights with respect to all or a portion of the Restricted Shares subject to this Award Agreement may become fully vested, and the restrictions set forth in this Award Agreement may lapse, as provided in Section 3(a) or 3(b) of this Award Agreement.
 
 
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SECTION 3.   Vesting and Delivery.   (a)   Regularly Scheduled Vesting.   On each Vesting Date set forth below, your rights with respect to the number of Restricted Shares that corresponds to such Vesting Date, as specified in the chart below, shall become vested and such Restricted Shares shall become nonforfeitable and transferable, provided that you must be employed by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries on the relevant Vesting Date, except as otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion or as otherwise provided in your Employment Agreement.
 
Scheduled Vesting Date
 
Incremental
Percentage Vested
 
Incremental Number of
Restricted Shares Vested
         
«Vesting_Date_1»
 
[   ]%
   
         
«Vesting_Date_2»
 
[   ]%
   
         
«Vesting_Date_3»
 
[   ]%
   
         
«Vesting_Date_4»
 
[   ]%
   

(b)   Vesting following a Change of Control.   If, during the two-year period immediately following a Change of Control, your employment is terminated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries without Cause or you terminate your employment for Good Reason, then the date of such termination shall be deemed to be the Vesting Date of any then outstanding Restricted Shares.
 
(c)   Delivery of Shares.   On or following the date of this Award Agreement, the Restricted Shares subject to this Award Agreement shall be evidenced in such manner as the Company shall determine.  Any certificate or book entry credit issued or entered in respect of such Restricted Shares shall be registered in your name and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to the Restricted Shares, substantially in the following form:
 
“The transferability of the shares of stock represented hereby is subject to the terms and conditions (including forfeiture) of the Benchmark Electronics, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan and an Award Agreement, as well as the terms and conditions of applicable law.  Copies of such Plan and Agreement are on file at the offices of Benchmark Electronics, Inc.”
 
The Company shall require that the certificates or book entry credits evidencing title of the Restricted Shares be held in custody by the Company until such time, if any, as your rights with respect to the Restricted Shares have vested, and the Company may require that, as a condition of your receiving the Restricted Shares you shall have delivered to the Company a stock power, endorsed in blank, relating to such Restricted Shares.  To the extent that your rights with respect to the Restricted Shares become vested, the legend set forth above shall be removed from the certificates or book entry credits evidencing such Shares.
 
 
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SECTION 4.   Forfeiture of Restricted Shares.   Unless the Committee determines otherwise, and except as otherwise provided in your Employment Agreement or Section 3(b) of this Award Agreement, if your rights with respect to any Restricted Shares awarded to you pursuant to this Award Agreement have not become vested prior to the date on which your employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates, your rights with respect to such Restricted Shares shall immediately terminate, and you shall be entitled to no further payments or benefits with respect thereto.
 
SECTION 5.   Voting Rights; Dividends.   Prior to the date on which your rights with respect to a Restricted Share have become vested, and the restrictions set forth in this Award Agreement with respect to such Restricted Share have lapsed, you shall be entitled to exercise voting rights with respect to such Restricted Share and shall be entitled to receive dividends or other distributions with respect thereto; provided that any such dividends or distributions paid in Shares shall constitute Restricted Shares and be subject to all of the same restrictions as the Restricted Shares with respect to which they were paid.
 
SECTION 6.   Non-Transferability of Restricted Shares.   Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in its discretion, Restricted Shares may not be sold, assigned, alienated, transferred, pledged, attached or otherwise encumbered except as provided in Section 9(a) of the Plan.  Any purported sale, assignment, alienation, transfer, pledge, attachment or other encumbrance of a Restricted Share in violation of the provisions of this Section 6 and Section 9(a) of the Plan shall be void.
 
SECTION 7. Section 83(b) Election, Withholding, Consents and Legends. (a) Section 83(b) Election. You are authorized, if you so choose, to file an election with the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Code with respect to all or a portion of the Restricted Shares. You agree that if you make such Section 83(b) election, you shall provide a copy of such election to the Company not later than ten days after filing the election with the Internal Revenue Service or other governmental authority. The Company has made no recommendation to you with respect to the advisability of making any such election. You acknowledge that it is your sole responsibility to seek advice regarding Section 83(b) of the Code and to determine the effect of making or failing to make such election.
 
(b) Withholding. The delivery of Shares pursuant to Section 3(c) of this Award Agreement is conditioned on satisfaction of any applicable withholding taxes in accordance with Section 9(d) of the Plan. In the event that there is withholding tax liability in connection with the vesting of the Restricted Shares, you may satisfy, in whole or in part, any withholding tax liability by having the Company withhold from the Shares that have vested a number of Shares having a Fair Market Value (which shall either have the meaning set forth in the Plan or shall have such other meaning as determined by the Company in accordance with applicable withholding requirements) equal to such withholding tax liability.
 
 
4

 
 
(c) Consents; Compliance with Law. Your rights in respect of the Restricted Shares are conditioned on the receipt to the full satisfaction of the Committee of any required consents that the Committee may determine to be necessary or advisable (including your consenting to the Company’s supplying to any third-party recordkeeper of the Plan such personal information as the Committee deems advisable to administer the Plan) and, in accordance with Section 9(l) of the Plan, subject to the Committee’s determination that the issuance of Shares pursuant to this Award Agreement is compliant with applicable law.
 
(d) Legends. In addition to the legend set forth in Section 3(c) of this Award Agreement, the Company may affix to certificates for Shares issued pursuant to this Award Agreement any other legend that the Committee determines to be necessary or advisable (including to reflect any restrictions to which you may be subject under any applicable securities laws). The Company may advise the transfer agent to place a stop order against any legended Shares.
 
SECTION 8. Successors and Assigns of the Company. The terms and conditions of this Award Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns.
 
SECTION 9. Committee Discretion. Subject to the terms of this Award Agreement and your Employment Agreement, the Committee shall have discretion with respect to any actions to be taken or determinations to be made in connection with this Award Agreement, and its determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive.
 
SECTION 10. Dispute Resolution. (a) Jurisdiction and Venue. Notwithstanding any provision in your Employment Agreement, you and the Company hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of (i) the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and (ii) the courts of the State of Texas for the purposes of any action, suit or other proceeding arising out of this Award Agreement or the Plan. You and the Company agree to commence any such action, suit or other proceeding either in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas or, if such action, suit or other proceeding may not be brought in such court for jurisdictional reasons, in the courts of the State of Texas. You and the Company further agree that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to the applicable address set forth in Section 11 of this Award Agreement shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or other proceeding in Texas with respect to any matters to which you have submitted to jurisdiction in this Section 10(a). You and the Company irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or other proceeding arising out of this Award Agreement or the Plan in (A) the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas or (B) the courts of the State of Texas, and hereby and thereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
 
 
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(b) Waiver of Jury Trial. You and the Company hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right either of you may have to a trial by jury in respect to any litigation directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Award Agreement or the Plan.
 
(c) Confidentiality. You hereby agree to keep confidential the existence of, and any information concerning, a dispute described in this Section 10, except that you may disclose information concerning such dispute to the court that is considering such dispute or to your legal counsel, accountants and other representatives (provided that such counsel, accountants and other representatives agree not to disclose any such information other than as necessary to the prosecution or defense of the dispute).
 
SECTION 11. Notice. All notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Award Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or overnight courier or three Business Days after they have been mailed by U.S. registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the other party as set forth below:
 
If to the Company:
Benchmark Electronics, Inc.
3000 Technology Drive
Angleton, Texas 77515
Attention:  Legal Dept.
   
If to you:
To your address as most recently supplied to the Company and set forth in the Company’s records

The parties may change the address to which notices under this Award Agreement shall be sent by providing written notice to the other in the manner specified above.
 
SECTION 12.   G overning Law.   This Award Agreement shall be deemed to be made in the State of Texas, and the validity, construction and effect of this Award Agreement in all respects shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof.
 
SECTION 13.   Headings and Construction.   Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of this Award Agreement solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Award Agreement or any provision thereof.  Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Award Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “but not limited to”.  The term “or” is not exclusive.
 
 
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SECTION 14. Amendment of this Award Agreement. The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate this Award Agreement prospectively or retroactively; provided , however , that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancelation or termination that would materially and adversely impair your rights under this Award Agreement shall not to that extent be effective without your consent (it being understood, notwithstanding the foregoing proviso, that this Award Agreement and the Restricted Shares shall be subject to the provisions of Section 7(c) of the Plan).
 
SECTION 15.   Counterparts.   This Award Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Award Agreement as of the date first written above.
 
BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS, INC.,
 
by
   
 
Name:
 
Title:

[NAME],
 
   
 
 
7

 

Exhibit 4.12

[FORM OF RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT]
 
Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Benchmark Electronics, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, dated as of [●], between Benchmark Electronics, Inc. (the “ Company ”), a Texas corporation, and [NAME].
 
This Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (this “ Award Agreement ”) sets forth the terms and conditions of an award (the “ Award ”) of [●] restricted stock units that are subject to the terms and conditions specified herein (“ RSUs ”) and that are being granted to you on the date hereof under the Benchmark Electronics, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “ Plan ”).  Each RSU subject to this Award constitutes an unfunded and unsecured promise of the Company to deliver (or cause to be delivered) to you, subject to the terms of this Award Agreement, a share of the Company’s common stock, $0.10 par value (a “ Share ”), as set forth in Section 3 of this Award Agreement.
 
THIS AWARD IS SUBJECT TO ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PLAN AND THIS AWARD AGREEMENT, INCLUDING THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROVISIONS SET FORTH IN SECTION 10 OF THIS AWARD AGREEMENT.  BY SIGNING YOUR NAME BELOW, YOU SHALL HAVE CONFIRMED YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THIS AWARD AGREEMENT.
 
SECTION 1.   The Plan.   This Award is made pursuant to the Plan, all the terms of which are hereby incorporated in this Award Agreement.  In the event of any conflict between the terms of the Plan and the terms of this Award Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall govern.  In the event of any conflict between the terms of this Award Agreement and the terms of any individual employment agreement between you and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (an “ Employment Agreement ”), the terms of your Employment Agreement shall govern.
 
SECTION 2.   Definitions.   Capitalized terms used in this Award Agreement that are not defined in this Award Agreement have the meanings as used or defined in the Plan.  As used in this Award Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:
 
(a)   Business Day ” means a day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are legally permitted to be closed in the City of New York.
 
(b)   Cause ” means the occurrence of any one of the following:
 
(i)   your gross negligence in the performance of your duties with the Company, which gross negligence results in a material adverse effect on the Company, provided that no such gross negligence shall constitute “Cause” if it relates to an action taken or omitted by you in the good faith, reasonable belief that such action or omission was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company;
 
 
 

 
 
(ii)   your habitual neglect or disregard of your duties with the Company that is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company, after written notice from the Company stating the duties you have failed to perform;
 
(iii)   your engaging in conduct or misconduct that materially harms the reputation or financial position of the Company;
 
(iv)   your obstruction, impedance or failure to materially cooperate with an investigation authorized by the Board, a self-regulatory organization empowered with self-regulatory responsibilities under Federal or state laws, or a governmental department or agency; or
 
(v)   your conviction of a felony, provided that no such conviction will constitute “Cause” if it relates to an action taken or omitted by you in the good faith, reasonable belief that such action or omission was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.
 
(c)   Good Reason ” means the occurrence of any one of the following:
 
(i)   a material diminution of your duties or responsibilities;
 
(ii)   a greater than 10% reduction in your base salary, annual bonus opportunity or long-term incentive compensation opportunity; or
 
(iii)   a material breach by the Company of any provision of your Employment Agreement or any other agreement between you and the Company.
 
A termination of your employment by you for Good Reason shall be effectuated by giving the Company written notice (“ Notice of Termination for Good Reason ”), not later than 90 days following the date of the occurrence of the circumstance that constitutes Good Reason, setting forth in reasonable detail the specific conduct of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that constitutes Good Reason and the specific provisions of this Award Agreement, your Employment Agreement or any other agreement between you and the Company on which you relied.  The Company shall be entitled, during the 30-day period following receipt of a Notice of Termination for Good Reason, to cure the circumstances that gave rise to Good Reason, provided that the Company shall be entitled to waive its right to cure or reduce the cure period by delivery of written notice to that effect to you (such 30-day or shorter period, the “ Cure Period ”).  If, during the Cure Period, such circumstance is remedied, you shall not be permitted to terminate your employment for Good Reason as a result of such circumstance.  If, at the end of the Cure Period, the circumstance that constitutes Good Reason has not been remedied, you shall be entitled to terminate your employment for Good Reason during the 90-day period that follows the end of the Cure Period (the “ Termination Period ”).  If you do not terminate your employment during the Termination Period, you shall not be permitted to terminate your employment for Good Reason as a result of such circumstance.
 
 
2

 
 
(d)   Vesting Date ” means each date on which your rights with respect to all or a portion of the RSUs subject to this Award Agreement may become fully vested, as provided in Section 3(a) or 3(b) of this Award Agreement.
 
SECTION 3.   Vesting and Delivery.   (a)   Regularly Scheduled Vesting.   On each Vesting Date set forth below, your rights with respect to the number of RSUs that corresponds to such Vesting Date, as specified in the chart below, shall become vested, provided that you must be employed by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries on the relevant Vesting Date, except as otherwise determined by the Committee in its sole discretion or as otherwise provided in your Employment Agreement.
 
Scheduled Vesting Date
 
Incremental
Percentage Vested
 
Incremental Number of
Restricted Stock Units Vested
         
«Vesting_Date_1»
 
[   ]%
   
         
«Vesting_Date_2»
 
[   ]%
   
         
«Vesting_Date_3»
 
[   ]%
   
         
«Vesting_Date_4»
 
[   ]%
   
 
(b)   Vesting following a Change of Control.   If, during the two-year period immediately following a Change of Control, your employment is terminated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries without Cause or you terminate your employment for Good Reason, then the date of such termination shall be deemed to be the Vesting Date of any then outstanding RSUs.
 
(c)   Delivery of Shares.   On each Vesting Date, the Company shall deliver to you one Share for each RSU that is scheduled to vest on such date in accordance with the terms of this Award Agreement.
 
SECTION 4.   Forfeiture of RSUs.   Unless the Committee determines otherwise, and except as otherwise provided in your Employment Agreement or Section 3(b) of this Award Agreement, if your rights with respect to any RSUs awarded to you pursuant to this Award Agreement have not become vested prior to the date on which your employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates, your rights with respect to such RSUs shall immediately terminate, and you shall be entitled to no further payments or benefits with respect thereto.
 
SECTION 5.   Voting Rights; Dividend Equivalents.   Prior to the date on which Shares are delivered to you in settlement of the RSUs pursuant to this Award Agreement, you shall not be entitled to exercise any voting rights with respect to the Shares underlying such RSUs and shall not be entitled to receive dividends or other distributions with respect to such Shares.
 
 
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SECTION 6.   Non-Transferability of RSUs.   Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in its discretion, RSUs may not be sold, assigned, alienated, transferred, pledged, attached or otherwise encumbered except as provided in Section 9(a) of the Plan.  Any purported sale, assignment, alienation, transfer, pledge, attachment or other encumbrance of an RSU in violation of the provisions of this Section 6 and Section 9(a) of the Plan shall be void.
 
SECTION 7.   Withholding, Consents and Legends.   (a)   Withholding.   The delivery of Shares pursuant to Section 3 of this Award Agreement is conditioned on satisfaction of any applicable withholding taxes in accordance with Section 9(d) of the Plan.  In the event that there is withholding tax liability in connection with the settlement of RSUs, you may satisfy, in whole or in part, any withholding tax liability by having the Company withhold from the Shares you would be entitled to receive upon settlement of the RSUs a number of Shares having a Fair Market Value (which shall either have the meaning set forth in the Plan or shall have such other meaning as determined by the Company in accordance with applicable withholding requirements) equal to such withholding tax liability.
 
(b)   Consents; Compliance with Law.   Your rights in respect of the RSUs are conditioned on the receipt to the full satisfaction of the Committee of any required consents that the Committee may determine to be necessary or advisable (including your consenting to the Company’s supplying to any third-party recordkeeper of the Plan such personal information as the Committee deems advisable to administer the Plan) and, in accordance with Section 9(l) of the Plan, subject to the Committee’s determination that the issuance of Shares pursuant to this Award Agreement is compliant with applicable law.
 
(c)   Legends.   The Company may affix to certificates for Shares issued pursuant to this Award Agreement any legend that the Committee determines to be necessary or advisable (including to reflect any restrictions to which you may be subject under any applicable securities laws).  The Company may advise the transfer agent to place a stop order against any legended Shares.
 
SECTION 8.   Successors and Assigns of the Company.   The terms and conditions of this Award Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company and its successors and assigns.
 
SECTION 9.   Committee Discretion.   Subject to the terms of this Award Agreement and your Employment Agreement, the Committee shall have discretion with respect to any actions to be taken or determinations to be made in connection with this Award Agreement, and its determinations shall be final, binding and conclusive.
 
 
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SECTION 10.   Dispute Resolution.   (a)   Jurisdiction and Venue.   Notwithstanding any provision in your Employment Agreement, you and the Company hereby irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of (i) the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and (ii) the courts of the State of Texas for the purposes of any action, suit or other proceeding arising out of this Award Agreement or the Plan.  You and the Company agree to commence any such action, suit or other proceeding either in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas or, if such action, suit or other proceeding may not be brought in such court for jurisdictional reasons, in the courts of the State of Texas.  You and the Company further agree that service of any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to the applicable address set forth in Section 11 of this Award Agreement shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or other proceeding in Texas with respect to any matters to which you have submitted to jurisdiction in this Section 10(a).  You and the Company irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any action, suit or other proceeding arising out of this Award Agreement or the Plan in (A) the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas or (B) the courts of the State of Texas, and hereby and thereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such action, suit or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
 
(b)   Waiver of Jury Trial.   You and the Company hereby waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any right either of you may have to a trial by jury in respect to any litigation directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this Award Agreement or the Plan.
 
(c)   Confidentiality.   You hereby agree to keep confidential the existence of, and any information concerning, a dispute described in this Section 10, except that you may disclose information concerning such dispute to the court that is considering such dispute or to your legal counsel, accountants and other representatives (provided that such counsel, accountants and other representatives agree not to disclose any such information other than as necessary to the prosecution or defense of the dispute).
 
SECTION 11.   Notice.   All notices, requests, demands and other communications required or permitted to be given under the terms of this Award Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered by hand or overnight courier or three Business Days after they have been mailed by U.S. registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the other party as set forth below:
 
If to the Company:
Benchmark Electronics, Inc.
3000 Technology Drive
Angleton, Texas 77515
Attention:  Legal Dept.
   
If to you:
To your address as most recently supplied to the Company and set forth in the Company’s records
 
The parties may change the address to which notices under this Award Agreement shall be sent by providing written notice to the other in the manner specified above.
 
 
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SECTION 12.   G overning Law.   This Award Agreement shall be deemed to be made in the State of Texas, and the validity, construction and effect of this Award Agreement in all respects shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to the conflict of law principles thereof.
 
SECTION 13.   Headings and Construction.   Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of this Award Agreement solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Award Agreement or any provision thereof.  Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Award Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “but not limited to”. The term “or” is not exclusive.
 
SECTION 14.   Amendment of this Award Agreement.   The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate this Award Agreement prospectively or retroactively; provided , however , that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancelation or termination that would materially and adversely impair your rights under this Award Agreement shall not to that extent be effective without your consent (it being understood, notwithstanding the foregoing proviso, that this Award Agreement and the RSUs shall be subject to the provisions of Section 7(c) of the Plan).
 
SECTION 15.   Section 409A.   (a)  For purposes of Section 409A of the Code (“ Section 409A ”), it is intended that amounts payable pursuant to this Award Agreement qualify for the short-term deferral exception under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) or any successor thereto, and all provisions of this Award Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with such exception.
 
(b)   In the event that it is determined that any amounts payable pursuant to this Award Agreement do not qualify for the short-term deferral exception under Treas. Reg. Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) or any successor thereto, it is intended that the provisions of this Award Agreement comply with Section 409A, and all provisions of this Award Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A and any similar state or local law.
 
(c)   Neither you nor any of your creditors or beneficiaries shall have the right to subject any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) payable under this Award Agreement to any anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment.  Except as permitted under Section 409A, any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) payable to you or for your benefit under this Award Agreement may not be reduced by, or offset against, any amount owing by you to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
 
 
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(d)   To the extent required by Section 409A, any amount payable under the Award Agreement that constitutes deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A) subject to, and not exempt from, Section 409A, payable or provided to you upon a termination of employment shall only be paid or provided to you upon your separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A).  If, at the time of your separation from service, (i) you are a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A and using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time) and (ii) the Company shall make a good faith determination that an amount payable under this Award Agreement constitutes deferred compensation the payment of which is required to be delayed pursuant to the six-month delay rule set forth in Section 409A in order to avoid taxes or penalties under Section 409A, then the Company (or its Subsidiary, as applicable) shall not pay such amount on the otherwise scheduled payment date but shall instead accumulate such amount and pay it, without interest, on the first business day after such six-month period.
 
(e)   You shall be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on you or for your account in connection with this Award Agreement (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A), and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold you harmless from any or all such taxes or penalties.
 
SECTION 16.   Counterparts.   This Award Agreement may be signed in counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Award Agreement as of the date first written above.
 
BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS, INC.,
 
by
   
 
Name:
 
Title:
 
[NAME],
 
   
 
 
7

 
Exhibit 5.1
 
July 30, 2010
 
Board of Directors
Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

Ladies and Gentlemen:
 
I have acted as Legal Counsel to Benchmark Electronics, Inc., a Texas corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to common shares, par value $0.10 per share, of the Company (the “Shares”), which will be issued and issuable with respect of equity-based compensation awards granted pursuant to the terms of the Company’s 2010 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan and 2000 Stock Awards Plan (collectively, the “Plans”).

I have examined such corporate records, certificates and other documents that I considered necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion. In such examination, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals and the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to me as copies.

I am admitted to practice in the State of Texas, and I express no opinion as to matters governed by any law other than the laws of the State of Texas and the Federal laws of the United States of America.

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations and assumptions set forth herein and having due regard for such legal considerations as I deemed relevant, I am of the opinion that the Shares have been duly and validly authorized and when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Plans, for a consideration at least equal to the par value thereof, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement.

 
Very truly yours,
   
 
/s/ Kenneth S. Barrow
 
Kenneth S. Barrow
 
Vice President and General Counsel

 
 

 
Exhibit 23.1
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm




The Board of Directors
Benchmark Electronics, Inc.:


We consent to the use of our reports dated March 1, 2010, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Benchmark Electronics, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of income (loss), comprehensive income (loss), shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2009, the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, and the consolidated financial statement schedule, incorporated herein by reference.


KPMG LLP
Houston, Texas
July 30, 2010
 

 
Exhibit 99.1

BENCHMARK ELECTRONICS, INC.
2010 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
 
SECTION 1.   Purpose.   The purpose of this Benchmark Electronics, Inc. 2010 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is to promote the interests of Benchmark Electronics, Inc. and its shareholders by (a) attracting and retaining exceptional directors, officers, employees and consultants (including prospective directors, officers, employees and consultants) of the Company (as defined below) and its Affiliates (as defined below) and (b) enabling such individuals to participate in the growth and financial success of the Company. This Plan is intended to replace the Benchmark Electronics, Inc. 2000 Stock Awards Plan (the “Prior Plan”), which Prior Plan shall be automatically terminated and replaced and superseded by this Plan on the date on which this Plan is approved by the Company’s shareholders, except that any awards granted under the Prior Plan shall remain in effect pursuant to their terms.
 
SECTION 2.   Definitions.   As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
 
“Affiliate” means (a) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by, controls or is under common control with, the Company and/or (b) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in either case, as determined by the Committee.
 
“Award” means any award that is permitted under Section 6 and granted under the Plan.
 
“Award Agreement” means any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award, which may (but need not) require execution or acknowledgment by a Participant.
 
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
 
“Cash Incentive Award” means an Award granted pursuant to Section 6(g).
 
“Change of Control” shall (a) have the meaning set forth in an Award Agreement or (b) if there is no definition set forth in an Award Agreement, mean the occurrence of any of the following events:
 
(i)  during any period of 24 consecutive calendar months, individuals who were directors of the Company on the first day of such period (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board; provided , however , that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the first day of such period whose election, or nomination for election, by the Company’s shareholders was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Directors shall be considered as though such individual were an Incumbent Director, but excluding, for purposes of this proviso, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened proxy contest with respect to election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a “person” (as such term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”), in each case, other than the management of the Company or the Board;
 
 
1

 
 
 Exhibit 99.1
 
(ii)   the consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving (x) the Company or (y) any of its Subsidiaries, but in the case of this clause (y) only if Company Voting Securities (as defined below) are issued or issuable, or the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Company to an entity that is not an Affiliate (each of the foregoing events being hereinafter referred to as a “Reorganization”), in each case, unless, immediately following such Reorganization, (1) all or substantially all the individuals and entities who were the “beneficial owners” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (or a successor rule thereto)) of the securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board (“Company Voting Securities”) outstanding immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization continue to beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the corporation or other entity resulting from such Reorganization (including, without limitation, a corporation that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries) (the “Continuing Company”) in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization, of the outstanding Company Voting Securities (excluding, for purposes of determining such proportions, any outstanding voting securities of the Continuing Company that such beneficial owners hold immediately following the consummation of the Reorganization as a result of their ownership prior to such consummation of voting securities of any corporation or other entity involved in or forming part of such Reorganization other than the Company), (2) no Person (excluding any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Continuing Company or any corporation controlled by the Continuing Company) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Continuing Company and (3) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Continuing Company (or equivalent body) were Incumbent Directors at the time of the execution of the definitive agreement providing for such Reorganization or, in the absence of such an agreement, at the time at which approval of the Board was obtained for such Reorganization;
 
(iii)  the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company unless such liquidation or dissolution is part of a transaction or series of transactions described in paragraph (ii) above that does not otherwise constitute a Change of Control; or
 
(iv)  any Person, corporation or other entity or “group” (as used in Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (other than (A) the Company, (B) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or an Affiliate or (C) any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the voting power of the Company Voting Securities) becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company Voting Securities; provided , however , that for purposes of this subparagraph (iv), the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control:  (x) any acquisition directly from the Company, (y) any acquisition by an underwriter temporarily holding such Company Voting Securities pursuant to an offering of such securities or (z) any acquisition pursuant to a Reorganization that does not constitute a Change of Control for purposes of subparagraph (ii) above.
 
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
“Committee” means the compensation committee of the Board, or such other committee of the Board as may be designated by the Board to administer the Plan.
 
“Company” means Benchmark Electronics, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of Texas, together with any successor thereto.
 
“Deferred Share Unit” means a deferred share unit Award that represents an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Shares in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.
 
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, or any successor statute thereto, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
 
“Exercise Price” means (a) in the case of Options, the price specified in the applicable Award Agreement as the price-per-Share at which Shares may be purchased pursuant to such Option or (b) in the case of SARs, the price specified in the applicable Award Agreement as the reference price-per-Share used to calculate the amount payable to the applicable Participant.
 
 
2

 

Exhibit 99.1

“Fair Market Value” means, except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, (a) with respect to any property other than Shares, the fair market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee and (b) with respect to Shares as of any date, (i) the closing per-share sales price of the Shares (A) as reported by the NYSE for such date or (B) if the Shares are listed on any other national stock exchange, as reported on the stock exchange composite tape for securities traded on such stock exchange for such date or, with respect to each of clauses (A) and (B), if there were no sales on such date, on the closest preceding date on which there were sales of Shares or (ii) in the event there shall be no public market for the Shares on such date, the fair market value of the Shares as determined in good faith by the Committee.
 
“Incentive Stock Option” means an option to purchase Shares from the Company that (a) is granted under Section 6(b) of the Plan and (b) is intended to qualify for special Federal income tax treatment pursuant to Sections 421 and 422 of the Code, as now constituted or subsequently amended, or pursuant to a successor provision of the Code, and which is so designated in the applicable Award Agreement.
 
“Independent Director” means a member of the Board (a) who is neither an employee of the Company nor an employee of any Affiliate, and (b) who, at the time of acting, is a “Non-Employee Director” under Rule 16b-3.
 
“IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service or any successor thereto and includes the staff thereof.
 
“Nonqualified Stock Option” means an option to purchase Shares from the Company that (a) is granted under Section 6(b) of the Plan and (b) is not an Incentive Stock Option.
 
“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.
 
“Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option or both, as the context requires.
 
“Participant” means any director, officer, employee or consultant (including any prospective director, officer, employee or consultant) of the Company or its Affiliates who is eligible for an Award under Section 5 and who is selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the Plan or who receives a Substitute Award pursuant to Section 4(c).
 
“Performance Compensation Award” means any Award designated by the Committee as a Performance Compensation Award pursuant to Section 6(e) of the Plan.
 
“Performance Criteria” means the criterion or criteria that the Committee shall select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal(s) for a Performance Period with respect to any Performance Compensation Award, Performance Unit or Cash Incentive Award under the Plan.
 
“Performance Formula” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more objective formulas applied against the relevant Performance Goal to determine, with regard to the Performance Compensation Award, Performance Unit or Cash Incentive Award of a particular Participant, whether all, some portion but less than all, or none of such Award has been earned for the Performance Period.
 
“Performance Goal” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria.
 
“Performance Period” means the one or more periods of time as the Committee may select over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals shall  be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to and the payment of a Performance Compensation Award, Performance Unit or Cash Incentive Award.
 
 
3

 

Exhibit 99.1

“Performance Unit” means an Award under Section 6(f) of the Plan that has a value set by the Committee (or that is determined by reference to a valuation formula specified by the Committee or the Fair Market Value of Shares), which value may be paid to the Participant by delivery of such property as the Committee shall determine, including without limitation, cash or Shares, or any combination thereof, upon achievement of such Performance Goals during the relevant Performance Period as the Committee shall establish at the time of such Award or thereafter.
 
“Plan” shall have the meaning specified in Section 1.
 
“Prior Plan” shall have the meaning specified in Section 1.
 
“Restricted Share” means a Share that is granted under Section 6(d) of the Plan that is subject to certain transfer restrictions, forfeiture provisions and/or other terms and conditions specified herein and in the applicable Award Agreement.
 
“RSU” means a restricted stock unit Award that is granted under Section 6(d) of the Plan and is designated as such in the applicable Award Agreement and that represents an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Shares, cash, other securities, other Awards or other property in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.
 
“Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 as promulgated and interpreted by the SEC under the Exchange Act or any successor rule or regulation thereto as in effect from time to time.
 
“SAR” means a stock appreciation right Award that is granted under Section 6(c) of the Plan and that represents an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Shares, cash, other securities, other Awards or other property equal in value to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value per Share over the Exercise Price per Share of the SAR, subject to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.
 
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto and shall include the staff thereof.
 
“Shares” means shares of common stock of the Company, $0.10 par value, or such other securities of the Company (a) into which such shares shall be changed by reason of a recapitalization, merger, consolidation, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or other similar transaction or (b) as may be determined by the Committee pursuant to Section 4(b).
 
“Subsidiary” means any entity in which the Company, directly or indirectly, possesses 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of its stock.
 
“Substitute Awards” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4(c).
 
“Substituted Options” shall have the meaning specified in Section 6(c)(v).
 
“Treasury Regulations” means all proposed, temporary and final regulations promulgated under the Code, as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of succeeding regulations).
 
SECTION 3.   Administration.   (a)   Composition of Committee.   The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall be composed of one or more directors, as determined by the Board; provided that, to the extent necessary to comply with the rules of the NYSE and Rule 16b-3 and to satisfy any applicable requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and any other applicable laws or rules, the Committee shall be composed of two or more directors, all of whom shall be Independent Directors and all of whom shall (i) qualify as “outside directors” under Section 162(m) of the Code and (ii) meet the independence requirements of the NYSE.
 
 
4

 

Exhibit 99.1

(b)   Authority of Committee.   Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to the other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and plenary authority to administer the Plan, including the authority to (i) designate Participants, (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant, (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards, (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Awards, (v) determine the vesting schedules of Awards and, if certain performance criteria must be attained in order for an Award to vest or be settled or paid, establish such performance criteria and certify whether, and to what extent, such performance criteria have been attained, (vi) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited or suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited or suspended, (vii) determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the Committee, (viii) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any default in and/or supply any omission in, the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan, (ix) establish, amend, suspend or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan, (x) accelerate the vesting or exercisability of, payment for or lapse of restrictions on, Awards, (xi) amend an outstanding Award or grant a replacement Award for an Award previously granted under the Plan if, in its sole discretion, the Committee determines that (A) the tax consequences of such Award to the Company or the Participant differ from those consequences that were expected to occur on the date the Award was granted or (B) clarifications or interpretations of, or changes to, tax law or regulations permit Awards to be granted that have more favorable tax consequences than initially anticipated and (xii) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.
 
(c)   Committee Decisions.   Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole and plenary discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, any Affiliate, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award and any shareholder.
 
(d)   Indemnification.   No member of the Board, the Committee or any employee of the Company (each such person, a “Covered Person”) shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder.  Each Covered Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company from and against (i) any loss, cost, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Covered Person in connection with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding to which such Covered Person may be a party or in which such Covered Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken under the Plan or any Award Agreement and (ii) any and all amounts paid by such Covered Person, with the Company’s approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Covered Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such Covered Person; provided that the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit or proceeding, and, once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company’s choice.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to a Covered Person to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment or other final adjudication, in either case not subject to further appeal, determines that the acts or omissions of such Covered Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Covered Person’s bad faith, fraud or willful criminal act or omission or that such right of indemnification is otherwise prohibited by law or by the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation or Amended and Restated Bylaws.  The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which Covered Persons may be entitled under the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Restated Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such persons or hold them harmless.
 
 
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Exhibit 99.1

(e)   Delegation of Authority to Officers.   The Committee may delegate, on such terms and conditions as it determines in its sole and plenary discretion, to one or more officers of the Company the authority to make grants of Awards to officers (other than any officer subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act), employees and consultants of the Company and its Affiliates (including any prospective officer (other than any such officer who is expected to be subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act), employee or consultant) and all necessary and appropriate decisions and determinations with respect thereto.
 
(f)   Awards to directors.   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Board may, in its sole and plenary discretion, at any time and from time to time, grant Awards to directors or administer the Plan with respect to such Awards.  In any such case, the Board shall have all the authority and responsibility granted to the Committee herein.
 
SECTION 4.   Shares Available for Awards; Cash Payable Pursuant to Awards.  (a)   Shares and Cash Available.   Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(b), the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be equal to (i) 5,000,000 plus (ii) any Shares with respect to awards granted under the Prior Plan that are forfeited following the date that the Plan is approved by the Company’s shareholders (such sum, the “Plan Share Limit”), of which 2,500,000 Shares may be delivered pursuant to Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(b), (x) each Share with respect to which an Option or stock-settled SAR is granted under the Plan shall reduce the Plan Share Limit by one Share and (y) each Share with respect to which any other Award denominated in Shares is granted under the Plan shall reduce the Plan Share Limit by 1.53 Shares.  Upon grant of a stock-settled SAR, each Share with respect to which such stock-settled SAR is exercisable shall be counted as one Share against the  Plan Share Limit, regardless of the number of Shares actually delivered upon settlement of such stock-settled SAR.  Awards that are required to be settled in cash shall not reduce the  Plan Share Limit.  If any Award granted under the Plan is (A) forfeited, or otherwise expires, terminates or is canceled without the delivery of all Shares subject thereto, or (B) is settled other than by the delivery of Shares (including, without limitation, cash settlement), then, in the case of clauses (A) and (B), the number of Shares subject to such Award that were not issued with respect to such Award shall not be treated as issued hereunder and the Plan Share Limit shall be increased by the number of Shares by which the Plan Share Limit was reduced upon issuance of such Award.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Plan Share Limit shall not be increased as a result of the surrender or tender of Shares to the Company in payment of the Exercise Price of an Award or any taxes required to be withheld in respect of an Award.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(b), (1) in the case of Awards that are settled in Shares, the maximum aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted to any Participant in any fiscal year of the Company under the Plan shall be 200,000 (each such Share counting as one Share for purposes of this clause (1)), and (2) in the case of Awards that are settled in cash based on the Fair Market Value of a Share, the maximum aggregate amount of cash that may be paid pursuant to Awards granted to any Participant in any fiscal year of the Company under the Plan shall be equal to the per-Share Fair Market Value as of the relevant vesting, payment or settlement date multiplied by the number of Shares described in the preceding clause (1).  In the case of all Awards other than those described in the preceding sentence, the maximum aggregate amount of cash and other property (valued at its Fair Market Value) other than Shares that may be paid or delivered pursuant to Awards under the Plan to any Participant in any fiscal year of the Company shall be equal to $4,000,000.
 
(b)   Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization and Similar Events.  (i)   In the event of any extraordinary dividend or other extraordinary distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property), recapitalization, rights offering, stock split, reverse stock split, split-up or spin-off, the Committee shall, in the manner determined by the Committee to be appropriate or desirable, adjust any or all of (A) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted, including (1) the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan (including pursuant to Incentive Stock Options) and (2) the maximum number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted to any Participant in any fiscal year of the Company, in each case, as provided in Section 4(a), and (B) the terms of any outstanding Award, including (1) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards or to which outstanding Awards relate and (2) the Exercise Price, if applicable, with respect to any Award.
 
 
6

 

Exhibit 99.1

(ii)  In the event that the Committee determines that any reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee in its discretion to be appropriate or desirable, then the Committee may (A) in such manner as it may deem appropriate or desirable, adjust any or all of (1) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted, including (X) the Plan Share Limit and (Y) the maximum number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted to any Participant in any fiscal year of the Company, in each case, as provided in Section 4(a), and (2) the terms of any outstanding Award, including (X) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards or to which outstanding Awards relate and (Y) the Exercise Price, if applicable, with respect to any Award, (B) if deemed appropriate or desirable by the Committee, make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award in consideration for the cancelation of such Award, including, in the case of an outstanding Option or SAR, a cash payment to the holder of such Option or SAR in consideration for the cancelation of such Option or SAR in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value (as of a date specified by the Committee) of the Shares subject to such Option or SAR over the aggregate Exercise Price of such Option or SAR and (C) if deemed appropriate or desirable by the Committee, cancel and terminate any Option or SAR having a per-Share Exercise Price equal to, or in excess of, the Fair Market Value of a Share subject to such Option or SAR without any payment or consideration therefor.
 
(c)   Substitute Awards.   Subject to the restrictions on “repricing” of Options and SARs as set forth in Section 7(b), Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by the Company or any of its Affiliates or a company acquired by the Company or any of its Affiliates or with which the Company or any of its Affiliates combines (“Substitute Awards”); provided, however, that in no event may any Substitute Award be granted in a manner that would violate the prohibitions on repricing of Options and SARSs, as set forth in clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) of Section 7(b).  The number of Shares underlying any Substitute Awards shall be counted against the Plan Share Limit; provided , however , that Substitute Awards issued in connection with the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an entity that is acquired by the Company or any of its Affiliates or with which the Company or any of its Affiliates combines shall not be counted against the Plan Share Limit; provided further , however , that Substitute Awards issued in connection with the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding stock options intended to qualify for special tax treatment under Sections 421 and 422 of the Code that were previously granted by an entity that is acquired by the Company or any of its Affiliates or with which the Company or any of its Affiliates combines shall be counted against the maximum aggregate number of Shares available for Incentive Stock Options under the Plan.
 
(d)   Sources of Shares Deliverable Under Awards.   Any Shares delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or of treasury Shares.
 
SECTION 5.   Eligibility.   Any director, officer, employee or consultant (including any prospective director, officer, employee or consultant) of the Company or any of its Affiliates shall be eligible to be designated a Participant.
 
SECTION 6.   Awards.  (a)   Types of Awards.   Awards may be made under the Plan in the form of (i) Options, (ii) SARs, (iii) Restricted Shares, (iv) RSUs, (v) Performance Compensation Awards, (vi) Performance Units, (vii) Cash Incentive Awards, (viii) Deferred Share Units and (ix) other equity-based or equity-related Awards that the Committee determines are consistent with the purpose of the Plan and the interests of the Company.  Awards may be granted in tandem with other Awards.  No Incentive Stock Option (other than an Incentive Stock Option that may be assumed or issued by the Company in connection with a transaction to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies) may be granted to a person who is ineligible to receive an Incentive Stock Option under the Code.
 
 
7

 

Exhibit 99.1

(b)   Options.  (i)   Grant.   Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and plenary authority to determine (A) the Participants to whom Options shall be granted, (B) subject to Section 4(a), the number of Shares subject to Options to be granted to each Participant, (C) whether each Option shall be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option and (D) the conditions and limitations applicable to the vesting and exercise of each Option.  In the case of Incentive Stock Options, the terms and conditions of such grants shall be subject to and comply with such rules as may be prescribed by Section 422 of the Code and any regulations related thereto, as may be amended from time to time.  All Options granted under the Plan shall be Nonqualified Stock Options unless the applicable Award Agreement expressly states that the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.  If an Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option, and if, for any reason, such Option (or any portion thereof) shall not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option (or portion thereof) shall be regarded as a Nonqualified Stock Option appropriately granted under the Plan; provided that such Option (or portion thereof) otherwise complies with the Plan’s requirements relating to Nonqualified Stock Options.
 
(ii)   Exercise Price.   The Exercise Price of each Share covered by an Option shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Share (determined as of the date the Option is granted); provided , however , in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an employee who, at the time of the grant of such Option, owns stock representing more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Affiliate, the per-Share Exercise Price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of the grant.  Options are intended to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.
 
(iii)   Vesting and Exercise.   Each Option shall be vested and exercisable at such times, in such manner and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may, in its sole and plenary discretion, specify in the applicable Award Agreement or thereafter.  Except as otherwise specified by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, an Option may only be exercised to the extent that it has already vested at the time of exercise.  Except as otherwise specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement, Options shall become vested and exercisable with respect to 25% of the Shares subject to such Options on each of the first four anniversaries of the date of grant.  An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written or electronic notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Award by the person entitled to exercise the Award and full payment pursuant to Section 6(b)(iv) for the Shares with respect to which the Award is exercised has been received by the Company.  Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the number of Shares that thereafter may be available for sale under the Option.  The Committee may impose such conditions with respect to the exercise of Options, including, without limitation, any conditions relating to the application of Federal or state securities laws, as it may deem necessary or advisable.
 
(iv)   Payment.  (A)  No Shares shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the aggregate Exercise Price therefor is received by the Company, and the Participant has paid to the Company (or the Company has withheld in accordance with Section 9(d)) an amount equal to any Federal, state, local and foreign income and employment taxes required to be withheld.  Such payments may be made in cash (or its equivalent) or, in the Committee’s sole and plenary discretion, (1) by exchanging Shares owned by the Participant (which are not the subject of any pledge or other security interest), (2) if there shall be a public market for the Shares at such time, subject to such rules as may be established by the Committee, through delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to sell the Shares otherwise deliverable upon the exercise of the Option and to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the aggregate Exercise Price or (3) through any other method (or combination of methods) as approved by the Committee; provided that the combined value of all cash and cash equivalents and the Fair Market Value of any such Shares so tendered to the Company, together with any Shares withheld by the Company in accordance with Section 9(d), as of the date of such tender, is at least equal to such aggregate Exercise Price and the amount of any Federal, state, local or foreign income or employment taxes required to be withheld, if applicable.
 
 
8

 

Exhibit 99.1

(B)  Wherever in the Plan or any Award Agreement a Participant is permitted to pay the Exercise Price of an Option or taxes relating to the exercise of an Option by delivering Shares, the Participant may, subject to procedures satisfactory to the Committee, satisfy such delivery requirement by presenting proof of beneficial ownership of such Shares, in which case the Company shall treat the Option as exercised without further payment and shall withhold such number of Shares from the Shares acquired by the exercise of the Option.
 
(v)   Expiration.   Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, each Option shall expire immediately, without any payment, upon the earlier of (A) the tenth anniversary of the date the Option is granted and (B) (i) in the case of Participants who are not directors, three months after the date the Participant who is holding the Option ceases to be an officer, employee or consultant of the Company or one of its Affiliates or (ii) in the case of Participants who are directors, two years after the date the Participant who is holding the Option ceases to be a director of the Company or one of its Affiliates.  In no event may an Option be exercisable after the tenth anniversary of the date the Option is granted.
 
(c)   SARs.  (i)   Grant.   Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and plenary authority to determine (A) the Participants to whom SARs shall be granted, (B) subject to Section 4(a), the number of SARs to be granted to each Participant, (C) the Exercise Price thereof and (D) the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise thereof.
 
(ii)   Exercise Price.   The Exercise Price of each Share covered by a SAR shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Share (determined as of the date the SAR is granted).  SARs are intended to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.
 
(iii)   Exercise.   A SAR shall entitle the Participant to receive an amount upon exercise equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise of the SAR over the Exercise Price thereof.  The Committee shall determine, in its sole and plenary discretion, whether a SAR shall be settled in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property or a combination of any of the foregoing.
 
(iv)   Other Terms and Conditions.   Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall determine, at or after the grant of a SAR, the vesting criteria, term, methods of exercise, methods and form of settlement and any other terms and conditions of any SAR; provided , however , that in no event may any SAR be exercisable after the tenth anniversary of the date the SAR is granted.  Except as otherwise specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement, SARs shall become vested with respect to 25% of the Shares subject to such SARs on each of the first four anniversaries of the date of grant.  Any determination by the Committee that is made pursuant to this Section 6(c)(iv) may be changed by the Committee from time to time and may govern the exercise of SARs granted or exercised thereafter.
 
(d)   Restricted Shares and RSUs.  (i)   Grant.   Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and plenary authority to determine (A) the Participants to whom Restricted Shares and RSUs shall be granted, (B) subject to Section 4(a), the number of Restricted Shares and RSUs to be granted to each Participant, (C) the duration of the period during which, and the conditions, if any, under which, the Restricted Shares and RSUs may vest or may be forfeited to the Company and (D) the other terms and conditions of such Awards.
 
(ii)   Transfer Restrictions.   Restricted Shares and RSUs may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered except as provided in the Plan or as may be provided in the applicable Award Agreement; provided , however , that the Committee may, in its discretion, determine that Restricted Shares and RSUs may be transferred by the Participant for no consideration.  Restricted Shares may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine.  If certificates representing Restricted Shares are registered in the name of the applicable Participant, such certificates must bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Shares, and the Company may, at its discretion, retain physical possession of such certificates until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse.
 
 
9

 

Exhibit 99.1

(iii)   Payment/Lapse of Restrictions.   Each RSU shall be granted with respect to one Share or shall have a value equal to the Fair Market Value of one Share.  RSUs shall be paid in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, as determined in the sole and plenary discretion of the Committee, upon the lapse of restrictions applicable thereto, or otherwise in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement.  Except as otherwise specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement, Restricted Shares and RSUs shall become vested with respect to 25% of the Shares subject to such Awards on each of the first four anniversaries of the date of grant.  If a Restricted Share or an RSU is intended to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, unless the grant of such Restricted Share or RSU is contingent on satisfaction of the requirements for the payment of “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code (whether pursuant to Section 6(e) of this Plan or any other plan), all requirements set forth in Section 6(e) must be satisfied in order for the restrictions applicable thereto to lapse.
 
(e)   Performance Compensation Awards.  (i)   General.   The Committee shall have the authority, at the time of grant of any Award, to designate such Award (other than an Option or SAR) as a Performance Compensation Award in order for such Award to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.  Options and SARs granted under the Plan shall not be included among Awards that are designated as Performance Compensation Awards under this Section 6(e).
 
(ii)   Eligibility.   The Committee shall, in its sole discretion, designate within the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code) which Participants shall be eligible to receive Performance Compensation Awards in respect of such Performance Period.  However, designation of a Participant as eligible to receive an Award hereunder for a Performance Period shall not in any manner entitle such Participant to receive payment in respect of any Performance Compensation Award for such Performance Period.  The determination as to whether or not such Participant becomes entitled to payment in respect of any Performance Compensation Award shall be decided solely in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(e).  Moreover, designation of a Participant as eligible to receive an Award hereunder for a particular Performance Period shall not require designation of such Participant as eligible to receive an Award hereunder in any subsequent Performance Period and designation of one person as a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder shall not require designation of any other person as a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder in such period or in any other period.
 
(iii)   Discretion of Committee with Respect to Performance Compensation Awards.   With regard to a particular Performance Period, the Committee shall have full discretion to select (A) the length of such Performance Period, (B) the type(s) of Performance Compensation Awards to be issued, (C) the Performance Criteria that shall be used to establish the Performance Goal(s), (D) the kind(s) and/or level(s) of the Performance Goals(s) that is (are) to apply to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, divisions or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing, and (E) the Performance Formula.  Within the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee shall, with regard to the Performance Compensation Awards to be issued for such Performance Period, exercise its discretion with respect to each of the matters enumerated in the immediately preceding sentence and record the same in writing.
 
 
10

 

Exhibit 99.1

(iv)   Performance Criteria.   Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Performance Criteria that shall be used to establish the Performance Goal(s) with respect to Performance Compensation Awards shall be based on the attainment of specific levels of performance of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, divisions or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing, and shall be limited to the following:  (A) share price, (B) net income or earnings before or after taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization), (C) operating income, (D) earnings per share (including specified types or categories thereof), (E) cash flow (including specified types or categories thereof), (F) cash flow return on capital, (G) revenues (including specified types or categories thereof), (H) return measures (including specified types or categories thereof), (I) sales or product volume, (J) working capital, (K) gross or net profitability/profit margins, (L) objective measures of productivity or operating efficiency, (M) costs (including specified types or categories thereof), (N) budgeted expenses (operating and capital), (O) market share (in the aggregate or by segment), (P) level or amount of acquisitions, (Q) economic value-added, (R) enterprise value, (S) book value and (T) customer satisfaction survey results.  Such Performance Criteria may be applied on an absolute basis, be relative to one or more peer companies of the Company or indices or any combination thereof or, if applicable, be computed on an accrual or cash accounting basis.  To the extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall, within the first 90 days of the applicable Performance Period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), define in an objective manner the method of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period.
 
(v)   Modification of Performance Goals.   The Committee is authorized at any time during the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), or any time thereafter (but only to the extent the exercise of such authority after such 90-day period (or such shorter period, if applicable) would not cause the Performance Compensation Awards granted to any Participant for the Performance Period to fail to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code), in its sole and plenary discretion, to adjust or modify the calculation of a Performance Goal for such Performance Period to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code (A) in the event of, or in anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event or development affecting the Company, or any of its Affiliates, Subsidiaries, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such Performance Goal) or (B) in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or any of its Affiliates, Subsidiaries, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such Performance Goal), or the financial statements of the Company or any of its Affiliates, Subsidiaries, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such Performance Goal), or of changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange, accounting principles, law or business conditions.
 
(vi) Payment of Performance Compensation Awards. (A) Condition to Receipt of Payment. A Participant must be employed by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries on the last day of a Performance Period to be eligible for payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award for such Performance Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing and to the extent permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code, in the discretion of the Committee, Performance Compensation Awards may be paid to Participants who have retired or whose employment has terminated prior to the last day of the Performance Period for which a Performance Compensation Award is made, or to the designee or estate of a Participant who died prior to the last day of a Performance Period.
 
(B)   Limitation.   Except as otherwise permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code, a Participant shall be eligible to receive payments in respect of a Performance Compensation Award only to the extent that (1) the Performance Goal(s) for the relevant Performance Period are achieved and certified by the Committee in accordance with Section 6(e)(vi)(C) and (2) the Performance Formula as applied against such Performance Goal(s) determines that all or some portion of such Participant’s Performance Compensation Award has been earned for such Performance Period.
 
(C)   Certification.   Following the completion of a Performance Period, the Committee shall meet to review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Goals for the Performance Period have been achieved and, if so, to calculate and certify in writing that amount of the Performance Compensation Awards earned for the period based upon the Performance Formula.  The Committee shall then determine the actual size of each Participant’s Performance Compensation Award for the Performance Period and, in so doing, may apply negative discretion as authorized by Section 6(e)(vi)(D).
 
(D)   Negative Discretion.   In determining the actual size of an individual Performance Compensation Award for a Performance Period, the Committee may, in its sole and plenary discretion, reduce or eliminate the amount of the Award earned in the Performance Period, even if applicable Performance Goals have been attained and without regard to any employment agreement between the Company and a Participant.
 
 
11

 

Exhibit 99.1

(E)   Discretion.   Except as otherwise permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code, in no event shall any discretionary authority granted to the Committee by the Plan be used to (1) grant or provide payment in respect of Performance Compensation Awards for a Performance Period if the Performance Goals for such Performance Period have not been attained, (2) increase a Performance Compensation Award for any Participant at any time after the first 90 days of the Performance Period (or, if shorter, the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code) or (3) increase a Performance Compensation Award above the maximum amount payable under Section 4(a) of the Plan.
 
(F)   Form of Payment.   In the case of any Performance Compensation Award other than a Restricted Share, RSU or other equity-based Award that is subject to performance-based vesting conditions, such Performance Compensation Award shall be payable, in the discretion of the Committee, in cash or in Restricted Shares, RSUs or fully vested Shares of equivalent value and shall be paid on such terms as determined by the Committee in its discretion.  Any Restricted Shares and RSUs shall be subject to the terms of this Plan (or any successor equity-compensation plan) and any applicable Award Agreement.  The number of Restricted Shares, RSUs or Shares that is equivalent in value to a dollar amount shall be determined in accordance with a methodology specified by the Committee within the first 90 days of the relevant Performance Period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code).
 
(f)   Performance Units.  (i)   Grant.   Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and plenary authority to determine the Participants to whom Performance Units shall be granted.
 
(ii)   Value of Performance Units.   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 during a Performance Period, shall determine in accordance with Section 4(a) the number and/or value of Performance Units that shall be paid out to the Participant.
 
(iii)   Earning of Performance Units.   Subject to the provisions of the Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of Performance Units shall be entitled to receive a payout of the number and value of Performance Units earned by the Participant over the Performance Period, to be determined by the Committee, in its sole and plenary discretion, as a function of the extent to which the corresponding Performance Goals have been achieved.
 
(iv)   Form and Timing of Payment of Performance Units.   Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, in its sole and plenary discretion, may pay earned Performance Units in the form of cash or in Shares (or in a combination thereof) that have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the earned Performance Units at the close of the applicable Performance Period.  Such Shares may be granted subject to any restrictions in the applicable Award Agreement deemed appropriate by the Committee.  The determination of the Committee with respect to the form and timing of payout of such Awards shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.  If a Performance Unit is intended to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, all requirements set forth in Section 6(e) must be satisfied in order for a Participant to be entitled to payment.
 
(g)   Cash Incentive Awards.   Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee, in its sole and plenary discretion, shall have the authority to grant Cash Incentive Awards.  Subject to Section 4(a), the Committee shall establish Cash Incentive Award levels to determine the amount of a Cash Incentive Award payable upon the attainment of Performance Goals.  If a Cash Incentive Award is intended to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, all requirements set forth in Section 6(e) must be satisfied in order for a Participant to be entitled to payment.
 
 
12

 

Exhibit 99.1

(h)   Other Stock-Based Awards.   Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the sole and plenary authority to grant to Participants other equity-based or equity-related Awards (including Deferred Share Units and fully vested Shares) (whether payable in cash, equity or otherwise) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine, provided that any such Awards must comply, to the extent deemed desirable by the Committee, with Rule 16b-3 and applicable law.
 
(i)   Dividends and Dividend Equivalents.   In the sole and plenary discretion of the Committee, an Award, other than an Option or SAR or a Cash Incentive Award, may provide the Participant with dividends or dividend equivalents, payable in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, on a current or deferred basis, on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee in its sole and plenary discretion, including, without limitation, (A) payment directly to the Participant, (B) withholding of such amounts by the Company subject to vesting of the Award or (C) reinvestment in additional Shares, Restricted Shares or other Awards; provided, however, that a Participant shall be eligible to receive dividends or dividend equivalents in respect of any Award that is payable upon the achievement of Performance Goal(s) only to the extent that (1) the Performance Goal(s) for the relevant Performance Period are achieved and (2) the Performance Formula as applied against such Performance Goal(s) determines that all or some portion of such Award has been earned for such Performance Period.
 
SECTION 7.   Amendment and Termination.  (a)   Amendments to the Plan.   Subject to any applicable law or government regulation, to any requirement that must be satisfied if the Plan is intended to be a shareholder-approved plan for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code and to the rules of the NYSE or any successor exchange or quotation system on which the Shares may be listed or quoted, the Plan may be amended, modified or terminated by the Board without the approval of the shareholders of the Company, except that shareholder approval shall be required for any amendment that would (i) increase the Plan Share Limit or increase the maximum number of Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan; provided , however , that any adjustment under Section 4(b) shall not constitute an increase for purposes of this Section 7(a), or (ii) change the class of employees or other individuals eligible to participate in the Plan.  No amendment, modification or termination of the Plan may, without the consent of the Participant to whom any Award shall theretofor have been granted, materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant (or his or her transferee) under such Award, unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement.
 
(b)   Amendments to Awards.   The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate any Award theretofor granted, prospectively or retroactively; provided , however , that, except as set forth in the Plan, unless otherwise provided by the Committee in the applicable Award Agreement, any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancelation or termination that would materially and adversely impair the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofor granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the applicable Participant, holder or beneficiary.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, in no event may any Option or SAR (i) be amended to decrease the Exercise Price thereof, (ii) be cancelled at a time when its Exercise Price exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares in exchange for another Option or SAR or any Restricted Share, RSU, other equity-based Award, award under any other equity-compensation plan or any cash payment or (iii) be subject to any action that would be treated, for accounting purposes, as a “repricing” of such Option or SAR, unless such amendment, cancellation or action is approved by the Company’s shareholders.   For the avoidance of doubt, an adjustment to the Exercise Price of an Option or SAR that is made in accordance with Section 4(b) or Section 8 shall not be considered a reduction in Exercise Price or “repricing” of such Option or SAR.
 
 
13

 

Exhibit 99.1

(c)   Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events.   Subject to Section 6(e)(v) and the penultimate sentence of Section 7(b), the Committee is hereby authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in Section 4(b) or the occurrence of a Change of Control) affecting the Company, any Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange, accounting principles or law (i) whenever the Committee, in its sole and plenary discretion, determines that such adjustments are appropriate or desirable, including, without limitation, providing for a substitution or assumption of Awards, accelerating the exercisability of, lapse of restrictions on, or termination of, Awards or providing for a period of time for exercise prior to the occurrence of such event, (ii) if deemed appropriate or desirable by the Committee, in its sole and plenary discretion, by providing for a cash payment to the holder of an Award in consideration for the cancelation of such Award, including, in the case of an outstanding Option or SAR, a cash payment to the holder of such Option or SAR in consideration for the cancelation of such Option or SAR in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value (as of a date specified by the Committee) of the Shares subject to such Option or SAR over the aggregate Exercise Price of such Option or SAR and (iii) if deemed appropriate or desirable by the Committee, in its sole and plenary discretion, by canceling and terminating any Option or SAR having a per-Share Exercise Price equal to, or in excess of, the Fair Market Value of a Share subject to such Option or SAR without any payment or consideration therefor.
 
SECTION 8.   Change of Control.   Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, in the event of a Change of Control after the date of the adoption of the Plan, unless provision is made in connection with the Change of Control for (a) assumption of Awards previously granted or (b) substitution for such Awards of new awards covering stock of a successor corporation or its “parent corporation” (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or “subsidiary corporation” (as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code) with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kinds of shares and the Exercise Prices, if applicable, (i) any outstanding Options or SARs then held by Participants that are unexercisable or otherwise unvested shall automatically be deemed exercisable or otherwise vested, as the case may be, as of immediately prior to such Change of Control, (ii) all Performance Units, Cash Incentive Awards and Awards designated as Performance Compensation Awards shall be paid out as if the date of the Change of Control were the last day of the applicable Performance Period and “target” performance levels had been attained and (iii) all other outstanding Awards ( i.e. , other than Options, SARs, Performance Units, Cash Incentive Awards and Awards designated as Performance Compensation Awards) then held by Participants that are unexercisable, unvested or still subject to restrictions or forfeiture, shall automatically be deemed exercisable and vested and all restrictions and forfeiture provisions related thereto shall lapse as of immediately prior to such Change of Control.
 
SECTION 9.   General Provisions.  (a)   Nontransferability.   Except as otherwise specified in the applicable Award Agreement, during the Participant’s lifetime each Award (and any rights and obligations thereunder) shall be exercisable only by the Participant, or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant’s legal guardian or representative, and no Award (or any rights and obligations thereunder) may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate; provided that (i) the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance and (ii) the Board or the Committee may permit further transferability, on a general or specific basis, and may impose conditions and limitations on any permitted transferability; provided , however , that Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan shall not be transferable in any way that would violate Section 1.422-2(a)(2) of the Treasury Regulations and in no event may any Award (or any rights and obligations thereunder) be transferred in any way in exchange for value.  All terms and conditions of the Plan and all Award Agreements shall be binding upon any permitted successors and assigns.
 
(b)   No Rights to Awards.   No Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants or holders or beneficiaries of Awards.  The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee’s determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant and may be made selectively among Participants, whether or not such Participants are similarly situated.
 
 
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Exhibit 99.1

(c)   Share Certificates.   All certificates for Shares or other securities of the Company or any Affiliate delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan, the applicable Award Agreement or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC, the NYSE or any other stock exchange or quotation system upon which such Shares or other securities are then listed or reported and any applicable Federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
 
(d)   Withholding.   (i)   Authority to Withhold.   A Participant may be required to pay to the Company or any Affiliate, and the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under the Plan or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant, the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property) of any applicable withholding taxes in respect of an Award, its exercise or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Committee or the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes.
 
(ii)   Alternative Ways to Satisfy Withholding Liability.   Without limiting the generality of clause (i) above, a Participant may satisfy, in whole or in part, the foregoing withholding liability by delivery of Shares owned by the Participant (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest) having a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability or, at the discretion of the Participant, by having the Company withhold from the number of Shares otherwise issuable pursuant to the exercise of the Option or SAR, or the lapse of the restrictions on any other Award (in the case of SARs and other Awards, if such SARs and other Awards are settled in Shares), a number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability.
 
(e)   Section 409A.  (i)  It is intended that the provisions of the Plan comply with Section 409A of the Code, and all provisions of the Plan shall be construed and interpreted in a manner consistent with the requirements for avoiding taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code.
 
(ii)  No Participant or the creditors or beneficiaries of a Participant shall have the right to subject any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable under the Plan to any anticipation, alienation, sale, transfer, assignment, pledge, encumbrance, attachment or garnishment.  Except as permitted under Section 409A of the Code, any deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) payable to any Participant or for the benefit of any Participant under the Plan may not be reduced by, or offset against, any amount owing by any such Participant to the Company or any of its Affiliates.
 
(iii)  If, at the time of a Participant’s separation from service (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code), (A) such Participant shall be a specified employee (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and using the identification methodology selected by the Company from time to time) and (B) the Company shall make a good faith determination that an amount payable pursuant to an Award constitutes deferred compensation (within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code) the payment of which is required to be delayed pursuant to the six-month delay rule set forth in Section 409A of the Code in order to avoid taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code, then the Company shall not pay such amount on the otherwise scheduled payment date but shall instead pay it on the first business day after such six-month period.  Such amount shall be paid without interest, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, or as otherwise provided in any applicable employment agreement between the Company and the relevant Participant.
 
(iv)  Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in light of the uncertainty with respect to the proper application of Section 409A of the Code, the Company reserves the right to make amendments to any Award as the Company deems necessary or desirable to avoid the imposition of taxes or penalties under Section 409A of the Code.  In any case, a Participant shall be solely responsible and liable for the satisfaction of all taxes and penalties that may be imposed on such Participant or for such Participant’s account in connection with an Award (including any taxes and penalties under Section 409A of the Code), and neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates shall have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise hold such Participant harmless from any or all of such taxes or penalties.
 
 
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Exhibit 99.1

(f)   Award Agreements.   Each Award hereunder shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which shall be delivered to the Participant and shall specify the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto, including the effect on such Award of the death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant and the effect, if any, of such other events as may be determined by the Committee.
 
(g)   No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements.   Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other compensation arrangements, which may, but need not, provide for the grant of options, restricted stock, shares, other types of equity-based awards (subject to shareholder approval if such approval is required) and cash incentive awards, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
 
(h)   No Right to Employment.   The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained as a director, officer, employee or consultant of or to the Company or any Affiliate, nor shall it be construed as giving a Participant any rights to continued service on the Board.  Further, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or discontinue any directorship or consulting relationship, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement.
 
(i) No Rights as Shareholder. No Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Award shall have any rights as a shareholder with respect to any Shares to be distributed under the Plan until he or she has become the holder of such Shares. In connection with each grant of Restricted Shares, except as provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the Participant shall be entitled to the rights of a shareholder (including the right to vote) in respect of such Restricted Shares. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4(b), Section 7(c) or the applicable Award Agreement, no adjustments shall be made for dividends or distributions on (whether ordinary or extraordinary, and whether in cash, Shares, other securities or other property), or other events relating to, Shares subject to an Award for which the record date is prior to the date such Shares are delivered.
 
(j)   Governing Law.   The validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.
 
(k)   Severability.   If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be construed or deemed stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.
 
(l)   Other Laws; Restrictions on Transfer of Shares.   The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Shares or other consideration under an Award if, acting in its sole and plenary discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Shares or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation or entitle the Company to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Award granted hereunder shall be construed as an offer to sell securities of the Company, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless and until the Committee in its sole and plenary discretion has determined that any such offer, if made, would be in compliance with all applicable requirements of the U.S. Federal and any other applicable securities laws.
 
(m)   No Trust or Fund Created.   Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate, on one hand, and a Participant or any other Person, on the other.  To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or such Affiliate.
 
 
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Exhibit 99.1

(n)   No Fractional Shares.   No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.
 
(o)   Requirement of Consent and Notification of Election Under Section 83(b) of the Code or Similar Provision.   No election under Section 83(b) of the Code (to include in gross income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in Section 83(b) of the Code) or under a similar provision of law may be made unless expressly permitted by the terms of the applicable Award Agreement or by action of the Committee in writing prior to the making of such election.  If an Award recipient, in connection with the acquisition of Shares under the Plan or otherwise, is expressly permitted under the terms of the applicable Award Agreement or by such Committee action to make such an election and the Participant makes the election, the Participant shall notify the Committee of such election within ten days of filing notice of the election with the IRS or other governmental authority, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to regulations issued under Section 83(b) of the Code or any other applicable provision.
 
(p)   Requirement of Notification Upon Disqualifying Disposition Under Section 421(b) of the Code.   If any Participant shall make any disposition of Shares delivered pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option under the circumstances described in Section 421(b) of the Code (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions) or any successor provision of the Code, such Participant shall notify the Company of such disposition within ten days of such disposition.
 
(q)   Headings and Construction.   Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.  Whenever the words “include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Plan, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “but not limited to”.
 
SECTION 10.   Term of the Plan.  (a)   Effective Date.   The Plan shall be effective as of the date of its adoption by the Board and approval by the Company’s shareholders.
 
(b)   Expiration Date.   No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the date the Plan is approved by the Company’s shareholders under Section 10(a).  Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award granted hereunder, and the authority of the Board or the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under any such Award, shall nevertheless continue thereafter.
 
 
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