UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

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

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 27, 2008

 

 

HARTE-HANKS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-7120   74-1677284

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

200 Concord Plaza Drive

San Antonio, Texas 78216

(210) 829-9000

(Address of principal executive offices and Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 5.02(e) Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On June 27, 2008, Harte-Hanks, Inc. (“ Harte-Hanks ”) entered into amended and restated versions of certain of its existing compensatory plans and agreements to address the requirements of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“ Section 409A ”), which was added by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, and to make certain other amendments, as described below. The following compensatory plans and agreements were amended and restated: (1) Restoration Pension Plan, (2) 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan, (3) Deferred Compensation Plan and (4) corporate officer severance agreements.

Section 409A changed the income tax treatment of nonqualified deferred compensation plans and imposed new requirements on both the terms and operation of such plans. Although Section 409A’s provisions have been in effect since 2005 and employers have been required to operate in good faith since that time, final regulations under Section 409A were issued in 2007 and companies must amend affected nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements by December 31, 2008, to ensure that they comply with either the Section 409A final rules or an exemption.

The following description of the amendments to Harte-Hanks’ compensatory plans and agreements does not purport to be a complete description of the plans and agreements and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the amended plans and agreements, which are filed as exhibits to this Form 8-K and are incorporated by reference in this Item 5.02(e). Additional information regarding these plans and agreements can also be found in Harte-Hanks’ proxy statement for its 2008 annual stockholders meeting, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 11, 2008.

Restoration Pension Plan

The Restoration Pension Plan is an unfunded, non-qualified pension plan that is intended to provide designated employees with the benefits they would receive if the company’s frozen qualified defined benefit plan were not subject to the benefit and compensation limits imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. Selected employees designated as participants by the Board of Directors are eligible to participate under the Restoration Pension Plan. Participants currently include only corporate officers. The annual pension benefit under the Restoration Pension Plan is largely computed by multiplying the number of years of employment by a percentage of the participant’s final average earnings.

The Restoration Pension Plan was amended to address the requirements of Section 409A by (1) providing that amounts earned and vested by December 31, 2004 are “grandfathered” and subject to only pre-Section 409A rules, (2) revising the deferral election procedures, including provisions to account for changes to a payment election based on a change in marital status, (3) adding provisions to govern the time and form of payments to current and terminated employees, and (4) adding a 6-month delay in payment of deferred compensation otherwise payable to any “specified employee” upon separation from service.

Contemporaneously with these Section 409A amendments, Harte-Hanks made certain other amendments to the Restoration Pension Plan. The definition of “covered compensation” was amended to expressly include (after January 1, 2005) any portion of an eligible participant’s annual bonus that the participant would have received in cash had the participant not voluntarily elected to receive such bonus in the form of restricted stock. In addition, the Restoration Pension Plan was amended to provide for a rabbi trust to fund the plan within 30 days of a change in control (as defined in the plan). The rabbi trust amendment was not made in anticipation of, or in connection with, any particular change of control transaction; rather, it was adopted to enhance the security for future benefits payable under the Restoration Pension Plan. Finally, the annuity payment options available under the Restoration Pension Plan were revised to parallel the annuity payment options available under the company’s frozen qualified defined benefit plan.

Each of the foregoing amendments to the Restoration Plan was effective as of January 1, 2008.


2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan

Pursuant to the 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan, Harte-Hanks has previously awarded its directors, officers and employees stock options, restricted common stock and performance restricted stock units. The 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan was amended to address the requirements of Section 409A by (1) providing that the terms of any deferred compensation award granted under the 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan would be specified in the award agreement for such award, and (2) adding a 6-month delay in payment of any deferred compensation otherwise payable to any “specified employee” upon separation from service. These amendments to the 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan were effective as of January 1, 2008.

Deferred Compensation Plan

Harte-Hanks’ Deferred Compensation Plan permits certain members of senior management to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of their base salary and/or cash performance bonuses. Currently, the only participant in the Deferred Compensation Plan is Mr. Larry Franklin, the company’s Chairman of the Board and its former Chief Executive Officer, based on Mr. Franklin’s former service as an executive officer of Harte-Hanks. The Deferred Compensation Plan was amended to address the requirements of Section 409A by (1) specifying that amounts earned and vested by December 31, 2004 are “grandfathered” and subject to only pre-Section 409A rules, (2) revising the deferral election procedures to provide that elections must be made by December 31 st of the year prior to the year in which the applicable compensation will be earned, (3) eliminating the ability to accelerate payments, (4) providing that any subsequent change to an elected payment date must be made at least 12 months prior to the original date of payment, must not take effect for at least 12 months, and must further delay payment by at least 5 years, (5) permitting payment upon disability or a change of control, and (6) adding a 6-month delay in payment of deferred compensation otherwise payable to any “specified employee” upon separation from service. These amendments to the Deferred Compensation Plan were effective as of January 1, 2008.

Corporate Officer Severance Agreements

Harte-Hanks has previously entered into standard form severance agreements with each of its named executive officers and other corporate officers. These severance agreements are generally designed to attract and retain key talent by providing certain compensation in the event of a change of control. Harte-Hanks has entered into similar change of control severance agreements with Messrs. Dean Blythe (President and Chief Executive Officer), Doug Shepard (Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer) and Gary Skidmore (Executive Vice President and President, Direct Marketing). Harte-Hanks also has entered into a severance agreement with Mr. Pete Gorman (Executive Vice President and President, Shoppers) that provides similar severance benefits in both change of control and designated non-change of control scenarios because of his position at the time of entering into the original agreement and the then-current form of agreement for other similarly situated executives.

These severance agreements with the company’s named executive officers and other corporate officers were amended to address the requirements of Section 409A by (1) clarifying that amounts earned and vested by December 31, 2004 are “grandfathered” and subject to only pre-Section 409A rules, (2) clarifying that payments will be made only if the executive’s termination of employment is a “separation from service” under Section 409A, (3) modifying certain circumstances under which the executive may voluntarily terminate employment to require a material negative change in the employment relationship, notice from the executive, and an opportunity for the company to cure, (4) clarifying the time and form of payment to the executive, and (5) adding a 6-month delay in payment of deferred compensation otherwise payable to any “specified employee” upon separation from service.

Contemporaneously with these Section 409A amendments, Harte-Hanks made certain other amendments to these severance agreements. The agreements were amended to clarify that the accelerated vesting of company equity awards upon a change of control and, for Mr. Gorman, upon the non-change of control triggering events, would apply to all types of equity-based awards rather than only stock options. This clarification amendment was intended to reflect that, since 2006, Harte-Hanks has granted its executives restricted stock and performance restricted stock units, in addition to stock options. The amendment was not made in anticipation of, or in connection with, any particular change of control transaction.

Each of these amendments to the severance agreements was effective as of June 27, 2008.


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits. The following exhibits are being filed herewith:

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

10.1

   Harte-Hanks, Inc. Restoration Pension Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008)

10.2

   Harte-Hanks, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008)

10.3

   Harte-Hanks, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008)

10.4

   Form of Change of Control Severance Agreement between the Company and its President and Chief Executive Officer and its Executive Vice Presidents (other than Peter E. Gorman) and Senior Vice Presidents, dated as of June 27, 2008

10.5

   Form of Severance Agreement between the Company and Peter E. Gorman, dated as of June 27, 2008

10.6

   Form of Change of Control Severance Agreement between the Company and its Vice Presidents, dated as of June 27, 2008


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Harte-Hanks, Inc.
Dated: June 27, 2008
By:  

/s/ Bryan J. Pechersky

  Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary


Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

10.1

   Harte-Hanks, Inc. Restoration Pension Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008)

10.2

   Harte-Hanks, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008)

10.3

   Harte-Hanks, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008)

10.4

   Form of Change of Control Severance Agreement between the Company and its President and Chief Executive Officer and its Executive Vice Presidents (other than Peter E. Gorman) and Senior Vice Presidents, dated as of June 27, 2008

10.5

   Form of Severance Agreement between the Company and Peter E. Gorman, dated as of June 27, 2008

10.6

   Form of Change of Control Severance Agreement between the Company and its Vice Presidents, dated as of June 27, 2008

Exhibit 10.1

HARTE-HANKS, INC.

RESTORATION PENSION PLAN

As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008

 

1. Introduction

The HARTE-HANKS, INC. RESTORATION PENSION PLAN (hereinafter referred to as the “Restoration Plan”) was established by Harte-Hanks, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “Harte-Hanks”), effective as of January 1, 1994, in order to provide for the payment of retirement and retirement-related benefits to a certain select group of highly compensated employees who are participants (except as otherwise provided under Section 4 hereof) in the HARTE-HANKS, INC. PENSION PLAN (hereinafter referred to as the “Basic Plan”) as in effect from time to time on and after the effective date hereof and whose benefits under the Basic Plan are restricted because of the application of the limitations of Section 401(a)(17) and/or Section 415 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (hereinafter referred to as the “Code”), and because of the freezing of benefit accruals effective as of December 31, 1998. The Restoration Plan was subsequently amended and restated effective January 1, 2000, in order to incorporate prior amendments to the Restoration Plan, to change the Vesting Date, and to allow the board of directors of Harte-Hanks (the “Board”) to designate an employee to participate in the Restoration Plan whether or not participating in the Basic Plan.

Effective as of January 1, 2008, the Restoration Plan is being amended and restated in its entirety, as hereinafter set forth in this instrument, in order to (i) bring the Plan into compliance with the requirements of Code Section 409A for amounts earned after December 31, 2004 without making any material modification to the Plan for such amounts; (ii) establish a limit on the amount of bonus includable under the Restoration Plan; (iii) clarify vesting; (iv) add alternative payment options; and (v) add a funding mechanism upon a change of control. Harte-Hanks intends and desires by the adoption of this Restoration Plan to recognize the value to Harte-Hanks of the past and present services of its employees covered by the Restoration Plan and to encourage and assure their continued service to Harte-Hanks by making more adequate provisions for their future retirement security.

 

2. Definitions

 

  (a) “Covered Compensation” shall mean Compensation as defined in the Basic Plan without regard to the limitation imposed by Code Section 401(a)(17), except that

 

  (i) the amount of bonus that otherwise would have been included in the Participant’s Compensation for a given calendar year ending prior to January 1, 2001 shall not exceed an amount equal to the 100% potential bonus level established for that Participant for the year for which such bonus was paid, and

 

  (ii) the amount of bonus that otherwise would have been included in the Participant’s Compensation for a given calendar year ending after December 31, 2000 shall not exceed an amount equal to the 50% potential bonus level established for that Participant for the year for which such bonus was paid;


provided that any salary or bonuses (including the amount of bonus a Participant would have received in cash had the Participant not elected to receive such bonus in the form of restricted stock) deferred by the Participant under an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan of the Employer pursuant to the Participant’s election shall be included in the Participant’s Covered Compensation for purposes of the Restoration Plan in the calendar year during which such salary or bonuses would have been paid to the Participant in the absence of such election to defer.

 

  (b) “Employer” shall include Harte-Hanks, Inc. and any of its subsidiaries.

 

  (c) “Participant” means an individual who has become a participant in this Restoration Plan in accordance with the provisions of Section 4 hereof and whose interest hereunder has not been fully paid.

 

  (d) “Vesting Date” is defined in Section 5 hereof.

All other terms used in this Restoration Plan shall have the same meaning assigned to them under the provisions of the Basic Plan unless otherwise qualified by the context.

For the purposes of this Restoration Plan, a Participant’s employment with the Employer shall not be considered to have terminated so long as such Participant is in the employment of the Employer or a Controlled Group Member.

 

3. Administration

This Restoration Plan shall be administered by a committee appointed by the Board from time to time (hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”). The Committee shall administer the Restoration Plan in a manner consistent with the administration of the Basic Plan, as from time to time amended and in effect, except that this Restoration Plan shall be administered as an unfunded plan that is not intended to meet the qualification requirements of Code Section 401(a). The Committee shall have full power and authority to interpret, construe, and administer this Restoration Plan and the Committee’s interpretations and construction thereof, and actions thereunder, including the amount or recipient of the payment to be made, shall be binding and conclusive on all persons for all purposes, subject to any rights of the Participant to make a claim for benefits under Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

4. Participation

Participation in this Restoration Plan shall be limited to those employees of the Employer who are designated as Participants hereunder by the Board, whether or not such persons are eligible for benefits under the Basic Plan. If an employee designated by the Board to participate in this Restoration Plan is not a participant in the Basic Plan, then, for purposes of this Restoration Plan,

 

- 2 -


such person shall be considered as though he were a participant eligible for a benefit under the Basic Plan and the Credited Service of such person shall be deemed to commence on the later of such person’s date of hire or the date on which such person’s Employer was acquired by Harte-Hanks. No person shall have an automatic right to be selected as a Participant or to continue as an active Participant once selected.

 

5. Eligibility for Benefits

A Participant shall be eligible for a benefit under the Restoration Plan if, as of his or her date of termination of employment with the Employer, he or she has reached his or her “Vesting Date.” The term “Vesting Date” as used herein shall mean either:

 

  (a) Immediately, if the Participant is or becomes an officer of Harte-Hanks with the title of a Senior Vice President or a higher position; or

 

  (b) the earlier to occur of (i) the date on which he or she attains age 55 years or (ii) the date on which he or she completes 20 years of Credited Service, if the Participant is an officer of Harte-Hanks with a title below a Senior Vice President.

If the employment of a Participant is terminated for any reason prior to his or her Vesting Date, no benefit shall be payable under the Restoration Plan.

 

6. Amount of Benefit Provided Under Restoration Plan

The monthly benefit payable under this Restoration Plan to or on behalf of a Participant whose employment with the Employer is terminated for any reason on or after his or her Vesting Date shall be an amount equal to the lesser of:

 

  (a) an amount equal to:

 

  (i) the monthly benefit, if any, that would have been payable to such Participant, or on his or her behalf to the Participant’s Beneficiary or Beneficiaries, as of his or her date of termination of employment with the Employer under the Basic Plan as then in effect, if (aa) the provisions of the Basic Plan had been administered without regard to the limitations imposed by Code Section 415 and without the limitation imposed by Code Section 401(a)(17) on the amount of his or her Compensation under the Basic Plan, (bb) the Participant’s Compensation for a given calendar year were equal to his or her Covered Compensation for such calendar year, and (cc) benefit accruals under the Basic Plan (including determinations of the Participant’s Credited Service, Final Average Monthly Compensation, and Accrued Deferred Monthly Retirement Income Commencing at Normal Retirement Date) had not been frozen as of December 31, 1998;

minus

 

- 3 -


  (ii) the monthly benefit that is actually payable to such Participant, or on his or her behalf to the Participant’s Beneficiary or Beneficiaries, as of his or her date of termination of employment with the Employer, under the Basic Plan as then in effect;

OR

 

  (b) an amount equal to:

 

  (i) 50% of the Participant’s average monthly Covered Compensation, for the five successive calendar years out of the 10 completed calendar years immediately preceding the first day of the month coincident with or next following his or her date of termination of employment that give the highest average monthly rate;

minus

 

  (ii) the monthly benefit that is actually payable to such Participant, or on his or her behalf to the Participant’s Beneficiary or Beneficiaries, as of his or her date of termination of employment with the Employer, under the Basic Plan as then in effect.

Provided, however, in the event that the Participant’s Basic Plan benefits are increased after the date of commencement of the Participant’s benefits under the Basic Plan due to any cost-of-living adjustment announced by the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to the provisions of Code Section 415(d) or for any other reason, and any such increase would cause a reduction in the amount determined under the above provisions of this section, the amount of the benefits payable to or on behalf of the Participant under this Restoration Plan on and after the date of such increase shall be correspondingly reduced.

The benefit payable to or on behalf of the Participant under this Restoration Plan shall be the amount determined under the above provisions of this section in which, for all years of the Participant’s employment, “Covered Compensation” shall include the amount of bonus the Participant would have received in cash had that Participant not elected to receive such bonus in the form of restricted stock; however, for purposes of distribution of amounts earned and vested before January 1, 2005, the amount of the benefits payable to or on behalf of the Participant shall be the amount determined using a definition of “Covered Compensation” that shall not include any amount of bonus deferred as restricted stock.

 

7. Timing and Form of Payments of Restoration Plan Benefit

 

  (a) Amounts Not Subject to Code Section 409A

For amounts earned and vested before January 1, 2005, such amounts shall be “grandfathered” and not subject to Code Section 409A, and shall be governed by the terms of this Restoration Plan in effect prior to January 1, 2008. The benefit payable

 

- 4 -


to a Participant, or on his or her behalf to the Participant’s Beneficiary, under this Restoration Plan shall be payable coincident with and in the same manner as the payment of the benefits to such Participant or Beneficiary under the Basic Plan; provided, however, that if a Participant in this Restoration Plan is not a participant in the Basic Plan, then the benefit payable to such Participant under this Restoration Plan shall be paid or commence as of the earliest date that a benefit would have been payable to the Participant under the Basic Plan (if he were participating in the Basic Plan) and shall be paid in the normal form of payment provided under the Basic Plan unless such Participant elects, in writing prior to the commencement of payment, to receive his benefit under this Restoration Plan in an optional form provided under the Basic Plan, in which case the benefit under this Restoration Plan shall be paid in such optional form and shall be subject to the same adjustment factors as are used under the Basic Plan to convert the normal form to such optional form. In the event that a Participant’s benefits under the Basic Plan commence prior to his or her date of termination of employment with the Employer, the Participant’s benefit under this Restoration Plan, for the period the Participant remains employed with the Employer, shall be determined as though his or her employment had terminated on the date of commencement of his or her benefits under the Basic Plan, and upon the Participant’s actual termination of employment with the Employer, his or her benefit under this Restoration Plan shall be redetermined according to the Basic Plan.

 

  (b) Amounts Subject to Code Section 409A

For amounts earned and vested on and after January 1, 2005, the benefit payable to a Participant, or on his or her behalf to the Participant’s Beneficiary, under this Restoration Plan shall be governed by the following provisions:

 

  (i) Payment Timing

Payments shall be payable upon the later of (A) the Participant’s attainment of age 55, and (B) his or her separation from service (as defined in Code Section 409A). Except as provided in Section 7(e), payment shall begin on the last day of the month coincident with or next following the applicable payment event.

 

- 5 -


  (ii) Payment Form

Normal Form : Monthly payments shall be payable for the Participant’s life only. This is the default payment form if the Participant is unmarried.

Alternatively, a Participant may elect to receive a benefit of equivalent actuarial value payable in accordance with one of the options described below, provided the Participant makes such election in writing filed with the Committee within thirty (30) days after the date the Participant first becomes eligible to participate in this Restoration Plan:

Option 1 : A retirement income of modified monthly amount that is payable in equal monthly amounts to the Participant for his lifetime with the added provision that payments will be made for the remainder of a 10-year period certain in the event of the death of the Participant prior to the expiration of such specified period certain.

Option 2 : A retirement income of modified monthly amount that is payable in equal monthly amounts to the Participant during the joint lifetime of the Participant and his or her spouse, and, following the death of either of them, 2/3 of such modified monthly amount will be payable to the survivor for the lifetime of the survivor. The Participant must be married at the time this Option 2 is elected and at the time benefits commence.

Option 3 : A retirement income of modified monthly amount that is payable in equal monthly amounts to the Participant for his lifetime, and, in the event that the Participant predeceases his or her spouse, 50% of such modified monthly amount will be payable after the death of the Participant to the Participant’s spouse for the lifetime of such spouse. The Participant must be married at the time this Option 3 is elected and at the time benefits commence. This is the default payment form if the Participant is married.

Option 4 : A retirement income of modified monthly amount that is payable to the Participant in equal monthly amounts during his lifetime, and in the event that the Participant predeceases his or her spouse, 100% of such modified monthly amount will be payable after the death of the Participant to the Participant’s spouse for the lifetime of the spouse. The Participant must be married at the time this Option 4 is elected and at the time benefits commence.

Option 5 : A retirement income of modified monthly amount that is payable in equal monthly amounts to the Participant and, following the Participant’s death, 75% of such modified monthly amount will be payable to the Participant’s spouse, if then surviving, for his or her lifetime. The Participant must be married at the time this Option 5 is elected and at the time benefits commence.

 

- 6 -


In determining actuarially equivalent values for the purposes of converting the Normal Form to any Option under this Restoration Plan, the Committee shall use the assumptions of mortality and interest rates that are used under the Basic Plan.

 

  (iii) Changes to Payment Elections

 

  (A) A Participant may change his payment form election under Section 7(b)(ii) at any time, provided the Participant makes such election in writing to the Committee before the first scheduled payment date. In the event that a spouse dies before payments commence and no new spouse is named, distribution shall be made in the Normal Form (if the Participant is unmarried) or under Option 3 (if the Participant is married).

 

  (B) Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, a Participant’s ex-spouse may elect a separate time and form of payment in order to comply with a domestic relations order.

 

  (c) Beneficiaries

The Beneficiary or Beneficiaries of a Participant under the Basic Plan shall be the Beneficiary or Beneficiaries of such Participant under this Restoration Plan; provided, however, any Participant in the Restoration Plan who is not a participant in the Basic Plan shall be entitled to complete a beneficiary designation form provided by the Committee to designate a Beneficiary under this Restoration Plan.

 

  (d) Funding

All benefits payable under this Restoration Plan shall be paid from the general assets of Harte-Hanks. Harte-Hanks shall not be required to set aside any funds to discharge its obligations hereunder, but Harte-Hanks may set aside such funds if it chooses to do so. Any and all funds so set aside shall remain subject to the claims of the general creditors of Harte-Hanks, present and future. No Participant, Beneficiary or Beneficiaries, or any other person shall have, under any circumstances, any interest whatever in any particular property or assets of Harte-Hanks by virtue of this Restoration Plan, and the rights of the Participant, the Beneficiary or Beneficiaries, or any other person who may claim a right to receive benefits under this Restoration Plan shall be no greater than the rights of an unsecured general creditor of Harte-Hanks.

 

- 7 -


  (e) Six Month Delay in Payment

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, if the Participant is a “specified employee” (as defined and applied in Code Section 409A) as of the date of his or her separation from service (as defined in Code Section 409A), no payments under Section 7(b) of this Restoration Plan due upon the Participant’s separation from service may be made until the earlier of: (i) the first day following the sixth month anniversary of the Participant’s separation from service, or (ii) the Participant’s date of death; provided, however, that any payments delayed during this six-month period shall be paid in the aggregate in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable following the sixth month anniversary of the Participant’s separation from service. For purposes of Code Section 409A, each “payment” (as defined by Code Section 409A) made under this Restoration Plan shall be considered a “separate payment.”

 

8. Amendment and Termination

The Board may at any time, retroactively or prospectively, amend or terminate this Restoration Plan subject to the following restrictions. No amendment may be made which would deprive a Participant, without his or her consent, of a right to receive benefits hereunder which have already vested and matured in such Participant. If this Restoration Plan should be terminated, Harte-Hanks shall be liable for any vested benefits accrued under this Restoration Plan as of the date of such action. For each Participant who is an active Employee and who had reached his or her Vesting Date as of such date of termination, the amount of the Participant’s vested accrued benefit shall be the benefit under Section 6 hereof, determined as of the date of termination of this Restoration Plan (determined on the basis of such Participant’s presumed termination of employment on such date of termination of this Restoration Plan, but the offset for the Basic Plan in Section 6(a)(ii) or 6(b)(ii) hereof shall be determined as of the actual date of his or her termination of employment). Payment of such accrued benefit shall be deferred until the date or dates set forth in Section 7(a) and 7(b), as applicable. If the Participant had not reached his or her Vesting Date as of such date of termination of this Restoration Plan, no benefit shall be payable under this Restoration Plan. For each Participant who is a former Employee, the vested accrued benefit shall be the actuarially determined benefit as of such date of termination that such Participant or his or her Beneficiary is receiving under this Restoration Plan.

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, no payment of any accrued benefit earned and vested on or after January 1, 2005 shall be made that would violate the rules of Code Section 409A.

 

9. Benefits Nonforfeitable Upon Change of Control

In the event of a “Change of Control” (as defined below), each Participant who is in the employment of the Employer shall be deemed to have reached his or her Vesting Date as of such date of Change of Control.

A Change of Control of Harte-Hanks shall have occurred if any of the following events shall occur:

 

  (a) Harte-Hanks is merged, consolidated or reorganized into or with another corporation or other legal person and as a result of such merger, consolidation or reorganization less than 60% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the remaining corporation or legal person or its ultimate parent immediately after such transaction is received in respect of or in exchange for voting securities of Harte-Hanks pursuant to such transaction;

 

- 8 -


  (b) Harte-Hanks sells all or substantially all of its assets to any other corporation or other legal person and as a result of such sale less than 60% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of such corporation or legal person or its ultimate parent immediately after such transaction is received in respect of or in exchange for voting securities of Harte-Hanks pursuant to such sale;

 

  (c) Any person (including any “person” as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), has become the beneficial owner (as the term “beneficial owner” is defined under Rule 13d-3 or any successor rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act) of securities which when added to any securities already owned by such person would represent in the aggregate 30% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of Harte-Hanks; or

 

  (d) Such other events that cause a change of control of Harte-Hanks as determined by the Board in its sole discretion.

Upon a Change of Control, Harte-Hanks shall, as soon as possible, but in no event longer than 30 days following the Change of Control (as defined above), make an irrevocable contribution to a “rabbi” trust in a amount that is sufficient to pay each Participant or Beneficiary the benefits to which Participants or their Beneficiaries would be entitled pursuant to the terms of this Restoration Plan as of the date on which the Change of Control occurred.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no funding of a trust will occur if such funding is pursuant to a change in the financial health of the employer and such funding would be construed as a violation of Code Section 409A with respect to funded amounts.

 

10. Restrictions on Assignment

The benefits provided hereunder are intended for the personal security of persons entitled to payment under this Restoration Plan and are not subject in any manner to the debts or other obligations of the persons to whom they are payable. The interest of a Participant or his or her Beneficiary or Beneficiaries may not be sold, transferred, assigned, or encumbered in any manner, either voluntarily or involuntarily, and any attempt so to anticipate, alienate, sell, transfer, assign, pledge, encumber, or charge the same shall be null and void; neither shall the benefits hereunder be liable for or subject to the debts, contracts, liabilities, engagements, or torts of any person to whom such benefits or funds are payable, nor shall they be subject to garnishment, attachment, or other legal or equitable process nor shall they be an asset in bankruptcy, except that no amount shall be payable hereunder until and unless any and all amounts representing debts or other obligations owed to the Employer by the Participant with respect to whom such amount would otherwise be payable shall have been fully paid and satisfied.

 

- 9 -


Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the benefits provided under this Restoration Plan may be assigned or transferred to comply with a domestic relations order.

 

11. Continued Employment

Nothing contained in this Restoration Plan shall be construed as conferring upon any employee the right to continue in the employment of the Employer in any capacity.

 

12. Liability of Committee

Unless resulting from his or her own fraud or willful misconduct, no member of the Committee shall be liable for any loss arising out of any action taken or failure to act by the Committee or a member thereof in connection with this Restoration Plan. The Committee and any individual member of the Committee and any agent thereof shall be fully protected in relying upon the advice of the following professional consultants or advisors employed by Harte-Hanks or the Committee: any attorney insofar as legal matters are concerned, any accountant insofar as accounting matters are concerned, and any actuary insofar as actuarial matters are concerned.

 

13. Indemnification

Harte-Hanks hereby indemnifies and agrees to hold harmless the members of the Committee and all directors, officers and employees of the Employer against any loss, claim, cost, expense (including attorneys’ fees), judgment or liability arising out of any action taken or failure to act by the Committee or such individual in connection with their administration of this Restoration Plan on behalf of Harte-Hanks; provided, however, that this indemnity shall not apply to an individual if such loss, claim, cost, expense, judgment or liability is due to such individual’s fraud or willful misconduct.

 

14. Change in Participation Status

Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, in the event that Harte-Hanks, in its sole discretion, determines, for any reason, that a Participant is at any time prior to his or her termination of employment with the Employer no longer a designated Participant in this Restoration Plan, such Participant shall cease to be an active Participant in this Restoration Plan as of the date such determination is made and such Participant shall not accrue any additional benefits under this Restoration Plan. If the Participant had reached his or her Vesting Date as of the date he or she ceased active participation in this Restoration Plan, payment of his or her accrued benefits shall be deferred until the date or dates set forth in Section 7(a) and 7(b), as applicable. The amount of the Participant’s benefit under Section 6 hereof shall be determined as of the date the Participant ceased active participation in this Restoration Plan (determined on the basis of such Participant’s presumed termination of employment on the date he or she ceased active participation but the offset for the Basic Plan in Section 6(a)(ii) or 6(b)(ii) hereof shall be determined as of the actual date of his or her termination of employment). If the Participant had not reached his or her Vesting Date as of the date he or she ceased active participation in this Restoration Plan, no benefit shall be payable under this Restoration Plan.

 

- 10 -


15. Termination of Employment for Dishonesty

If a Participant’s employment with the Employer is terminated because of dishonest conduct injurious to the Employer, or if it is determined during the lifetime of the Participant and within one year after his or her employment with the Employer is terminated that a Participant engaged in dishonest conduct injurious to the Employer, the Committee may terminate such Participant’s interest and benefits under this Restoration Plan.

The dishonest conduct injurious to the Employer committed by a Participant shall be determined and decided by the Committee only after a full investigation of such alleged dishonest conduct and an opportunity has been given the Participant or the Participant’s representative to appear before the Committee to present his or her case. The decision made by the Committee in such cases shall be final and binding on all Participants and other persons affected by such decision.

 

16. Claims Procedure

 

  (a) Any person claiming a benefit, requesting an interpretation or ruling under this Restoration Plan, or requesting information under this Restoration Plan shall present the request in writing to the Committee, which shall respond in writing as soon as practicable.

 

  (b) If the claim or request is denied, the written notice of denial shall state:

 

  (i) The reasons for denial, with specific reference to the provisions on which the denial is based.

 

  (ii) A description of any additional material or information required and an explanation of why it is necessary.

 

  (iii) An explanation of the claim review procedure.

 

  (c) Any person whose claim or request is denied or who has not received a response within thirty (30) days may request review by notice given in writing to the Committee who may, but shall not be required to, grant the claimant a hearing. On review, the claimant may have representation, examine pertinent documents, and submit issues and comments in writing.

 

  (d) The decision on review shall normally be made within sixty (60) days. If an extension of time is required for a hearing or other special circumstances, the claimant shall be so notified and the time limit shall be one hundred twenty (120) days. The decision shall be in writing and shall state the reasons and the relevant Restoration Plan provisions. All decisions by the Committee on review shall be final and bind all parties concerned.

 

- 11 -


17. Law Governing

This Restoration Plan shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Texas, except to the extent preempted by applicable federal law.

 

18. Severability

In the event any provision of this Restoration Plan shall be held invalid for any reason, any illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Restoration Plan, but the Restoration Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had never been inserted.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Harte-Hanks, Inc. has caused this instrument to be executed by its duly authorized officer on the 27th day of June, 2008 effective as of January 1, 2008.

 

HARTE-HANKS, INC.
By:  

/s/ Bryan J. Pechersky

Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

 

- 12 -

Exhibit 10.2

HARTE-HANKS, INC.

2005 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

(As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008)

ARTICLE I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Establishment . Harte-Hanks, Inc. (the “Company”) has adopted the 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), effective as provided in Section 21.1. Effective January 1, 2008, the Company amended and restated the Plan to incorporate the requirements of Internal Revenue Code Section 409A and related regulations. The Plan permits the granting of stock options, restricted stock, performance awards, dividend equivalents, restricted stock units, common stock equivalents, stock appreciation rights, and other stock-based awards.

1.2 Purpose . The purpose of the Plan is to provide employees, directors and consultants selected for participation in the Plan with added incentives to continue in the service of the Company and its affiliates and to create in such employees, directors and consultants a more direct interest in the future success of the operations of the Company and its affiliated corporations by relating incentive compensation to the achievement of long-term corporate economic objectives. The Plan is also designed to attract employees, directors and consultants and to retain and motivate participating employees, directors and consultants by providing an opportunity for equity investment in the Company.

1.3 No Effect on Other Options . The provisions of the Plan shall have no effect on options or awards granted pursuant to any other plans of the Company, which shall continue to be governed by the terms and provisions of the agreements and the plans governing such grants, as applicable.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

 

2.1 Definitions . The following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(a) “Affiliated Corporation” means any corporation that is either a parent corporation with respect to the Company or a subsidiary corporation with respect to the Company (within the meaning of Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Internal Revenue Code).

(b) “Award” means any award under this Plan of any Stock Option, Restricted Stock Award, Performance Award, Dividend Equivalent, Restricted Stock Unit, Stock Award, Stock Appreciation Right, or any other award established pursuant to the Plan that may be awarded or granted under the Plan (collectively, “Awards”).

(c) “Award Agreement” means a written agreement executed by an authorized officer of the Company (and, if required, by the Participant) which shall contain such terms and conditions with respect to an Award as the Committee shall determine, consistent with the Plan.

(d) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

(e) “Bonus Payment” means a payment to a Participant pursuant to a Bonus Plan of the Company.

(f) “Bonus Plan” means a performance-based bonus plan of the Company (including, without limitation, any Management By Objective Plan of the Company), as established by the Board or the Committee from time to time, pursuant to which Bonus Payments are made from time to time in the manner and under the conditions established by the Board or the Committee.


(g) “Cause” means deficiencies in performance or conduct, as determined in the sole discretion of the Company or Affiliated Corporation, resulting in termination of employment.

(h) “Change of Control” means the first day that any one or more of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

(i) the acquisition of any outstanding voting securities by any person, after which such person (as the term is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) has beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of 50% or more of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company; provided , however , that, for purposes of this definition, the following acquisitions shall not constitute a Change of Control: (I) any acquisition directly from the Company, (II) any acquisition by the Company, (III) any acquisition by any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company or any company controlled by, controlling or under common control with the Company or (IV) any acquisition by any corporation pursuant to a transaction that complies with Sections (iii)(A) and (iii)(B) of this definition;

(ii) individuals who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however , that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof, whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such individual were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for this purpose, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board;

(iii) consummation of a reorganization, merger, statutory share exchange or consolidation or similar corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the acquisition of assets or stock of another entity by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (each, a “Business Combination”), in each case unless, (A) the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such Business Combination beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the entity resulting from such Business Combination (including, without limitation, an entity that, as a result of such transaction, owns the Company or all or substantially all of the Company’s assets either directly or through one or more subsidiaries), and (B) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such Business Combination were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement or of the action of the Board providing for such Business Combination; or

(iv) approval by the stockholders of the Company of a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

(i) “Committee” means a committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan, which committee shall be comprised of two or more persons each of whom is both a “non-employee director” as defined by Rule 16b-3 and an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. Committee members shall also be appointed in such a manner as to satisfy applicable laws and stock exchange requirements.

(j) “Common Stock” means the Company’s $1.00 par value per share voting common stock.

(k) “Consultant” means any person who is not an Employee or Director and who is a consultant or adviser to the Company, any Affiliated Corporation, or any division thereof, if (i) the consultant or adviser renders bona fide services to the Company; (ii) the services rendered by the consultant or adviser are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities; and (iii) the consultant or adviser is a natural person who has contracted directly with the Company to render such services.


(l) “Director” means (i) a member of the Board.

(m) “Dividend Equivalent” shall mean a right to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Common Stock) of dividends paid on Common Stock, awarded under Section 12.2 of the Plan.

(n) “Effective Date” means the effective date of the Plan, as set forth in Section 21.1 hereof.

(o) “Eligible Employees” means those Employees designated as eligible to participate in the Plan by the Committee.

(p) “Employee” means a natural person who is deemed an employee (including, without limitation, an officer or director who is also an employee, or a person who would be deemed an employee if such person were subject to U.S. income taxes) of the Company, or any Affiliated Corporation, in accordance with the rules contained in Section 3401(c) of the Internal Revenue Code and the regulations thereunder.

(q) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(r) “Fair Market Value” means with respect to Common Stock, as of any date, the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange for the last trading day prior to that date. If no such prices are reported, then Fair Market Value shall mean the average of the high and low sale prices for the Common Stock (or if no sale prices are reported, the average of the high and low bid prices) as reported by the principal regional stock exchange, or if not so reported, as reported by Nasdaq or a quotation system of general circulation to brokers and dealers; provided , however , that with respect to same day sales occurring under Section 6.1(c)(ii)(B) of the Plan, Fair Market Value shall mean the per share price actually paid for shares of Common Stock in connection with such sale.

(s) “Incentive Stock Option” means the right to purchase Common Stock granted to an Employee pursuant to Section 6.2, which constitutes an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(t) “Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the regulations thereunder, each as in effect from time to time.

(u) “Non-Employee Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.

(v) “Non-Qualified Option” means a right to purchase Common Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 6.3, which does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option or which is designated as a Non-Qualified Option.

(w) “Participant” means an Eligible Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant designated by the Committee from time to time during the term of the Plan to receive one or more Awards provided under the Plan.

(x) “Performance Award” shall mean a bonus that is paid in cash, Common Stock, in the form of an Award provided for under the Plan or any combination thereof that is awarded under Article XI of the Plan.

(y) “Performance Criteria” means any measurable criteria using an approach, such as balanced score card, which is tied to the Company’s success that the Committee may determine, including but not limited to, net order dollars, net profit dollars, net profit growth, net revenue dollars, revenue growth, total stockholder return, cash flow, earnings or earnings per share, growth in earnings or earnings per share, return on equity or average stockholders’ equity, stock price, total stockholder return, return on capital, return on assets or net assets, return on investment, revenue, income or net income, operating income or net operating income, operating profit or net operating profit, operating margin, return on operating revenue, market share,


overhead or other expense reduction, credit rating, strategic plan development and implementation, succession plan development and implementation, customer satisfaction indicators, and/or employee metrics. These criteria may be measured on an absolute basis or relative to a peer group or index and can be measured at the corporate or business unit level. The Committee is authorized to make adjustments in the method of calculating attainment of Performance Criteria in recognition of: (i) extraordinary or non-recurring items, (ii) changes in tax laws, (iii) changes in generally accepted accounting principles or changes in accounting policies, (iv) charges related to restructured or discontinued operations, (v) restatement of prior period financial results, and (vi) any other unusual, non-recurring gain or loss that is separately identified and quantified in the Company’s financial statements.

(z) “Restricted Stock Award” means an award of shares of Common Stock granted to a Participant pursuant to Section 8.1 that is subject to certain restrictions imposed in accordance with the provisions of such Section.

(aa) “Restricted Stock Unit” means an award denominated in shares of Common Stock that represents the right to receive payment for the value of such shares pursuant to Section 8.2.

(bb) “Rule 16” and subsections thereof mean Rule 16b and the relevant subsections promulgated under the Exchange Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time.

(cc) “Section 162(m) Participant” means an Employee who is determined by the Committee to be, or likely to be, a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(dd) “Section 409A” means Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended from time to time, and any related regulations.

(ee) “Stock Appreciation Right” means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to Article VII to receive payment from the Company equal to the difference between the Fair Market Value of one or more shares of Common Stock and the exercise price of such shares under the terms of such Stock Appreciation Right.

(ff) “Stock Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Option.

(gg) “Stock Award” means an award that represents the right to receive shares of Common Stock pursuant to Article X.

2.2 Gender and Number . Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the masculine gender shall also include the feminine gender, and the definition of any term herein in the singular shall also include the plural.

ARTICLE III

PLAN ADMINISTRATION

3.1 Administration Generally . The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. In accordance with the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority, in its sole discretion, to:

(a) select the Participants from Eligible Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants;

(b) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be subject to Awards granted pursuant to the Plan;

(c) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be issued as Bonus Payments;

(d) determine the time at which such Awards and payments are to be granted;

(e) fix the exercise price, period and the manner in which a Stock Option becomes exercisable;

(f) establish the duration and nature of Award restrictions;


(g) determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock, in accordance with Section 2.1(s) of the Plan;

(h) determine whether and under what circumstances, if any, an Award may be settled in cash instead of Common Stock;

(i) modify or amend the terms and conditions of any Award, subject to Article XIX of the Plan;

(j) authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any Award Agreement or other instrument required to effect the grant of an Award to be granted or previously granted by the Committee; and

(k) establish such other terms and requirements of the various compensation incentives under the Plan as the Committee may deem necessary or desirable and consistent with the terms of the Plan.

The Committee shall determine the form or forms of the Award Agreements, which shall evidence the particular provisions, terms, conditions, rights and duties of the Company and the Participants with respect to Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, which provisions need not be identical except as may be provided herein. The Committee may from time to time adopt such rules and regulations for carrying out the purposes of the Plan as it may deem proper and in the best interests of the Company. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any agreement entered into hereunder in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect, and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith. The determinations, interpretations and other actions of the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be binding and conclusive for all purposes and on all persons, subject only to the review of, and consultation with, the Board on all Plan matters except selection of Participants. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Plan to the contrary, the Committee may not take any actions that individually or together would constitute a repricing of existing Stock Options.

3.2 Majority Rule; Unanimous Written Consent . The Committee shall act by a majority of its members in attendance at a meeting at which a quorum is present or by a memorandum or other written instrument signed by all members of the Committee.

3.3 Compensation; Professional Assistance; Good Faith Actions . Members of the Committee shall receive such compensation, if any, for their services as members as may be determined by the Board. All expenses and liabilities which members of the Committee incur in connection with the administration of the Plan shall be borne by the Company. The Committee may, with the approval of the Board, employ attorneys, consultants, accountants, appraisers, brokers or other persons. The Committee, the Company and the Company’s officers and Directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such persons. All actions taken and all interpretations and determinations made by the Committee or the Board in good faith shall be final and binding upon all Participants, the Company and all other interested persons. No members of the Committee or Board shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to the Plan or Awards, and all members of the Committee and the Board shall be fully protected by the Company in respect of any such action, determination or interpretation.

3.4 Delegation of Authority to Grant Awards . The Committee may, but need not, delegate from time to time some or all of its authority to grant Awards under the Plan to a committee consisting of one or more members of the Committee, one or more members of the Board who are not members of the Committee, or one or more officers of the Company; provided, however , that the Committee may not delegate its authority to grant Awards to individuals (a) who are subject on the date of the grant to the reporting rules under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, (b) who are Section 162(m) Participants, or (c) who are officers of the Company who are delegated authority by the Committee hereunder. Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions and limits that the Committee specifies at the time of such delegation of authority and may be rescinded at any time by the Committee. At all times, any committee appointed under this Section 3.4 shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Committee.


3.5 Committee Composition . Once a Committee has been appointed pursuant to this Article III, such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board. From time to time the Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefore, fill vacancies (however caused) or remove all members of the Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by applicable laws and to the extent permitted by (a) Rule 16b-3 as it applies to transactions intended to qualify thereunder as exempt transactions and (b) Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code to preserve the Company’s deductibility of compensation realized by Participants as a result of Awards granted to persons who are Section 162(m) Participants.

3.6 Grants to Non-Employee Directors . Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, with respect to Awards made to Non-Employee Directors, the Plan shall be administered by the Board, which shall have all powers the Committee would otherwise have with respect to such Awards.

ARTICLE IV

STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

4.1 Number of Shares . The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under this Plan shall be 4,570,000 (subject to adjustment in connection with changes in capital structure in accordance with Article XVII). The authorization may be increased with the approval of the Board and the stockholders of the Company.

4.2 Accounting for Awards . If an Award entitles the holder thereof to receive or purchase shares of Common Stock, the number of shares covered by such Award or to which such Award relates shall be counted on the date of grant of such Award against the aggregate number of shares available for issuance under the Plan. If an Award terminates or is forfeited or cancelled without the issuance of any shares of Common Stock, or if any shares of Common Stock covered by an Award or to which an Award relates are not issued for any other reason, then the number of shares counted against the aggregate number of shares available under the Plan with respect to such Award, to the extent of any such termination, forfeiture, cancellation or other event, shall again be available for issuance under the Plan. Shares of Common Stock which are delivered by the Participant or withheld by the Company upon the exercise of any Award under the Plan, in payment of the exercise price thereof or tax withholding thereon, shall again be available for granting Awards under the Plan, subject to the limitations of Section 4.1. If any shares of Restricted Stock are surrendered by the Participant or repurchased by the Company, or if any Restricted Stock Units are surrendered by the Participant, then the number of shares counted against the aggregate number of shares available under the Plan with respect to such Award of Restricted Stock, to the extent of any such surrender or repurchase by the Company, shall again be available for issuance under the Plan. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.2, no shares of Common Stock may again be optioned, granted or awarded (i) if such action would cause an Incentive Stock Option to fail to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, or (ii) if prohibited by applicable laws, regulations or exchange rules.

ARTICLE V

PARTICIPATION

5.1 Eligibility and Participation; Award Agreements .

(a) Participants in the Plan shall be those Eligible Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants designated by the Committee from time to time during the term of the Plan to receive one or more Awards provided under the Plan, which Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with or in substitution for any other Award. Participants who are Employees may be granted from time to time one or more Incentive Stock Options, and Participants (whether or not they are Employees) may be granted one or more Awards that are not Incentive Stock Options; provided , however , that the grant of each such Award shall be separately approved by the Committee, and receipt of one Award shall not result in automatic receipt of, or entitlement to, any other Award. Upon determination by the Committee that an Award is to be granted to a Participant, written notice shall be given to such person, specifying the terms, conditions, rights and duties related thereto.


(b) Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Award Agreements evidencing Awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. Award Agreements evidencing Incentive Stock Options shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to meet the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. Awards shall be deemed to be granted as of the date specified in the grant resolution of the Committee, which date shall be the date of any related Award Agreement with the Participant. In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of the Plan and any Award Agreement entered into hereunder, the provisions of the Plan shall govern.

5.2 Limitations .

(a) No Participant shall be granted, in any fiscal year of the Company, an Award covering more than One Million Five Hundred Thousand (1,500,000) shares of Common Stock.

(b) The following limitations shall apply to grants of Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights to Participants:

(i) If a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right is canceled in the same fiscal year of the Company in which it was granted (other than in connection with a transaction described in Article XVII), the canceled Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be counted against the limit set forth in Section 5.2(a).

(ii) Incentive Stock Options may not be granted to Non-Employee Directors or to Consultants.

5.3 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons . Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Plan, and any Awards granted to Participants who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, must comply with the applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 and shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive rule (whether or not set forth in an Award Agreement). To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and Awards granted or awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such applicable exemptive rule.

5.4 Provisions Applicable to Section 162(m) Participants .

(a) The Committee, in its discretion, may determine whether an Award is to qualify as performance-based compensation as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code.

(b) Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may grant any Award to a Section 162(m) Participant, including Restricted Stock, the restrictions of which lapse upon the attainment of performance goals that are related to one or more of the Performance Criteria.

(c) To the extent necessary to comply with the performance-based compensation requirements of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to any Award granted to one or more Section 162(m) Participants, no later than ninety (90) days following the commencement of any fiscal year in question or any other designated fiscal period or period of service (or such other time as may be required or permitted by Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code), the Committee shall, in writing, (i) designate one or more Section 162(m) Participants, (ii) select the Performance Criteria applicable to the fiscal year or other designated fiscal period or period of service, (iii) establish the various performance targets, in terms of an objective formula or standard, and amounts of such Awards, as applicable, which may be earned for such fiscal year or other designated fiscal period or period of service, and (iv) specify the relationship between Performance Criteria and the performance targets and the amounts of such Awards, as applicable,


to be earned by each Section 162(m) Participant for such fiscal year or other designated fiscal period or period of service. Following the completion of each fiscal year or other designated fiscal period or period of service, the Committee shall certify in writing whether the applicable performance targets have been achieved for such fiscal year or other designated fiscal period or period of service. In determining the amount earned by a Section 162(m) Participant, the Committee shall have the right to reduce (but not to increase) the amount payable at a given level of performance to take into account additional factors that the Committee may deem relevant to the assessment of individual or corporate performance for the fiscal year or other designated fiscal period or period of service.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award which is granted to a Section 162(m) Participant and is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be subject to any additional limitations set forth in Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code (including any amendment to Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code) or any regulations or rulings issued thereunder that are requirements for qualification as performance-based compensation as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Internal Revenue Code, and the Plan shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.

ARTICLE VI

STOCK OPTIONS

6.1 General Provisions .

(a) Grant of Stock Options . Coincident with or following designation for participation in the Plan, a Participant may be granted one or more Stock Options. The Committee in its sole discretion may designate whether a Stock Option granted to an Employee is to be considered an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Option. The Committee may grant both an Incentive Stock Option and a Non-Qualified Option to the same Employee at the same time or at different times. Incentive Stock Options and Non-Qualified Options, whether granted at the same or different times, shall be deemed to have been awarded in separate grants, shall be clearly identified, and in no event will the exercise of one Stock Option affect the right to exercise any other Stock Option or affect the number of shares of Common Stock for which any other Stock Option may be exercised. All Stock Options granted to Participants who are not Employees shall be Non-Qualified Options. A Stock Option shall be subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall impose and shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement

(b) Manner of Stock Option Exercise . A Stock Option may be exercised by a Participant in whole or in part from time to time, subject to the conditions contained herein, (i) by delivery of written notice of exercise to the persons specified by the Company from time to time, in person or through mail, facsimile, electronic mail or other electronic transmission, or by delivery of notice of exercise in such other method as has been approved by the Committee, and (ii) by paying in full, with the written notice of exercise or at such other time as the Committee may establish, the total exercise price under the Stock Option for the shares being purchased. Such notice shall be in a form satisfactory to the Committee and shall specify the particular Stock Option (or portion thereof) that is being exercised and the number of shares with respect to which the Stock Option is being exercised. The exercise of the Stock Option shall be deemed effective upon receipt of such notice and payment to the Company. As soon as practicable after the effective exercise of the Stock Option, and upon satisfaction of all applicable withholding requirements pursuant to Article XIII of the Plan, the Participant, or the Participant’s nominee, shall be recorded on the stock transfer books of the Company as the owner of the shares purchased. The Company may, but is not required to, deliver to the Participant one or more duly issued and executed stock certificates evidencing such ownership.

(c) Payment of Stock Option Exercise Price . At the time of the exercise of a Stock Option, payment of the total Stock Option exercise price for the shares to be purchased shall be made in the manner specified in the Award Agreement relating to such Stock Option, which may include any or all of the following methods of payment:

(i) at the Participant’s election, either:

 

  (A) in cash or by check ; or


  (B) by transfer from the Participant to the Company of shares of Common Stock (other than shares of Common Stock that the Committee determines by rule may not be used to exercise Stock Options) that the Participant has held for more than six (6) months with a then-current aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the total Stock Option exercise price;

(ii) at the Company’s election:

 

  (A) by the Company retaining a number of shares of Common Stock deliverable upon exercise of a Stock Option whose aggregate Fair Market Value is equal to the exercise price to be paid in connection with such exercise; or

 

  (B) to, the extent permissible under applicable law, delivery to the Company of: (I) a properly executed exercise notice, (II) irrevocable instructions to a broker to sell a sufficient number of the shares being exercised to cover the exercise price and to promptly deliver to the Company (on the same day that the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise are delivered) the amount of sale proceeds required to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding relating to the exercise, and (III) such other documentation as the Committee and the broker shall require to effect a same-day exercise and sale.

(d) Stockholder Privileges . No Participant shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock covered by a Stock Option until the Participant or its nominee becomes the holder of record of such Common Stock, and no adjustments shall be made for dividends or other distributions or other rights as to which there is a record date preceding the date such Participant or its nominee becomes the holder of record of such Common Stock.

6.2 Incentive Stock Options .

(a) Incentive Stock Option Exercise Price . The per share price to be paid by a Participant at the time an Incentive Stock Option is exercised shall be determined by the Committee at the time an Incentive Stock Option is granted (or deemed to have been granted under applicable tax rules), but in no event shall such exercise price be less than:

(i) one hundred (100) percent of the Fair Market Value, on the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted (or deemed to have been granted under applicable tax rules), of one share of the stock to which such Stock Option relates; or

(ii) one hundred and ten (110) percent of the Fair Market Value, on the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted (or deemed to have been granted under applicable tax rules), of one share of the stock to which such Stock Option relates if, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, the Participant owns, directly or indirectly (as determined pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Internal Revenue Code), ten percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Affiliated Corporation (such a Participant is referred to as a “10% Holder”).

(b) Number of Option Shares . The number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Incentive Stock Option shall be designated by the Committee at the time the Committee decides to grant an Incentive Stock Option.

(c) Aggregate Limitation of Stock Exercisable Under Options . To the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value, determined as of the time an Incentive Stock Option is granted, of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant in any calendar year under the Plan or otherwise, granted by the Company and Affiliated Corporations, exceeds $100,000, such excess shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Option.

(d) Duration of Incentive Stock Options . The period during which an Incentive Stock Option may be exercised shall be fixed by the Committee, but in no event shall such period be more than ten years from


the date the Stock Option is granted, or, in the case of Participants who are 10% Holders as described in Section 6.2(a)(ii), five years from the date the Stock Option is granted. Upon the expiration of such exercise period, the Incentive Stock Option, to the extent not then exercised, shall terminate. Except as otherwise provided in Article XIV, all Incentive Stock Options granted to a Participant hereunder shall terminate and may no longer be exercised if the Participant ceases to be an Employee.

(e) Restrictions on Exercise of Incentive Stock Options . Incentive Stock Options may be granted subject to such restrictions as to the timing of exercise of all or various portions thereof as the Committee may determine at the time it grants Incentive Stock Options to Participants.

(f) Disposition of Stock Acquired Pursuant to the Exercise of Incentive Stock Options . In the event that a Participant makes a disposition (as defined in Section 422(c) of the Internal Revenue Code) of any Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option prior to the expiration of two years from the date on which the Incentive Stock Option was granted or prior to the expiration of one year from the date on which the Stock Option was exercised, the Participant shall send written notice to the Company at its principal office in San Antonio, Texas (Attention: Corporate Secretary) of the date of such disposition, the number of shares disposed of, the amount of proceeds received from such disposition and any other information relating to such disposition as the Company may reasonably request. The Participant shall, in the event of such a disposition, make appropriate arrangements with the Company to provide for the amount of any additional withholding required by federal, state and local income and other tax laws.

6.3 Non-Qualified Stock Options .

(a) Option Exercise Price . The per share price to be paid by the Participant at the time a Non-Qualified Option is exercised shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Stock Option is granted or amended, but in no event shall such exercise price per share be less than one hundred (100) percent of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date the Stock Option is granted or amended.

(b) Number of Option Shares . The number of shares of Common Stock subject to a Non-Qualified Option shall be designated by the Committee at the time the Committee decides to grant a Non-Qualified Option.

(c) Duration of Non-Qualified Options; Restrictions on Exercise . The period during which a Non-Qualified Option may be exercised, and the installment restrictions on option exercise during such period, if any, shall be fixed by the Committee, but in no event shall such period be more than ten years from the date the Stock Option is granted. Upon the expiration of such exercise period, the Non-Qualified Option, to the extent not then exercised, shall terminate. Except as otherwise provided in Article XIV, all Non-Qualified Options granted to a Participant hereunder shall terminate and may no longer be exercised if the Participant ceases to be an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant.

ARTICLE VII

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

7.1 Grant of Rights . A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to any Participant selected by the Committee. A Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall impose and shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.

7.2 Stock Appreciation Rights . Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable in such installments as the Committee may determine. A Stock Appreciation Right shall cover such number of shares of Common Stock as the Committee may determine. The exercise price per share of Common Stock subject to each Stock Appreciation Right shall be set by the Committee, but shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date on which the Stock Appreciation Right is granted. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant shall be entitled to receive the economic value of such Stock Appreciation Right determined in the manner prescribed in Section 7.4.


7.3 Exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights . Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to such terms and conditions consistent with other provisions of the Plan as may be determined from time to time by the Committee and shall include the following:

(a) Manner of Exercise . A Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercised by the giving of notice in the same manner in which a Stock Option may be exercised.

(b) Payment Upon Exercise . Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant shall be entitled to receive the economic value thereof, which shall be equal to (i) the excess of the then Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price per share specified in the Stock Appreciation Right, multiplied by (ii) the number of shares in respect of which the Stock Appreciation Right is being exercised (the “SAR Value”).

(c) Form of Payment . A Participant shall receive the SAR Value in shares of Common Stock.

7.4 Stockholder Privileges . No Participant shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock covered by a Stock Appreciation Right until the Participant becomes the holder of record of such Common Stock, and no adjustments shall be made for dividends or other distributions or other rights as to which there is a record date preceding the date such Participant becomes the holder of record of such Common Stock.

ARTICLE VIII

RESTRICTED AWARDS

8.1 Restricted Stock Awards

(a) Awards Granted by Committee . Coincident with or following designation for participation in the Plan, a Participant may be granted one or more Restricted Stock Awards consisting of shares of Common Stock. The number of shares granted as a Restricted Stock Award shall be determined by the Committee. To the extent required by applicable law, a Participant shall be required to pay to the Company an amount equal to the par value of the Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Award as a condition precedent to the issuance of Common Stock to the Participant.

(b) Restrictions . A Participant’s right to retain a Restricted Stock Award granted to him or her under Section 8.1(a) shall be subject to restrictions on disposition by the Participant an obligation to forfeit and surrender shares to the Company under certain circumstances set forth in the Award Agreement, including but not limited to the Participant’s continuous status as an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant for a restriction period specified by the Committee, or the attainment of any one or more of the Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined appropriate by the Committee with respect to such Award. The Committee may in its sole discretion require different periods of employment, director service or consulting service or different performance criteria with respect to different Participants, to different Restricted Stock Awards or to separate, designated portions of the Common Stock shares constituting a Restricted Stock Award. Subject to the provisions of Articles XVI and XIX, if a Participant’s continuous status as an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant terminates prior to the end of such restriction period or the attainment of such performance criteria as may be specified by the Committee, the Restricted Stock Award shall be forfeited and all shares of Common Stock related thereto shall be immediately returned to the Company.

(c) Privileges of a Stockholder; Transferability . A Participant shall have all voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights with respect to Common Stock in accordance with its terms received by him or her as a Restricted Stock Award under this Article VIII upon becoming the holder of record of such Common Stock; provided however , that the Participant’s right to sell, encumber, or otherwise transfer such Common Stock (and any other securities issued in respect of such shares of Common Stock as a stock dividend, stock split or the like) shall be subject to the limitations of Section 16.3 hereof.


(d) Enforcement of Restrictions . In the event a Participant receives a stock certificate evidencing the grant of Restricted Stock, the Committee may in its sole discretion require one or more of the following methods of enforcing the restrictions referred to in Sections 8.1(b) and 8.1(c):

(i) Placing a legend on the stock certificates referring to the restrictions;

(ii) Requiring the Participant to keep the stock certificates, duly endorsed, in the custody of the Company while the restrictions remain in effect; or

(iii) Requiring that the stock certificates, duly endorsed, be held in the custody of a third party while the restrictions remain in effect.

8.2 Restricted Stock Units . Coincident with or following designation for participation in the Plan, a Participant may be granted one or more Restricted Stock Units. The number of shares of Restricted Stock Units shall be determined by the Committee on the date of grant of such Award and may be linked to the Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined to be appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee. Unless otherwise specified (a) in the Award Agreement relating to the Restricted Stock Unit or (b) in writing by the Committee, a Participant shall receive the payment for the Restricted Stock Unit in shares of Common Stock. Payment for a Restricted Stock Unit will not be made until the Award has vested, pursuant to a vesting schedule established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement. In the event payment for an Award of Restricted Stock Units is made in a form other than in shares of Common Stock pursuant to the terms of this Section 8.2, such payment shall be in an amount equal to the product of (i) Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock with respect to the relevant vesting date, multiplied by (ii) the number of Restricted Stock Units vesting on such date. Holders of Restricted Stock Units shall have no rights as Company stockholders with respect to such Award. No Dividend Equivalents awards shall be granted in connection with Restricted Stock Units.

ARTICLE IX

NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR STOCK

9.1 Non-Employee Director Stock . Each Non-Employee Director may receive all or a portion equal to 25%, 50%, or 75% of his or her annual retainer and any meeting fees (which shall include any additional annual retainer or fees paid to a committee chair) in shares of Common Stock if elected by the Non-Employee Director. An election pursuant to this Section 9.1 must be made in writing on or before the first day of the fiscal year to which the election relates and shall entitle the Non-Employee Director to a number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing (a) the dollar amount of the portion of the retainer for a given quarterly fiscal period that is to be paid in shares of Common Stock by (b) the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock as of the last day of such fiscal period, rounded up to the next full number of shares. In the event any person becomes a Non-Employee Director other than at the beginning of an annual retainer period, such person may elect, within thirty (30) days of the date on which such person becomes a Non-Employee Director, to receive his or her retainer and any meeting fees in shares of Common Stock as described above for the balance of such annual retainer period in accordance with the formula set forth in the preceding sentence.

9.2 Elections . The Committee shall determine the form of Non-Employee Director’s elections pursuant to this Article IX, which form shall evidence the particular provisions, terms, conditions, rights and duties of the Company and the Non-Employee Director with respect to Common Stock paid with respect to the Non-Employee Director’s annual retainer and any meeting fees.

ARTICLE X

STOCK AWARDS

Coincident with or following designation for participation in the Plan, a Participant may be granted one or more Stock Awards in the manner determined from time to time by the Committee. The number of shares shall be determined by the Committee and may be, but are not required to be, based upon the Performance


Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee. To the extent required by applicable law, a Participant shall be required to pay to the Company an amount equal to the par value of the Common Stock subject to the Stock Award as a condition precedent to the issuance of Common Stock to the Participant.

ARTICLE XI

PERFORMANCE AWARDS

11.1 Performance Awards .

(a) Coincident with or following designation for participation in the Plan, a Participant may be granted one or more Performance Awards. The value of such Performance Awards may be linked to any one or more of the Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee.

(b) Without limiting Section 11.1(a), the Committee may grant Performance Awards to any 162(m) Participant in the form of a cash bonus payable upon the attainment of objective performance goals which are established by the Committee and relate to one or more of the Performance Criteria, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee. Any such bonuses paid to 162(m) Participants shall be based upon objectively determinable bonus formulas. The maximum amount of any Performance Award payable to a 162(m) Participant under this Section 11.1(b) shall not exceed $2,500,000 or 200% of the Participant’s annual base salary with respect to any fiscal year of the Company calendar year. Unless otherwise specified by the Committee at the time of grant, the Performance Criteria with respect to a Performance Award payable to a 162(m) Participant shall be determined on the basis of generally accepted accounting principles.

(c) The form of payment to a Participant in respect of a Performance Award may be cash, shares of Common Stock, any type of other Award under the Plan, or any combination of the foregoing, as determined by the Committee in it sole discretion.

ARTICLE XII

OTHER AWARDS

12.1 Awards in Lieu of Bonus .

(a) Participant Election As to Bonus Payment . At such time as the Committee determines that a Participant has or may become eligible for a Bonus Payment pursuant to a Bonus Plan, the Committee may notify the Participant as to whether or not the Participant will be required by the Committee to, or will be given the right to elect to, accept all or a part of such Bonus Payment in the form of a Stock Award. If the Committee grants the Participant the right to elect whether to accept the Bonus Payment in Common Stock as a Stock Award, then the Participant shall have ten (10) business days after the receipt of such notice (or such longer period as may be stated in the notice) from the Committee to make such election. The Participant shall notify the Committee with respect to his or her election on such form as may be provided for this purpose by the Committee, setting forth thereon the dollar value of the portion of the Bonus Payment which he or she desires to receive in shares of Common Stock. If a Participant fails to make an election pursuant to this Section 12.1(a) with respect to the mode of payment of a Bonus Payment, the entire Bonus Payment shall be made in cash.

(b) Determination of Number of Shares . The number of shares of Common Stock or other forms of Awards that shall be issued or credited as a Bonus Payment shall be determined by using a reasonable valuation method specified by the Committee in its sole discretion. No fractional shares of Common Stock or other forms of Awards shall be issued or credited as a part of a Bonus Payment and the value of any such fractional share that would otherwise be issued pursuant to the Participant’s election shall be paid in cash.


(c) Decision of Committee . The Committee shall have the sole discretion to either accept the Participant’s election with respect to the payment of a Bonus Payment, in whole or in part, in shares of Common Stock under a Stock Award or to determine that a lesser portion, or none, of the Bonus Payment will be made in shares of Common Stock, and the Committee’s determination in this regard shall be final and binding on the Participant.

12.2 Dividend Equivalents .

(a) Coincident with or following designation for participation in the Plan, a Participant may be granted Dividend Equivalents based on the dividends declared on Common Stock, to be credited as of dividend payment dates, during the period between the date any Award denominated in shares of Common Stock is granted, and the date such Award is exercised, vests or expires, as determined by the Committee. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional shares of Common Stock by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Committee. In no event shall payment of Dividend Equivalents be contingent, directly or indirectly, upon the exercise of a Stock Option.

(b) Dividend Equivalents granted with respect to Stock Options intended to be qualified performance-based compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code shall be payable, with respect to pre-exercise periods, regardless of whether such Option is subsequently exercised.

12.3 Other Forms of Award . From time to time during the duration of the Plan, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, adopt one or more other forms of awards for Eligible Employees, Non-Employee Directors or Consultants pursuant to which such Eligible Employees, Non-Employee Directors or Consultants may acquire shares of Common Stock or the economic equivalent thereof, whether by purchase, outright grant or otherwise. Any such arrangements shall be subject to the general provisions of the Plan and, to the extent required under applicable exchange rules, shareholder approval.

ARTICLE XIII

WITHHOLDING

13.1 Withholding Requirement . The Company’s obligations to deliver shares of Common Stock upon the exercise or receipt of any Award shall be subject to the Participant’s satisfaction of all applicable federal, state and local income and other tax withholding requirements.

13.2 Withholding With Common Stock . The Company may, in its sole discretion, allow or require Participants to pay all or any portion of any tax withholding obligation that results from Awards by the Company withholding from shares otherwise issuable to the Participant, shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount required to be withheld or such lesser amount. Any such withholding of shares of Common Stock shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Company may, from time to time, establish; provided, that, in the case of a Participant who is an officer or director of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, then the approval by the Committee of the grant of the award shall be deemed to include approval by the Committee of this withholding provision, unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement.

ARTICLE XIV

EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE ON AWARDS

Except as otherwise provided in a written agreement between the Company and a Participant, the provisions of this Article XIV will apply as follows:

14.1 Effect of Termination of Service on Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights . No Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised unless, at the time of such exercise, the Participant is an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant, except as follows:

(a) Subject to Section 14.1(c), if such termination is due to the death of the Participant, or the Participant dies within three (3) months after such termination, or if such termination occurs after the Participant


becomes disabled (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code), the Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised, to the extent vested at the time of the Participant’s termination of employment, by the Participant (or, in the case of death, by the person to whom it is transferred by will of the laws of descent and distribution) within a period of one year after the date of death (but in no event longer than the term of the Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right).

(b) Subject to Section 14.1(c), if the Participant’s employment is terminated for any reason other than those reasons covered by Section 14.1(a), then the Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable, to the extent vested at the time of such termination, for a period of ninety (90) days after the date of such termination.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 14.1(a) and (b) above, with respect to all grants of Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, no such grants shall be exercisable after the date of termination of employment if either the termination was for Cause, or if the former Employee, Consultant or Non-Employee Director is then, in the sole judgment of the Company, in material breach of any contractual, statutory, fiduciary or other legal obligation to the Company.

ARTICLE XV

NON-U.S. PARTICIPANTS

The Committee may grant awards to Employees, Consultants and Non-Employee Directors whose relationship with the Company or an Affiliated Corporation is subject to the laws of a foreign jurisdiction (a “Non-U.S. Participant”). However, no Award shall be granted that, as a result of the operation of the laws of a foreign jurisdiction, shall limit the authority, rights and powers of the Company, the Board or the Committee under the Plan, including without limitation, the authority of the Committee to determine whether Awards will be granted and under what circumstances Awards become exercisable, nonforfeitable or payable, unless such limitation is explicitly acknowledged by the Company in the relevant Award Agreement. Any grant of an Award that results in the imposition of any of the foregoing limitations shall be null and void ab initio. Subject to the limitations of this Article XV, the Committee may impose whatever requirements and provisions it deems necessary in its sole discretion to permit an Award to be made to a Non-U.S. Participant. The Committee shall have the authority to adopt such modifications, procedures and subplans as may be necessary or desirable to comply with provisions of the laws of foreign countries in which the Company or an Affiliated Corporation may operate to assure the viability of the benefits of Awards made to Participants employed in the such countries and to meet the intent of the Plan.

ARTICLE XVI

RIGHTS OF PARTICIPANTS

16.1 Employment, Directorship or Consulting Relationship . Nothing contained in the Plan or in any Award granted under the Plan shall confer upon any Participant any right with respect to the continuation of his or her employment, service as a director or consulting relationship with the Company or any Affiliated Corporation, or interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliated Corporation at any time to terminate such service or to increase or decrease the compensation of the Participant from the rate in existence at the time of the grant of an Award. Whether an authorized leave of absence, or absence in military or government service, shall constitute termination of service shall be determined by the Committee or its designee.

16.2 Meaning of Continuous Status . For all purposes of the Plan and unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement, so long as a Participant is either an Employee or a Non-Employee Director or a Consultant, without a break in between any change in status, he or she shall be considered to be in continuous status as an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant, even if the person is serving in one capacity when the award is granted and subsequently changes to service in a different capacity, such as terminating employment but continuing to serve as a Consultant.

16.3 Nontransferability . Except as otherwise (a) approved by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement between the Company and the Participant or (b) required pursuant to a qualified domestic


relations order, no right or interest of any Participant in an Award prior to the completion of the restriction period applicable thereto shall be assignable or transferable during the lifetime of the Participant, either voluntarily or involuntarily, or subjected to any lien, directly or indirectly, by operation of law, or otherwise, including execution, levy, garnishment, attachment, pledge or bankruptcy. If permitted by applicable law (including Rule 16b-3, as amended from time to time), the Committee may (but need not) permit the transfer of Awards either generally, to a limited class of persons or on a case-by-case basis. In the event of a Participant’s death, a Participant’s rights and interest in any Awards shall be transferable by testamentary will or the laws of descent and distribution, and payment of any amounts due under the Plan shall be made to, and exercise of any Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may be made by, the Participant’s legal representatives, heirs or legatees. If in the opinion of the Committee a person entitled to payments or to exercise rights with respect to the Plan is disabled from caring for his or her affairs because of mental condition, physical condition, or age, payment due such person may be made to, and such rights shall be exercised by, such person’s guardian, conservator or other legal personal representative upon furnishing the Committee or its designee with evidence satisfactory to the Committee or its designee of such status.

16.4 Other Benefits . The amount of any compensation deemed to be received by an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant as a result of the receipt, vesting, exercise of an Award will not constitute “earnings” with respect to which any other benefits provided by the Company or an Affiliated Corporation to such person are determined, including without limitation benefits under any pension, profit sharing, life insurance or salary continuation plan.

16.5 Unfunded Plan . The Company’s obligation under this Plan shall not be funded or secured in any manner or at any time (including in connection with the change of the Company’s financial health), and the Company shall not be required or permitted to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of funds or assets to insure the payment of any Awards as to the claims of general creditors. The Company may not set aside assets for the payment of any Awards in a trust or other arrangement that is located outside the United States.

ARTICLE XVII

CHANGE IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE; CHANGE OF CONTROL

17.1 Change in Capital Structure . Subject to Section 17.4, in the event that the Board determines that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, other securities or other property), recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, liquidation, dissolution, or sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event including a Change of Control or Potential Change of Control, in the Board’s sole discretion, affects the Common Stock such that an adjustment is determined by the Board to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to an Award, then the Board shall direct the Committee to, in such manner as it determines is equitable, adjust any or all of:

(a) The number and kind of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted or awarded (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Article IV);

(b) The number and kind of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards; and

(c) The grant or exercise price with respect to any Award; provided that no such adjustment shall be effected if it results in a repricing of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right.


17.2 Extraordinary Events . Subject to Section 17.4, in the event of any transaction(s) or event(s) described in Section 17.1 or any unusual or nonrecurring transaction(s) or event(s) affecting the Company, any affiliate of the Company, or the financial statements of the Company or any affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles occurs, including any Change of Control or Potential Change of Control, the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event and either automatically or upon the Participant’s request, is hereby authorized to direct the Committee to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Board determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award under the Plan, to facilitate such transactions or events or to give effect to such changes in laws, regulations or principles:

(a) To provide for the cancellation of the Award in exchange for an amount of cash equal to the amount that could have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights had such Award been currently exercisable or payable or fully vested (including an amount equal to zero for Awards with respect to which no cash could have been so attained or realized);

(b) To provide that the Award cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after such event;

(c) To provide that such Award shall be vested, exercisable and nonforfeitable as to all shares covered thereby and that all restrictions with respect thereto shall lapse, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or an Award Agreement;

(d) To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices; and

(e) To make adjustments in the number and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and in the number and kind of outstanding Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units and/or in the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the criteria included in, outstanding options, rights and awards and options, rights and awards which may be granted in the future; provided that no such adjustment shall be effected if it results in a repricing of a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in no event shall the acceleration of any option hereunder upon a Change of Control occur to the extent an “excess parachute payment” (as defined in Internal Revenue Code Section 280G) would result. If the Board or the Committee determines that such an excess parachute payment would result if any full acceleration under this Section 17.2 occurred (when added to any other payments or benefits contingent on a Change of Control under any other agreements, arrangements or plans) then the extent to which rights are accelerated shall be reduced so that total parachute payments do not exceed 299% of the Participant’s “base amount,” as defined in Internal Revenue Code Section 280G(b)(3).

17.3 162(m); Rule 16(b)-3; Section 280G . With respect to Awards which are granted to Section 162(m) Participants and are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m)(4)(C), other than in the event of a Change of Control or a Potential Change of Control, no adjustment or action described in this Article XVII or in any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized to the extent that such adjustment or action would cause such Award to fail to so qualify under Section 162(m)(4)(C), or any successor provisions thereto, or cause and “excess parachute payment” to occur under Internal Revenue Code Section 280G. No adjustment or action described in this Article XVII or in any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized to the extent that such adjustment or action would cause the Plan to violate Section 422(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code. Furthermore, no such adjustment or action shall be authorized to the extent such adjustment or action would result in short-swing profits liability under Section 16 or violate the exemptive conditions of Rule 16b-3 unless the Committee determines that the Award is not to comply with such exemptive conditions. Furthermore, no adjustment or action described in this Article XVII or in


any other provision of the Plan shall be authorized to the extent such adjustment would cause an Award that constitutes a deferral of compensation under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code to fail to satisfy the requirements of such Section 409A.

17.4 No Limitation on Company or Stockholders . The existence of the Plan, the Award Agreement and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Company or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of stock or of options, warrants or rights to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks whose rights are superior to or affect the Common Stock or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or the dissolution or liquidation of the company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

17.5 Potential Change of Control . For purposes of this Article XVII, a Potential Change of Control shall be deemed to have occurred if: (i) a person or persons and/or an entity or entities commence a tender offer for at least fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding Common Stock of the Company, (ii) approval of any transaction or series of transactions that would involve a Change of Control is requested of the Company’s stockholders, (iii) proxies for the election of Directors of the Company are solicited by anyone other than the Company, or (iv)any other event occurs which is deemed to be a Potential Change of Control by the Board.

ARTICLE XVIII

GENERAL RESTRICTIONS

18.1 Investment Representations . The Company may require any person to whom an Award is granted, as a condition of exercising or receiving such Award, to give written assurances in substance and form satisfactory to the Company and its counsel to the effect that such person is acquiring the Common Stock subject to the Award for his or her own account for investment and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the same, and to such other effects as the Company deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with federal and applicable state securities laws.

18.2 Compliance with Securities Laws . Each Award shall be subject to the requirement that, if at any time counsel to the Company shall determine that the listing, registration or qualification of the shares subject to such Award upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental or regulatory body, is necessary as a condition of, or in connection with, the issuance or purchase of shares thereunder, such Award may not be delivered, accepted or exercised in whole or in part unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained on conditions acceptable to the Committee. Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the Company to apply for or to obtain such listing, registration or qualification.

ARTICLE XIX

PLAN AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION

19.1 Amendment or Termination . The Board, upon recommendation of the Committee or at its own initiative, at any time may terminate the Plan. The Committee, at any time and from time to time and in any respect, may amend or modify the Plan. No such amendment shall be effective unless, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any amendment to the extent necessary to comply with the requirements relating to the Plan under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Internal Revenue Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are, or will be, granted under the Plan.


19.2 Effect of Amendment .

(a) With regard to any Award that has been granted to a Participant, the terms and conditions of the Plan in effect on the date of such grant was made shall govern, notwithstanding subsequent amendments, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Participant; provided , however , that this sentence shall not impair the right of the Committee to take whatever action it deems appropriate under Section 18.3, Article XV or Article XVII.

(b) Except as set forth in Section 19.2 (a) hereof, the termination or any modification or amendment of the Plan shall not, without the consent of a Participant, affect his or her rights under an Award previously granted to him or her without the Participant’s consent. With the consent of the Participant affected, the Committee may amend outstanding Award Agreements in a manner not inconsistent with the Plan.

19.3 Preservation of Incentive Stock Options . The Board or the Committee shall have the right to amend or modify the terms and provisions of the Plan and of any outstanding Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan to the extent necessary to qualify any or all such Stock Options for such favorable treatment as may be afforded Incentive Stock Options under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code.

ARTICLE XX

REQUIREMENTS OF LAW

20.1 Requirements of Law . The issuance of stock and the payment of cash pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations.

20.2 Governing Law . The Plan and all Award Agreements hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE XXI

EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE PLAN

21.1 Effective Date . The Plan shall be effective as of the date it is approved by the Stockholders of the Company.

21.2 Duration of the Plan . The Plan shall terminate at midnight on the date that is the day before the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, and may be terminated prior thereto by Board action; and no Award shall be granted after such termination. Awards outstanding at the time of the Plan termination may continue to be exercised, or become free of restrictions or payable, in accordance with their terms.

ARTICLE XXII

SECTION 409A

22.1 Deferred Compensation . It is the Company’s intention that no Awards under this Plan shall constitute deferred compensation, as defined in Section 409A. Unless provided otherwise by the Award Agreement, Awards subject to Section 409A will be paid in a lump sum as soon as practical, but, at the Company’s discretion, not later than March 15 of the year following the calendar year in which they are no longer subject to a “substantial risk of forfeiture” (as defined and applied in Section 409A) (the “Applicable Period”). To the extent that an Award is not paid within the Applicable Period but is paid by December 31 of the calendar year which includes the Applicable Period, then it is intended that such payment shall be treated as made at a “specified time” for purposes of complying with Section 409A.

To the extent that the Company desires to grant an Award which constitutes deferred compensation, the time and form of payment for such Award shall be governed by the Award Agreement.

22.2 Six Month Delay . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan, if a Participant constitutes a “specified employee” (as defined and applied in Section 409A), to the extent any payment under this Plan constitutes deferred compensation (after taking into account any applicable exemptions from Section 409A), and to the extent required by Section 409A, no payments due under this Plan as a result of the Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A) may be made until the earlier of: (i)


the first day following the sixth month anniversary of the Participant’s separation from service, or (ii) the Participant’s date of death; provided, however, that any payments delayed during this six-month period shall be paid in the aggregate in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable following the sixth month anniversary of the Participant’s separation from service. For purposes of Section 409A, each “payment” (as defined by Section 409A) made under this Agreement shall be considered a “separate payment.”

Exhibit 10.3

HARTE-HANKS, INC.

Deferred Compensation Plan

(As Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2008)

WHEREAS, Harte-Hanks, Inc. (the “Company”) adopted an unfunded deferred compensation plan (the “Plan”) to permit certain members of its senior management to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of their base salary and/or cash performance bonuses;

WHEREAS, the Plan is intended to be an unfunded “top-hat” plan maintained primarily for the purpose of providing benefits for a select group of management or highly compensated employees;

WHEREAS, the Company desires to amend and restate the Plan, effective January 1, 2008, to incorporate the requirements imposed by Internal Revenue Code Section 409A (“Section 409A”) and related regulations;

NOW THEREFORE, the Company hereby amends and restates the Plan as follows:

1. Eligibility . Under the terms of this Plan any officer of the Company designated in writing by the Board of Directors (hereinafter referred to as an “eligible manager”) may elect to defer all or a portion of (i) his or her base salary and/or (ii) any one or more of his or her cash performance bonuses to be received from the Company under the Harte-Hanks, Inc. 2005 Omnibus Incentive Plan or other award or arrangement.

2. Election . Any eligible manager may elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of his or her base salary and/or cash bonus earned during the calendar year. Any such election shall be made by delivering a written notice of election (Exhibit A) to the Secretary of the Company on or before December 31st of the year prior to the calendar year in which such base salary and/or cash bonus is earned. A new eligible manager may elect to defer, on a prospective basis, all or a portion of his or her base salary and/or cash bonus earned during the calendar year within 30 days after he or she becomes an eligible manager. Except as provided in Section 4, any such election is irrevocable. With regard to amounts deferred under this Plan prior to January 1, 2005, such amounts are governed by the requirements of the Plan in effect prior to January 1, 2008.

3. Separate Memorandum Account . The Company shall maintain a separate memorandum account of the compensation deferred by each eligible manager and shall credit such account with interest on the principal amount deferred from the date such amount would otherwise have been paid to such eligible manager until such amount is paid out to the eligible manager at a rate of interest per annum equal to the rate of interest announced publicly by Bank of America, from time to time, as its base or prime rate, such interest to be credited and compounded annually at the end of each calendar year.

 

1


4. Payment of Deferred Compensation .

(a) Payment Timing .

(i) Initial Election . Subject to the provisions of Section 5, an eligible manager who has elected to defer any compensation for any year shall be entitled to be paid an amount equal to such eligible manager’s separate memorandum account (in its entirety), computed in accordance with Section 3, on the first to occur of (A) the 15th day of January following the end of the calendar year in which such eligible manager separates from service (as defined by Section 409A) with the Company, (B) the specified date (if any) on which he or she elected to be paid at the time of election by delivering a written notice of election (Exhibit A) to the Secretary of the Company within 30 days after he or she became an eligible manager, (C) 60 days from the date on which the eligible manager becomes disabled, as defined by Section 409A, or (D) 60 days from the date the Company experiences a change in control, as defined by Section 409A.

(ii) Election Change . Any eligible manager who elects payment on a specified date (as described in Section 4(a)(i)(B) above) may change his election as to payment timing by delivering a written notice of election (Exhibit A) to the Secretary of the Company. An election change is valid only if (A) the election change is made at least 12 months prior to the date on which payment is scheduled to be made, (B) the election change does not take effect for at least 12 months, and (C) the election change further delays the specified date of payment by at least five years. A change in payment timing shall apply to the eligible manager’s separate memorandum account in its entirety.

(b) Payment Form .

(i) Initial Election . Any eligible manager may elect to receive his separate memorandum account in one of the forms below by delivering a written notice of election (Exhibit A) to the Secretary of the Company within 30 days after he or she becomes an eligible manager. Except as provided in paragraph (ii) below, such initial election is irrevocable. Such payment form shall apply to the eligible manager’s separate memorandum account in its entirety.

(A) Lump Sum . Any eligible manager may elect to receive payment in the form of a lump sum, or

(B) Installments . Any eligible manager may elect to receive payment in the form of such number of approximately equal quarterly, semi-annual or annual installments (not to exceed installments extending over 10 years) (an “installment election”) beginning on the date identified in Section 4(a), above. The amount of each installment shall be determined by assuming that the rate of interest in effect when the first installment is paid will remain in effect throughout the payout period. Any surplus or shortfall resulting from a change in the interest rate shall be taken into account in making the last installment; provided, however, that if there is a significant change in the interest rate the Company may, in its discretion, recalculate the amount of the remaining installments by assuming that the rate of interest then in effect will remain in effect throughout the balance of the payout period.

 

2


(ii) Election Change . Any eligible manager who elects payment on a specified date (as described in Section 4(a) above) may change his election as to payment form by delivering a written notice of election (Exhibit A) to the Secretary of the Company. An election change is valid only if (A) the election change is made at least 12 months prior to the date on which payment is scheduled to be made, (B) the election change does not take effect for at least 12 months, and (C) the election change further delays the specified date of payment by at least five years. A change in payment form shall apply to the eligible manager’s separate memorandum account in its entirety.

(c) Six Month Delay in Payment .

If payment is made pursuant to a separation from service and the eligible manager is a “specified employee” (as defined and applied in Section 409A), no payment may be made until the earlier of (i) the first day following the sixth month anniversary of the date of the eligible manager’s separation from service, or (ii) the eligible manager’s date of death; provided, however, that any payments delayed during this six-month period shall be paid in the aggregate in a lump sum as soon as administratively practicable following the six-month anniversary of the eligible manager’s separation from service. For purposes of Section 409A, an installment election is treated as a right to a series of separate payments.

(d) “Grandfathered” Amounts .

With regard to amounts deferred under this Plan prior to January 1, 2005, such amounts are “grandfathered and not subject to Section 409A, but instead are governed by the requirements of the Plan in effect prior to January 1, 2008.

5. Death of Eligible Manager . If any eligible manager dies in office, or thereafter, before receiving all funds deferred for such eligible manager’s account, the entire unpaid amount deferred, together with accrued interest thereon, shall be paid in one lump sum to the beneficiary designated by such eligible manager by written notice (Exhibit A) delivered to the Secretary of the Company, or, if no beneficiary has been so designated, to the eligible manager’s estate, on the 15th day of January first occurring after the calendar year in which such death occurs. Any such beneficiary designation may be revoked and a new designation made in writing at any time and from time to time.

6. Amounts Due Not be to Funded . The Company’s liability to pay deferred compensation and interest to eligible managers shall not be funded in any way, but shall merely be reflected as a liability on the Company’s books in a separate memorandum account for each eligible manager electing deferral.

7. Copy of Plan to be Provided . The Secretary of the Company shall provide a copy of this Plan to each eligible manager together with a form attached hereto as Exhibit A for use in notifying the Company of his or her elections in accordance with the Plan. The president of the

 

3


Company, or any officer designated by him, is hereby authorized to execute such documents and take such other action as he considers necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Plan.

8. Interpretation and Administration of Plan . Any decision made or action taken by the Board of Directors of the Company arising out of or in connection with the construction, administration, interpretation and effect of the Plan shall lie within the absolute discretion of the Board of Directors and shall be conclusive and binding upon all persons.

 

4


Exhibit A

HARTE-HANKS, INC.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN

Election Form

I understand that I am eligible under the Harte-Hanks, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of (i) my base salary and/or (ii) my cash performance bonus, if any, to be earned for the current year. I have received a copy of the Plan and am familiar with its provisions.

 

1. Election to Defer Base Salary or Bonus

Pursuant to Section 2 of the Plan, I hereby elect to defer receipt of:

 

  (A) Any base salary for the calendar year              , as follows (select one):

 

  ¨ no deferral

 

  ¨ defer $              per month

 

  ¨ defer entire base salary over $              per month

AND/OR

 

  (B) Any cash performance bonus earned by me for the calendar year              , as follows (select one):

 

  ¨ defer entire bonus

 

  ¨ defer entire bonus over $             

 

  ¨ defer entire bonus up to $             

 

2. Payment Timing

Pursuant to Section 4(a) of the Plan, I hereby elect to be paid the amount credited to my separate memorandum account on                      .

If no date is elected, payment will be made on the first to occur of January 15 of the year following the year in which you separate from service, 60 days after you become disabled, or 60 days after Harte-Hanks experiences a change in control.

 

  ¨ Check if this is a change from a prior election.


3. Payment Form

Pursuant to Section 4(b) of the Plan, I hereby elect to receive the amount which will be credited to my separate memorandum account in the following form (select one):

 

  ¨ In a lump sum.

OR

 

  ¨ In approximately              equal              installments commencing on the date identified in Section 2 above.

 

  ¨ Check if this is a change from a prior election.

 

4. Beneficiary

In the event of my death prior to receipt of the entire amount credited to my separate memorandum account, I hereby designate                                          as my beneficiary to receive the funds so accumulated.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I understand that this election is irrevocable. I also understand that payments under the Plan may not be accelerated. I may change my Payment Timing and/or Payment Form election by submitting a new election form to the Secretary of Harte-Hanks at least 12 months before payments are scheduled to begin, and any change will not be effective for at least 12 months, and any change in my election must further delay payments by at least five years.

I understand that if I am a “specified employee” (as defined in Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code) at the time of my separation from service (as defined in Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code), any payments scheduled to begin upon my separation from service will be delayed for six months, and will be paid in a lump sum after six months have elapsed.

 

Signature  

 

   Date   

                                 

Name (please print)

 

 

 

2

Exhibit 10.4

FORM OF SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT made as of June 27, 2008, between Harte-Hanks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                      (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Executive is currently serving as [President and Chief Executive Officer] [an Executive Vice President] [a Senior Vice President] of the Company;

WHEREAS, the Executive possesses an intimate knowledge of the business and affairs of the Company, its policies, methods, personnel and plans for the future and has acquired contacts of considerable value to the Company; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) recognizes that the Executive’s contribution to the growth and success of the Company has been substantial and wishes to offer an inducement to the Executive to remain in the employ of the Company;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the respective covenants and agreements of the parties herein contained, this Agreement sets forth benefits which the Company will pay to Executive in the event of termination of Executive’s employment under the circumstances described herein:

1. Term . The term of this Agreement shall be effective upon a Change in Control (as defined herein) and continue until the earlier of (a) the expiration of the second anniversary of the occurrence of a Change in Control, (b) the Executive’s death, or (c) the Executive’s earlier voluntary retirement (except as provided in Section 3(a)(ii)) (the “Term”).

2. Definitions .

 

  (a) Cause . For “Cause” means that the Board determines in good faith that the Executive shall have committed:

 

  (i) an intentional material act of fraud or embezzlement in connection with his duties or in the course of his employment with the Company;

 

  (ii) intentional wrongful material damage to property of the Company; or

 

  (iii) intentional wrongful disclosure of material secret processes or material confidential information of the Company.

For the purposes of this Agreement, no act, or failure to act, on the part of the Executive will be deemed “intentional” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.

 

Severance Agreement - Page 1


  (b) Change in Control . A “Change in Control” of the Company shall have occurred if any of the following events shall occur:

 

  (i) the Company is merged, consolidated or reorganized into or with another corporation or other legal person and as a result of such merger, consolidation or reorganization less than 60% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the remaining corporation or legal person or its ultimate parent immediately after such transaction is received in respect of or in exchange for voting securities of the Company pursuant to such transaction;

 

  (ii) the Company sells all or substantially all of its assets to any other corporation or other legal person and as a result of such sale less than 60% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of such corporation or legal person or its ultimate parent immediately after such transaction is received in respect of or in exchange for voting securities of the Company pursuant to such sale;

 

  (iii) any person (including any “person” as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), has become the beneficial owner (as the term “beneficial owner” is defined under Rule 13d-3 or any successor rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act) of securities which when added to any securities already owned by such person would represent in the aggregate 30% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company; or

 

  (iv) such other events that cause a Change in Control of the Company as determined by the Board in its sole discretion.

 

  (c) Code . The “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

  (d) Disability . “Disability” shall have the meaning given to disability in the Company’s long-term disability insurance plan.

 

  (e) Severance Compensation . The “Severance Compensation” shall be a lump sum cash amount equal to 200% of the sum of (i) the annual base salary of the Executive in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control or the Termination Date, whichever is larger, plus (ii) the average of the bonus or incentive compensation of the Executive, received from the Company for the two fiscal years preceding the year in which the Change in Control occurred or for the two fiscal years preceding the year in which the Termination Date occurs, whichever is larger.

 

  (f) Termination Date . The “Termination Date” shall be the date upon which the Executive or the Company terminates the employment of the Executive and such termination constitutes a “separation from service,” as defined and applied in Section 409A of the Code.

 

Severance Agreement - Page 2


3. Rights of Executive Upon Change in Control and Termination .

 

  (a) The Company shall provide the Executive, ten days following the Termination Date (subject to Section 11 if the Executive is a specified employee), and provided the Executive has executed the release described in Section 6 below, Severance Compensation in lieu of compensation to the Executive for periods subsequent to the Termination Date, if, following the occurrence of a Change in Control, any of the following events shall occur:

 

  (i) the Company terminates the Executive’s employment ( i.e. , the Executive separates from service) during the Term other than for any of the following reasons:

 

  (1) the Executive dies;

 

  (2) the Executive suffers a Disability and is unable to work (with or without reasonable accommodation) for a period of 180 consecutive days; or

 

  (3) for Cause,

 

  (ii) the Executive terminates his or her employment ( i.e. , separates from service) after such Change in Control during the Term and a material adverse change in the employment relationship without the Executive’s consent, which shall include the occurrence of at least one of the following events:

 

  (1) a material adverse change in the nature or scope of the authorities, functions or duties attached to the position with the Company that the Executive had immediately prior to the Change in Control;

 

  (2) a reduction in the Executive’s salary, bonus or incentive compensation or a significant reduction in scope or value of other monetary or non-monetary benefits (other than benefits pursuant to a broad based employee benefit plan) to which the Executive was entitled from the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control;

 

  (3) a determination by the Executive made in good faith that as a result of a Change in Control and a change in circumstances thereafter, he has been rendered substantially unable to carry out, or has been substantially hindered in the performance of, the authorities, functions or duties attached to his position immediately prior to the Change in Control;

 

Severance Agreement - Page 3


  (4) the Company shall require the Executive to materially relocate his principal location of work from the location thereof immediately prior to the Change in Control, or to travel away from his office in the course of discharging his responsibilities or duties significantly more than required of him prior to the Change in Control; or

 

  (5) the Company commits any material breach of this Agreement;

provided, however, that with regard to each change described above, the Executive must provide written notice to the Company within 90 days of the occurrence of such change, and the Company shall have 30 days in which to cure; or

 

  (iii) the Executive terminates his or her employment ( i.e. , separates from service) for any reason during the 30-day period following the first anniversary of the Change in Control.

 

  (b) Severance Compensation pursuant to this Section 3 will not be subject to setoff or mitigation.

 

  (c) Upon a Change in Control, all equity-based awards previously granted by the Company to the Executive and not yet exercised will become vested and fully exercisable by the Executive. Such equity-based awards shall remain exercisable for their original term; provided, however, that the Company has the right to require the Executive to exercise such equity-based awards that are subject to exercise within 90 days after receipt of written notice to the Executive. If the Executive fails to exercise his or her equity-based awards within such 90-day period, the Company has the right to cancel such equity-based awards. Awards that vest on a performance basis will be considered to vest at 100% of the target level previously established for such awards.

 

  (d) In the event the Company becomes obligated hereunder to pay the Executive the Severance Compensation, the Company shall also pay the Executive, ten days following the Termination Date (subject to Section 11 if the Executive is a specified employee), and provided the Executive has executed the release described in Section 6 below, a lump sum cash payment in the amount equivalent to continuation coverage (COBRA) payments under the Company’s group health insurance plan for a period of 18 months.

 

  (e)

If the amounts due to the Executive in connection with a Change of Control under this and/or other agreements, plans or arrangements would result in an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and the total amounts due to the Executive would have to be reduced by more than ten

 

Severance Agreement - Page 4


 

percent (10%) to avoid such an “excess parachute payment,” then the Company shall pay to Executive an additional amount in cash (a “Gross-Up Payment”) equal to the amount necessary to cause the amount of the aggregate after-tax compensation and benefits received by the Executive hereunder (after payment of the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code with respect to any excess parachute payment, and any state and federal income and FICA taxes with respect to the Gross-Up Payment) to be equal to the aggregate after-tax compensation and benefits such Executive would have received if Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code had not been enacted. Such Gross-Up Payment shall be made in a lump sum as soon as practicable (subject to Section 11 if the Executive is a specified employee), but not later than the end of the year following the year in which the Executive remits such excise taxes. A nationally recognized public accounting firm selected by the Company shall determine the amount of the Gross-Up Payment at the Company’s expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Gross-Up Payment shall be made if, in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Company, no excess parachute payments would occur if the total amounts due to the Executive in connection with a Change of Control were reduced by ten percent (10%) or less; in such event, total benefits under this Agreement shall be reduced by up to ten percent (10%) in value in the following order:

 

  (i) cash amounts payable as Severance Compensation under Section 3(a) above shall be reduced first;

 

  (ii) if necessary, amounts for the maintenance of continuation coverage under Section 3(d) above shall be reduced next; and

 

  (iii) if necessary, the accelerated vesting of equity-based awards as provided in Section 3(c) above shall be reduced.

4. Successors, Binding Agreement . This Agreement will be binding upon the Company, its successors and assigns, and all rights of the Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributes, devisees and legatees.

5. Notice . The Company shall give written notice to Executive within ten days after any Change in Control. Failure to give such notice shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or received after being mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

 

Severance Agreement - Page 5


If to the Executive:

c/o Harte-Hanks, Inc.

200 Concord Plaza Drive

Suite 800

San Antonio, Texas 78216

If to the Company:

Harte-Hanks, Inc.

200 Concord Plaza Drive

Suite 800

San Antonio, Texas 78216

Attention: General Counsel

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

6. Release . In consideration for the benefits and payments provided for under Sections 3(a) and 3(d) of this Agreement, unless such requirement is waived by the Board in its sole discretion, the Executive agrees to execute a release acceptable to the Company releasing the Company, its subsidiaries, shareholders, partners, officers, directors, employees and agents from any and all claims and from any and all causes of action of any kind, including but not limited to all claims or causes of action arising out of the Executive’s employment with the Company or the termination of such employment. The Executive shall execute such release prior to or as soon as practicable after his Termination Date.

7. Miscellaneous . No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by the Executive and such officer as may be specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, unless specifically referred to herein, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the substantive laws of the State of Delaware (to the extent not preempted by Federal law), without regard to principles of conflicts of law. This Agreement replaces any prior severance agreement between the Company and the Executive.

8. Validity . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

9. Employment Rights . Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement shall create any right or duty on the part of the Company or the Executive to have the Executive remain in the

 

Severance Agreement - Page 6


employment of the Company prior to any Change in Control; provided, however, that any termination of employment of the Executive or removal of the Executive as an elected officer of the Company following the commencement of any discussion authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company with a third person that ultimately results in a Change in Control shall be deemed to be a termination or removal of the Executive after a Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to all Severance Compensation. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof to the contrary, the Executive may, at any time during his employment with the Company upon the giving of 30 days prior written notice, terminate his employment hereunder. If this Agreement or the employment of the Executive is terminated under circumstances in which the Executive is not entitled to any Severance Compensation, neither the Executive nor the Company shall have any further obligation or liability hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall be deemed to modify or amend any provision of any other non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality, or other agreement with the Company.

10. Withholding of Taxes . The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or government regulation or ruling; provided, however, that no withholding pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code shall be made unless, in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Company and acceptable to the Executive, such withholding relates to payments which result in the imposition of an excise tax pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code.

11. Section 409A . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Executive is a “specified employee” (as defined and applied in Section 409A of the Code) as of the Termination Date, to the extent any payment under this Agreement constitutes deferred compensation (after taking into account any applicable exemptions under Section 409A of the Code) and to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code, the Executive shall not be entitled to any payments under this Agreement until the earlier of (a) the first day following the six-month anniversary of the Termination Date, or (b) the Executive’s date of death. For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, each “payment” (as defined by Section 409A of the Code) made under this Agreement shall be considered a “separate payment.” In addition, for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, payments shall be deemed exempt from Section 409A of the Code to the full extent possible under the “short-term deferral” exemption of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(4) and (with respect to amounts paid no later than the second calendar year following the calendar year containing the Termination Date) the “two-years/two-times” separation pay exemption of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), which are hereby incorporated by reference.

 

Severance Agreement - Page 7


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective on the date and year first above written.

 

HARTE-HANKS, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
[NAME OF EXECUTIVE]

 

 

Severance Agreement - Page 8

Exhibit 10.5

FORM OF SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT made as of June 27, 2008, between Harte-Hanks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Peter E. Gorman (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Executive is currently serving as an Executive Vice President of the Company;

WHEREAS, the Executive possesses an intimate knowledge of the business and affairs of the Company, its policies, methods, personnel and plans for the future and has acquired contacts of considerable value to the Company; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) recognizes that the Executive’s contribution to the growth and success of the Company has been substantial and wishes to offer an inducement to the Executive to remain in the employ of the Company;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the respective covenants and agreements of the parties herein contained, this Agreement sets forth benefits which the Company will pay to Executive in the event of termination of Executive’s employment under the circumstances described herein:

1. Term . Except as otherwise provided in Section 4, the term of this Agreement shall be effective upon a Change in Control (as defined herein) and continue until the earlier of (a) the expiration of the second anniversary of the occurrence of a Change in Control, (b) the Executive’s death, or (c) the Executive’s earlier voluntary retirement (except as provided in Section 3(a)(ii)) (the “Term”).

2. Definitions .

 

  (a) Cause . For “Cause” means that the Board determines in good faith that the Executive shall have committed:

 

  (i) an intentional material act of fraud or embezzlement in connection with his duties or in the course of his employment with the Company;

 

  (ii) intentional wrongful material damage to property of the Company; or

 

  (iii) intentional wrongful disclosure of material secret processes or material confidential information of the Company.

For the purposes of this Agreement, no act, or failure to act, on the part of the Executive will be deemed “intentional” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.

 

Severance Agreement - Page 1


  (b) Change in Control . A “Change in Control” of the Company shall have occurred if any of the following events shall occur:

 

  (i) the Company is merged, consolidated or reorganized into or with another corporation or other legal person and as a result of such merger, consolidation or reorganization less than 60% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the remaining corporation or legal person or its ultimate parent immediately after such transaction is received in respect of or in exchange for voting securities of the Company pursuant to such transaction;

 

  (ii) the Company sells all or substantially all of its assets to any other corporation or other legal person and as a result of such sale less than 60% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of such corporation or legal person or its ultimate parent immediately after such transaction is received in respect of or in exchange for voting securities of the Company pursuant to such sale;

 

  (iii) any person (including any “person” as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), has become the beneficial owner (as the term “beneficial owner” is defined under Rule 13d-3 or any successor rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act) of securities which when added to any securities already owned by such person would represent in the aggregate 30% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company; or

 

  (iv) such other events that cause a Change in Control of the Company as determined by the Board in its sole discretion.

 

  (c) Code . The “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

  (d) Disability . “Disability” shall have the meaning given to disability in the Company’s long-term disability insurance plan.

 

  (e) Severance Compensation . The “Severance Compensation” shall be a lump sum cash amount equal to 200% of the sum of (i) the annual base salary of the Executive in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control or the Termination Date, whichever is larger, plus (ii) the average of the bonus or incentive compensation of the Executive, received from the Company for the two fiscal years preceding the year in which the Change in Control occurred or for the two fiscal years preceding the year in which the Termination Date occurs, whichever is larger.

 

Severance Agreement - Page 2


  (f) Termination Date . The “Termination Date” shall be the date upon which the Executive or the Company terminates the employment of the Executive and such termination constitutes a “separation from service,” as defined and applied in Section 409A of the Code.

3. Rights of Executive Upon Change in Control and Termination .

 

  (a) The Company shall provide the Executive, ten days following the Termination Date (subject to Section 12 if the Executive is a specified employee), and provided the Executive has executed the release described in Section 7 below, Severance Compensation in lieu of compensation to the Executive for periods subsequent to the Termination Date, if, following the occurrence of a Change in Control, any of the following events shall occur:

 

  (i) the Company terminates the Executive’s employment ( i.e. , the Executive separates from service) during the Term other than for any of the following reasons:

 

  (1) the Executive dies;

 

  (2) the Executive suffers a Disability and is unable to work (with or without reasonable accommodation) for a period of 180 consecutive days; or

 

  (3) for Cause,

 

  (ii) the Executive terminates his employment ( i.e. , separates from service) after such Change in Control during the Term and a material adverse change in the employment relationship without the Executive’s consent, which shall include the occurrence of at least one of the following events:

 

  (1) a material adverse change in the nature or scope of the authorities, functions or duties attached to the position with the Company that the Executive had immediately prior to the Change in Control;

 

  (2) a reduction in the Executive’s salary, bonus or incentive compensation or a significant reduction in scope or value of other monetary or non-monetary benefits (other than benefits pursuant to a broad based employee benefit plan) to which the Executive was entitled from the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control;

 

  (3) a determination by the Executive made in good faith that as a result of a Change in Control and a change in circumstances thereafter, he has been rendered substantially unable to carry out, or has been substantially hindered in the performance of, the authorities, functions or duties attached to his position immediately prior to the Change in Control;

 

Severance Agreement - Page 3


  (4) the Company shall require the Executive to materially relocate his principal location of work from the location thereof immediately prior to the Change in Control, or to travel away from his office in the course of discharging his responsibilities or duties significantly more than required of him prior to the Change in Control; or

 

  (5) the Company commits any material breach of this Agreement;

provided, however, that with regard to each change described above, the Executive must provide written notice to the Company within 90 days of the occurrence of such change, and the Company shall have 30 days in which to cure; or

 

  (iii) the Executive terminates his employment ( i.e. separates from service) for any reason during the 30-day period following the first anniversary of the Change in Control.

 

  (b) Severance Compensation pursuant to this Section 3 will not be subject to setoff or mitigation.

 

  (c) Upon a Change in Control, or in the event the Company becomes obligated to make the payments specified in Section 4(a), all equity-based awards previously granted by the Company to the Executive and not yet exercised will become vested and fully exercisable by the Executive. Such equity-based awards shall remain exercisable for their original term; provided, however, that the Company has the right to require the Executive to exercise such equity-based awards that are subject to exercise within 90 days after receipt of written notice to the Executive. If the Executive fails to exercise his equity-based awards within such 90-day period, the Company has the right to cancel such equity-based awards. Awards that vest on a performance basis will be considered to vest at 100% of the target level previously established for such awards.

 

  (d) In the event the Company becomes obligated hereunder to pay the Executive the Severance Compensation or the payments specified in Section 4(a), the Company shall also pay the Executive, ten days following the Termination Date (subject to Section 12 if the Executive is a specified employee), and provided the Executive has executed the release described in Section 7 below, a lump sum cash payment in the amount equivalent to continuation coverage (COBRA) payments under the Company’s group health insurance plan for a period of 18 months.

 

  (e)

If the amounts due to the Executive in connection with a Change of Control under this and/or other agreements, plans or arrangements would result in an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and the

 

Severance Agreement - Page 4


 

total amounts due to the Executive would have to be reduced by more than ten percent (10%) to avoid such an “excess parachute payment,” then the Company shall pay to Executive an additional amount in cash (a “Gross-Up Payment”) equal to the amount necessary to cause the amount of the aggregate after-tax compensation and benefits received by the Executive hereunder (after payment of the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code with respect to any excess parachute payment, and any state and federal income and FICA taxes with respect to the Gross-Up Payment) to be equal to the aggregate after-tax compensation and benefits such Executive would have received if Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code had not been enacted. Such Gross-Up Payment shall be made in a lump sum as soon as practicable (subject to Section 12 if the Executive is a specified employee) but not later than the end of the year following the year in which the Executive remits such excise tax. A nationally recognized public accounting firm selected by the Company shall determine the amount of the Gross-Up Payment at the Company’s expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Gross-Up Payment shall be made if, in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Company, no excess parachute payments would occur if the total amounts due to the Executive in connection with a Change of Control were reduced by ten percent (10%) or less; in such event, total benefits under this Agreement shall be reduced by up to ten percent (10%) in value in the following order: (i) cash amounts payable as Severance Compensation under Section 3(a) above shall be reduced first; (ii) if necessary, amounts for the maintenance of continuation coverage under Section 3(d) above shall be reduced next; and (iii) if necessary, the accelerated vesting of equity-based awards as provided in Section 3(c) above shall be reduced.

4. Additional Rights of Executive Prior to Change in Control .

 

  (a) In the event the employment of the Executive with the Company is terminated prior to a Change in Control, the Company shall provide the Executive, within ten days following the Termination Date (subject to Section 12 if the Executive is a specified employee), Severance Compensation in lieu of compensation to the Executive for periods subsequent to the Termination Date, if, and only if,

 

  (i) the Company terminates the Executive’s employment without “Justification” (as defined herein); or

 

  (ii) the Executive terminates his employment with “Good Reason” (as defined herein).

 

  (b) “Justification” means that the Board determines in good faith that the Executive shall have (i) committed an act of fraud, dishonesty, gross misconduct or other unethical practices, or (ii) materially failed to perform his duties to the satisfaction of the chief executive officer of the Company, which failure has not been cured within 60 days after receipt of written notice from the chief executive officer.

 

Severance Agreement - Page 5


  (c) With “Good Reason” means that the Executive shall have terminated his employment following a material adverse reduction (which is instituted without his consent and which is not cured within 30 days after the Executive delivers written notice of objection to the chief executive officer within 90 days of the occurrence of the reduction) in his functions, duties or responsibilities (i) to a level that is not commensurate with those of an executive in the position of the Executive prior to such reduction (it being understood that the reassignment of any of the Executive’s functions, duties or responsibilities to one or more persons who report directly or indirectly to the Executive is not such a reduction), or (ii) which causes the Executive’s position with the Company to become one of lesser importance or scope, as evidenced by (1) a material diminution in authority, duties, or responsibilities, or (2) a material change in the authority, duties or responsibilities of the Executive’s supervisor.

5. Successors, Binding Agreement . This Agreement will be binding upon the Company, its successors and assigns, and all rights of the Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributes, devisees and legatees.

6. Notice . The Company shall give written notice to Executive within ten days after any Change in Control. Failure to give such notice shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or received after being mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

If to the Executive:

Peter E. Gorman

c/o Harte-Hanks, Inc.

200 Concord Plaza Drive

Suite 800

San Antonio, Texas 78216

If to the Company:

Harte-Hanks, Inc.

200 Concord Plaza Drive

Suite 800

San Antonio, Texas 78216

Attention: General Counsel

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

Severance Agreement - Page 6


7. Release . In consideration for the benefits and payments provided for under Sections 3(a) and 3(d) of this Agreement, unless such requirement is waived by the Board in its sole discretion, the Executive agrees to execute a release acceptable to the Company releasing the Company, its subsidiaries, shareholders, partners, officers, directors, employees and agents from any and all claims and from any and all causes of action of any kind, including but not limited to all claims or causes of action arising out of the Executive’s employment with the Company or the termination of such employment. The Executive shall execute such release prior to or as soon as practicable after his Termination Date.

8. Miscellaneous . No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by the Executive and such officer as may be specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, unless specifically referred to herein, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the substantive laws of the State of Delaware (to the extent not preempted by Federal law), without regard to principles of conflicts of law. This Agreement replaces any prior severance agreement between the Company and the Executive.

9. Validity . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

10. Employment Rights . Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement shall create any right or duty on the part of the Company or the Executive to have the Executive remain in the employment of the Company prior to any Change in Control; provided, however, that any termination of employment of the Executive or removal of the Executive as an elected officer of the Company following the commencement of any discussion authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company with a third person that ultimately results in a Change in Control shall be deemed to be a termination or removal of the Executive after a Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to all Severance Compensation. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof to the contrary, the Executive may, at any time during his employment with the Company upon the giving of 30 days prior written notice, terminate his employment hereunder. If this Agreement or the employment of the Executive is terminated under circumstances in which the Executive is not entitled to any Severance Compensation, neither the Executive nor the Company shall have any further obligation or liability hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall be deemed to modify or amend any provision of any other non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality, or other agreement with the Company.

11. Withholding of Taxes . The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or government regulation or ruling; provided, however, that no withholding pursuant to Section

 

Severance Agreement - Page 7


4999 of the Code shall be made unless, in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Company and acceptable to the Executive, such withholding relates to payments which result in the imposition of an excise tax pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code.

12. Section 409A . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Executive is a “specified employee” (as defined and applied in Section 409A of the Code) as of the Termination Date, to the extent any payment under this Agreement constitutes deferred compensation (after taking into account any applicable exemptions under Section 409A of the Code) and to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code, the Executive shall not be entitled to any payments under this Agreement until the earlier of (a) the first day following the six-month anniversary of the Termination Date, or (b) the Executive’s date of death. For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, each “payment” (as defined by Section 409A of the Code) made under this Agreement shall be considered a “separate payment.” In addition, for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, payments shall be deemed exempt from Section 409A of the Code to the full extent possible under the “short-term deferral” exemption of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(4) and (with respect to amounts paid no later than the second calendar year following the calendar year containing the Termination Date) the “two-years/two-times” separation pay exemption of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), which are hereby incorporated by reference.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective on the date and year first above written.

 

HARTE-HANKS, INC.

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

PETER E. GORMAN

 

 

Severance Agreement - Page 8

Exhibit 10.6

FORM OF SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

AGREEMENT made as of June 27, 2008, between Harte-Hanks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and                      (the “Executive”).

WHEREAS, the Executive is currently serving as Vice President of the Company;

WHEREAS, the Executive possesses an intimate knowledge of the business and affairs of the Company, its policies, methods, personnel and plans for the future and has acquired contacts of considerable value to the Company; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) recognizes that the Executive’s contribution to the growth and success of the Company has been substantial and wishes to offer an inducement to the Executive to remain in the employ of the Company;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the respective covenants and agreements of the parties herein contained, this Agreement sets forth benefits which the Company will pay to Executive in the event of termination of Executive’s employment under the circumstances described herein:

1. Term . The term of this Agreement shall be effective upon a Change in Control (as defined herein) and continue until the earlier of (a) the expiration of the second anniversary of the occurrence of a Change in Control, (b) the Executive’s death, or (c) the Executive’s earlier voluntary retirement (except as provided in Section 3(a)(ii)) (the “Term”).

2. Definitions .

 

  (a) Cause . For “Cause” means that the Board determines in good faith that the Executive shall have committed:

 

  (i) an intentional material act of fraud or embezzlement in connection with his duties or in the course of his employment with the Company;

 

  (ii) intentional wrongful material damage to property of the Company; or

 

  (iii) intentional wrongful disclosure of material secret processes or material confidential information of the Company.

For the purposes of this Agreement, no act, or failure to act, on the part of the Executive will be deemed “intentional” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Executive not in good faith and without reasonable belief that his action or omission was in the best interest of the Company.

 

Severance Agreement - Page 1


  (b) Change in Control . A “Change in Control” of the Company shall have occurred if any of the following events shall occur:

 

  (i) the Company is merged, consolidated or reorganized into or with another corporation or other legal person and as a result of such merger, consolidation or reorganization less than 60% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the remaining corporation or legal person or its ultimate parent immediately after such transaction is received in respect of or in exchange for voting securities of the Company pursuant to such transaction;

 

  (ii) the Company sells all or substantially all of its assets to any other corporation or other legal person and as a result of such sale less than 60% of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of such corporation or legal person or its ultimate parent immediately after such transaction is received in respect of or in exchange for voting securities of the Company pursuant to such sale;

 

  (iii) any person (including any “person” as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) or Section 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act), has become the beneficial owner (as the term “beneficial owner” is defined under Rule 13d-3 or any successor rule or regulation promulgated under the Exchange Act) of securities which when added to any securities already owned by such person would represent in the aggregate 30% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company; or

 

  (iv) such other events that cause a Change in Control of the Company as determined by the Board in its sole discretion.

 

  (c) Code . The “Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

  (d) Disability . “Disability” shall have the meaning given to disability in the Company’s long-term disability insurance plan.

 

  (e) Severance Compensation . The “Severance Compensation” shall be a lump sum cash amount equal to 100% of the sum of (i) the annual base salary of the Executive in effect immediately prior to the Change in Control or the Termination Date, whichever is larger, plus (ii) the average of the bonus or incentive compensation of the Executive, received from the Company for the two fiscal years preceding the year in which the Change in Control occurred or for the two fiscal years preceding the year in which the Termination Date occurs, whichever is larger.

 

  (f) Termination Date . The “Termination Date” shall be the date upon which the Executive or the Company terminates the employment of the Executive and such termination constitutes a “separation from service,” as defined and applied in Section 409A of the Code.

 

Severance Agreement - Page 2


3. Rights of Executive Upon Change in Control and Termination .

 

  (a) The Company shall provide the Executive, within ten days following the Termination Date (subject to Section 11 if the Executive is a specified employee), and provided the Executive has executed the release described in Section 6 below, Severance Compensation in lieu of compensation to the Executive for periods subsequent to the Termination Date, if, following the occurrence of a Change in Control, any of the following events shall occur:

 

  (i) the Company terminates the Executive’s employment ( i.e. , the Executive separates from service) during the Term other than for any of the following reasons:

 

  (1) the Executive dies;

 

  (2) the Executive suffers a Disability and is unable to work (with or without reasonable accommodation) for a period of 180 consecutive days; or

 

  (3) for Cause;

 

  (ii) the Executive terminates his or her employment ( i.e. , separates from service) after such Change in Control during the Term and a material negative change in the employment relationship, which shall include the occurrence of at least one of the following events:

 

  (1) a material adverse change in the nature or scope of the authorities, functions or duties attached to the position with the Company that the Executive had immediately prior to the Change in Control;

 

  (2) a reduction in the Executive’s salary, bonus or incentive compensation or a significant reduction in scope or value of other monetary or non-monetary benefits (other than benefits pursuant to a broad based employee benefit plan) to which the Executive was entitled from the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control;

 

  (3) a determination by the Executive made in good faith that as a result of a Change in Control and a change in circumstances thereafter, he has been rendered substantially unable to carry out, or has been substantially hindered in the performance of, the authorities, functions or duties attached to his position immediately prior to the Change in Control;

 

Severance Agreement - Page 3


  (4) the Company shall require the Executive to materially relocate his principal location of work from the location thereof immediately prior to the Change in Control, or to travel away from his office in the course of discharging his responsibilities or duties significantly more than required of him prior to the Change in Control; or

 

  (5) the Company commits any material breach of this Agreement;

provided, however, that with regard to each change described above, the Executive must provide written notice to the Company within 90 days of the occurrence of such change, and the Company shall have 30 days in which to cure; or

 

  (iii) the Executive terminates his or her employment ( i.e. , separates from service) for any reason during the 30-day period following the first anniversary of the Change in Control.

 

  (b) Severance Compensation pursuant to this Section 3 will not be subject to setoff or mitigation.

 

  (c) Upon a Change in Control, one-half of the unvested portion of each equity-based award previously granted by the Company to the Executive will become vested and fully exercisable by the Executive. Such accelerated vesting shall apply to one-half of the equity-based awards scheduled to vest on each vesting date specified in each such equity-based award. Such equity-based awards shall remain exercisable for their original term; provided, however, that the Company has the right to require the Executive to exercise such equity-based awards that are subject to exercise within 90 days after receipt of written notice to the Executive. If the Executive fails to exercise his or her equity-based awards within such 90-day period, the Company has the right to cancel such equity-based awards. Awards that vest on a performance basis will be considered to vest at 100% of the target level previously established for such awards.

 

  (d) In the event the Company becomes obligated hereunder to pay the Executive the Severance Compensation, the Company shall also pay the Executive, ten days following the Termination Date (subject to Section 11 if the Executive is a specified employee), and provided the Executive has executed the release described in Section 6 below, a lump sum cash payment in the amount equivalent to continuation coverage (COBRA) payments under the Company’s group health insurance plan for a period of 18 months.

 

  (e)

Notwithstanding the above section or any other provision of this Agreement, in no event shall the Company pay or be obligated to pay the Executive an amount which would be an Excess Parachute Payment. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Excess Parachute Payment” shall mean any payment or any portion

 

Severance Agreement - Page 4


 

thereof which would be an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and would result in the imposition of an excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Company and acceptable to the Executive. To the extent that the payments hereunder must be reduced to avoid any Excess Parachute Payment, such reduction shall be applied in the following order:

 

  (i) to cash amounts payable as Severance Compensation;

 

  (ii) to amounts payable for the maintenance of continuation coverage (COBRA) payments under the Company’s group health insurance plan, as provided in Section 3(d);

 

  (iii) to the accelerated vesting of equity-based awards, as provided in Section 3(c).

4. Successors, Binding Agreement . This Agreement will be binding upon the Company, its successors and assigns, and all rights of the Executive hereunder shall inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive’s personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributes, devisees and legatees.

5. Notice . The Company shall give written notice to Executive within ten days after any Change in Control. Failure to give such notice shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered or received after being mailed by United States registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

If to the Executive:

c/o Harte-Hanks, Inc.

200 Concord Plaza Drive

Suite 800

San Antonio, Texas 78216

If to the Company:

Harte-Hanks, Inc.

200 Concord Plaza Drive

Suite 800

San Antonio, Texas 78216

Attention: General Counsel

or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

 

Severance Agreement - Page 5


6. Release . In consideration for the benefits and payments provided under Sections 3(a) and 3(d) of this Agreement, unless such requirement is waived by the Board in its sole discretion, the Executive agrees to execute a release acceptable to the Company releasing the Company, its subsidiaries, shareholders, partners, officers, directors, employees and agents from any and all claims and from any and all causes of action of any kind, including but not limited to all claims or causes of action arising out of the Executive’s employment with the Company or the termination of such employment. The Executive shall execute such release prior to or as soon as practicable after his Termination Date, unless the Board in its sole discretion waives such requirement.

7. Miscellaneous . No provisions of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by the Executive and such officer as may be specifically designated by the Board. No waiver by either party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, express or implied, unless specifically referred to herein, with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. The validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall be governed by the substantive laws of the State of Delaware (to the extent not preempted by Federal law), without regard to principles of conflicts of law. This Agreement replaces any prior severance agreement between the Company and the Executive.

8. Validity . The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision of this Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

9. Employment Rights . Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement shall create any right or duty on the part of the Company or the Executive to have the Executive remain in the employment of the Company prior to any Change in Control; provided, however, that any termination of employment of the Executive or removal of the Executive as an elected officer of the Company following the commencement of any discussion authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company with a third person that ultimately results in a Change in Control shall be deemed to be a termination or removal of the Executive after a Change in Control for purposes of this Agreement and shall entitle the Executive to all Severance Compensation. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof to the contrary, the Executive may, at any time during his employment with the Company upon the giving of 30 days prior written notice, terminate his employment hereunder. If this Agreement or the employment of the Executive is terminated under circumstances in which the Executive is not entitled to any Severance Compensation, neither the Executive nor the Company shall have any further obligation or liability hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing herein shall be deemed to modify or amend any provision of any other non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality, or other agreement with the Company.

10. Withholding of Taxes . The Company may withhold from any amounts payable under this Agreement all federal, state, city or other taxes as shall be required pursuant to any law or

 

Severance Agreement - Page 6


government regulation or ruling; provided, however, that no withholding pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code shall be made unless, in the opinion of tax counsel selected by the Company and acceptable to the Executive, such withholding relates to payments which result in the imposition of an excise tax pursuant to Section 4999 of the Code.

11. Section 409A . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Executive is a “specified employee” (as defined and applied in Section 409A of the Code) as of the Termination Date, to the extent any payment under this Agreement constitutes deferred compensation (after taking into account any applicable exemptions under Section 409A of the Code) and to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code, the Executive shall not be entitled to any payments under this Agreement until the earlier of (a) the first day following the six-month anniversary of the Termination Date, or (b) the Executive’s date of death. For purposes of Section 409A of the Code, each “payment” (as defined by Section 409A of the Code) made under this Agreement shall be considered a “separate payment.” In addition, for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, payments shall be deemed exempt from Section 409A of the Code to the full extent possible under the “short-term deferral” exemption of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(4) and (with respect to amounts paid no later than the second calendar year following the calendar year containing the Termination Date) the “two-years/two-times” separation pay exemption of Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), which are hereby incorporated by reference.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective on the date and year first above written.

 

HARTE-HANKS, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
[EXECUTIVE]

 

 

Severance Agreement - Page 7