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):

April 29, 2009

 

 

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

 

001-31262   01-0609375
(Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer Identification No.)

 

2905 Premiere Parkway NW, Suite 300

Duluth, Georgia

  30097
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(770) 418-8200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

None

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ 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 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Amendment and Restatement of the Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. 2002 Equity Incentive Plan

On March 25, 2009, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (the “Company”) approved, subject to stockholder approval, the amendment and restatement of the Company’s 2002 Equity Incentive Plan (as amended and restated, the “2002 Equity Incentive Plan”) to, among other things, increase the aggregate number of shares available under the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan by 2,575,000 shares, and expand the performance goals applicable to awards intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). On April 29, 2009, the Company’s stockholders approved the adoption of the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders.

The 2002 Equity Incentive Plan provides for the granting of incentive stock options, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, dividend equivalents, other equity-based or equity-related awards (including deferred share units and performance share units), and/or performance compensation awards with respect to 2,575,000 shares of the Company’s common stock plus any shares that remained available for delivery under the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan immediately prior to the effective date of shareholder approval of the amendment and restatement of the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan, subject to adjustment in accordance with the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan. The 2002 Equity Incentive Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”).

Any director, officer or other key employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including any prospective officer or key employee) is eligible to be designated to participate in the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan. A maximum of 1,500,000 shares with respect to options, stock appreciation rights or any other award that is not a “Full Value Award” (as defined in the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan) may be granted to any participant during a rolling 36-month period (measured from the date of any grant), and a maximum of 750,000 shares with respect to Full Value Awards may be granted to any participant during a rolling 36-month period (measured from the date of any grant). Furthermore, a maximum of 1,500,000 shares (or, if paid in cash, the equivalent cash value of 1,500,000 shares on the last day of the applicable performance period) with respect to performance compensation awards may be granted to any participant during a rolling 36-month period (measured from the date of any grant). Shares deliverable under the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan may consist of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.

Unless earlier terminated by the Board, the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan will terminate on March 9, 2012.

The foregoing summary of the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the 2002 Equity Incentive Plan, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

Amendment and Restatement of the Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. Key Executive Incentive Compensation Plan

On March 25, 2009, the Committee approved, subject to stockholder approval, the amendment and restatement of the Company’s Key Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (as amended and restated, the “Incentive Compensation Plan”) to, among other things, permit the deductibility under the Code of cash bonuses awarded to certain executive officers of the Company and expand the list of performance criteria upon which performance goals may be based. On April 29, 2009, the Company’s stockholders approved the adoption of the Incentive Compensation Plan at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders.


Under the Incentive Compensation Plan, the Committee will be authorized to make incentive compensation awards, subject to a maximum annual award limitation, to executive officers of the Company based on the performance of the Company, its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions or operating units, or any combination of the foregoing. The Committee has sole responsibility for selecting eligible employees and participants, establishing performance goals, setting performance periods, setting target/maximum award amounts, certifying whether performance goals have been attained and determining actual award amounts. However, the Board must approve all awards to the Chief Executive Officer that are recommended by the Committee.

Any individual who is on the Company’s active payroll and its subsidiaries and affiliates during the applicable performance period and who is determined by the Committee to be an executive officer of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates is eligible to participate in the Incentive Compensation Plan. To be eligible to receive an award, the participant must generally be employed on the date the Company makes payments with respect to awards for the applicable performance period. The Committee may in its discretion, however, make payment of an award to any participant who has retired or whose employment has terminated after the beginning of the performance period, or to the designee or estate of a participant who died prior to the date on which the Company makes payments with respect to awards for the applicable performance period, but not unless and until the Committee has certified attainment of the relevant performance goals for the applicable performance period. Awards payable to any individual participant under the Incentive Compensation Plan to any fiscal year may not exceed $5,000,000.

The performance goal(s) that may be selected by the Committee may be based upon one or more of the following criteria: (1) net income before or after taxes, (2) earnings before or after taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), (3) operating income, (4) earnings per share, (5) return on stockholders’ equity, (6) return on investment, (7) return on assets, (8) level or amount of acquisitions, (9) share price, (10) profitability/profit margins, (11) market share, (12) revenues or sales (based on units and/or dollars), (13) costs, (14) cash flow, (15) working capital, (16) objective measures of customer satisfaction, (17) objective measures of objective measures of employee satisfaction, (18) expense levels and expense ratios, (19) gross margin and gross margin ratios, (20) employee turnover, (21) implementation of systems, (22) completion of projects, (23) level or amount of divestitures, (24) goals related to capitalization or restructuring of the balance sheet, and (25) goals related to management or expense restructuring. The foregoing criteria may, as determined by the Committee, relate to the Company, one or more of its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing, and may be applied on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one or more peer companies or indices or any combination thereof. To the extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code, within the first 90 days of the performance period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee will define, in writing and in an objective fashion, the manner of calculating the performance criteria it selects to use for the applicable performance period in order to determine whether the applicable performance goal(s) have been attained.

The Committee is authorized at any time during the first 90 days of the performance period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), or any time thereafter (but only to the extent the exercise of such authority after such time would not cause the awards to fail to qualify as “qualified performance based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code), in its sole and absolute discretion, to adjust or modify the calculation of performance goal(s) for the applicable performance period to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code (1) in the event of, or in anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event or development affecting the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such performance goal(s)) or (2) in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such


performance goal(s)), or the financial statements of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such performance goal(s)), or of changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange, accounting principles, law or business conditions.

Following the completion of the applicable performance period, the Committee will meet to review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the performance goal(s) for the performance period have been achieved. If the applicable performance goal(s) have been achieved, the Committee will then determine the actual size of each participant’s award for the performance period. In determining the actual size of an individual award for a performance period, the Committee may, in its sole judgment, reduce or eliminate the maximum award payable to the participant for the performance period.

Awards will be paid in cash to participants as soon as administratively possible following completion of the Committee’s certification of the attainment of the performance goals, unless the Committee determines that any award or any portion thereof will be deferred. In no event may a participant receive any payment (1) in respect of an award unless and until, and only to the extent that, the performance goal(s) for the applicable performance period are achieved and certified by the Committee and (2) of any award in excess of the annual limitation set forth under the plan.

The Incentive Compensation Plan will continue in effect until terminated by the Board of Directors.

The foregoing summary of the Incentive Compensation Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Incentive Compensation Plan, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

Reduction of Annual Retainers for Non-Management Directors

At a meeting of the Board on April 29, 2009, the Committee recommended, and the Board approved, the following changes to the compensation arrangements for non-management directors for 2009, effective upon the next quarterly payment of annual retainer fees in June 2009: (i) the annual retainer for each non-executive director, with the exception of Michael Durham, was voluntarily reduced by ten percent from $35,000 to $31,500 and (ii) Mr. Durham’s annual retainer, as the Non-Executive Chairman of the Board, was voluntarily reduced by approximately twenty-five percent from $175,000 to $131,500. As previously reported, Mr. Durham voluntarily agreed to reduce his annual retainer from $225,000 to $175,000 in October 2008. These reductions to Mr. Durham’s annual retainer since October 2008 represent a combined decrease of approximately forty-two percent.

Compensation Arrangements with Michael Kearney

As previously reported, on March 12, 2009, the Board appointed Michael S. Kearney to serve as the Company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Kearney served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company’s Eastern Region, which included Nalley Automotive Group in Georgia, Crown Automotive Company in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and New Jersey, and Coggin Automotive Group and Courtesy Auto Group in Florida.

In connection with Mr. Kearney’s promotion, the Company executed a letter agreement with Mr. Kearney dated April 29, 2009, pursuant to which he will receive a base salary of $600,000 per year. In addition, through participation in the Company’s annual cash bonus program, Mr. Kearney will be eligible for a target annual bonus of $360,000, representing 60% of his base salary based on the achievement of certain Company objectives established by the Committee during the first quarter of the fiscal year.


In addition, in connection with his promotion, Mr. Kearney received a grant of stock options on April 29, 2009 for 50,000 shares of the Company’s common stock with an exercise price equal to $9.09, which was the fair market value of the Company’s shares on April 29, 2009. The options were granted pursuant to the terms of the Company’s 2002 Equity Incentive Plan and will vest in three equal amounts on the completion of service through the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date. The options will be subject to acceleration upon a change in control of the Company.

Mr. Kearney is also entitled to certain perquisites, including an automobile allowance of $800 per month, the use of one demonstrator automobile, and other benefits generally available to the Company’s executives or all of its employees.

Pursuant to the terms of a severance agreement executed by Mr. Kearney as of April 29, 2009, in the event his employment is terminated by the Company without cause or by Mr. Kearney for good reason, Mr. Kearney will be entitled to receive severance payments providing for one year of base salary, a pro-rated bonus and benefits continuation for one year. The base salary payments will be made monthly on the Company’s regular payroll dates and the pro-rated bonus will be paid at such time as bonuses are paid under the applicable bonus compensation plan to the Company’s other employees whose employment has not terminated in such year. Mr. Kearney will not be entitled to severance in the event of Mr. Kearney’s transfer from the Company to any of its affiliates or Mr. Kearney’s termination due to death, disability, retirement, voluntary resignation or cause. The foregoing severance is conditioned upon Mr. Kearney’s compliance with confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-competition covenants with the Company and the execution of a general release in favor of the Company.

In addition, Mr. Kearney will enter into the Company’s standard indemnification agreement. The indemnification agreement will be identical in all material respects to the Company’s previously filed Indemnification Agreement for its officers and directors, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 25, 2003 as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

The foregoing summary of Mr. Kearney’s compensation arrangements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the letter agreement between the Company and Mr. Kearney, dated April 29, 2009, attached hereto as Exhibit 10.3, and the severance agreement executed as of April 29, 2009 outlining his severance arrangements, attached hereto as Exhibit 10.4, which exhibits are incorporated herein by reference.

Amendment and Restatement of Certain Severance Agreements

On April 29, 2009, Craig T. Monaghan, the Company’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and Philip R. Johnson, the Company’s Vice President of Human Resources, executed amended and restated severance agreements to provide that the payment of any pro-rated bonuses will be based on actual performance and paid at such time as bonuses are paid under the applicable bonus compensation plan to the Company’s other employees whose employment has not terminated in such year. The prior severance agreements provided that pro-rated bonuses would be based on targeted bonuses and paid in a lump sum within 30 days of the date of Termination (as defined in the applicable severance agreement). The amendments are intended to permit the deductability of performance bonuses under Section 162(m) of the Code.

The foregoing summary of the amended and restated severance agreements is qualified in its entirety by reference to the severance agreements executed as of April 29, 2009 by Messrs. Monaghan and Johnson outlining their respective severance arrangements, attached hereto as Exhibits 10.5 and 10.6, respectively, which exhibits are incorporated herein by reference.


Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

As previously announced, Elizabeth Brannen Chandler has been named Vice President and General Counsel of the Company, effective May 13, 2009. The Company issued a press release on April 29, 2009 announcing the appointment of Ms. Chandler, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

10.1    Amended and Restated 2002 Equity Incentive Plan of Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.
10.2    Amended and Restated Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. Key Executive Incentive Compensation Plan
10.3    Letter Agreement between Michael S. Kearney and Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., dated April 29, 2009
10.4    Severance Agreement between Michael S. Kearney and Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., dated as of April 29, 2009
10.5    Severance Agreement between Craig T. Monaghan and Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., dated as of April 29, 2009
10.6    Severance Agreement between Philip R. Johnson and Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., dated as of April 29, 2009
99.1    Press Release dated April 29, 2009


SIGNATURE

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.

 

  ASBURY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
Date: May 4, 2009   By:  

/s/ Charles R. Oglesby

  Name:   Charles R. Oglesby
  Title:   President and Chief Executive Officer

 


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description

10.1    Amended and Restated 2002 Equity Incentive Plan of Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.
10.2    Amended and Restated Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. Key Executive Incentive Compensation Plan
10.3    Letter Agreement between Michael S. Kearney and Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., dated April 29, 2009
10.4    Severance Agreement between Michael S. Kearney and Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., dated as of April 29, 2009
10.5    Severance Agreement between Craig T. Monaghan and Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., dated as of April 29, 2009
10.6    Severance Agreement between Philip R. Johnson and Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., dated as of April 29, 2009
99.1    Press Release dated April 29, 2009

Exhibit 10.1

Amended and Restated 2002 Equity Incentive Plan

of

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

As Amended and Restated Effective March 25, 2009

Section 1. Purpose. The purposes of this Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2002 Equity Incentive Plan are to promote the interests of Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. and its shareholders by (i) attracting and retaining exceptional directors, officers and other key employees (including prospective officers and key employees) of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (ii) enabling such individuals to participate in the long-term growth and financial success of the Company.

Section 2. Definitions. As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

“Affiliate” shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by, controls or is under common control with, the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in either case as determined by the Committee.

“Award” shall mean any award that is permitted under Section 6 and granted under the Plan.

“Award Agreement” shall mean any written or electronic agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing any Award, which may, but need not, require execution or acknowledgment by a Participant.

“Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

“Change of Control” shall (i) have the meaning set forth in an Award Agreement, or (ii) if there is no definition set forth in an Award Agreement, mean an event or series of events, not including any events occurring prior to or in connection with an initial public offering of Shares (including the occurrence of such initial public offering), by which:

(A) during any period of 12 consecutive calendar months, individuals whose appointment or election to the Board was endorsed by a majority of the Board before the date of the appointment or election shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board;

(B) the consummation of a merger, consolidation, statutory share exchange or similar form of corporate transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (a “Reorganization”) or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to an entity that is not an affiliate of the Company (a “Sale”), that in each case requires the approval of the Company’s stockholders under the law of the Company’s jurisdiction of organization, whether for such Reorganization or Sale (or the issuance of securities of the Company in such Reorganization or Sale), unless immediately following such Reorganization or Sale 50% or more of the total voting power (in respect of the election of directors, or similar officials in the case of an entity other than a corporation) of (i) the entity resulting from such Reorganization, or the entity which has acquired all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (the “Surviving Entity”), or (ii) if applicable, the ultimate parent entity that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership of 50% or more of the total voting power (in respect of the election of directors, or similar officials in the case of an entity other than a corporation) of the Surviving Entity (the “Parent Entity”), is represented by the Company’s outstanding securities eligible to vote for the election of the Board (the “Company Voting Securities”) that were outstanding immediately prior to such Reorganization or Sale (or, if applicable, is represented by shares into which such Company Voting Securities were converted pursuant to such Reorganization or Sale), and such voting power among the holders thereof is in substantially the

 

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same proportion as the voting power of such Company Voting Securities among the holders thereof immediately prior to the Reorganization or Sale;

(C) any “person” (as such term is defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (or any successor section thereto)), corporation or other entity (other than (i) the Company, (ii) any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or an Affiliate, or (iii) any company owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of Shares), becomes the “beneficial owner” (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act (or any successor rule thereto)), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then-outstanding securities.

“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

“Committee” shall mean the compensation committee of the Board or a subcommittee thereof, or such other committee of the Board as may be designated by the Board to administer the Plan. The Committee shall consist solely of two or more Independent Directors appointed by and holding office at the pleasure of the Board, each of whom is intended to qualify as both a “non-employee director” as defined by Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor rule, an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code and an “independent director” under the rules of any Securities Exchange; provided that any action taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective, whether or not members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the foregoing requirements for membership or other requirements provided in any charter of the Committee.

“Company” shall mean Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., together with any successor thereto.

“Covered Employee” shall mean any officer or other employee (as determined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder) of the Company or of any Affiliate who is, or could be, a “covered employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.

“Deferred Share Unit” shall mean a deferred share unit Award granted under the Plan, which represents an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Shares in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.

“Equity Restructuring” shall mean a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the Shares (or other securities of the Company) or the share price thereof and causes a change in the per share value of the Shares underlying outstanding Awards.

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

“Exercise Price” shall mean (i) in the case of Options, the price specified in the applicable Award Agreement as the price-per-Share at which such Share can be purchased pursuant to the Option or (ii) in the case of SARs, the price specified in the applicable Award Agreement as the reference price-per-Share used to calculate the amount payable to the Participant.

“Fair Market Value” shall mean, (A) with respect to any property other than Shares, the fair market value of such property determined by such methods or procedures as shall be established from time to time by the Committee and (B) with respect to the Shares, as of any date, (i) the closing sales price of the Shares as reported on the composite tape for securities traded on the New York Stock Exchange for such date (or if not then trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the closing sales price of the Shares on the stock exchange or over-the-counter market on which the Shares are principally trading on such date), or, if there were no sales on such date, on the

 

2


closest preceding date on which there were sales of Shares or (ii) in the event there shall be no public market for the Shares on such date, the fair market value of the Shares as determined in good faith by the Committee.

“Full Value Award” shall mean any Award other than (i) an Option, (ii) an SAR or (iii) any other Award for which the Participant pays the intrinsic value existing as of the date of grant (whether directly or by foregoing a right to receive a payment from the Company or any Subsidiary).

“Incentive Stock Option” shall mean a right to purchase Shares from the Company that (i) is granted under Section 6 of the Plan and (ii) is intended to qualify for special Federal income tax treatment pursuant to Section 421 and 422 of the Code, as now constituted or subsequently amended, or pursuant to a successor provision of the Code, and which is so designated in the applicable Award Agreement.

“Independent Director” shall mean a member of the Board who is neither (i) an employee of the Company nor (ii) an employee of any of the Company’s Affiliates.

“Nonqualified Stock Option” shall mean a right to purchase Shares from the Company that (i) is granted under Section 6 of the Plan and (ii) is not an Incentive Stock Option.

“Option” shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option or both, as the context requires.

“Participant” shall mean any director, officer or other key employee (including any prospective officer or key employee) of the Company or its Subsidiaries eligible for an Award under Section 5 of the Plan and selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the Plan.

“Performance Compensation Award” shall mean any Award designated by the Committee as a Performance Compensation Award pursuant to Section 6(g) of the Plan.

“Performance Criteria” shall mean the criterion or criteria that the Committee shall select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal(s) for a Performance Period with respect to any Performance Compensation Award under the Plan.

“Performance Formula” shall mean, for a Performance Period, the one or more objective formulas applied against the relevant Performance Goal to determine, with regard to the Performance Compensation Award of a particular Participant, whether all, some portion but less than all, or none of the Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period.

“Performance Goal” shall mean, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria.

“Performance Period” shall mean the one or more periods of time as the Committee may select over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to and the payment of a Performance Compensation Award.

“Performance Share Unit” shall mean a performance share unit Award granted under the Plan, which represents an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Shares, cash, other securities, other Awards or other property upon the attainment of Performance Goals in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.

“Permitted Transferee” shall mean, with respect to a Participant, any “family member” of the Participant, as defined under the instructions to use of the Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

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“Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or political subdivision thereof or other entity.

“Plan” shall mean this Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2002 Equity Incentive Plan.

“Repricing” shall mean (i) lowering the Exercise Price of an Option or SAR after it has been granted, (ii) cancellation of an Option or an SAR in exchange for cash or another Award when the Option or SAR price per share exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares, and (iii) any other action with respect to an Option or an SAR that is treated as a repricing under (A) generally accepted accounting principles or (B) any applicable stock exchange rules.

“Restricted Share” shall mean a Share delivered under the Plan that is subject to certain transfer restrictions, forfeiture provisions and/or other terms and conditions specified herein and in the applicable Award Agreement.

“Restricted Share Unit” shall mean a restricted share unit Award granted under the Plan, which represents an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Shares, cash, other securities, other Awards or other property in accordance with the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.

“Rule 16b-3” shall mean Rule 16b-3 as promulgated and interpreted by the SEC under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule or regulation thereto as in effect from time to time.

“SAR” shall mean a stock appreciation right granted under the Plan, which represents an unfunded and unsecured promise to deliver Shares, cash, other securities, other Awards or other property equal in value to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value per Share over the Exercise Price per Share of the SAR, subject to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement.

“SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto and shall include the staff thereof.

“Securities Exchange” shall mean any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Shares are listed, quoted or traded.

“Shares” shall mean the common shares of the Company, $0.01 par value, or such other securities of the Company (i) into which such common shares shall be changed by reason of a recapitalization, merger, consolidation, split-up, combination, exchange of shares or other similar transaction or (ii) as may be determined by the Committee pursuant to Section 4(b).

“Subsidiary” shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in either case as determined by the Committee.

“Substitute Awards” shall have the meaning specified in Section 4(c).

Section 3. Administration.

(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant and designate those Awards which shall constitute Performance Compensation Awards, (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Awards; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or

 

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suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property, and other amounts payable with respect to an Award (subject to Section 162(m) of the Code with respect to Performance Compensation Awards) shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the Committee; (vii) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency, correct any default and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; (ix) establish and administer Performance Goals and certify whether, and to what extent, they have been attained; and (x) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan.

(b) Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, any Affiliate, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, and any shareholder.

(c) No member of the Board, the Committee or any employee of the Company (each such person, a “Covered Person”) shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder. Each Covered Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (i) any loss, cost, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Covered Person in connection with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding to which such Covered Person may be a party or in which such Covered Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken under the Plan or any Award Agreement and (ii) any and all amounts paid by such Covered Person, with the Company’s approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Covered Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such Covered Person; provided that the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit or proceeding and, once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company’s choice. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to a Covered Person to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment or other final adjudication, in either case not subject to further appeal, determines that the acts or omissions of such Covered Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Covered Person’s bad faith, fraud or willful criminal act or omission or that such right of indemnification is otherwise prohibited by law. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which Covered Persons may be entitled under the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Restated Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such persons or hold them harmless.

(d) With respect to any Performance Compensation Award granted under the Plan, the Plan shall be interpreted and construed in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code.

(e) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Board may, in its sole discretion, at any time and from time to time, grant Awards to Independent Directors or administer the Plan with respect to such Awards. In any such case, the Board shall have all of the authority and responsibility granted to the Committee herein.

(f) To the extent permitted by applicable law or the rules of any Securities Exchange, the Board or Committee may from time to time delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board or one or more officers of the Company the authority to grant or amend Awards or to take other administrative actions pursuant to Section 3; provided , however , that in no event shall an officer of the Company be delegated the authority to grant Awards to, or amend Awards held by, the following individuals: (i) individuals who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (ii) Covered Employees, or (iii) officers of the Company (or Directors) to whom authority to grant or amend Awards has been delegated hereunder; provided, further , that any delegation of

 

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administrative authority shall only be permitted to the extent it is permissible under Section 162(m) of the Code, applicable securities laws (including, without limitation, Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor rule), and the rules of any Securities Exchange. Any delegation hereunder shall be subject to the restrictions and limits that the Board or Committee specifies at the time of such delegation, and the Board or Committee may at any time rescind the authority so delegated or appoint a new delegate. At all times, the delegatee appointed under this Section 3(f) shall serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board and the Committee.

Section 4. Shares Available for Awards.

(a) Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(b) and Section 7(c), (i) the aggregate number of Shares that may be delivered pursuant to Awards granted under the Plan shall be the sum of (x) 2,575,000 Shares and (y) any Shares which remained available for delivery under the Plan immediately prior to the effective date of shareholder approval of this amendment and restatement of the Plan; (ii) the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options or SARs (or any other Award that is not a Full Value Award) may be granted to any Participant during a rolling 36-month period (measured from the date of any grant) shall be 1,500,000; (iii) the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Full Value Awards may be granted to any Participant during a rolling 36-month period (measured from the date of any grant) shall be 750,000; and (iv) the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options may be granted shall be no more than the aggregate number of Shares authorized for delivery under the foregoing clause (i). If, after the effective date of shareholder approval of this amendment and restatement of the Plan, any Award granted under the Plan is forfeited, or otherwise expires, terminates, lapses or is canceled for any reason, or an Award is settled in cash without the delivery of Shares to the Participant, then the Shares covered by such Award shall again become available to be delivered pursuant to Awards under the Plan. Any Shares tendered or withheld to satisfy the grant or exercise price or tax withholding obligation pursuant to any Award, and any Shares subject to SARs that are not issued in connection with the stock settlement of such SARs on exercise thereof, shall again become available to be delivered pursuant to Awards under the Plan. The payment of Dividend Equivalents in cash in conjunction with any outstanding Awards shall not be counted against the Shares available to be delivered pursuant to Awards under the Plan.

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4.1(a), no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an Incentive Stock Option to fail to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code. To the extent that the aggregate fair market value of stock with respect to which “incentive stock options” (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, but without regard to Section 422(d) of the Code) are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year under the Plan, and all other plans of the Company and any subsidiary or parent corporation thereof (each as defined in Section 424(f) and (e) of the Code, respectively), exceeds $100,000, the Options shall be treated as Nonqualified Stock Options to the extent required by Section 422 of the Code. The rule set forth in the preceding sentence shall be applied by taking Options and other “incentive stock options” into account in the order in which they were granted and the Fair Market Value of stock shall be determined as of the time the respective options were granted.

(b) Adjustments.

(i) In the event of any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event, other than an Equity Restructuring, affects the Shares such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee 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 Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Section 4(a)) and (ii) the terms of any

 

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outstanding Award, including (A) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards or to which outstanding Awards relate and (B) the Exercise Price with respect to any Award.

(ii) In connection with the occurrence of any Equity Restructuring, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 4(b)(i) or Section 7(c):

(A) The number and type of securities or other property subject to each outstanding Award and the exercise price or grant price thereof, if applicable, shall be equitably adjusted; and/or

(B) The Committee shall make such equitable adjustments, if any, as the Committee in its discretion may deem appropriate to reflect such Equity Restructuring with respect to the aggregate number and kind of Shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Section 4(a)). The adjustments provided under this Section 4(b)(ii) shall be nondiscretionary and shall be final and binding on the affected Participant and the Company.

(c) Substitute Awards. Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted under the Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines (“Substitute Awards”). The number of Shares underlying any Substitute Awards shall be counted against the aggregate number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan; provided, however, that Substitute Awards issued in connection with the assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an entity that is acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates through a merger or acquisition shall not be counted against the aggregate number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan. In the event that an entity acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or with which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by stockholders and not adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not reduce the Shares authorized for grant under the Plan; provided that Awards using such available shares shall not be made after the date awards could have been made under the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made to individuals who were not employed by or providing services to the Company or its Affiliates immediately prior to such acquisition or combination.

(d) Sources of Shares Deliverable Under Awards. Any Shares delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or of treasury Shares.

Section 5. Eligibility. Any director, officer or other key employee (including any prospective officer or key employee) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including any prospective officer or key employee) shall be eligible to be designated a Participant.

Section 6. Awards.

(a) Types of Awards. Subject to the provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, Section 9(q)), Awards may be made under the Plan in the form of (i) Options, (ii) SARs, (iii) Restricted Shares, (iv) Restricted Share Units, (v) Deferred Share Units, (vi) Performance Share Units and (vii) other equity-based or equity-related Awards that the Committee determines are consistent with the purpose of the Plan and the interests of the Company. Awards may be granted in tandem with other Awards. No Incentive Stock Option (other than an Incentive Stock Option that may be assumed or issued by the Company in connection with a transaction to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies) may be granted to a person who is not eligible to receive an Incentive Stock Option under the Code.

 

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(b) Options.

(i) Grant. Subject to the provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, Section 9(q)), the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Participants to whom Options shall be granted, the number of Shares to be covered by each Option, whether the Option will be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option, and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Option. In the case of Incentive Stock Options, the terms and conditions of such grants shall be subject to and comply with such rules as may be prescribed by Section 422 of the Code and any regulations related thereto, as may be amended from time to time. All Options granted under the Plan shall be Nonqualified Stock Options unless the applicable Award Agreement expressly states that the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option. If an Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option, and if for any reason such Option (or any portion thereof) shall not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, then, to the extent of such nonqualification, such Option (or portion thereof) shall be regarded as a Nonqualified Stock Option appropriately granted under the Plan; provided that such Option (or portion thereof) otherwise complies with the Plan’s requirements relating to Nonqualified Stock Options.

(ii) Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of each Share covered by an Option shall be set by the Committee, but, except in the case of Substitute Awards, shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Share on the date the Option is granted (or, in the case of Incentive Stock Options, on the date the Incentive Stock Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code). Options are intended to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. Repricing of Options granted under the Plan shall not be permitted without prior shareholder approval, and any action that would be deemed to result in a Repricing of an Option shall be deemed null and void if any requisite shareholder approval related thereto is not obtained prior to the effective time of such action.

(iii) Exercise. Each Option shall be vested and exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may, in its sole discretion, specify in the applicable Award Agreement or thereafter. Except as otherwise specified by the Committee in the Award Agreement, Options shall become vested and exercisable with respect to one-third of the Shares subject to such Options on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant. The Committee may impose such conditions with respect to the exercise of Options, including without limitation, any relating to the application of Federal or state securities laws, as it may deem necessary or advisable.

(iv) Payment.

(A) No Shares shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the aggregate Exercise Price therefor is received by the Company. Such payment may be made in cash, or its equivalent, or (x) by exchanging Shares owned by the Participant (which are not the subject of any pledge or other security interest), (y) subject to such rules as may be established by the Committee, through delivery of irrevocable instructions to a broker to sell the Shares otherwise deliverable upon the exercise of the Option and to deliver promptly to the Company an amount equal to the aggregate Exercise Price, or (z) subject to such rules as may be established by the Committee, by electing to have the Company withhold Shares otherwise deliverable upon the exercise of the Option, or by a combination of the foregoing; provided that the combined value of all cash and cash equivalents and the Fair Market Value of any such Shares so tendered to the Company as of the date of such tender is at least equal to such aggregate Exercise Price.

(B) Wherever in this Plan or any Award Agreement a Participant is permitted to pay the Exercise Price of an Option or taxes relating to the exercise of an Option by delivering Shares, the Participant may, subject to procedures satisfactory to the Committee, satisfy such delivery requirement by presenting proof of beneficial ownership of such Shares, in which case the Company shall treat the Option as exercised without further payment and shall withhold such number of Shares from the Shares acquired by the exercise of the Option.

 

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(v) Expiration. Each Option shall expire immediately, without any payment, upon the earlier of (A) the tenth anniversary of the date the Option is granted, or (B) except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, the date the Participant who is holding the Option ceases to be employed by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries. In no event may an Option be exercisable after the tenth anniversary of the date the Option is granted. An Award Agreement may provide that if on the last day of the term of an Option the Fair Market Value of one Share exceeds the Exercise Price of the Option, the Participant has not exercised the Option and the Option has not expired, the Option shall be deemed to have been exercised by the Participant on such day with payment made by withholding Shares otherwise issuable in connection with the exercise of the Option. In such event, the Company shall deliver to the Participant the number of Shares for which the Option was deemed exercised, less the number of Shares required to be withheld for the payment of the total purchase price and required withholding taxes; provided, however, any fractional Share shall be settled in cash.

(c) SARs.

(i) Grant. Subject to the provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, Section 9(q)), the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Participants to whom SARs shall be granted, the number of Shares to be covered by each SAR Award, the Exercise Price thereof and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise thereof. SARs may be granted in tandem with another Award, in addition to another Award or freestanding and unrelated to another Award. SARs granted in tandem with or in addition to an Award may be granted either at the same time as the Award or at a later time.

(ii) Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of each Share covered by an SAR shall be set by the Committee, but, except in the case of Substitute Awards, shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Share on the date the SAR is granted; provided that, to the extent permitted under Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, the Exercise Price of each Share covered by a tandem SAR that is granted subsequent to the grant date of the related Option may be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Share on the date the tandem SAR is granted (but in no event less than the Exercise Price of the related Option). SARs are intended to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. Repricing of SARs granted under the Plan shall not be permitted without prior shareholder approval, and any action that would be deemed to result in a Repricing of an SAR shall be deemed null and void if any requisite shareholder approval related thereto is not obtained prior to the effective time of such action.

(iii) Exercise and Payment. An SAR shall entitle the Participant to receive an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise of the SAR over the Exercise Price thereof. The Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion, whether an SAR shall be settled in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or a combination of any of the foregoing.

(iv) Other Terms and Conditions. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall determine, at or after the grant of an SAR, the term, methods of exercise, methods and form of settlement, and any other terms and conditions of any SAR. Any such determination by the Committee may be changed by the Committee from time to time and may govern the exercise of SARs granted or exercised thereafter. The Committee may impose such conditions or restrictions on the exercise of any SAR as it shall deem appropriate or desirable. In no event may an SAR be exercisable after the tenth anniversary of the date the SAR is granted. An Award Agreement may provide that if on the last day of the term of an SAR the Fair Market Value of one Share exceeds the Exercise Price of the SAR, the Participant has not exercised the SAR or the tandem Option (if applicable), and neither the SAR nor the Option has expired, the SAR shall be deemed to have been exercised by the Participant on such day. In such event, the Company shall make payment to the Participant in accordance with this Section 6(c), reduced by the number of Shares (or cash) required for withholding taxes; provided, however, any fractional Share shall be settled in cash.

 

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(d) Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units.

(i) Grant. Subject to the provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, Section 9(q)), the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Participants to whom Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units shall be granted, the number of Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units to be granted to each Participant, the duration of the period during which, and the conditions, if any, under which, the Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units may be forfeited to the Company, and the other terms and conditions of such Awards.

(ii) Transfer Restrictions. Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered except, in the case of Restricted Shares, as provided in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement. Certificates issued in respect of Restricted Shares shall be registered in the name of the Participant and deposited by such Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company or such other custodian as may be designated by the Committee or the Company, and shall be held by the Company or other custodian, as applicable, until such time as the restrictions applicable to such Restricted Shares lapse. Upon the lapse of the restrictions applicable to such Restricted Shares, the Company or other custodian, as applicable, shall deliver such certificates to the Participant or the Participant’s legal representative.

(iii) Payment. Each Restricted Share Unit shall have a value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share. Restricted Share Units shall be paid in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, upon the lapse of restrictions applicable thereto, or otherwise in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement, but in any event within the period required by Section 409A of the Code such that it qualifies as a “short-term deferral” pursuant to Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Department of Treasury regulations, unless the Committee shall determine that any such Award shall be deferred.

(iv) Dividends. Dividends paid on any Restricted Shares may be paid directly to the Participant, withheld by the Company subject to vesting of the Restricted Shares pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, or may be reinvested in additional Restricted Shares or in additional Restricted Share Units, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; provided that any such dividends on Restricted Shares designated as a Performance Compensation Award shall be withheld by the Company subject to vesting of the Restricted Shares pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, and, only after such Restricted Shares have vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, any dividends so withheld may be paid directly to the Participant or may be reinvested in additional Restricted Shares or in additional Restricted Share Units, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

(e) Other Stock-Based Awards. Subject to the provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, Section 9(q)), the Committee shall have the sole and complete authority to grant to Participants other equity-based or equity-related Awards (including Deferred Share Units and Performance Share Units) in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine; provided that any such Awards must comply, to the extent deemed desirable by the Committee, with Rule 16b-3 and applicable law.

(f) Dividend Equivalents. Subject to the provisions of the Plan (including, without limitation, Section 9(q)), in the sole and complete discretion of the Committee, an Award, other than an Option or SAR, may provide the Participant with dividends or dividend equivalents, payable in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, on a current or deferred basis, on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, including, without limitation, payment directly to the Participant, withholding of such amounts by the Company subject to vesting of the Award, or reinvestment in additional Shares, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units or other Awards; provided that any such dividends or dividend equivalents with respect to Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units designated as a Performance Compensation Award shall be withheld by the Company subject to vesting of the Restricted Shares or Restricted Share Units pursuant to the

 

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terms of the applicable Award Agreement, and, only after such Restricted Shares have vested pursuant to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement, any dividends or dividend equivalents so withheld may be paid directly to the Participant or may be reinvested in additional Shares, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units or other Awards, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

(g) Performance Compensation Awards.

(i) General. The Committee shall have the authority, at the time of grant of any Award, to designate such Award (other than Options and SARs) as a Performance Compensation Award in order to qualify such Award as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code. Options and SARs granted under the Plan shall not be included among Awards that are designated as Performance Compensation Awards under this Section 6(g).

(ii) Eligibility. The Committee will, in its sole discretion, designate within the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code) which Participants will be eligible to receive Performance Compensation Awards in respect of such Performance Period. However, designation of a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder for a Performance Period shall not in any manner entitle the Participant to receive payment in respect of any Performance Compensation Award for such Performance Period. The determination as to whether or not such Participant becomes entitled to payment in respect of any Performance Compensation Award shall be decided solely in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(g). Moreover, designation of a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder for a particular Performance Period shall not require designation of such Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder in any subsequent Performance Period and designation of one person as a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder shall not require designation of any other person as a Participant eligible to receive an Award hereunder in such period or in any other period.

(iii) Discretion of Committee with Respect to Performance Compensation Awards. With regard to a particular Performance Period, the Committee shall have full discretion to select the length of such Performance Period, the type(s) of Performance Compensation Awards to be issued, the Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s), the kind(s) and/or level(s) of the Performance Goals(s) that is (are) to apply to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, divisions or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing, and the Performance Formula. Within the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee shall, with regard to the Performance Compensation Awards to be issued for such Performance Period, exercise its discretion with respect to each of the matters enumerated in the immediately preceding sentence and record the same in writing.

(iv) Performance Criteria. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Performance Criteria that will be used to establish the Performance Goal(s) shall be based on the attainment of specific levels of performance of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, Affiliates, divisions or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing, and shall be limited to the following: (1) net income before or after taxes, (2) earnings before or after taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), (3) operating income, (4) earnings per share, (5) return on shareholders’ equity, (6) return on investment, (7) return on assets, (8) level or amount of acquisitions, (9) share price, (10) profitability/profit margins, (11) market share, (12) revenues or sales (based on units and/or dollars), (13) costs, (14) cash flow, (15) working capital, (16) objective measures of customer satisfaction, (17) objective measures of employee satisfaction, (18) expense levels and expense ratios, (19) gross margin and gross margin ratios, (20) employee turnover, (21) implementation of systems, (22) completion of projects, (23) level or amount of divestitures, (24) goals related to capitalization or restructuring of the balance sheet, and (25) goals related to management or expense restructuring. The Performance Criteria may be applied on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one or more peer companies or indices or any combination thereof. To the extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall, within the first 90 days of the applicable Performance Period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), define in an objective fashion the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period.

 

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(v) Performance Goals. The Committee is authorized at any time during the first 90 days of a Performance Period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code), or any time thereafter (but only to the extent the exercise of such authority after such 90-day period (or such shorter period, if applicable) would not cause the Performance Compensation Awards granted to any Participant for the Performance Period to fail to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code), in its sole and absolute discretion, to adjust or modify the calculation of a Performance Goal for such Performance Period to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code (1) in the event of, or in anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event or development affecting the Company, or any of its Affiliates, Subsidiaries, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such Performance Goal) or (2) in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or any of its Affiliates, Subsidiaries, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such Performance Goal), or the financial statements of the Company or any of its Affiliates, Subsidiaries, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such Performance Goal), or of changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange, accounting principles, law or business conditions.

(vi) Payment of Performance Compensation Awards.

(A) Condition to Receipt of Payment. A Participant must be employed by the Company on the last day of a Performance Period to be eligible for payment in respect of a Performance Compensation Award for such Performance Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the discretion of the Committee, Performance Compensation Awards may be paid to Participants who have retired or whose employment has terminated after the beginning of the Performance Period for which a Performance Compensation Award is made, or to the designee or estate of a Participant who died prior to the last day of a Performance Period, but not unless and until the Committee has certified attainment of the relevant Performance Goal(s) in accordance with Section 6(g)(vi)(C).

(B) Limitation. A Participant shall be eligible to receive payments in respect of a Performance Compensation Award only to the extent that (1) the Performance Goal(s) for such period are achieved and certified by the Committee in accordance with Section 6(g)(vi)(C) and (2) the Performance Formula as applied against such Performance Goal(s) determines that all or some portion of such Participant’s Performance Compensation Award has been earned for the Performance Period.

(C) Certification. Following the completion of a Performance Period, the Committee shall meet to review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the Performance Goals for the Performance Period have been achieved and, if so, to calculate and certify in writing that amount of the Performance Compensation Awards earned for the period based upon the Performance Formula. The Committee shall then determine the actual size of each Participant’s Performance Compensation Award for the Performance Period and, in so doing, may apply negative discretion as authorized by Section 6(g).

(D) Negative Discretion. In determining the actual size of an individual Performance Compensation Award for a Performance Period, the Committee may, in it sole judgment, reduce or eliminate the amount of the Performance Compensation Award earned under the Performance Formula in the Performance Period.

(E) Timing of Award Payments. The Performance Compensation Awards granted for a Performance Period shall be paid to Participants as soon as administratively possible following completion of the certifications required by Section 6(g), but in any event within the period required by Section 409A of the Code such that it qualifies as a “short-term deferral” pursuant to Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Department of Treasury regulations, unless the Committee shall determine that any Performance Compensation Award shall be deferred.

(F) Maximum Award Payable. Notwithstanding any provision contained in this Plan to the contrary, the maximum Performance Compensation Award that may be granted to any one Participant under the Plan during a rolling 36-month period (measured from the date of any grant) is 1,500,000

 

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Shares or, in the event the Performance Compensation Award is paid in cash, other securities, other Awards or other property, the equivalent cash value of 1,500,000 Shares on the last day of the Performance Period to which such Award relates, in each case subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(b). Furthermore, any Performance Compensation Award that has been deferred shall not (between the date as of which the Award is deferred and the payment date) increase in a manner prohibited by Section 162(m) of the Code.

(G) Discretion. In no event shall any discretionary authority granted to the Committee by the Plan be used to (x) grant or provide payment in respect of Performance Compensation Awards for a Performance Period if the Performance Goals for such Performance Period have not been attained, (y) increase a Performance Compensation Award for any Participant at any time after the first 90 days of the Performance Period (or, if shorter, the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m)) or (z) increase a Performance Compensation Award above the maximum amount payable under Sections 4(a) or 6(g) of the Plan.

Section 7. Amendment and Termination.

(a) Amendments to the Plan. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without shareholder approval, if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement applicable to the Plan (including, without limitation, the rules of any Securities Exchange), and no amendment to the definition of Repricing shall be made without shareholder approval; and provided further that any such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance or termination that would impair the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Option theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary.

(b) Amendments to Awards. The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively; provided that no such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination (including, without limitation, any Repricing) shall be made without shareholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement applicable to the Award (including, without limitation, the rules of any Securities Exchange); and provided further that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would impair the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary.

(c) Adjustment of Awards. Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events. The Committee is hereby authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in Section 4(b) hereof or the occurrence of a Change of Control), other than an Equity Restructuring, affecting the Company, any Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange, accounting principles or law (i) whenever the Committee, in its sole discretion, determines that such adjustments are appropriate or desirable, including, without limitation, providing for a substitution or assumption of Awards, accelerating the exercisability of, lapse of restrictions on, or termination of, Awards or providing for a period of time for exercise prior to the occurrence of such event and (ii) if deemed appropriate or desirable by the Committee, in its sole discretion, by providing for a cash payment to the holder of an Award in consideration for the cancellation of such Award, including, in the case of an Option or SAR, a cash payment to the holder of such Option or SAR in consideration for the cancellation of such Option or SAR in an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value (as of a date specified by the Committee) of the Shares subject to the Option or SAR over the aggregate Exercise Price of such Option or SAR (it being understood that, in such event, any Option or SAR having a per Share Exercise Price equal to, or in excess of, the Fair Market Value of a Share

 

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subject to such Option or SAR may be canceled and terminated without any payment or consideration therefor); provided, however, that no adjustment pursuant to this Section 7(c) shall be authorized to the extent that such authority or adjustment would cause an Award designated by the Committee as a Performance Compensation Award under Section 6(g) of the Plan to fail to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.

In the event of (i) a merger of the Company with or into another corporation, (ii) a merger of any Subsidiary with or into another corporation that requires the approval of the Company’s stockholders under the law of the Company’s jurisdiction of organization, or (iii) the sale or disposition of substantially all of the assets of the Company, each outstanding Option shall either continue in effect, be assumed or an equivalent option substituted therefor by the successor corporation or a “parent corporation” (as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code) or “subsidiary corporation” (as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code) of the successor corporation, subject to any accelerated vesting in accordance with Section 8 hereof. In the event that the Option does not continue in effect or the successor corporation refuses to assume or substitute for the Option, the Participant shall fully vest in and have the right to exercise the Option as to all Shares subject to the Option, including Shares as to which it would not otherwise be vested or exercisable (to the extent not otherwise vested under Section 8 hereof). If an Option becomes fully vested and exercisable in lieu of continuation, assumption or substitution as set forth in this paragraph, the Company shall notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option shall be fully vested and exercisable for a period of fifteen (15) days from the date of such notice, or such shorter period as the Committee may determine to be reasonable, and the Option shall terminate upon the expiration of such period. For the purposes of this paragraph, the Option shall be considered assumed if, following the merger or sale or disposition of assets, the option confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Option immediately prior to the merger or sale or disposition of assets, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the merger or sale or disposition of assets by holders of Shares for each Share held on the effective date of the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares); provided, however, that if such consideration received in the merger or sale or disposition of assets is not solely common stock of the successor corporation or its “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation”, the Committee may, with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be received upon the exercise of the Option, for each Share subject to the Option, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or its “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Shares in the merger or sale or disposition of assets.

Section 8. Change of Control. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, in the event of a Change of Control after the date of the adoption of this Plan, (a) any outstanding Options and SARs then held by Participants that are unexercisable or otherwise unvested shall automatically be deemed exercisable or otherwise vested, as the case may be, as of immediately prior to such Change of Control and (b) all other outstanding Awards (i.e., other than Options and SARs) then held by Participants that are unexercisable, unvested or still subject to restrictions, forfeiture or satisfaction of Performance Goals, shall automatically be deemed exercisable or vested, all restrictions and forfeiture provisions related thereto shall lapse, and all Performance Goals shall be deemed to have been satisfied at the target level, as the case may be, as of immediately prior to such Change of Control.

Section 9. General Provisions.

(a) Nontransferability. Each Award (and any rights and obligations thereunder) shall be exercisable only by the Participant during the Participant’s lifetime, or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant’s legal guardian or representative, and no Award (or any rights and obligations thereunder) may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate; provided that the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or

 

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encumbrance. All terms and conditions of the Plan and all Award Agreements shall be binding upon any permitted successors and assigns. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine to permit a Participant to transfer an Award other than an Incentive Stock Option to any one or more Permitted Transferees, subject to any state, federal, local or foreign tax and securities laws applicable to transferable Awards, and subject to the following terms and conditions: (i) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall not be assignable or transferable by the Permitted Transferee other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, (ii) an Award transferred to a Permitted Transferee shall continue to be subject to all the terms and conditions of the Award as applicable to the original Participant (other than the ability to further transfer the Award), and (iii) the Participant and the Permitted Transferee shall execute any and all documents requested by the Committee, including, without limitation documents to (x) confirm the status of the transferee as a Permitted Transferee, (y) satisfy any requirements for an exemption for the transfer under applicable federal, state and foreign securities laws and (z) evidence the transfer.

(b) No Rights to Awards. No Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee’s determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant (whether or not such Participants are similarly situated).

(c) Share Certificates. All certificates for Shares or other securities of the Company or any Affiliate delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan, the applicable Award Agreement or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange upon which such Shares or other securities are then listed, and any applicable Federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

 

(d) Withholding.

(i) A Participant may be required to pay to the Company or any Affiliate and the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under the Plan or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property) of any applicable withholding taxes in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes.

(ii) Without limiting the generality of clause (i) above, a Participant may satisfy, in whole or in part, the foregoing withholding liability by delivery of Shares owned by the Participant (which are not subject to any pledge or other security interest) with a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability or by having the Company withhold from the number of Shares otherwise issuable pursuant to the exercise of the Option a number of Shares with a Fair Market Value equal to such withholding liability. The number of Shares which may be so withheld shall be limited to the number of Shares which have a fair market value on the date of withholding equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities not to exceed the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income.

(e) Award Agreements. Each Award hereunder shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which shall be delivered to the Participant and shall specify the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto, including but not limited to the effect on such Award of the death, disability or termination of employment or service of a Participant, and the effect, if any, of such other events as may be determined by the Committee.

(f) No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other compensation arrangements, which may,

 

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but need not, provide for the grant of options restricted stock, shares and other types of Awards provided for hereunder (subject to shareholder approval if such approval is required), and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.

(g) No Right to Employment. The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of, or in any consulting relationship to, the Company or any Affiliate, nor shall it be construed as giving a Participant any rights to continued service on the Board. Further, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment or discontinue any consulting relationship, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement.

(h) No Rights as Shareholder. No Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Award shall have any rights as a shareholder with respect to any Shares to be distributed under the Plan until he or she has become the holder of such Shares. In connection with each grant of Restricted Shares, the applicable Award Agreement shall specify if and to what extent the Participant shall not be entitled to the rights of a shareholder in respect of such Awards; provided, however, that Restricted Shares shall, unless otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, remain subject to the provisions of Section 6(d)(ii) and (iv). Except as otherwise provided in Section 4(b), Section 7(c) or the applicable Award Agreement, no adjustments shall be made for dividends or distributions on (whether ordinary or extraordinary, and whether in cash, Shares, other securities or other property), or other events relating to, Shares subject to an Award for which the record date is prior to the date such Shares are delivered or otherwise become vested.

(i) Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

(j) Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect.

(k) Other Laws. The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Shares or other consideration under an Award if, acting in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Shares or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation or entitle the Company to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Award granted hereunder shall be construed as an offer to sell securities of the Company, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless and until the Committee in its sole discretion has determined that any such offer, if made, would be in compliance with all applicable requirements of the U.S. Federal and any other applicable securities laws.

(l) No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate.

(m) No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or

 

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transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated.

(n) Requirement of Consent and Notification of Election Under Section 83(b) of the Code or Similar Provision. No election under Section 83(b) of the Code (to include in gross income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in Section 83(b) of the Code) or under a similar provision of law may be made unless expressly permitted by the terms of the applicable Award Agreement or by action of the Committee in writing prior to the making of such election. If an Award recipient, in connection with the acquisition of Shares under the Plan or otherwise, is expressly permitted under the terms of the applicable Award Agreement or by such Committee action to make any such election and the Participant makes the election, the Participant shall notify the Committee of such election within ten days of filing notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service or other governmental authority, in addition to any filing and notification required pursuant to regulations issued under Section 83(b) of the Code or other applicable provision.

(o) Requirement of Notification Upon Disqualifying Disposition Under Section 421(b) of the Code. If any Participant shall make any disposition of Shares delivered pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option under the circumstances described in Section 421(b) of the Code (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions) or any successor provision of the Code, such Participant shall notify the Company of such disposition within ten days thereof.

(p) Headings. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof.

(q) Section 409A. To the extent applicable, the Plan and Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Committee determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to (i) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance and thereby avoid the application of penalty taxes under Section 409A of the Code.

(r) Forfeiture; Clawback. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, specify in the applicable Award Agreement that any realized gain with respect to Options or SARs and any realized value with respect to other Awards shall be subject to forfeiture or clawback, in the event of (i) a Participant’s breach of any non-competition, non-solicitation, confidentiality or other restrictive covenants with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or (ii) a financial restatement that reduces the amount of bonus or incentive compensation previously awarded to a Participant that would have been earned had results been properly reported.

Section 10. Term of the Plan.

(a) Effective Date. The Plan shall be effective as of the date of its approval by the Board.

(b) Expiration Date. No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the date the Plan is approved under Section 10(a). Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award granted hereunder may, and the authority of the Board or the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under any such Award shall, nevertheless continue thereafter.

 

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Exhibit 10.2

AMENDED AND RESTATED ASBURY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.

KEY EXECUTIVE INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

(Effective January 1, 2004, Amended and Restated as of March 25, 2009)

SECTION 1. Purpose. The purpose of the Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. Key Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (the “ Plan ”) is to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified individuals who are key executives of Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (the “ Company ”), and its subsidiaries and affiliates (together with the Company and their and its successors, “ Asbury ”); to obtain the best possible performance from each Participant; to further underscore the importance of achieving particular business objectives established for Asbury; and to include in Participants’ compensation package a bonus component that is tied directly to the achievement of those objectives. Such bonus component is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the “ Code ”), and the Plan shall be interpreted accordingly.

SECTION 2. Definitions. For the purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Asbury ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

Awards ” shall mean the incentive awards made pursuant to the Plan.

Board of Directors ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

Code ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

Committee ” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

Covered Person ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12(f).

Eligible Employee ” shall mean an Employee who is an executive officer of Asbury, as determined by the Committee.

Employee ” shall mean an individual who is on the active payroll of Asbury at any time during the period for which an Award is made under the Plan.

Establishment Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.

Participant ” shall mean an Eligible Employee who is selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan.

Performance Period ” shall mean a full fiscal year of the Company or other period of time (which may be longer or shorter than a full fiscal year of the Company, to the extent consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code) determined by the Committee.

Plan ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

“Section 409A” shall mean Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder.

SECTION 3. Effective Date; Term. The Plan became effective as of January 1, 2004, and was approved by the Company’s stockholders at the Company’s 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders on June 3, 2004, and, subject to Section 9, shall remain in effect until such time as it shall be terminated by the Board of Directors. The Plan supersedes all previous bonus plans. The Plan was subsequently amended and restated to include the revised requirements of Section 409A of the Code, which amendment and restatement was approved by the Committee on November 21, 2008. The Plan is hereby further amended and restated to include additional performance criteria and to clarify provisions relating to the length of Performance Periods, which amendment and restatement was approved by the Committee on March 25, 2009.

 

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SECTION 4. Maximum Awards. Awards payable with respect to any fiscal year of the Company to any Participant shall not exceed $5,000,000.

SECTION 5. Eligibility. (a) Within the first 90 days of the applicable Performance Period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code) (the “ Establishment Period ”), the Committee shall select those Eligible Employees who shall participate in the Plan for such Performance Period. In determining those Eligible Employees who are selected to participate in the Plan, the Committee shall give consideration to the contribution made by the Employee to the achievement of Asbury’s established objectives and such other matters as it shall deem relevant. The Committee shall have the authority at any time prior to the payment of Awards for the applicable Performance Period to remove Participants from the Plan for that Performance Period.

(b) To be eligible to receive an Award, the Eligible Employee must be employed on the date Asbury makes payments with respect to Awards for the applicable Performance Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the discretion of the Committee, Awards may be made to Eligible Employees who have retired or whose employment has terminated after the beginning of the Performance Period for which an Award is made, or to the designee or estate of an Eligible Employee who died prior to the date on which Asbury makes payments with respect to Awards for the applicable Performance Period, but not unless and until the Committee has certified attainment of the relevant performance goals in accordance with Section 7(b).

SECTION 6. Awards. (a) Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to determine the terms of any Award.

(b) Within the Establishment Period, the Committee shall establish in writing (i) the length of the Performance Period, (ii) the Eligible Employees who shall participate in the applicable Performance Period, (iii) the target/maximum Award payable to each Participant and (iv) the performance goal(s) for Awards granted for that Performance Period. The performance goal(s) that may be selected by the Committee shall be based upon one or more of the following criteria: (A) net income before or after taxes, (B) earnings before or after taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization), (C) operating income, (D) earnings per share, (E) return on stockholders’ equity, (F) return on investment, (G) return on assets, (H) level or amount of acquisitions, (I) share price, (J) profitability/profit margins, (K) market share, (L) revenues or sales (based on units and/or dollars), (M) costs, (N) cash flow, (O) working capital, (P) objective measures of customer satisfaction, (Q) objective measures of objective measures of employee satisfaction, (R) expense levels and expense ratios, (S) gross margin and gross margin ratios, (T) employee turnover, (U) implementation of systems, (V) completion of projects, (W) level or amount of divestitures, (X) goals related to capitalization or restructuring of the balance sheet, and (Y) goals related to management or expense restructuring. The foregoing criteria may, as determined by the Committee, relate to the Company, one or more of its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing, and may be applied on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one or more peer companies or indices or any combination thereof. To the extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code, within the Establishment Period, the Committee shall define, in writing and in an objective fashion, the manner of calculating the performance criteria it selects to use for the applicable Performance Period in order to determine whether the applicable performance goal(s) have been attained.

(c) The Committee is authorized at any time during the Establishment Period, or any time thereafter (but only to the extent the exercise of such authority after the Establishment Period would not cause the applicable Awards to fail to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code), in its sole and absolute discretion, to adjust or modify the calculation of performance goal(s) for the applicable Performance Period to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code (i) in the event of, or in anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event or development affecting the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such performance goal(s)) or (ii) in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable

 

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to such performance goal(s)), or the financial statements of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such performance goal(s)), or of changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange, accounting principles, law or business conditions.

SECTION 7. Payment of Awards. (a) Awards payable under the Plan for a Performance Period shall be paid in cash to Participants as soon as administratively possible following completion of the performance goal certifications required by Section 7(b), but in any event within the period required by Section 409A such that it qualifies as a “short-term deferral” pursuant to Section 1.409A-1(b)(4) of the Department of Treasury regulations, unless the Committee shall determine that any Award or any portion thereof shall be deferred pursuant to an approved deferred compensation plan in accordance with Section 409A. In no event may a Participant receive any payment (i) in respect of an Award unless and until, and only to the extent that, the performance goal(s) for the applicable Performance Period are achieved and certified by the Committee in accordance with Section 7(b) and (ii) of any Award in excess of the limitation set forth in Section 4.

(b) Following the completion of the applicable Performance Period, the Committee shall meet to review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the performance goal(s) for the Performance Period have been achieved. If the applicable performance goal(s) have been achieved, the Committee shall then determine the actual size of each Participant’s Award for the Performance Period. In determining the actual size of an individual Award for a Performance Period, the Committee may, in its sole judgment, reduce or eliminate the maximum Award payable to the Participant for the Performance Period.

SECTION 8. Administration and Interpretation. (a) The Committee shall have full authority to administer the Plan. The Committee shall have full power to construe and interpret the Plan, establish and amend rules and regulations for its administration, correct any defect, supply any omission and reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan and any Award, and perform all other acts relating to the Plan, including the delegation of administrative responsibilities, that it believes reasonable and proper and in conformity with the purposes of the Plan and the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.

(b) The Committee has sole responsibility for selecting Eligible Employees and Participants, establishing performance goals, setting Performance Periods, setting target/maximum Award amounts, certifying whether performance goals have been attained and determining actual Award amounts.

(c) Any decision made, or action taken, by the Committee arising out of or in connection with the interpretation and/or administration of the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons affected thereby.

(d) In no event shall any discretionary authority granted to the Committee by the Plan be used to (i) provide payment in respect of any Award if the performance goal(s) for the applicable Performance Period have not been attained and certified by the Committee, (ii) increase an Award for any Participant following the Establishment Period or (iii) increase an Award above the maximum amount payable under Section 4 of the Plan.

SECTION 9. Amendment/Termination. The Committee shall have the right to amend the Plan from time to time or to repeal it entirely or to direct the discontinuance of Awards either temporarily or permanently; provided , however , that no amendment of the Plan that changes (i) the persons eligible to receive Awards under the Plan, (ii) the criteria that may be used to set performance goals under the Plan, as set forth in Section 6(b), or (iii) the maximum Award payable to an Eligible Employee, as set forth in Section 4, shall be effective before approval by shareholders in a manner that complies with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.

SECTION 10. Special Awards and Other Plans. (a) Nothing contained in the Plan shall prohibit Asbury from establishing other special awards or incentive compensation plans providing for the payment of incentive compensation to Employees (including Eligible Employees).

 

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(b) Payments or benefits provided to an Eligible Employee under any stock, deferred compensation, savings, retirement or other employee benefit plan are governed solely by the terms of such plan.

SECTION 11. Rights of Eligible Employees. (a) Neither the Plan, nor the adoption or operation of the Plan, nor any documents describing or referring to the Plan (or any part hereof) shall confer upon any Employee any right to continue in the employ of Asbury.

(b) No individual to whom an Award has been made or any other party shall have any interest in any asset of Asbury until such amount has been paid.

(c) No right or interest of any Participant in the Plan shall be assignable or transferable, or subject to any claims of any creditor or subject to any lien.

SECTION 12. Miscellaneous. (a) All expenses and costs incurred in connection with the operation of the Plan shall be borne by Asbury, and no part therefor (other than the amounts of Awards under the Plan) shall be charged against the maximum limitation of Section 4.

(b) All Awards are subject to withholding, where applicable, for Federal, state, local and foreign taxes.

(c) Any provision of the Plan that is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable (whether in whole or in part) shall be deemed modified to the extent, but only to the extent, of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability and the remaining provisions of the Plan shall not be affected thereby.

(d) The Plan and the rights and obligations of the parties to the Plan shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to principles of conflicts of law).

(e) All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, including any purchaser of all or substantially all the assets of the Company.

(f) No member of the Board of Directors, the Committee or any employee of Asbury (each such person, a “Covered Person”) shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder. Each Covered Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (i) any loss, cost, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Covered Person in connection with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding to which such Covered Person may be a party or in which such Covered Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken under the Plan or any Award Agreement and (ii) any and all amounts paid by such Covered Person, with the Company’s approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Covered Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such Covered Person; provided that the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit or proceeding and, once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company’ s choice. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to a Covered Person to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment or other final adjudication, in either case not subject to further appeal, determines that the acts or omissions of such Covered Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Covered Person’s bad faith, fraud or willful criminal act or omission or that such right of indemnification is otherwise prohibited by law. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which Covered Persons may be entitled under the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Restated Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such persons or hold them harmless.

 

4


(g) To the extent applicable, the Plan and the Awards shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that the Committee determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A, the Committee may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to (i) exempt the Award from Section 409A and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A and thereby avoid the application of penalty taxes under Section 409A.

 

5

Exhibit 10.3

LOGO

PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL

April 29, 2009

Michael Kearney

Dear Michael:

We are excited that you have assumed the role of Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer reporting to me. I am sure that you will make a significant contribution to our company.

Cash Compensation

Your Target Annualized compensation will be $960,000. This includes base salary and annual bonus at target. The components are as follows:

Annual base compensation will be $600,000 and a total target annual bonus opportunity of $360,000, which is 60% of your base salary. The bonus targets, which are the same for all bonus-eligible employees in the corporate office, are based upon the number of cars sold in the US in 2009 and Asbury EPS at each level of sales. We are excited about our opportunity to earn an excellent bonus in 2009 and we will provide a copy of this plan as soon as possible.

Equity Grant

In connection with your promotion you will receive a stock option grant of 50,000 stock options , issued to you April 29, 2009. This grant of will vest 1/3 on each anniversary of the issue date and will have a term of ten years. The strike price will be the closing price of our stock on the date of issue.

Equity Holding Guideline

Your equity holding Guideline is 62,080 shares which you currently exceed.

Auto Allowance

You will receive a car allowance in the amount of $800 per month, plus the use of one demonstrator automobile. The monthly cash allowance will be paid to you in your regular payroll and will be subject to normal withholding.

Benefits

You will continue to be eligible for your current benefits package.

Vacation

You will be eligible for 5 weeks of vacation annually.

Termination Protection

You will receive a termination protection agreement providing base salary and benefits continuation for one year in the event of termination, as defined in the agreement.


To signify your acceptance of this position, please sign below and return one copy to me.

Sincerely,

 

/s/ Charles Oglesby      

Charles Oglesby

President and CEO

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.

 

I hereby signify my acceptance of the position

 

     
/s/ Michael S. Kearney       April 30, 2009
Signature       Date

Exhibit 10.4

LOGO

SEVERANCE PAY AGREEMENT

FOR KEY EMPLOYEE

This agreement is entered into as of April 29, 2009 (the “ Employment Date ”), between Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“ Asbury ” or the “ Company ”) and Michael Kearney (“ Executive ”), a key employee of Asbury, in order to provide for an agreed-upon compensation in the event of a Termination (as such term is defined in this Agreement) of Executive’s employment with Asbury (the “ Agreement ”).

 

1. Severance Pay Arrangement

If a Termination of Executive’s employment occurs at any time during Executive’s employment, Asbury will pay Executive 12 months of Executive’s base salary as of the date of Termination as Severance Pay (as such term is defined in this Agreement). Payment (subject to required withholding) will be made by Asbury to Executive monthly on the regular payroll dates of Asbury starting with the date of Termination.

If Executive participates in a bonus compensation plan at the date of Termination, the Company shall pay Executive a pro rata bonus for the year of the Termination equal to the amount of the bonus that Executive would have received if Executive’s employment not been terminated during such year, multiplied by the percentage of such year that has expired through the date of Termination. Such bonus shall be paid at such time as bonuses are paid under the bonus compensation plan to the Company’s other employees whose employment has not terminated in such year.

In addition, for 12 months following the date of Termination, Executive shall be entitled to continue to participate at the same level of coverage and Executive contribution in any health and dental insurance plans, as may be amended from time to time, in which Executive was participating immediately prior to the date of Termination. Such participation will terminate 30 days after Executive has obtained other employment under which Executive is covered by equal benefits. Executive agrees to notify Asbury promptly upon obtaining such other employment. At the end of 12 months, Executive, at his or her option, may elect to obtain COBRA coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of applicable law and Asbury’s standard policy.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if Executive is determined to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) and if one or more of the payments or benefits to be received by Executive pursuant to this Agreement would be considered


deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, then no such payment shall be made or benefit provided until six (6) months following Executive’s date of Termination.

The amounts payable under this Section 1 shall constitute “ Severance Pay ” under this Agreement.

 

2. Definition of Termination Triggering Severance Pay

A “ Termination ” triggering the Severance Pay set forth above in Section 1 is defined as a termination of Executive’s employment with Asbury, which constitutes a “separation from service” from the Company (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code, and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)) (1), by Asbury without Cause (as such term is defined in this Agreement), or (2) by Executive because of (x) a material change in the geographic location at which Executive must perform Executive’s services (which shall in no event include either (i) a relocation of Executive’s current principal place of business to a location less than 50 miles away or (ii) Executive’s relocation from Greensboro, North Carolina to the area in and around the metropolitan area of Atlanta, Georgia), (y) a material diminution in Executive’s base compensation, or (z) a material diminution in Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities (collectively “ Good Reason ”); provided that no termination shall be deemed to be for Good Reason unless (i) Executive provides the Company with written notice setting forth the specific facts or circumstances constituting Good Reason within ninety (90) days after the initial existence of the occurrence of such facts or circumstances, (ii) the Company has failed to cure such facts or circumstances within thirty (30) days of its receipt of such written notice, and (iii) the effective date of the termination for Good Reason occurs no later than one hundred fifty (150) days after the initial existence of the facts or circumstances constituting Good Reason. For avoidance of doubt, a Termination shall not include either (1) a termination of Executive’s employment by Asbury for Cause or due to Executive’s, death, disability (as such term is defined in this Agreement), retirement or voluntary resignation; or (2) the transfer of Executive from Asbury to any of its affiliates, until such time as Executive is no longer employed by Asbury or any of its affiliates. If Executive is transferred to an affiliate of Asbury, references to “Asbury” herein shall be deemed to include the applicable affiliate to which Executive is transferred.

For the purposes of this Agreement, the definition of “ Cause ” is: (a) Executive’s gross negligence or serious misconduct (including, without limitation, any criminal, fraudulent or dishonest conduct) that is or may be injurious to Asbury; or (b) Executive being convicted of, or entering a plea of nolo contendere to, any crime that constitutes a felony or involves moral turpitude; or (c) Executive’s breach of Sections 3, 4 or 5 below; or (d) Executive’s willful and continued failure to perform Executive’s duties on behalf of Asbury; or (e) Executive’s material breach of a written policy of Asbury.


For purposes of this Agreement, the definition of “ disability ” is a physical or mental disability or infirmity that prevents the performance by Executive of his or her duties lasting (or likely to last, based on competent medical evidence presented to Asbury) for a continuous period of six (6) months or longer.

 

3. Confidential Information and Nondisclosure Provision

As a condition to the receipt of the Severance Pay payments and benefits described in Section 1 above, during and after employment with Asbury, Executive shall agree not to disclose to any person (other than to an employee or director of Asbury, or to Asbury’s attorneys, accountants and other advisors or except as may be required by law) and not use to compete with Asbury any confidential or proprietary information, knowledge or data that is not in the public domain that was obtained by Executive while employed by Asbury regarding Asbury or any products, improvements, customers, methods of distribution, sales, prices, profits, costs, contracts, suppliers, business prospects, business methods, techniques, research, trade secrets or know-how of Asbury (collectively, “ Confidential Information ”). In the event that Executive’s employment terminates for any reason, Executive will deliver to Asbury on or before the date of Termination all documents and data of any nature pertaining to Executive’s work with Asbury and will not take any documents or data or any reproduction, or any documents containing or pertaining to any Confidential Information. Executive agrees that in the event of a breach by Executive of this provision, Asbury shall be entitled to inform all potential or new employers of such breach and to cease payments and benefits that would otherwise be made pursuant to Section 1 above, as well as to obtain injunctive relief and damages which may include recovery of amounts paid to Executive under this Agreement.

 

4. Non-Solicitation of Employees

As a condition to the receipt of the Severance Pay payments and benefits described in Section 1 above, Executive agrees that during employment with Asbury and for one year following termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit for employment or employ any person who, at any time during the 12 months preceding the last day of Executive’s employment, is or was employed by Asbury or induce or attempt to persuade any Executive of Asbury to terminate their employment relationship. Executive agrees that in the event of a breach by Executive of this provision, Asbury shall be entitled to inform all potential or new employers of such breach and to cease payments and benefits that would otherwise be made pursuant to Section 1 above, as well as to obtain injunctive relief and damages which may include recovery of amounts paid to Executive under this Agreement.

 

5. Covenant Not to Compete

As a condition to the receipt of the Severance Pay payments and benefits described in Section 1 above, while Executive is employed by Asbury and for one year following


termination of Executive’s employment for any reason (subject to the next paragraph), Executive shall not directly or indirectly engage in, participate in, represent or be connected with in any way, as an officer, director, partner, owner, employee, agent, independent contractor, consultant, proprietor or stockholder (except for the ownership of a less than 5% stock interest in a publicly-traded corporation) or otherwise, any business or activity which competes with the business of Asbury unless expressly consented to in writing by the Chief Executive Officer of Asbury (collectively, “ Covenant Not To Compete ”).

In the event that Executive’s employment ends for any reason, the provisions of the Covenant Not To Compete shall remain in effect for 12 months following the date of Termination except that the prohibition above on “any business or activity which competes with the business of Asbury” shall be limited to AutoNation, Inc., Sonic Automotive, Inc., Lithia Motors, Inc., Penske Automotive Group, Inc., f/k/a/ United Auto Group, Inc., Group One Automotive Inc., and other competitive groups of similar size. Executive shall disclose in writing to Asbury the name, address and type of business conducted by any proposed new employer of Executive if requested in writing by Asbury. Executive agrees that in the event of a breach by Executive of this Covenant Not To Compete, Asbury shall be entitled to inform all potential or new employers of such breach and to cease payments and benefits that would otherwise be made pursuant to Section 1 above, as well as to obtain injunctive relief and damages which may include recovery of amounts paid to Executive under this Agreement.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

A. Employment is At Will

Executive and Asbury acknowledge and agree that Executive is an “at will” employee, which means that either Executive or Asbury may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, with or without cause or notice, and that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as an express or implied contract of employment.

 

B. Execution of Release

As a condition to the receipt of the Severance Pay payments and benefits described in Section 1 above, Executive agrees to execute a release of all claims arising out of Executive’s employment or Termination including but not limited to any claim of discrimination, harassment or wrongful discharge under local, state or federal law.

 

C. Alternative Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be resolved by binding arbitration before an arbitrator (who shall be an attorney with at least ten


years’ experience in employment law) in the city where Executive is located and in accordance with the rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association. Each party may choose to retain legal counsel and shall pay its own attorneys’ fees, regardless of the outcome of the arbitration. Executive may be required to pay a filing fee limited to the equivalent cost of filing in the court of jurisdiction. Asbury will pay the fees and costs of conducting the arbitration. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of jurisdiction.

 

D. Other Provisions

This Agreement shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of Executive and Asbury, including any successor to Asbury.

The provisions of Sections 3, 4 and 5 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

The headings and captions are provided for reference and convenience only and shall not be considered part of this Agreement.

Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be delivered under this Agreement shall be (i) in writing, (ii) delivered personally, by nationally recognized overnight courier service or by certified or registered mail, first-class postage prepaid and return receipt requested, (iii) deemed to have been received on the date of delivery or on the third business day after mailing, and (iv) addressed as follows (or to such other address as the party entitled to notice shall later designate in accordance with these terms):

 

If to Asbury:

   Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.
   c/o General Counsel
   2905 Premiere Parkway, Suite 300
   Duluth, GA 30097
  

If to Executive:

   To the most recent address of Executive set forth in the personnel records of Asbury.

This Agreement supersedes any and all agreements between Asbury and Executive relating to payments upon Termination of employment or Severance Pay and may only be modified in a writing signed by Asbury and Executive.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

All payments hereunder shall be subject to any required withholding of federal, state, local and foreign taxes pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such holding shall not affect any other provisions, and this Agreement shall be construed


and enforced as if such provisions had not been included. No provision of this Agreement shall be waived unless the waiver is agreed to in writing and signed by Executive and the Chief Executive Officer of Asbury. No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, to the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with, and incorporate the terms and conditions required by, Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that Asbury determines that any amounts payable hereunder will be immediately taxable to Executive under Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance, Asbury and Executive shall cooperate in good faith to (x) adopt such amendments to this Agreement and appropriate policies and procedures, including amendments and policies with retroactive effect, that they mutually determine to be necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided by this Agreement, to preserve the economic benefits of this Agreement and to avoid less favorable accounting or tax consequences for Asbury and/or (y) take such other actions as mutually determined to be necessary or appropriate to exempt the amounts payable hereunder from Section 409A of the Code or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and thereby avoid the application of penalty taxes thereunder.

[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank ]


This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

AGREED TO AS OF April 29, 2009:

 

BY EXECUTIVE:

    BY ASBURY:
   
    ASBURY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
/s/ Michael S. Kearney    

/s/ Philip Johnson

Print Name: Michael S. Kearney    

Print Name and Title: Philip Johnson,

Vice President of Human Resources

Exhibit 10.5

LOGO

 

 

 

Reference is made to that certain agreement entered into as of May 9, 2008 (the “ Agreement ”) between Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“ Asbury ” or the “ Company ”) and Craig Monaghan (“ Executive ”), a key employee of Asbury, which provides for an agreed-upon compensation in the event of a Termination (as such term is defined in this Agreement) of Executive’s employment with Asbury. The parties hereto agree to amend and restate such Agreement as hereinafter provided, as of April 29, 2009.

 

1. Severance Pay Arrangement

If a Termination (as defined below) of Executive’s employment occurs at any time during Executive’s employment, Asbury will pay Executive 12 months of Executive’s base salary as of the date of Termination as Severance Pay. Payment (subject to required withholding) will be made by Asbury to Executive in a lump sum within 30 days of Termination.

If Executive participates in a bonus compensation plan at the date of Termination, the Company shall pay Executive a pro rata bonus for the year of the Termination equal to the amount of the bonus that Executive would have received if Executive’s employment not been terminated during such year, multiplied by the percentage of such year that has expired through the date of Termination. Such bonus shall be paid at such time as bonuses are paid under the bonus compensation plan to the Company’s other employees whose employment has not terminated in such year.

In addition, Executive shall be entitled for 12 months following the date of Termination to continue to participate at the same level of coverage and Executive contribution in any health, dental, disability and life insurance plans, as may be amended from time to time, in which Executive was participating immediately prior to the date of Termination. Such participation will terminate 30 days after Executive has obtained other employment under which Executive is covered by equal benefits. Executive agrees to notify Asbury promptly upon obtaining such other employment. At the option of Executive, COBRA coverage will be available, as provided by company policy, at the termination of the extended benefits provided above.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if Executive is determined to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code (as defined in Section 7 below) and if one or more of the payments or benefits to be received by Executive pursuant to this agreement would be considered deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, then no such payment shall be made or benefit provided until six (6) months following Executive’s date of Termination.


2. Change of Control Arrangement

In the event that a Termination occurs at any time within two years after a Change of Control, then (1) the term “12 months” in the first and third paragraphs of Section 1 of this agreement shall be replaced with “36 months” and (2) the term “one year” in Section 6 of this agreement shall be replaced with “36 months.” For purposes of this Section, “Change of Control” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Asbury’s 2002 Equity Incentive Plan; as such plan may be amended from time to time.

 

3. Definition of Termination Triggering Severance Pay

A “ Termination ” triggering the “ Severance Pay ” set forth above in Sections 1 and 2 is defined as a termination of Executive’s employment with Asbury, which constitutes a “separation from service” from the Company (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code, and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)) (1) by Asbury without “cause” (as defined below), or (2) by Executive because of (x) a material change in the geographic location at which Executive must perform Executive’s services (which shall in no event include a relocation of Executive’s current principal place of business to a location less than 50 miles away), (y) a material diminution in Executive’s base compensation, or (z) a material diminution in Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities. For the avoidance of doubt, a “Termination” shall not include a termination of Executive’s employment by Asbury for “cause” or due to Executive’s death, “disability,” retirement or voluntary resignation. The definition of “ cause ” is: (a) Executive’s gross negligence or serious misconduct (including, without limitation, any criminal, fraudulent or dishonest conduct) that is or may be injurious to Asbury or any of its affiliates; or (b) Executive being convicted of, or entering a plea of nolo contendere to, any crime that constitutes a felony or involves moral turpitude; or (c) Executive’s material breach of Sections 4, 5 or 6 below; or (d) Executive’s willful and continued failure to substantially perform Executive’s duties with Asbury; or (e) Executive’s material breach of a material written policy of Asbury. The definition of “disability” is a physical or mental disability or infirmity that prevents the performance by Executive of his duties lasting (or likely to last, based on competent medical evidence presented to Asbury) for a continuous period of six months or longer.

 

4. Confidential Information Nondisclosure Provision

During and after employment with Asbury, Executive agrees not to disclose to any person (other than to an employee or director of Asbury or any affiliate and except as may be required by law) and not to use to compete with Asbury or any affiliate any confidential or proprietary information, knowledge or data that is not in the public domain that was obtained by Executive while employed by Asbury with respect to Asbury or any affiliate or with respect to any products, improvements, customers, methods of distribution, sales, prices, profits, costs, contracts, suppliers, business


prospects, business methods, techniques, research, trade secrets or know-how of Asbury or any affiliate (collectively, “Confidential Information”). In the event Executive’s employment terminates for any reason, Executive will deliver to Asbury on or before the date of termination all documents and data of any nature pertaining to Executive’s work with Asbury and will not take any documents or data or any reproduction, or any documents containing or pertaining to any Confidential Information. Executive agrees that in the event of a breach by Executive of this provision, Asbury shall be entitled to inform all potential or new employers of this provision and to cease payments and benefits that would otherwise be made pursuant to Sections 1 and 2 above, as well as to obtain injunctive relief and damages which may include recovery of amounts paid to Executive under this agreement.

 

5. Non-Solicitation of Employees

Executive agrees that for a period of one year following payment to Executive as required under Sections 1 and 2, Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit for employment or employ any person who, at any time during the 12 months preceding such last day of Executive’s employment, is or was employed by Asbury or any affiliate or induce or attempt to persuade any employee of Asbury or any affiliate to terminate their employment relationship. Executive agrees that in the event of a breach by Executive of this provision, Asbury shall be entitled to inform all potential or new employers of this provision and to cease payments and benefits that would otherwise be made pursuant to Sections 1 and 2 above, as well as to obtain injunctive relief and damages which may include recovery of amounts paid to Executive under this agreement.

 

6. Covenant Not to Compete

While Executive is employed by Asbury, Executive shall not directly or indirectly engage in, participate in, represent or be connected with in any way, as an officer, director, partner, owner, employee, agent, independent contractor, consultant, proprietor or stockholder (except for the ownership of a less than 5% stock interest in a publicly-traded corporation) or otherwise, any business or activity which competes with the business of Asbury or any affiliate unless expressly consented to in writing by the Chief Executive Officer of Asbury (collectively, “Covenant Not To Compete”).

In the event Executive’s employment terminates for any reason, the provisions of the Covenant Not To Compete shall remain in effect for a period of one year following payment to Executive as required under Sections 1 and 2, except that the prohibition above on “any business or activity which competes with the business of Asbury or any affiliate” shall be limited to AutoNation, Sonic, Lithia, Group One, Penske Automotive Group inc. f/k/a United Auto Group, and other public groups. Executive shall disclose in writing to Asbury the name, address and type of business conducted by any proposed new employer of Executive if requested in writing by Asbury. Executive agrees that in the event of a breach by Executive of this Covenant Not To


Compete, Asbury shall be entitled to inform all potential or new employers of this Covenant and to cease payments and benefits that would otherwise be made pursuant to Sections 1 and 2 above, as well as to obtain injunctive relief and damages which may include recovery of amounts paid to Executive under this agreement.

 

7. Parachute Payment Limitation

Notwithstanding anything in this agreement to the contrary, if any severance pay or benefits payable under this agreement (without the application of this Section 7), either alone or together with other payments, awards, benefits or distributions (or any acceleration of any payment, award, benefit or distribution) pursuant to any agreement, plan or arrangement with Asbury or any of its affiliates (the “Total Payments”), would constitute a “parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations thereunder (the “Code”)), then the following shall occur:

 

  (a) tax counsel selected by Asbury’s independent auditors and acceptable to Executive shall compute the net present value to Executive of all the Total Payments after reduction for the excise taxes imposed by Code Section 4999 and for any normal income taxes that would be imposed on Executive if such Total Payments constituted Executive’s sole taxable income; and

 

  (b) said tax counsel shall next compute the maximum Total Payments that can be provided without any such Total Payments being characterized as “Excess Parachute Payments” (as defined in Code Section 280G) and reduce the result by the amount of any normal income taxes that would be imposed on Executive if such reduced Total Payments constituted Executive’s sole taxable income.

If the result derived in clause (a) above is greater than the result derived in clause (b) above by more than 10% of the result derived in clause (b) above, then Asbury shall pay Executive the full amount of the Total Payments without reduction. If the result derived from clause (a) above is not greater than the result derived in clause (b) above by more than 10% of the result derived in clause (b) above, then Asbury shall pay Executive the maximum Total Payments possible without any such Total Payments being characterized as Excess Parachute Payments. The determination of how such Total Payments will be reduced shall be made by Executive in good faith after consultation with Asbury.

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

A. Employment is At Will

Executive and Asbury acknowledge and agree that Executive is an “at will” employee, which means that either Executive or Asbury may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, with or without cause or notice, and that nothing in this agreement shall be construed as an express or implied contract of employment.


B. Execution of Release

As a condition to the receipt of the Severance Pay payments and benefits described in Sections 1 and 2 above, Executive agrees to execute a release of all claims arising out of Executive’s employment or termination, including, but not limited to, any claim of discrimination, harassment or wrongful discharge under local, state or federal law.

 

C. Other Provisions

This agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of Executive and Asbury, including any successor to Asbury.

The transfer of Executive from Asbury to any of its affiliates shall not be deemed to be a termination pursuant to clause (2) of Section 3 of this agreement until such time as Executive is no longer employed by Asbury or any of its affiliates. If Executive is transferred to an affiliate of Asbury, references to “Asbury” herein shall be deemed to include the applicable affiliate to which Executive is transferred.

The headings and captions are provided for reference and convenience only and shall not be considered part of this agreement.

If any provision of this agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such holding shall not affect any other provisions, and this agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included.

Any disputes arising under or in connection with this agreement shall be resolved by third party mediation of the dispute and, if such dispute is not resolved within 30 days, by binding arbitration, to be held in New York City, New York, in accordance with the rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. Each party shall bear his or its own costs of the mediation, arbitration or litigation.

All notices and other communications required or permitted under this agreement shall be in writing (including a facsimile or similar writing) and shall be deemed given when (1) delivered personally, (2) sent by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested or delivered by overnight courier (provided that a written acknowledgment of receipt is obtained by the overnight courier) to the party concerned at the address indicated below or to such changed address as such party may subsequently give such notice of or (3) if given by


facsimile, at the time transmitted to the respective facsimile numbers set forth below, or to such other facsimile number as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance herewith, and the appropriate confirmation received (or, if such time is not during a business day, at the beginning of the next such business day); provided , however , that notice of change of address shall be effective only upon receipt:

 

If to Asbury:

   Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.
   c/o General Counsel
   2905 Premiere Parkway, Suite 300
   Duluth, GA 30097
  

If to Executive:

   To the most recent address and facsimile number, if applicable, of Executive set forth in the personnel records of Asbury.

This agreement supersedes any and all agreements between Asbury and Executive relating to payments upon termination of employment or severance pay, including but not limited to the Agreement and may only be modified in writing signed by Asbury and Executive.

This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

All payments hereunder shall be subject to any required withholding of federal, state, local and foreign taxes pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

No provision of this agreement shall be waived unless the waiver is agreed to in writing and signed by Executive and the Chief Executive Officer of Asbury. No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this agreement by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, to the extent applicable, this agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with, and incorporate the terms and conditions required by, Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder. Notwithstanding any provision of this agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Company determines that any amounts payable hereunder will be immediately taxable to Executive under Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance, the Company and Executive shall cooperate in good faith to (x) adopt such amendments to this agreement and appropriate policies and procedures, including amendments and policies with retroactive effect, that they mutually determine to be necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided by this agreement, to preserve the economic benefits of this agreement and to avoid less favorable accounting or tax consequences for the


Company and/or (y) take such other actions as mutually determined to be necessary or appropriate to exempt the amounts payable hereunder from Section 409A of the Code or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and thereby avoid the application of penalty taxes thereunder.

 

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]


This agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

AGREED TO AS OF April 29, 2009

 

 

BY EXECUTIVE    BY ASBURY AUTOMOTIVE
   GROUP, INC.
  

/s/ Craig T. Monaghan

  

/s/ Philip Johnson

Print Name:    Print Name and Title:
  

Craig T. Monaghan

  

Philip Johnson, Vice President of Human Resources

Exhibit 10.6

LOGO

SEVERANCE PAY AGREEMENT

FOR KEY EMPLOYEE

Reference is made to that certain agreement entered into as of April 21, 2003, as amended on December 20, 2006, and November 14, 2007, (collectively the “ Agreement ”) between Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“ Asbury ” or the “ Company ”) and Philip Johnson (“ Executive ”), a key employee of Asbury, which provides for an agreed-upon compensation in the event of a Termination (as such term is defined in this Agreement) of Executive’s employment with Asbury. The parties hereto agree to amend and restate such Agreement as hereinafter provided, as of April 29, 2009.

 

1. Severance Pay Arrangement

If a Termination of Executive’s employment occurs at any time during Executive’s employment, Asbury will pay Executive 12 months of Executive’s base salary as of the date of Termination as Severance Pay (as such term is defined in this Agreement). Payment (subject to required withholding) will be made by Asbury to Executive in a lump sum within 30 days of Termination.

If Executive participates in a bonus compensation plan at the date of Termination, the Company shall pay Executive a pro rata bonus for the year of the Termination equal to the amount of the bonus that Executive would have received if Executive’s employment not been terminated during such year, multiplied by the percentage of such year that has expired through the date of Termination. Such bonus shall be paid at such time as bonuses are paid under the bonus compensation plan to the Company’s other employees whose employment has not terminated in such year.

In addition, for 12 months following the date of Termination, Executive shall be entitled to continue to participate at the same level of coverage and Executive contribution in any health, dental, disability and life insurance plans, as may be amended from time to time, in which Executive was participating immediately prior to the date of Termination. Such participation will terminate 30 days after Executive has obtained other employment under which Executive is covered by equal benefits. Executive agrees to notify Asbury promptly upon obtaining such other employment. At the end of 12 months, Executive, at his or her option, may elect to obtain COBRA coverage in accordance with the terms and conditions of applicable law and Asbury’s standard policy.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if Executive is determined to be a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue


Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”) and if one or more of the payments or benefits to be received by Executive pursuant to this Agreement would be considered deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, then no such payment shall be made or benefit provided until six (6) months following Executive’s date of Termination.

The amounts payable under this Section 1, to the extent modified under Section 2, shall constitute “ Severance Pay ” under this Agreement.

 

2. Change of Control Arrangement

In the event that a Termination occurs at any time within two years after a “ Change of Control ,” which is defined in accordance with the definition of such term in Asbury’s 2002 Equity Incentive Plan, as such plan may be amended from time to time, then (1) the term “12 months” in the first and third paragraphs of Section 1 of this Agreement shall be replaced with “36 months” and (2) the term “one year” in Section 6 of this Agreement shall be replaced with “36 months.”

 

3. Definition of Termination Triggering Severance Pay

A “ Termination ” triggering the Severance Pay set forth above in Sections 1 and 2 is defined as a termination of Executive’s employment with Asbury, which constitutes a “separation from service” from the Company (within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code, and Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(h)) (1), by Asbury without Cause (as such term is defined in this Agreement), or (2) by Executive because of (x) a material change in the geographic location at which Executive must perform Executive’s services (which shall in no event include a relocation of Executive’s current principal place of business to a location less than 50 miles away), (y) a material diminution in Executive’s base compensation, or (z) a material diminution in Executive’s authority, duties, or responsibilities (collectively “ Good Reason ”); provided that no termination shall be deemed to be for Good Reason unless (i) Executive provides the Company with written notice setting forth the specific facts or circumstances constituting Good Reason within ninety (90) days after the initial existence of the occurrence of such facts or circumstances, (ii) the Company has failed to cure such facts or circumstances within thirty (30) days of its receipt of such written notice, and (iii) the effective date of the termination for Good Reason occurs no later than one hundred fifty (150) days after the initial existence of the facts or circumstances constituting Good Reason. For avoidance of doubt, a Termination shall not include either (1) a termination of Executive’s employment by Asbury for Cause or due to Executive’s, death, disability (as such term is defined in this Agreement), retirement or voluntary resignation; or (2) the transfer of Executive from Asbury to any of its affiliates, until such time as Executive is no longer employed by Asbury or any of its affiliates. If Executive is transferred to an affiliate of Asbury, references to “Asbury” herein shall be deemed to include the applicable affiliate to which Executive is transferred.


For the purposes of this Agreement, the definition of “ Cause ” is: (a) Executive’s gross negligence or serious misconduct (including, without limitation, any criminal, fraudulent or dishonest conduct) that is or may be injurious to Asbury; or (b) Executive being convicted of, or entering a plea of nolo contendere to, any crime that constitutes a felony or involves moral turpitude; or (c) Executive’s breach of Sections 4, 5 or 6 below; or (d) Executive’s willful and continued failure to perform Executive’s duties on behalf of Asbury; or (e) Executive’s material breach of a written policy of Asbury.

For purposes of this Agreement, the definition of “ disability ” is a physical or mental disability or infirmity that prevents the performance by Executive of his or her duties lasting (or likely to last, based on competent medical evidence presented to Asbury) for a continuous period of six (6) months or longer.

 

4. Confidential Information and Nondisclosure Provision

As a condition to the receipt of the Severance Pay payments and benefits described in Sections 1 and 2 above, during and after employment with Asbury, Executive shall agree not to disclose to any person (other than to an employee or director of Asbury, or to Asbury’s attorneys, accountants and other advisors or except as may be required by law) and not use to compete with Asbury any confidential or proprietary information, knowledge or data that is not in the public domain that was obtained by Executive while employed by Asbury regarding Asbury or any products, improvements, customers, methods of distribution, sales, prices, profits, costs, contracts, suppliers, business prospects, business methods, techniques, research, trade secrets or know-how of Asbury (collectively, “ Confidential Information ”). In the event that Executive’s employment terminates for any reason, Executive will deliver to Asbury on or before the date of Termination all documents and data of any nature pertaining to Executive’s work with Asbury and will not take any documents or data or any reproduction, or any documents containing or pertaining to any Confidential Information. Executive agrees that in the event of a breach by Executive of this provision, Asbury shall be entitled to inform all potential or new employers of such breach and to cease payments and benefits that would otherwise be made pursuant to Sections 1 and 2 above, as well as to obtain injunctive relief and damages which may include recovery of amounts paid to Executive under this Agreement.

 

5. Non-Solicitation of Employees

As a condition to the receipt of the Severance Pay payments and benefits described in Sections 1 and 2 above, Executive agrees that during employment with Asbury and for one year following termination of Executive’s employment for any reason, Executive shall not directly or indirectly solicit for employment or employ any person who, at any time during the 12 months preceding the last day of Executive’s employment, is or was employed by Asbury or induce or attempt to persuade any Executive of Asbury to terminate their employment relationship. Executive agrees that in the event of a breach by Executive of this provision, Asbury shall be entitled to


inform all potential or new employers of such breach and to cease payments and benefits that would otherwise be made pursuant to Sections 1 and 2 above, as well as to obtain injunctive relief and damages which may include recovery of amounts paid to Executive under this Agreement.

 

6. Covenant Not to Compete

As a condition to the receipt of the Severance Pay payments and benefits described in Sections 1 and 2 above, while Executive is employed by Asbury and for one year following termination of Executive’s employment for any reason (subject to the next paragraph), Executive shall not directly or indirectly engage in, participate in, represent or be connected with in any way, as an officer, director, partner, owner, employee, agent, independent contractor, consultant, proprietor or stockholder (except for the ownership of a less than 5% stock interest in a publicly-traded corporation) or otherwise, any business or activity which competes with the business of Asbury unless expressly consented to in writing by the Chief Executive Officer of Asbury (collectively, “ Covenant Not To Compete ”).

In the event that Executive’s employment ends for any reason, the provisions of the Covenant Not To Compete shall remain in effect for 12 months following the date of Termination except that the prohibition above on “any business or activity which competes with the business of Asbury” shall be limited to AutoNation, Inc., Sonic Automotive, Inc., Lithia Motors, Inc., Penske Automotive Group, Inc., f/k/a/ United Auto Group, Inc., Group One Automotive Inc., and other competitive groups of similar size. Executive shall disclose in writing to Asbury the name, address and type of business conducted by any proposed new employer of Executive if requested in writing by Asbury. Executive agrees that in the event of a breach by Executive of this Covenant Not To Compete, Asbury shall be entitled to inform all potential or new employers of such breach and to cease payments and benefits that would otherwise be made pursuant to Sections 1 and 2 above, as well as to obtain injunctive relief and damages which may include recovery of amounts paid to Executive under this Agreement.

 

7. Parachute Payment Limitation

Notwithstanding anything in this agreement to the contrary, if any severance pay or benefits payable under this agreement (without the application of this Section 7), either alone or together with other payments, awards, benefits or distributions (or any acceleration of any payment, award, benefit or distribution) pursuant to any agreement, plan or arrangement with Asbury or any of its affiliates (the “ Total Payments ”), would constitute a “parachute payment” (as defined in Section 280G of the Code, then the following shall occur:

 

  (a)

tax counsel selected by Asbury’s independent auditors and acceptable to Executive shall compute the net present value to Executive of all the Total Payments after reduction for the excise taxes imposed by Code Section 4999


and for any normal income taxes that would be imposed on Executive if such Total Payments constituted Executive’s sole taxable income; and

 

  (b) said tax counsel shall next compute the maximum Total Payments that can be provided without any such Total Payments being characterized as “Excess Parachute Payments” (as defined in Code Section 280G) and reduce the result by the amount of any normal income taxes that would be imposed on Executive if such reduced Total Payments constituted Executive’s sole taxable income.

If the result derived in clause (a) above is greater than the result derived in clause (b) above by more than 10% of the result derived in clause (b) above, then Asbury shall pay Executive the full amount of the Total Payments without reduction. If the result derived from clause (a) above is not greater than the result derived in clause (b) above by more than 10% of the result derived in clause (b) above, then Asbury shall pay Executive the maximum Total Payments possible without any such Total Payments being characterized as Excess Parachute Payments. The determination of how such Total Payments will be reduced shall be made by Executive in good faith after consultation with Asbury.

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

A. Employment is At Will

Executive and Asbury acknowledge and agree that Executive is an “at will” employee, which means that either Executive or Asbury may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, with or without cause or notice, and that nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as an express or implied contract of employment.

 

B. Execution of Release

As a condition to the receipt of the Severance Pay payments and benefits described in Sections 1 and 2 above, Executive agrees to execute a release of all claims arising out of Executive’s employment or Termination including but not limited to any claim of discrimination, harassment or wrongful discharge under local, state or federal law.

 

C. Alternative Dispute Resolution

Any disputes arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall be resolved by binding arbitration before an arbitrator (who shall be an attorney with at least ten years’ experience in employment law) in the city where Executive is located and in accordance with the rules and procedures of the American Arbitration Association. Each party may choose to retain legal counsel and shall pay its own attorneys’ fees, regardless of the outcome of the arbitration. Executive may be required to pay a filing fee limited to the equivalent cost of filing in the court of jurisdiction. Asbury will pay


the fees and costs of conducting the arbitration. Judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of jurisdiction.

 

D. Other Provisions

This Agreement shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns of Executive and Asbury, including any successor to Asbury.

The provisions of Sections 4, 5 and 6 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

The headings and captions are provided for reference and convenience only and shall not be considered part of this Agreement.

Any notice or other communication required or permitted to be delivered under this Agreement shall be (i) in writing, (ii) delivered personally, by nationally recognized overnight courier service or by certified or registered mail, first-class postage prepaid and return receipt requested, (iii) deemed to have been received on the date of delivery or on the third business day after mailing, and (iv) addressed as follows (or to such other address as the party entitled to notice shall later designate in accordance with these terms):

 

If to Asbury:

   Asbury Automotive Group, Inc.
   c/o General Counsel
   2905 Premiere Parkway, Suite 300
   Duluth, GA 30097
  

If to Executive:

   To the most recent address of Executive set forth in the personnel records of Asbury.

This Agreement supersedes any and all agreements between Asbury and Executive relating to payments upon Termination of employment or Severance Pay and may only be modified in a writing signed by Asbury and Executive.

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

All payments hereunder shall be subject to any required withholding of federal, state, local and foreign taxes pursuant to any applicable law or regulation.

If any provision of this Agreement shall be held invalid or unenforceable, such holding shall not affect any other provisions, and this Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if such provisions had not been included. No provision of this Agreement shall be waived unless the waiver is agreed to in writing and signed by Executive and the Chief Executive Officer of Asbury. No waiver by either party of any breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this Agreement


by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another time.

The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, to the extent applicable, this Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with, and incorporate the terms and conditions required by, Section 409A of the Code and the Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, in the event that Asbury determines that any amounts payable hereunder will be immediately taxable to Executive under Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance, Asbury and Executive shall cooperate in good faith to (x) adopt such amendments to this Agreement and appropriate policies and procedures, including amendments and policies with retroactive effect, that they mutually determine to be necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided by this Agreement, to preserve the economic benefits of this Agreement and to avoid less favorable accounting or tax consequences for Asbury and/or (y) take such other actions as mutually determined to be necessary or appropriate to exempt the amounts payable hereunder from Section 409A of the Code or to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and thereby avoid the application of penalty taxes thereunder.

 

 

[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank ]


This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

AGREED TO AS OF April 29, 2009:

 

 

BY EXECUTIVE:    BY ASBURY:
  
  
   ASBURY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
  
  
  

/s/ Philip R. Johnson

  

/s/ Charles Oglesby

Print Name: Philip R. Johnson    Print Name and Title: Charles Oglesby, President & CEO

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO   

Investors May Contact:

Ryan Marsh

Treasurer

   (770) 418-8211
   investor@asburyauto.com

 

Reporters May Contact:

Tom Pratt

RF|Binder Partners

(212) 994-7563

tom.pratt@rfbinder.com

 

Asbury Automotive Group Names Elizabeth B. Chandler

Vice President and General Counsel

Duluth, GA, April 29, 2009 – Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABG), one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the U.S., today announced that Elizabeth Brannen (“Beth”) Chandler has been named Vice President and General Counsel, effective May 13, 2009. Ms. Chandler will replace Lynne A. Burgess, who resigned effective March 31, 2009, but has continued to serve the Company in a consulting capacity.

Ms. Chandler, 45, who has been the City Attorney for Atlanta, Georgia, since 2006, brings over 20 years of transactional and governance experience to Asbury. During her time at the City of Atlanta, she reported directly to the mayor and city council, and provided counsel on a broad range of legal and governance issues. Between 2000 and 2006, Ms. Chandler served as Assistant General Counsel, Vice President and Corporate Secretary of Mirant Corporation, a NYSE-listed global energy company. At Mirant, she was responsible for the compliance and ethics programs, as well as the internal decision-making and governance process. Previously, she was a partner with Troutman Sanders, LLP in its corporate group, where her practice included a broad range of corporate and contract matters, including project development and finance.

Ms. Chandler holds both a BBA, magna cum laude, and a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the American Bar Association and served on the Board of Governors of the State Bar. She has participated on the Law School Alumni Council and the Capital Campaign Committee for the UGA School of Law and was in the Leadership Georgia Class of 1998.

“We are very pleased to welcome Beth Chandler to Asbury’s senior management team,” said Charles R. Oglesby, President and CEO. “Beth brings to Asbury broad experience in many aspects of the law, including significant exposure to the general counsel role with another public company, Mirant Corporation. Her unique perspective should prove valuable as we continue navigating the current challenging economic environment.”

Mr. Oglesby continued, “We also would like to thank Lynne Burgess for her numerous contributions to Asbury’s success over the last seven years. I am particularly appreciative of the flexibility she has shown in continuing to work with us on a consulting basis following her formal resignation last month.”


Ms. Chandler commented, “I am looking forward to working with the strong board of directors and management team at Asbury. This company has a proven track record of success, and I’m excited to be a part of that.”

About Asbury Automotive Group

Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (“Asbury”), headquartered in Duluth, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, is one of the largest automobile retailers in the U.S. Built through a combination of organic growth and a series of strategic acquisitions, Asbury currently operates 86 retail auto stores, encompassing 113 franchises for the sale and servicing of 37 different brands of American, European and Asian automobiles. Asbury offers customers an extensive range of automotive products and services, including new and used vehicle sales and related financing and insurance, vehicle maintenance and repair services, replacement parts and service contracts.

 

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