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): November 22, 2013 (November 20, 2013)

 

 

AMSURG CORP.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Tennessee   000-22217   62-1493316

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

20 Burton Hills Boulevard

Nashville, Tennessee

  37215
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(615) 665-1283

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

Not Applicable

(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 ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

 


Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

Christopher A. Holden Employment Agreement

Effective November 21, 2013, the Company entered into a Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement with Christopher A. Holden, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President (the “Agreement”). The Agreement provides for a minimum base salary and has an initial term expiring December 31, 2014. The Agreement may be extended thereafter for one-year terms on each December 31 during the term of the Agreement. The Agreement provides that if the Company elects not to extend Mr. Holden’s employment, Mr. Holden will be considered to have been terminated without cause.

In the event Mr. Holden’s employment with the Company is terminated as a result of Mr. Holden’s disability, Mr. Holden is entitled to receive a pro rata portion of his annual bonus, his base salary and benefits for a period of 24 months, and thereafter shall receive benefits in accordance with Company policy as in effect from time to time. Additionally, the Agreement provides for acceleration of all time-based equity awards held by Mr. Holden at the time of his termination due to disability.

In the event Mr. Holden’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company for “cause” (as defined in the Agreement), the Company shall have no further obligations under the Agreement.

In the event the Company terminates Mr. Holden’s employment with the Company without cause or Mr. Holden terminates his employment with the Company because the Company has materially diminished the scope and nature of Mr. Holden’s authority and responsibilities (including a requirement that Mr. Holden be subordinate to any officer or employee of the Company) or his base salary or overall compensation, changed the location at which Mr. Holden is required to perform his duties to the Company, or engaged in any action or inaction that constitutes a material breach of the Agreement (“good reason”), Mr. Holden is entitled to receive a severance payment equal to two times his base salary, two times his target annual bonus, a pro rata portion of his annual bonus and shall continue to be covered by the Company’s health and life insurance plans for a period of two years. Additionally, the Agreement provides for the acceleration of all time-based equity awards held by Mr. Holden at the time of his termination without cause or for good reason, unless his employment is terminated without cause following the failure of the Company to achieve at least 85% of the budgeted level of earnings from continuing operations before income taxes during any two years during a consecutive three fiscal year period.

In the event the Company terminates Mr. Holden within 12 months following a “change of control” (as defined in the Agreement) of the Company, Mr. Holden is entitled to receive a severance payment equal to three times his base salary, three times his target annual bonus, a pro rata portion of his annual bonus and shall continue to be covered by the Company’s health and life insurance plans for a period of three years. Additionally, the Agreement provides for the acceleration of all time-based equity awards held by Mr. Holden at the time of his termination within 12 months following a change of control.


The Agreement contains restrictive covenants pursuant to which Mr. Holden has agreed not to compete with the Company during the two years following the date of termination of his employment with the Company. This summary of the Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

Amendment to AmSurg Corp. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan

Effective November 20, 2013, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the AmSurg Corp. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2006 Plan”), to, among other things, provide that (i) the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors may not cancel options or stock appreciation rights granted under the 2006 Plan in exchange for other awards, cash or property at a time when the fair market value of a share of the Company’s stock is less than the grant price of the option or stock appreciation right, (ii) the Compensation Committee may have the discretion to accelerate the vesting of unvested awards under the 2006 Plan in circumstances other than the death, disability or retirement of the participant or upon a change of control of the Company, and (iii) the maximum number of shares subject to awards issued to non-employee directors of the Company during any calendar year shall not exceed $400,000. This summary of the amendment to the 2006 Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the 2006 Plan, as amended, which is included as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 8.01. Other Events.

Effective November 20, 2013, the Board of Directors approved the AmSurg Corp. Compensation Recoupment Policy that grants the Compensation Committee the right to require reimbursement of certain incentive compensation paid to the executive officers of the Company based upon the attainment of objective performance criteria in the event the Company is required to restate its financial statements due to its material non-compliance with financial reporting requirements (other than as a result of changes in accounting policies), and the Compensation Committee determines that a lower payment would have been made to the executive based upon the revised financial results.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)    Exhibits.
10.1    Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between the Company and Christopher A. Holden
10.2    AmSurg Corp. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.


SIGNATURES

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

 

AMSURG CORP.
By:   /s/ Claire M. Gulmi
  Claire M. Gulmi
 

Executive Vice President, Chief

Financial Officer and Secretary

 

(Principal Financial and Duly

Authorized Officer)

Date: November 22, 2013


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

No.

  

Exhibit

Exhibit 10.1    Second Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between the Company and Christopher A. Holden.
Exhibit 10.2    AmSurg Corp. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.

Exhibit 10.1

SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

THIS SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”), entered into this 21st day of November, 2013, by and between AmSurg Corp., a Tennessee corporation with its principal place of business at 20 Burton Hills Boulevard, Nashville, Tennessee 37215 (“Company”), and Christopher A. Holden (“Officer”), hereby amends and replaces in its entirety that certain Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated January 30, 2009, between the Company and Officer.

W I T N E S S E T   H :

1. EMPLOYMENT . The Company employs Officer and Officer hereby accepts employment under the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

2. DUTIES . Officer is engaged as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company. His powers and duties in that capacity shall be those normally associated with the position of Chief Executive Officer and President, and he shall not be subordinate to any other officer or employee of the Company. Officer shall report to the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof and shall perform such duties and responsibilities as may be prescribed from time-to-time by the Board of Directors. During the term of this Agreement, Officer shall also serve without additional compensation in such other offices of the Company and its subsidiaries to which he may be elected or appointed by the Board of Directors. During the term of this Agreement, the Company shall nominate Officer for election as a member of the Board of Directors at each meeting of the Company’s shareholders at which the election of Officer is subject to a vote by the Company’s shareholders and recommend that the shareholders of the Company vote to elect Officer as a member of the Board.

3. TERM . Subject to provisions of termination as hereinafter provided, the initial term of Officer’s employment under this Agreement shall terminate on December 31, 2014. On each December 31 during this Agreement, commencing on December 31, 2014, unless the Company notifies Officer, pursuant to the following paragraph, that his employment under this Agreement will not be extended, his employment under this Agreement shall automatically be extended for a one (1) year period on the same terms and conditions as are set forth herein.

If the Company elects not to extend Officer’s employment under this Agreement, it shall do so by notifying Officer in writing not less than sixty (60) days prior to the applicable December 31 of this Agreement. If the Company does not elect to extend Officer’s employment under this Agreement other than for Cause, Officer shall be considered to have been terminated without Cause upon the expiration of his employment, and Officer will receive the payments and benefits set forth in Section 8 hereof.


4. COMPENSATION .

 

  a. For all duties rendered by Officer, the Company shall pay Officer a minimum salary of $736,450 per year, payable in equal semi-monthly installments. In addition thereto, each year, beginning January 1, 2014, Officer’s compensation will be reviewed by the Board of Directors of the Company, or the Compensation Committee thereof, and after taking into consideration performance and any other factors deemed relevant, the Committee may increase Officer’s salary. Officer will be eligible to receive an annual bonus on the terms and conditions approved by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. Officer shall also be eligible to receive equity incentive awards as approved from time to time by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

  b. All compensation payable hereunder shall be subject to withholding for federal income taxes, FICA and all other applicable federal, state and local withholding requirements.

 

  c. The Company shall pay the reasonable expenses incurred by Officer in the performance of his duties under this Agreement (or shall reimburse Officer on account of such expenses paid directly by Officer) in accordance with the Company’s polices and procedures. Any such reimbursement of expenses shall be made by the Company promptly upon or as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt of supporting documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Company (but in any event not later than the close of Officer’s taxable year following the taxable year in which the expense is incurred by Officer); provided, however, that upon Officer’s termination of employment with the Company, in no event shall any additional reimbursement be made prior to the Section 409A Payment Date (as such term is defined in Section 22 ) to the extent such payment delay is required under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”). In no event shall any reimbursement be made to Officer for such expenses after the later of (i) the first anniversary of the date of Officer’s death or (ii) December 31 of the calendar year following the year of the Officer’s termination of employment with the Company (other than by reason of Officer’s death).

 

  d.

Officer shall be eligible to receive such equity incentive awards under the Company’s equity incentive plans as may be approved from time to time by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company. Any such awards shall be subject to such vesting and other terms and conditions as shall be approved by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company. Any such awards that are subject solely to time-based vesting restrictions (including any such awards outstanding as

 

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  of the date of this Agreement) shall automatically vest upon the termination of employment of Officer as a result of (i) the death of Officer, (ii) the Disability of Officer (as defined in Section 6), (iii) the termination of employment by Officer for Good Reason (as defined in Section 21), and (iv) the termination of employment by the Company without Cause (as defined in Section 7); provided, that the vesting of such awards shall not accelerate upon the termination of Officer as a result of the termination of employment by the Company without Cause (as defined in Section 7) if such termination without Cause by the Company is a Performance Termination (as defined in Section 21).

5. EXTENT OF SERVICE. Officer shall devote substantially his entire time, attention and energies to the business of the Company and shall not during the term of this Agreement take an active role in any other business activity without the prior written consent of the Company; but this shall not prevent Officer from making real estate or other investments of a passive nature or devoting time to charitable and non-profit activities and service as a director on the board(s) of directors of companies (whether public or private) other than the Company, in each case, in accordance with the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and in a manner that does not interfere with the performance of his duties to the Company.

6. DISABILITY . In the event Officer shall become disabled as defined in Treasury Regulation 1.409(A)-3(i)(4) (“Disability”), the Company shall provide the following payments and benefits:

 

  a. The Accrued Rights (as defined in Section 7(a) below);

 

  b. If Officer’s employment is terminated following the end of a fiscal year and prior to the payment date for the bonus described in Section 4(a) , if any, that Officer would have been entitled to receive with respect to such completed fiscal year, based upon the Company’s actual results, the Company shall pay to Officer, at the time such bonus is paid to other executives of the Company according to the terms of the applicable bonus program adopted by the Company, the amount of such bonus described in Section 4(a) , if any, that Officer would have been entitled to receive with respect to such completed fiscal year had Officer’s employment not terminated prior to the payment date for such bonus; and a pro rata portion of the bonus described in Section 4(a) , if any, that Officer would have been entitled to receive for the fiscal year in which the Disability Payment Date (as defined below) occurs, based upon the Company’s actual results for the year of termination and the percentage of the fiscal year that shall have elapsed through the Disability Payment Date, payable to Officer pursuant to Section 4(a) had Officer’s employment not terminated, which pro-rata bonus shall be paid at the time such bonus is paid to other executives of the Company according to the terms of the applicable bonus program adopted by the Company; and

 

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  c. Through insurance or on its own account coverage for Officer that will provide payment of Officer’s full salary and benefits for twenty-four (24) months, with (i) the payment of Officer’s salary to commence within thirty (30) days (with the date of such initial payment(s) determined by the Company in its sole discretion) of the Disability Payment Date (as defined below) and (ii) such payments being paid on the same terms and with the same frequency as Officer’s salary was paid prior to such incapacity or illness. For the period beyond twenty-four (24) months, the Company shall provide such coverage to Officer as is then available to Officer in accordance with Company policy. To the extent that payments are received from Worker’s Compensation or other Company paid disability plans, the Company’s obligations will be reduced by amounts so received.

The date on which it is determined that Officer is Disabled is referred to herein as the “Disability Payment Date.”

7. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE .

 

  a. The Company may terminate Officer’s employment for Cause, without any further liability hereunder to Officer, except that Officer shall be entitled to (i) payment of all accrued but unpaid salary through the date of termination, (ii) reimbursement for all incurred but unreimbursed expenses for which Officer is entitled to reimbursement in accordance with Section 4(g) , and (iii) benefits to which the Officer is entitled as of the date of termination of employment under the terms of applicable benefit plans and programs (the “Accrued Rights”).

 

  b. For the purposes of this Agreement, the Company shall have “Cause” to terminate Officer’s employment based upon the following grounds (i) a felony conviction of Officer or the failure of Officer to contest prosecution for a felony, (ii) conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, or (iii) willful and continued misconduct or gross negligence by Officer in the performance of his duties as an officer after written notice from the Company that reasonably identifies the manner in which the Company believes that he has committed gross negligence or willful misconduct and the failure by Officer to cure such failure within forty-five (45) days after delivery of such notice. For purposes of this Section 7 , “willful” shall be determined by the Board of Directors of the Company. In making such determination, the Board of Directors of the Company shall not act unreasonably or arbitrarily and no act or omission by Officer shall be deemed willful if taken by Officer in a good faith belief that such act or omission to act was in the best interests of the Company or if done at the express direction of the Board.

 

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  c. Prior to making a determination to terminate the Officer’s employment for Cause, Officer shall have the opportunity, together with his counsel, to be heard before the Board of Directors.

8. TERMINATION WITHOUT CAUSE OR FOR GOOD REASON . Officer’s employment under this Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time without Cause or by the Officer for Good Reason (as defined in Section 21 ). Except as provided in Section 9 below, in the event Officer’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Officer for Good Reason, the Company shall pay Officer the following payments and benefits:

 

  a. The Accrued Rights;

 

  b. a lump sum payment equal to two (2) times the sum of (i) the annual base salary payable to Officer as of the date of the Officer’s Separation from Service and (ii) the target bonus established by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors for the Officer pursuant to the Company’s annual cash bonus plan for the year in which the Separation of Service occurs;

 

  c. Officer shall also continue to be covered under health and life insurance plans of the Company for twenty-four (24) months, or the Company shall provide the economic equivalent thereof if such continuation is not permissible under the terms of the Company’s insurance plans;

 

  d. If Officer’s employment is terminated following the end of a fiscal year and prior to the payment date for the bonus described in Section 4(a) , if any, that Officer would have been entitled to receive with respect to such completed fiscal year, based upon the Company’s actual results, the Company shall pay to Officer, at the time such bonus is paid to other executives of the Company according to the terms of the applicable bonus program adopted by the Company, the amount of such bonus described in Section 4(a) , if any, that Officer would have been entitled to receive with respect to such completed fiscal year had Officer’s employment not terminated prior to the payment date for such bonus; and a pro rata portion of the bonus described in Section 4(a) , if any, that Officer would have been entitled to receive for the fiscal year in which the termination of employment occurs, based upon the Company’s actual results for the year of termination and the percentage of the fiscal year that shall have elapsed through the date of termination of employment, payable to Officer pursuant to Section 4(a) had Officer’s employment not terminated, which pro-rata bonus shall be paid at the time such bonus is paid to other executives of the Company according to the terms of the applicable bonus program adopted by the Company;

 

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Benefits due under Section 8(a)-(c)  shall be payable (or commence) within sixty (60) days of the Officer’s Separation from Service, with the date of such payment determined by the Company in its sole discretion in accordance with Section 11 below. Receipt by Officer of the payment and other benefits under this Section 8 shall be subject to Officer’s execution and delivery, pursuant to the terms of Section 11 below, to the Company of a General Release in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company and Officer.

9. TERMINATION FOLLOWING A CHANGE IN CONTROL . In the event Officer’s employment under this Agreement is terminated by the Company without Cause within twelve (12) months following the occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in Section 21 herein) or by Officer for Good Reason within twelve (12) months following the occurrence of a Change in Control (as defined in Section 21 herein), the Company shall pay Officer the following payments and benefits:

 

  a. a lump sum payment equal to three (3) times the sum of (i) the annual base salary payable to Officer as of the date of the Officer’s Separation from Service and (ii) the target bonus established by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors for the Officer pursuant to the Company’s annual cash bonus plan for the year in which the Separation of Service occurs;

 

  b. Officer shall also continue to be covered under health and life insurance plans of the Company for three (3) years, or the Company shall provide the economic equivalent thereof if such continuation is not permissible under the terms of the Company’s insurance plans; and

 

  c. If Officer’s employment is terminated following the end of a fiscal year and prior to the payment date for the bonus described in Section 4(a) , if any, that Officer would have been entitled to receive with respect to such completed fiscal year, based upon the Company’s actual results, the Company shall pay to Officer, at the time such bonus is paid to other executives of the Company according to the terms of the applicable bonus program adopted by the Company, the amount of such bonus described in Section 4(a) , if any, that Officer would have been entitled to receive with respect to such completed fiscal year had Officer’s employment not terminated prior to the payment date for such bonus; and a pro rata portion of the bonus described in Section 4(a) , if any, that Officer would have been entitled to receive for the fiscal year in which the termination of employment occurs, based upon the Company’s actual results for the year of termination and the percentage of the fiscal year that shall have elapsed through the date of termination of employment, payable to Officer pursuant to Section 4(a) had Officer’s employment not terminated, which pro-rata bonus shall be paid at the time such bonus is paid to other executives of the Company according to the terms of the applicable bonus program adopted by the Company.

 

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Benefits due under this Section 9 shall be payable (or commence) within sixty (60) days of the Officer’s Separation from Service, with the date of such payment determined by the Company in its sole discretion in accordance with Section 11 below. Receipt by Officer of any payment or other benefits under this Section 9 shall be subject to Officer’s execution and delivery, pursuant to the terms of Section 11 below, to the Company of a General Release in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company and Officer.

10. TERMINATION BY OFFICER WITHOUT GOOD REASON . Officer may terminate his employment under this Agreement at any time other than for Good Reason (as defined in Section 21 herein) upon the provision of sixty (60) days prior written notice to the Company. In such event, the Company shall pay Officer the Accrued Rights, and officer shall not be entitled to any other benefits under this Agreement following the date of termination of this employment with the Company. In the event Officer gives notice of his intent to terminate his employment other than for Good Reason, the Company may elect to waive the period of notice or any portion thereof and accept Officer’s resignation prior to the end of the notice period.

11. COORDINATION WITH RELEASE . Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the provisions of this Section 11 shall apply to the payment of benefits under Sections 8 and 9 (the “Severance Payments”). The Severance Payments shall be made only if Officer shall have executed, on or prior to the Release Expiration Date (as defined below), a General Release in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company and Officer (the “Release”) and any waiting periods contained in the Release shall have expired. In any instance where the execution of a Release is required, the Company shall deliver the Release to the Officer within eight (8) days following the date of the Officer’s Separation from Service. If Officer fails to execute and deliver the Release on or prior to the Release Expiration Date or timely revokes Officer’s acceptance of the Release thereafter, Officer shall not be entitled to any Severance Payments. The Severance Payments shall be made immediately upon the expiration of any waiting periods contained in the Release, or if no waiting periods are applicable, within two (2) business days following Officer’s execution and delivery of the Release to the Company; provided, however, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in any case where the date the Separation from Service and the Release Expiration Date fall in two separate taxable years, any Severance Payments that are treated as deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A of the Code shall be made in the later taxable year. For purposes of this Section 11 , the “Release Expiration Date” shall mean the later of (i) the date of the Officer’s Separation from Service, and (ii) the date that is twenty-one (21) days following the date on which the Company timely delivers a Release to the Officer for the Officer’s execution, or in the event that the Officer’s Separation from Service is “in connection with an exit incentive or other employment termination program” (as such phrase is defined in the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967), the date that is forty-five (45) days following such delivery date.

 

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12. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS .

 

  (a) Confidential Information . Officer agrees not to disclose, either during the time he is employed by the Company or following the termination of his employment at the Company, any confidential information concerning the Company, including, but not limited to, customer lists, business plans, contract terms, financial costs, sales data, or business opportunities whether for existing, new or developing businesses.

 

  (b) Non-Compete . For a period of two (2) years following the date of the termination of Officer’s employment with the Company other than in the event of a termination by the Officer for Good Reason, Officer agrees that he will not, either as an individual for his own account, as a partner or joint venturer, or as an employee, agent, officer, director, consultant, owner or otherwise, without the written consent of the Company, own, finance, operate, manage, design, build, solicit prospects for or otherwise enter into or engage in any phase of:

 

  (i) the ambulatory surgery business, or

 

  (ii) any other line of business in which the Company is engaged on the date of termination of Officer’s employment with the Company (for purposes of clarification, the Company shall not be deemed to be engaged in a line of business if the Company provides the goods or services that constitute such line of business solely to business units, segments or subsidiaries of the Company or facilities owned or operated by the Company),

in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above in any state within the United States or in any foreign country or territory in which the Company or any of its subsidiaries conducts business as of the date of termination of Officer’s employment with the Company. The Company and Officer acknowledge and agree that the provisions of this Section 12(b) shall not restrict Officer from accepting employment or otherwise being involved with a business (such as a company that owns or operates hospitals or health systems) other than United Surgical Partners International, Inc. and Surgical Care Affiliates, Inc. and their respective affiliates that has a unit, division, segment or subsidiary that competes with the Company as described above in this Section 12(b) so long as Officer does not directly participate in the management of the unit, division, segment or subsidiary that competes with the business of the Company as described in subsections (i) and (ii) above.

 

  (c) Non-Solicitation . Upon termination or expiration of his employment, whether voluntary or involuntary, Officer agrees not to directly or indirectly solicit business of the type described in Sections 12(b)(i) and 12(b)(ii) above from any entity, organization or person which has contracted with the Company, which has been doing business with the Company, or from which the Officer knew or had reason to know that the Company was soliciting or going to solicit business at the time of Officer’s termination, for a two-year-year period from the date of Officer’s termination of his employment with the Company.

 

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  (d) Enforcement . Officer and the Company acknowledge and agree that any of the covenants contained in this Section 12 may be specifically enforced through injunctive relief, but such right to injunctive relief shall not preclude Company from other remedies which may be available to it.

 

  (e) Termination . Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary otherwise contained in this Agreement, the agreements and covenants contained in this Section 12 shall not terminate upon Officer’s termination of his employment with the Company or upon the termination of this Agreement under any other provision of this Agreement.

13. VACATION . During each year of this Agreement, Officer shall be entitled to not less than twenty five (25) paid vacation days per year, which shall accrue monthly.

14. BENEFITS . In addition to the benefits specifically provided for herein, Officer shall be entitled to participate in all benefit plans maintained by the Company for employees generally according to the terms of such plans.

15. NOTICES . Any notice required or permitted to be given under this Agreement shall be sufficient if in writing, and if sent by registered or certified mail to his residence in the case of Officer, or to its principal office in the case of the Company.

16. WAIVER OF BREACH . The waiver by either party of any provision of this Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach by the other party.

17. ATTORNEYS’ FEES . The Company shall pay or reimburse Officer’s reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with the negotiation, drafting and execution of this Agreement; provided, that such fees shall not exceed $50,000. In the event that either party initiates legal proceedings to enforce any provision of this Agreement or resolve any dispute hereunder, and Officer is the prevailing party, then the Company shall be responsible for payment of the Officer’s reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in connection therewith.

18. ASSIGNMENT . The rights and obligations of the Company under this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of the Company. The Officer acknowledges that the services to be rendered by him are unique and personal, and the Officer may not assign any of his rights or delegate any of his duties or obligations under this Agreement.

 

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19. ENTIRE AGREEMENT . This instrument contains the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the matters addressed herein. It may not be changed orally but only by an agreement in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of any waiver, change, modification, extension or discharge is sought. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Tennessee.

20. HEADINGS . The sections, subjects and headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

21. DEFINITIONS . For purposes of this Agreement the following definitions shall apply:

 

  a. “Change in Control” shall mean the occurrence of any of the following:

 

  (i) the acquisition of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (or securities convertible into Common Stock) of the Company by any person, entity or group (as used in Section 13(d)(3) and Rule 13d-5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act);

 

  (ii) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation or other entity, or any share exchange or similar transaction involving the Company and another corporation or other entity, if as a result of such merger, consolidation, share exchange or other transaction, the persons who owned at least a majority of the Common Stock of the Company prior to the consummation of such transaction do not own at least a majority of the Common Stock of the surviving entity after the consummation of such transaction;

 

  (iii) the sale of all, or substantially all, of the assets of the Company; or

 

  (iv) any change in the composition of the Board of Directors of the Company, such that persons who at the beginning of any period of up to two years constituted at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company, or persons whose nomination was approved by such majority, cease to constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company at the end of such period.

 

  b. “Company” shall mean AmSurg Corp., any successor entity or their successors or assigns.

 

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  c. “Good Reason” shall exist if:

 

  (i) there is a material diminution in the nature or the scope of Officer’s authority and responsibilities, including any requirement that Officer be subordinate to any other officer or employee of the Company;

 

  (ii) there is a material diminution in Officer’s rate of base salary or overall compensation (for reasons other than Company performance or stock price);

 

  (iii) the Company changes the principal location in which Officer is required to perform services outside a twenty (20) mile radius of such location without Officer’s consent; or

 

  (iv) the Company engages in any other action or inaction that constitutes a material breach of this Agreement by the Company.

A termination under the circumstances listed above shall be for “Good Reason” only if (A) Officer notifies the Company of the existence of the condition that otherwise constitutes Good Reason within ninety (90) days of the initial existence of the condition, (B) the Company fails to remedy the condition within forty-five (45) days following its receipt of Officer’s notice of Good Reason and (C) the Officer Separates from Service from the Company due to the condition within twelve (12) months of the initial existence of such condition.

 

  d. “Separation From Service” shall mean the date on which the Company and Officer reasonably anticipate that no further services will be performed after such date, or that the level of bona fide services Officer will perform after such date will permanently decrease to no more than 20% of the average level of bona fide services performed over the immediately preceding 36-month period. Whether a Separation from Service occurs shall be interpreted consistent with Section 1.409A-1(h) of the U.S. Treasury Regulations.

 

  e.

“Performance Termination” shall mean the termination of Officer’s employment by the Company without Cause (as defined in Section 7) following the failure of the Company to achieve at least 85% of the budgeted level of earnings from continuing operations before income taxes (Corporate Pre-Tax Profits) or other similar budget measure approved by the Board of Directors of the Company (as such measure may be adjusted by the Board during any fiscal year) and designated by the Board of Directors as the budget measure for purposes of this definition of “Performance Termination,” during any two fiscal years during a consecutive three fiscal year period. The determination whether the Company has failed to achieve any such budget measure for a fiscal year shall be based upon the Company’s audited financial statements for such fiscal year. In making a determination

 

11


  whether the Company has failed to achieve any such budget measure for a fiscal year, the Board shall consider the impact of changes in general economic conditions, legal or regulatory changes generally affecting the industry in which the Company operates, and adverse weather incidents or other acts of God that are not within the control of the Company. In the event the Board of Directors determines that the Company has failed to achieve such budget measure in any fiscal year, the Board will give the Officer written notice of such fact within five (5) business days following the filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the Company for such fiscal year. In the event the Board of Directors determines to terminate Officer’s employment without Cause pursuant to a Performance Termination, the Board must give Officer notice of such termination before the later of (i) 180 days after the end of the second fiscal year end of the Company in which the Company failed to meet such budget measures and (ii) the date of the annual meeting of the Company’s shareholders following the end of the second fiscal year of the Company in which the Company failed to meet such budget measures.

22. DELAY OF PAYMENTS . It is intended that (1) each installment of the payments provided under this Agreement is a separate “payment” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, and (2) that the payments satisfy, to the greatest extent possible, the exemptions from the application of Section 409A of the Code, including those provided under Treasury Regulations 1.409A-1(b)(4), 1.409A-1(b)(9)(iii), and 1.409A-1(b)(9)(v). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, if the Company determines (i) that on the date Officer’s employment with the Company terminates or at such other time that the Company determines to be relevant, Officer is a “specified employee” (as such term is defined under Treasury Regulation 1.409A-1(i)(1)) of the Company and (ii) that any payments to be provided to Officer pursuant to this Agreement are or may become subject to the additional tax under Section 409A(a)(1)(B) of the Code or any other taxes or penalties imposed under Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A Taxes”) if provided at the time otherwise required under this Agreement then such payments shall be delayed until the date that is six months after the date of Officer’s Separation from Service with the Company, or, if earlier, the date of the Officer’s death. Any payments delayed pursuant to this Section 22 shall be made in a lump sum on the first day of the seventh month following Officer’s Separation from Service, or, if earlier, the date of the Officer’s death (the “Section 409A Payment Date”). In addition, to the extent that any reimbursement, fringe benefit or other, similar plan or arrangement in which the Officer participates during the term of the Officer’s employment under this Agreement or thereafter provides for a “deferral of compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, (i) the amount eligible for reimbursement or payment under such plan or arrangement in one calendar year may not affect the amount eligible for reimbursement or payment in any other calendar year (except that a plan providing medical or health benefits may impose a generally applicable limit on the amount that may be reimbursed or paid), (ii) subject to any shorter time periods provided herein or the applicable plans or arrangements, any reimbursement or payment of an expense under such plan or arrangement must be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the calendar year in which the expense was incurred, and (iii) such right to reimbursement or payment shall not be subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit.

 

12


23. HEALTH BENEFITS . The costs of the Company’s portion of any post termination health or life insurance premiums due under this Agreement shall be included in the Officer’s gross income to the extent the provision of such benefits is deemed to be discriminatory under Section 105(h) of the Code.

24. DEEMED RESIGNATION . In the event Officer’s employment under this Agreement is terminated for any reason, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors of the Company, Officer shall be deemed, without any further action on the part of Officer, to have automatically resigned as a director of the Company and as an officer and director, if applicable, of all subsidiaries of the Company.

25. SECTION 280G LIMITATION .

 

  a. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, if any payments or benefits Executive would receive from the Company pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise (collectively, the “ Payments ”) would, either separately or in the aggregate, (i) constitute “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) but for this sentence, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “ Excise Tax ”), then the Payments will be equal to the Reduced Amount (defined below). The “ Reduced Amount ” will be either (1) the entire amount of the Payments, or (2) an amount equal to the largest portion of the Payments that would result in no portion of any of the Payments (after reduction) being subject to the Excise Tax, whichever amount after taking into account all applicable federal, state and local employment taxes, income taxes, and the Excise Tax (all computed at the highest applicable marginal rate, net of the maximum reduction in federal income taxes which could be obtained from a deduction of such state and local taxes), results in the Executive’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greatest amount of the Payments. If a reduction in the Payments is to be made so that the amount of the Payments equals the Reduced Amount, the Payments will be paid only to the extent permitted under the Reduced Amount alternative; provided , that in the event the Reduced Amount is paid, the cash payments set forth in Section 9 shall be reduced as required by the operation of this Section 25 .

 

  b.

The Company shall engage the accounting firm engaged by the Company for general audit purposes at least 20 business days prior to the effective date of the Change in Control to perform any calculation necessary to determine the amount, if any, payable to Executive pursuant to Section 9 , as limited by this Section 25 . If the accounting firm so engaged by the Company is also serving as accountant or auditor for the individual, entity or group that will

 

13


  control the Company following the Change in Control, the Company may appoint a nationally recognized accounting firm other than the accounting firm engaged by the Company for general audit purposes to make the determinations required hereunder. The Company shall bear all expenses with respect to the determinations by such accounting firm required to be made hereunder.

 

  c. The accounting firm engaged to make the determinations hereunder shall provide its calculations, together with detailed supporting documentation, to the Company and Executive within 20 days after the date on which such accounting firm has been engaged to make such determinations or within such other time period as agreed to by the Company and Executive. Any good faith determinations of the accounting firm made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the Company and Executive.

 

  d. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in determining the reduction, if any, that shall occur as a result of this Section 25 , the amounts payable or benefits to be provided to Executive shall be reduced such that the economic loss to Executive as a result of the Excise Tax elimination is minimized. In applying this principle, the reduction shall be made in a manner consistent with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and where two economically equivalent amounts are subject to reduction but payable at different times, such amounts shall be reduced on a pro rata basis but not below zero.

 

  e. In the event that following the payment of any Payments pursuant to Section 9 , as reduced, if applicable, as required by the operation of Section 25(a)-(d) , the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) determines that Officer is liable for the Excise Tax as a result of the receipt of such Payments or Reduced Amount, as applicable, then Officer shall be obligated to pay back to the Company, within 30 days after final IRS determination, an amount of the Payments or Reduced Amount, as applicable, equal to the “Repayment Amount.” The Repayment Amount shall be the smallest such amount, if any, as shall be required to be paid to the Company so that the Officer’s net proceeds with respect to the Payments or Reduced Amount, as applicable, (after taking into account the payment of the Excise Tax imposed on such Payments or Reduced Amount, as applicable) shall be maximized. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Repayment Amount shall be zero if a Repayment Amount of more than zero would not eliminate the Excise Tax imposed on the Payments or Reduced Amount. If the Excise Tax is not eliminated pursuant to this paragraph, Officer shall pay the Excise Tax.

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first written.

 

/s/ Christopher A. Holden
Christopher A. Holden
AMSURG CORP.
By:   /s/ Claire M. Gulmi
Name:   Claire M. Gulmi
Title:   Executive Vice President

 

15

Exhibit 10.2

AMSURG CORP.

2006 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Section 1.  

Purpose

     1   
Section 2.  

Definitions

     1   
Section 3.  

Administration

     4   
Section 4.  

Shares Available For Awards

     5   
Section 5.  

Eligibility

     5   
Section 6.  

Stock Options And Stock Appreciation Rights

     6   
Section 7.  

Restricted Shares And Restricted Share Units

     7   
Section 8.  

Performance Awards

     8   
Section 9.  

Other Stock-Based Awards

     9   
Section 10.  

Non-Employee Director Awards

     9   
Section 11.  

Provisions Applicable To Covered Officers And Performance Awards

     9   
Section 12.  

Termination Of Employment

     10   
Section 13.  

Change In Control

     10   
Section 14.  

Amendment And Termination

     12   
Section 15.  

General Provisions

     12   
Section 16.  

Term Of The Plan

     14   


AMSURG CORP.

2006 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED

Section 1. Purpose.

This plan shall be known as the “AmSurg Corp. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan” (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan is to promote the interests of AmSurg Corp. (the “Company”) and its shareholders by (i) attracting and retaining key officers, employees and directors of, and consultants to, the Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates; (ii) motivating such individuals by means of performance-related incentives to achieve long-range performance goals; (iii) enabling such individuals to participate in the long-term growth and financial success of the Company; (iv) encouraging ownership of stock in the Company by such individuals; and (v) linking their compensation to the long-term interests of the Company and its shareholders. With respect to any awards granted under the Plan that are intended to comply with the requirements of “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan and any such awards shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with such requirements.

Section 2. Definitions.

As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:

(a) “Affiliate” shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Company, (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, (iii) an affiliate of the Company, as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and (iv) any entity in which the Company has at least twenty percent (20%) of the combined voting power of the entity’s outstanding voting securities, in each case as designated by the Board as being a participating employer in the Plan.

(b) “Award” shall mean any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Share Award, Restricted Share Unit, Performance Award, Other Stock-Based Award or other award granted under the Plan, whether singly, in combination or in tandem, to a Participant by the Committee (or the Board) pursuant to such terms, conditions, restrictions and/or limitations, if any, as the Committee (or the Board) may establish.

(c) “Award Agreement” shall mean any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing any Award, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by a Participant.

(d) “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

(e) “Cause” shall mean, unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, (i) a felony conviction of a participant or the failure of a participant to contest prosecution for a felony, (ii) the engaging by the Participant in willful misconduct that is injurious to the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or (iii) the embezzlement or misappropriation of funds or property of the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates by the Participant. For purposes of this paragraph, no act, or failure to act, on the Participant’s part shall be considered “willful” unless done, or omitted to be done, by the Participant not in good faith and without reasonable belief that the Participant’s action or omission was in the best interest of the Company. Any determination of Cause for purposes of the Plan or any Award shall be made by the Committee in its sole discretion. Any such determination shall be final and binding on a Participant.

(f) “Change in Control” shall mean, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the happening of one of the following:

(i) any person or entity, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary thereof or any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, becomes the beneficial owner of the Company’s securities having 50% or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company that may be cast for the election of directors of the Company (other than as a result of an issuance of securities initiated by the Company in the ordinary course of business); or


(ii) as the result of, or in connection with, any cash tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sales of assets or contested election, or any combination of the foregoing transactions, less than a majority of the combined voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company or any successor corporation or entity entitled to vote generally in the election of the directors of the Company or such other corporation or entity after such transaction are held in the aggregate by the holders of the Company’s securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors of the Company immediately prior to such transaction; or

(iii) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of any such period constitute the Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election, or the nomination for election by the Company’s shareholders, of each director of the Company first elected during such period was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors of the Company then still in office who were directors of the Company at the beginning of any such period.

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

(h) “Committee” shall mean a committee of the Board composed of not less than two Non-Employee Directors, each of whom shall be (i) a “non-employee director” for purposes of Exchange Act Section 16 and Rule 16b-3 thereunder, (ii) an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) and the regulations promulgated under the Code, and (iii) “independent” within the meaning of the listing standards of the Nasdaq National Market.

(i) “Consultant” shall mean any consultant to the Company or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates.

(j) “Covered Officer” shall mean at any date (i) any individual who, with respect to the previous taxable year of the Company, was a “covered employee” of the Company within the meaning of Section 162(m); provided, however, that the term “Covered Officer” shall not include any such individual who is designated by the Committee, in its discretion, at the time of any Award or at any subsequent time, as reasonably expected not to be such a “covered employee” with respect to the current taxable year of the Company and (ii) any individual who is designated by the Committee, in its discretion, at the time of any Award or at any subsequent time, as reasonably expected to be such a “covered employee” with respect to the current taxable year of the Company or with respect to the taxable year of the Company in which any applicable Award will be paid or vested.

(k) “Director” shall mean a member of the Board.

(l) “Disability” shall mean, unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, a disability that would qualify as a total and permanent disability under the Company’s then current long-term disability plan.

(m) “Early Retirement” shall mean retirement, for purposes of this Plan, in accordance with any applicable early retirement policy of the Company approved by the Committee and then in effect.

(n) “Effective Date” shall have the meaning provided in Section 16.1 of the Plan.

(o) “Employee” shall mean a current or prospective officer or employee of the Company or of any Subsidiary or Affiliate.

(p) “Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

(q) “Fair Market Value” with respect to the Shares, shall mean, for purposes of a grant of an Award as of any date, (i) the reported closing sales price of the Shares on the Nasdaq National Market, or any other such market or exchange as is the principal trading market for the Shares, on such date, or in the absence of reported sales on such date, the closing sales price on the immediately preceding date on which sales were reported or (ii) in the event there is no public market for the Shares on such date, the fair market value as determined, in good faith, by the Committee in its sole discretion, and for purposes of a sale of a Share as of any date, the actual sales price on that date.

 

2


(r) “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an option to purchase Shares from the Company that is granted under Section 6 of the Plan and that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

(s) “Non-Employee Director” shall mean a member of the Board who is not an officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate.

(t) “Non-Qualified Stock Option” shall mean an option to purchase Shares from the Company that is granted under Sections 6 or 10 of the Plan and is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.

(u) “Normal Retirement” shall mean, unless otherwise defined in the applicable Award Agreement, retirement of a Participant from active employment with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates on or after such Participant’s 65 th birthday.

(v) “Option” shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

(w) “Option Price” shall mean the purchase price payable to purchase one Share upon the exercise of an Option.

(x) “Other Stock-Based Award” shall mean any Award granted under Sections 9 or 10 of the Plan.

(y) “Participant” shall mean any Employee, Director, Consultant or other person who receives an Award under the Plan.

(z) “Performance Award” shall mean any Award granted under Section 8 of the Plan.

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

(bb) “Restricted Share” shall mean any Share granted under Sections 7 to 10 of the Plan.

(cc) “Restricted Share Unit” shall mean any unit granted under Sections 7 to 10 of the Plan.

(dd) “Retirement” shall mean Normal or Early Retirement.

(ee) “SEC” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

(ff) “Section 16” shall mean Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules promulgated thereunder and any successor provision thereto as in effect from time to time.

(gg) “Section 162(m)” shall mean Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder and any successor provision thereto as in effect from time to time.

(hh) “Shares” shall mean shares of the common stock, no par value, of the Company.

(ii) “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” shall mean a stock appreciation right granted under Sections 6 , 8 or 10 of the Plan that entitles the holder to receive, with respect to each Share encompassed by the exercise of such SAR, the amount determined by the Committee and specified in an Award Agreement. In the absence of such a determination, the holder shall be entitled to receive, with respect to each Share encompassed by the exercise of such SAR, the excess of the Fair Market Value on the date of exercise over the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.

(jj) “Subsidiary” shall mean any Person (other than the Company) of which 50% or more of its voting power or its equity securities or equity interest is owned directly or indirectly by the Company.

 

3


(kk) “Substitute Awards” shall mean Awards granted solely in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines.

Section 3. Administration.

3.1 Authority of Committee. The Plan shall be administered by a Committee of not less than two Non-Employee Directors, who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board; provided, however, with respect to Awards to Non-Employee Directors, all references in the Plan to the Committee shall be deemed to be references to the Board. The initial Committee shall be the Compensation Committee of the Board. 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 in its discretion to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights or other matters are to be calculated in connection with Awards; (iv) determine the timing, terms, and conditions of any Award; (v) accelerate the time at which all or any part of an Award may be settled or exercised; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited or suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited or suspended; (vii) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property, and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the Committee; (viii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan; (ix) except to the extent prohibited by Section 6.2 , amend or modify the terms of any Award at or after grant with the consent of the holder of the Award; (x) 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; and (xi) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan, subject to the exclusive authority of the Board under Section 14 hereunder to amend or terminate the Plan.

3.2 Committee Discretion Binding. 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 Subsidiary or Affiliate, any Participant and any holder or beneficiary of any Award.

3.3 Action by the Committee. The Committee shall hold its meetings at such times and places and in such manner as it may determine. A majority of its members shall constitute a quorum. All determinations of the Committee shall be made by not less than a majority of its members. Any decision or determination reduced to writing and signed by all of the members of the Committee shall be fully effective as if it had been made by a majority vote at a meeting duly called and held. The exercise of an Option or receipt of an Award shall be effective only if an Award Agreement shall have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company following the grant of the Option or other Award. The Committee may appoint a Secretary and may make such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business, as it shall deem advisable.

3.4 Delegation. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, the Committee may delegate to one or more officers or managers of the Company or of any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or to a Committee of such officers or managers, the authority, subject to such terms and limitations as the Committee shall determine, to grant Awards to or to cancel, modify or waive rights with respect to, or to alter, discontinue, suspend or terminate Awards held by Participants who are not officers or directors of the Company for purposes of Section 16 or who are otherwise not subject to such Section.

3.5 No Liability. No member of the Board or Committee shall be liable for any action taken or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award granted hereunder.

 

4


Section 4. Shares Available For Awards.

4.1 Shares Available. Subject to the provisions of Section 4.2 hereof, the stock to be subject to Awards under the Plan shall be the Shares of the Company and the maximum aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be 2,760,250, of which the number of (i) Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options may be granted shall be no more than 700,000 and (ii) Shares with respect to which Awards other than Options and SARs may be granted shall be no more than 2,040,000. Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2 , the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be increased by the number of Shares with respect to which Options or other Awards that were granted under the Company’s Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the “1997 Plan”) as of April 2, 2007, but which terminate, expire unexercised or are forfeited or cancelled without the delivery of Shares under the terms of the 1997 Plan after April 2, 2007. If, after the effective date of the Plan, any Shares covered by an Award granted under this Plan, or to which such an Award relates, are forfeited or otherwise terminates, expires unexercised or is canceled without the delivery of Shares, then the Shares covered by such Award, or to which such Award relates, or the number of Shares otherwise counted against the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted, to the extent of any such settlement, forfeiture, termination, expiration or cancellation, shall again become Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted; provided, however, that in the event the number of Shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of an Option or SAR exceeds the number of Shares actually issued upon the exercise of the Option or SAR, the excess Shares shall not again be Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2 hereof, no Participant may receive Options or SARs under the Plan in any calendar year that, taken together, relate to more than 500,000 Shares.

4.2 Adjustments . In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares, then the Committee shall in an equitable and proportionate manner (and, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, in such equitable and proportionate manner as is consistent with Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder and with respect to Awards to Covered Officers, in such equitable and proportionate manner as is consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code): (i) adjust any or all of (1) the aggregate number of Shares or other securities of the Company or its successor (or number and kind of other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan; (2) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company or its successor (or number and kind of other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards under the Plan, provided that the number of Shares subject to any Award shall always be a whole number; (3) the grant or exercise price with respect to any Award under the Plan; and (4) the limits on the number of Shares that may be granted to Participants under the Plan in any calendar year; (ii) subject to Section 13 , provide for an equivalent award in respect of securities of the surviving entity of any merger, consolidation or other transaction or event having a similar effect; or (iii) make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award.

4.3 Substitute Awards. Any Shares issued by the Company as Substitute Awards in connection with the assumption or substitution of outstanding grants from any acquired corporation shall not reduce the Shares available for Awards under the Plan.

4.4 Sources of Shares Deliverable Under Awards. Any Shares delivered pursuant to an Award shall consist of authorized and unissued Shares.

Section 5. Eligibility.

Any Employee, Director or Consultant shall be eligible to be designated a Participant; provided, however, that Non-Employee Directors shall only be eligible to receive Awards granted consistent with Section 10 .

 

5


Section 6. Stock Options And Stock Appreciation Rights.

6.1 Grant. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Participants to whom Options and SARs shall be granted, the number of Shares subject to each Award, the exercise price and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option and SAR. An Option may be granted with or without a related SAR. An SAR may be granted with or without a related Option. The Committee shall have the authority to grant Incentive Stock Options, or to grant Non-Qualified Stock Options, or to grant both types of Options. 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, as from time to time amended, and any regulations implementing such statute. A person who has been granted an Option or SAR under this Plan may be granted additional Options or SARs under the Plan if the Committee shall so determine; provided, however, that to the extent the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the Shares with respect to which all Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an Employee during any calendar year (under all plans described in subsection (d) of Section 422 of the Code of the Employee’s employer corporation and its parent and Subsidiaries) exceeds $100,000, such Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options.

6.2 Price. The Committee in its sole discretion shall establish the Option Price at the time each Option is granted. Except in the case of Substitute Awards, the Option Price of an Option may not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which the Option is granted on the date of grant of such Option. Except with respect to Substitute Awards, SARs may not be granted at a price less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the foregoing and except as permitted by the provisions of Section 4.2 and Section 14 hereof, the Committee shall not have the power to (i) amend the terms of previously granted Options or SARs to reduce the Option Price of such Options or SARs, (ii) cancel such Options or SARs and grant substitute Options or SARs with a lower Option Price than the cancelled Options or SARs, or (iii) cancel such Options or SARs in exchange for other Awards, cash or property at a time when the Fair Market Value of a Share is less than the Option Price of the Option or the grant price of the SAR.

6.3 Term. Subject to the Committee’s authority under Section 3.1 and the provisions of Section 6.6 , each Option and SAR and all rights and obligations thereunder shall expire on the date determined by the Committee and specified in the Award Agreement. The Committee shall be under no duty to provide terms of like duration for Options or SARs granted under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Option or SAR shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date such Option or SAR was granted.

6.4 Exercise.

(a) Each Option and SAR shall be 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. The Committee shall have full and complete authority to determine, subject to Section 6.6 herein, whether an Option or SAR will be exercisable in full at any time or from time to time during the term of the Option or SAR, or to provide for the exercise thereof in such installments, upon the occurrence of such events and at such times during the term of the Option or SAR as the Committee may determine.

(b) The Committee may impose such conditions with respect to the exercise of Options, including without limitation, any relating to the application of federal, state or foreign securities laws or the Code, as it may deem necessary or advisable. The exercise of any Option granted hereunder shall be effective only at such time as the sale of Shares pursuant to such exercise will not violate any state or federal securities or other laws.

(c) An Option or SAR may be exercised in whole or in part at any time, with respect to whole Shares only, within the period permitted thereunder for the exercise thereof, and shall be exercised by written notice of intent to exercise the Option or SAR, delivered to the Company at its principal office, and payment in full to the Company at the direction of the Committee of the amount of the Option Price for the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is then being exercised.

(d) Payment of the Option Price shall be made in cash or cash equivalents, or, at the discretion of the Committee, (i) by transfer, either actually or by attestation, to the Company of Shares that have been held by the Participant for at least six (6) months (or such lesser period as may be permitted by the Committee), valued at the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the date of exercise (or next succeeding trading date, if the date of exercise is not a trading date), together with any applicable withholding taxes, such transfer to be upon such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee, or (ii) by a combination of

 

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such cash (or cash equivalents) and such Shares; provided, however, that the optionee shall not be entitled to tender Shares pursuant to successive, substantially simultaneous exercises of an Option or any other stock option of the Company. Subject to applicable securities laws and Company policy, the Company may permit an Option to be exercised by delivering a notice of exercise of the Option and simultaneously selling the Shares thereby acquired, pursuant to a brokerage or similar agreement approved in advance by proper officers of the Company, using the proceeds of such sale as payment of the Option Price, together with any applicable withholding taxes. Until the optionee has been issued the Shares subject to such exercise, he or she shall possess no rights as a shareholder with respect to such Shares.

(e) A fractional Share shall not be deliverable upon the exercise of a SAR but a cash payment will be made in lieu thereof.

6.5 Ten Percent Stock Rule. Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Plan, if at the time an Option is otherwise to be granted pursuant to the Plan, the optionee or rights holder owns directly or indirectly (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) Shares of the Company possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of Stock of the Company or its parent or Subsidiary or Affiliate corporations (within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code), then any Incentive Stock Option to be granted to such optionee or rights holder pursuant to the Plan shall satisfy the requirement of Section 422(c)(5) of the Code, and the Option Price shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares of the Company, and such Option by its terms shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date such Option is granted.

Section 7. Restricted Shares And Restricted Share Units.

7.1 Grant.

(a) Subject to the provisions of the Plan, 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/or the number of Restricted Share Units to be granted to each Participant, the duration of the period during which, and the conditions under which, the Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units may be forfeited to the Company, and the other terms and conditions of such Awards. The Restricted Share and Restricted Share Unit Awards shall be evidenced by Award Agreements in such form as the Committee shall from time to time approve, which agreements shall comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions provided hereunder and any additional terms and conditions established by the Committee that are consistent with the terms of the Plan.

(b) Each Restricted Share and Restricted Share Unit Award made under the Plan shall be for such number of Shares as shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement containing the terms of such Restricted Share or Restricted Share Unit Award. Such agreement shall set forth a period of time of not less than three (3) years in duration during which the grantee must remain in the continuous employment of the Company in order for the forfeiture and transfer restrictions to lapse. The restrictions may lapse during such restricted period in equal, annual installments with respect to specified portions of the Shares covered by the Restricted Share or Restricted Share Unit Award. The Award Agreement may also, in the discretion of the Committee, set forth performance or other conditions that will subject the Shares to forfeiture and transfer restrictions.

7.2 Delivery of Shares and Transfer Restrictions. At the time of a Restricted Share Award, a certificate representing the number of Shares awarded thereunder shall be registered in the name of the grantee. Such certificate shall be held by the Company or any custodian appointed by the Company for the account of the grantee subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, and shall bear such a legend setting forth the restrictions imposed thereon as the Committee, in its discretion, may determine. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, the grantee shall have all rights of a shareholder with respect to the Restricted Shares, including the right to receive dividends and the right to vote such Shares, subject to the following restrictions: (i) the grantee shall not be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate until the expiration of the restricted period and the fulfillment of any other restrictive conditions set forth in the Award Agreement with respect to such Shares; (ii) none of the Shares may be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or disposed of during such restricted period or until after the fulfillment of any such other restrictive conditions; (iii) any dividends to which a Participant may become entitled

 

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shall be withheld and paid only if and when the underlying Restricted Shares become vested, and (iv) except as otherwise determined by the Committee at or after grant, all of the Shares (and any dividends accrued thereon) shall be forfeited and all rights of the grantee to such Shares and accrued dividends shall terminate, without further obligation on the part of the Company, unless the grantee remains in the continuous employment of the Company for the entire restricted period in relation to which such Shares were granted and unless any other restrictive conditions relating to the Restricted Share Award are met. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, any Shares, any other securities of the Company and any other property distributed with respect to the Shares subject to Restricted Share Awards shall be subject to the same restrictions, terms and conditions as such Restricted Shares.

7.3 Termination of Restrictions. At the end of the restricted period and provided that any other restrictive conditions of the Restricted Share Award are met, or at such earlier time as otherwise determined by the Committee, all restrictions set forth in the Award Agreement relating to the Restricted Share Award or in the Plan shall lapse as to the restricted Shares subject thereto, and a stock certificate for the appropriate number of Shares, free of the restrictions and restricted stock legend, shall be delivered to the Participant or the Participant’s beneficiary or estate, as the case may be.

7.4 Payment of Restricted Share Units. 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 or other property, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, upon the lapse of the restrictions applicable thereto, or otherwise in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a Participant shall receive dividend rights in respect of any vested Restricted Stock Units at the time of any payment of dividends to shareholders on Shares. The amount of any such dividend right shall equal the amount that would be payable to the Participant as a shareholder in respect of a number of Shares equal to the number of vested Restricted Stock Units then credited to the Participant. Any such dividend right shall be paid in accordance with the Company’s payment practices as may be established from time to time and as of the date on which such dividend would have been payable in respect of outstanding Shares. No dividend equivalents shall be paid currently in respect of Restricted Share Units that are not yet vested; such dividend equivalents shall be paid only if the underlying Restricted Share Units vest. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at or after grant, Restricted Share Units may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or disposed of, and all Restricted Share Units and all rights of the grantee to such Restricted Share Units shall terminate, without further obligation on the part of the Company, unless the grantee remains in continuous employment of the Company for the entire restricted period in relation to which such Restricted Share Units were granted and unless any other restrictive conditions relating to the Restricted Share Unit Award are met.

Section 8. Performance Awards.

8.1 Grant . The Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Participants who shall receive a Performance Award, which shall consist of a right that is (i) denominated in cash or Shares (including, but not limited to, Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units), (ii) valued, as determined by the Committee, in accordance with the achievement of such performance goals during such performance periods (which performance periods shall not be less than one (1) year in duration) as the Committee shall establish, and (iii) payable at such time and in such form as the Committee shall determine. Any Performance Award denominated in Shares shall have a minimum vesting period of three years from the date of grant.

8.2 Terms and Conditions. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall determine the performance goals to be achieved during any performance period, the length of any performance period, the amount of any Performance Award and the amount and kind of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant to any Performance Award, and may amend specific provisions of the Performance Award; provided, however, that such amendment may not adversely affect existing Performance Awards made within a performance period commencing prior to implementation of the amendment.

8.3 Payment of Performance Awards. Performance Awards may be paid in a lump sum or in installments following the close of the performance period or, in accordance with the procedures established by the Committee, on a deferred basis. Termination of employment prior to the end of any performance period, other than for reasons of death or Disability, will result in the forfeiture of the Performance Award, and no payments will be made. A Participant’s rights to any Performance Award may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered or disposed of in any manner, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and/or except as the Committee may determine at or after grant.

 

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Section 9. Other Stock-Based Awards.

The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Participants who shall receive an Other Stock-Based Award, which shall consist of any right that is (i) not an Award described in Sections 6 and 7 above and (ii) an Award of Shares or an Award denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Shares (including, without limitation, securities convertible into Shares), as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Other Stock-Based Award. All Other Stock-Based Awards shall include a minimum vesting period of three (3) years from the date of grant.

Section 10. Non-Employee Director Awards.

10.1 The Board may provide that all or a portion of a Non-Employee Director’s annual retainer, meeting fees and/or other awards or compensation as determined by the Board, be payable (either automatically or at the election of a Non-Employee Director) in the form of Non-Qualified Stock Options, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units and/or Other Stock-Based Awards, including unrestricted Shares. The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Awards, including the terms and conditions which shall apply upon a termination of the Non-Employee Director’s service as a member of the Board, and shall have full power and authority in its discretion to administer such Awards, subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law.

10.2 The Board may also grant Awards to Non-Employee Directors pursuant to the terms of the Plan, including any Award described in Sections 6, 7 and 9 above; provided, however, that any such Awards shall be first approved by a committee of the Board comprised of Non-Employee Directors. With respect to such Awards, all references in the Plan to the Committee shall be deemed references to the Board.

Section 11. Provisions Applicable To Covered Officers And Performance Awards.

11.1 Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, unless the Committee determines that a Performance Award to be granted to a Covered Officer should not qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m), Performance Awards granted to Covered Officers shall be subject to the terms and provisions of this Section 11 .

11.2 The Committee may grant Performance Awards to Covered Officers based solely upon the attainment of performance targets related to one or more performance goals selected by the Committee from among the goals specified below. For the purposes of this Section 11 , performance goals shall be limited to one or more of the following Company, Subsidiary, operating unit, business segment or division financial performance measures:

 

  (a) earnings or earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization;

 

  (b) operating income or profit;

 

  (c) operating efficiencies;

 

  (d) return on equity, assets, capital, capital employed or investment;

 

  (e) after tax operating income;

 

  (f) net income;

 

  (g) earnings or book value per Share;

 

  (h) cash flow(s);

 

  (i) revenues or revenue growth;

 

  (j) production (separate work units or SWUs);

 

  (k) stock price or total shareholder return;

 

  (l) dividends;

 

  (m) debt reduction;

 

  (n) strategic business objectives, consisting of one or more objectives based on meeting specified cost targets, business expansion goals and goals relating to acquisitions, divestitures or development activities; or

 

  (o) any combination thereof.

 

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Each goal may be expressed on an absolute and/or relative basis, may be based on or otherwise employ comparisons based on internal targets, the past performance of the Company or any Subsidiary, operating unit, business segment or division of the Company and/or the past or current performance of other companies, and in the case of earnings-based measures, may use or employ comparisons relating to capital, shareholders’ equity and/or Shares outstanding, or to assets or net assets. The Committee may appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under criteria set forth in this Section 11.2 to exclude any of the following events that occurs during a performance period: (i) asset write-downs, (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs, and (v) any extraordinary non-recurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to shareholders for the applicable year; provided, that the Committee must commit to make any such adjustments, and shall specify such adjustments, within the time for prescribing performance targets generally as described in Section 11.4.

11.3 With respect to any Covered Officer, the maximum annual number of Shares in respect of which all Performance Awards may be granted under Section 8 of the Plan is 500,000 and the maximum amount of all Performance Awards that are settled in cash and that may be granted under Section 8 of the Plan in any year is $5,000,000.

11.4 To the extent necessary to comply with Section 162(m), with respect to grants of Performance Awards, no later than 90 days following the commencement of each performance period (or such other time as may be required or permitted by Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee shall, in writing, (1) select the performance goal or goals applicable to the performance period, (2) establish the various targets and bonus amounts that may be earned for such performance period, and (3) specify the relationship between performance goals and targets and the amounts to be earned by each Covered Officer for such performance period. Following the completion of each performance period, the Committee shall certify in writing whether the applicable performance targets have been achieved and the amounts, if any, payable to Covered Officers for such performance period. In determining the amount earned by a Covered Officer for a given performance period, subject to any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall have the right to reduce (but not increase) the amount payable at a given level of performance to take into account additional factors that the Committee may deem relevant in its sole discretion to the assessment of individual or corporate performance for the performance period.

11.5 Unless otherwise expressly stated in the relevant Award Agreement, each Award granted to a Covered Officer under the Plan is intended to be performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m). Accordingly, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, if any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement relating to such an Award does not comply or is inconsistent with Section 162(m), such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements, and no provision shall be deemed to confer upon the Committee discretion to increase the amount of compensation otherwise payable to a Covered Officer in connection with any such Award upon the attainment of the performance criteria established by the Committee.

Section 12. Termination Of Employment.

Except as otherwise specifically set forth in the Plan, the Committee shall have the full power and authority to determine the terms and conditions that shall apply to any Award upon a termination of employment with the Company, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, including a termination by the Company with or without Cause, by a Participant voluntarily, or by reason of death, Disability, Early Retirement or Retirement, and may provide such terms and conditions in the Award Agreement or in such rules and regulations as it may prescribe.

Section 13. Change In Control.

13.1 Impact on Certain Awards. Award Agreements may provide that in the event of a Change in Control of the Company: (i) Options and Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding as of the date of the Change in Control shall be cancelled and terminated without payment if the Fair Market Value of one Share as of the date of

 

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the Change in Control is less than the per Share Option Price or Stock Appreciation Right grant price, and (ii) all Performance Awards shall be considered to be earned and payable (pro rata, but not in full, based on the target value of the Award and the portion of Performance Period completed as of the date of the Change in Control), and any limitations or other restrictions shall lapse and such Performance Awards shall be immediately settled or distributed.

13.2 Assumption or Substitution of Certain Awards.

(a) In the event of a Change in Control of the Company in which the successor company assumes or substitutes for an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Share Award, Restricted Share Unit Award or Other Share-Based Award (or in which the Company is the ultimate parent corporation and continues the Award), if a Participant’s employment with such successor company (or the Company) or a subsidiary thereof terminates within 12 months following such Change in Control and under the circumstances specified in the Award Agreement: (i) Options and Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding as of the date of such termination of employment will immediately vest, become fully exercisable, and may thereafter be exercised for 12 months, (ii) restrictions, limitations and other conditions applicable to Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units outstanding as of the date of such termination of employment shall lapse and the Restricted Share and Restricted Share Units shall become free of all restrictions, limitations and conditions and become fully vested, and (iii) the restrictions, limitations and other conditions applicable to any Other Stock-Based Awards or any other Awards shall lapse, and such Other Stock-Based Awards or such other Awards shall become free of all restrictions, limitations and conditions and become fully vested and transferable to the full extent of the original grant. For the purposes of this Section 13.2, an Award shall be considered assumed or substituted for if following the Change in Control the Award confers the right to purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash or other securities or property) received in the transaction constituting a Change in Control by holders of Shares for each Share held on the effective date of such 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 transaction constituting a Change in Control is not solely common stock of the successor company, the Committee may, with the consent of the successor company, provide that the consideration to be received upon the exercise or vesting of an Award, for each Share subject thereto, will be solely common stock of the successor company substantially equal in fair market value to the per Share consideration received by holders of Shares in the transaction constituting a Change in Control. The determination of such substantial equality of value of consideration shall be made by the Committee in its sole discretion and its determination shall be conclusive and binding.

(b) In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, to the extent the successor company does not assume or substitute for an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit Award or Other Share-Based Award (or in which the Company is the ultimate parent corporation and does not continue the Award): (i) those Options and Stock Appreciation Rights outstanding as of the date of the Change in Control that are not assumed or substituted for (or continued) shall immediately vest and become fully exercisable, (ii) restrictions, limitations and other conditions applicable to Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units that are not assumed or substituted for (or continued) shall lapse and the Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units shall become free of all restrictions, limitations and conditions and become fully vested, and (iii) the restrictions, other limitations and other conditions applicable to any Other Stock-Based Awards or any other Awards that are not assumed or substituted for (or continued) shall lapse, and such Other Stock-Based Awards or such other Awards shall become free of all restrictions, limitations and conditions and become fully vested and transferable to the full extent of the original grant.

(c) The Committee, in its discretion, may determine that, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company, each Option and Stock Appreciation Right that is vested and outstanding shall terminate within a specified number of days after notice to the Participant, and/or that each Participant shall receive, with respect to each Share subject to such Option or Stock Appreciation Right, an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of such Share immediately prior to the occurrence of such Change in Control over the exercise price per Share of such Option and/or Stock Appreciation Right; such amount to be payable in cash, in one or more kinds of stock or property (including the stock or property, if any, payable in the transaction) or in a combination thereof, as the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine.

 

 

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13.3 Amendment of Section 13. This Section 13 , and any other provisions of the Plan that would materially impact the operation or intent of this Section 13 , shall not be amended by the Board or waived by the Company in a manner favorable to Participants without approval by more than 75 percent of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the Company or its successor; provided, that if following a Change in Control, the Company (or its successor corporation) is not a publicly-traded corporation, and is a direct or indirect subsidiary of a publicly-traded corporation, the shareholder approval required by this Section 13.3 must be approval by more than 75 percent of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the publicly-traded corporation that is the direct or indirect parent of the Company or its successor. Notwithstanding any other Plan term or any Award Agreement term, this Section 13 may not be terminated, amended or modified on or after the date of a Change in Control to affect adversely any Award already granted under the Plan without the prior written consent of the Participant with respect to said Participant’s outstanding Awards.

Section 14. Amendment And Termination.

14.1 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 (i) such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement for which or with which the Board deems it necessary or desirable to comply or (ii) such amendment would materially increase the economic benefits to the participants hereunder.

14.2 Amendments to Awards. Subject to the restrictions of Section 6.2 and except as otherwise specifically set forth in the Plan, 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 any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would materially and adversely affect 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.

14.3 Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events . The Committee is hereby authorized to make equitable and proportionate 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 4.2 hereof) affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principals in accordance with the Plan.

Section 15. General Provisions.

15.1 Limited Transferability of Awards. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan, no Award shall be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution and/or as may be provided by the Committee in its discretion, at or after grant, in the Award Agreement or otherwise. No transfer of an Award by will or by laws of descent and distribution shall be effective to bind the Company unless the Company shall have been furnished with written notice thereof and an authenticated copy of the will and/or such other evidence as the Committee may deem necessary or appropriate to establish the validity of the transfer. None of the Awards shall be transferable for consideration.

15.2 Dividend Equivalents. In the sole and complete discretion of the Committee, an Award may provide the Participant with dividends or dividend equivalents, payable in cash, Shares, other securities or other property on a current or deferred basis; provided, that dividends and dividend equivalents may only be provided with respect to Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units. All dividend or dividend equivalents which are not paid currently may, at the Committee’s discretion, accrue interest, be reinvested into additional Shares, or, in the case of dividends or dividend equivalents credited in connection with Performance Awards, be credited as additional Performance Awards and paid to the Participant if and when, and to the extent that, payment is made pursuant to such Award. The total number of Shares available for grant under Section 4 shall not be reduced to reflect any dividends or dividend equivalents that are reinvested into additional Shares or credited as Performance Awards.

 

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15.3. Compliance with Section 409A of the Code. No Award (or modification thereof) shall provide for deferral of compensation that does not comply with Section 409A of the Code unless the Committee, at the time of grant, specifically provides that the Award is not intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary, if one or more of the payments or benefits received or to be received by a Participant pursuant to an Award would cause the Participant to incur any additional tax or interest under Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may reform such provision to maintain to the maximum extent practicable the original intent of the applicable provision without violating the provisions of section 409A of the Code.

15.4 No Rights to Awards. No 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 need not be the same with respect to each Participant.

15.5 Share Certificates. All certificates for Shares or other securities of the Company or any Subsidiary or 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 or the rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC or any state securities commission or regulatory authority, any stock exchange or other market 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.

15.6 Withholding. A Participant may be required to pay to the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate and the Company or any Subsidiary or 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 or other tax-related obligations in respect of an Award, its exercise or any other transaction involving an Award, 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. The Committee may provide for additional cash payments to holders of Options to defray or offset any tax arising from the grant, vesting, exercise or payment of any Award.

15.7 Award Agreements. Each Award hereunder shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall be delivered to the Participant and may specify the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto. In the event of a conflict between the terms of the Plan and any Award Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall prevail. The Committee shall, subject to applicable law, determine the date an Award is deemed to be granted. The Committee or, except to the extent prohibited under applicable law, its delegate(s) may establish the terms of agreements or other documents evidencing Awards under this Plan and may, but need not, require as a condition to any such agreement’s or document’s effectiveness that such agreement or document be executed by the Participant, including by electronic signature or other electronic indication of acceptance, and that such Participant agree to such further terms and conditions as specified in such agreement or document. The grant of an Award under this Plan shall not confer any rights upon the Participant holding such Award other than such terms, and subject to such conditions, as are specified in this Plan as being applicable to such type of Award (or to all Awards) or as are expressly set forth in the agreement or other document evidencing such Award.

15.8 No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other compensation arrangements, which may, but need not, provide for the grant of Options, Restricted Shares, Restricted Share Units, Other Stock-Based Awards or other types of Awards provided for hereunder.

15.9 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 the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate. Further, the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in an Award Agreement.

15.10 No Rights as Shareholder. Subject to the provisions of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement, 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 such person has become a holder of such Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with each grant of Restricted Shares hereunder, 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 Restricted Shares.

 

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15.11 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 Tennessee without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles.

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

15.13 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 (including applicable non-U.S. laws or regulations) or entitle the Company to recover the same under Exchange Act Section 16(b), 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.

15.14 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 Subsidiary or 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 Subsidiary or Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate.

15.15 No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated or otherwise eliminated.

15.16 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.

Section 16. Term Of The Plan.

16.1 Effective Date. The Plan was effective as of May 18, 2006.

16.2 Expiration Date. No new Awards shall be granted under the Plan after May 18, 2016. 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, continue after May 18, 2016.

 

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