As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 23, 2021
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CORE & MAIN, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware | 5099 | 86-3149194 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
1830 Craig Park Court
St. Louis, Missouri 63146
(314) 432-4700
(Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code of Registrants Principal Executive Office)
Core & Main, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan
Core & Main, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan
(Full title of the plan)
Stephen O. LeClair
Chief Executive Officer
Core & Main, Inc.
1830 Craig Park Court
St. Louis, Missouri 63146
(314) 432-4700
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
With copies to:
Meir D. Katz, Esq.
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP
919 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
(212) 909-6000
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, smaller reporting company and emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Name of Plan |
Title of Securities to be registered |
Amount to be registered (1) |
Proposed maximum offering price per share (2) |
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price |
Amount of
registration fee |
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Core & Main, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan |
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | 13,233,683 | $19.28 | $255,145,408 | $27,836.36 | |||||
Core & Main, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan |
Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | 2,500,000 | $20.00 | $50,000,000 | $5,455.00 | |||||
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(1) |
The number of shares being registered represents (a) shares underlying stock appreciation right awards outstanding under the Core & Main, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the Omnibus Incentive Plan), (b) shares reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under the Omnibus Incentive Plan and (c) shares reserved for issuance pursuant to the Core & Main, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the Employee Stock Purchase Plan). Pursuant to Rule 416(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of the Registrants Class A Common Stock that become issuable under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan and Omnibus Incentive Plan by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction. |
(2) |
Computed pursuant to Rule 457(h) solely for purpose of determining the registration fee, based upon (a) with respect to 633,683 stock appreciation right awards, an assumed price of $5.00 per share, which is the weighted average exercise price of the outstanding stock appreciation right awards under the Omnibus Incentive Plan, and (b) with respect to 12,600,000 shares reserved for issuance pursuant to future awards under the Omnibus Incentive Plan and with respect to the 2,500,000 shares reserved for issuance under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan, based upon a price of $20.00 per share of the Registrants Class A Common Stock, which is the initial public offering price. |
Part I
Information Required in the Section 10(a) Prospectus
All information required by Part I to be contained in the prospectus is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act).
Part II
Information Required in the Registration Statement
Item 3. Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) allows Core & Main, Inc. (us, we or the Company) to incorporate by reference into this Registration Statement information we file with the Commission in other documents. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring to another document we filed with the Commission.
We incorporate by reference, as of their respective dates of filing, the documents listed below (excluding any portions of such documents that have been furnished but not filed for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act)):
(1) |
The Companys prospectus to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, relating to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-256382). |
(2) |
The description of the Companys Class A Common Stock contained in the Companys Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 001-40650) filed with the Commission on July 23, 2021. |
All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement that indicate that all securities offered hereby have been sold or that deregister all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the respective dates of filing of such documents.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
Not applicable.
Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Delaware General Corporation Law
Core & Main, Inc. is incorporated under the laws of the state of Delaware.
Section 145(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the DGCL) provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the persons conduct was unlawful.
Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
Section 145(c) of the DGCL provides that to the extent that a present or former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145 of the DGCL, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.
Section 145(e) of the DGCL provides that expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by an officer or director of the corporation in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in Section 145 of the DGCL. Such expenses, including attorneys fees, incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents of the corporation or by persons serving at the request of the corporation as directors, officers, employees or agents of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the corporation deems appropriate.
Section 145(g) of the DGCL specifically allows a Delaware corporation to purchase liability insurance on behalf of its directors and officers and to insure against potential liability of such directors and officers regardless of whether the corporation would have the power to indemnify such directors and officers under Section 145 of the DGCL.
Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a Delaware corporation to include a provision in its certificate of incorporation eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. This provision, however, may not eliminate or limit a directors liability (1) for breach of the directors duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders; (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (3) under Section 174 of the DGCL, which provides for liability of directors for unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock purchases, redemptions or other distributions; or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
Section 174 of the DGCL provides, among other things, that a director who willfully and negligently approves of an unlawful payment of dividends or an unlawful stock purchase or redemption may be held liable for such actions. A director who was either absent when the unlawful actions were approved or dissented at the time may avoid liability by causing his or her dissent to such actions to be entered in the books containing the minutes of the meetings of the board of directors at the time the action occurred or immediately after the absent director receives notice of the unlawful acts.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions relating to the liability of directors. These provisions eliminate a directors personal liability for monetary damages resulting from a breach of fiduciary duty, except in circumstances involving:
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any breach of the directors duty of loyalty; |
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acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law; |
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unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions; or |
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any transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit. |
If the DGCL is amended to authorize corporation action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of our directors will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL, as so amended. The principal effect of the limitation on liability provision is that a stockholder will be unable to prosecute an action for monetary damages against a director unless the stockholder can demonstrate a basis for liability for which indemnification is not available under the DGCL. These provisions, however, should not limit or eliminate our rights or any stockholders rights to seek non-monetary relief, such as an injunction or rescission, in the event of a breach of directors fiduciary duty. These provisions will not alter a directors liability under federal securities laws. The inclusion of this provision in our Certificate of Incorporation may discourage or deter stockholders or management from bringing a lawsuit against directors for a breach of their fiduciary duties, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have benefited us and our stockholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent we pay costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated by-laws require us to indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and officers to the fullest extent not prohibited by the DGCL and other applicable law, except in the case of a proceeding instituted by the director without the approval of our board of directors. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated by-laws provide that we are required to indemnify our directors and executive officers, to the fullest extent permitted by law, for all judgments, fines, settlements, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with pending or threatened legal proceedings because of the directors or officers positions with us or another entity that the director or officer serves at our request, subject to various conditions, and to advance funds to our directors and officers to enable them to defend against such proceedings. To receive indemnification, the director or officer must have been successful in the legal proceeding or have acted in good faith and in what was reasonably believed to be a lawful manner in our best interest and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, have had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
Indemnification Agreements
Core & Main Holdings, LP and certain of its subsidiaries, including Core & Main LP (Opco), are parties to an indemnification agreement, dated as of August 1, 2017 (the Indemnification Agreement), with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC (CD&R) and certain affiliates thereof pursuant to which we indemnify CD&R and certain of its affiliates, alternative investment vehicles, related parties, directors, officers, partners, members, employees, agents, advisors, consultants, representatives and controlling persons against certain losses, including losses (i) incurred by such indemnitees under applicable securities laws in connection with the merger by which Core & Main LP was acquired by certain investment funds affiliated with or managed by CD&R, (ii) relating to other actions or omissions by Opco and specified affiliates (the Company Group), (iii) relating to the performance of certain services by such indemnitees for any member of the Company Group, (iv) arising out of the fact that such indemnitee is or was a board member, officer or stockholder of the Company Group or (v) arising from any breach or alleged breach by such indemnitee of his or her fiduciary duties as a board member, officer or stockholder of the Company Group. The indemnification obligations of the Company Group under the Indemnification Agreements are primary to any similar rights to which any indemnitee may be entitled under any other agreement or document.
We are a party to indemnification agreements with our directors and plan to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers. The indemnification agreements provide the directors and will provide the executive officers with contractual rights to indemnification and expense advancement.
Directors and Officers Liability Insurance
We have obtained directors and officers liability insurance which insures against certain liabilities that our directors and officers and the directors and officers of our subsidiaries may, in such capacities, incur.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
* Filed herewith.
Item 9. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective Registration Statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this Registration Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrants annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plans annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri, on July 23, 2021.
Core & Main, Inc. |
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By: |
/s/ Stephen O. LeClair | |
Name: Stephen O. LeClair Title: Chief Executive Officer and Director |
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Stephen O. LeClair, Mark R. Witkowski and Mark G. Whittenburg, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments and registration statements filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) and otherwise, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in and about the premises, as such person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed on July 23, 2021 by the following persons in the capacities indicated.
Signature |
Title |
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/s/ Stephen O. LeClair Stephen O. LeClair |
Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer) |
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/s/ Mark R. Witkowski Mark R. Witkowski |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer) |
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/s/ John W. Stephens John W. Stephens |
Vice President, Corporate Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) |
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/s/ James G. Berges James G. Berges |
Chair of the Board |
/s/ James G. Castellano James G. Castellano |
Director | |
/s/ Dennis G. Gipson Dennis G. Gipson |
Director | |
/s/ Orvin T. Kimbrough Orvin T. Kimbrough |
Director | |
/s/ Kathleen M. Mazzarella Kathleen M. Mazzarella |
Director | |
/s/ Margaret M. Newman Margaret M. Newman |
Director | |
/s/ Ian A. Rorick Ian A. Rorick |
Director | |
/s/ Nathan K. Sleeper Nathan K. Sleeper |
Director | |
/s/ Jonathan L. Zrebiec Jonathan L. Zrebiec |
Director |
Exhibit 5.1
July 23, 2021
Core & Main, Inc.
1830 Craig Park Court
St. Louis, Missouri 63146
(314) 432-4700
Re: |
Core & Main, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-8 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Core & Main, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), in connection with the filing by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the Registration Statement) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), relating to up to 15,733,683 shares of the Companys Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the Common Stock), consisting of (x) 13,233,683 shares which may be issued pursuant to the Core & Main, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan (the Omnibus Plan) and (y) 2,500,000 shares which may be issued pursuant to the Core & Main, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the ESPP).
We have examined the originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Omnibus Plan, the ESPP and such other corporate records, documents, certificates or other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable us to render the opinion set forth below. In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to originals of all documents submitted to us as copies thereof and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documentation.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the 15,733,683 shares of Common Stock that are reserved for issuance in the aggregate pursuant to the Omnibus Plan and ESPP have been duly authorized and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Omnibus Plan or the ESPP, as applicable (to the extent authorized thereunder), will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Companys Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.
We are members of the bar of the State of New York. We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of Delaware as currently in effect.
Very truly yours, /s/ Debevoise & Plimpton LLP |
Exhibit 10.1
Confidential
CORE & MAIN, INC.
2021 OMNIBUS EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
ARTICLE I
PURPOSES
This Core & Main, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Equity Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the Plan), has the following purposes:
(1) To further the growth, development and financial success of Core & Main, Inc. (the Company) and the Subsidiaries (as defined herein), by providing additional incentives to employees, consultants and members of the board of directors of the Company and the Subsidiaries by allowing them to become owners of Company Common Stock, thereby benefiting directly from the growth, development and financial success of the Company and the Subsidiaries.
(2) To enable the Company and the Subsidiaries to obtain and retain the services of the type of professional and managerial employees, consultants and directors considered essential to the long-range success of the Company and the Subsidiaries by providing and offering them an opportunity to become owners of Company Common Stock pursuant to the Awards granted hereunder.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
Whenever the following terms are used in this Plan, they shall have the meanings specified below unless the context clearly indicates to the contrary. The singular pronoun shall include the plural where the context so indicates.
Section 2.1 Administrator shall mean the Board or any committee of the Board designated by the Board to administer the Plan, in each case as further provided in Article III.
Section 2.2 Affiliate shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with, such first Person where control shall have the meaning given such term under Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Section 2.3 Alternative Award shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.1.
Section 2.4 Applicable Laws shall mean the requirements relating to stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance awards, and other equity-based compensation awards and plans under U.S. federal and state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Company Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any other country or jurisdiction where Awards are granted under the Plan.
Section 2.5 Award shall mean any Option, Stock Purchase Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit, SAR, Dividend Equivalent, Deferred Share Unit or other Stock-Based Award granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan, including an Award combining two or more types of Awards into a single grant.
Section 2.6 Award Agreement shall mean any written agreement, contract or other instrument or document evidencing an Award, including through an electronic medium. The Administrator may provide for the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper Award Agreements, and the use of electronic, internet or other non-paper means for the Participants acceptance of, or actions under, an Award Agreement, unless otherwise expressly specified herein.
Section 2.7 Base Price shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.54.
Section 2.8 Board shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.
Section 2.9 Cause with respect to any Participant, shall have the meaning set forth in an applicable Award Agreement.
Section 2.10 CD&R Investors means any of (i) CD&R Waterworks Holdings, LLC, (ii) any Affiliate of the foregoing (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) that acquires Company Common Stock, and (iii) any successor in interest to any of the foregoing.
Section 2.11 Change in Control shall mean the first to occur of any of the following events after the Effective Date:
(a) any transaction, whether by way of sales of capital stock, merger, consolidation or otherwise, that results in the direct or indirect beneficial ownership by any person, entity or group (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act), excluding the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and the CD&R Investors (and any group that includes any of the CD&R Investors and any member of such group, if the non-CD&R Investor members of such group do not by themselves, directly or indirectly, own more than 50% of the Companys then outstanding voting securities), or any Affiliates of any of the foregoing, of more than 50% of the combined voting power of the Companys (or, if applicable, the surviving company after such a merger) then outstanding voting securities;
(b) within any 12-month period, the persons who were members of the Board at the beginning of such period (the Incumbent Directors) shall cease to constitute at least a majority of the Board, provided that any director elected or nominated for election to the Board by any Investor or a majority of the Incumbent Directors then still in office shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director for purposes of this clause (b); or
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(c) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to one or more Persons that are not any of the CD&R Investors and are not, immediately prior to such sale, transfer or other disposition, Affiliates of the Company; in each case, provided that, as to Awards subject to Section 409A of the Code, such event also constitutes a change in control within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur if the Company files for bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization under the United States Bankruptcy Code or as a result of any restructuring that occurs as a result of any such proceeding and (ii) a Public Offering shall not constitute a Change in Control.
Section 2.12 Change in Control Price shall mean the price per share of Company Common Stock paid in conjunction with any transaction resulting in a Change in Control. If any part of the price is payable other than in cash, the value of the non-cash portion of the Change in Control Price shall be determined in good faith by the Administrator as constituted immediately prior to the Change in Control.
Section 2.13 Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Section 2.14 Company shall have the meaning set forth in Article I and shall include any successor thereto.
Section 2.15 Company Common Stock shall mean the Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company and such other stock or securities into which such common stock is hereafter converted or for which such common stock is exchanged.
Section 2.16 Competitive Activity with respect to a Participant means the Administrators determination, made reasonably and in good faith, that the Participant, directly or indirectly, has engaged in a material breach of any agreement to which the Participant and the Company or any of its Affiliates are parties (including, but not limited to, any Award Agreement) that prohibits or otherwise limits or conditions actions of the Participant related to competition; interference with key business relationships; solicitation of employees, suppliers, or customers; disclosure of confidential information; ownership of intellectual property; disparagement; and other similar activities.
Section 2.17 Consultant shall mean any natural person who is engaged by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to render consulting or advisory services to such entity.
Section 2.18 Converted SAR shall mean a SAR converted from a unit appreciation right of Core & Main Holdings, LP that existed on the Effective Date.
Section 2.19 Corporate Event shall mean, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, any transaction or event described in Section 4.3(a) or any unusual or nonrecurring transaction or event affecting the Company, any Subsidiary, or the financial statements of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or changes in Applicable Laws or accounting principles (including, without limitation, a recapitalization of the Company).
Section 2.20 Deferred Share Unit shall mean a unit credited to a Participants account in the books of the Company under Article X, which represents the right to receive one Share of Company Common Stock or cash equal to the Fair Market Value thereof on settlement of the account.
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Section 2.21 Director shall mean a member of the Board or a member of the board of directors of any Subsidiary.
Section 2.22 Disability shall mean (x) for Awards that are not subject to Section 409A of the Code, disability as such term is defined in the long-term disability insurance plan or program of the Company or any Subsidiary then covering the Participant or, in the absence of such a plan or program, as determined by the Administrator, provided, that, with respect to Awards that are not subject to Section 409A, in the case of any Participant who, as of the date of determination, is a party to an effective employment, severance, consulting or other services agreement with the Company or any Subsidiary that employs such Participant, Disability shall have the meaning, if any, specified in such agreement, and (y) for Awards that are subject to Section 409A of the Code, disability shall have the meaning set forth in Section 409A(a)(2)(c) of the Code.
Section 2.23 Dividend Equivalent shall mean the right to receive payments, in cash or in Shares, based on dividends paid with respect to Shares.
Section 2.24 Effective Date shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.7.
Section 2.25 Eligible Representative for a Participant shall mean such Participants personal representative or such other person as is empowered under the deceased Participants will or trust or the then applicable laws of descent and distribution to represent the Participant hereunder.
Section 2.26 Employee shall mean any individual classified as an employee by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, whether such employee is so employed at the time this Plan is adopted or becomes so employed subsequent to the adoption of this Plan, including any person to whom an offer of employment has been extended (except that any Award granted to such person shall be conditioned on his or her commencement of service). A person shall not cease to be an Employee in the case of (a) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (b) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any successor to the foregoing. For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed three (3) months, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract. If reemployment upon expiration of a leave of absence approved by the Company is not so guaranteed, the employment relationship shall be deemed to have terminated on the first day immediately following such three (3)-month period, and such Incentive Stock Option held by the Optionee shall cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated for tax purposes as a Non-Qualified Stock Option on the first (1st) day immediately following a three (3)-month period from the date the employment relationship is deemed terminated.
Section 2.27 Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Section 2.28 Executive Officer shall mean each person who is an officer of the Company or any Subsidiary and who is subject to the reporting requirements under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act.
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Section 2.29 Fair Market Value of a Share as of any date of determination shall be, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator:
(a) If the Company Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, then the closing price on such date per Share as reported on such stock exchange or system shall be the Fair Market Value for the date of determination;
(b) If there are no transactions in the Company Common Stock that are available to the Company on any date of determination pursuant to clause (a) but transactions are available to the Company as of the immediately preceding trading date, then the Fair Market Value determined as of the immediately preceding trading date shall be the Fair Market Value for the date of determination; or
(c) If neither clause (a) nor clause (b) shall apply on any date of determination, then the Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Administrator with reference to (x) the most recent valuation of the Company Common Stock performed by an independent valuation consultant or appraiser of nationally recognized standing selected by the Administrator, if any, (y) sales prices of securities issued to investors in any recent arms length transactions, and (z) any other factors determined to be relevant by the Administrator.
Section 2.30 FICA shall have the meaning set forth in Section 15.11.
Section 2.31 Good Reason with respect to any Participant, has the meaning, if any, set forth in an applicable Award Agreement (or, if there is no such definition in the Participants Award Agreement, this term shall not apply to the Participant).
Section 2.32 Incentive Stock Option shall mean an Option which qualifies under Section 422 of the Code and is expressly designated as an Incentive Stock Option in the Award Agreement.
Section 2.33 Incumbent Directors shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of Change in Control.
Section 2.34 Non-Qualified Stock Option shall mean an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.
Section 2.35 Option shall mean an option to purchase Company Common Stock granted under the Plan. The term Option includes both an Incentive Stock Option and a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
Section 2.36 Option Price shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3.
Section 2.37 Optionee shall mean a Participant to whom an Option or SAR is granted under the Plan.
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Section 2.38 Participant shall mean any Service Provider who has been granted an Award pursuant to the Plan.
Section 2.39 Performance Award shall mean Performance Shares, Performance Units and all other Awards that vest (in whole or in part) upon the achievement of specified Performance Goals.
Section 2.40 Performance Cycle shall mean the period of time selected by the Administrator during which performance is measured for the purpose of determining the extent to which a Performance Award has been earned or vested.
Section 2.41 Performance Goals means the objectives established by the Administrator for a Performance Cycle pursuant to Section 9.5 for the purpose of determining the extent to which a Performance Award has been earned or vested.
Section 2.42 Performance Share means an Award granted pursuant to Article IX of the Plan of a contractual right to receive a Share (or the cash equivalent thereof) upon the achievement, in whole or in part, of the applicable Performance Goals.
Section 2.43 Performance Unit means a U.S. Dollar-denominated unit (or a unit denominated in the Participants local currency) granted pursuant to Article IX of the Plan, payable upon the achievement, in whole or in part, of the applicable Performance Goals.
Section 2.44 Person shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or any other entity of whatever nature.
Section 2.45 Plan shall have the meaning set forth in Article I.
Section 2.46 Public Offering shall mean the first day as of which (i) sales of Company Common Stock are made to the public in the United States pursuant to an underwritten public offering of the Company Common Stock led by one or more underwriters at least one of which is an underwriter of nationally recognized standing or (ii) the Administrator has determined that the Company Common Stock otherwise has become publicly traded for this purpose.
Section 2.47 Replacement Awards shall mean Shares or Awards, issued in assumption of, or in substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form or combination by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries as reasonably determined by the Administrator.
Section 2.48 Restricted Stock shall mean an Award granted pursuant to Section 8.1.
Section 2.49 Restricted Stock Unit shall mean an Award granted pursuant to Section 8.2.
Section 2.50 Securities Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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Section 2.51 Service Provider shall mean an Employee, Consultant or Director.
Section 2.52 Share shall mean a share of Company Common Stock.
Section 2.53 Special Termination shall mean a termination by reason of the Participants death or Disability.
Section 2.54 Stock Appreciation Right or SAR shall mean the right to receive a payment from the Company in cash and/or Shares equal to the product of (i) the excess, if any, of the Fair Market Value of one Share on the exercise date over a specified price (the Base Price) fixed by the Administrator (which specified price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of one Share on the grant date), multiplied by (ii) a stated number of Shares.
Section 2.55 Stock-Based Award shall have the meaning set forth in Article XI.
Section 2.56 Stock Purchase Right shall mean an Award granted pursuant to Section 5.4.
Section 2.57 Subsidiary shall mean any entity that is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company or any entity in which the Company directly or indirectly controls at least a 50% equity interest, provided that, to the extent required under Section 422 of the Code when granting an Incentive Stock Option, Subsidiary shall mean any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with such entity if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain then owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
Section 2.58 Termination of employment, termination of service and any similar term or terms shall mean, with respect to an Employee, the date the Participant ceases to be an Employee (determined without regard to any statutory or deemed or express contractual notice period); with respect to a Director who is not an Employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the date upon which such Director ceases to be a member of the Board; and, with respect to a Consultant who is not an Employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the date upon which such Consultant ceases to provide consulting or advisory services to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided that with respect to any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code, such terms shall mean separation from service, as defined in Section 409A of the Code and the rules, regulations and guidance promulgated thereunder.
Section 2.59 Withholding Taxes shall mean the federal, state, local or foreign income taxes, withholding taxes or employment taxes required to be withheld under Applicable Law, which shall be at a rate determined by the Company that is permitted under applicable IRS withholding rules and that does not to cause adverse accounting consequences.
ARTICLE III
ADMINISTRATION
Section 3.1 Administrator. The Plan shall be administered by the Board or a committee appointed by the Board.
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Section 3.2 Powers of the Administrator. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Administrator shall have the authority to do the following:
(a) determine the Fair Market Value;
(b) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each Participant;
(c) select the Service Providers to whom Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder;
(d) determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of Shares to which an Award will relate;
(e) approve forms of Award Agreements for use under the Plan, which need not be identical for each Service Provider;
(f) determine the terms and conditions of any Awards granted hereunder (including, without limitation, the exercise price, the time or times when Awards may be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions and any restriction or limitation regarding any Awards or the Company Common Stock relating thereto) based in each case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine;
(g) determine all matters and questions related to the termination of service of a Service Provider with respect to any Award, including, but not by way of limitation of, all questions of whether a particular Service Provider has taken a leave of absence, all questions of whether a leave of absence taken by a particular Service Provider constitutes a termination of service, and all questions of whether a termination of service of a particular Service Provider was for Cause;
(h) prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan;
(i) determine whether, to what extent, and pursuant to what circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise or purchase price of an Award may be paid in, cash, Company Common Stock, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be canceled, forfeited or surrendered;
(j) suspend or accelerate the vesting of any Award or waive the forfeiture restrictions or any other restriction or limitation regarding any Awards or the Company Common Stock relating thereto;
(k) construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan;
(l) interpret, administer, reconcile any inconsistency in, correct any defect in and/or supply any omission in the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award granted under, the Plan;
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(m) authorize any person to execute, on behalf of the Company, any instrument required to carry out the purposes of the Plan; and
(n) make all other decisions and determinations that may be required pursuant to the Plan or as the Administrator deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan.
Any determination made by the Administrator under the Plan, including, without limitation, under Section 4.3, shall be final, binding and conclusive on all Participants and other persons having or claiming any right or interest under the Plan.
Section 3.3 Delegation by the Administrator. The Administrator may delegate, subject to such terms or conditions or guidelines as the Board or Administrator shall determine (in the case of a committee acting as the Administrator, to the extent of its authority under the committees charter or as otherwise approved by the Board), to any officer or group of officers, or Director or group of Directors of the Company or its Affiliates any portion of the Administrators authority and powers under the Plan with respect to Participants who are not the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Officers or non-employee directors of the Board; provided that any delegation to one or more officers of the Company shall be subject to and comply with Section 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (or successor provision). In addition, with respect to any Award intended to qualify for the exemption contained in Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, it is intended that such Award be granted by a committee consisting of solely two or more non-employee directors within the meaning of such rule, or, in the alternative, the entire Board.
Section 3.4 Professional Assistance, Good Faith Actions. The Administrator may, in its discretion, elect to engage the services of attorneys, consultants, accountants, appraisers, brokers or other persons. The Administrator, the Company and its officers and Directors shall be entitled to rely upon the advice, opinions or valuations of any such persons. All actions taken and all interpretations, decisions and determinations made by the Administrator, in good faith shall be final and binding upon all Participants, the Company and all other interested persons. The Administrators determinations under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made by the Administrator selectively among persons who receive, or are eligible to receive, Awards under the Plan, whether or not such persons are similarly situated. The Administrator (and its members) shall not be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made with respect to the Plan or the Awards, and the Administrator (and its members) shall be fully indemnified by the Company with respect to any such action, determination or interpretation.
ARTICLE IV
SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN
Section 4.1 Shares Subject to Plan.
(a) Subject to Section 4.3, the aggregate number of Shares which may be issued under this Plan is equal to 12,600,000, all of which may be issued in the form of Incentive Stock Options under the Plan, plus 633,683 Shares in respect of Converted SARs. The Shares issued under the Plan may be authorized but unissued, or reacquired Company Common Stock. No provision of this Plan shall be construed to require the Company to maintain the Shares in certificated form.
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(b) Upon the grant of an Award, the maximum number of Shares set forth in Section 4.1(a) shall be reduced by the maximum number of Shares that are issued or may be issued pursuant to such Award. Upon the exercise, settlement or conversion of any Award or portion thereof, there shall again be available for grant under the Plan the number of Shares subject to such Award or portion thereof minus the actual number of Shares issued in connection with such exercise, settlement or conversion. If any such Award or portion thereof is for any reason forfeited, canceled, expired or otherwise terminated without the issuance of Shares, the Shares subject to such forfeited, canceled, expired or otherwise terminated Award or portion thereof shall again be available for grant under the Plan. If Shares are withheld from issuance with respect to an Award by the Company in satisfaction of any tax withholding or similar obligations, such withheld Shares shall again be available for grant under the Plan. Awards which the Administrator reasonably determines will be settled in cash shall not reduce the Plan maximum set forth in Section 4.1(a). Notwithstanding the foregoing, and except to the extent required by Applicable Law, Replacement Awards shall not be counted against Shares available for grant pursuant to this Plan. None of the Share recycling provisions in this Section 4.1(b) shall apply to Converted SARs.
Section 4.2 Limitation on Non-Employee Director Awards. Subject to Section 4.1(a) and Section 4.3, the maximum grant date value of Awards granted to a non-employee Director, and the maximum amount of cash paid to such Director, shall not exceed (i) in the case of such non-employee Director who is serving as the chairman of the Board, $750,000 and (ii) in the case of any other such Director, $500,000, in each case, in any calendar year in respect of such Directors service to the Company as a non-employee Director.
Section 4.3 Changes in Company Common Stock; Disposition of Assets and Corporate Events.
(a) If and to the extent necessary or appropriate to reflect any stock dividend, extraordinary dividend, stock split or share combination or any recapitalization, merger, consolidation, exchange of shares, spin-off, liquidation or dissolution of the Company or other similar transaction affecting the Company Common Stock or other Corporate Event, the Administrator shall adjust the number of shares of Company Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan and the number, class and Option Price (if applicable) or Base Price (if applicable) of any outstanding Award, and/or make such substitution, revision or other provisions or take such other actions with respect to any outstanding Award or the holder or holders thereof, in each case as it determines to be equitable. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, in the event of any Corporate Event, the Administrator shall have the power to make such changes as it deems appropriate in (i) the number and type of shares or other securities covered by outstanding Awards, (ii) the prices specified therein (if applicable), (iii) the securities, cash or other property to be received upon the exercise, settlement or conversion of such outstanding Awards or otherwise to be received in connection with such outstanding Awards, and (iv) and any applicable Performance Goals. After any adjustment made by
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the Administrator pursuant to this Section 4.3, the number of shares subject to each outstanding Award shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number.
(b) Any adjustment of an Award pursuant to this Section 4.3 shall be effected in compliance with Section 422 and 409A of the Code to the extent applicable.
Section 4.4 Award Agreement Provisions. The Administrator may include such further provisions and limitations in any Award Agreement as it may deem equitable and in the best interests of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Section 4.5 Prohibition Against Repricing. Except to the extent (i) approved in advance by holders of a majority of the Shares entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or (ii) pursuant to Section 4.3 as a result of any Corporate Event, the Administrator shall not have the power or authority to reduce, whether through amendment or otherwise, the exercise price of any outstanding Option or Base Price of any outstanding SAR or to grant any new Award, or make any cash payment, in substitution for or upon the cancellation of Options or SARs previously granted.
ARTICLE V
GRANTING OF OPTIONS AND SARS
AND SALE OF COMPANY COMMON STOCK
Section 5.1 Eligibility. Non-Qualified Stock Options and SARs may be granted to Service Providers. Subject to Section 5.2, Incentive Stock Options may only be granted to Employees.
Section 5.2 Qualification of Incentive Stock Options. No Employee may be granted an Incentive Stock Option under the Plan if such Employee, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any then existing Subsidiary or parent corporation (within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code) unless such Incentive Stock Option conforms to the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code.
Section 5.3 Granting of Options and SARs to Service Providers.
(a) Options and SARs. The Administrator may from time to time:
(i) Select from among the Service Providers (including those to whom Options or SARs have been previously granted under the Plan) such of them as in its opinion should be granted Options and/or SARs;
(ii) Determine the number of Shares to be subject to such Options and/or SARs granted to such Service Provider, and determine whether such Options are to be Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options; and
(iii) Determine the terms and conditions of such Options and SARs, consistent with the Plan.
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(b) SARs may be granted in tandem with Options or may be granted on a freestanding basis, not related to any Option. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator at the grant date or determined thereafter in a manner more favorable to the Participant, SARs granted in tandem with Options shall have substantially similar terms and conditions to such Options to the extent applicable, or may be granted on a freestanding basis, not related to any Option. No Converted SARs may be granted after the Effective Date.
(c) Upon the selection of a Service Provider to be granted an Option or SAR under this Section 5.3, the Administrator shall issue, or shall instruct an authorized officer to issue, such Option or SAR and may impose such conditions on the grant of such Option or SAR as it deems appropriate. Subject to Section 15.2 of the Plan, any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan may be modified by the Administrator, without the consent of the Optionee, even if such modification would result in the disqualification of such Option as an incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Code.
Section 5.4 Sale of Company Common Stock to Service Providers. The Administrator, acting in its sole discretion, may from time to time designate one or more Service Providers to whom an offer to sell Shares shall be made and the terms and conditions thereof, provided, however, that the price per Share shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the date any such offer is accepted. Each Share sold to a Service Provider under this Section 5.4 shall be evidenced by such agreements as shall be approved by the Administrator, which shall contain terms consistent with the terms hereof. Any Shares sold under this Section 5.4 shall be subject to the same limitations, restrictions and administration hereunder as would apply to any Shares issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option under this Plan including, without limitation, conditions and restrictions set forth in Section 7.6.
ARTICLE VI
TERMS OF OPTIONS AND SARS
Section 6.1 Award Agreement. Each Option and each SAR shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which shall be accepted and acknowledged by the Optionee, including by electronic means, and which shall contain such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine, consistent with the Plan. Award Agreements evidencing Incentive Stock Options shall contain such terms and conditions as may be necessary to qualify such Options as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code.
Section 6.2 Exercisability and Vesting of Options and SARs.
(a) Each Option and SAR shall vest and become exercisable according to the terms of the applicable Award Agreement; provided, however, that by a resolution adopted after an Option or SAR is granted the Administrator may, on such terms and conditions as it may determine to be appropriate, accelerate the time at which such Option or SAR or any portion thereof may be exercised.
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(b) Except as otherwise provided by the Administrator or in the applicable Award Agreement, no portion of an Option or SAR which is unexercisable on the date that an Optionee incurs a termination of service as a Service Provider shall thereafter become exercisable.
(c) The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the Option is granted) of all Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Service Provider in any calendar year may not exceed U.S. $100,000 or such other limitation as imposed by Section 422(d) of the Code, or any successor provision. To the extent that Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in excess of such limitation, the excess shall be considered Non-Qualified Stock Options.
(d) SARs granted in tandem with an Option shall become vested and exercisable on the same date or dates as the Options with which such SARs are associated vest and become exercisable. SARs that are granted in tandem with an Option may only be exercised upon the surrender of the right to exercise such Option for an equivalent number of Shares, and may be exercised only with respect to the Shares for which the related Option is then exercisable.
Section 6.3 Option Price and Base Price. Excluding Replacement Awards, the per Share purchase price of the Shares subject to each Option (the Option Price) and the Base Price of each SAR shall be set by the Administrator and shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the date such Option or SAR is granted.
Section 6.4 Expiration of Options and SARs. No Option or SAR may be exercised after the first to occur of the following events:
(a) The expiration of ten (10) years from the date the Option or SAR was granted; or
(b) With respect to an Incentive Stock Option, in the case of an Optionee owning (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code), at the time the Incentive Stock Option was granted, more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, the expiration of five (5) years from the date the Incentive Stock Option was granted.
ARTICLE VII
EXERCISE OF OPTIONS AND SARS
Section 7.1 Person Eligible to Exercise. During the lifetime of the Optionee, only the Optionee may exercise an Option or SAR (or any portion thereof) granted to him or her; provided, however, that the Optionees Eligible Representative may exercise his or her Option or SAR or portion thereof during the period of the Optionees Disability. After the death of the Optionee, any exercisable portion of an Option or SAR may, prior to the time when such portion becomes unexercisable under the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement, be exercised by his or her Eligible Representative.
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Section 7.2 Partial Exercise. At any time and from time to time prior to the date on which the Option or SAR becomes unexercisable under the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement, the exercisable portion of an Option or SAR may be exercised in whole or in part; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to issue fractional Shares and the Administrator may, by the terms of the Option or SAR, require any partial exercise to exceed a specified minimum number of Shares.
Section 7.3 Manner of Exercise. Subject to any generally applicable conditions or procedures that may be imposed by the Administrator, an exercisable Option or SAR, or any exercisable portion thereof, may be exercised solely by delivery to the Administrator or its designee of all of the following prior to the time when such Option or SAR or such portion becomes unexercisable under the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement:
(a) Notice in writing delivered by the Optionee or his or her Eligible Representative, stating that such Option or SAR or portion is being exercised, and specifically stating the number of Shares with respect to which the Option or SAR is being exercised (which form of notice shall be provided by the Administrator upon request and may be electronic);
(b) A copy of any agreements or other documentation required by the Company at the time of exercise;
(c) (i) With respect to the exercise of any Option, full payment (in cash (through wire transfer only) or by personal, certified, or bank cashier check) of the aggregate Option Price of the Shares with respect to which such Option (or portion thereof) is thereby exercised; (ii) with the consent of the Administrator, (A) Shares owned by the Optionee duly endorsed for transfer to the Company or (B) Shares issuable to the Optionee upon exercise of the Option, with a Fair Market Value on the date of Option exercise equal to the aggregate Option Price of the Shares with respect to which such Option (or portion thereof) is thereby exercised; or (iii) unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, payment of the Option Price and applicable Withholding Taxes through a broker-assisted cashless exercise program established by the Company; or (iv) with the consent of the Administrator, any form of payment of the Option Price permitted by Applicable Laws and any combination of the foregoing methods of payment; and
(d) In the event that the Option or SAR or portion thereof shall be exercised as permitted under Section 7.1 by any person or persons other than the Optionee, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option or SAR or portion thereof.
Section 7.4 Optionee Representations. The Company, in its sole discretion, may require an Optionee to make certain representations or acknowledgements, on or prior to the purchase of any Shares pursuant to any Option or SAR granted under this Plan, in respect thereof including, without limitation, that the Optionee is acquiring the Shares for an investment purpose and not for resale, and, if the Optionee is an Affiliate, additional acknowledgements regarding when and to what extent any transfers of such Shares may occur.
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Section 7.5 Settlement of SARs. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, upon exercise of a SAR, the Participant shall be entitled to receive payment in the form, determined by the Administrator, of Shares, or cash, or a combination of Shares and cash having an aggregate value equal to the amount determined by multiplying:
(a) any increase in the Fair Market Value of one Share on the exercise date over the Base Price of such SAR, by
(b) the number of Shares with respect to which such SAR is exercised;
provided, however, that on the grant date, the Administrator may establish, in its sole discretion, a maximum amount per Share that may be payable upon exercise of a SAR, and provided, further, that in no event shall the value of the Company Common Stock or cash delivered on exercise of a SAR exceed the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Shares with respect to which the SAR is exercised over the Fair Market Value of such Shares on the grant date of such SAR.
Section 7.6 Conditions to Issuance of Shares. The Company shall evidence the issuance of Shares delivered upon exercise of an Option or SAR in the books and records of the Company or in a manner determined by the Company. The Administrator shall not have any liability to any Optionee for any delay in the delivery of Shares to be issued upon an Optionees exercise of an Option or SAR.
Section 7.7 Rights as Stockholders. The holder of an Option or SAR shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of, a stockholder of the Company in respect of any Shares purchasable upon the exercise of any part of an Option or SAR unless and until the Shares attributable to the exercise of the Option or SAR have been issued by the Company to such holder.
Section 7.8 Transfer Restrictions. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may set forth in an Award Agreement or in such other agreements to be entered into at the time of exercise, such further restrictions on the transferability of the Shares purchasable upon the exercise of an Option or SAR as it deems appropriate. Any such restriction may be referred to in the Share register maintained by the Company or otherwise in a manner reflecting its applicability to the Shares. An Employee must give the Company prompt notice of any disposition of Shares acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, within two (2) years from the date of granting such Option or one (1) year after the transfer of such Shares to such Employee.
ARTICLE VIII
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS AND RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AWARDS
Section 8.1 Restricted Stock.
(a) Grant of Restricted Stock. The Administrator is authorized to make Awards of Restricted Stock to any Service Provider selected by the Administrator in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator. All Awards of Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
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(b) Issuance and Restrictions. Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Administrator may impose. These restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, pursuant to such circumstances, in such installments, or otherwise, as the Administrator determines at the time of the grant of the Award or thereafter.
(c) Issuance of Restricted Stock. The issuance of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Administrator shall determine.
Section 8.2 Restricted Stock Units. The Administrator is authorized to make Awards of Restricted Stock Units to any Service Provider selected by the Administrator in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator. At the time of grant, the Administrator shall specify the date or dates on which the Restricted Stock Units shall become fully vested and nonforfeitable, and may specify such conditions to vesting as it deems appropriate. At the time of grant, the Administrator shall specify the settlement date applicable to each grant of Restricted Stock Units. Unless otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, on the settlement date, the Company shall, subject to the terms of this Plan (including satisfaction of applicable Withholding Taxes), transfer to the Participant one Share for each Restricted Stock Unit scheduled to be paid out on such date and not previously forfeited. The Administrator shall specify the purchase price, if any, to be paid by the grantee to the Company for such Shares.
Section 8.3 Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant shall not be, nor have any of the rights or privileges of, a stockholder in respect of Restricted Stock Units awarded pursuant to the Plan unless and until the Shares attributable to such Restricted Stock Units have been issued to such Participant.
ARTICLE IX
PERFORMANCE SHARES AND PERFORMANCE UNITS
Section 9.1 Grant of Performance Awards. The Administrator is authorized to make Awards of Performance Shares and Performance Units to any Participant selected by the Administrator in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator. All Performance Shares and Performance Units shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.
Section 9.2 Issuance and Restrictions. The Administrator shall have the authority to determine the Participants who shall receive Performance Shares and Performance Units, the number of Performance Shares and the number and value of Performance Units each Participant receives for any Performance Cycle, and the Performance Goals applicable in respect of such Performance Shares and Performance Units for each Performance Cycle. The Administrator shall determine the duration of each Performance Cycle (and the duration of Performance Cycles may differ from one another), and there may be more than one Performance Cycle in existence at any
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one time. An Award Agreement evidencing the grant of Performance Shares or Performance Units shall specify the number of Performance Shares and the number and value of Performance Units awarded to the Participant, the Performance Goals applicable thereto, and such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Administrator shall determine. No Company Common Stock will be issued at the time an Award of Performance Shares is made, and the Company shall not be required to set aside a fund for the payment of Performance Shares or Performance Units.
Section 9.3 Earned Performance Shares and Performance Units. Performance Shares and Performance Units shall become earned, in whole or in part, based upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals or the occurrence of any event or events, as the Administrator shall determine, either in an Award Agreement or thereafter on terms more favorable to the Participant. In addition to the achievement of the specified Performance Goals, the Administrator may condition payment of Performance Shares and Performance Units on such other conditions as the Administrator shall specify in an Award Agreement. The Administrator may also provide in an Award Agreement for the completion of a minimum period of service (in addition to the achievement of any applicable Performance Goals) as a condition to the vesting of any Performance Share or Performance Unit Award.
Section 9.4 Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant shall not have any rights as a stockholder in respect of Performance Shares or Performance Units awarded pursuant to the Plan (including, without limitation, the right to vote on any matter submitted to the Companys stockholders) until such time as the Shares attributable to such Performance Shares or Performance Units have been issued to such Participant or his or her beneficiary.
Section 9.5 Performance Goals. The Administrator shall establish in the Award Agreement or otherwise the Performance Goals that must be satisfied in order for a Participant to receive an Award for a Performance Period or for an Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units to be earned or vested. The Administrator may provide for a threshold level of performance below which no amount of compensation will be paid and a maximum level of performance above which no additional amount of compensation will be paid under the Plan, and it may provide for the payment of differing amounts of compensation for different levels of performance. Performance Goals may be established on a Company-wide basis, with respect to one or more business units, divisions, Subsidiaries or products or based on individual performance measures, and may be expressed in absolute terms or relative to other metrics including internal targets or budgets, past performance of the Company, the performance of one or more similarly situated companies, performance of an index, outstanding equity or other external measures. In the case of earning-based measures, Performance Goals may include comparisons relating to capital (including but limited to, the cost of capital), shareholders equity, shares outstanding, assets or net assets, or any combination thereof. Performance Goals may also be subject to such other terms and conditions as the Administrator may determine appropriate. The Administrator may also adjust the Performance Goals for any Performance Cycle as it deems equitable in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company, changes in applicable tax laws or accounting principles or such other events, changes or factors as the Administrator may determine.
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Section 9.6 Determination of Attainment of Performance Goals. As soon as practicable following the end of a Performance Cycle and prior to any payment or vesting in respect of such Performance Cycle, the Administrator shall determine the number of Performance Shares, other Performance Awards, the number and value of Performance Units or the amount of any cash entitlement, as applicable that has been earned or vested. Notwithstanding anything in this Article IX to the contrary, the Administrator shall have the right, in its absolute discretion, (i) to reduce or eliminate the amount otherwise payable to any Participant based on individual performance or any other factors that the Administrator, in its discretion, shall deem appropriate and (ii) to establish rules or procedures that have the effect of limiting the amount payable to each Participant to an amount that is less than the maximum amount otherwise authorized under the Award or under the Plan.
Section 9.7 Newly Eligible Participants. Notwithstanding anything in this Article IX to the contrary, the Administrator shall be entitled to make such rules, determinations and adjustments as it deems appropriate with respect to any Participant who becomes eligible to receive Performance Shares, Performance Units or other Performance Awards after the commencement of a Performance Cycle.
ARTICLE X
DEFERRED SHARE UNITS
Section 10.1 Grant. Subject to Article III, the Administrator is authorized to make awards of Deferred Share Units to any Participant selected by the Administrator at such time or times as shall be determined by the Administrator without regard to any election by the Participant to defer receipt of any compensation or bonus amount payable to him. The grant date of any Deferred Share Unit under the Plan will be the date on which such Deferred Share Unit is awarded by the Administrator or on such other future date as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion. Upon the grant of Deferred Share Units pursuant to the Plan, the Company shall establish a notional account for the Participant and will record in such account the number of Deferred Share Units awarded to the Participant. No Shares will be issued to the Participant at the time an award of Deferred Share Units is granted. Subject to Article III and Applicable Law (including Section 409A of the Code), Deferred Share Units may become payable on a Corporate Event, termination of employment or on a specified date or dates set forth in the Award Agreement evidencing such Deferred Share Units.
Section 10.2 Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant shall not be, nor have any of the rights and privileges of, a stockholder of the Company in respect of Deferred Share Units awarded pursuant to the Plan unless and until such time as the Shares attributable to such Deferred Share Units have been issued to such Participant.
Section 10.3 Vesting. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise at the grant date or provides thereafter in a manner more favorable to the Participant, Deferred Share Units shall be fully vested and nonforfeitable when granted.
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Section 10.4 Settlement. Subject to this Article X, upon the date specified in the Award Agreement evidencing the Deferred Share Units, for each such Deferred Share Unit the Participant shall receive, as specified in the Award Agreement (and subject to satisfaction of applicable Withholding Taxes), (i) a cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of one (1) Share as of such payment date, (ii) one (1) Share or (iii) any combination of clauses (i) and (ii).
ARTICLE XI
OTHER STOCK-BASED AWARDS
Section 11.1 Grants of Stock-Based Awards. The Administrator is authorized to make Awards of other types of equity-based or equity-related awards (Stock-Based Awards) not otherwise described by the terms of the Plan in such amounts and subject to such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall determine. All Stock-Based Awards shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement. Such Stock-Based Awards may be granted as an inducement to enter the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary or in satisfaction of any obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary to a Service Provider, whether pursuant to this Plan or otherwise, that would otherwise have been payable in cash or in respect of any other obligation of the Company. Such Stock-Based Awards may entail the transfer of actual Shares, or payment in cash or otherwise of amounts based on the value of Shares.
ARTICLE XII
DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS
Section 12.1 Generally. Dividend Equivalents may be granted to Participants at such time or times as shall be determined by the Administrator. Dividend Equivalents may be granted in tandem with other Awards, in addition to other Awards, or freestanding and unrelated to other Awards. The grant date of any Dividend Equivalents under the Plan will be the date on which the Dividend Equivalent is awarded by the Administrator, or such other date permitted by Applicable Laws as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion. Dividend Equivalents may, at the discretion of the Administrator, be fully vested and nonforfeitable when granted or subject to such vesting conditions as determined by the Administrator. For the avoidance of doubt, Dividend Equivalents with respect to Awards shall not be fully vested until the Awards have been earned and shall be forfeited if the related Award is forfeited. Dividend Equivalents shall be evidenced in writing, whether as part of the Award Agreement governing the terms of the Award, if any, to which such Dividend Equivalent relates, or pursuant to a separate Award Agreement with respect to freestanding Dividend Equivalents.
ARTICLE XIII
TERMINATION AND FORFEITURE
Section 13.1 Termination. Except as provided in Article XIV or in the applicable Award Agreement, or as determined by the Administrator, unvested awards granted under the Plan will be forfeited upon a Participants termination of employment or service to the Company for any reason.
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Section 13.2 Forfeiture and Recoupment of Awards. Awards granted under this Plan (and gains earned or accrued in connection with Awards) shall be subject to such generally applicable policies as to forfeiture and recoupment (including, without limitation, upon the occurrence of material financial or accounting errors, financial or other misconduct or Competitive Activity) as may be adopted by the Administrator or the Board from time to time. Any such policies may (in the discretion of the Administrator or the Board) be applied to outstanding Awards at the time of adoption of such policies, or on a prospective basis only. Participants shall also forfeit and disgorge to the Company any Awards granted or vested and any gains earned or accrued due to the exercise of Options or SARs or the sale of any Company Common Stock to the extent required by Applicable Law or as required by any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Company Common Stock is listed or quoted, in each case in effect on or after the Effective Date, including Section 304 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Section 10D of the Exchange Act and any regulations promulgated thereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrator shall have full authority to implement any policies and procedures necessary to comply with Applicable Law and/or the requirements of any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Company Common Stock is listed or quoted. The implementation of policies and procedures pursuant to this Section 13.2 and any modification of the same shall not be subject to any restrictions on amendment or modification of Awards.
Section 13.3 Clawbacks. Awards shall be subject to any generally applicable clawback policy adopted by the Administrator, the Board, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that is communicated to the Participants or any such policy adopted to comply with Applicable Law.
ARTICLE XIV
CHANGE IN CONTROL
Section 14.1 Alternative Awards. Unless otherwise expressly provided in an Award Agreement, subject to Section 14.2, no cancellation, acceleration of vesting or other payment shall occur in connection with a Change in Control with respect to any (i) unvested or unexercisable Award and/or (ii) if reasonably determined in good faith by the Administrator prior to the occurrence of the Change in Control, vested Awards, and such Award shall be honored or assumed, or new rights substituted therefor following the Change in Control (such honored, assumed or substituted award, an Alternative Award), provided that any Alternative Award must (x) give the Participant who held such Award rights and entitlements substantially equivalent to or better than the rights and terms applicable under such Award immediately prior to the Change in Control, including, without limitation, an identical or better schedule as to vesting and/or exercisability and that Alternative Awards that are stock options have identical or better methods of payment of the exercise price thereof; (y) as to any service-based vesting requirement applicable to the Award, provide for full vesting of the Alternative Award, if within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control, the Participants employment or service is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason during the remaining vesting period thereof; and (z) as to any performance-based vesting requirement applicable to the Award, provide for vesting of the Alternative Award at target levels, if within twelve (12) months following a Change in Control, the Participants employment or service is terminated by the Company without Cause or by the Participant for Good Reason during the
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remaining vesting period thereof. If the Administrator determines in connection with a Change in Control that performance-based vesting requirements applicable to an Award will no longer operate as intended following the Change in Control or will no longer provide the intended incentive, the Administrator may modify such performance-based vesting requirements or impose new performance-based vesting requirements so long as the Administrator determines that such modified or new performance-based vesting requirements are not materially more difficult to achieve than the performance-based vesting requirements applicable to the Award immediately prior to the Change in Control.
Notwithstanding this Section 14.1, if the securities underlying the Alternative Award are not publicly traded, (i) the acquisition, holding and disposition of the shares underlying the Alternative Award may be subject to such terms and conditions as are established by the Administrator prior to the Change in Control and (ii) the Company or the acquiror in such Change in Control shall be required to repurchase any vested Alternative Awards or securities underlying such Alternative Awards following termination of employment (other than termination for Cause or other circumstances resulting in the forfeiture of such Alternative Awards in accordance with Section 13.2 or an applicable award agreement) for cash or marketable securities equal to the fair market value of the securities subject to such Alternative Award on the effective date of termination (and, in the case of Alternative Awards that are stock options or stock appreciation rights, in excess of the exercise price or base price that the Participant would be required to pay in respect of such Alternative Award).
Section 14.2 Settlement. Except as otherwise provided in this Article XIV or in an Award Agreement or thereafter on terms more favorable to a Participant, if the Administrator reasonably determines in good faith, prior to the occurrence of a Change in Control, that no Alternative Awards will be provided upon a Change in Control:
(a) each unvested Award (other than Performance Awards and freestanding Dividend Equivalents not granted in connection with another Award) shall vest;
(b) each outstanding Option and SAR shall be canceled in exchange for a payment equal to the excess, if any, of the Change in Control Price over the applicable Option Price or Base Price;
(c) Shares underlying all Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units, and other Stock-Based Awards that are vested (as provided in this Section 14.2 or otherwise) shall be issued or released to the Participant holding such Award, except to the extent that the Administrator has determined, in accordance with authority granted to it by the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement to settle such Award in cash in lieu of shares;
(d) Each outstanding Performance Award shall be treated as provided in the individual Award Agreement governing such Performance Award; and
(e) all freestanding Dividend Equivalents not granted in connection with another Award shall be cancelled without payment therefor.
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To the extent any portion of the Change in Control Price is payable other than in cash and/or other than at the time of the Change in Control, Award holders under the Plan shall receive the same value in respect of their Awards (less any applicable exercise price, Base Price or similar feature) as is received by the Companys stockholders in respect of their Company Common Stock (as determined by the Administrator), and the Administrator shall determine the extent to which such value shall be paid in cash, in securities or other property, or in a combination of cash and securities or other property, consistent with Applicable Law. To the extent any portion of the Change in Control Price is payable other than at the time of the Change in Control, the Administrator shall determine the time and form of payment to the holders of Award consistent with Section 409A of the Code and other Applicable Laws. For avoidance of doubt, upon a Change in Control the Administrator may cancel Options and SARs for no consideration if the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to Options and SARs is less than or equal to the Option Price of such Options or the Base Price of such SARs.
Section 14.3 Section 409A. Notwithstanding the discretion in Sections 14.1 and 14.2, if any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code and an Alternative Award would be deemed a non-compliant modification of such Award under Section 409A, then no Alternative Award shall be provided and such Award shall instead be treated as provided in Section 14.2 or in the Award Agreement (or in such other manner determined by the Administrator that is a compliant modification under Section 409A).
ARTICLE XV
OTHER PROVISIONS
Section 15.1 Awards Not Transferable. Unless otherwise approved by the Administrator, no Award or interest or right therein or part thereof shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of the Participant or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 15.1 shall prevent transfers by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution or, with the prior approval of the Companys General Counsel or the Administrator, estate planning transfers.
Section 15.2 Amendment, Suspension or Termination of the Plan or Award Agreements.
(a) The Plan may be wholly or partially amended or otherwise modified, suspended or terminated at any time or from time to time by the Administrator; provided that without the approval by a majority of the shares entitled to vote at a duly constituted meeting of shareholders of the Company, no amendment or modification to the Plan may (i) except as otherwise expressly provided in Section 4.1(a) or Section 4.3, increase the number of Shares subject to the Plan, (ii) the individual Award limitations applicable to non-employee Directors specified in Section 4.2; (iii) modify the class of persons eligible for participation in the Plan; (iv) modify the prohibition against repricing in Section 4.5; or (v) materially modify the Plan in any other way that would require shareholder approval under Applicable Law.
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(b) Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, neither the amendment, suspension nor termination of the Plan shall, without the consent of the holder of the Award, adversely alter or impair any rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in no event shall adjustments made by the Administrator pursuant to Section 4.3 or the application of Section 13.2, Section 13.3, Section 14.1, Section 14.2, Section 15.6 or Section 15.12 to any Participant constitute an amendment of the Plan or of any Award Agreement requiring the consent of any Participant.
(d) No Award may be granted during any period of suspension or after termination of the Plan, and in no event may any Award be granted under this Plan after the expiration of ten (10) years from the Effective Date.
Section 15.3 Effect of Plan upon Other Award and Compensation Plans. The adoption of this Plan shall not affect any other compensation or incentive plans in effect for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Nothing in this Plan shall be construed to limit the right of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries (a) to establish any other forms of incentives or compensation for Service Providers or (b) to grant or assume options or restricted stock other than under this Plan in connection with any proper corporate purpose, including, but not by way of limitation, the grant or assumption of options or restricted stock in connection with the acquisition by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business, stock or assets of any corporation, firm or association.
Section 15.4 At-Will Employment. Nothing in the Plan or any Award Agreement hereunder shall confer upon the Participant any right to continue as a Service Provider of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, which are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge any Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without Cause.
Section 15.5 Titles. Titles are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of the Plan.
Section 15.6 Conformity to Securities Laws. The Plan is intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any and all regulations and rules promulgated under any of the foregoing, to the extent the Company, any of the Subsidiaries or any Participant is subject to the provisions thereof. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered, and Awards shall be granted and may be exercised, only in such a manner as to conform to such laws, rules and regulations. To the extent permitted by Applicable Law, the Plan and Awards granted hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules and regulations.
Section 15.7 Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon the effectiveness of the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-1 (the Effective Date) and shall continue in effect, unless sooner terminated pursuant to Section 15.2, until the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Effective Date. The provisions of the Plan shall continue thereafter to govern all outstanding Awards.
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Section 15.8 Governing Law. To the extent not preempted by federal law, the Plan shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware regardless of the application of rules of conflict of law that would apply the laws of any other jurisdiction.
Section 15.9 Severability. In the event any portion of the Plan or any action taken pursuant thereto shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provisions had not been included, and the illegal or invalid action shall be null and void.
Section 15.10 Governing Documents. In the event of any express contradiction between the Plan and any Award Agreement or any other written agreement between a Participant and the Company or any Subsidiary that has been approved by the Administrator, the express terms of the Plan shall govern, unless it is expressly specified in such Award Agreement or other written document that such express provision of the Plan shall not apply.
Section 15.11 Withholding Taxes. In addition to any rights or obligations with respect to Withholding Taxes under the Plan or any applicable Award Agreement, the Company or any Subsidiary employing a Service Provider shall have the right to withhold from the Service Provider, or otherwise require the Service Provider or an assignee to pay, any Withholding Taxes arising as a result of grant, exercise, vesting or settlement of any Award or any other taxable event occurring pursuant to the Plan or any Award Agreement, including, without limitation, to the extent permitted by law, the right to deduct any such Withholding Taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Service Provider or to take such other actions (including, without limitation, withholding any Shares or cash deliverable pursuant to the Plan or any Award) as may be necessary to satisfy all or any portion of such Withholding Taxes; provided, however, that in the event that the Company withholds Shares issued or issuable to the Participant to satisfy all or any portion of the Withholding Taxes, the Company shall withhold a number of whole Shares having a Fair Market Value, determined as of the date of withholding, not in excess of the maximum amount of tax required to be withheld by law (or such lower amount as may be necessary to avoid liability award accounting) and any remaining amount shall be remitted in cash or withheld; and provided, further, that with respect to any Award subject to Section 409A of the Code, in no event shall Shares be withheld pursuant to this Section 15.11 (other than upon or immediately prior to settlement in accordance with the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement) other than to pay taxes imposed under the U.S. Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) and any associated U.S. federal withholding tax imposed under Section 3401 of the Code and in no event shall the value of such Shares (other than upon immediately prior to settlement) exceed the amount of the tax imposed under FICA and any associated U.S. federal withholding tax imposed under Section 3401 of the Code. The Participant shall be responsible for all Withholding Taxes and other tax consequences of any Award.
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Section 15.12 Section 409A. To the extent that the Administrator determines that any Award is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Award Agreement evidencing such Award shall incorporate any terms and conditions required by Section 409A of the Code. To the extent applicable, the Plan and Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the adoption of the Plan. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in the event that following the adoption of the Plan, the Administrator determines that any Award may be subject to Section 409A of the Code and related regulations and Department of Treasury guidance (including such Department of Treasury guidance as may be issued after the adoption of the Plan), the Administrator may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Administrator determines are necessary or appropriate to (a) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to the Award, (b) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance or (c) comply with any correction procedures available with respect to Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary, if a Service Provider is a specified employee as determined pursuant to Section 409A under any Company Specified Employee policy in effect at the time of the Service Providers separation from service (as determined under Section 409A) or, if no such policy is in effect, as defined in Section 409A of the Code), then, to the extent necessary to comply with, and avoid imposition on such Service Provider of any tax penalty imposed under, Section 409A of the Code, any payment required to be made to a Service Provider hereunder upon or following his or her separation from service shall be delayed until the first to occur of (i) the six (6)-month anniversary of the Service Providers separation from service and (ii) the Service Providers death. Should payments be delayed in accordance with the preceding sentence, the accumulated payment that would have been made but for the period of the delay shall be paid in a single lump sum during the ten (10)-day period following the lapsing of the delay period. No provision of this Plan or an Award Agreement shall be construed to indemnify any Service Provider for any taxes incurred by reason of Section 409A (or timing of incurrence thereof), other than an express indemnification provision therefor.
Section 15.13 Notices. Except as provided otherwise in an Award Agreement, all notices and other communications required or permitted to be given under this Plan or any Award Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given if delivered personally, sent by email or any other form of electronic transfer approved by the Administrator, sent by certified or express mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or by any recognized international equivalent of such delivery, (i) in the case of notices and communications to the Company, to its current business address and to the attention of the General Counsel of the Company or (ii) in the case of a Participant, to the last known address, or email address or, where the individual is an employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries, to the individuals workplace address or email address or by other means of electronic transfer acceptable to the Administrator. All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been received on the date of delivery, if sent by email or any other form of electronic transfer, at the time of dispatch or on the third business day after the mailing thereof.
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Section 15.14 Beneficiary Designation. Each Participant under the Plan may from time to time pursuant to procedures approved by the Company name any beneficiary or beneficiaries by whom any right under the Plan is to be exercised in case of such Participants death.
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Exhibit 10.2
CORE & MAIN, INC.
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
ARTICLE I
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Core & Main, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan is to provide Employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase Common Stock of the Company through payroll deductions. The Plan is intended to qualify as an employee stock purchase plan under Section 423 of the Code. Accordingly, the provisions of the Plan shall be construed in a manner consistent with the requirements of Code Section 423 and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
ARTICLE II
DEFINITIONS
Whenever used herein, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below:
(a) Acquisition Date means the last day of each Offering Period at which time the Shares subject to a Share Purchase Right granted under the Plan may be purchased by or on behalf of the Participant.
(b) Administrator means the Committee. If the Committee delegates administrative authority hereunder to any other person or group of persons pursuant to Section 10.2, such person or group of persons shall be deemed to be the Administrator hereunder to such extent and subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 10.2, and provided further that delegation by such persons shall not be permitted hereunder. The Committee has designated the following Company officer to serve as Administrator until such time as such delegation is changed pursuant to Section 10.2: Chief Human Resources Officer.
(c) Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with, such Person where control shall have the meaning given such term under Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
(d) Board means the Companys board of directors.
(e) Change in Control has the meaning assigned to such term in the Omnibus Incentive Plan.
(f) Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(g) Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board.
(h) Common Stock means the Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company and such other stock or securities into which such common stock is hereafter converted or for which such common stock is exchanged.
(i) Company means Core & Main, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and any successor thereto.
(j) Compensation means an Employees base salary or wages, commissions, military, parental leave and overtime pay. Compensation shall be determined prior to the Employees pre-tax contributions pursuant to Code Sections 125 or 401(k). If determined by the Committee, other forms of compensation may be included in or excluded from the definition of Compensation as permitted by Section 423 of the Code.
(k) Contribution means the amount of an after-tax payroll deduction an Employee has made, as set out in such Employees payroll deduction authorization form. If the Administrator so determines, a Contribution for Employees on a Company-approved leave of absence shall include a cash contribution equal to the amount of the after-tax payroll deduction an Employee would have made if such Employee had been receiving Compensation during the Company-approved leave of absence. Except as otherwise specified by the Administrator, payroll deductions made with respect to Employees paid in currencies other than U.S. dollars will be accumulated in local currency and converted to U.S. dollars as of the Acquisition Date.
(l) Designated Subsidiary means, unless determined by the Administrator, the Companys: (i) domestic Subsidiaries located in the United States or any United States territory, and (ii) any other Subsidiary that may be designated by the Administrator as eligible to participate in the Plan from time to time in its sole discretion.
(m) Effective Date means the date as of which the Plan is adopted by the Board, subject to the Plan obtaining approval by the stockholders of the Company.
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(n) Employee means any person who performs services for, and who is classified as an employee on the payroll records of, the Company or a Designated Subsidiary. For purposes of the Plan, the employment relationship shall be treated as continuing intact while the individual is on sick leave or other leave of absence approved by the Company or Designated Subsidiary and meeting the requirements of Treasury Regulation Section 1.421-1(h)(2). For purposes of this Plan, where the period of leave exceeds three (3) months and the individuals right to reemployment is not guaranteed either by statute or by contract, the employment relationship shall be deemed to have terminated on the first day immediately following such three (3)-month period.
(o) Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(p) Fair Market Value has the meaning assigned to such term in the Omnibus Incentive Plan.
(q) Offer Date means the first day of each Offering Period.
(r) Offering Period means a period of time specified by the Administrator, consistent with Section 423 of the Code, beginning on the Offer Date and ending on the Acquisition Date.
(s) Omnibus Incentive Plan means the Core & Main, Inc. 2021 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time.
(t) Participant means an Employee who becomes a participant in the Plan pursuant to Article V.
(u) Person means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, business trust, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture, governmental authority or any other entity of whatever nature.
(v) Plan means the Core & Main, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan, as amended from time to time.
(w) Purchase Price means the purchase price per Share subject to the Share Purchase Right determined pursuant to Section 6.3.
(x) Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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(y) Share means a share of Common Stock.
(z) Share Purchase Right means a right that entitles the holder to purchase from the Company a stated number of Shares in accordance with, and subject to, the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(AA) Subsidiary of an entity means any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with such entity if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain then owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.. In all cases, the determination of whether an entity is a Subsidiary shall be made in accordance with Code Section 424(f).
ARTICLE III
AVAILABLE SHARES AND ADJUSTMENTS
Section 3.1 Available Shares. Subject to adjustments as provided in this Article III, the maximum number of Shares available for purchase under the Plan on or after the Effective Date is 2,500,000 Shares. Shares issued under the Plan may be authorized but unissued, treasury, or reacquired Common Stock.
Section 3.2 Adjustments.
(a) Changes in Capitalization. In the event of any stock dividend, stock split, spinoff, rights offering, extraordinary dividend, combination or exchange of Shares, recapitalization or other change in the capital structure of the Company constituting an equity restructuring within the meaning of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 (FASB ASC Topic 718), the Administrator shall make or provide for equitable adjustments in (i) the number and type of Shares or other securities or property covered by outstanding Share Purchase Rights, (ii) the Purchase Price specified therein, (iii) the kind of Shares covered thereby (including shares of another issuer); and (iv) adjustment to the limitations in Section 3.1 on the maximum number and kind of Shares that may be issued under the Plan. The Administrator in its sole discretion and in good faith should determine the form of the adjustment required to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants and shall, in furtherance thereof, take such other actions with respect to any outstanding Share Purchase Right as it determines to be equitable, which may include a cash payment to the Participant equivalent to the value of any dilution of the rights of such Participant. In the event of any merger, consolidation, or any other corporate transaction or event having a similar effect that is not an equity restructuring with the meaning of FASB ASC Topic 718,
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the Administrator in its sole discretion may, in addition to the actions permitted to be taken in respect of an equity restructuring, provide in substitution for any or all outstanding Share Purchase Rights under this Plan such alternative consideration as it may in good faith determine to be equitable under the circumstances and may require in connection with such alternative consideration the surrender of all Share Purchase Rights so replaced. After any adjustment made by the Administrator pursuant to this Section 3.2, the number of shares subject to each outstanding Share Purchase Right shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number. Any adjustment pursuant to this Section 3.2 shall be effected in compliance with Code Section 423 and, to the extent applicable, Section 409A. All determinations and adjustments made by the Administrator in good faith pursuant to this Section 3.2 shall be final and binding on the affected Participants and the Company.
(b) Change in Control. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan, in the event of a Change in Control, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may take whatever action it deems necessary or appropriate in connection therewith, including, but not limited to (i) shortening any Offering Period then in progress and refunding any amounts accumulated in a Participants account for such Offering Period, (ii) cancelling all outstanding Share Purchase Rights as of the Change in Control date and paying each holder thereof an amount equal to the difference between the per Share Fair Market Value as of the Change in Control date and the Purchase Price determined in accordance with Section 6.3, or (iii) for each outstanding Share Purchase Right, granting a substitute right to purchase shares (in a manner consistent with Code Section 424 and, to the extent applicable, Code Section 409A). Nothing in this Section 3.2(b) shall affect in any way the Board or Committees right to terminate the Plan at any time pursuant to Section 10.7 or 10.8.
(c) Insufficient Shares. If the Administrator determines that, on a given Acquisition Date, the number of Shares that may be purchased under the outstanding Share Purchase Rights for the applicable Offering Period may exceed (i) the number of Shares that were available for issuance under the Plan on the Offer Date of the applicable Offering Period or (ii) the number of Shares available for sale under the Plan on such Acquisition Date, including but not limited to by reason of a limitation on the maximum number of Shares that may be purchased set by the Committee pursuant to Section 6.2(a) or (b), the Administrator shall make a pro rata allocation of the Shares available for issuance on such Acquisition Date in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine in its sole discretion to be equitable among all Participants purchasing Shares on such Acquisition Date, and unless additional Shares are authorized for issuance under the Plan, no further Offering Periods shall take place and the Plan shall terminate pursuant to Section 10.7 hereof. If the Plan is so terminated, then
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the balance of the amount credited to the Participants account which has not been applied to the purchase of Shares shall be paid to such Participant in one lump sum in cash as soon as reasonably practicable without any interest thereon. The Company may make a pro rata allocation of the Shares available on the Offer Date of any applicable Offering Period pursuant to the first sentence of this section, notwithstanding any authorization of additional Shares for issuance under the Plan by the Companys stockholders subsequent to such Offer Date.
ARTICLE IV
ELIGIBILITY
Section 4.1 Eligible Employees. Any person who is an Employee of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary as of the Offer Date for a given Offering Period shall be eligible to participate in the Plan for such Offering Period, subject to the requirements of this Article IV. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, on a prospective basis, (i) exclude from participation in the Plan, Employees (a) whose customary employment is for not more than 20 hours per week or five months per year, (b) who are citizens or residents of a non-U.S. jurisdiction if grant of a Share Purchase Right under the Plan is prohibited under the laws of such non-U.S. jurisdiction or compliance with the laws of such non-U.S. jurisdiction would cause the Plan or any actions under the Plan to violate Section 423 of the Code, (c) who are classified as temporary Employees on the payroll records of the Company or a Designated Subsidiary, (d) who are on an unpaid leave of absence, (e) who are highly compensated employees within the meaning of Code Section 414(q), or (f) who are Employees subject to the disclosure requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, and (ii) impose a generally applicable eligibility service requirement of up to two years of employment.
Section 4.2 Five Percent Stockholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Employee may participate in the Plan if such Employee, immediately after a Share Purchase Right is granted under the Plan, owns, or would own, stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or of its parent or subsidiary corporations as contemplated by Code Section 423. The rules of Code Section 424 shall apply in determining stock ownership and parent and subsidiary corporations. The stock which the Employee may purchase under any outstanding Share Purchase Right shall be treated as stock owned by the Employee.
Section 4.3 Employees Based Outside the United States. To conform with the provisions of local laws and regulations, or with local compensation practices and policies, in foreign countries in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates operate or may in the future operate, but subject to the limitations set forth herein regarding the maximum number of shares issuable hereunder and the maximum
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award to any single Employee, the Administrator may (i) modify the terms and conditions of Awards granted to Participants employed outside the United States (Non-U.S. Awards), (ii) establish subplans with such modifications as may be necessary or advisable under the circumstances (Subplans), including to permit employees of Affiliates of the Company who are located outside of the U.S. to participate in the Plan but only to the extent that such participation would not adversely affect the Plans qualified status under Section 423 of the Code, and (iii) take any action which it deems advisable to obtain, comply with or otherwise reflect any necessary governmental regulatory procedures, exemptions or approvals with respect to the Plan. The Administrators decision to grant Non-U.S. Awards or to establish Subplans is entirely voluntary, and at the complete discretion of the Administrator. The Administrator may amend, modify or terminate any Subplans at any time, and such amendment, modification or termination may be made without prior notice to the Participants. The Company, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates and members of the Administrator shall not incur any liability of any kind to any Participant as a result of any change, amendment or termination of any Subplan at any time. The benefits and rights provided under any Subplan or by any Non-U.S. Award (x) are wholly discretionary and, although provided by either the Company, a Subsidiary or Affiliate, do not constitute regular or periodic payments and (y) except as otherwise required under applicable law, are not to be considered part of the Participants salary or compensation under the Participants employment with the Participants local employer for purposes of calculating any severance, resignation, redundancy or other end of service payments, vacation, bonuses, long-term service awards, indemnification, pension or retirement benefits, or any other payments, benefits or rights of any kind. If a Subplan is terminated, the Administrator may direct the payment of Non-U.S. Awards (or direct the deferral of payments whose amount shall be determined) prior to the dates on which payments would otherwise have been made, and, in the Administrators discretion, such payments may be made in a lump sum or in installments.
Section 4.4 Participants Who Become Ineligible. With respect to a Participant who becomes ineligible to participate in the Plan during an Offering Period other than due to employment termination, Contributions that have accumulated in the Participants account shall be used to purchase Common Stock on the Acquisition Date unless such Participant elects to withdraw in accordance with Article IX. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, in the event an Employee who again satisfies the eligibility conditions and has not withdrawn, payroll deductions shall resume automatically in accordance with his or her most recent payroll deduction authorization form in effect prior to becoming ineligible.
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ARTICLE V
PARTICIPATION
Section 5.1 Enrollment Procedures. An eligible Employee may become a Participant in the Plan by completing a payroll deduction authorization form and any other required enrollment documents provided by the Administrator or its designee and submitting them to the Administrator or its designee in accordance with the rules established by the Administrator. The enrollment documents, which may be in electronic form, shall set forth the portion of the Participants Compensation, in accordance with Section 6.2(a), including any minimum Contribution amount and any minimum Contribution increments, to be paid as Contributions pursuant to the Plan. An Employees payroll deduction authorization shall become effective on the Offer Date. Amounts deducted from a Participants Compensation pursuant to this Article V shall be credited to the Participants Plan account. No interest shall be payable on the amounts credited to the Participants Plan account.
Section 5.2 Changes to Enrollment. A Participants election to participate in the Plan with respect to an Offering Period shall enroll such Participant in the Plan for each successive Offering period at the same payroll deduction election as in effect at the termination of the prior Offering Period, unless (i) such Participant delivers to the Company a different election with respect to the successive Offering Period by such time and in such manner as is designated by the Administrator for enrollment in the Plan for such successive Offering Period, (ii) such Participant withdraws from the Plan pursuant to Article IX or becomes ineligible for participation in the Plan or (iii) the Administrator determines that elections for all Participants shall cease at the end of an applicable Offering Period. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, a Participant may not increase or decrease the rate of payroll deductions during an Offering Period.
Section 5.3 Equal Rights and Privileges. Each Employee who is granted a Share Purchase Right under the Plan for any Offering Period shall have the same rights and privileges as all other Employees granted Share Purchase Rights under the Plan for such Offering Period.
ARTICLE VI
SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS
Section 6.1 Number of Shares. Each eligible Employee who on the Offer Date is a Participant in such Offering Period shall be granted a Share Purchase Right to purchase Shares on the Acquisition Date for such Offering Period. Subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6.2, the number of Shares subject to such Share Purchase Right shall be the number of whole Shares determined by dividing the Purchase Price into the balance credited to the Participants account as of the Acquisition less any tax withholding amount deducted pursuant to Section 10.3.
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Section 6.2 Limitation on Purchases. Participant purchases are subject to adjustment as provided in Section 3.2(c) and to the following limitations:
(a) Offering Period Limitation. Subject to the calendar year limits provided in Section 6.2(b), the Administrator shall have the right to set a maximum value of Shares that a Participant shall have the right to purchase or a maximum Contribution percentage of the Participants Compensation earned during such Offering Period that the Participant may use to purchase Shares in any Offering Period pursuant to a Share Purchase Right or right intended to qualify under Section 423 of the Code.
(b) Calendar Year Limitation. Notwithstanding Section 6.2(a), in the event that a Participant is granted a Share Purchase Right that permits such Participant to purchase Shares that, together with all other Share Purchase Rights granted to the Participant during the same calendar year under this Plan and any other plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that are qualified under Section 423 of the Code, has an aggregate value in excess of $25,000 (determined on the date of grant), such Share Purchase Right shall be reduced such that the aggregate value of all Share Purchase Rights granted to the Participant during the same calendar year under any plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company that are qualified under Section 423 of the Code is $25,000. The Administrator may also set a maximum aggregate number of Shares or maximum aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares, which is less than the $25,000 limitation set forth in this Section 6.2(b), that may be purchased pursuant to Share Purchase Rights in a calendar year or Offering Period or an any Acquisition Date.
(c) Refunds. As of the first date on which a Participants ability to purchase Shares is limited by this Section 6.2, the Participants payroll deductions shall terminate, and any excess payroll deductions credited to his or her account shall be paid to the Participant in a lump sum as soon as reasonably practicable without any interest thereon.
Section 6.3 Purchase Price. The purchase price per Share with respect to an Offering Period shall be equal to ninety-five percent (95%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date on which an Offering Period ends; provided, however, that the Committee may determine a different per share Purchase Price provided that: (i) such per share Purchase Price is communicated to Participants before the beginning of the Offering Period, and (ii) in no event shall such per share Purchase Price be less than the lesser of (y) 85% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Offer Date and (z) 85% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the Acquisition Date.
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ARTICLE VII
PURCHASE OF SHARES UNDER SHARE PURCHASE RIGHTS
Section 7.1 Purchase. Unless a Participant withdraws from the Plan as provided in Article IX, each Participant shall automatically purchase and acquire as of the Acquisition Date the number of whole Shares subject to the Share Purchase Right that may be purchased at the Purchase Price for that Share Purchase Right with the Contributions in such Participants account. Any surplus in the account that is insufficient to purchase a whole Share shall be carried forward into the next Offering Period unless the Participant has elected to withdraw from the Plan pursuant to Article IX or the Administrator determines that surplus amounts for Participants shall not be carried forward, in which case such surplus amount shall be distributed to the Participant in a lump sum as soon as reasonably practicable without any interest thereon.
Section 7.2 Registration Compliance.
(a) No Shares may be purchased under a Share Purchase Right unless the Shares to be issued or transferred upon purchase are covered by an effective registration statement pursuant to the Securities Act or are eligible for an exemption from the registration requirements, and the Plan is in material compliance with all applicable federal, state, foreign and other securities and other laws applicable to the Plan.
(b) If, on an Acquisition Date of any Offering Period, the Shares are not registered or exempt or the Plan is not in such compliance, no Shares under the Share Purchase Rights granted under the Plan shall be purchased on the Acquisition Date. The Acquisition Date shall be delayed until the Shares are subject to such an effective registration statement or exempt, and the Plan is in such compliance. The Acquisition Date shall in no event be more than twenty-seven months from the Offer Date, or, if applicable, such lesser time as permitted under Section 423 of the Code.
(c) If, on the Acquisition Date of any Offering Period, as delayed to the maximum extent permissible, the Shares are not registered or exempt and the Plan is not in such compliance, no Shares under the Share Purchase Rights shall be purchased, and all Contributions accumulated during the Offering Period (reduced to the extent, if any, such deductions have been used to acquire Shares) shall be distributed to the Participants in a lump sum as soon as reasonably practicable without any interest thereon.
Section 7.3 Delivery of Shares. As soon as practicable after each Acquisition Date, the Company shall deliver the Shares acquired by each Participant during an Offering Period to the Participant or an account established in the Participants name at a stock brokerage or other financial services firm designated by the Company. The Shares purchased by each Participant shall be issued in book entry form; no certificates shall be delivered with respect to the Shares acquired by a Participant.
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Section 7.4 Vesting. A Participants interest in the Common Stock purchased upon the purchase of Shares under a Share Purchase Right shall be immediately vested and nonforfeitable.
Section 7.5 Nontransferability. Each Share Purchase Right granted under this Plan shall be nontransferable. During the lifetime of the Participant to whom the Share Purchase Right is granted, the Shares under a Share Purchase Right may be purchased only by the Participant. No right or interest of a Participant in any Share Purchase Right shall be liable for, or subject to, any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant.
ARTICLE VIII
RESTRICTIONS ON SALE
Shares of Common Stock purchased under the Plan may be subject to any such holding restrictions that the Administrator shall determine to be appropriate with respect to any Offering Period consistent with Section 423 of the Code.
ARTICLE IX
WITHDRAWAL FROM PARTICIPATION
AND TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
A Participant shall be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the Plan with respect to an Offering Period in accordance with this Article IX if he or she ceases to be an Employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for any reason, including death, before the Acquisition Date for that Offering Period. A Participant may also revoke his or her payroll deduction authorization form for an Offering Period and withdraw from participation in the Plan for that Offering Period by giving written or electronic notice to the Administrator at such time before the Acquisition Date as may be established by the Administrator. In the event of a Participants withdrawal or deemed withdrawal, all of the payroll deductions credited to his or her account shall be paid to the Participant, or to the Participants estate in the event of the Participants death, in a lump sum as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of the notice of withdrawal or death, without any interest thereon, and no further payroll deductions shall be made from his or her Compensation for that Offering Period. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, a Participants withdrawal (other than due to a termination of employment) during an Offering Period shall not have any effect upon the Participants eligibility to participate in the Plan during a subsequent Offering Period.
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ARTICLE X
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 10.1 Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee may prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of the Plan and make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration and interpretation of the Plan. Any authority exercised by the Committee under the Plan shall be exercised by the Committee in its sole discretion. Determinations, interpretations, or other actions made or taken by the Committee under the Plan shall be final, binding, and conclusive for all purposes and upon all persons.
Section 10.2 Delegation by the Committee. Any or all of the powers, duties, and responsibilities of the Administrator hereunder may be delegated by the Committee to, and thereafter exercised by, one or more officers or other persons designated by the Administrator so long as such delegation complies with the requirements of the Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL), including but not limited to DGCL Sections 152 and 157, and any determination, interpretation, or other action taken by such designee that complies with the requirements of the DGCL, including, but not limited to DGCL Sections 152 and 157, shall have the same effect hereunder as if made or taken by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, only the Committee shall have the power to determine the Purchase Price for any Offering Period and to determine any other matter required by the DGCL to be determined by the Board, in which case, any reference to Administrator shall mean only the Board or Committee.
Section 10.3 Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the power to withhold from Contributions credited to the Participants account or from other compensation payable to the Participant, or to require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount in cash sufficient to satisfy all U.S. federal, state, local, and any non-U.S. withholding tax or other governmental tax, charge or fee requirements in respect of any payment under the Plan.
Section 10.4 At-Will Employment. Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or shall interfere with or restrict in any way the rights of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, which are hereby expressly reserved, to discharge any Participant at any time for any reason whatsoever, with or without cause.
Section 10.5 Unfunded Plan; Plan Not Subject to ERISA; Code Section 423. The Plan is an unfunded plan and Participants shall have the status of unsecured creditors of the Company. The Plan is not intended to be subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The plan is intended to qualify as an employee stock purchase plan under Code Section 423. Any provision of the Plan that is inconsistent with Section 423 of the Code shall be reformed to comply with Section 423 of the Code. All payroll deductions received or held by the Company under this Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose and the Company shall not be obligated to segregate such payroll deductions.
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Section 10.6 Freedom of Action. Nothing in the Plan shall be construed as limiting or preventing the Company or any of its Affiliates from taking any action that it deems appropriate or in its best interest (as determined in its sole and absolute discretion) and no Participant (or person claiming by or through a Participant) shall have any right relating to the diminishment in the value of any account or any associated return as a result of any such action. The foregoing shall not constitute a waiver by a Participant of the terms and provisions of the Plan.
Section 10.7 Term of Plan. The Plan shall be effective upon the Effective Date. The Plan shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, (ii) the termination of the Plan pursuant to Section 10.8 or (iii) the date on which no more Shares are available for issuance under the Plan. Upon termination of the Plan, all funds accumulated in a Participants account shall be paid to such Participant in a lump sum as soon as reasonably practicable without any interest thereon, and all Share Purchase Rights shall automatically terminate.
Section 10.8 Amendment or Termination. The Board or the Committee, in its sole discretion, may amend, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan at any time, provided that if the Plan is amended in a manner that is considered the adoption of a new plan pursuant to Section 423 of the Code, including (i) an increase in the aggregate number of Shares that may be issued under the Plan pursuant to Section 3.1 (other than an increase merely reflecting a change in the number of outstanding Shares pursuant to Section 3.2), (ii) a change in the granting Company or the stock available for purchase under the Plan or (iii) a change in the designation of corporations whose Employees may be offered Share Purchase Rights under the Plan, the shareholders of the Company must reapprove the Plan as if such action were the adoption of a new plan within the time prescribed under Section 423 of the Code. . Upon such termination, all funds accumulated in a Participants account at such time shall be paid to such Participant in a lump sum as soon as reasonably practicable without any interest thereon, and all Share Purchase Rights shall automatically terminate.
Section 10.9 Severability. In the event any portion of the Plan or any action taken pursuant thereto shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provisions had not been included, and the illegal or invalid action shall be null and void.
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Section 10.10 Assignment. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 10.10, this Plan shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective heirs, representatives, successors, and assigns. Neither this Plan nor any right or interest hereunder shall be assignable by the Participant, his beneficiaries, or legal representatives; provided that nothing in this Section 10.10 shall preclude the Participant from designating a beneficiary to receive any benefit payable hereunder upon his death, or the executors, administrators, or other legal representatives of the Participant or his estate from assigning any rights hereunder to the person or persons entitled thereunto. This Plan shall be assignable by the Company to a Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company; to any corporation, partnership, or other entity that may be organized by the Company, its general partners, as a separate business unit in connection with the business activities of the Company; or to any corporation, partnership, or other entity resulting from the reorganization, merger, or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, partnership, or other entity, or any corporation, partnership, or other entity to or with which all or any portion of the Companys business or assets may be sold, exchanged, or transferred, in each case to the extent permitted under Section 423 of the Code.
Section 10.11 Non-Transferability of Rights. Unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the Administrator, no rights or interests hereunder or part thereof shall be liable for the debts, contracts or engagements of the Participant or his or her successors in interest or shall be subject to disposition by transfer, alienation, anticipation, pledge, encumbrance, assignment or any other means whether such disposition be voluntary or involuntary or by operation of law, by judgment, levy, attachment, garnishment or any other legal or equitable proceedings (including bankruptcy), and any attempted disposition thereof shall be null and void and of no effect; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 10.11 shall prevent transfers by will or by the applicable laws of descent and distribution.
Section 10.12 Headings. The Section headings appearing in this Plan are used for convenience of reference only and shall not be considered a part of this Plan or in any way modify, amend, or affect the meaning of any of its provisions.
Section 10.13 Rules of Construction. Whenever the context so requires, the use of the masculine gender shall be deemed to include the feminine and vice versa, and the use of the singular shall be deemed to include the plural and vice versa. The fact that this Plan was drafted by the Company shall not be taken into account in interpreting or construing any provision of this Plan.
Section 10.14 Governing Law and Venue. To the extent not preempted by federal law, the Plan shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware regardless of the application of rules of conflict of law that would apply the laws of any other jurisdiction. Any and all claims and disputes of any kind whatsoever arising out of or relating to this Plan shall only be brought in the Delaware Chancery Court. By participating in the Plan, the Participant and all persons or entities claiming through the Participant hereby waive any objection which they may now have
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or may hereafter have to the foregoing choice of venue and further irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Delaware Chancery Court in any such claim or dispute. In the event that the Delaware Chancery Court determines that it cannot or will not exercise subject matter jurisdiction over such dispute, then the 21st Judicial Circuit Court of St. Louis County, State of Missouri, shall have exclusive jurisdiction and venue over any such claim or dispute.
Section 10.15 Conformity to Securities Laws. The Plan is intended to conform to the extent necessary with all provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and any and all regulations and rules promulgated under any of the foregoing, to the extent the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Participant is subject to the provisions thereof. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan shall be administered only in such a manner as to conform to such laws, rules and regulations. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such laws, rules and regulations.
Section 10.16 Tax Reporting Information; Notice of Disqualifying Dispositions. At the Companys request, Participants will be required to provide the Company and any Affiliates with any information reasonably required for tax reporting purposes. Each Participant shall give the Company prompt written notice of any disposition or other transfer of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to this Plan, if such disposition or transfer is made within two years after the Offer Date or within one year after the Acquisition Date.
Section 10.17 Participant Acknowledgment. By electing to participate in an Offering Period, Participants acknowledge and agree that (i) Participants may be required to hold Shares during any holding periods to which such Shares are subject; (ii) the Shares acquired under the Plan may lose some or all of their value in the future; and (iii) Participants are able to afford to bear the economic risk of holding the Shares for any holding period and of any loss in value of the Shares.
Section 10.18 Limitation Period For Claims. Any Participant or Person who believes such Participant or Person is being denied any benefit or right under the Plan may file a written claim with the Committee. Any claim must be delivered to the Committee within forty-five (45) calendar days of the later of the date of purchase of the Shares or the specific event giving rise to the claim. The Committee will notify such Participant or Person of its decision in writing as soon as administratively practicable. Claims not responded to by the Committee in writing within one hundred twenty (120) calendar days of the date the written claim is delivered to the Committee shall be deemed denied. The Committees decision is final and conclusive and binding on all Participants and Persons. No lawsuit relating to the Plan may be filed before a written claim is filed with the Committee and is denied or deemed denied and any lawsuit must be filed, in accordance with the venue provisions of Section 10.14, within one year of such denial or deemed denial or be forever barred.
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Section 10.19 Code Section 409A. This Plan is intended to be administered in a manner that results in all payments being exempt from or paid in a manner consistent with the requirements of Code Section 409A. In no event shall the Company have any liability to any person in the event Code Section 409A applies to any payment in a manner that results in adverse tax consequences for a Participant.
Section 10.20 Equal Rights and Privileges. All eligible Employees granted a Share Purchase Right under this Plan that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 423 of the Code shall have equal rights and privileges with respect to this Plan or within any separate offering under the Plan so that this Plan qualifies as an employee stock purchase plan within the meaning of Section 423 or any successor provision of the Code and the related regulations (it being understood that Non-U.S. Awards may be treated differently to the extent permitted by Section 423 of the Code). Any provision of this Plan which is inconsistent with Section 423 or any successor provision of the Code, without further act or amendment by the Company or the Administrator shall be reformed to comply with the requirements of Section 423. This 20shall take precedence over all other provisions in this Plan.
Section 10.21 Shareholder Approval. The Plan shall be subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.
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Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Core & Main, Inc. of our report dated April 15, 2021 relating to the financial statements of Core & Main, Inc., which appears in Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-256382) of Core & Main, Inc.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
St. Louis, Missouri |
July 23, 2021 |
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Core & Main, Inc. of our report dated April 15, 2021 relating to the financial statements of Core & Main Holdings, LP, which appears in Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-256382) of Core & Main, Inc.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
St. Louis, Missouri |
July 23, 2021 |