UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington,  DC   20549  

 


 

FORM 8-K

 


 

CURRENT REPORT

 

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

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 8, 2017

 


WILLDAN GROUP, INC.  

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware  

 

001-33076

 

14-1951112

(State of other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

2401 East Katella Avenue, Suite 300,  Anaheim,  California 92806  

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

 

 

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (800) 424-9144

 

Not Applicable

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


 

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

 

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

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

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

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2).

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 13(a) of the Excha nge Act.

 

 

 

 


 

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

 

(e) Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

The Board of Directors (the “ Board ”) of Willdan Group, Inc. (the “ Company ”) previously approved amending and restating the Willdan Group, Inc. 2008 Performance Incentive Plan (the “ 2008 Plan ”), subject to stockholder approval of the amendments to the 2008 Plan.  As disclosed in Item 5.07 of this Form 8-K, the Company’s stockholders have approved the amendments to the 2008 Plan.

 

The following summary of the amendments to the 2008 Plan is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the 2008 Plan, which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Among other things, the 2008 Plan reflects amendments to (i) increase the number of shares of the Company’s common stock (the “ Common Stock ”) available for award grants under the 2008 Plan by 875,000 shares, so that the new aggregate share limit for the 2008 Plan is 2,711,167 shares (plus shares subject to options granted under the Company’s 2006 Stock Incentive Plan which expire or are cancelled or terminated); (ii) extend the Company’s authority to grant awards under the 2008 Plan intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code through the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders and increase the separate limits on the maximum number of shares subject to performance-based awards and stock options and stock appreciation rights granted to one employee in any one calendar year by 100,000 shares to 300,000 shares; (iii) extend the term of the 2008 Plan to April 17, 2027; and (iv) provide that all awards granted under the 2008 Plan will be subject to a minimum vesting requirement of one year (provided that the minimum vesting requirement will not apply to 5% of the total number of shares available under the 2008 Plan and does not limit the Board’s discretion to accelerate awards).

 

The Board also previously approved amending and restating the Willdan Group, Inc. 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ ESPP ”), subject to stockholder approval of the amendments to the ESPP.  As disclosed in Item 5.07 of this Form 8-K, the Company’s stockholders have approved the amendments to the ESPP.

 

The following summary of the amendments to the ESPP is qualified in its entirety by reference to the text of the ESPP, which is filed as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

Among other things, the ESPP reflects amendments to increase the number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under the ESPP by 825,000 shares, so that the new aggregate share limit for the ESPP is 1,125,000 shares.

 

Item 5.07.             Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

The Company held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders (“ Annual Meeting ”) on June 8, 2017. At the Annual Meeting, five proposals, which are described in detail in the Company’s definitive proxy statement dated April 18, 2017 for the Annual Meeting (the “ Proxy Statement ”), were submitted to a vote of the stockholders. The stockholders voted to (i) elect the nine director nominees named in the Proxy Statement; (ii) ratify the appointment of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP (“ KPMG ”); (iii) approve the non-binding resolution approving the Company’s executive compensation; (iv) approve an amendment to the 2008 Plan; and (v) approve an amendment to the ESPP.

  

The total number of shares present in person or by proxy was equal to 74.3% of the total shares issued and outstanding, thereby constituting a quorum for the purpose of the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes were counted for purposes of determining whether a quorum was present.

 

 

i


 

The results of the vote for each proposal were as follows:

 

Proposal 1

 

Each individual listed below was elected to serve on the Board until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his respective successor is elected and qualified, or until his earlier resignation or removal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For

 

Withheld

 

Broker Non-Vote

 

Thomas D. Brisbin

 

1,904,754

 

1,923,179

 

2,529,806

 

Keith W. Renken

 

3,543,122

 

284,811

 

2,529,806

 

Steven A. Cohen

 

2,197,653

 

1,630,280

 

2,529,806

 

Raymond W. Holdsworth

 

3,415,100

 

412,833

 

2,529,806

 

Douglas J. McEachern

 

3,353,103

 

474,830

 

2,529,806

 

Dennis V. McGinn

 

3,687,321

 

140,612

 

2,529,806

 

Curtis S. Probst

 

3,688,737

 

139,196

 

2,529,806

 

Mohammed Shahidehpour

 

3,234,474

 

593,459

 

2,529,806

 

Win Westfall

 

1,625,695

 

2,202,238

 

2,529,806

 

 

 

Proposal 2

 

Ratification of the Board’s appointment of KPMG as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 29, 2017.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker Non-Vote

6,254,796

 

73,192

 

29,751

 

-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposal 3

 

Approval of the non-binding advisory resolution approving the Company’s executive compensation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker Non-Vote

3,369,695

 

174,913

 

283,325

 

2,529,806

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proposal 4

 

Approval of an amendment to the 2008 Plan.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker Non-Vote

2,973,750

 

787,765

 

66,418

 

2,529,806

 

 

Proposal 5

 

Approval of an amendment to the ESPP.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker Non-Vote

3,634,832

 

182,133

 

10,968

 

2,529,806

 

 

ii


 

Item 8.01 Other Events

 

On June 7, 2017, at a regularly scheduled Board meeting, Mr. Thomas D. Brisbin announced that he will no longer serve as an ex officio member of the Company’s Audit, Compensation, Nominating and Governance and Strategy, Mergers and Acquisitions Committees. Mr. Brisbin will continue to serve as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the Board.

 

Additionally, the Company hereby clarifies that Dr. Steven A. Cohen has not been an advisor to Willdan Energy Solutions, nor has he received any fees or compensation other than in his role as a director of the Company, since his appointment to the Board in April 2015.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit Number Description

 

10.1 Willdan Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2008 Performance Incentive Plan.

10.2 Willdan Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

iii


 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

WILLDAN GROUP, INC.

 

 

 

Date: June 9, 2017

By:

/s/ Stacy B. McLaughlin

 

 

Stacy B. McLaughlin

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

iv


 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibit No.

 

Document

 

 

 

 

10.1

 

 

Willdan Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2008 Performance Incentive Plan.

10.2

 

 

Willdan Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

v


Exhibit 10.1

 

WILLDAN GROUP, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2008 PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.    PURPOSE OF PLAN

 

The purpose of this Willdan Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2008 Performance Incentive Plan (this “ Plan ”) of Willdan Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Corporation ”), is to promote the success of the Corporation and to increase stockholder value by providing an additional means through the grant of awards to attract, motivate, retain and reward selected employees and other eligible persons.

 

2.    ELIGIBILITY

 

The Administrator (as such term is defined in Section 3.1) may grant awards under this Plan only to those persons that the Administrator determines to be Eligible Persons.  An “ Eligible Person ” is any person who is either: (a) an officer (whether or not a director) or employee of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries; (b) a director of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries; or (c) an individual consultant or advisor who renders or has rendered bona fide services (other than services in connection with the offering or sale of securities of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries in a capital-raising transaction or as a market maker or promoter of securities of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries) to the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries and who is selected to participate in this Plan by the Administrator; provided, however, that a person who is otherwise an Eligible Person under clause (c) above may participate in this Plan only if such participation would not adversely affect either the Corporation’s eligibility to use Form S-8 to register under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), the offering and sale of shares issuable under this Plan by the Corporation or the Corporation’s compliance with any other applicable laws.  An Eligible Person who has been granted an award (a “participant”) may, if otherwise eligible, be granted additional awards if the Administrator shall so determine.  As used herein, “ Subsidiary ” means any corporation or other entity a majority of whose outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned directly or indirectly by the Corporation; and “ Board ” means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

3.    PLAN ADMINISTRATION

 

3.1          The Administrator .  This Plan shall be administered by and all awards under this Plan shall be authorized by the Administrator.  The “ Administrator ” means the Board or one or more committees appointed by the Board or another committee (within its delegated authority) to administer all or certain aspects of this Plan.  Any such committee shall be comprised solely of one or more directors or such number of directors as may be required under applicable law.  A committee may delegate some or all of its authority to another committee so constituted.  The Board or a committee comprised solely of directors may also delegate, to the extent permitted by Section 157(c) of the Delaware General Corporation Law and any other applicable law, to one or more officers of the Corporation, its powers under this Plan (a) to designate the officers and employees of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries who will receive grants of awards under this Plan, and (b) to determine the number of shares subject to, and the other terms and conditions of, such awards.  The Board may delegate different levels of authority to different committees with administrative and grant authority under this Plan.  Unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation or the applicable charter of any Administrator: (a) a majority of the members of the acting Administrator shall constitute a quorum, and (b) the vote of a majority of the members present assuming the presence of a quorum or the unanimous written consent of the members of the Administrator shall constitute action by the acting Administrator.

 

With respect to awards intended to satisfy the requirements for performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), this Plan shall be administered by a committee consisting solely of two or more outside directors (as this requirement is applied under Section 162(m) of the Code); provided, however, that the failure to satisfy such requirement shall not affect the validity of the action of any committee otherwise duly authorized and acting in the matter.  Award grants, and transactions in or involving awards, intended to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), must be duly and timely authorized by the Board or a committee consisting solely of two or more non-employee directors (as this requirement is applied under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act).  To the

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extent required by any applicable listing agency, this Plan shall be administered by a committee composed entirely of independent directors (within the meaning of the applicable listing agency).

 

3.2          Powers of the Administrator .  Subject to the express provisions of this Plan, including, without limitation,  Sections 3.6 and 3.7, the Administrator is authorized and empowered to do all things necessary or desirable in connection with the authorization of awards and the administration of this Plan (in the case of a committee or delegation to one or more officers, within the authority delegated to that committee or person(s)), including, without limitation, the authority to:

 

(a)            determine eligibility and, from among those persons determined to be eligible, the particular Eligible Persons who will receive an award under this Plan;

 

(b)            grant awards to Eligible Persons, determine the price (if any) at which securities will be offered or awarded and the number of securities to be offered or awarded to any of such persons (in the case of securities-based awards), determine the other specific terms and conditions awards consistent with the express limits of this Plan, establish the installments (if any) in which such awards shall become exercisable or shall vest (which may include, without limitation, performance and/or time-based schedules), or determine that no delayed exercisability or vesting is required, establish any applicable performance targets, and establish the events of termination or reversion of such awards;

 

(c)            approve the forms of award agreements (which need not be identical either as to type of award or among participants);

 

(d)            construe and interpret this Plan and any agreements defining the rights and obligations of the Corporation, its Subsidiaries, and participants under this Plan, further define the terms used in this Plan, and prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the administration of this Plan or the awards granted under this Plan;

 

(e)            cancel, modify, or waive the Corporation’s rights with respect to, or modify, discontinue, suspend, or terminate any or all outstanding awards, subject to any required consent under Section 8.6.5;

 

(f)            accelerate or extend the vesting or exercisability or extend the term of any or all such outstanding awards (in the case of options or stock appreciation rights, within the maximum ten-year term of such awards) in such circumstances as the Administrator may deem appropriate (including, without limitation, in connection with a termination of employment or services or other events of a personal nature) subject to any required consent under Section 8.6.5;

 

(g)            adjust the number of shares of Common Stock subject to any award, adjust the price of any or all outstanding awards or otherwise change previously imposed terms and conditions, in such circumstances as the Administrator may deem appropriate, in each case subject to Sections 4 and 8.6 (and subject to the no repricing provision below);

 

(h)            determine the date of grant of an award, which may be a designated date after but not before the date of the Administrator’s action (unless otherwise designated by the Administrator, the date of grant of an award shall be the date upon which the Administrator took the action granting an award);

 

(i)             determine whether, and the extent to which, adjustments are required pursuant to Section 7 hereof and authorize the termination, conversion, substitution or succession of awards upon the occurrence of an event of the type described in Section 7;

 

(j)             acquire or settle (subject to Sections 7 and 8.6) rights under awards in cash, stock of equivalent value, or other consideration (subject to the no repricing provision below); and

 

(k)            determine the fair market value of the Common Stock or awards under this Plan from time to time and/or the manner in which such value will be determined.

 

2


 

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing and except for an adjustment pursuant to Section 7.1 or a repricing approved by stockholders, in no case may the Administrator (1) amend an outstanding stock option or SAR to reduce the exercise price or base price of the award, (2) cancel, exchange, or surrender an outstanding stock option or SAR in exchange for cash or other awards for the purpose of repricing the award, or (3) cancel, exchange, or surrender an outstanding stock option or SAR in exchange for an option or SAR with an exercise or base price that is less than the exercise or base price of the original award.

 

3.3          Binding Determinations .  Any action taken by, or inaction of, the Corporation, any Subsidiary, or the Administrator relating or pursuant to this Plan and within its authority hereunder or under applicable law shall be within the absolute discretion of that entity or body and shall be conclusive and binding upon all persons.  Neither the Board nor any Board committee, nor any member thereof or person acting at the direction thereof, shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in good faith in connection with this Plan (or any award made under this Plan), and all such persons shall be entitled to indemnification and reimbursement by the Corporation in respect of any claim, loss, damage or expense (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees) arising or resulting therefrom to the fullest extent permitted by law and/or under any directors and officers liability insurance coverage that may be in effect from time to time. 

 

3.4          Reliance on Experts .  In making any determination or in taking or not taking any action under this Plan, the Administrator may obtain and may rely upon the advice of experts, including employees and professional advisors to the Corporation.  No director, officer or agent of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries shall be liable for any such action or determination taken or made or omitted in good faith.

 

3.5          Delegation .  The Administrator may delegate ministerial, non-discretionary functions to individuals who are officers or employees of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries or to third parties

 

3.6          Minimum Vesting Requirement .  Except as provided in the next sentence, all awards granted under this Plan shall be subject to a minimum vesting requirement of one year, and no portion of any such award may vest earlier than the first anniversary of the grant date of the award (the “ Minimum Vesting Requirement ”).  The Minimum Vesting Requirement shall not apply to 5% of the total number of shares available under this Plan.

 

3.7          Dividends on Unvested Equity Awards .  If the Corporation pays an ordinary cash dividend, the cash dividend shall not be paid on a current basis with respect to any awards that are not vested as of the record date for the ordinary cash dividend.  Nothing in this Section 3.7 shall limit or restrict the Administrator’s ability (1) for shares of Common Stock subject to restricted stock or performance stock awards, to pay the amount of the ordinary cash dividend upon (and subject to) the vesting of such shares of Common Stock subject to these Awards, or (2) for stock unit awards, to credit dividend equivalents with respect to such awards in the form of additional stock units that will be subject to the same vesting terms and conditions as the underlying stock unit awards to which they relate, or (3) to make any adjustment pursuant to Section 7 of this Plan.

 

4.    SHARES OF COMMON STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN; SHARE LIMITS

 

4.1          Shares Available .  Subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the capital stock that may be delivered under this Plan shall be shares of the Corporation’s authorized but unissued Common Stock and any shares of its Common Stock held as treasury shares.  For purposes of this Plan, “ Common Stock ” shall mean the common stock of the Corporation and such other securities or property as may become the subject of awards under this Plan, or may become subject to such awards, pursuant to an adjustment made under Section 7.1.

 

4.2          Share Limits .  The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be delivered pursuant to awards granted to Eligible Persons under this Plan (the “ Share Limit ”) is equal to the sum of the following: 

 

(1)            2,711,167 shares of Common Stock, plus

 

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(2)            the number of shares of Common Stock subject to options granted under the Willdan Group, Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan (the “ 2006 Plan ”) and outstanding on June 9, 2008 which expire, or for any reason are cancelled or terminated, after June 9, 2008 without being exercised.

 

The following limits also apply with respect to awards granted under this Plan:

 

(a)            The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be delivered pursuant to options qualified as incentive stock options granted under this Plan is 2,975,000 shares.

 

(b)            The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to those options and stock appreciation rights that are granted during any calendar year to any individual under this Plan is 300,000   shares.

 

(c)            Awards that are granted under this Plan during any one calendar year to any person who, on the grant date of the award, is a non-employee director are subject to the limits of this Section 4.2(c).  The maximum number of shares of Common Stock subject to those awards that are granted under this Plan during any one calendar year to an individual who, on the grant date of the award, is a non-employee director is the number of shares that produce a grant date fair value for the award that, when combined with the grant date fair value of any other awards granted under this Plan during that same calendar year to that individual in his or her capacity as a non-employee director, is $200,000; provided that this limit is $400,000 as to (1) a non-employee director who is serving as the Independent Chair of the Board or the Lead Independent Director at the time the applicable grant is made or (2) any new non-employee director for the calendar year in which the non-employee director is first elected or appointed to the Board.  For purposes of this Section 4.2(c), a “non-employee director” is an individual who, on the grant date of the award, is a member of the Board who is not then an officer or employee of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries.  For purposes of this Section 4.2(c), “grant date fair value” means the value of the award as of the date of grant of the award and as determined using the equity award valuation principles applied in the Corporation’s financial reporting.  The limits of this Section 4.2(c) do not apply to, and shall be determined without taking into account, any award granted to an individual who, on the grant date of the award, is an officer or employee of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries.  The limits of this Section 4.2(c) apply on an individual basis and not on an aggregate basis to all non-employee directors as a group.

 

(d)            Additional limits with respect to Performance-Based Awards are set forth in Section 5.2.3.

 

Each of the foregoing numerical limits is subject to adjustment as contemplated by Section 4.3, Section 7.1, and Section 8.10.

 

4.3          Awards Settled in Cash, Reissue of Awards and Shares .  To the extent that an award granted under this Plan is settled in cash or a form other than shares of Common Stock, the shares that would have been delivered had there been no such cash or other settlement shall not be counted against the shares available for issuance under this Plan.  In the event that shares of Common Stock are delivered in respect of a dividend equivalent right granted under this Plan, only the actual number of shares delivered with respect to the award shall be counted against the share limits of this Plan.  To the extent that shares of Common Stock are delivered pursuant to the exercise of a stock appreciation right or stock option granted under this Plan, the number of underlying shares as to which the exercise related shall be counted against the applicable share limits under Section 4.2, as opposed to only counting the shares actually issued.  (For purposes of clarity, if a stock appreciation right relates to 100,000 shares and is exercised at a time when the payment due to the participant is 15,000 shares, 100,000 shares shall be charged against the applicable share limits under Section 4.2 with respect to such exercise.)  Except as provided in the next sentence, shares that are subject to or underlie awards granted under this Plan which expire or for any reason are cancelled or terminated, are forfeited, fail to vest, or for any other reason are not paid or delivered under this Plan shall again be available for subsequent awards under this Plan.  Shares that are exchanged by a participant or withheld by the Corporation as full or partial payment in connection with any award under this Plan, as well as any shares exchanged by a participant or withheld by the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries to satisfy the tax withholding obligations related to any award, shall not be available for subsequent awards under this Plan.  Refer to Section 8.10 for application of the foregoing share limits with respect to assumed awards.  The foregoing adjustments to the share limits of this Plan are subject to any applicable limitations under Section 162(m) of the Code with respect to awards intended as

4


 

 

performance-based compensation thereunder.  The Corporation may not increase the Share Limit by repurchasing shares of Common Stock on the market (by using cash received through the exercise of stock options or otherwise.)

 

4.4          Reservation of Shares; No Fractional Shares; Minimum Issue .     The Corporation shall at all times reserve a number of shares of Common Stock sufficient to cover the Corporation’s obligations and contingent obligations to deliver shares with respect to awards then outstanding under this Plan (exclusive of any dividend equivalent obligations to the extent the Corporation has the right to settle such rights in cash).  No fractional shares shall be delivered under this Plan.  The Administrator may pay cash in lieu of any fractional shares in settlements of awards under this Plan.  No fewer than 100 shares may be purchased on exercise of any award (or, in the case of stock appreciation or purchase rights, no fewer than 100 rights may be exercised at any one time) unless the total number purchased or exercised is the total number at the time available for purchase or exercise under the award.

 

5.    AWARDS

 

5.1          Type and Form of Awards .  The Administrator shall determine the type or types of award(s) to be made to each selected Eligible Person.  Awards may be granted singly, in combination or in tandem.  Awards also may be made in combination or in tandem with, in replacement of, as alternatives to, or as the payment form for grants or rights under any other employee or compensation plan of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries.  The types of awards that may be granted under this Plan are (subject, in each case, to the no repricing provisions of Section 3.2):

 

5.1.1          Stock Options .  A stock option is the grant of a right to purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock during a specified period as determined by the Administrator.  An option may be intended as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code (an “ ISO ”) or a nonqualified stock option (an option not intended to be an ISO).  The award agreement for an option will indicate if the option is intended as an ISO; otherwise it will be deemed to be a nonqualified stock option.  The maximum term of each option (ISO or nonqualified) shall be ten (10) years.  The per share exercise price for each option shall be not less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant of the option.  When an option is exercised, the exercise price for the shares to be purchased shall be paid in full in cash or such other method permitted by the Administrator consistent with Section 5.5.

 

5.1.2          Additional Rules Applicable to ISOs .  To the extent that the aggregate fair market value (determined at the time of grant of the applicable option) of stock with respect to which ISOs first become exercisable by a participant in any calendar year exceeds $100,000, taking into account both Common Stock subject to ISOs under this Plan and stock subject to ISOs under all other plans of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries (or any parent or predecessor corporation to the extent required by and within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder), such options shall be treated as nonqualified stock options.  In reducing the number of options treated as ISOs to meet the $100,000 limit, the most recently granted options shall be reduced first.  To the extent a reduction of simultaneously granted options is necessary to meet the $100,000 limit, the Administrator may, in the manner and to the extent permitted by law, designate which shares of Common Stock are to be treated as shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO.  ISOs may only be granted to employees of the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries (for this purpose, the term “subsidiary” is used as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code, which generally requires an unbroken chain of ownership of at least 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of each subsidiary in the chain beginning with the Corporation and ending with the subsidiary in question).  There shall be imposed in any award agreement relating to ISOs such other terms and conditions as from time to time are required in order that the option be an “incentive stock option” as that term is defined in Section 422 of the Code.  No ISO may be granted to any person who, at the time the option is granted, owns (or is deemed to own under Section 424(d) of the Code) shares of outstanding Common Stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation, unless the exercise price of such option is at least 110% of the fair market value of the stock subject to the option and such option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date such option is granted.  If an otherwise intended ISO fails to meet the applicable requirements of Section 422 of the Code, the option shall be a nonqualified stock option.

 

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5.1.3          Stock Appreciation Rights .  A stock appreciation right or “ SAR ” is a right to receive a payment, in cash and/or Common Stock, equal to the excess of the fair market value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock on the date the SAR is exercised over the “ base price ” of the award, which base price shall be set forth in the applicable award agreement and shall be not less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant of the SAR.  The maximum term of a SAR shall be ten (10) years.

 

5.1.4          Other Awards .  The other types of awards that may be granted under this Plan include: (a) stock bonuses, restricted stock, performance stock, stock units, phantom stock, dividend equivalents, or similar rights to purchase or acquire shares, whether at a fixed or variable price (or no price) or ratio related to the Common Stock, and any of which may (but need not) be fully vested at grant or vest upon the passage of time, the occurrence of one or more events, or the satisfaction of performance criteria or other conditions, or any combination thereof; or (b) any similar awards with a value derived from the value of or related to the Common Stock and/or returns thereon and other cash awards.

 

5.2          Section 162(m) Performance-Based Awards .  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any of the types of awards listed in Section 5.1.4 above may be, and options and SARs granted to officers and employees (“ Qualifying Options ” and “ Qualifying SARS ,” respectively) typically will be, granted as awards intended to satisfy the requirements for “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code (“ Performance-Based Awards ).  The grant, vesting, exercisability or payment of Performance-Based Awards may depend (or, in the case of Qualifying Options or Qualifying SARs, may also depend) on the degree of achievement of one or more performance goals relative to a pre-established targeted level or level using one or more of the Business Criteria set forth below (on an absolute or relative (including, without limitation, relative to the performance of one or more other companies or upon comparisons of any of the indicators of performance relative to one or more other companies) basis) for the Corporation on a consolidated basis or for one or more of the Corporation’s subsidiaries, segments, divisions or business units, or any combination of the foregoing.  Any Qualifying Option or Qualifying SAR shall be subject only to the requirements of Section 5.2.1 and 5.2.3 in order for such award to satisfy the requirements for “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.  Any other Performance-Based Award shall be subject to all of the following provisions of this Section 5.2.

 

5.2.1          Class; Administrator The eligible class of persons for Performance-Based Awards under this Section 5.2 shall be officers and employees of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries.  The Administrator approving Performance-Based Awards or making any certification required pursuant to Section 5.2.4 must be constituted as provided in Section 3.1 for awards that are intended as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

5.2.2          Performance Goals The specific performance goals for Performance-Based Awards (other than Qualifying Options and Qualifying SARs) shall be, on an absolute or relative basis, established based on one or more of the following business criteria (“ Business Criteria ”) as selected by the Administrator in its sole discretion: earnings per share, cash flow (which means cash and cash equivalents derived from either net cash flow from operations or net cash flow from operations, financing and investing activities), total stockholder return, gross revenue, revenue growth, operating income (before or after taxes), net earnings (before or after interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization), return on equity or on assets or on net investment, cost containment or reduction, or any combination thereof.  These terms are used as applied under generally accepted accounting principles or in the financial reporting of the Corporation or of its Subsidiaries, or may be adjusted when established to include or exclude any items otherwise includable or excludable under generally accepted accounting principles or in the financial reporting of the Corporation or of its Subsidiaries.  To qualify awards as performance-based under Section 162(m), the applicable Business Criterion (or Business Criteria, as the case may be) and specific performance goal or goals (“targets”) must be established and approved by the Administrator during the first 90 days of the performance period (and, in the case of performance periods of less than one year, in no event after 25% or more of the performance period has elapsed) and while performance relating to such target(s) remains substantially uncertain within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.  The terms of Performance-Based Awards may specify the manner, if any, in which performance targets (or the applicable measure of performance) shall be adjusted: to mitigate the unbudgeted impact of material, unusual or nonrecurring gains and losses; to exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; to exclude the effects of financing activities; to exclude exchange rate effects; to exclude the effects of changes to accounting principles; to exclude the effects of any statutory adjustments to

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corporate tax rates; to exclude the effects of  any items of an unusual nature or of infrequency of occurrence; to exclude the effects of acquisitions or joint ventures; to exclude the effects of discontinued operations; to assume that any business divested achieved performance objectives at targeted levels during the balance of a performance period following such divestiture or to exclude the effects of any divestiture; to exclude the effect of any event or transaction referenced in Section 7.1; to exclude the effects of stock-based compensation; to exclude the award of bonuses; to exclude amortization of acquired intangible assets; to exclude the goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges; to exclude the effect of any other unusual, non-recurring gain or loss, non-operating item or other extraordinary item; to exclude the costs associated with any of the foregoing or any potential transaction that if consummated would constitute any of the foregoing; or to exclude other items specified by the Administrator at the time of establishing the targets.

 

5.2.3          Form of Payment; Maximum Performance-Based Award .  Grants or awards under this Section 5.2 may be paid in cash or shares of Common Stock or any combination thereof.  Grants of Qualifying Options and Qualifying SARs to any one participant in any one calendar year shall be subject to the limit set forth in Section 4.2(b). Performance-Based Awards (other than Qualifying Options and Qualifying SARs) shall be subject to the following applicable limits: (a) in the case of such a Performance-Based Award where the value of the Award is expressed as a number or range of number of shares of Common Stock (such as, without limitation, a Performance-Based Award in the form of a restricted stock, performance stock, or stock unit award) or a Performance-Based Award where the amount of cash payable upon or following vesting of the award is determined with reference to the fair market value of a share of Common Stock at such time, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock which may be subject to such a Performance-Based Award described in this clause (a) that are granted to any one participant in any one calendar year shall not exceed 300,000   shares, either individually or in the aggregate, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7.1; and (b) in the case of other Performance-Based Awards (such as an Award where the potential payment is a stated cash amount or range of stated cash amounts, whether the payment is ultimately made in cash or Common Stock by converting the applicable cash amount into a number of shares of Common Stock based on the fair market value of a share of Common Stock upon or following vesting of the award), the aggregate amount of compensation to be paid to any one participant in respect of all such Performance-Based Awards granted to that participant in any one calendar year shall not exceed $1,000,000.  The limits in clauses (a) and (b) in the preceding sentence are separate, independent limits, and a Performance-Based Award (other than Qualifying Options and Qualifying SARs) shall be subject to the applicable limit but not both limits.  For clarity, an eligible individual may receive, during any applicable year, awards referenced in clause (a) of this Section 5.2.3 not in excess of the limit of that clause, awards referenced in clause (b) of this Section 5.2.3 not in excess of the limit of that clause, Qualifying Option or Qualifying SAR awards not in excess of the limit set forth in Section 4.2(b), as well as other types of awards (not referenced in this Section 5.2.3) under this Plan.  Awards that are cancelled during the year shall be counted against any  applicable limits of Section 4.2(b) and this Section 5.2.3 to the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

5.2.4          Certification of Payment Before any Performance-Based Award under this Section 5.2 (other than Qualifying Options and Qualifying SARs) is paid and to the extent required to qualify the award as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Administrator must certify in writing that the performance target(s) and any other material terms of the Performance-Based Award were in fact timely satisfied.

 

5.2.5          Reservation of Discretion The Administrator will have the discretion to determine the restrictions or other limitations of the individual awards granted under this Section 5.2 including the authority to reduce awards, payouts or vesting or to pay no awards, in its sole discretion, if the Administrator preserves such authority at the time of grant by language to this effect in its authorizing resolutions or otherwise.

 

5.2.6          Expiration of Grant Authority As required pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder, the Administrator’s authority to grant new awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code (other than Qualifying Options and Qualifying SARs) shall terminate upon the first meeting of the Corporation’s stockholders that occurs in the fifth year following the year in which the Corporation’s stockholders first approve this Plan, subject to any subsequent extension that may be approved by shareholders.

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5.3          Award Agreements .  Each award shall be evidenced by either (1) a written award agreement in a form approved by the Administrator and executed by the Corporation by an officer duly authorized to act on its behalf, or (2) an electronic notice of award grant in a form approved by the Administrator and recorded by the Corporation (or its designee) in an electronic recordkeeping system used for the purpose of tracking award grants under this Plan generally (in each case, an “award agreement”), as the Administrator may provide and, in each case and if required by the Administrator, executed or otherwise electronically accepted by the recipient of the award in such form and manner as the Administrator may require.  The Administrator may authorize any officer of the Corporation (other than the particular award recipient) to execute any or all award agreements on behalf of the Corporation.

 

5.4          Deferrals and Settlements .  Payment of awards may be in the form of cash, Common Stock, other awards or combinations thereof as the Administrator shall determine, and with such restrictions as it may impose.  The Administrator may also require or permit participants to elect to defer the issuance of shares or the settlement of awards in cash under such rules and procedures as it may establish under this Plan.  The Administrator may also provide that deferred settlements include the payment or crediting of interest or other earnings on the deferral amounts, or the payment or crediting of dividend equivalents where the deferred amounts are denominated in shares.

 

5.5          Consideration for Common Stock or Awards .  The purchase price for any award granted under this Plan or the Common Stock to be delivered pursuant to an award, as applicable, may be paid by means of any lawful consideration as determined by the Administrator, including, without limitation, one or a combination of the following methods:

      services rendered by the recipient of such award;

      cash, check payable to the order of the Corporation, or electronic funds transfer;

      notice and third party payment in such manner as may be authorized by the Administrator;

      the delivery of previously owned shares of Common Stock;

      by a reduction in the number of shares otherwise deliverable pursuant to the award; or

      subject to such procedures as the Administrator may adopt, pursuant to a “cashless exercise” with a third party who provides financing for the purposes of (or who otherwise facilitates) the purchase or exercise of awards.

 

In no event shall any shares newly-issued by the Corporation be issued for less than the minimum lawful consideration for such shares or for consideration other than consideration permitted by applicable state law.  Shares of Common Stock used to satisfy the exercise price of an option shall be valued at their fair market value on the date of exercise.  The Corporation will not be obligated to deliver any shares unless and until it receives full payment of the exercise or purchase price therefor and any related withholding obligations under Section 8.5 and any other conditions to exercise or purchase have been satisfied.  Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable award agreement, the Administrator may at any time eliminate or limit a participant’s ability to pay the purchase or exercise price of any award or shares by any method other than cash payment to the Corporation.

 

5.6           Definition of Fair Market Value .  For purposes of this Plan, “fair market value” shall mean, unless otherwise determined or provided by the Administrator in the circumstances, the last price (in regular trading) for a share of Common Stock as furnished by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “ NASD ”) through the NASDAQ Global Market Reporting System (the “ Global Market ”) for the date in question or, if no sales of Common Stock were reported by the NASD on the Global Market on that date, the last price (in regular trading) for a share of Common Stock as furnished by the NASD through the Global Market for the next preceding day on which sales of Common Stock were reported by the NASD.  The Administrator may, however, provide with respect to one or more awards that the fair market value shall equal the last price (in regular trading) for a share of Common Stock as furnished by the NASD through the Global Market on the last trading day preceding the date in question or the average of the high and low trading prices of a share of Common Stock as furnished by the NASD through the

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Global Market for the date in question or the most recent trading day.  If the Common Stock is no longer listed or is no longer actively traded on the Global Market as of the applicable date, the fair market value of the Common Stock shall be the value as reasonably determined by the Administrator for purposes of the award in the circumstances.  The Administrator also may adopt a different methodology for determining fair market value with respect to one or more awards if a different methodology is necessary or advisable to secure any intended favorable tax, legal or other treatment for the particular award(s) (for example, and without limitation, the Administrator may provide that fair market value for purposes of one or more awards will be based on an average of closing prices (or the average of high and low daily trading prices) for a specified period preceding the relevant date). 

 

5.7           Transfer Restrictions .

 

5.7.1        Limitations on Exercise and Transfer .  Unless otherwise expressly provided in (or pursuant to) this Section 5.7 or required by applicable law: (a) all awards are non-transferable and shall not be subject in any manner to sale, transfer, anticipation, alienation, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge; (b) awards shall be exercised only by the participant; and (c) amounts payable or shares issuable pursuant to any award shall be delivered only to (or for the account of) the participant.

 

5.7.2        Exceptions .  The Administrator may permit awards to be exercised by and paid to, or otherwise transferred to, other persons or entities pursuant to such conditions and procedures, including limitations on subsequent transfers, as the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, establish in writing.  Any permitted transfer shall be subject to compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws and shall not be for value (other than nominal consideration, settlement of marital property rights, or for interests in an entity in which more than 50% of the voting interests are held by the Eligible Person or by the Eligible Person’s family members).

 

5.7.3        Further Exceptions to Limits on Transfer .  The exercise and transfer restrictions in Section 5.7.1 shall not apply to:

 

(a)          transfers to the Corporation (for example, in connection with the expiration or termination of the award),

 

(b)          the designation of a beneficiary to receive benefits in the event of the participant’s death or, if the participant has died, transfers to or exercise by the participant’s beneficiary, or, in the absence of a validly designated beneficiary, transfers by will or the laws of descent and distribution,

 

(c)          subject to any applicable limitations on ISOs, transfers to a family member (or former family member) pursuant to a domestic relations order if approved or ratified by the Administrator,

 

(d)          if the participant has suffered a disability, permitted transfers or exercises on behalf of the participant by his or her legal representative, or

 

(e)          the authorization by the Administrator of “cashless exercise” procedures with third parties who provide financing for the purpose of (or who otherwise facilitate) the exercise of awards consistent with applicable laws and the express authorization of the Administrator.

 

5.8           International Awards .  One or more awards may be granted to Eligible Persons who provide services to the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries outside of the United States.  Any awards granted to such persons may be granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of any applicable sub-plans, if any, appended to this Plan and approved by the Administrator.

 

6.    EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE ON AWARDS

 

6.1           General .  The Administrator shall establish the effect of a termination of employment or service on the rights and benefits under each award under this Plan and in so doing may make distinctions based upon, inter alia, the cause of termination and type of award.  If the participant is not an employee of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries and provides other services to the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, the Administrator shall be the sole judge for purposes of this Plan (unless a contract or the

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award otherwise provides) of whether the participant continues to render services to the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries and the date, if any, upon which such services shall be deemed to have terminated.

 

6.2           Events Not Deemed Terminations of Service .  Unless the express policy of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, or the Administrator, otherwise provides, the employment relationship shall not be considered terminated in the case of (a) sick leave, (b) military leave, or (c) any other leave of absence authorized by the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, or the Administrator; provided that, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or law or the Administrator otherwise provides, such leave is for a period of not more than three months.  In the case of any employee of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries on an approved leave of absence, continued vesting of the award while on leave from the employ of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries may be suspended until the employee returns to service, unless the Administrator otherwise provides or applicable law otherwise requires.  In no event shall an award be exercised after the expiration of the term set forth in the applicable award agreement.

 

6.3           Effect of Change of Subsidiary Status .  For purposes of this Plan and any award, if an entity ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Corporation a termination of employment or service shall be deemed to have occurred with respect to each Eligible Person in respect of such Subsidiary who does not continue as an Eligible Person in respect of the Corporation or another Subsidiary that continues as such after giving effect to the transaction or other event giving rise to the change in status, unless the Subsidiary that is sold, spun-off or otherwise divested (or its successor or a direct or indirect parent of such Subsidiary or successor) assumes the Eligible Person’s award(s) in connection with such transaction.

 

7.    ADJUSTMENTS; ACCELERATION

 

7.1           Adjustments .  Subject to Section 7.2, upon (or, as may be necessary to effect the adjustment, immediately prior to): any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a stock split in the form of a stock dividend) or reverse stock split; any merger, combination, consolidation, or other reorganization; any spin-off, split-up, or similar extraordinary dividend distribution in respect of the Common Stock; or any exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Corporation, or any similar, unusual or extraordinary corporate transaction in respect of the Common Stock; then the Administrator shall equitably and proportionately adjust (1) the number and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities) that thereafter may be made the subject of awards (including the specific share limits, maximums and numbers of shares set forth elsewhere in this Plan), (2) the number, amount and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to any outstanding awards, (3) the grant, purchase, or exercise price (which term includes the base price of any SAR or similar right) of any outstanding awards, and/or (4) the securities, cash or other property deliverable upon exercise or payment of any outstanding awards, in each case to the extent necessary to preserve (but not increase) the level of incentives intended by this Plan and the then-outstanding awards.

 

Unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable award agreement, upon (or, as may be necessary to effect the adjustment, immediately prior to) any event or transaction described in the preceding paragraph or a sale of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Corporation as an entirety, the Administrator shall equitably and proportionately adjust the performance standards and/or period applicable to any then-outstanding performance-based awards to the extent necessary to preserve (but not increase) the level of incentives intended by this Plan and the then-outstanding performance-based awards.

 

It is intended that, if possible, any adjustments contemplated by the preceding two paragraphs be made in a manner that satisfies applicable U.S. legal, tax (including, without limitation and as applicable in the circumstances, Section 424 of the Code, Section 409A of the Code and Section 162(m) of the Code) and accounting (so as to not trigger any charge to earnings with respect to such adjustment) requirements.

 

Without limiting the generality of Section 3.3, any good faith determination by the Administrator as to whether an adjustment is required in the circumstances pursuant to this Section 7.1, and the extent and nature of any such adjustment, shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

 

7.2           Corporate Transactions - Assumption and Termination of Awards .  Upon the occurrence of any of the following: any merger, combination, consolidation, or other reorganization; any exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Corporation; a sale of all or substantially all the business, stock or assets

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of the Corporation; a dissolution of the Corporation; or any other event in which the Corporation does not survive (or does not survive as a public company in respect of its Common Stock); then the Administrator may make provision for a cash payment in settlement of, or for the assumption, substitution or exchange of any or all outstanding share-based awards or the cash, securities or property deliverable to the holder of any or all outstanding share-based awards, based upon, to the extent relevant under the circumstances, the distribution or consideration payable to holders of the Common Stock upon or in respect of such event.  Upon the occurrence of any event described in the preceding sentence, then, unless the Administrator has made a provision for the substitution, assumption, exchange or other continuation or settlement of the award or the award would otherwise continue in accordance with its terms in the circumstances: (1) subject to Section 7.4 and unless otherwise provided in the applicable award agreement, each then-outstanding option and SAR shall become fully vested, all shares of restricted stock then outstanding shall fully vest free of restrictions, and each other award granted under this Plan that is then outstanding shall become payable to the holder of such award (with any performance goals applicable to the award in each case being deemed met, unless otherwise provided in the award agreement, at the “target” performance level); and (2) each award shall terminate upon the related event; provided that the holder of an option or SAR shall be given reasonable advance notice of the impending termination and a reasonable opportunity to exercise his or her outstanding vested options and SARs (after giving effect to any accelerated vesting required in the circumstances) in accordance with their terms before the termination of such awards (except that in no case shall more than ten days’ notice of the impending termination be required and any acceleration of vesting and any exercise of any portion of an award that is so accelerated may be made contingent upon the actual occurrence of the event).

Without limiting the preceding paragraph, in connection with any event referred to in the preceding paragraph or any change in control event defined in any applicable award agreement, the Administrator may, in its discretion, provide for the accelerated vesting of any award or awards as and to the extent determined by the Administrator in the circumstances.

 

The Administrator may adopt such valuation methodologies for outstanding awards as it deems reasonable in the event of a cash or property settlement and, in the case of options, SARs or similar rights, but without limitation on other methodologies, may base such settlement solely upon the excess if any of the per share amount payable upon or in respect of such event over the exercise or base price of the award.

 

In any of the events referred to in this Section 7.2, the Administrator may take such action contemplated by this Section 7.2 prior to such event (as opposed to on the occurrence of such event) to the extent that the Administrator deems the action necessary to permit the participant to realize the benefits intended to be conveyed with respect to the underlying shares.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrator may deem an acceleration to occur immediately prior to the applicable event and/or reinstate the original terms of the award if an event giving rise to an acceleration does not occur.

 

Without limiting the generality of Section 3.3, any good faith determination by the Administrator pursuant to its authority under this Section 7.2 shall be conclusive and binding on all persons.

 

7.3           Other Acceleration Rules .  The Administrator may override the provisions of Section 7.2 and/or 7.4 by express provision in the award agreement and may accord any Eligible Person a right to refuse any acceleration, whether pursuant to the award agreement or otherwise, in such circumstances as the Administrator may approve.  The portion of any ISO accelerated in connection with an event referred to in Section 7.2 (or such other circumstances as may trigger accelerated vesting of the award) shall remain exercisable as an ISO only to the extent the applicable $100,000 limitation on ISOs is not exceeded.  To the extent exceeded, the accelerated portion of the option shall be exercisable as a nonqualified stock option under the Code.

 

7.4           Golden Parachute Limitation .  Notwithstanding anything else contained in this Section 7 to the contrary, in no event shall any award or payment be accelerated under this Plan to an extent or in a manner so that such award or payment, together with any other compensation and benefits provided to, or for the benefit of, the participant under any other plan or agreement of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries, would not be fully deductible by the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries for federal income tax purposes because of Section 280G of the Code.  If a participant would be entitled to benefits or payments hereunder and under any other plan or program that would constitute “parachute payments” as defined in Section 280G of the Code, then the participant may by written notice to the Corporation designate the

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order in which such parachute payments will be reduced or modified so that the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries is not denied federal income tax deductions for any “parachute payments” because of Section 280G of the Code.

 

8.    OTHER PROVISIONS

 

8.1           Compliance with Laws .  This Plan, the granting and vesting of awards under this Plan, the offer, issuance and delivery of shares of Common Stock, and/or the payment of money under this Plan or under awards are subject to compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations (including but not limited to state and federal securities law and federal margin requirements) and to such approvals by any listing, regulatory or governmental authority as may, in the opinion of counsel for the Corporation, be necessary or advisable in connection therewith.  The person acquiring any securities under this Plan will, if requested by the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, provide such assurances and representations to the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries as the Administrator may deem necessary or desirable to assure compliance with all applicable legal and accounting requirements.

 

8.2           No Rights to Award .  No person shall have any claim or rights to be granted an award (or additional awards, as the case may be) under this Plan, subject to any express contractual rights (set forth in a document other than this Plan) to the contrary.

 

8.3           No Employment/Service Contract .  Nothing contained in this Plan (or in any other documents under this Plan or in any award) shall confer upon any Eligible Person or other participant any right to continue in the employ or other service of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, constitute any contract or agreement of employment or other service or affect an employee’s status as an employee at will, nor shall interfere in any way with the right of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries to change a person’s compensation or other benefits, or to terminate his or her employment or other service, with or without cause.  Nothing in this Section 8.3, however, is intended to adversely affect any express independent right of such person under a separate employment or service contract other than an award agreement.

 

8.4           Plan Not Funded .  Awards payable under this Plan shall be payable in shares or from the general assets of the Corporation, and no special or separate reserve, fund or deposit shall be made to assure payment of such awards.  No participant, beneficiary or other person shall have any right, title or interest in any fund or in any specific asset (including shares of Common Stock, except as expressly otherwise provided) of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries by reason of any award hereunder.  Neither the provisions of this Plan (or of any related documents), nor the creation or adoption of this Plan, nor any action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Plan shall create, or be construed to create, a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries and any participant, beneficiary or other person.  To the extent that a participant, beneficiary or other person acquires a right to receive payment pursuant to any award hereunder, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Corporation.

 

8.5           Tax Withholding .  Upon any exercise, vesting, or payment of any award or upon the disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an ISO prior to satisfaction of the holding period requirements of Section 422 of the Code or upon any other tax withholding event, the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries shall have the right at its option to:

 

(a)          require the participant (or the participant’s personal representative or beneficiary, as the case may be) to pay or provide for payment of at least the minimum amount of any taxes which the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries may be required to withhold with respect to such award event or payment; or

 

(b)          deduct from any amount otherwise payable in cash to the participant (or the participant’s personal representative or beneficiary, as the case may be) the minimum amount of any taxes which the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries may be required to withhold with respect to such cash payment.

 

In any case where a tax is required to be withheld in connection with the delivery of shares of Common Stock under this Plan, the Administrator may in its sole discretion (subject to Section 8.1) require or grant (either at the time of the award or thereafter) to the participant the right to elect, pursuant to such rules and subject to such conditions as the Administrator may establish, that the Corporation reduce the number

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of shares to be delivered by (or otherwise reacquire) the appropriate number of shares, valued in a consistent manner at their fair market value or at the sales price in accordance with authorized procedures for cashless exercises, necessary to satisfy any applicable withholding obligation on exercise, vesting or payment.

 

8.6           Effective Date, Termination and Suspension, Amendments .

 

8.6.1           Effective Date .  This Plan was originally effective as of June 9, 2008, the Stockholder Approval Date (the “ Effective Date ”).  This amended version of the Plan is effective as of April 17, 2017, the date this amended version of the Plan was approved by the Board (the “ Amendment Date ”).  This Plan shall be submitted for and subject to shareholder approval no later than twelve months after the Amendment Date.  Unless earlier terminated by the Board and subject to any extension that may be approved by the shareholders, this Plan shall terminate at the close of business on the day before the tenth anniversary of Amendment Date.  After the termination of this Plan either upon such stated expiration date or its earlier termination by the Board, no additional awards may be granted under this Plan, but previously granted awards (and the authority of the Administrator with respect thereto, including the authority to amend such awards) shall remain outstanding in accordance with their applicable terms and conditions and the terms and conditions of this Plan.

 

8.6.2           Board Authorization .  The Board may, at any time, terminate or, from time to time, amend, modify or suspend this Plan, in whole or in part.  No awards may be granted during any period that the Board suspends this Plan.

 

8.6.3           Stockholder Approval .  To the extent then required by applicable law or any applicable listing agency or required under Sections 162, 422 or 424 of the Code to preserve the intended tax consequences of this Plan, or deemed necessary or advisable by the Board, any amendment to this Plan shall be subject to stockholder approval.

 

8.6.4           Amendments to Awards .  Without limiting any other express authority of the Administrator under (but subject to) the express limits of this Plan, the Administrator by agreement or resolution may waive conditions of or limitations on awards to participants that the Administrator in the prior exercise of its discretion has imposed, without the consent of a participant, and (subject to the requirements of Sections 3.2 and 8.6.5) may make other changes to the terms and conditions of awards.  Any amendment or other action that would constitute a repricing of an award is subject to the no repricing provision set forth in Section 3.2(g).

 

8.6.5           Limitations on Amendments to Plan and Awards .  No amendment, suspension or termination of this Plan or amendment of any outstanding award agreement shall, without written consent of the participant, affect in any manner materially adverse to the participant any rights or benefits of the participant or obligations of the Corporation under any award granted under this Plan prior to the effective date of such change.  Changes, settlements and other actions contemplated by Section 7 shall not be deemed to constitute changes or amendments for purposes of this Section 8.6.

 

8.7           Privileges of Stock Ownership .  Except as otherwise expressly authorized by the Administrator, a participant shall not be entitled to any privilege of stock ownership as to any shares of Common Stock not actually delivered to and held of record by the participant.  Except as expressly required by Section 7.1 or otherwise expressly provided by the Administrator, no adjustment will be made for dividends or other rights as a stockholder for which a record date is prior to such date of delivery.

 

8.8           Governing Law; Construction; Severability .

 

8.8.1           Choice of Law .  This Plan, the awards, all documents evidencing awards and all other related documents shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

8.8.2           Severability .  If a court of competent jurisdiction holds any provision invalid and unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Plan shall continue in effect.

 

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8.8.3           Plan Construction .

 

(a)           Rule 16b-3 .  It is the intent of the Corporation that the awards and transactions permitted by awards be interpreted in a manner that, in the case of participants who are or may be subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, qualify, to the maximum extent compatible with the express terms of the award, for exemption from matching liability under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall have no liability to any participant for Section 16 consequences of awards or events under awards if an award or event does not so qualify.

 

(b)           Section 162(m) .  Awards under Section 5.1.4 to persons described in Section 5.2 that are either granted or become vested, exercisable or payable based on attainment of one or more performance goals related to the Business Criteria, as well as Qualifying Options and Qualifying SARs granted to persons described in Section 5.2, that are approved by a committee composed solely of two or more outside directors (as this requirement is applied under Section 162(m) of the Code) shall be deemed to be intended as performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code unless such committee provides otherwise at the time of grant of the award.  It is the further intent of the Corporation that (to the extent the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries or awards under this Plan may be or become subject to limitations on deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code) any such awards and any other Performance-Based Awards under Section 5.2 that are granted to or held by a person subject to Section 162(m) will qualify as performance-based compensation or otherwise be exempt from deductibility limitations under Section 162(m).

 

8.9           Captions .  Captions and headings are given to the sections and subsections of this Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference.  Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Plan or any provision thereof.

 

8.10         Stock-Based Awards in Substitution for Stock Options or Awards Granted by Other Corporation .  Awards may be granted to Eligible Persons in substitution for or in connection with an assumption of employee stock options, SARs, restricted stock or other stock-based awards granted by other entities to persons who are or who will become Eligible Persons in respect of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, in connection with a distribution, merger or other reorganization by or with the granting entity or an affiliated entity, or the acquisition by the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, of all or a substantial part of the stock or assets of the employing entity.  The awards so granted need not comply with other specific terms of this Plan, provided the awards reflect adjustments giving effect to the assumption or substitution consistent with the conversion applicable to the Common Stock in the transaction and any change in the issuer of the security.  Any shares that are delivered and any awards that are granted by, or become obligations of, the Corporation, as a result of the assumption by the Corporation of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an acquired company (or previously granted by a predecessor employer (or direct or indirect parent thereof) in the case of persons that become employed by the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries in connection with a business or asset acquisition or similar transaction) shall not be counted against the Share Limit or other limits on the number of shares available for issuance under this Plan.

 

8.11         Non-Exclusivity of Plan .  Nothing in this Plan shall limit or be deemed to limit the authority of the Board or the Administrator to grant awards or authorize any other compensation, with or without reference to the Common Stock, under any other plan or authority.

 

8.12         No Corporate Action Restriction .  The existence of this Plan, the award agreements and the awards granted hereunder shall not limit, affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation to make or authorize: (a) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the capital structure or business of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, (b) any merger, amalgamation, consolidation or change in the ownership of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, (c) any issue of bonds, debentures, capital, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or affecting the capital stock (or the rights thereof) of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, (d) any dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, (e) any sale or transfer of all or any part of the assets or business of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, or (f) any other corporate act or proceeding by the Corporation or any

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Subsidiary.  No participant, beneficiary or any other person shall have any claim under any award or award agreement against any member of the Board or the Administrator, or the Corporation or any employees, officers or agents of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, as a result of any such action.

 

8.13         Other Company Benefit and Compensation Programs .  Payments and other benefits received by a participant under an award made pursuant to this Plan shall not be deemed a part of a participant’s compensation for purposes of the determination of benefits under any other employee welfare or benefit plans or arrangements, if any, provided by the Corporation or any Subsidiary, except where the Administrator expressly otherwise provides or authorizes in writing.  Awards under this Plan may be made in addition to, in combination with, as alternatives to or in payment of grants, awards or commitments under any other plans or arrangements of the Corporation or its Subsidiaries.

 

8.14         Administrator Discretion .  Notwithstanding Section 3.6, the Minimum Vesting Requirement shall not limit or restrict the Administrator’s discretion to accelerate the vesting of any award in circumstances it determines to be appropriate (whether in connection with a transaction, termination of employment or for any other reason).

 

8.15         Clawback Policy .  The awards granted under this Plan are subject to the terms of the Corporation’s recoupment, clawback or similar policy as it may be in effect from time to time, as well as any similar provisions of applicable law, any of which could in certain circumstances require repayment or forfeiture of awards or any shares of Common Stock or other cash or property received with respect to the awards (including any value received from a disposition of the shares acquired upon payment of the awards).

 

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Exhibit 10.2

 

 

WILLDAN GROUP, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED

2006 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

 

1.             PURPOSE .  The purpose of this Willdan Group, Inc. Amended and Restated 2006 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”) is to encourage stock ownership by eligible employees of Willdan Group, Inc. (the “Company”) and its Participating Subsidiaries, and to provide them with an incentive to contribute to the profitability and success of the Company.  The Plan is intended to qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code and will be maintained for the exclusive benefit of eligible employees of the Company and its Participating Subsidiaries.

 

2.             DEFINITIONS .  For purposes of the Plan, in addition to the terms defined in Section 1, the following terms are defined:

 

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

 

(b)      “ Book Account ” means the book entry account maintained on behalf of  each Participant by the Company (or a recordkeeper designated by the Company) for the purpose of accounting for the cash contributions withheld from payroll pending an investment in Stock.

 

(c)      “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

(d)      “ Earnings ” means a Participant’s salary or wages, including overtime (but excluding bonuses) for services performed for the Company and its Participating Subsidiaries and received by a Participant for services rendered during an Offering Period.

 

(e)      “ Fair Market Value ” means the closing price of the Stock on the relevant date as reported on the Nasdaq Global Market (or any national securities exchange or quotation system on which the Stock is then listed), or if there were no sales on that date the closing price on the next preceding date for which a closing price was reported.

 

(f)      “ Offering Period ” means the six-month period beginning on each January 1 and ending each June 30 and the six-month period beginning on each July 1 and ending on each December 31; provided, however, that the Board may declare, as it deems appropriate and in advance of the applicable Offering Period, a shorter (not to be less than three months) Offering Period or a longer (not to exceed 27 months) Offering Period.  

 

(g)      “ Parent ” means any parent corporation as defined in Code Section 424(e).

 

(h)      “ Participant ” means an employee of the Company or a Participating Subsidiary who is participating in the Plan.

 

(i)      “ Participating Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary whose employees are designated as being eligible to participate in the Plan.

 

(j)      “ Purchase Right ” means a Participant’s option to purchase Stock that is deemed to be outstanding during a Offering Period.  A Purchase Right represents an “option” under Section 423 of the Code.

 

(k)     “ Stock ” means the common stock of the Company.

 

(l)      “ Subsidiary ” means any subsidiary corporation as defined in Code Section 424(f).

 


 

3.             ADMINISTRATION .

 

(a)     BOARD ADMINISTRATION .  The Plan will be administered by the Board.  The Board may delegate its administrative duties and authority (other than its authority to amend or terminate the Plan) to any Board committee or to any officers or employees or committee thereof as the Board may designate (in which case references to the Board will be deemed to refer to the administrator to which such duties and authority have been delegated).  The Board will have full authority to adopt, amend, suspend, waive, and rescind rules and regulations and appoint agents as it deems necessary or advisable to administer the Plan, to correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan and to construe and interpret the Plan and rules and regulations thereunder, and to make all other decisions and determinations under the Plan (including determinations relating to eligibility).  No person acting in connection with the administration of the Plan will, in that capacity, participate in deciding any matter relating to his or her participation in the Plan.

 

(b)     WAIVERS .  Subject to the requirements of Section 423 of the Code, the Board may waive or modify any requirement that a notice or election be made or filed under the Plan a specified period in advance by adopting a rule or regulation under the Plan, without amending the Plan.

 

(c)     OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS .  The Company will furnish information from its records as directed by the Board, and such records, including a Participant’s Earnings, will be conclusive on all persons unless determined by the Board to be incorrect.  Each Participant and other person claiming benefits under the Plan must furnish to the Company in writing a current mailing address and any other information as the Board may reasonably request.  Any communication, statement, or notice mailed with postage prepaid to any such Participant or other person at the last mailing address filed with the Company will be deemed sufficiently given when mailed and will be binding upon the named recipient.  The Plan will be administered on a reasonable and nondiscriminatory basis and uniform rules will be applied.  All Participants will have equal rights and privileges (subject to the terms of the Plan) with respect to Purchase Right outstanding during any given Offering Period in accordance with Code Section 423(b)(5).

 

4.             STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN .  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8(a), the total number of shares of Stock reserved and available for issuance or which may be otherwise acquired upon exercise of Purchase Rights under the Plan will be 1,125,000.  Any shares of Stock delivered by the Company under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.  If, at the end of any Offering Period, the number of shares of Stock with respect to which Purchase Rights are to be exercised exceeds the number of shares of Stock then available under the Plan, the Board shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares of Stock remaining available for purchase in as uniform a manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine to be equitable.  Shares of Stock that are subject to or underlie Purchase Rights, which for any reason are cancelled or terminated, are forfeited, fail to vest, or for any other reason are not paid or delivered under this Plan shall again, except to the extent prohibited by law, be available for subsequent Purchase Rights under this Plan.

 

5.             ENROLLMENT AND CONTRIBUTIONS .

 

(a)     ELIGIBILITY .  An employee of the Company or any Participating Subsidiary may be enrolled in the Plan for any Offering Period if such employee is employed by the Company or a Participating Subsidiary authorized to participate in the Plan on the first day of the Offering Period, unless one of the following applies to the employee:

 

(i)           such person is customarily employed by the Company or a Participating Subsidiary for 20 hours or less a week; or

 

(ii)          such person is customarily employed by the Company or a Participating Subsidiary for not more than five months in any calendar year.

 

The Company will notify an employee of the date as of which he or she is eligible to enroll in the Plan, and will make available to each eligible employee the necessary enrollment forms. 

 


 

(b)     INITIAL ENROLLMENT .  An employee who is eligible under Section 5(a) (or who will become eligible on or before a given Offering Period) may, after receiving current information about the Plan, initially enroll in the Plan by executing and filing with the Company a properly completed enrollment form, including the employee’s election as to the rate of payroll contributions for the Offering Period.  To be effective for any Offering Period, such properly executed enrollment form must be filed with the Company at such time prior to such Offering Period as may be determined by the Board.

 

(c)     AUTOMATIC RE-ENROLLMENT FOR SUBSEQUENT OFFERING PERIODS .  A Participant whose enrollment in, and payroll contributions under, the Plan continues throughout an Offering Period will automatically be re-enrolled in the Plan for the next Offering Period unless (i) the Participant terminates enrollment before the next Offering Period in accordance with Section 7(a), (ii) the Participant is ineligible to participate under Section 5(a), or (iii) the Board requires that a new enrollment form be executed and filed with the Company.  The initial rate of payroll contributions for a Participant who is automatically re-enrolled for an Offering Period will be the same as the rate of payroll contribution in effect at the end of the preceding Offering Period, unless the Participant files a new properly executed enrollment form designating a different rate of payroll contributions and such new enrollment form is filed with the Company at such time prior to the beginning of the next Offering Period as may be determined by the Board.

 

(d)     PAYROLL CONTRIBUTIONS .  A Participant will make contributions under the Plan only by means of payroll deductions from Earnings for each payroll period that is paid during the Offering Period, at the rate elected by the Participant in his or her enrollment form in effect for that Offering Period (except that such rate may be changed during the Offering Period to the extent permitted below).  The rate of payroll contributions elected by a Participant may not be less than one percent (1%) nor more than ten percent (10%) of the Participant’s Earnings for each payroll period, and only whole percentages may be elected; provided, however, that the Board may specify a lower minimum rate and higher maximum rate prior to the start of the applicable Offering Period, subject to Section 9(b).  Notwithstanding the above, a Participant’s payroll contributions will be adjusted downward by the Company as necessary to ensure that the limit on the amount of Stock purchased for an Offering Period set forth in Section 6(a)(iii) is not exceeded.  A Participant may elect to increase, decrease, or discontinue payroll contributions for a future Offering Period by filing a new enrollment form designating a different rate of payroll contributions, which properly executed form must be filed with the Company at such time prior to the beginning of an Offering Period as may be determined by the Board to be effective for that Offering Period.  In addition, a Participant may elect to discontinue payroll contributions during an Offering Period by filing a new properly executed enrollment form, such change to be effective for the next payroll after the Participant’s new enrollment form is filed with the Company.

 

(e)     CREDITING PAYROLL CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOOK ACCOUNTS .  All payroll contributions by a Participant under the Plan will be credited to a Book Account maintained by the Company on behalf of such Participant. The Company will credit payroll contributions by a Participant to such Book Account as soon as practicable after the contributions are withheld from such Participant’s Earnings.

 

(f)     NO INTEREST ON BOOK ACCOUNTS .  No interest will be credited or paid on cash balances in the Book Accounts pending investment in Stock.

 

6.             PURCHASES OF STOCK .

 

(a)     PURCHASE RIGHTS .  Enrollment in the Plan for any Offering Period by a Participant will constitute a grant by the Company of a Purchase Right to such Participant for such Offering Period as long as the participant remains eligible pursuant to Section 5(a) hereof.  Each Purchase Right will be subject to the following terms:

 

(i)           The purchase price of each share of Stock purchased for each Offering Period will equal the lesser of:  (i) 85% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the first day of the Offering Period and (ii) 85% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the last day of that Offering Period; provided, however, that the Board may provide prior to the start of any Offering Period that the purchase price for each share of Stock for that Offering Period shall be determined by


 

applying a discount amount (not to exceed 15%) to either (1) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the first day of the Offering Period, or (2) the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the last day of that Offering Period, or (3) the lesser of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the first day of the Offering Period or the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the last day of that Offering Period.

 

(ii)          The number of shares of Stock that may be purchased upon exercise of the Purchase Right for a Offering Period will equal the number of shares that can be purchased at the purchase price specified in Section 6(a)(i) with the aggregate amount credited to the Participant’s Book Account as of the last day of an Offering Period.

 

(iii)         Notwithstanding the foregoing, the maximum number of shares of Stock that any one individual may acquire upon exercise of his or her Purchase Right with respect to any one Offering Period is 10,000, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 8(a) (the “ Individual Limit ”).  The Board may amend the Individual Limit, effective no earlier than the first Offering Period commencing after the adoption of such amendment, without stockholder approval.

 

(iv)          Subject to Section 7, the Purchase Right will be automatically exercised on the last day of the Offering Period.

 

(v)           Payments by a Participant for Stock purchased under a Purchase Right will be made only through payroll deduction in accordance with Section 5(d) and (e).

 

(vi)         The Purchase Right will expire on the earlier of the last day of the Offering Period or the date on which the Participant’s enrollment in the Plan terminates.

 

(b)     LIMITS ON SHARE PURCHASES .  Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, any person who is otherwise an eligible to participate in this Plan shall not be granted any Purchase Right (or any Purchase Right granted such person shall be subject to compliance with the following limitations) or other right to purchase shares under this Plan to the extent:

 

(i)            it would, if exercised, cause the person to own stock (within the meaning of Section 423(b)(3) of the Code) possessing 5% or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the Company, or of any Parent, or of any Subsidiary; or

 

(ii)           such Purchase Right causes such individual to have rights to purchase stock under this Plan and any other plan of the Company, any Parent, or any Subsidiary which is qualified under Section 423 of the Code which accrue at a rate which exceeds $25,000 of the fair market value of the stock of the Company, of any Parent, or of any Subsidiary (determined at the time the right to purchase such stock is granted, before giving effect to any discounted purchase price under any such plan) for each calendar year in which such right is outstanding at any time.

 

For purposes of the foregoing, a right to purchase stock accrues when it first become exercisable during the calendar year.  In determining whether the stock ownership of any employee equals or exceeds the 5% limit set forth above, the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code (relating to attribution of stock ownership) shall apply, and stock which the employee may purchase under outstanding purchase rights shall be treated as stock owned by the employee.

 

(c)     PURCHASE OF STOCK .  At or as promptly as practicable after the last day of an Offering Period, amounts credited to each Participant’s Book Account will be applied by the Company to purchase


 

Stock, in accordance with the terms of the Plan.  Shares of Stock will be purchased from the Company.  The Company will aggregate the amounts in all Book Accounts when purchasing Stock, and shares purchased will be allocated to each Participant in proportion to the balance allocated from each Participant’s Book Account.  As soon as administratively practicable after the last day of the Offering Period, the Company shall, in its discretion, either deliver to each Participant a certificate representing the shares of Stock purchased upon exercise of his or her Purchase Right, provide for the crediting of such shares in book entry form in the name of the Participant, or provide for an alternative arrangement for the delivery of such shares to a broker or recordkeeping service for the benefit of the Participant.

 

(d)     EXCESS ACCOUNT BALANCES .  If any amounts remain in a Book Account following the date on which the Company purchases Stock for an Offering Period for any reason, such amounts will be returned to the Participant as promptly as practicable.

 

7.           TERMINATION AND DISTRIBUTIONS .

 

(a)     TERMINATION OF ENROLLMENT .  A Participant’s enrollment in the Plan will terminate upon (i) the beginning of any payroll period or Offering Period that begins after he or she files a written notice of termination of enrollment with the Company, provided that such Participant will continue to be deemed to be enrolled with respect to any completed Offering Period for which purchases have not been completed, (ii) such time as the Participant becomes ineligible to participate under Section 5(a) of the Plan, or (iii) the termination of the Participant’s employment by the Company and its Subsidiaries.  An employee whose enrollment in the Plan terminates may again enroll in the Plan as of any subsequent Offering Period if he or she satisfies the eligibility requirements of Section 5(a) as of such Offering Period.  A Participant’s election to discontinue payroll contributions will not constitute a termination of enrollment.

 

( b)     DISTRIBUTION .  As soon as practicable after a Participant’s enrollment in the Plan terminates, amounts in the Participant’s Book Account which resulted from payroll contributions will be repaid to the Participant.  If a Participant’s termination of enrollment results from his or her death, all amounts payable will be paid to his or her designated beneficiary or beneficiaries and if no such designation is made, to his or her estate.

 

8.             ADJUSTMENTS; POSSIBLE EARLY TERMINATION OF PURCHASE RIGHTS

 

(a)     ADJUSTMENTS .  Upon or in contemplation of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including a stock split in the form of a stock dividend), or reverse stock split; any merger, combination, consolidation, or other reorganization; split-up, spin-off, or any similar extraordinary dividend distribution in respect of the Stock (whether in the form of securities or property); any exchange of Stock or other securities of the Company, or any similar, unusual or extraordinary corporate transaction in respect of the Stock; or a sale of substantially all the assets of the Company as an entirety occurs; then the Board shall equitably and proportionately adjust (1) the number and type of shares or the number and type of other securities that thereafter may be made the subject of Purchase Rights (including the specific maxima and numbers of shares set forth elsewhere in this Plan), (2) the number, amount and type of shares (or other securities or property) subject to any or all outstanding Purchase Rights, (3) the purchase price of any or all outstanding Purchaser Rights, and/or (4) the securities, cash or other property deliverable upon exercise of any outstanding Purchase Rights, in each case to the extent necessary to preserve (but not increase) the level of incentives intended by this Plan and the then-outstanding Purchase Rights.

 

Upon the occurrence of any event described in the preceding paragraph, or any other event in which the Company does not survive (or does not survive as a public company in respect of its Stock); then the Board may make provision for a cash payment or for the substitution or exchange of any or all outstanding Purchase Rights for cash, securities or property to be delivered to the holders of any or all outstanding Purchase Rights based upon the distribution or consideration payable to holders of the Stock upon or in respect of such event.

 

The Board may adopt such valuation methodologies for outstanding Purchase Rights as it deems reasonable in the event of a cash or property settlement and, without limitation on other methodologies, may base such settlement solely upon the excess (if any) of the amount payable upon or in respect of such event over the purchase price of the Purchase Right. 

 


 

In any of such events, the Board may take such action sufficiently prior to such event to the extent that the Board deems the action necessary to permit the Participant to realize the benefits intended to be conveyed with respect to the underlying shares in the same manner as is or will be available to stockholders generally.

 

(b)     POSSIBLE EARLY TERMINATION OF PLAN AND PURCHASE RIGHTS .  Upon a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any other event described in Section 8(a) that the Company does not survive or does not survive as a publicly-traded company in respect of its Stock, as the case may be, and the Board does not make provision for a cash payment or for the substitution or exchange of outstanding Purchase Rights in accordance with Section 8(a), then any Offering Period then in progress shall be shortened and the last day of the Offering Period shall be established by the Board (the “ New Purchase Date ”), as of which date the Plan and any Offering Period then in progress will terminate. The New Purchase Date shall be on or before the date of the consummation of the transaction and the Board shall notify each Participant in writing at least ten (10) days prior to the New Purchase Date that the last day of the Offering Period for his or her outstanding Purchase Right has been changed to the New Purchase Date and that his or her Purchase Right will be exercised automatically on the New Purchase Date, unless prior to such date he or she has withdrawn from the Offering Period in accordance with Section 7. The purchase price on the New Purchase Date shall be determined as provided in Section 6(a), and, if applicable, the New Purchase Date shall be treated as the last day of the offering period for purposes of determining such purchase price.

 

9.           GENERAL PROVISIONS .

 

(a)     COSTS .  Costs and expenses incurred in the administration of the Plan and maintenance of Book Accounts will be paid by the Company, to the extent provided in this Section 9(a).  Any brokerage fees and commissions for the purchase of Stock under the Plan will be paid by the Company, but any brokerage fees and commissions for the sale of Stock by a Participant will be borne by such Participant.

 

(b)     COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 423 .  It is the intent of the Company that this Plan comply in all respects with applicable requirements of Section 423 of the Code and regulations thereunder.  Accordingly, if any provision of this Plan does not comply with such requirements, such provision will be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.

 

(c)     COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS .  The Plan, the granting and exercising of Purchase Rights hereunder, and the other obligations of the Company under the Plan will be subject to all applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any regulatory or governmental agency as may be required.  The Company may, in its discretion, postpone the issuance or delivery of Stock upon exercise of Purchase Rights until completion of such registration or qualification of such Stock or other required action under any federal or state law, rule, or regulation, or the laws of any country in which employees of the Company and a Participating Subsidiary who are nonresident aliens and who are eligible to participate reside, or other required action with respect to any automated quotation system or stock exchange upon which the Stock or other Company securities are designated or listed, or compliance with any other contractual obligation of the Company, as the Company may consider appropriate.  In addition, the Company may require any Participant to make such representations and furnish such information as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of Stock in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, designation or listing requirements, or other contractual obligations.

 

(d)     LIMITS ON ENCUMBERING RIGHTS .  No right or interest of a Participant under the Plan, including any Purchase Right, may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party, subject to any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant, or otherwise assigned, transferred, or disposed of except pursuant to the laws of descent or distribution, and any right of a Participant under the Plan will be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by the Participant.

 

(e)     NO RIGHT TO CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT .  Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder, including the grant of a Purchase Right, will be construed as giving any employee the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor will it interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to terminate any employee’s employment at any time.

 


 

(f)     TAXES .  The Company or any Subsidiary is authorized to withhold from any payment to be made to a Participant, including any payroll and other payments not related to the Plan, amounts of withholding and other taxes due in connection with any transaction under the Plan, and a Participant’s enrollment in the Plan will be deemed to constitute his or her consent to such withholding.  In addition, Participants may be required to advise the Company of sales and other dispositions of Stock acquired under the plan in order to permit the Company to comply with tax laws and to claim any tax deductions to which the Company may be entitled with respect to the Plan.  This provision and other Plan provisions do not set forth an explanation of the tax consequences to Participants under the Plan.  A brief summary of the tax consequences will be included in disclosure documents to be separately furnished to Participants.

 

(g)     CHANGES TO THE PLAN .  The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan without the consent of stockholders or Participants, except that any such action will be subject to the approval of the Company’s stockholders within one year after such Board action if such stockholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation or the rules of any automated quotation system or stock exchange on which the Stock may then be quoted or listed, or if such stockholder approval is necessary in order for the Plan to continue to meet the requirements of Section 423 of the Code, and the Board may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other such actions to stockholders for approval.  However, without the consent of an affected Participant, no amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation, or termination of the Plan may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant with respect to outstanding Purchase Rights relating to any Offering Period that has been completed prior to such Board action.  Changes contemplated by Section 8(a) or 8(b) shall not be deemed to constitute changes or amendments requiring Participant consent.  The foregoing notwithstanding, upon termination of the Plan the Board may (i) elect to terminate all outstanding Purchase Rights at such time as the Board may designate, and all amounts contributed to the Plan which are reflected in a Participant’s Book Account will be returned to the Participant (without interest) as promptly as practicable, or (ii) shorten the Offering Period to such period determined by the Board and use amounts credited to a Participant Book Account to purchase Stock.

 

(h)     NO RIGHTS TO PARTICIPATE; NO STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS .  No Participant or employee will have any claim to participate in the Plan with respect to Offering Periods that have not commenced, and the Company will have no obligation to continue the Plan.  No Purchase Right will confer on any Participant any of the rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until Stock is duly issued or transferred and delivered to the Participant.

 

(i)     NO FRACTIONAL SHARES .  Unless otherwise determined by the Board, purchases of Stock under the Plan shall not result in the issuance of fractional shares of Stock to a Participant.  Any amounts in a Participant's Book Account after the purchase of whole shares of Stock shall be paid to such Participant as soon as practicable following the end of the Offering Period.

 

(j)     GOVERNING LAW .  The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan will be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws, and applicable federal law.

 

(k)     EFFECTIVE DATE .  The Plan originally became effective on February 10, 2007, subject to the Plan being approved by stockholders of the Company by a vote sufficient to meet the requirements of Section 423(b)(2) of the Code.  This Amended and Restated version of the Plan is effective April 17, 2017, subject to the Amended and Restated version of the Plan being approved by stockholders of the Company by a vote sufficient to meet the requirements of Section 423(b)(2) of the Code.