UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

 

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

 

Date of report: July 27, 2017 (Date of earliest event reported :  July 25, 2017 )

 

RBC BEARINGS INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware 333-124824 95-4372080

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

(Commission

File Number)

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

One Tribology Center

Oxford, CT 06478

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

(203) 267-7001

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

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 Exchange Act.

☐          

 

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

 

Executive Officer Performance Based Compensation Plan

 

(e) Executive Officer Performance Based Compensation Plan . On July 25, 2017, the Company approved the adoption of the Executive Officer Performance Based Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) pursuant to which Executive Officers selected by the Compensation Committee become eligible to receive an Incentive Bonus, Restricted Stock or Stock Option Grant based upon the Company’s meeting certain financial performance goals. The Plan is intended to constitute a qualified “performance-based compensation” plan for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

The Company plans to seek shareholder approval of the Plan at its upcoming Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Upon the adoption and approval of the Plan by the Company’s shareholders, the Company intends that annual cash incentive payments, stock options and restricted stock grants to such executives under the Plan qualify as “performance-based compensation” and be fully deductible by the Company for federal income tax purposes under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Internal Revenue Code”).

 

A brief description of the terms and conditions of the plan is as follows:

 

Purpose.     The purpose of the Plan is to attract and retain key executives for the Company and to provide such persons with incentives and rewards for superior performance in the form of Incentive Bonus payments and Stock Grants made under the Plan which are intended to constitute qualified “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

 

Administration.     The Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee or such other committee of the Board as the Board may from time to time designate. Such committee will have sole authority to make rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan. Interpretation and decisions of such committee with regard to the Plan will be final and conclusive.

 

Participants.     Participants for a fiscal year shall be those executive officers and who are designated as participants (“Participants”) by the Compensation Committee prior to the commencement of such fiscal year (or a later date if permitted by tax law).

 

Performance Measures.     For each fiscal year, the Compensation Committee will establish Management Objectives based on one or more of the stockholder-approved Performance Measures and set the Performance Measures which are required for achievement of these Management Objectives. The establishment of these Management Objectives and Performance Measures will be consistent with the principals approved by the Committee and described in the Company’s Annual Proxy to Stockholders under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” The Plan provides that the Performance Measures will be one or any combination of the following: “Cash Flow,” “Cumulative Earnings Per Share Growth,” “Customer Service Levels”, “Debt (Net Debt) to Capital,” Development of Human Resources”, “EBIT,” “EBIT Margins,” “EBITDA,” “EBITDA Margins,” “Earnings Per Employee,” “Earnings Per Share,” “Free or Excess Cash Flow,” “Free or Excess Cash Flow Per Share,” “Interest Coverage Ratio,” “Leverage Ratio,” “Net Income,” “Net Profit Margin,” “Operating Cash Flow,” “Operating Income,” “Operating Margins,” “Pre-Tax Profit,” “Pre-Tax Profit Margin,” “Profit Margin,” “Return on Capital,” “Return on Invested Capital”, “Return on Net Assets,” “Return on Total Assets,” “Return on Equity,” “Sales”, “Sales Growth,” “Sales Per Employee,” “Total Return to Stockholders,” “U.S. Gross Domestic Product”, “Working Capital,” and “Working Capital as a Percent of Net Sales” as the Committee defines them and determines from time to time with respect to such fiscal year; provided such determination would not subject any Incentive Award to Section 162(m). Performance Measures can also be used on a continuing operations basis instead of a total Company basis as determined by the Committee.

 

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Award Determination.     For each fiscal year of the Company, each Participant may be entitled to receive an Incentive Bonus and Stock Grant in an amount determined by the Compensation Committee as provided in the Plan. Prior to the commencement of a fiscal year (or such later date if permitted by tax law), for the Incentive Bonus and Stock Grant for such fiscal year, the Compensation Committee will designate or approve (i) the individuals who will be Participants in the Plan, if any, (ii) the Performance Measures and how they are to be defined, (iii) if there is more than one Performance Measure, the weighting of the Performance Measures in determining the Incentive Bonus and Stock Grant, (iv) the performance goals and formula for each Performance Measure and (v) the target Incentive Bonus and Stock Grant for each Participant. Following the end of a fiscal year, the Compensation Committee shall determine the Incentive Bonus and Stock Grant for each Participant by comparing actual performance against approved Performance Measures. Prior to the payment of an Incentive Award, the Compensation Committee shall certify in writing that the Incentive Bonus and Stock Grant has been determined in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.

 

The foregoing summary is not intended to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Plan, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

 

2017 Long Term Incentive Plan

 

(e) 2017 Long Term Incentive Plan. On July 25, 2017, the Board of Directors approved a new Company 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) with the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance equal to 1,500,000. The Board and the Compensation Committee have approved the Plan to be effective as of the date of approval by the Company’s shareholders. The Plan will not become effective unless shareholder approval is obtained at the 2017 annual general meeting of shareholders on September 13, 2017. The principal features of the Plan are virtually identical to the Company’s existing 2013 Long-Term Incentive Plan including the following:

 

(1) The Plan prohibits share recycling. If any Grant under the Plan expires or terminates unexercised, becomes unexercisable or is forfeited as to any Shares, or is tendered or withheld as to any Shares in payment of the exercise price of the Grant or taxes payable with respect to the Grant or the vesting or exercise thereof, then such unpurchased, forfeited, tendered or withheld Shares may not thereafter be available for further Grants under the Plan.

 

(2) The number of shares that may be used for restricted stock or restricted unit grants under the Plan may not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total authorized number of Shares pursuant to the Plan.

 

(3) Any stock option granted under the Plan must be exercisable no more than seven years from the date it is granted.

 

The terms of the Plan are summarized below and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Plan, attached hereto as Exhibit 10.2 and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Description of the Plan.   The Plan provides for grants of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and performance awards. The purpose of the Plan is to provide our directors, officers and other employees and persons who engage in services for us with incentives to maximize stockholder value and otherwise contribute to our success and to enable us to attract, retain and reward the best available persons for positions of responsibility.

 

Administration of the Plan.   The Plan is administered by our Compensation Committee, which consists solely of two or more “non-employee directors” (as defined in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act). The Compensation Committee may make all decisions and determinations regarding the Plan as it deems necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. Our Board also has the authority to administer the Plan and to take all actions that the Compensation Committee is otherwise authorized to take under the Plan. The terms and conditions of each award made under the Plan, including vesting requirements, are set forth consistent with the Plan in a written agreement with the grantee.

 

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Number of Shares.   Assuming approval, as of September 13, 2017, 1,500,000 shares of our common stock were authorized for issuance under the Plan, subject to adjustment in the event of a reorganization, stock split, merger or similar change in our corporate structure or the outstanding shares of common stock. These shares will be used for future grants to our employees and directors at the discretion of our Compensation Committee. The Board and the Compensation Committee believe that the 1,500,000 shares is a sufficient number of shares of common stock to accomplish the objectives described above . The Plan prohibits share recycling. If any Grant under the Plan expires or terminates unexercised, becomes unexercisable or is forfeited as to any Shares, or is tendered or withheld as to any Shares in payment of the exercise price of the Grant or taxes payable with respect to the Grant or the vesting or exercise thereof, then such unpurchased, forfeited, tendered or withheld Shares may not thereafter be available for further Grants under the Plan.  A restricted stock and stock option grant to an eligible individual under the Plan for a year cannot exceed 100,000 shares.

 

Stock Options.   Under the Plan, the Compensation Committee or the Board may award grants of incentive stock options and other non-qualified stock options. The Compensation Committee also has the authority to grant options that will become fully vested and exercisable automatically upon a change in control. The Compensation Committee may not, however, award to any one person in any calendar year options to purchase common stock equal to more than 10% of the total number of shares authorized under the plan and it may not award incentive options first exercisable in any calendar year whose underlying shares have a fair market value greater than $100,000 determined at the time of grant.

 

The Compensation Committee determines the exercise price and term of any option in its discretion, however, the exercise price may not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant. In the case of any incentive stock option, the option must be exercised within 10 years of the date of grant. The exercise price of an incentive option awarded to a person who owns stock constituting more than 10% of our voting power may not be less than 110% of such fair market value on such date and the option must be exercised within five years of the date of grant.

 

Restricted Stock.   Under the Plan, the Compensation Committee may award restricted stock subject to the conditions and restrictions, and for the duration that it determines in its discretion. The number of shares that may be used for restricted stock or restricted unit grants under the Plan may not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total authorized number of Shares pursuant to the Plan.

 

Stock Appreciation Rights.   The Compensation Committee may grant stock appreciation rights, or SARs, subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Plan. Under the Plan, the exercise price of an SAR must equal the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date the SAR was granted. Upon exercise of an SAR, the grantee will receive an amount in shares of our common stock equal to the difference between the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the SAR, multiplied by the number of shares as to which the SAR is exercised.

 

Performance Awards.   The Compensation Committee may grant performance awards contingent upon achievement by the grantee or by us, of set goals and objectives regarding specified performance criteria, over a specified performance cycle. Awards may include specific dollar-value target awards, performance units, the value of which is established at the time of grant, and/or performance shares, the value of which is equal to the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of grant. The value of a performance award may be fixed or fluctuate on the basis of specified performance criteria. A performance award may be paid out in cash and/or shares of common stock or other securities.

 

Eligibility.   Our directors, officers and other employees and persons who engage in services for us are eligible for grants under the Plan. As of the date of this Plan, there are 7 officers, 6 directors other than the CEO and the COO/CFO, who are officers and directors, and approximately 1,200 employees who are eligible to receive grants under the Plan.

 

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Federal Income Tax Consequences.

 

The following is a discussion of certain U.S. federal income consequences relevant to participants in the Plan who are subject to federal income tax and the Company. It is not intended to be a complete description of all possible tax consequences with respect to awards granted under the Plan and does not address state, local or foreign tax consequences. Accordingly, holders of awards granted under the Plan should consult their own tax advisers for specific advice with respect to all federal, state or local tax effects before exercising any options or share appreciation rights, and before disposing of any shares of stock acquired pursuant to an award. Moreover, the Company does not represent that the foregoing tax consequences apply to any particular participant’s specific circumstances or will continue to apply in the future and makes no undertaking to maintain the tax status (such as an ISO) of any award.

 

Non-Qualified Stock Option.   A participant who is granted a non-qualified stock option will not recognize income at the time the option is granted. Upon the exercise of the option, however, the excess, if any, of the market value of the common shares on the date of exercise over the option price will be treated as ordinary income to the participant, and the Company will generally be entitled to an income tax deduction in the same year in an amount measured by the amount of ordinary income taxable to the participant. The participant will be entitled to a cost basis for the common shares for income tax purposes equal to the amount paid for the common shares plus the amount of ordinary income taxable at the time of exercise. Upon a subsequent sale of such common shares, the participant will recognize short-term or long-term capital gain or loss, depending upon his or her holding period for such common shares.

 

Incentive Stock Options.   A participant who is granted an ISO satisfying the requirements of the Tax Code will not recognize income at the time the option is granted and generally will not recognize income upon exercise of the option provided such participant was an employee of the Company or a subsidiary at all times from the date of grant until three months prior to exercise. The excess of the fair market value over the option exercise price is, however, included in determining the participant’s alternative minimum tax as of the date of exercise. If the participant does not dispose of shares received upon exercise of the option for one year after exercise and two years after grant of the option (the “Holding Period”), upon the disposition of such shares the participant will recognize long-term capital gain or loss based on the difference between the option exercise price and the fair market value of shares on the date of disposition. In such event, the Company is not entitled to a deduction for income tax purposes in connection with the exercise of the option. If the participant disposes of the shares received upon exercise of the option without satisfying the Holding Period requirement, the participant must generally recognize ordinary income equal to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the shares at the date of exercise of the option over the exercise price or (ii) the amount realized upon the disposition of such shares over the exercise price. Any further appreciation is taxed as short-term or long-term capital gain, depending on the participant’s Holding Period. If the disposition fails to satisfy the Holding Period, the Company would be entitled to an income tax deduction in the same year in an amount measured by the amount of ordinary income taxable to the participant. 

 

Share appreciation rights.   A participant will generally not be taxed at the time a SAR is granted nor will the Company receive a tax deduction. Upon exercise of a SAR, a participant will recognize taxable income equal to the fair market value of the shares received on the exercise date. The Company will be entitled to an income tax deduction in the amount of such income recognized by the participant. SAR’s that are paid in cash may be subject to taxation at vesting rather than at exercise because the tax treatment of certain SAR’s is unsettled under Section 409A of the Tax Code (see the discussion below).

 

Restricted Shares and Restricted Share Units.   A participant will not recognize any income at the time an award of restricted shares or restricted share units is granted, nor will the Company be entitled to a deduction at that time. In the year in which restrictions on the restricted shares lapse, the participant will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the date of vesting over the amount, if any, the participant paid for the shares. Similarly, upon the vesting of restricted share units, the participant will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of the shares received. With respect to awards of both restricted shares and restricted share units, the Company will be entitled to a tax deduction at the same time and in the same amount as the participant recognizes income.

 

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Performance Awards.   A participant who is awarded performance shares will not recognize income and the Company will not be allowed a deduction at the time that the award is made. When a participant receives payment for performance shares in common shares, the fair market value of the shares received will be ordinary income to the participant. If payment is made in cash, the amount of cash received will be ordinary income to the participant. In either case, the Company will be entitled to a tax deduction in the amount of such income recognized by the participant.

 

Dividend Equivalents.   A participant who is awarded dividend equivalents generally will not recognize taxable income, and the Company will not receive a tax deduction, until shares or cash are distributed pursuant to the award. When the participant receives payment for dividend equivalents in common shares or cash, the fair market value of the shares or the amount of cash received will be ordinary income to the participant and the Company will be entitled to a deduction in the amount of such income recognized by the participant.

 

The Compensation Committee will require payment of any amount it may determine to be necessary to withhold for federal, state, local or other taxes as a result of the grant, vesting or exercise of an award. In compliance with the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, after January 1, 2005, the maximum federal withholding rate will be used for supplemental wage payments in excess of $1,000,000 during any taxable year.

 

Section 409A of the Tax Code.   Certain awards under the Plan may be subject to Tax Code Section 409A. Section 409A was added to the Tax Code by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004. Section 409A generally applies to compensation deferred under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan on or after January 1, 2005. Section 409A imposes new requirements on a participant’s election to defer compensation and the participant’s selection of the timing and form of distribution of the deferred compensation with respect to certain awards under the Plan. Also, Section 409A generally provides that the distributions must be made on or following the occurrence of certain events (e.g . . . the participant’s “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A), a predetermined date, or the participant’s death). Section 409A imposes restrictions on a participant’s ability to change his or her distribution timing or form with respect to awards under the Plan after the compensation has been deferred. For certain participants who are officers of the Company or its subsidiary corporations and who would otherwise receive a distribution upon separation from service, Section 409A requires that such participant’s distribution commence no earlier than six months after such officer’s “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A).

 

Stock options, SAR’s that are distributable in shares of Common Stock and restricted stock awards granted under the Plan generally are not considered deferred compensation subject to Section 409A. Restricted share unit awards and other awards may be subject to Section 409A, depending on the terms of the award. The Company intends that awards made under the Plan that are subject to Section 409A will comply with the requirements of Section 409A.

 

A nonqualified deferred compensation plan must satisfy the requirements of Section 409A in form and in operation. If the Plan fails to satisfy the requirements of Section 409A, a participant in the Plan may recognize ordinary income on the amounts deferred under the Plan, to the extent vested, prior to when the compensation is actually or “constructively” received. Also, if a Plan fails to comply, Section 409A imposes an additional 20% federal income tax on compensation recognized as ordinary income, as well as certain interest on amounts treated as tax underpayments related to such deferred compensation. Awards granted under the Plan are intended to comply with Section 409A to the extent applicable. 

 

The Plan is not subject to any provision of ERISA, nor is it a qualified employee benefit plan under Section 401(a) of the Tax Code.

 

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Amendment and Termination of the Plan.   The Board may amend or terminate the Plan in its discretion, except that no amendment will become effective without prior approval of our stockholders if such approval is necessary for continued compliance with the performance-based compensation exception of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code or any stock exchange listing requirements. If not previously terminated by the Board, the Plan will terminate on September 13, 2027.

 

The foregoing is only a summary of the Plan and is qualified in its entirety by reference to its full text. A copy of the Plan, reflecting the Plan Amendment, is attached as Appendix B to this Proxy Statement.

 

New Plan Benefits.    The amount of awards to be made under the Plan is not presently determinable.

 

  Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits

     
Exhibit No.   Description
     
10.1  

Executive Officer Performance Based Compensation Plan

 

10.2   RBC Bearings Inc. 2017 Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

Date: July 27, 2017

 

  RBC BEARINGS INCORPORATED
     
  By: /s/ Thomas J. Williams
    Name:  Thomas J. Williams
    Title: General Counsel & Secretary

 

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Exhibit 10.1

 

RBC BEARINGS INCORPORATED EXECUTIVE OFFICER PERFORMANCE BASED COMPENSATION

PLAN.

 

 1. Purpose. The purpose of the Executive Officer Performance Based Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is to attract and retain key executives for RBC Bearings Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and its Subsidiaries and to provide such persons with incentives and rewards for superior performance. Incentive bonus payments and Stock Grants made under the Plan are intended to constitute qualified “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Section 1.162-27 of the Regulations promulgated there under, and the Plan shall be construed consistently with such intention.

 

 2. Definitions. As used in this Plan,

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

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

 

“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or any other committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan; provided, however, that in any event the Committee shall be comprised of not less than two directors of the Company, each of whom shall qualify as an “outside director” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code and Section 1.162-27(e)(3) of the Regulations.

 

“Eligible Executive” means the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and any other designated executive officer of the Company that in the Committee’s judgment could, in the absence of the Plan, be paid compensation the deductibility of which, to the Company, could be limited by Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

“Incentive Bonus” shall mean, for each Eligible Executive, a bonus opportunity amount determined by the Committee pursuant to Section 5 below.

 

“Stock Grant” shall mean, for each Eligible Executive, a grant of stock option or restricted stock pursuant to the Company’s 2013 Long Term Incentive Plan or 2017 Long Term Incentive Plan determined by the Committee pursuant to Section 5 below.

 

“Management Objectives” means the achievement of a Performance Measure or Measures established pursuant to this Plan for Eligible Executives consistent with the principals approved by the Committee and described in the Company’s Annual Proxy to Stockholders under “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” .  Management Objectives may be described in terms of Company-wide objectives or objectives that are related to the performance of the individual Eligible Executive or of the Subsidiary, division, department or function within the Company or Subsidiary in which the Eligible Executive is employed. Performance Measures” shall mean for a fiscal year any one or combination of the following: “Cash Flow,” “Cumulative Earnings Per Share Growth,” “Customer Service Levels,” “Debt (Net Debt) to Capital,” Development of Human Resources,” “EBIT,” “EBIT Margins,” “EBITDA,” “EBITDA Margins,” “Earnings Per Employee,” “Earnings Per Share,” “Free or Excess Cash Flow,” “Free or Excess Cash Flow Per Share,” “Interest Coverage Ratio,” “Leverage Ratio,” “Net Income,” “Net Profit Margin,” “Operating Cash Flow,” “Operating Income,” “Operating Margins,” “Pre-Tax Profit,” “Pre-Tax Profit Margin,” “Profit Margin,” “Return on Capital,” “Return on Invested Capital, “Return on Net Assets,” “Return on Total Assets,” “Return on Equity,” “Sales,” “Sales Growth,” “Sales Per Employee,” “Total Return to Stockholders,” “U.S. Gross Domestic Product,”  ”Working Capital,” and “Working Capital as a Percent of Net Sales” as the Committee defines them and determines from time to time with respect to such fiscal year; provided such determination would not subject any Incentive Award to Section 162(m). Performance Measures can also be used on a continuing operations basis instead of a total Company basis as determined by the Committee.

 

“Regulations” mean the Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code, as amended from time to time.

 

 ”Section 162(m)” shall mean Section 162(m) of the Code, and the Regulations, all as amended from time to time.

 

 

 

“Subsidiary” means a corporation, partnership, joint venture, unincorporated association or other entity in which the Company has a direct or indirect ownership or other equity interest.

 

3. Administration of the Plan. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall have full power and authority to construe, interpret and administer the Plan and shall have the exclusive right to establish Management Objectives and the amount of Incentive Bonus payable and Stock Grants to each Eligible Executive upon the achievement of the specified Management Objectives. 

 

4. Eligibility. Eligibility under this Plan is limited to Eligible Executives designated by the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion. Participation in this Plan does not exclude Participants from participation in any other benefit or compensation plans or arrangements of the Company, including other bonus or incentive plans.

 

5. Awards.

 

(a) Not later than the 90th day of each fiscal year of the Company, the Committee shall establish the Management Objectives for each Eligible Executive and the amount of Incentive Bonus payable (or formula for determining such amount) and Stock Grants upon full achievement of the specified Management Objectives. The Committee may further specify in respect of the specified Management Objectives a minimum acceptable level of achievement below which no Incentive Bonus payment or Stock Grant will be made and shall set forth a formula for determining the amount of any payment to be made if performance is at or above the minimum acceptable level but falls short of full achievement of the specified Management Objectives. The Committee may not modify any terms of awards established pursuant to this section, except to the extent that after such modification the Incentive Bonus or Stock Grant would continue to constitute qualified “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, in no event shall the Incentive Bonus paid to an Eligible Executive under the Plan for a year exceed $3,000,000.

 

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, in no event shall a Stock Grant to an Eligible Executive under the Plan for a year exceed 100,000 shares.

 

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, in no event shall a Stock Option Grant to an Eligible Executive under the Plan for a year exceed 100,000 shares.

 

6. Committee Certification. As soon as reasonably practicable after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, the Committee shall determine whether the Management Objective has been achieved and the amount of the Incentive Bonus to be paid and Stock Grants to each Eligible Executive for such fiscal year and shall certify such determinations in writing.

 

 7. Payment of Incentive Bonuses, Timing of Stock Grants. Subject to a valid election made by an Eligible Executive with respect to the deferral of all or a portion of his or her Incentive Bonus, Incentive Bonuses shall be paid and Stock Grants made as determined by the Committee.

 

 8. No Right to Bonus or Stock Grants for Continued Employment. Except as separately stated pursuant to a written agreement, neither the establishment of the Plan, the provision for or payment of any amounts hereunder nor any action of the Company, the Board or the Committee with respect to the Plan shall be held or construed to confer upon any person (a) any legal right to receive, or any interest in, an Incentive Bonus or Stock Grant or any other benefit under the Plan or (b) any legal right to continue to serve as an officer or employee of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

 

 9. Withholding. The Company shall have the right to withhold, or require an Eligible Executive to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy any applicable federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax requirements imposed with respect to the payment of any Incentive Bonus or Stock Grant.

 

10. Non-transferability. Except as expressly provided by the Committee, the rights and benefits under the Plan shall not be transferable or assignable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.

 

 

 

11. Effective Date. Subject to its approval by the stockholders, this Plan shall be effective April 2, 2017 remain effective until the first stockholders’ meeting in 2022, subject to any further stockholder approvals (or re-approvals) mandated for performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, and subject to the right of the Board to terminate the Plan, on a prospective basis only, at any time.

 

12. Term. The Plan shall be effective as of April 2, 2017 (the “Effective Date”), and shall be applicable for fiscal year 2018 and all future fiscal years of the Company unless amended or terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 15.

 

13. Administration and Interpretation. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall have the sole authority to make rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan. The interpretations and decisions of the Committee with regard to the Plan shall be final and conclusive. The Committee may request advice or assistance or employ such persons (including, without limitation, legal counsel and accountants) as it deems necessary for the proper administration of the Plan. 

 

14. Administrative Expenses. Any expense incurred in the administration of the Plan shall be borne by the Company out of its general funds.

 

 15. Amendment or Termination. The Committee may from time to time amend the Plan in any respect or terminate the Plan in whole or in part, provided that no such action shall increase the amount of any Incentive Award or Stock Grant for which performance goals have been established but which has not yet been earned or paid. 

 

16. No Assignment. The rights hereunder, including without limitation rights to receive an Incentive Award or Stock Grant, shall not be pledged, assigned, transferred, encumbered or hypothecated by an employee of the Company.

 

17. The Company. For purposes of this Plan, the “Company” shall include the successors and assigns of the Company, and this Plan shall be binding on any corporation or other person with which the Company is merged or consolidated.

 

 18. No Right to Employment. The designation of an employee as a Participant or grant of an Incentive Award or Stock Grant shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any affiliate or subsidiary.

 

 19. Governing Law. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut and applicable federal law.

 

 20. No Trust. Neither the Plan nor any Incentive Award or Stock Grant shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Participant. To the extent any Participant acquires a right to receive payments from the Company in respect to any Incentive Award or Stock Grant, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor or stockholder of the Company as the case may be.

 

 21. Section 162(m). It is the intention of the Company that all payments made under the Plan be excluded from the deduction limitations contained in Section 162(m). Therefore, if any Plan provision is found not to be in compliance with the “performance-based” compensation exception contained in Section 162(m), that provision shall be deemed amended so that the Plan does so comply to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee, and in all events the Plan shall be construed in favor of its meeting the “performance-based” compensation exception contained in Section 162(m).

 

 22. Stockholder Approval. To the extent required by Section 162(m), this Plan shall be submitted for approval to the stockholders of the Company at the Company’s 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and shall be resubmitted to such stockholders periodically as required by Section 162(m).

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

RBC 2017 LONG-TERM EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

As of September 13, 2017 (“Effective Date”)

 

1     Purpose .

 

This plan shall be known as the RBC 2017 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). The purpose of the Plan shall be to promote the long-term growth and profitability of RBC Bearings Incorporated (the “ Company ”) and its Subsidiaries by (i) providing certain directors, officers and employees of, and certain other individuals who perform services for, or to whom an offer of employment has been extended by, the Company and its Subsidiaries with incentives to maximize stockholder value and otherwise contribute to the success of the Company and (ii) enabling the Company to attract, retain and reward the best available persons for positions of responsibility. Grants (“ Grants ”) of incentive or non-qualified stock options, stock appreciation rights (“ SAR s”), either alone or in tandem with options, restricted stock, performance awards or any combination of the foregoing may be made under the Plan. This Plan supercedes any prior plans, and any Grant hereunder supercedes any prior written agreement pursuant to which such Grant is made.

 

2     Definitions .

 

2.1             “ Award Agreement ” means any written agreement between the Company and any person pursuant to which the Company makes any Grant under the Plan.

 

2.2            “ Board of Directors ” and “ Board ” mean the board of directors of the Company.

 

2.3            “ Cause ” means, unless otherwise defined in any Award Agreement, the occurrence of one or more of the following events:

 

2.3.1     conviction of a felony or any crime or offense lesser than a felony involving the property of the Company or a Subsidiary or commission of an act involving fraud or dishonesty; or, in the case of any of the foregoing, a plea of nolo contendere with respect thereto;

 

2.3.2     conduct that has caused demonstrable and serious injury to the Company or a Subsidiary, reputational, monetary or otherwise;

 

2.3.3     willful refusal to perform or substantial disregard of duties properly assigned, as determined by the Company;

 

2.3.4     willful misrepresentation or material non-disclosure to the Board;

 

2.3.5     engaging willfully in misconduct in connection with the performance of any of one’s duties, including, without limitation, the misappropriation of funds or securing or attempting to secure personally any profit in connection with any transaction entered into on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries or affiliates;

 

2.3.6     willful breach of duty of loyalty to the Company or, if applicable, a Subsidiary or any other active disloyalty to the Company or, if applicable, any Subsidiary, including, without limitation, willfully aiding a competitor or, without duplication of clause (vii), improperly disclosing confidential information;

 

2.3.7     willful breach of any confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement with the Company or any Subsidiary; or

 

2.3.8     material violation of any code or standard of behavior generally applicable to employees (or executive employees, in the case of an executive of the Company or any Subsidiary) of the Company or any Subsidiary.

 

 

 

2.4           “ Change in Control ” means, unless otherwise defined in any Award Agreement,

 

2.4.1     if any “person” or “group” as those terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act or any successors thereto, is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act or any successor thereto), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities, provided , that the acquisition of additional securities by any person or group that owns 50% or more of the voting power prior to such acquisition of additional securities shall not be a Change in Control; or

 

2.4.2     during any twelve-month period, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board and any new directors whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by at least a majority of the directors then still in office who either were directors at the beginning of the period or whose election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority thereof; or

 

2.4.3     the stockholders of the Company approve a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation (A) which would result in all or a portion of the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation or (B) by which the corporate existence of the Company is not affected and following which the Company’s chief executive officer and directors retain their positions with the Company (and constitute at least a majority of the Board) and such merger or consolidation is consummated; or

 

2.4.4     the stockholders of the Company approve an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all the Company’s assets and such sale or disposition is consummated.

 

2.5            “ Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

2.6            “ Committee ” means the Compensation Committee of the Board, which shall consist solely of two or more outside directors.

 

2.7            “ Common Stock ” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, and any other shares into which such stock may be changed by reason of a recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation or any other change in the corporate structure or capital stock of the Company.

 

2.8            “ Disability ” means a disability that would entitle an eligible participant to payment of monthly disability payments under any Company disability plan or as otherwise determined by the Committee; provided that in any instance where a grant to a participant is treated as “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, “Disability” shall be interpreted consistently with the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and guidance issued thereunder.

 

2.9            “ Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

2.10          “ Fair Market Value ” of a share of Common Stock of the Company means, as of the date in question, the officially-quoted closing selling price of the stock (or if no selling price is quoted, the bid price) on the principal securities exchange or market on which the Common Stock is then listed for trading (including, for this purpose, the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market) (the “ Market ”) for the applicable trading day or, if the Common Stock is not then listed or quoted in the Market, the Fair Market Value shall be the fair value of the Common Stock determined in good faith by the Board using any reasonable method; provided, however, that when shares received upon exercise of an option are immediately sold in the open market, the net sale price received may be used to determine the Fair Market Value of any shares used to pay the exercise price or applicable withholding taxes and to compute the withholding taxes.

 

2.11          “ Incentive Stock Option ” means an option conforming to the requirements of Section 422 of the Code and/or any successor thereto.

 

 

 

2.12          “ Initial Public Offering ” means an underwritten initial public offering and sale of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.

 

2.13          “ Non-Employee Director ” has the meaning given to such term in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and/or any successor thereto.

 

2.14          “ Non-qualified Stock Option ” means any stock option other than an Incentive Stock Option.

 

2.15          “ Other Securities ” mean securities of the Company other than Common Stock, which may include, without limitation, debentures, unbundled stock units or components thereof, preferred stock, warrants and securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or other property.

 

2.16          “ Retirement ” means retirement as defined under any Company pension plan or retirement program or termination of one’s employment on retirement with the approval of the Committee; provided that in any instance where a grant to a participant is treated as “deferred compensation” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, “Retirement” shall be interpreted consistently with the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(i) of the Code and guidance issued thereunder.

 

2.17          “ Subsidiary ” means a corporation or other entity of which outstanding shares or ownership interests representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of such corporation or other entity entitled to elect the management thereof, or such lesser percentage as may be approved by the Committee, are owned directly or indirectly by the Company.

 

3     Administration .

 

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee; provided that the Board may, in its discretion, at any time and from time to time, resolve to administer the Plan, in which case the term “Committee” shall be deemed to mean the Board for all purposes herein. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall be authorized to (i) select persons to participate in the Plan, (ii) determine the form and substance of Grants made under the Plan to each participant, and the conditions and restrictions, if any, subject to which such Grants will be made, (iii) certify that the conditions and restrictions applicable to any Grant have been met, (iv) modify the terms of Grants made under the Plan in accordance with the provisions of Sections 16 and 17 hereof, (v) interpret the Plan and Grants made thereunder, (vi) make any adjustments necessary or desirable in connection with Grants made under the Plan to eligible participants located outside the United States and (vii) adopt, amend, or rescind such rules and regulations, and make such other determinations, for carrying out the Plan as it may deem appropriate. Decisions of the Committee on all matters relating to the Plan shall be in the Committee’s sole discretion and shall be conclusive and binding on all parties. The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with applicable federal and state laws and rules and regulations promulgated pursuant thereto. No member of the Committee and no officer of the Company shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by such member, by any other member of the Committee or by any officer of the Company in connection with the performance of duties under the Plan, except for such person’s own willful misconduct or as expressly provided by statute.

 

The expenses of the Plan shall be borne by the Company. The Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or make any other segregation of assets to assume the obligations pursuant to any Grant made under the Plan, and rights to any payment in connection with such Grants shall be no greater than the rights of the Company’s general creditors.

 

 

 

4     Shares Available for the Plan .

 

Subject to adjustments as provided in Section 15, an aggregate of   1,500,000 shares of Common Stock, which represents the number of shares equal to approximately 6.6% of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the Effective Date (the “ Shares “), may be issued pursuant to the Plan. Such Shares may be in whole or in part authorized and unissued or held by the Company as treasury shares. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Plan to the contrary, if any Grant under the Plan expires or terminates unexercised, becomes unexercisable or is forfeited as to any Shares, or is tendered or withheld as to any Shares in payment of the exercise price of the Grant or taxes payable with respect to the Grant or the vesting or exercise thereof, then such unpurchased, forfeited, tendered or withheld Shares may not thereafter be available for further Grants under the Plan. The number of shares that may be used for restricted stock or restricted unit grants under the Plan may not exceed fifty percent (50%) of the total authorized number of Shares pursuant to the Plan. A restricted stock and stock option grant to an eligible individual under the Plan for a year cannot exceed 100,000 shares.

 

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this Section 4 or the generality of the provisions of Sections 3, 6 or 17 or any other section of this Plan, the Committee may, at any time or from time to time, and on such terms and conditions (that are consistent with and not in contravention of the other provisions of this Plan) as the Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine, enter into agreements (or take other actions with respect to the Grants) for new Grants containing terms (including exercise prices) more (or less) favorable than the outstanding Grants.

 

5     Participation .

 

Participation in the Plan shall be limited to those directors (including Non-Employee Directors), officers (including non-employee officers) and employees of, and other individuals performing services for, or to whom an offer of employment has been extended by, the Company and its Subsidiaries selected by the Committee (including participants located outside the United States). Nothing in the Plan or in any Grant thereunder shall confer any right on a participant to continue in the employ as a director or officer of, or in any other capacity or in the performance of services for, the Company or shall interfere in any way with the right of the Company to terminate the employment or performance of services or to reduce the compensation or responsibilities of a participant at any time. By accepting any Grant under the Plan, each participant and each person claiming under or through him or her shall be conclusively deemed to have indicated his or her acceptance and ratification of, and consent to, any action taken under the Plan by the Company, the Board or the Committee.

 

Incentive Stock Options or Non-qualified Stock Options, SARs alone or in tandem with options, restricted stock awards, performance awards or any combination thereof may be granted to such persons and for such number of Shares as the Committee shall determine (such individuals to whom Grants are made being sometimes herein called “optionees” or “grantees,” as the case may be). Determinations made by the Committee under the Plan need not be uniform and may be made selectively among eligible individuals under the Plan, whether or not such individuals are similarly situated. A Grant of any type made hereunder in any one year to an eligible participant shall neither guarantee nor preclude a further Grant of that or any other type to such participant in that year or subsequent years.

 

6      Incentive and Non-qualified Options and SARs .

 

The Committee may from time to time grant to eligible participants Incentive Stock Options, Non-qualified Stock Options, or any combination thereof; provided that the Committee may grant Incentive Stock Options only to eligible employees of the Company or its subsidiaries (as defined for this purpose in Section 424(f) of the Code or any successor thereto). In any one calendar year, the Committee shall not grant to any one participant options or SARs to purchase or receive the economic equivalent of a number of shares of Common Stock in excess of 10% of the total number of Shares authorized under the Plan pursuant to Section 4; provided , however, that the Committee shall be permitted to grant to Dr. Michael J. Hartnett up to 60% of the total number of Shares authorized under the plan at any time. The options granted shall take such form as the Committee shall determine, subject to the following terms and conditions.

 

It is the Company’s intent that Non-qualified Stock Options granted under the Plan not be classified as Incentive Stock Options, that Incentive Stock Options be consistent with and contain or be deemed to contain all provisions required under Section 422 of the Code or any successor thereto, that neither any Non-qualified Stock Option nor any Incentive Stock Option be treated as a payment of deferred compensation for the purposes of Section 409A of the Code and any successor thereto, and that any ambiguities in construction be interpreted in order to effectuate such intent. If an Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan does not qualify as such for any reason, then to the extent of such non-qualification, the stock option represented thereby shall be regarded as a Non-qualified Stock Option duly granted under the Plan, provided that such stock option otherwise meets the Plan’s requirements for Non-qualified Stock Options.

 

 

 

6.1            Price . The price per Share deliverable upon the exercise of each option (“exercise price”) shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of Grant of the option, and in the case of the Grant of any Incentive Stock Option to an employee who, at the time of the Grant, owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, the exercise price may not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock as of the date of Grant of the option, in each case unless otherwise permitted by Section 422 of the Code or any successor thereto.

 

6.2             Payment . Options may be exercised, in whole or in part, upon payment of the exercise price of the Shares to be acquired. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, payment shall be made (i) in cash (including check, bank draft, money order or wire transfer of immediately available funds), (ii) by delivery of outstanding shares of Common Stock with a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the aggregate exercise price payable with respect to the options’ exercise, (iii) by simultaneous sale through a broker reasonably acceptable to the Committee of Shares acquired on exercise, as permitted under Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, (iv) by authorizing the Company to withhold from issuance a number of Shares issuable upon exercise of the options which, when multiplied by the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise, is equal to the aggregate exercise price payable with respect to the options so exercised or (v) by any combination of the foregoing.

 

In the event a grantee elects to pay the exercise price payable with respect to an option pursuant to clause (ii) above, (A) only a whole number of share(s) of Common Stock (and not fractional shares of Common Stock) may be tendered in payment, (B) such grantee must present evidence acceptable to the Company that he or she has owned any such shares of Common Stock tendered in payment of the exercise price (and that such tendered shares of Common Stock have not been subject to any substantial risk of forfeiture) for at least six months prior to the date of exercise, and (C) Common Stock must be delivered to the Company. Delivery for this purpose may, at the election of the grantee, be made either by (A) physical delivery of the certificate(s) for all such shares of Common Stock tendered in payment of the price, accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer in a form acceptable to the Company, or (B) direction to the grantee’s broker to transfer, by book entry, of such shares of Common Stock from a brokerage account of the grantee to a brokerage account specified by the Company. When payment of the exercise price is made by delivery of Common Stock, the difference, if any, between the aggregate exercise price payable with respect to the option being exercised and the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock tendered in payment (plus any applicable taxes) shall be paid in cash. No grantee may tender shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value exceeding the aggregate exercise price payable with respect to the option being exercised (plus any applicable taxes).

 

In the event a grantee elects to pay the exercise price payable with respect to an option pursuant to clause (iv) above, only a whole number of Shares (and not fractional Shares) may be withheld in payment. When payment of the exercise price is made by withholding of Shares, the difference, if any, between the aggregate exercise price payable with respect to the option being exercised and the Fair Market Value of the Shares withheld in payment (plus any applicable taxes) shall be paid in cash. No grantee may authorize the withholding of Shares having a Fair Market Value exceeding the aggregate exercise price payable with respect to the option being exercised (plus any applicable taxes). Any withheld Shares shall no longer be issuable under such option.

 

6.3              Terms of Options; Vesting . The term during which each option may be exercised shall be determined by the Committee, but if required by the Code and except as otherwise provided herein, no option shall be exercisable in whole or in part more than seven years from the date it is granted, and no Incentive Stock Option granted to an employee who at the time of the Grant owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall be exercisable more than five years from the date it is granted. All rights to purchase Shares pursuant to an option shall, unless sooner terminated, expire at the date designated by the Committee. The Committee shall determine the date on which each option shall become exercisable and may provide that an option shall become exercisable in installments. The Shares constituting each installment may be purchased in whole or in part at any time after such installment becomes exercisable, subject to such minimum exercise requirements as may be designated by the Committee. Prior to the exercise of an option and delivery of the Shares represented thereby, the optionee shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares covered by such outstanding option (including any dividend or voting rights).

 

 

 

6.4             Limitations on Grants . If required by the Code, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the Grant date) of Shares for which an Incentive Stock Option is exercisable for the first time during any calendar year under all equity incentive plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 422 of the Code or any successor thereto) may not exceed $100,000.

 

6.5             Termination; Forfeiture .

 

6.5.1      Death or Disability . Unless otherwise provided in any Award Agreement, if a participant ceases to be a director, officer or employee of, or to perform other services for, the Company and any Subsidiary due to death or Disability, (A) all of the participant’s options and SARs that were exercisable on the date of death or Disability shall remain exercisable for, and shall otherwise terminate at the end of, a period of one year after the date of death or Disability, but in no event after the expiration date of the options and SARs and (B) all of the participant’s options and SARs that were not exercisable on the date of death or Disability shall be forfeited immediately upon such death or Disability; provided, however, that the Committee may determine to additionally vest such options and SARs, in whole or in part, in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Disability giving rise to the termination of employment is not within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code or any successor thereto, Incentive Stock Options not exercised by such participant within one year after the date of termination of employment will cease to qualify as Incentive Stock Options and will be treated as Non-qualified Stock Options under the Plan if required to be so treated under the Code.

 

6.5.2      Retirement . Unless otherwise provided in any Award Agreement, if a participant ceases to be a director, officer or employee of, or to perform other services for, the Company and any Subsidiary upon the occurrence of his or her Retirement, (A) all of the participant’s options and SARs that were exercisable on the date of Retirement shall remain exercisable for, and shall otherwise terminate at the end of, a period of 90 days after the date of Retirement, but in no event after the expiration date of the options or SARs; provided that the participant does not engage in Competition during such 90-day period unless he or she receives written consent to do so from the Board or the Committee, and (B) all of the participant’s options and SARs that were not exercisable on the date of Retirement shall be forfeited immediately upon such Retirement; provided, however, that such options and SARs, may become fully vested and exercisable in the discretion of the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Incentive Stock Options not exercised by such participant within 90 days after Retirement will cease to qualify as Incentive Stock Options and will be treated as Non-qualified Stock Options under the Plan if required to be so treated under the Code.

 

6.5.3      Discharge for Cause . Unless determined by the Committee, if a participant ceases to be a director, officer or employee of, or to perform other services for, the Company or a Subsidiary due to Cause, or if a participant does not become a director, officer or employee of, or does not begin performing other services for, the Company or a Subsidiary for any reason, all of the participant’s options and SARs shall expire and be forfeited immediately upon such cessation or non-commencement, whether or not then exercisable.

 

6.5.4      Other Termination . Unless determined by the Committee, if a participant ceases to be a director, officer or employee of, or to otherwise perform services for, the Company or a Subsidiary for any reason other than death, Disability, Retirement or Cause, (A) all of the participant’s options and SARs that were exercisable on the date of such cessation shall remain exercisable for, and shall otherwise terminate at the end of, a period of 90 days after the date of such cessation, but in no event after the expiration date of the options or SARs; provided that the participant does not engage in Competition during such 90-day period unless he or she receives written consent to do so from the Board or the Committee, and (B) all of the participant’s options and SARs that were not exercisable on the date of such cessation shall be forfeited immediately upon such cessation.

 

7     Stock Appreciation Rights .

 

Provided that the Company’s stock is traded on an established securities market, the Committee shall have the authority to grant SARs under this Plan, subject to such terms and conditions specified in this paragraph 7 and any additional terms and conditions as the Committee may specify.

 

 

 

No SAR may be issued unless (a) the exercise price of the SAR may never be less than the Fair Market Value of the underlying Shares on the date of grant and (b) the SAR does not include any feature for the deferral of compensation income other than the deferral of recognition of income until the exercise of the SAR.

 

No SAR may be exercised unless the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock of the Company on the date of exercise exceeds the exercise price of the SAR. Prior to the exercise of the SAR and delivery of the Shares represented thereby, the participant shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to Shares covered by such outstanding SAR (including any dividend or voting rights).

 

Upon the exercise of an SAR, the participant shall be entitled to a distribution in an amount equal to the difference between the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the SAR, multiplied by the number of Shares as to which the SAR is exercised. Such distribution shall be made in Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to such amount.

 

All SARs will be exercised automatically on the last day prior to the expiration date of the SAR so long as the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on that date exceeds the exercise price of the SAR or any related option, as applicable.

 

The provisions of Subsections 6(c) shall apply to all SARs except to the extent that the Award Agreement pursuant to which such Grant is made expressly provides otherwise.

 

It is the Company’s intent that no SAR shall be treated as a payment of deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A of the Code and that any ambiguities in construction be interpreted in order to effectuate such intent.

 

8     Restricted Stock .

 

The Committee may at any time and from time to time grant Shares of restricted stock under the Plan to such participants and in such amounts as it determines. Each Grant of restricted stock shall specify the applicable restrictions on such Shares, the duration of such restrictions, and the time or times at which such restrictions shall lapse with respect to all or a specified number of Shares that are part of the Grant.

 

The participant will be required to pay the Company the aggregate par value of any Shares of restricted stock (or such larger amount as the Board may determine to constitute capital under Section 154 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended, or any successor thereto) within 15 days of the date of Grant, unless such Shares of restricted stock are treasury shares. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, certificates representing Shares of restricted stock granted under the Plan will be held in escrow by the Company on the participant’s behalf during any period of restriction thereon and will bear an appropriate legend specifying the applicable restrictions thereon, and the participant will be required to execute a blank stock power therefor. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, during such period of restriction the participant shall have all of the rights of a holder of Common Stock, including but not limited to the rights to receive dividends and to vote, and any stock or other securities received as a distribution with respect to such participant’s restricted stock shall be subject to the same restrictions as then in effect for the restricted stock.

 

Unless otherwise provided in any Award Agreement, at such time as a participant ceases to be a director, officer or employee of, or to otherwise perform services for, the Company and its Subsidiaries due to death, Disability or Retirement during any period of restriction, all Shares of restricted stock granted to such participant on which the restrictions have not lapsed shall be immediately forfeited to the Company. At such time as a participant ceases to be, or in the event a participant does not become, a director, officer or employee of, or otherwise perform services for, the Company or its Subsidiaries for any other reason, all Shares of restricted stock granted to such participant on which the restrictions have not lapsed shall be immediately forfeited to the Company. The provisions of Subsections 6(c) and (e) shall apply to Restricted Stock except to the extent that the Award Agreement in relation thereto expressly provides otherwise.

 

 

 

It is the Company’s intent that Restricted Stock shall not be treated as a payment of deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A of the Code and that any ambiguities in construction be interpreted in order to effectuate such intent.

 

9     Performance Awards .

 

Performance awards may be granted to participants at any time and from time to time as determined by the Committee. The Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the size and composition of performance awards granted to a participant. The period over which performance is to be measured (a “performance cycle”) shall commence on the date specified by the Committee and shall end on the last day of a fiscal year specified by the Committee. A performance award shall be paid no later than the fifteenth day of the third month following the completion of a performance cycle (or following the elapsed portion of the performance cycle, in the circumstances described in the last paragraph of this Section 9). Performance awards may include (i) specific dollar-value target awards (ii) performance units, the value of each such unit being determined by the Committee at the time of issuance, and/or (iii) performance Shares, the value of each such Share being equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock. In any one calendar year, the Committee shall not grant to any one participant performance awards in excess of 10% of the total number of Shares authorized under the Plan pursuant to Section 4; provided , however, that the Committee shall be permitted to grant to Dr. Michael J. Hartnett up to 60% of the total number of Shares authorized under the plan at any time.

 

The value of each performance award may be fixed or it may be permitted to fluctuate based on a performance factor (e.g., return on equity) selected by the Committee. It is the Company’s intent that no performance award be treated as the payment of deferred compensation for purposes of Section 409A of the Code and that any ambiguities in construction be interpreted in order to effectuate such intent.

 

The Committee shall establish performance goals and objectives for each performance cycle on the basis of such criteria and objectives as the Committee may select from time to time, including, without limitation, the performance of the participant, the Company, one or more of its Subsidiaries or divisions or any combination of the foregoing. During any performance cycle, the Committee shall have the authority to adjust the performance goals and objectives for such cycle for such reasons as it deems equitable.

 

The Committee shall determine the portion of each performance award that is earned by a participant on the basis of the Company’s performance over the performance cycle in relation to the performance goals for such cycle. The earned portion of a performance award may be paid out in Shares, cash, Other Securities, or any combination thereof, as the Committee may determine.

 

A participant must be a director, officer or employee of, or otherwise perform services for, the Company or its Subsidiaries at the end of the performance cycle in order to be entitled to payment of a performance award issued in respect of such cycle; provided, however, that except as otherwise determined by the Committee, if a participant ceases to be a director, officer or employee of, or to otherwise perform services for, the Company and its Subsidiaries upon his or her death, Retirement, or Disability prior to the end of the performance cycle, the Committee may provide in a Grant that the participant may earn a proportionate portion of the performance award based upon the elapsed portion of the performance cycle and the Company’s performance over that portion of such cycle.

 

10     Withholding Taxes .

 

10.1           Participant Election . Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, a participant may elect to deliver shares of Common Stock (or have the Company withhold shares acquired upon exercise of an option or SAR or deliverable upon grant or vesting of restricted stock, as the case may be) to satisfy, in whole or in part, the amount the Company is required to withhold for taxes in connection with the exercise of an option or SAR or the delivery of restricted stock upon grant or vesting, as the case may be. Such election must be made on or before the date the amount of tax to be withheld is determined. Once made, the election shall be irrevocable. The fair market value of the shares to be withheld or delivered will be the Fair Market Value as of the date the amount of tax to be withheld is determined. In the event a participant elects to deliver or have the Company withhold shares of Common Stock pursuant to this Section 10(a), such delivery or withholding must be made subject to the conditions and pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 6(b) with respect to the delivery or withholding of Common Stock in payment of the exercise price of options.

 

 

 

10.2           Company Requirement . The Company may require, as a condition to any Grant or exercise under the Plan or to the delivery of certificates for Shares issued hereunder, that the grantee make provision for the payment to the Company, either pursuant to Section 10(a) or this Section 10(b), of federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any Grant or delivery of Shares. The Company, to the extent permitted or required by law, shall have the right to deduct from any payment of any kind (including salary or bonus) otherwise due to a grantee, an amount equal to any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to any grant or delivery of Shares under the Plan.

 

11   Written Agreement .

 

Each employee to whom a Grant is made under the Plan shall enter into an Award Agreement with the Company that shall contain such provisions consistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be approved by the Committee. If there is a Change in Control of the Company the Committee may, in its discretion, provide a provision in participant’s Award Agreement for the vesting of a participant’s Grant under the Plan if the participant ceases to be a director, officer employee or individual performing services for the Company because his or her relationship with the Company is terminated without Cause following a Change in Control, with such vesting to occur on the date of termination.

 

12   Transferability .

 

Unless the Committee determines otherwise, no option, SAR, performance award or restricted stock granted under the Plan shall be transferable by a participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; provided that, in the case of Shares of restricted stock granted under the Plan, such Shares of restricted stock shall be freely transferable following the time at which such restrictions shall have lapsed with respect to such Shares. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, an option, SAR or performance award may be exercised only by the optionee or grantee thereof; by his or her executor or administrator, the executor or administrator of the estate of any of the foregoing, or any person to whom the option, SAR or performance award is transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution; or by his or her guardian or legal representative; or the guardian or legal representative of any of the foregoing; provided that Incentive Stock Options may be exercised by any guardian or legal representative only if permitted by the Code and any regulations thereunder. All provisions of this Plan and any Award Agreement referred to in Section 11 shall in any event continue to apply to any option, SAR, performance award or restricted stock granted under the Plan and transferred as permitted by this Section 12, and any transferee of any such option, SAR, performance award or restricted stock shall be bound by all provisions of this Plan and any agreement referred to in Section 11 as and to the same extent as the applicable original grantee.

 

13   Listing, Registration and Qualification .

 

If the Committee determines that the listing, registration or qualification upon any securities exchange or under any law of Shares subject to any option, SAR, performance award or restricted stock Grant is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the granting of same or the issue or purchase of Shares thereunder, no such option or SAR may be exercised in whole or in part, no such performance award may be paid out, and no Shares may be issued, unless such listing, registration or qualification is effected free of any conditions not acceptable to the Committee.

 

14   Transfer of Employee .

 

The transfer of an employee from the Company to a Subsidiary, from a Subsidiary to the Company, or from one Subsidiary to another shall not be considered a termination of employment; nor shall it be considered a termination of employment if an employee is placed on military or sick leave or such other leave of absence which is considered by the Committee as continuing intact the employment relationship.

 

 

 

15   Adjustments .

 

In the event of a reorganization, recapitalization, spin-off or other extraordinary distribution, stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares, merger, consolidation, distribution of assets, spin-off or other extraordinary distribution, or any other change in the corporate structure or shares of the Company, the Committee shall make such adjustment as it deems appropriate in the number and kind of Shares or other property available for issuance under the Plan (including, without limitation, the total number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 4), in the number and kind of options, SARs, Shares or other property covered by Grants previously made under the Plan, and in the exercise price of outstanding options and SARs. Any such adjustment shall be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes of the Plan. In the event of any merger, consolidation or other reorganization in which the Company is not the surviving or continuing corporation or in which a Change in Control is to occur, all of the Company’s obligations regarding options, SARs, performance awards, and restricted stock that were granted hereunder and that are outstanding on the date of such event shall, on such terms as may be approved by the Committee prior to such event, be (a) assumed by the surviving or continuing corporation; or (b) canceled in exchange for cash, securities of the acquiror or other property; provided that, in the case of clause (b), (i) such merger, consolidation, other reorganization or Change in Control constitutes a “change in ownership or control” of the Company or a “change in the ownership of a substantial portion” of the Company’s assets within the meaning of Section 409A(a)(2)(A)(v) of the Code and the guidance issued thereunder or (ii) the payment of cash, securities or other property is not treated as a payment of “deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code.

 

Without limitation of the foregoing, in connection with any transaction described in the last sentence of the preceding paragraph, the Committee may, in its discretion, (i) cancel any or all outstanding options under the Plan in consideration for payment to the holders thereof of an amount equal to the portion of the consideration that would have been payable to such holders pursuant to such transaction if their options had been fully exercised immediately prior to such transaction, less the aggregate exercise price that would have been payable therefor, or (ii) if the amount that would have been payable to the option holders pursuant to such transaction if their options had been fully exercised immediately prior thereto would be equal to or less than the aggregate exercise price that would have been payable therefor, cancel any or all such options for no consideration or payment of any kind. Payment of any amount payable pursuant to the preceding sentence may be made in cash or, in the event that the consideration to be received in such transaction includes securities or other property, in cash, securities of the acquiror or other property in the Committee’s discretion.

 

16   Amendment and Termination of the Plan .

 

Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, the Board of Directors, without approval of the stockholders, may amend or terminate the Plan, except that no amendment shall become effective without prior approval of the stockholders of the Company if stockholder approval would be required by applicable law or regulations, including if required for continued compliance with the performance-based compensation exception of Section 162(m) of the Code or any successor thereto, under the provisions of Section 409A of the Code or any successor thereto, under the provisions of Section 422 of the Code or any successor thereto, or by any listing requirement of the principal stock exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed.

 

17   Amendment or Substitution of Grants under the Plan .

 

The terms of any outstanding Grant under the Plan may be amended from time to time by the Committee in its discretion in any manner that it deems appropriate including, but not limited to, acceleration of the date of exercise of any Grant and/or payments thereunder or of the date of lapse of restrictions on Shares (but, in the case of a Grant that is or would be treated as “deferred compensation” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, only to the extent permitted by guidance issued under Section 409A of the Code); provided that, except as otherwise provided in Section 16 or in an Award Agreement, no such amendment shall adversely affect in a material manner any right of a participant under the Grant without his or her written consent, and further provided that the Committee shall not reduce the exercise price of any options or SARs awarded under the Plan. The Committee may, in its discretion, permit holders of Grants under the Plan to surrender outstanding Grants in order to exercise or realize rights under other Grants, or in exchange for new Grants, or require holders of Grants to surrender outstanding Grants as a condition precedent to the receipt of new Grants under the Plan, but only if such surrender, exercise, realization, exchange or Grant (a) is not treated as a payment of, and does not cause a Grant to be treated as, deferred compensation for the purposes of Section 409A of the Code or (b) is permitted under guidance issued pursuant to Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 17 to the contrary, no surrender, exercise, realization, exchange or Grant in substitution for, assumption of, or as an alternative to or replacement of, an existing Grant pursuant to this Section 17 shall be effected or implemented by the Company, including but not limited to a cash buy back of an out of the money stock option, in order to reduce or change the exercise price of any outstanding options or SARs awarded under the Plan or otherwise implement a re-pricing of any outstanding options or SARs awarded under the Plan including by means of buy back, cancellation and re-grant.

 

 

 

18   Commencement Date; Termination Date .

 

The date of commencement of the Plan shall be September 13, 2017, subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company.

 

Unless previously terminated upon the adoption of a resolution of the Board terminating the Plan, the Plan shall terminate at the close of business on September 13, 2027. Subject to the provisions of an Award Agreement, which may be more restrictive, no termination of the Plan shall materially and adversely affect any of the rights or obligations of any person, without his or her written consent, under any Grant of options or other incentives theretofore granted under the Plan.

 

19   Severability .

 

Whenever possible, each provision of the Plan shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable law, but if any provision of the Plan is held to be prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of the Plan.

 

20   Governing Law .

 

The Plan shall be governed by the corporate laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law provisions that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of the Plan to the substantive law of another jurisdiction.

 

21   Compliance Amendments .

 

Except as otherwise provided in an Award Agreement, notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of the Plan, and in addition to the powers of amendment set forth in Sections 16 and 17 hereof, the provisions hereof and the provisions of any award made hereunder may be amended unilaterally by the Company from time to time to the extent necessary (and only to the extent necessary) to prevent the implementation, application or existence (as the case may be) of any such provision from (i) requiring the inclusion of any compensation deferred pursuant to the provisions of the Plan (or an award thereunder) in a participant’s gross income pursuant to Section 409A of the Code, and the regulations issued thereunder from time to time and/or (ii) inadvertently causing any award hereunder to be treated as providing for the deferral of compensation pursuant to such Code section and regulations.