EX-10.9 3 dex109.htm MARATHON OIL CORPORATION 2003 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN MARATHON OIL CORPORATION 2003 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

EXHIBIT 10.9

MARATHON OIL CORPORATION

2003 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

Plan. The Marathon Oil Corporation 2003 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) was adopted by the Corporation to reward certain key Employees of the Corporation and its Affiliates and Non-employee Directors of the Corporation by providing for certain cash benefits and by enabling them to acquire shares of Common Stock of the Corporation.

Objectives. The purpose of this Marathon Oil Corporation 2003 Incentive Compensation Plan is to further the interests of the Corporation and its stockholders by providing incentives in the form of Awards to key Employees and Non-employee Directors who can contribute materially to the success and profitability of the Corporation and its Affiliates. Such Awards will recognize and reward outstanding performances and individual contributions and give Participants in the Plan an interest in the Corporation parallel to that of the stockholders, thus enhancing the proprietary and personal interest of such Participants in the Corporation’s continued success and progress. This Plan will also enable the Corporation and its Affiliates to attract and retain such Employees and Non-employee Directors.

Definitions. As used herein, the terms set forth below shall have the following respective meanings:

“Administrator” means (i) with respect to Employee Awards, the Committee, and (ii) with respect to Director Awards, the Board.

“Affiliate” means a Subsidiary or Joint Venture.

“Authorized Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation (or any other senior officer of the Corporation to whom he or she shall delegate the authority to execute any Award Agreement, where applicable).

“Award” means an Employee Award or a Director Award.

“Award Agreement” means any Employee Award Agreement or Director Award Agreement.

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

“Cash Award” means an award denominated in cash.

“Change in Control,” unless otherwise defined by the Committee, means a change in control of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether or not the Corporation is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided, that, without limitation, such a change in control shall be deemed to have occurred if:

(i)     any person (as defined in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation (not including in the amount of the securities beneficially owned by such person any such securities acquired directly from the Corporation or its affiliates) representing twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined voting power of the Corporation’s then outstanding voting securities; provided, however, that for purposes of this Plan the term “Person” shall not include (A) the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, (B) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries, (C) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (D) a corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Corporation in substantially the

 

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same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Corporation; and provided, further, however, that for purposes of this paragraph (i), there shall be excluded any Person who becomes such a beneficial owner in connection with an Excluded Transaction (as defined in paragraph (iii) below);

(ii)     the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the number of Directors then serving: individuals who, on the date hereof, constitute the Board and any new Director (other than a Director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an actual or threatened election contest including but not limited to a consent solicitation, relating to the election of Directors of the Corporation) whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by the Corporation’s stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then still in office who either were Directors on the date hereof or whose appointment, election or nomination for election was previously so approved; or

(iii)     there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any direct or indirect subsidiary thereof with any other corporation, other than a merger or consolidation (an “Excluded Transaction”) which would result in the holders of the voting securities of the Corporation outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the surviving corporation or any parent thereof) at least 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the entity surviving the merger or consolidation (or the parent of such surviving entity) immediately after such merger or consolidation, or the stockholders of the Corporation approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Corporation, or there is consummated the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s assets.

Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, in no event shall the transfer of ownership interests in the Corporation in and of itself constitute a Change in Control under this Plan.

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

“Committee” means the independent Committee of the Board as is designated by the Board to administer the Plan.

“Common Stock” means Marathon Oil Corporation common stock, par value $1.00 per share.

“Corporation” means Marathon Oil Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or any successor thereto.

“Director Award” means any Stock Award or Performance Award granted, whether singly, in combination or in tandem, to a Participant who is a Non-employee Director pursuant to such applicable terms, conditions and limitations (including treatment as a Performance Award) as the Board may establish in order to fulfill the objectives of the Plan.

“Director Award Agreement” means a written agreement setting forth the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to a Director Award, to the extent the Board determines such agreement is necessary.

“Disability” means a disability that renders the Participant unable to engage in any occupation in accordance with the terms of the Long Term Disability Plan of Marathon Oil Company, the Long Term Disability Plan of Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC, or the Speedway SuperAmerica LLC Long Term Disability Plan, as applicable.

“Dividend Equivalents” means, with respect to Stock Units or shares of Restricted Stock that are to be issued at the end of the Restriction Period, an amount equal to all dividends and other distributions (or the economic equivalent thereof) that are payable to stockholders of record during the Restriction Period on a like number of shares of Common Stock.

“Employee” means an employee of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates.

 

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“Employee Award” means any Option, SAR, Stock Award, Cash Award or Performance Award granted, whether singly, in combination or in tandem, to a Participant who is an Employee pursuant to such applicable terms, conditions and limitations (including treatment as a Performance Award) as the Committee may establish in order to fulfill the objectives of the Plan.

“Employee Award Agreement” means a written agreement setting forth the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to an Employee Award, to the extent the Committee determines such agreement is necessary.

“Equity Award” means any Option, SAR, Stock Award, or Performance Award (other than a Performance Award denominated in cash) granted to a Participant under the Plan.

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

“Fair Market Value” of a share of Common Stock means, as of a particular date, (i) (A) if Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange, the mean between the highest and lowest sales price per share of such Common Stock on the consolidated transaction reporting system for the principal national securities exchange on which shares of Common Stock are listed on that date, or, if there shall have been no such sale so reported on that date, on the next succeeding date on which such a sale was so reported, or, at the discretion of the Committee, the price prevailing on the exchange at the time of exercise, (B) if Common Stock is not so listed but is quoted on the NASDAQ National Market, the mean between the highest and lowest sales price per share of Common Stock reported by the NASDAQ National Market on that date, or, if there shall have been no such sale so reported on that date, on the next succeeding date on which such a sale was so reported or, at the discretion of the Committee, the price prevailing on the NASDAQ National Market at the time of exercise, (C) if Common Stock is not so listed or quoted, the mean between the closing bid and asked price on that date, or, if there are no quotations available for such date, on the next succeeding date on which such quotations shall be available, as reported by the NASDAQ Stock Market, or, if not reported by the NASDAQ Stock Market, by the National Quotation Bureau Incorporated or (D) if Common Stock is not publicly traded, the most recent value determined by an independent appraiser appointed by the Corporation for such purpose, or (ii) if applicable, the price per share as determined in accordance with the procedures of a third party administrator retained by the Corporation to administer the Plan.

“Grant Date” means the date an Award is granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan. The Grant Date for a substituted award is the Grant Date of the original award.

“Grant Price” means the price at which a Participant may exercise his or her right to receive cash or Common Stock, as applicable, under the terms of an Award.

“Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to comply with the requirements set forth in Section 422 of the Code.

“Joint Venture” means Marathon Ashland Petroleum, LLC and any other joint venture or partnership in which the Corporation has at least 50% ownership, voting, capital or profit interests (in whatever form).

“Non-employee Director” means an individual serving as a member of the Board who is not an Employee of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates.

“Non-qualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

“Option” means a right to purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock at a specified Grant Price, which may be an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-qualified Stock Option.

“Participant” means an Employee or Non-employee Director to whom an Award has been granted under this Plan.

“Performance Award” means an Award made pursuant to this Plan that is subject to the attainment of one or more performance goals.

 

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“Performance Goal” means a standard established by the Committee to determine in whole or in part whether a Qualified Performance Award shall be earned.

“Qualified Performance Award” means a Performance Award made to a Participant who is an Employee that is intended to qualify as qualified performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, as described in Section 8(v)(B) of the Plan.

“Restricted Stock” means Common Stock that is restricted or subject to forfeiture provisions.

“Restriction Period” means a period of time beginning as of the Grant Date of an Award of Restricted Stock and ending as of the date upon which the Common Stock subject to such Award is no longer restricted or subject to forfeiture provisions.

“Retirement” means termination on or after the time at which the Employee is eligible for retirement under the Retirement Plan of Marathon Oil Company or the Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC Retirement Plan, as applicable.

“Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right to receive a payment, in cash or Common Stock, equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value or other specified valuation of a specified number of shares of Common Stock on the date the right is exercised over a specified Grant Price, in each case, as determined by the Committee.

“Stock Award” means an Award in the form of shares of Common Stock or Stock Units, including an award of Restricted Stock.

“Stock Unit” means a unit equal to one share of Common Stock (as determined by the Committee) granted to either an Employee or a Non-employee Director.

“Subsidiary” means any corporation of which the Corporation directly or indirectly owns shares representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the shares of all classes or series of capital stock of such corporation which have the right to vote generally on matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of such corporation.

4. Eligibility.

Employees. Employees eligible for the grant of Employee Awards under this Plan are those who hold positions of responsibility and whose performance, in the judgment of the Committee, can have a significant effect on the success of the Corporation and its Affiliates.

Directors. Members of the Board eligible for the grant of Director Awards under this Plan are those who are Non-employee Directors.

5. Common Stock Available for Awards. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 17 hereof, no Award shall be granted if it shall result in the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan plus the number of shares of Common Stock covered by or subject to Awards then outstanding (after giving effect to the grant of the Award in question) to exceed 20,000,000 shares. No more than 8,500,000 shares of Common Stock shall be available for Awards other than Options or SARs. The number of shares of Common Stock that are the subject of Awards under this Plan that are forfeited or terminated, expire unexercised, are settled in cash in lieu of Common Stock or in a manner such that all or some of the shares covered by an Award are not issued to a Participant or are exchanged for Awards that do not involve Common Stock, shall again immediately become available for Awards hereunder. If the Grant Price or other purchase price of any Option or other Award granted under the Plan is satisfied by tendering shares of Common Stock to the Company by either actual delivery or by attestation, or if the tax withholding obligation resulting from the settlement of any such Option or other Award is satisfied by tendering or withholding shares of Common Stock, only the number of shares of Common Stock issued net of the shares of Common Stock tendered or withheld shall be deemed delivered for

 

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purposes of determining the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for delivery under the Plan. Shares of Common Stock delivered under the Plan in settlement, assumption or substitution of outstanding awards or obligations to grant future awards under the plans or arrangements of another entity shall not reduce the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for delivery under the Plan, to the extent that such settlement, assumption or substitution is a result of the Company or an Affiliate acquiring another entity or an interest in another entity. The Committee may from time to time adopt and observe such procedures concerning the counting of shares against the Plan maximum as it may deem appropriate. The Board and the appropriate officers of the Corporation shall from time to time take whatever actions are necessary to file any required documents with governmental authorities, stock exchanges and transaction reporting systems to ensure that shares of Common Stock are available for issuance pursuant to Awards.

6. Administration.

This Plan shall be administered by the Committee except as otherwise provided herein.

Subject to the provisions hereof, the Committee shall have full and exclusive power and authority to administer this Plan and to take all actions that are specifically contemplated hereby or are necessary or appropriate in connection with the administration hereof. The Committee shall also have full and exclusive power to interpret this Plan and to adopt such rules, regulations and guidelines for carrying out this Plan as it may deem necessary or proper, all of which powers shall be exercised in the best interests of the Corporation and in keeping with the objectives of this Plan. The Committee may, in its discretion, provide for the extension of the exercisability of an Employee Award, accelerate the vesting or exercisability of an Employee Award, eliminate or make less restrictive any restrictions applicable to an Employee Award, waive any restriction or other provision of this Plan (insofar as such provision relates to Employee Awards) or an Employee Award or otherwise amend or modify an Employee Award in any manner that is either (i) not adverse to the Participant to whom such Employee Award was granted or (ii) consented to by such Participant. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan or in any Award in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or desirable to further the Plan purposes. Any decision of the Committee, with respect to Employee Awards, in the interpretation and administration of this Plan shall lie within its sole and absolute discretion and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties concerned.

No member of the Committee or officer of the Corporation to whom the Committee has delegated authority in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 7 of this Plan shall be liable for anything done or omitted to be done by him or her, by any member of the Committee or by any officer of the Corporation in connection with the performance of any duties under this Plan, except for his or her own willful misconduct or as expressly provided by statute.

The Board shall have the same powers, duties, and authority to administer the Plan with respect to Director Awards as the Committee retains with respect to Employee Awards as described above.

7. Delegation of Authority. Following the authorization of a pool of cash or shares of Common Stock to be available for Awards, the Committee may authorize the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or a committee consisting solely of members of the Board to grant individual Employee Awards from such pool pursuant to such conditions or limitations as the Committee may establish. The Committee may also delegate to the Chief Executive Officer and to other executive officers of the Corporation its administrative duties under this Plan (excluding its granting authority) pursuant to such conditions or limitations as the Committee may establish. The Committee may engage or authorize the engagement of a third party administrator to carry out administrative functions under the Plan.

 

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8. Employee Awards.

(a) The Committee shall determine the type or types of Employee Awards to be made under this Plan and shall designate from time to time the Employees who are to be the recipients of such Awards. Each Employee Award may, in the discretion of the Committee, be embodied in an Employee Award Agreement, which shall contain such terms, conditions and limitations as shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and, if required by the Committee, shall be accepted by the Participant to whom the Employee Award is granted and signed by an Authorized Officer for and on behalf of the Corporation. Employee Awards may consist of those listed in this paragraph 8(a) and may be granted singly, in combination or in tandem. Employee Awards may also be granted in combination or in tandem with, in replacement of, or as alternatives to, grants or rights under this Plan or any other employee plan of the Corporation or any of its Affiliates, including the plan of any acquired entity. An Employee Award may provide for the grant or issuance of additional, replacement or alternative Employee Awards upon the occurrence of specified events. All or part of an Employee Award may be subject to conditions established by the Committee, which may include, but are not limited to, continuous service with the Corporation and its Affiliates, achievement of specific business objectives, increases in specified indices, attainment of specified growth rates and other comparable measurements of performance. Upon the termination of employment by a Participant who is an Employee, any unexercised, deferred, unvested or unpaid Employee Awards shall be treated as set forth in the applicable Employee Award Agreement or as otherwise specified by the Committee.

(i) Option. An Employee Award may be in the form of an Option. On the Grant Date, the Grant Price of an Option shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to such Option. The term of the Option shall extend no more than 10 years after the Grant Date. Options may not include provisions that “reload” the option upon exercise. Subject to the foregoing provisions, the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any Options awarded to Employees pursuant to this Plan, including the Grant Price, the term of the Options, the number of shares subject to the Option and the date or dates upon which they become exercisable, shall be determined by the Committee.

(ii) Stock Appreciation Rights. An Employee Award may be in the form of an SAR. On the Grant Date, the Grant Price of an SAR shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to such SAR. The holder of a tandem SAR may elect to exercise either the option or the SAR, but not both. The exercise period for an SAR shall extend no more than 10 years after the Grant Date. Subject to the foregoing provisions, the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any SARs awarded to Employees pursuant to this Plan, including the Grant Price, the term of any SARs and the date or dates upon which they become exercisable, shall be determined by the Committee.

(iii) Stock Award. An Employee Award may be in the form of a Stock Award. The terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any Stock Awards granted to Employees pursuant to this Plan shall be determined by the Committee; provided that any Stock Award which is not a Performance Award shall have a minimum Restriction Period of three years from the Grant Date, provided that (i) the Committee may provide for earlier vesting upon a termination of employment by reason of death, Disability or Retirement, and (ii) such three-year minimum Restriction Period shall not apply to a Stock Award that is granted in lieu of salary or bonus.

(iv) Cash Award. An Employee Award may be in the form of a Cash Award. The terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any Cash Awards granted to Employees pursuant to this Plan shall be determined by the Committee.

 

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(v) Performance Award. Without limiting the type or number of Employee Awards that may be made under the other provisions of this Plan, an Employee Award may be in the form of a Performance Award. The terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any Performance Awards granted to Employees pursuant to this Plan shall be determined by the Committee; provided that any Stock Award which is a Performance Award shall have a minimum Restriction Period of one year from the Grant Date, provided that the Committee may provide for earlier vesting upon a termination of employment by reason of death, Disability or Retirement. The Committee shall set performance goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the value and/or amount of Performance Awards that will be paid out to the Employee.

(A)     Non-qualified Performance Awards. Performance Awards granted to Employees that are not intended to qualify as qualified performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code shall be based on achievement of such goals and be subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as the Committee or its delegate shall determine.

(B)     Qualified Performance Awards. Performance Awards granted to Employees under the Plan that are intended to qualify as qualified performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code shall be paid, vested or otherwise deliverable solely on account of the attainment of one or more pre-established, objective Performance Goals established by the Committee prior to the earlier to occur of (x) 90 days after the commencement of the period of service to which the Performance Goal relates or (y) the lapse of 25% of the period of service (as scheduled in good faith at the time the goal is established), and in any event while the outcome is substantially uncertain. A Performance Goal is objective if a third party having knowledge of the relevant facts could determine whether the goal is met. Such a Performance Goal may be based on one or more business criteria that apply to the Employee, one or more business segments, units, or divisions of the Corporation, or the Corporation as a whole, and if so desired by the Committee, by comparison with a peer group of companies. A Performance Goal may include one or more of the following:

 

   

Stock price measures (including but not limited to growth measures and total stockholder return);

   

Earnings per share (actual or targeted growth);

   

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (“EBITDA”);

   

Economic value added (“EVA”);

   

Net income measures (including but not limited to income after capital costs and income before or after taxes);

   

Operating income;

   

Cash flow measures;

   

Return measures (including but not limited to return on capital employed);

   

Operating measures (including but not limited to refinery throughput, oil and gas reserves, and production);

   

Expense targets (including but not limited to finding and development costs and general and administrative expenses);

   

Margins;

   

Reserve replacement ratio;

   

Refined product measures; and

 

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Corporate values measures (including but not limited to diversity commitment, ethics compliance, environmental, and safety).

Unless otherwise stated, such a Performance Goal need not be based upon an increase under a particular business criterion and could include, for example, maintaining the status quo or limiting economic losses (measured, in each case, by reference to specific business criteria). In interpreting Plan provisions applicable to Performance Goals and Qualified Performance Awards, it is the intent of the Plan to conform with the standards of Section 162(m) of the Code and Treasury Regulation §1.162-27(e)(2)(i), as to grants to those Employees whose compensation is, or is likely to be, subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, and the Committee in establishing such goals and interpreting the Plan shall be guided by such provisions. Prior to the payment of any compensation based on the achievement of Performance Goals, the Committee must certify in writing that applicable Performance Goals and any of the material terms thereof were, in fact, satisfied. Subject to the foregoing provisions, the terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any Qualified Performance Awards made pursuant to this Plan shall be determined by the Committee.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, the following limitations shall apply to any Employee Awards made hereunder:

no Participant may be granted, during any calendar year, Employee Awards consisting of Options or SARs (including Options or SARs that are granted as Performance Awards) that are exercisable for more than 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock;

no Participant may be granted, during any calendar year, Employee Awards consisting of Stock Awards (including Stock Awards that are granted as Performance Awards) covering or relating to more than 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock (the limitation set forth in this clause (ii), together with the limitation set forth in clause (i) above, being hereinafter collectively referred to as “Stock Based Awards Limitations”); and

no Participant may be granted Employee Awards consisting of cash (including Cash Awards that are granted as Performance Awards) in respect of any calendar year having a value determined on the Grant Date in excess of $5,000,000.

9. Director Awards.

(a) The Board may grant Director Awards to the Non-employee Directors of the Corporation from time to time in accordance with this paragraph 9. Director Awards may consist of those listed in this paragraph 9 and may be granted singly, in combination or in tandem. Each Director Award may, in the discretion of the Board, be embodied in a Director Award Agreement, which shall contain such terms, conditions and limitations as shall be determined by the Board in its sole discretion and, if required by the Board, shall be accepted by the Participant to whom the Director Award is granted and signed by an Authorized Officer for and on behalf of the Corporation.

(i) Stock Awards. A Director Award may be in the form of a Stock Award. A Non-employee Director may not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise encumber or dispose of any portion of a Stock Award until he or she terminates service as a Non-employee Director, and any attempt to sell, transfer, assign, pledge or encumber any portion of the Stock Award prior to such time shall have no effect. Any additional terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any

 

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Stock Awards granted to a Non-employee Director pursuant to this Plan shall be determined by the Board.

(ii) Performance Awards. Without limiting the type or number of Director Awards that may be made under the other provisions of this Plan, a Director Award may be in the form of a Performance Award. A Non-employee Director may not sell, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise encumber or dispose of any portion of the Performance Award until he or she terminates service as a Non-employee Director, and any attempt to sell, transfer, assign, pledge or encumber any portion of the Performance Award prior to such time shall have no effect. Any additional terms, conditions and limitations applicable to any Performance Awards granted to a Non-employee Director pursuant to this Plan shall be determined by the Board. The Board shall set performance goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are met, will determine the value and/or amount of Performance Awards that will be paid out to the Non-employee Director.

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Plan, no Participant may be granted, during any calendar year, Director Awards consisting of Stock Awards (including Stock Awards that are granted as Performance Awards) covering or relating to more than 5,000 shares of Common Stock (the limitation set forth in this paragraph (b) being hereinafter referred to as a “Stock Based Awards Limitation”).

10. Change in Control. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 8 and 9 hereof, unless otherwise expressly provided in the applicable Award Agreement, or as otherwise specified in the terms of an Equity Award, in the event of a Change in Control during a Participant’s employment (or service as a Non-employee Director) with the Corporation or one of its Affiliates, each Equity Award granted under this Plan to the Participant shall become immediately vested and fully exercisable, with performance-based equity awards vested at target level (regardless of the otherwise applicable vesting or exercise schedules or performance goals provided for under the Award Agreement or the terms of the Equity Award).

11. Non-United States Participants. The Committee may grant awards to persons outside the United States under such terms and conditions as may, in the judgment of the Committee, be necessary or advisable to comply with the laws of the applicable foreign jurisdictions and, to that end, may establish sub-plans, modified option exercise procedures and other terms and procedures. Notwithstanding the above, the Committee may not take any actions hereunder, and no Awards shall be granted, that would violate the Exchange Act, the Code, any securities law, any governing statute, or any other applicable law.

12. Payment of Awards.

(a) General. Payment made to a Participant pursuant to an Award may be made in the form of cash or Common Stock, or a combination thereof, and may include such restrictions as the Administrator shall determine, including, in the case of Common Stock, restrictions on transfer and forfeiture provisions. If such payment is made in the form of Restricted Stock, the Administrator shall specify whether the underlying shares are to be issued at the beginning or end of the Restriction Period. In the event that shares of Restricted Stock are to be issued at the beginning of the Restriction Period, the certificates evidencing such shares (to the extent that such shares are so evidenced) shall contain appropriate legends and restrictions that describe the terms and conditions of the restrictions applicable thereto. In the event that shares of Restricted Stock are to be issued at the end of the Restricted Period, the right to receive such shares shall be evidenced by book entry registration or in such other manner as the Administrator may determine.

 

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(b) Deferral. With the approval of the Administrator, amounts payable in respect of Awards may be deferred and paid either in the form of installments or as a lump-sum payment. The Administrator may permit selected Participants to elect to defer payments of some or all types of Awards or any other compensation otherwise payable by the Corporation in accordance with procedures established by the Administrator and may provide that such deferred compensation may be payable in shares of Common Stock. Any deferred payment pursuant to an Award, whether elected by the Participant or specified by the Award Agreement or the terms of the Award or by the Administrator, may be forfeited if and to the extent that the Award Agreement or the terms of the Award so provide.

(c) Dividends, Earnings and Interest. Rights to dividends or Dividend Equivalents may be extended to and made part of any Stock Award, subject to such terms, conditions and restrictions as the Administrator may establish. The Administrator may also establish rules and procedures for the crediting of interest or other earnings on deferred cash payments and Dividend Equivalents for Stock Awards.

(d) Substitution of Awards. Subject to paragraphs 15 and 17, at the discretion of the Committee, a Participant who is an Employee may be offered an election to substitute an Employee Award for another Employee Award or Employee Awards of the same or different type.

13. Option Exercise. The Grant Price shall be paid in full at the time of exercise in cash or, if permitted by the Committee and elected by the optionee, the optionee may purchase such shares by means of tendering Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise, or any combination thereof. The Committee shall determine acceptable methods for Participants to tender Common Stock or other Awards. The Committee may provide for procedures to permit the exercise or purchase of such Awards by use of the proceeds to be received from the sale of Common Stock issuable pursuant to an Award. The Committee may adopt additional rules and procedures regarding the exercise of Options from time to time, provided that such rules and procedures are not inconsistent with the provisions of this paragraph.

An optionee desiring to pay the Grant Price of an Option by tendering Common Stock using the method of attestation may, subject to any such conditions and in compliance with any such procedures as the Committee may adopt, do so by attesting to the ownership of Common Stock of the requisite value in which case the Corporation shall issue or otherwise deliver to the optionee upon such exercise a number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Option equal to the result obtained by dividing (a) the excess of the aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option for which the Option (or portion thereof) is being exercised over the Grant Price payable in respect of such exercise by (b) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock subject to the Option, and the optionee may retain the shares of Common Stock the ownership of which is attested.

14. Taxes. The Corporation or its designated third party administrator shall have the right to deduct applicable taxes from any Employee Award payment and withhold, at the time of delivery or vesting of cash or shares of Common Stock under this Plan, an appropriate amount of cash or number of shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof for payment of taxes or other amounts required by law or to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Corporation to satisfy all obligations for withholding of such taxes. The Committee may also permit withholding to be satisfied by the transfer to the Corporation of shares of Common Stock theretofore owned by the holder of the Employee Award with respect to which withholding is required. If shares of Common Stock are used to satisfy tax withholding, such shares shall be valued based on the Fair Market Value when the tax withholding is required to be made.

15. Amendment, Modification, Suspension or Termination of the Plan. The Committee may amend, modify, suspend or terminate this Plan for the purpose of meeting or addressing any changes in legal requirements or for

 

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any other purpose permitted by law, except that (i) any amendment, modification, suspension, or termination of paragraph 9 of this Plan shall be approved by the Board, (ii) no amendment or alteration that would adversely affect the rights of any Participant under any Award previously granted to such Participant shall be made without the consent of such Participant and (iii) no amendment or alteration shall be effective prior to its approval by the stockholders of the Corporation to the extent such approval is required by applicable legal requirements or the requirements of the securities exchange on which the Corporation’s stock is listed. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, without the prior approval of the Company’s stockholders, Options issued under the Plan will not be repriced, replaced, or regranted through cancellation or by decreasing the exercise price of a previously granted Option.

16. Assignability. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator and provided in the Award Agreement or the terms of the Award, no Award or any other benefit under this Plan shall be assignable or otherwise transferable except by will, beneficiary designation or the laws of descent and distribution. In the event that a beneficiary designation conflicts with an assignment by will, the beneficiary designation will prevail. The Administrator may prescribe and include in applicable Award Agreements or the terms of the Award other restrictions on transfer. Any attempted assignment of an Award or any other benefit under this Plan in violation of this paragraph 16 shall be null and void.

17. Adjustments.

(a) The existence of outstanding Awards shall not affect in any manner the right or power of the Corporation or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the capital stock of the Corporation or its business or any merger or consolidation of the Corporation, or any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock (whether or not such issue is prior to, on a parity with or junior to the existing Common Stock) or the dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding of any kind, whether or not of a character similar to that of the acts or proceedings enumerated above.

(b) In the event of any subdivision or consolidation of outstanding shares of Common Stock, declaration of a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or other stock split, then (i) the number of shares of Common Stock reserved under this Plan, (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock covered by outstanding Awards, (iii) the Grant Price or other price in respect of such Awards, (iv) the appropriate Fair Market Value and other price determinations for such Awards, and (v) the Stock Based Awards Limitations shall each be proportionately adjusted by the Board as appropriate to reflect such transaction. In the event of any other recapitalization or capital reorganization of the Corporation, any consolidation or merger of the Corporation with another corporation or entity, the adoption by the Corporation of any plan of exchange affecting Common Stock or any distribution to holders of Common Stock of securities or property (other than normal cash dividends or dividends payable in Common Stock), the Board shall make appropriate adjustments to (i) the number of shares of Common Stock covered by Awards, (ii) the Grant Price or other price in respect of such Awards, (iii) the appropriate Fair Market Value and other price determinations for such Awards, and (iv) the Stock Based Awards Limitations to reflect such transaction; provided that such adjustments shall only be such as are necessary to maintain the proportionate interest of the holders of the Awards and preserve, without increasing, the value of such Awards. In the event of a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization or liquidation, the Board shall be authorized (i) to assume under the Plan previously issued compensatory awards, or to substitute new Awards for previously issued compensatory awards, including Awards, as part of such adjustment or (ii) to cancel Awards that are Options or SARs and give the Participants who are the holders of such Awards notice and opportunity to exercise for 30 days prior to such cancellation.

 

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18. Restrictions. No Common Stock or other form of payment shall be issued with respect to any Award unless the Corporation shall be satisfied based on the advice of its counsel that such issuance will be in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws. Certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock delivered under this Plan (to the extent that such shares are so evidenced) may be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Administrator may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any securities exchange or transaction reporting system upon which the Common Stock is then listed or to which it is admitted for quotation and any applicable federal or state securities law. The Administrator may cause a legend or legends to be placed upon such certificates (if any) to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.

19. Unfunded Plan. This Plan shall be unfunded. Although bookkeeping accounts may be established with respect to Participants under this Plan, any such accounts shall be used merely as a bookkeeping convenience, including bookkeeping accounts established by a third party administrator retained by the Corporation to administer the Plan. The Corporation shall not be required to segregate any assets for purposes of this Plan or Awards hereunder, nor shall the Corporation, the Board or the Committee be deemed to be a trustee of any benefit to be granted under this Plan. Any liability or obligation of the Corporation to any Participant with respect to an Award under this Plan shall be based solely upon any contractual obligations that may be created by this Plan and any Award Agreement or the terms of the Award, and no such liability or obligation of the Corporation shall be deemed to be secured by any pledge or other encumbrance on any property of the Corporation. Neither the Corporation nor the Board nor the Committee shall be required to give any security or bond for the performance of any obligation that may be created by this Plan.

20. Right to Employment. Nothing in the Plan or an Award Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Corporation to terminate any Participant’s employment or other service relationship at any time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the capacity in which he or she is employed or otherwise serves the Corporation.

21. Successors. All obligations of the Corporation under the Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Corporation, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Corporation.

22. Governing Law. This Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto, to the extent not otherwise governed by mandatory provisions of the Code or the securities laws of the United States, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas.

23. Effectiveness. The Plan will be submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation for approval at the 2003 annual meeting of stockholders and, if approved, will become retroactively effective as of January 1, 2003.

 

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