EX-10.17 7 dex1017.txt AMERIN CORPORATION LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN EXHIBIT 10.17 AMERIN CORPORATION Second Amendment and Restatement of 1992 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (as of September 24, 1998) SECTION 1. Purpose. The purposes of this Amerin Corporation 1992 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan are to promote the interests of Amerin Corporation and its stockholders by (i) attracting and retaining exceptional executive personnel and other key employees of the Company and its Affiliates, as defined below; (ii) motivating such employees by means of performance-related incentives to achieve longer-range performance goals; and (iii) enabling such employees to participate in the long-term growth and financial success of the Company. SECTION 2. Definitions. As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below: "Affiliate" shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or indirectly, is controlled by the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, in either case as determined by the Committee. "Award" shall mean any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock Award, Performance Award or Other Stock-Based Award. "Award Agreement" shall mean any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing any Award, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by a Participant. "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company. "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time. "Committee" shall mean any committee or subcommittee of the Board designated by the Board to administer the Plan and composed solely of not less than the minimum number of persons from time to time required by Rule 16b-3 and Section 162(m), each of whom, to the extent necessary to comply with Rule 16b-3 and Section 162(m) only, is both a "non-employee director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and an "outside director" within the meaning of Section 162(m). In its sole discretion, the Board may at any time and from time to time exercise any and all rights and duties of the Committee under the Plan, except with respect to matters which under Rule 16b-3 or Section 162(m) are required to be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. "Company" shall mean Amerin Corporation, together with any successor thereto. "Employee" shall mean an employee or prospective employee of the Company or of any Affiliate. "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. "Fair Market Value" shall mean the fair market value of the property or other item being valued, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. "Incentive Stock Option" shall mean a right to purchase Shares from the Company that is granted under Section 6 of the Plan and that is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto. "Non-Qualified Stock Option" shall mean a right to purchase Shares from the Company that is granted under Section 6 of the Plan and that is not an Incentive Stock Option. "Option" shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option. "Other Stock-Based Award" shall mean any right granted under Section 10 of the Plan. "Participant" shall mean any Employee selected by the Committee to receive an Award under the Plan. "Performance Award" shall mean any right granted under Section 9 of the Plan. "Person" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or political subdivision thereof or other entity. "Plan" shall mean this Amerin Corporation 1992 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan. "Restricted Stock" shall mean any Share granted under Section 8 of the Plan. "Restricted Stock Unit" shall mean any unit granted under Section 8 of the Plan. "Rule 16b-3" shall mean Rule 16b-3 as promulgated and interpreted by the SEC under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule or regulation thereto as in effect from time to time. "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto and shall include the Staff thereof. "Section 162(m)" shall mean Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, each as may be amended from time to time. "Shares" shall mean the common shares of the Company, $.01 par value, or such other securities of the Company as may be designated by the Committee from time to time. "Stock Appreciation Right" shall mean any right granted under Section 7 of the Plan. 2 "Substitute Awards" shall mean Awards granted in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by a company acquired by the Company or with which the Company combines. SECTION 3. Administration. (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to an eligible Employee; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised, canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property, and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the Committee; (vii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to, or Award made under, the Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (ix) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. (b) Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, any Affiliate, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, any shareholder and any Employee. SECTION 4. Shares Available for Awards. (a) Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(b), the number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan shall be 8,300,000, and the maximum number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Plan to any Participant shall be 5,125,000 with respect to Awards granted before September 19, 1995 and 400,000 with respect to Awards granted during any four-year period beginning on or after September 15, 1995. Except as otherwise required by Section 162(m), if, after the effective date of the Plan, any Shares covered by an Award granted under the Plan, or to which such an Award relates, are forfeited, or if an Award is settled for cash or otherwise terminates or is canceled without the delivery of Shares, then the Shares covered by such Award, or to which such Award relates, or the number of Shares otherwise counted against the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted, to the extent of any such settlement, forfeiture, termination or cancellation, shall again be, or shall become, Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted. In the event that any Option or other Award granted hereunder is exercised 3 through the delivery of Shares, the number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan shall be increased by the number of Shares surrendered, to the extent permissible under Rule 16b-3. (b) Adjustments. In the event that the Committee determines that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted, (ii) the number of Shares or other securities of the Company (or number and kind of other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and (iii) the grant or exercise price with respect to any Award or, if deemed appropriate, make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award; provided, in each case, that with respect to Awards of Incentive Stock Options no such adjustment shall be authorized to the extent that such authority would cause the Plan to violate Section 422(b)(1) of the Code, as from time to time amended. (c) Substitute Awards. Any Shares underlying Substitute Awards shall not, except in the case of Shares with respect to which Substitute Awards are granted to Employees who are officers or directors of the Company for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act or any successor section thereto, be counted against the Shares available for Awards under the Plan. (d) Sources of Shares Deliverable Under Awards. Any Shares delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or of treasury Shares. SECTION 5. Eligibility. Any Employee, including any officer or employee-director (or prospective officer or employee-director) of the Company or any Affiliate shall be eligible to be designated a Participant. SECTION 6. Stock Options. (a) Grant. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Employees to whom Options shall be granted, the number of Shares to be covered by each Option, the option price therefor and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Option. The Committee shall have the authority to grant Incentive Stock Options, or to grant Non-Qualified Stock Options, or to grant both types of options. In the case of Incentive Stock Options, the terms and conditions of such grants shall be subject to and comply with such rules as may be prescribed by Section 422 of the Code, as from time to time amended, and any regulations implementing such statute. 4 (b) Exercise Price. The Committee shall establish the exercise price at the time each Option is granted, which price, except in the case of Options that are Substitute Awards, shall not be less than 100% of the per Share Fair Market Value on the date of grant. (c) Exercise. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Committee may, in its sole discretion, specify in the applicable Award Agreement or thereafter. The Committee may impose such conditions with respect to the exercise of Options, including without limitation, any relating to the application of federal or state securities laws, as it may deem necessary or advisable. (d) Payment. No Shares shall be delivered pursuant to any exercise of an Option until payment in full of the option price therefor is received by the Company. Such payment shall be made in cash, or its equivalent; provided, however, that the Committee may in its sole discretion (i) allow a delay in payment up to thirty (30) days from the date the Option, or portion thereof, is exercised; (ii) allow payment, in whole or in part, by exchanging Shares owned by the optionee (which are not the subject of any pledge or other security interest); (iii) allow payment, in whole or in part, by the surrender of Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Option; (iv) allow payment, in whole or in part, by the delivery of a notice that the Participant has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to the Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the Option exercise price, provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale; (v) allow payment, in whole or in part, by the delivery of property of any kind which constitutes good and valuable consideration; (vi) allow payment, in whole or in part, by the delivery of a full recourse promissory note bearing interest (at no less than such rate as shall then preclude the imputation of interest under the Code) and payable upon such terms as may be prescribed by the Committee; or (vii) allow payment by any combination of cash and cash equivalents and the foregoing subparagraphs (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) so long as the combined value of all such payments is at least equal to the applicable option price. In the case of a promissory note, the Committee may also prescribe the form of such note and the security, if any, to be given for such note. The Option may not be exercised, however, by delivery of a promissory note or by a loan from the Company when or where such loan or other extension of credit is prohibited by law. SECTION 7. Stock Appreciation Rights. (a) Grant. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Employees to whom Stock Appreciation Rights shall be granted, the number of Shares to be covered by each Stock Appreciation Right Award, the grant price thereof and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise thereof. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted in tandem with another Award, in addition to another Award, or freestanding and unrelated to another Award. Stock Appreciation Rights granted in tandem with or in addition to an Award may be granted either at the same time as the Award or at a later time. Except for Stock Appreciation Rights which are Substitute Awards, Stock Appreciation Rights shall have an exercise price of not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant or, in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with or in addition to another Award, at the time of grant of such related Award. 5 (b) Exercise and Payment. A Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the Participant to receive an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right over the grant price thereof. The Committee shall determine whether a Stock Appreciation Right shall be settled in cash, Shares or a combination of cash and Shares. (c) Other Terms and Conditions. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall determine, at or after the grant of a Stock Appreciation Right, the term, methods of exercise, methods and form of settlement, and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right. Any such determination by the Committee may be changed by the Committee from time to time and may govern the exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights granted or exercised prior to such determination as well as Stock Appreciation Rights granted or exercised thereafter. The Committee may impose such conditions or restrictions on the exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right as it shall deem appropriate. SECTION 8. Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. (a) Grant. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Employees to whom Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units shall be granted, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock and/or the number of Restricted Stock Units to be granted to each Participant, the duration of the period during which, and the conditions under which, the Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units may be forfeited to the Company, and the other terms and conditions of such Awards. (b) Transfer Restrictions. Shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, except, in the case of Restricted Stock, as provided in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreements. Certificates issued in respect of Shares of Restricted Stock shall be registered in the name of the Participant and deposited by such Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company. Upon the lapse of the restrictions applicable to such Shares of Restricted Stock, the Company shall deliver such certificates to the Participant or the Participant's legal representative. (c) Payment. Each Restricted Stock Unit shall have a value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share. Restricted Stock Units shall be paid in cash, Shares, other securities or other property, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, upon the lapse of the restrictions applicable thereto, or otherwise in accordance with the applicable Award Agreement. Dividends paid on any Shares of Restricted Stock may be paid directly to the Participant, or may be reinvested in additional Shares of Restricted Stock or in additional Restricted Stock Units, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. SECTION 9. Performance Awards. (a) Grant. The Committee shall have sole and complete authority to determine the Employees who shall receive a "Performance Award", which shall consist of a right which is (i) denominated in cash or Shares, (ii) valued, as determined by the Committee, in accordance with the achievement of such performance goals during such performance periods as the 6 Committee shall establish, and (iii) payable at such time and in such form as the Committee shall determine. (b) Terms and Conditions. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall determine the performance goals to be achieved during any performance period, the length of any performance period, the amount of any Performance Award and the amount and kind of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant to any Performance Award. (c) Payment of Performance Awards. Performance Awards may be paid in a lump sum or in installments following the close of the performance period or, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee, on a deferred basis. SECTION 10. Other Stock-Based Awards. (a) General. The Committee shall have authority to grant to eligible Employees an "Other Stock-Based Award", which shall consist of any right which is (i) not an Award described in Sections 6 through 9 above and (ii) an Award of Shares or an Award denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Shares (including, without limitation, securities convertible into Shares), as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan; provided that any such rights must comply, to the extent deemed desirable by the Committee, with Rule 16b-3 and applicable law. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Other Stock-Based Award. Except in the case of an Other Stock-Based Award that is a Substitute Award, the price at which securities may be purchased pursuant to any Other Stock-Based Award granted under this Plan, or the provision, if any, of any such Award that is analogous to the purchase or exercise price, shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the securities to which such Award relates on the date of grant. (b) Dividend Equivalents. In the sole and complete discretion of the Committee, an Award, whether made as an Other Stock-Based Award under this Section 10 or as an Award granted pursuant to Sections 6 through 9 hereof, may provide the Participant with dividends or dividend equivalents, payable in cash, Shares, other securities or other property on a current or deferred basis. SECTION 11. Amendment and Termination. (a) Amendments to the Plan. The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time; provided that no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation or termination shall be made without shareholder approval if such approval is necessary to comply with any tax or regulatory requirement, including for these purposes any approval requirement which is a prerequisite for exemptive relief from Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Committee may amend the Plan in such manner as may be necessary so as to have the Plan conform with local rules and regulations in any jurisdiction outside the United States. 7 (b) Amendments to Awards. The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter, suspend, discontinue, cancel or terminate, any Award theretofore granted, prospectively or retroactively; provided that any such waiver, amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuance, cancellation or termination that would impair the rights of any Participant or any holder or beneficiary of any Award theretofore granted shall not to that extent be effective without the consent of the affected Participant, holder or beneficiary. (c) Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events. The Committee is hereby authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in Section 4(b) hereof) affecting the Company, any Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan. (d) Cancellation. Any provision of this Plan or any Award Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, the Committee may cause any Award granted hereunder to be canceled in consideration of a cash payment or alternative Award made to the holder of such canceled Award equal in value to the Fair Market Value of such canceled Award. SECTION 12. General Provisions. (a) Nontransferability. (i) Except as otherwise provided by Section 12(a)(iii), each Award, and each right under any Award, shall be exercisable only by the Participant during the Participant's lifetime, or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant's guardian or legal representative or by a transferee receiving such Award pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order ("QDRO"), as determined by the Committee. (ii) Except as otherwise provided by Section 12(a)(iii), no Award that constitutes a "derivative security" for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a QDRO, and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate; provided that the designation of a beneficiary shall not constitute an assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance. (iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 12(a), the Committee, in its sole discretion, may determine to grant to any Participant an Award, or modify any existing Award, such that the Award, by its terms as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement, may be transferred by the Participant, in writing and with prior written notice to the Committee, by gift, without the receipt of any consideration, to a member of the Participant's immediate family, as defined in Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act, or to a 8 trust for the exclusive benefit of, or any other entity owned solely by, such members, provided, that an Award that has been so transferred shall continue to be subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Award as applicable to the original Participant, and that the Committee may, in its sole discretion, condition the transfer, exercise, lapse of restrictions or payment with respect to such Award upon the receipt by the Committee from the transferee of any additional documents requested by the Committee in connection with the transfer, exercise, lapse of restrictions or payment, including, without limitation, legal opinions and documents to evidence the transfer, exercise, lapse of restrictions or payment and to satisfy any requirements for an exemption under applicable federal and state securities laws. (b) No Rights to Awards. No Employee, Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Employees, Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient. (c) Share Certificates. All certificates for Shares or other securities of the Company or any Affiliate delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any stock exchange upon which such Shares or other securities are then listed, and any applicable Federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. (d) Delegation. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, the Committee may delegate to one or more officers or managers of the Company or any Affiliate, or to a committee of such officers or managers, the authority, subject to such terms and limitations as the Committee shall determine, to grant Awards to, or to cancel, modify or waive rights with respect to, or to alter, discontinue, suspend, or terminate Awards held by, Employees who (i) are not officers or directors of the Company for purposes of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, or any successor section thereto, or who are otherwise not subject to such Section 16, and (ii) are not "covered employees" within the meaning of Section 162(m), or any successor section thereto, or who are otherwise not subject to Section 162(m). (e) Withholding. A participant may be required to pay to the Company or any Affiliate and the Company or any Affiliate shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under the Plan or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property) of any applicable withholding taxes in respect of an Award, its exercise, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes. The Committee may provide for additional cash payments to holders of Awards to defray or offset any tax arising from the grant, vesting, exercise or payments of any Award. 9 (f) Award Agreements. Each Award hereunder shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement which shall be delivered to the Participant and shall specify the terms and conditions of the Award and any rules applicable thereto, including but not limited to the effect on such Award of the death, retirement or other termination of employment of a Participant and the effect, if any, of a change in control of the Company. (g) No Limit on Other Compensation Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan shall prevent the Company or any Affiliate from adopting or continuing in effect other compensation arrangements, which may, but need not, provide for the grant of options, restricted stock, Shares and other types of Awards provided for hereunder (subject to shareholder approval if such approval is required), and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. (h) No Right to Employment. The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate. Further, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement. (i) No Rights as Stockholder. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant or holder or beneficiary of any Award shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any Shares to be distributed under the Plan until he or she has become the holder of such Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in connection with each grant of Restricted Stock hereunder, the applicable Award shall specify if and to what extent the Participant shall not be entitled to the rights of a stockholder in respect of such Restricted Stock. (j) Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan and any Award Agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois. (k) Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect. (l) Other Laws. The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Shares or other consideration under an Award if, acting in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance or transfer of such Shares or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation or entitle the Company to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no Award granted hereunder shall 10 be construed as an offer to sell securities of the Company, and no such offer shall be outstanding, unless and until the Committee in its sole discretion has determined that any such offer, if made, would be in compliance with all applicable requirements of the U.S. federal securities laws. (m) No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor any Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company or any Affiliate. (n) No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated. (o) Headings. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof. SECTION 13. Term of the Plan. (a) Effective Date. The Plan shall be effective as of the date of its approval by the shareholders of the Company. (b) Expiration Date. No Award shall be granted under the Plan after December 31, 2005. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award granted hereunder may, and the authority of the Board or the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under any such Award shall, continue after December 31, 2005. 11