1
AS FILED WITH THE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 19, 1996
REGISTRATION NO. 333-________
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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LEAR CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 13-3386776
- -------------------------------- ------------------------------------
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
21557 Telegraph Road
Southfield, Michigan 48086-5008
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(Address of principal executive offices) (zip code)
Lear Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan
(Full title of the Plan)
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James H. Vandenberghe
Executive Vice President
Lear Corporation
21557 Telegraph Road
Southfield, Michigan 48086-5008
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(Name and address of agent for service)
(810) 746-1500
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(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===================================================================================================================================
TITLE OF SECURITIES AMOUNT TO BE PROPOSED MAXIMUM PROPOSED MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF
TO BE REGISTERED(1) REGISTERED(1) OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE(2) AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE(2) REGISTRATION FEE
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Common Stock, $.01 par value 2,200,000 shares $ 35.8125 $ 78,787,500 $ 23,875
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(1) Pursuant to Rule 416(a), this Registration Statement shall
be deemed to cover any additional shares of Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share, which may be issuable to the
Lear Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan.
(2) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the
registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(h) on the basis of
the average high and low prices reported for shares of
Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape
on November 14, 1996, which was $ 35.8125.
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PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN SECTION 10(A) PROSPECTUS
The document(s) containing the information specified in Part I of Form
S-8 will be sent or given to participating employees as specified by Rule
428(b)(1) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
These documents and the documents incorporated by reference into this
Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of Part II of this Registration
Statement, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the requirements
of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
Lear Corporation (the "Company") hereby incorporates the following
documents herein by reference:
(a) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31,1995;
(b) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended March 30, 1996;
(c) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended June 29, 1996;
(d) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
ended September 28, 1996;
(e) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 22, 1996;
(f) The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 27, 1996;
(g) All other reports filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), on or after December 31, 1995; and
(h) The description of the Company's Common Stock, $.01 par value
per share, contained in the Company's registration statement on Form 8-A, as
amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 8-A/A filed on April 5, 1994, including any
subsequent amendment or any report or other filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") updating such description.
In addition, all documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant
to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of
this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment to this Registration Statement which indicates that all securities
offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all such securities then
remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and to
be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is or is
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,
except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration
Statement.
ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
Not Applicable.
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ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
None.
ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The Company is a Delaware corporation. Reference is made to
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the "GCL"),
which provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or
completed action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by
reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at its request in such capacity
of another corporation or business organization against expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the
corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe that such person's conduct was unlawful. A
Delaware corporation may indemnify officers and directors in any action by or
in the right of a corporation under the same conditions, except that no
indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer or
director is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an officer or
director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action
referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him against the expenses
(including attorneys' fees) that such officer or director actually and
reasonably incurred.
Reference is also made to Section 102(b)(7) of the GCL, which permits
a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of
the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its
stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director,
except for liability (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to
the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good
faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law,
(iii) under Section 174 of the GCL or (iv) for any transaction from which the
director derived an improper personal benefit.
The certificate of incorporation of the Company provides for the
elimination of personal liability of a director for breach of fiduciary duty as
permitted by Section 102(b)(7) of the GCL and the by-laws of the Company
provide that the Company shall indemnify its directors and officers to the full
extent permitted by Section 145 of the GCL.
The Company has directors and officers liability insurance that
insures the directors and officers of the Company against certain liabilities.
In addition, Lehman Brothers Inc. has agreed to indemnify David P. Spalding,
James A. Stern and Alan H. Washkowitz, each being a director of the Company and
an officer or former officer of Lehman Brothers Inc., in connection with their
service as directors of the Company.
ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED
Not Applicable.
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS
A list of exhibits is set forth on the Index to Exhibits.
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ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS
(a) The undersigned Company hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales
are being made of the securities registered hereby, a post- effective
amendment to this Registration Statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or
events arising after the effective date of this Registration
Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
fundamental change in the information set forth in this
Registration Statement;
(iii) To include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed
in this Registration Statement or any material change to such
information in this Registration Statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) of this
section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3,
Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information required to be included in
a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the Company
pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability
under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a
post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which
remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned Company hereby further undertakes that, for
purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of
the Company's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of the annual report of the
employee benefit plans pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company
has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid
by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer
or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled
by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the
question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication
of such issue.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Company
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Southfield, Michigan on the 19th day of
November, 1996.
LEAR CORPORATION
By: /s/ Kenneth L. Way
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Kenneth L. Way
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Kenneth L. Way, Robert E. Rossiter and
James H. Vandenberghe and each of them (with full power to each of them to act
alone), his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all
exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all said attorneys-in-fact and agents,
or any of them, or their substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on
the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
--------- ----- ----
/s/ Kenneth L. Way Chairman of the Board and November 19, 1996
---------------------------------------- Chief Executive Officer
Kenneth L. Way (Principal Executive Officer)
/s/ Robert E. Rossiter Director, President and Chief November 19, 1996
---------------------------------------- Operating Officer
Robert E. Rossiter
/s/ James H. Vandenberghe Director, Executive Vice November 19, 1996
---------------------------------------- President and Chief Financial
James H. Vandenberghe Officer (Principal Financial
and Principal Accounting
Officer)
/s/ Larry W. McCurdy Director November 19, 1996
----------------------------------------
Larry W. McCurdy
/s/ Gian Andrea Botta Director November 19, 1996
----------------------------------------
Gian Andrea Botta
/s/ Robert W. Shower Director November 19, 1996
----------------------------------------
Robert W. Shower
/s/ David P. Spalding Director November 19, 1996
----------------------------------------
David P. Spalding
/s/ James A. Stern Director November 19, 1996
----------------------------------------
James A. Stern
/s/ Alan H. Washkowitz Director November 19, 1996
----------------------------------------
Alan H. Washkowitz
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EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
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4.1. Lear Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan
4.2 Form of certificate for the Registrant's Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share (filed as Exhibit 4.5 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8
(No. 33-55783) and incorporated herein by reference)
5.1 Opinion of Winston & Strawn as to the legality of
the securities being registered
23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
23.2 Consent of Price Waterhouse LLP
23.3 Consent of Winston & Strawn (included in their opinion
filed as Exhibit 5.1)
24.1 Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page hereof)
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EXHIBIT 4.1
LEAR CORPORATION
LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
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LEAR CORPORATION
LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Article 1. Establishment, Objectives and Duration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Article 2. Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Article 3. Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Article 4. Shares Subject to the Plan and Maximum Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Article 5. Eligibility and Participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Article 6. Stock Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Article 7. Stock Appreciation Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Article 8. Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Article 9. Performance Units and Performance Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Article 10. Performance Measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Article 11. Beneficiary Designation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Article 12. Deferrals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Article 13. Rights of Employees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Article 14. Change in Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Article 15. Amendment, Modification and Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Article 16. Withholding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Article 17. Indemnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Article 18. Successors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Article 19. Legal Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
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LEAR CORPORATION
LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
ARTICLE 1. ESTABLISHMENT, OBJECTIVES AND DURATION
1.1 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PLAN. Lear Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (hereinafter referred to as the "Company"), hereby establishes a
long-term incentive compensation plan to be known as the "Lear Corporation
Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan" (hereinafter referred to as the "Plan"), as set
forth in this document. The Plan permits the grant of Nonqualified Stock
Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock,
Restricted Units, Performance Shares and Performance Units. In addition, the
Plan provides the opportunity for the deferral of the payment of salary,
bonuses and other forms of incentive compensation.
Subject to the approval of the Company's stockholders, the Plan shall
become effective as of January 1, 1996 (the "Effective Date") and shall remain
in effect as provided in Section 1.3 hereof.
1.2 OBJECTIVES OF THE PLAN. The objectives of the Plan are to optimize
the profitability and growth of the Company through long-term incentives which
are consistent with the Company's objectives and which link the interests of
Participants to those of the Company's stockholders; to provide Participants
with an incentive for excellence in individual performance; and to promote
teamwork among Participants; and to give the Company a significant advantage in
attracting and retaining officers, key employees and directors.
The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the Company in its
ability to motivate, attract and retain the services of Participants who make
significant contributions to the Company's success and to allow Participants to
share in the success of the Company.
1.3 DURATION OF THE PLAN. The Plan shall commence on the Effective
Date, as described in Section 1.1 hereof, and shall remain in effect, subject
to the right of the Board of Directors to amend or terminate the Plan at any
time pursuant to Article 15 hereof, until all Shares subject to it pursuant to
Article 4 shall have been purchased or acquired according to the Plan's
provisions. However, in no event may an Award be granted under the Plan on or
after December 31, 2006.
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ARTICLE 2. DEFINITIONS
Whenever used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set
forth below, and when the meaning is intended, the initial letter of the word
shall be capitalized:
2.1 "AFFILIATES" means the Company's subsidiaries within the meaning of
Code Section 424(f) and, if any, the Company's parent within the meaning of
Code Section 424(e).
2.2 "AWARD" means, individually or collectively, a grant under this Plan
of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock Appreciation
Rights, Restricted Stock, Restricted Units, Performance Shares or Performance
Units.
2.3 "AWARD AGREEMENT" means an agreement entered into by the Company and
a Participant setting forth the terms and provisions applicable to an Award or
Awards granted under this Plan to such Participant or the terms and provisions
applicable to an election to defer compensation under Section 8.2.
2.4 "BENEFICIAL OWNER" or "BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP" shall have the meaning
ascribed to such term in Rule 13d-3 of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Exchange Act.
2.5 "BOARD" or "BOARD OF DIRECTORS" means the Board of Directors of the
Company.
2.6 "CAUSE" shall have the meaning set forth in any unexpired employment
or severance agreement between the Participant and the Company and/or an
Affiliate, and, in the absence of any such agreement, shall mean (i) the
willful and continued failure of the Participant to substantially perform his
or her duties with or for the Company or an Affiliate, (ii) the engaging by the
Participant in conduct which is significantly injurious to the Company or an
Affiliate, monetarily or otherwise, (iii) the Participant's conviction of a
felony, (iv) the Participant's abuse of illegal drugs or other controlled
substances or (v) the Participant's habitual intoxication. Unless otherwise
defined in the Participant's employment or severance agreement, an act or
omission is "willful" for this purpose if such act or omission was knowingly
done, or knowingly omitted to be done, by the Participant not in good faith and
without reasonable belief that such act or omission was in the best interest of
the Company or an Affiliate.
2.7 "CHANGE IN CONTROL" of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred
(as of a particular day, as specified by the Board) as of the first day any one
or more of the following paragraphs shall have been satisfied:
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(a) Any Person (other than the Company or a trustee or other fiduciary
holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, or
a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of
the Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership
of stock of the Company) becomes the Beneficial Owner, directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company, representing more than
twenty percent of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding securities; or
(b) During any period of twenty-six consecutive months (not including
any period prior to the Effective Date), 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 a vote of at least
two-thirds of the Directors then still in office who either were
Directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or
nomination for election was so approved) cease for any reason
(except for death, Disability or voluntary Retirement) to constitute
a majority thereof; or
(c) The stockholders of the Company approve: (i) a plan of complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or (ii) an agreement for
the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the Company's
assets; or (iii) a merger, consolidation or reorganization of the
Company with or involving any other corporation, other than a
merger, consolidation or reorganization that would result in 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)
at least eighty percent of the combined voting power of the voting
securities of the Company (or such surviving entity) outstanding
immediately after such merger, consolidation, or reorganization.
2.8 "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time
to time.
2.9 "COMMITTEE" means, as specified in Article 3 herein, the
Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee as may be appointed
by the Board to administer the Plan.
2.10 "COMPANY" means Lear Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and any
successor thereto as provided in Article 18 herein.
2.11 "DIRECTOR" means any individual who is a member of the Board of
Directors of the Company.
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2.12 (1) "DISABILITY" shall mean (a) long-term disability as
defined under the Company's long-term disability plan covering that individual,
or (b) if the individual is not covered by such a long-term disability plan,
disability as defined for purposes eligibility for a disability award under the
Social Security Act.
2.13 "EFFECTIVE DATE" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in
Section 1.1 hereof.
2.14 "ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE" means any officer or key employee of the Company
or any of its Affiliates. Directors who are not employed by the Company or its
Affiliates shall not be considered Eligible Employees under this Plan.
2.15 "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
from time to time, or any successor act thereto.
2.16 "EXERCISE PRICE" means the price at which a Share may be purchased
by a Participant pursuant to an Option.
2.17 "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means:
(a) the average of the high and low prices of publicly traded Shares on
the national securities exchange on which the Shares as listed (if
the Shares are so listed) or on the NASDAQ National Market System
(if the Shares are regularly quoted on the NASDAQ National Market
System);
(b) if not so listed or regularly quoted, the mean between the closing
bid and asked prices of publicly traded Shares in the over-the-
counter market; and
(c) if such bid and asked prices are not available, as reported by any
nationally recognized quotation service selected by the Committee or
as determined by the Committee.
2.18 "FREESTANDING SAR" means an SAR that is granted independently of any
Options, as described in Article 7 herein.
2.19 "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" or "ISO" means an option to purchase
Shares granted under Article 6 herein which is designated as an Incentive Stock
Option and that is intended to meet the requirements of Code Section 422.
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2.20 "NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" means an individual who is a member of
the Board of Directors of the Company but who is not an employee of the Company
or any of its Affiliates.
2.21 "NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION" or "NQSO" means an option to purchase
Shares granted under Article 6 herein that is not intended to meet the
requirements of Code Section 422.
2.22 "OPTION" means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock
Option, as described in Article 6 herein.
2.23 "PARTICIPANT" means an Eligible Employee who has been selected by
the Committee to participate in the Plan pursuant to Section 5.2 and who has
outstanding an Award granted under the Plan. The term "Participant" shall not
include Nonemployee Directors.
2.24 "PERFORMANCE-BASED EXCEPTION" means the performance-based exception
from the tax deductibility limitations of Code Section 162(m) and any
regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.25 "PERFORMANCE SHARE" means an Award granted to a Participant, as
described in Article 9 herein.
2.26 "PERFORMANCE UNIT" means an Award granted to a Participant, as
described in Article 9 herein.
2.27 "PERSON" shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section
3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof,
including a "group" as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.
2.28 "RESTRICTION PERIOD" means the period during which the transfer of
Shares of Restricted Stock/Units is limited in some way (based on the passage
of time, the achievement of performance objectives, or upon the occurrence of
other events as determined by the Committee, at its discretion), and/or the
Restricted Stock/Units are not vested.
2.29 "RESTRICTED STOCK" means a contingent grant of stock awarded to a
Participant pursuant to Article 8 herein.
2.30 "RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT" means a Restricted Unit granted to a
Participant, as described in Article 8 herein, which is payable in Shares.
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2.31 "RESTRICTED UNIT" means a notional account established pursuant to
an Award granted to a Participant, as described in Article 8 herein, which is
(a) credited with amounts equal to Shares, or some other unit of measurement
specified in the Award Agreement, (b) subject to restrictions and (c) payable
in cash or Shares.
2.32 "RETIREMENT" shall mean termination of employment on or after (a)
attaining the age established by the Company as the normal retirement age in
any unexpired employment agreement between the Participant and the Company
and/or an Affiliate, or, in the absence of such an agreement, the normal
retirement age under the tax-qualified defined benefit retirement plan or, if
none, the tax-qualified defined contribution retirement plan, sponsored by the
Company or an Affiliate in which the Participant participates, or (b) attaining
age sixty-two with ten years of service with the Company and/or an Affiliate
provided the retirement is approved by the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company unless the Participant is an officer subject to Section 16 of the
Exchange Act in which case the retirement must be approved by the Committee.
2.33 "SHARES" means the shares of common stock, $.01 par value, of the
Company.
2.34 "STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" or "SAR" means an Award, granted alone or
in connection with a related Option, designated as an SAR, pursuant to the
terms of Article 7 herein.
2.35 "TANDEM SAR" means an SAR that is granted in connection with a
related Option pursuant to Article 7 herein, the exercise of which requires
forfeiture of the right to purchase a Share under the related Option (and when
a Share is purchased under the Option, the Tandem SAR shall similarly be
canceled).
ARTICLE 3. ADMINISTRATION
3.1 THE COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation
Committee of the Board, or by any other Committee appointed by the Board, which
Committee (unless otherwise determined by the Board) shall satisfy the
"nonemployee director" requirements of Rule 16 b-3 under the Exchange Act and
the regulations of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and the "outside director"
provisions of Code Section 162(m), or any successor regulations or provisions.
The members of the Committee shall be appointed from time to time by, and shall
serve at the discretion of, the Board of Directors. The Committee shall act by
a majority of its members at the time in office and eligible to vote on any
particular matter, and such action may be taken either by a vote at a meeting
or in writing without a meeting.
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3.2 AUTHORITY OF THE COMMITTEE. Except as limited by law and subject to
the provisions herein, the Committee shall have full power to: select Eligible
Employees who shall participate in the Plan; select Nonemployee Directors to
receive Awards under Article 6; determine the sizes and types of Awards;
determine the terms and conditions of Awards in a manner consistent with the
Plan; construe and interpret the Plan and any agreement or instrument entered
into under the Plan; establish, amend or waive rules and regulations for the
Plan's administration; and (subject to the provisions of Article 15 herein)
amend the terms and conditions of any outstanding Award to the extent such
terms and conditions are within the discretion of the Committee as provided in
the Plan. Further, the Committee shall make all other determinations which may
be necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. As permitted by
law and consistent with Section 3.1, the Committee may delegate its authority
as identified herein.
3.3 DECISIONS BINDING. All determinations and decisions made by the
Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be final, conclusive and
binding on all persons, including the Company, its Board of Directors, its
stockholders, all Affiliates, employees, Participants and their estates and
beneficiaries.
ARTICLE 4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN AND MAXIMUM AWARDS
4.1 NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE FOR GRANTS. Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 4.3 herein, the number of Shares that may be issued or
transferred to Participants under the Plan shall be 2,200,000 Shares. The
maximum numbers of Shares that may be issued or transferred to the Participants
under Restricted Stock Units and Performance Units shall be 700,000.
The maximum number of Shares and Share equivalent units that may be
granted during any calendar year to any one Participant, under Options,
Freestanding SARs, Restricted Stock, Restricted Units or Performance Shares,
shall be 50,000 Shares (on an aggregate basis for all such types of Awards),
which limit shall apply regardless of whether such compensation is paid in
Shares or in cash.
4.2 LAPSED AWARDS. If any Award granted under this Plan is canceled,
terminates, expires or lapses for any reason, any Shares subject to such Award
again shall be available for the grant of an Award under the Plan (other than
for purposes of Subsection 4.1 above).
4.3 ADJUSTMENTS IN AUTHORIZED SHARES.
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(a) In the event the Shares, as presently constituted, shall be changed
into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares of stock
or other securities of the Company or of another corporation
(whether by reason of merger, consolidation, recapitalization,
reclassification, split, reverse split, combination of shares, or
otherwise) or if the number of such Shares shall be increased
through the payment of a stock dividend, then there shall be
substituted for or added to each Share theretofore appropriated or
thereafter subject or which may become subject to an Award under
this Plan, the number and kind of shares of stock or other
securities into which each outstanding Share shall be so changed, or
for which each such Share shall be exchanged, or to which each such
Share shall be entitled, as the case may be. Outstanding Awards
shall also be appropriately amended as to price and other terms as
may be necessary to reflect the foregoing events. In the event
there shall be any other change in the number or kind of the
outstanding Shares, or of any stock or other securities into which
such Shares shall have been changed, or for which it shall have been
exchanged, then, if the Committee shall, in its sole discretion,
determine that such change equitably requires an adjustment in any
Award therefore granted or which may be granted under the Plan, such
adjustments shall be made in accordance with such determination.
(b) Fractional Shares resulting from any adjustment in Awards pursuant
to this section may be settled in cash or otherwise as the Committee
shall determine. Notice of any adjustment shall be given by the
Company to each Participant who holds an Award which has been so
adjusted and such adjustment (whether or not such notice is given)
shall be effective and binding for all purposes of the Plan.
ARTICLE 5. ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
5.1 ELIGIBILITY. Persons eligible to participate in this Plan consist
of all Eligible Employees, including Eligible Employees who are members of the
Board, and Nonemployee Directors but only to the extent provided herein.
5.2 ACTUAL PARTICIPATION. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the
Committee may, from time to time, select from all Eligible Employees, those to
whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount of each
Award.
ARTICLE 6. STOCK OPTIONS
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6.1 GRANT OF OPTIONS. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan,
Options may be granted to Eligible Employees in such number, and upon such
terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the
Committee. In addition, NQSO may be granted to Nonemployee Directors in such
number, and upon such terms, and at any time and from time to time as shall be
determined by the Committee.
6.2 AWARD AGREEMENT. Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Award
Agreement that shall specify the Exercise Price, the duration of the Option,
the number of Shares to which the Option pertains, the manner, time and rate of
exercise or vesting of the Option, and such other provisions as the Committee
shall determine. The Award Agreement also shall specify whether the Option is
intended to be an ISO within the meaning of Code Section 422 or an NQSO which
is not intended to qualify under the provisions of Code Section 422.
6.3 EXERCISE PRICE. The Exercise Price for each share subject to an
Option granted under this Plan shall be at least equal to one hundred percent
of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted.
6.4 DURATION OF OPTIONS. Each Option granted to an Eligible Employee or
a Nonemployee Director shall expire at such time as the Committee shall
determine at the time of grant; provided, however, that no Option shall be
exercisable later than the tenth anniversary of the date of its grant.
6.5 DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS. The Committee may grant dividend equivalents
in connection with Options granted under this Plan. Such dividend equivalents
may be payable in cash or in Shares, upon such terms as the Committee, in its
sole discretion, deems appropriate.
6.6 EXERCISE OF OPTIONS. Options granted under this Article 6 shall be
exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as
the Committee shall in each instance approve, which need not be the same for
each Award or for each Participant.
6.7 PAYMENT. Options granted under this Article 6 shall be exercised by
the delivery of a written notice of exercise to the Company, setting forth the
number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised
accompanied by full payment for the Shares and any withholding tax-relating to
the exercise of the Option.
The Exercise Price, and any related withholding taxes, upon exercise of
any Option shall be payable to the Company in full either: (a) in cash, or its
equivalent, in United States dollars, or (b)
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if permitted in the governing Award Agreement, by tendering previously acquired
Shares having an aggregate Fair Market Value at the time of exercise equal to
the total Exercise Price, or (c) if permitted in the governing Award Agreement,
by a combination of (a) and (b). The Committee also may allow cashless
exercise as permitted under Federal Reserve Board's Regulation T, subject to
applicable securities law restrictions, or by any other means which the
Committee determines to be consistent with the Plan's purpose and applicable
law.
6.8 RESTRICTIONS ON SHARE TRANSFERABILITY. The Committee may impose
such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option
granted under this Article 6 as the Committee deems necessary or advisable,
including, without limitation, restrictions under applicable federal securities
laws, under the requirements of any stock exchange or market upon which such
Shares are then listed and/or traded, and under any blue sky or state
securities laws applicable to such Shares.
6.9 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Each Option Award Agreement shall set
forth the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the
Option following termination of the Participant's employment with the Company
and all Affiliates. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion
of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with
each Participant or Nonemployee Director, need not be uniform among all Options
issued pursuant to this Article 6, and may reflect distinctions based on the
reasons for termination of employment.
6.10 NONTRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. No Option granted under the Plan may
be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or
hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.
Further, all Options granted to a Participant under the Plan shall be
exercisable during the Participant's lifetime only by such Participant or the
Participant's guardian or legal representative. The Committee may, in its
discretion, require a Participant's guardian or legal representative to supply
it with such evidence as the Committee deems necessary to establish the
authority of the guardian or legal representative to act on behalf of the
Participant.
ARTICLE 7. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
7.1 GRANT OF SARS. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
SARs may be granted to Participants at any time and from time to time as shall
be determined by the Committee. The Committee may grant Freestanding SARs,
Tandem SARs or any combination of these forms of SAR.
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The Committee shall have sole discretion in determining the number of SARs
granted to each Participant (subject to Article 4 herein) and, consistent with
the provisions of the Plan, in determining the terms and conditions pertaining
to such SARs.
The grant price of a Freestanding SAR shall equal the Fair Market Value of
a Share on the date of grant of the SAR. The grant price of Tandem SARs shall
equal the Exercise Price of the related Option.
7.2 EXERCISE OF TANDEM SARS. Tandem SARs may be exercised for all or
part of the Shares subject to the related Option upon the surrender of the
right to exercise the equivalent portion of the related Option. A Tandem SAR
may be exercised only with respect to the Shares for which its related Option
is then exercisable.
7.3 EXERCISE OF FREESTANDING SARS. Freestanding SARs may be exercised
upon whatever terms and conditions the Committee, in its sole discretion,
imposes upon them.
7.4 AWARD AGREEMENT. Each SAR grant shall be evidenced by an Award
Agreement that shall specify the grant price, the term of the SAR and such
other provisions as the Committee shall determine.
7.5 TERM OF SARS. The term of an SAR granted under the Plan shall be
determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion; provided, however, that
such term shall not exceed ten years.
7.6 PAYMENT OF SAR AMOUNT. Upon exercise of an SAR, a Participant shall
be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by
multiplying:
(a) The excess (or some portion of such excess as determined at the
time of the grant by the Committee) if any, of the Fair Market
Value of a Share on the date of exercise of the SAR over the
grant price specified in the Award Agreement; by
(b) The number of Shares with respect to which the SAR is
exercised.
At the sole discretion of the Committee, the payment upon SAR exercise may
be in cash, in Shares of equivalent Fair Market Value or in some combination
thereof.
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7.7 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Each SAR Award Agreement shall set forth
the extent to which the Participant shall have the right to exercise the SAR
following termination of the Participant's employment with the Company and all
Affiliates. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the
Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement entered into with
Participants, need not be uniform among all SARs issued pursuant to the Plan,
and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of
employment.
7.8 NONTRANSFERABILITY OF SARS. Except as otherwise provided in a
Participant's Award Agreement, no SAR granted under the Plan may be sold,
transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated, other
than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Further, except as
otherwise provided in a Participant's Award Agreement, all SARs granted to a
Participant under the Plan shall be exercisable during the Participant's
lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant's guardian or legal
representative. The Committee may, in its discretion, require a Participant's
guardian or legal representative to supply it with such evidence as the
Committee deems necessary to establish the authority of the guardian or legal
representative to act on behalf of the Participant.
ARTICLE 8. RESTRICTED STOCK, RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS AND RESTRICTED UNITS
8.1 GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK/UNITS. Subject to the terms and
provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, at any time and from time to time,
grant Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Units to Participants in such amounts
as the Committee shall determine. Each grant of Restricted Stock shall be
represented by the number of Shares to which the Award relates. Each grant of
restricted Units shall be represented by the number of Share equivalent units
to which the Award relates.
8.2 DEFERRAL OF COMPENSATION INTO RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS. Subject to
the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee may, at any time and from
time to time, allow (or require with respect to bonuses) selected Eligible
Employees to defer the payment of any portion of their salary and/or annual
bonuses pursuant to this Section. A Participant's deferral under this Section
shall be credited to the Participant in the form of Restricted Stock Units.
The Committee shall establish rules and procedures for such deferrals as it
deems appropriate.
In consideration for forgoing compensation, the dollar amount so deferred
by a Participant shall be increased by twenty-five percent (or such lesser
percentage as the Committee may determine) for purposes of determining the
amount of Restricted Stock Units to credit to the Participant. If a
Participant's compensation is so deferred, there shall be credited to the
Participant
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as of the date specified in the Award Agreement a number of Restricted Stock
Units (determined to the nearest 100th of a unit) equal to the amount of the
deferral (increased as described above) divided by the Fair Market Value of a
Share on such date.
8.3 AWARD AGREEMENT. Each Restricted Stock/Unit grant shall be
evidenced by an Award Agreement that shall specify the Restriction Periods, the
number of Shares or Share equivalent units granted, and such other provisions
as the Committee shall determine.
8.4 NONTRANSFERABILITY. Except as provided in this Article 8, the
Restricted Stock/Units granted herein may not be sold, transferred, pledged,
assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the end of the
applicable Restriction Period established by the Committee and as specified in
the Award Agreement, or upon earlier satisfaction of any other conditions, as
specified by the Committee in its sole discretion and as set forth in the Award
Agreement. All rights with respect to Restricted Stock/Units granted to a
Participant under the Plan shall be available during the Participant's lifetime
only to such Participant or the Participant's guardian or legal representative.
The Committee may, in its discretion, require a Participant's guardian or legal
representative to supply it with such evidence as the Committee deems necessary
to establish the authority of the guardian or legal representative to act on
behalf of the Participant.
8.5 OTHER RESTRICTIONS. Subject to Article 11 herein, the Committee may
impose such other conditions and/or restrictions on any restricted Stock/Units
granted pursuant to the Plan as it deems advisable including, without
limitation, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific performance
objectives (Company-wide, business unit, and/or individual), time-based
restrictions on vesting following the attainment of the performance objectives,
and/or restrictions under applicable federal or state securities laws.
The Company shall retain the certificates representing Shares of
restricted Stock in the Company's possession until such time as all conditions
and/or restrictions applicable to such Shares have been satisfied.
8.6 PAYMENT OF AWARDS. Except as otherwise provided in this Article 8,
(i) Shares covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under the Plan shall
become freely transferable by the Participant after the last day of the
applicable Restriction Period and (ii) Share equivalent units covered by each
Restricted Unit under Section 8.1 or 8.2 shall be paid out in cash or Shares to
the Participant following the last day of the applicable Restriction Period or
such later date as provided in the Award Agreement.
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8.7 VOTING RIGHTS. During the Restriction Period, Participants
holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise full voting
rights with respect to those Shares.
8.8 DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS. During the Restriction Period,
Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock/Units hereunder shall be
credited with regular cash dividends or dividend equivalents paid with respect
to the underlying Shares or Share equivalent units while they are so held.
Such dividends may be paid currently, accrued as contingent cash obligations,
or converted into additional Shares or units of Restricted Stock/Units, upon
such terms as the Committee establishes.
The Committee may apply any restrictions to the crediting and payment of
dividends and other distributions that the Committee deems advisable. Without
limiting the generality of the preceding sentence, if the grant or vesting of
Restricted Stock/Units is designed to qualify for the Performance-Based
Exception, the Committee may apply any restrictions it deems appropriate to the
payment of dividends declared with respect to such Restricted Stock/Units, such
that the dividends and/or the Restricted Stock/Units maintain eligibility for
the Performance-Based Exception.
8.9 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Each Award Agreement shall set forth the
extent to which the Participant shall have the right to retain unvested
Restricted Stock/Units following termination of the Participant's employment
with the Company or an Affiliate. Such provisions shall be determined in the
sole discretion of the Committee, shall be included in the Award Agreement
entered into with each Participant, need not be uniform among all Awards of
Restricted Stock/Units issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect
distinctions based on the reasons for termination of employment.
ARTICLE 9. PERFORMANCE UNITS AND PERFORMANCE SHARES
9.1 GRANT OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/SHARES. Subject to the terms of the
Plan, Performance Units and/or Performance Shares may be granted to
Participants in such amounts and upon such terms, and at any time and from time
to time, as shall be determined by the Committee.
9.2 VALUE OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/SHARES. Each Performance Unit shall have
an initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant.
Each Performance Share shall have an initial value equal to the Fair Market
Value of a Share on the date of grant. The Committee shall set performance
objectives in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are
met, will determine the number and/or value of Performance Units/Shares that
will be paid out to the
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Participant. For purposes of this Article 9, the time period during which
the performance objectives must be met shall be called a "Performance Period"
and shall be set by the Committee in its discretion.
9.3 EARNING OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/SHARES. Subject to the terms of this
Plan, after the applicable Performance Period has ended, the holder of
Performance Units/Shares shall be entitled to receive payout on the number and
value of Performance Units/Shares earned by the Participant over the
Performance Period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the
corresponding performance objectives have been achieved.
9.4 AWARD AGREEMENT. Each grant of Performance Units and/or Performance
Shares shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement which shall specify the
material terms and conditions of the Award, and such other provisions as the
Committee shall determine.
9.5 FORM AND TIMING OF PAYMENT OF PERFORMANCE UNITS/SHARES. Except as
provided in Article 12, payment of earned Performance Units/Shares shall be
made within seventy-five calendar days following the close of the applicable
Performance Period in a manner determined by the Committee, in its sole
discretion. Subject to the terms of this Plan, the Committee, in its sole
discretion, may pay earned Performance Units/Shares in the form of cash or in
Shares (or in a combination thereof). Such Shares may be paid subject to any
restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee.
9.6 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT DUE TO DEATH, DISABILITY, OR RETIREMENT.
Unless determined otherwise by the Committee and set forth in the Participant's
Award Agreement, in the event the employment of a Participant is terminated by
reason of death, Disability or Retirement during a Performance Period, the
Participant shall receive a payout of the Performance Units/Shares which is
prorated, as specified by the Committee in its discretion in the Award
Agreement. Payment of earned Performance Units/Shares shall be made at a time
specified by the Committee in its sole discretion and set forth in the
Participant's Award Agreement.
9.7 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT FOR OTHER REASONS. In the event that a
Participant's employment terminates during a Performance Period for any reason
other than those reasons set forth in Section 9.6 herein, all Performance
Units/Shares shall be forfeited by the Participant to the Company, unless
determined otherwise by the Committee in the Participant's Award Agreement.
9.8 NONTRANSFERABILITY. Except as otherwise provided in a Participant's
Award Agreement, Performance Units/Shares may not be sold, transferred,
pledged, assigned or otherwise
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alienated or hypothecated, other than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution. Further, except as otherwise provided in a Participant's Award
Agreement, a Participant's rights under the Plan shall be exercisable during
the Participant's lifetime only by such Participant or Participant's guardian
or legal representative. The Committee may, in its discretion, require a
Participant's guardian or legal representative to supply it with such evidence
as the Committee deems necessary to establish the authority of the guardian or
legal representative to act on behalf of the Participant.
ARTICLE 10. PERFORMANCE MEASURES
Unless and until the Committee proposes for shareholder approval and the
Company's shareholders approve a change in the general performance measures set
forth in this Article 10, the attainment of which may determine the degree of
payout and/or vesting with respect to Awards which are designed to qualify for
the Performance-Based Exception, the performance measure(s) to be used for
purposes of such awards shall be chosen from among the following alternatives:
(a) return to shareholders (absolute or peer-group comparative);
(b) stock price increase (absolute or peer-group comparative);
(c) cumulative net income (absolute or competitive growth rates
comparative);
(d) return on equity;
(e) return on capital;
(f) cash flow, including operating cash flow, free cash flow, discounted
cash flow return on investment, and cash flow in excess of cost of
capital;
(g) economic value added (income in excess of capital costs); or
(h) market share.
The Committee shall have the discretion to adjust the determinations of
the degree of attainment of the preestablished performance objectives;
provided, however, that Awards which are designed to qualify for the
Performance-Based Exception may not be adjusted upward (the Committee shall
retain the discretion to adjust such Awards downward), except to the extent
permitted under Code Section 162(m) to reflect accounting changes or other
events.
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In the event that Code Section 162(m) or applicable tax and/or securities
laws change to permit Committee discretion to alter the governing performance
measures without obtaining shareholder approval of such changes, the Committee
shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining shareholder
approval. In addition, in the event that the Committee determines that it is
advisable to grant Awards which shall not qualify for the Performance-Based
Exception, the Committee may make such grants without satisfying the
requirements of Code Section 162(m).
ARTICLE 11. BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION
Each Participant under the Plan may, from time to time, name any
beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may be named contingently or successively) to
whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case of the death of the
Participant before he or she receives any or all of such benefit. Each such
designation shall revoke all prior designations by the same Participant, shall
be in a form prescribed by the Committee during the Participant's lifetime. If
the Participant's designated beneficiary predeceases the Participant or no
beneficiary has been designated, benefits remaining unpaid at the Participant's
death shall be paid to the Participant's spouse or if none, the Participant's
estate.
ARTICLE 12. DEFERRALS
The Committee may permit or require a Participant to defer such
Participant's receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that
would otherwise be due to such Participant by virtue of the exercise of an
Option or SAR, the lapse or waiver of restrictions with respect to Restricted
Stock/Units, or the satisfaction of any requirements or objectives with respect
to Performance Units/Shares. If any such deferral election is permitted or
required, the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, establish rules and
procedures for such deferrals. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee in
its sole discretion may defer payment of cash or the delivery of Shares that
would otherwise be due to a Participant under the Plan if such payment or
delivery would result in compensation not deductible by the Company or an
Affiliate by virtue of Code Section 162(m). Such a deferral may continue until
the payment or delivery would result in compensation deductible by the Company
under Code Section 162 (m).
ARTICLE 13. RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES
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13.1 EMPLOYMENT. Nothing in the Plan shall interfere with or limit in
any way the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate any
Participant's employment at any time, or confer upon any Participant any right
to continue in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate.
13.2 PARTICIPATION. No Eligible Employee shall have the right to be
selected to receive an Award under this Plan, or, having been so selected, to
be selected to receive a future Award.
ARTICLE 14. CHANGE IN CONTROL
14.1 TREATMENT OF OUTSTANDING AWARDS. Upon the occurrence of a Change in
Control, unless otherwise specifically prohibited under applicable laws, or by
the rules and regulations of any governing governmental agencies or national
securities exchanges:
(a) Any and all outstanding Options and SARs granted hereunder shall
become immediately exercisable, and shall remain exercisable
throughout their entire term.
(b) Any Periods of Restriction and restrictions imposed on Restricted
Stock/Units shall lapse; provided, however, that the degree of
vesting associated with Restricted Stock/Units which has been
conditioned upon the achievement of performance conditions pursuant
to Section 8.4 herein shall be determined in the manner set forth in
Section 14.1(c) herein.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in the Award Agreement, the vesting of
all Performance Units and Performance Shares shall be accelerated as
of the effective date of the Change in Control, and there shall be
paid out in cash to Participants within thirty days following the
effective date of the Change in Control a pro rata amount based upon
an assumed achievement of all relevant performance objectives at
target levels, and upon the length of time within the Performance
Period which has elapsed prior to the effective date of the Change
in Control; provided, however, that in the event the Committee
determines that actual performance to the effective date of the
Change in Control exceeds target levels, the prorated payouts shall
be made at levels commensurate with such actual performance
(determined by extrapolating such actual performance to the end of
the Performance Period), based upon the length of time within the
Performance Period which has elapsed prior to the effective date of
the Change in Control.
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14.2 TERMINATION, AMENDMENT, AND MODIFICATIONS OF CHANGE IN-CONTROL
PROVISIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan or any Award
Agreement provision, the provisions of this Article 14 may not be terminated,
amended, or modified on or after the effective date of a Change in Control to
affect adversely any Award theretofore granted under the Plan without the prior
written consent of the Participant with respect to said Participant's
outstanding Awards.
ARTICLE 15. AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION
15.1 AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION AND TERMINATION. Subject to Section 14.2
herein, the Board may at any time and from time to time, alter, amend, modify
or terminate the Plan in whole or in part.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee may modify,
extend or renew outstanding Awards under the Plan, or accept the surrender of
outstanding Awards (to the extent not theretofore exercised) and grant new
Awards in substitution therefor (to the extent not theretofore exercised). The
Committee shall not, however, modify any outstanding Incentive Stock Option so
as to specify a lower Exercise Price. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
modification of an Award shall, without the consent of the Participant, alter
or impair any rights or obligations under any Award theretofore granted under
the Plan.
15.2 ADJUSTMENT OF AWARDS UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF CERTAIN UNUSUAL OR
NONRECURRING EVENTS. The Committee may 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 4.3 hereof) affecting the Company or the financial statements of the
Company 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, subject to the
requirements of Code Section 162(m) for the Performance-Based Exception in the
case of Awards designed to qualify for the Performance-Based Exception.
15.3 AWARDS PREVIOUSLY GRANTED. No termination, amendment or
modification of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award
previously granted under the Plan, without the written consent of the
Participant holding such Award.
15.4 COMPLIANCE WITH CODE SECTION 162(M). Awards relating to years
after 1996, when Code Section 162(m) is applicable, shall comply with the
requirements of Code Section 162(m); provided, however, that in the event the
Committee determines that such compliance is not desired
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with respect to any Award or Awards available for grant under the Plan, then
compliance with Code Section 162(m) will not be required. In addition, in the
event that changes are made to Code Section 162(m) to permit greater
flexibility with respect to any Award or Awards available under the Plan, the
Committee may, subject to this Article 15, make any adjustments it deems
appropriate.
ARTICLE 16. WITHHOLDING
16.1 TAX WITHHOLDING. The Company shall have the power and the right to
deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount
(either in cash or Shares) sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local
taxes, domestic or foreign, required by law or regulation to be withheld with
respect to any taxable event arising as a result of this Plan.
16.2 SHARE WITHHOLDING. With respect to withholding required upon the
exercise of Options or SARs, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted
Stock, or upon any other taxable event arising as a result of Awards granted
hereunder, the Company may satisfy the minimum withholding requirement for
supplemental wages, in whole or in part, by withholding Shares having a Fair
Market Value (determined on the date the Participant recognizes taxable income
on the Award) equal to the withholding tax required to be collected on the
transaction. The Participant may elect, subject to the approval of the
Committee, to deliver the necessary funds to satisfy the withholding obligation
to the Company, in which case there will be no reduction in the Shares
otherwise distributable to the Participant.
ARTICLE 17. INDEMNIFICATION
Each person who is or been a member of the Committee, or of the Board,
shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from any
loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be imposed upon or reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with or resulting from any claim, action,
suit, or proceeding to which such person may be a party or in which such person
may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to act under the Plan
and against and from any and all amounts paid by such person in a settlement
approved by the Company, or paid by such person in satisfaction of any judgment
in any such action, suit, or proceeding against such person, provided such
person shall give the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and
defend the same before such person undertakes to handle and defend it. The
foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights
of indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under the Company's
Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any
power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
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ARTICLE 18. SUCCESSORS
All obligations of the Company under the Plan or any Award Agreement with
respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the
Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or
indirect purchase of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of
the Company, or a merger, consolidation, or otherwise.
ARTICLE 19. LEGAL CONSTRUCTION
19.1 GENDER AND NUMBER. Except where otherwise indicated by the context,
any masculine term used herein also shall include the feminine; the plural
shall include the singular and the singular shall include the plural.
19.2 SEVERABILITY. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held
illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not
affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and
enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
19.3 REQUIREMENTS OF LAW. The granting of Awards and the issuance of
Share and/or cash payouts under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable
laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental
agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.
19.4 SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE. With respect to any individual who is,
on the relevant date, an officer, director or ten percent beneficial owner of
any class of the Company's equity securities that is registered pursuant to
Section 12 of the Exchange Act, all as defined under Section 16 of the Exchange
Act, transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable
conditions of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule. To the
extent any provision of the Plan or action by the Committee fails to so comply,
it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed
advisable by the Committee.
19.5 AWARDS TO FOREIGN NATIONALS AND EMPLOYEES OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.
To the extent the Committee deems it necessary, appropriate or desirable to
comply with foreign law of practice and to further the purposes of this Plan,
the Committee may, without amending the Plan, (i) establish rules applicable to
Awards granted to Participants who are foreign nationals, are employed outside
the United States, or both, including rules that differ from those set forth in
this Plan, and (ii) grant Awards to such Participants in accordance with those
rules.
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19.6 UNFUNDED STATUS OF THE PLAN. The Plan is intended to constitute an
"unfunded" plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any
payments or deliveries of Shares not yet made to a Participant by the Company,
nothing contained herein shall give any rights that are greater than those of a
general creditor of the Company. The Committee may authorize the creation of
trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to
deliver Shares or payments hereunder consistent with the foregoing.
19.7 GOVERNING LAW. To the extent not preempted by federal law, the
Plan, and all agreements hereunder, shall be construed in accordance with and
governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
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1
EXHIBIT 5.1
[LETTERHEAD OF WINSTON & STRAWN]
November 19, 1996
Lear Corporation
21557 Telegraph Road
Southfield, MI 48034
Re: Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Lear
Corporation (the "Registration Statement")
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel for Lear Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the registration on Form S-8 of
the offer and sale of up to 2,200,000 shares of the Company's Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share ("Common Stock"), issuable pursuant to the grant of
certain restricted stock unit and other awards or upon exercise of certain
stock options (collectively, the "Plan Awards") that may be issued pursuant to
the Lear Corporation Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (the "Plan").
This opinion is delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item
601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act").
In connection with this opinion, we have examined and are familiar with
originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of:
(i) the Registration Statement, as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") under the Act; (ii) the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company, as currently in effect; (iii) the Amended and
Restated By-Laws of the Company, as currently in effect; (iv) the Plan; and (v)
resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company relating to, among other
things, the reservation of issuance of the Common Stock, the filing of the
Registration Statement and the approval of the Plan. We have also examined such
other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the
opinion set forth below.
In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural
persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents
submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the
originals of such latter documents. We have also assumed that the Company's
Board of Directors, or a duly authorized committee thereof, will have approved
the issuance of each Plan Award prior to the issuance thereof. As to any facts
material to this opinion which we did not independently establish or verify, we
have relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and
other representatives of the Company and others.
2
Lear Corporation
November 19, 1996
Page 2
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that all
shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to the Plan will be, upon exercise or
grant of Plan Awards in accordance with the terms of the Plan and, if
applicable, payment of the specified exercise price therefor, legally issued,
fully paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not
concede that we are experts within the meaning of the Act or the rules and
regulations thereunder or that this consent is required by Section 7 of the
Act.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Winston & Strawn
1
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this registration statement of our report dated February 6, 1996
included in Lear Corporation's (formerly known as Lear Seating Corporation)
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995, and to all references to our
firm included in this registration statement.
/s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP
Detroit, Michigan
November 14, 1996
1
EXHIBIT 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-8 related to the Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan of Lear
Corporation (formerly known as Lear Seating Corporation) of our report dated
August 8, 1995, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Masland
Corporation as of June 30, 1995 and July 1, 1994 and for the three years in the
period ended June 30, 1995, which appears on page 3 of Lear Corporation's Form
8-K dated June 27, 1996.
/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP
PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 14, 1996