Performance-Based Compensation During the Period of Employment and assuming Executive remains continuously employed by the Company through the end of the relevant fiscal year, Executive shall also be entitled to participate in an annual performance-based cash bonus program as set forth in Exhibit B.
Equity-Based Compensation The Executive shall retain all rights to any equity-based compensation awards to the extent set forth in the applicable plan and/or award agreement.
Stock Based Compensation Executive will be eligible to participate in the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan and to be considered by the Compensation Committee for grants or awards of stock options or other stock-based compensation under the Company's Stock Incentive Plan or similar plans from time to time in effect. All such grants or awards shall be governed by the governing Plan and shall be evidenced by the Company's then standard form of stock option, restricted stock or other applicable agreement.
Performance Based Bonus As additional compensation, the Executive shall be entitled to receive a performance based bonus, based on meeting revenue and cash flow objectives. The Executive shall be granted options ("Performance Options") to purchase an aggregate of 220,000 shares of Common Stock, subject to anti-dilution provisions relating to adjustments in the event that the Company, among other things, declares stock dividends, effects forward or reverse stock splits, at an exercise price of the fair market value of the date of the grant, and shall be exercisable for a period of four (4) years from the date of vesting unless sooner terminated, as described herein. The date of grant shall be the Effective Date of this Agreement. Up to one-half of these shares will be eligible for vesting on a quarterly basis and the rest annually, with the total grant allocated over a two-year period, starting with the quarter ended December 31, 2007. Vesting of the quarterly portion is subject to achievement of increased revenues over the prior quarter as well as positive and increased net cash flow per share (defined as cash provided by operating activities per the Company’s statement of cash flow, measured before changes in working capital components and not including investing or financing activities) for that quarter. Vesting of the annual portion is subject to meeting the above cash flow requirements on a year-over-year basis, plus a revenue growth rate of at least 30% for the fiscal year over the prior year, starting with the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008. In the event of quarter to quarter decreases in revenues and or cash flow, the Performance Options shall not vest for that quarter but the unvested quarterly Performance Options shall be added to the available Performance Options for the year, vested subject to achievement of the applicable annual goal. In the event this Agreement is not renewed or the Executive is terminated other than for Cause, the Executive shall be entitled to register the stock underlying the vested portion of the Performance Options provided hereunder on the terms and conditions set forth in a registration rights agreement to be mutually agreed upon by and between Executive and the Company. The Company shall file such Registration Statement as promptly as practicable and at its sole expense. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts through its officers, directors, auditors and counsel in all matters necessary or advisable to file and cause to become effective such Registration Statement as promptly as practicable. Company and Executive agree that this bonus program will continue after the initial two-year period, through the end of the Term, with the specific bonus parameters to be negotiated in good faith between the parties at least ninety (90) days before the expiration of the program then in place.
Performance-Based Vesting At the end of each Measurement Year, on the Measurement Date, the percentage of Shares set forth above shall be eligible to vest (the "Eligible Shares"). On each Measurement Date, 50% of the Eligible Shares shall become Vested Shares if at least 90% of the Target EBITDA amount was met for the prior Measurement Year. If more than 90% of the Target EBITDA amount was met for the prior Measurement Year, then the Eligible Shares shall become Vested Shares on a straight line basis such that an additional 5% of Eligible Shares shall become Vested Shares for each 1% that actual Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA exceeds 90% of the Target EBITDA amount.
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans Effective on or before the Distribution Date, Columbia shall adopt, establish and maintain nonqualified deferred compensation plans for the benefit of employees of the Columbia Parties (the “Columbia Deferred Compensation Plans”) and shall establish one or more grantor trusts to be a source of providing benefits thereunder (the “Columbia Rabbi Trusts”) that in each case shall be substantially similar to the NiSource Deferred Compensation Plans and the grantor trusts maintained by NiSource with respect to the NiSource Deferred Compensation Plans (the “NiSource Rabbi Trusts”). As of the Distribution Date, the Columbia Parties shall assume and thereafter be solely responsible for all existing and future liabilities relating to Business Employees’ (and Deceased Business Employee survivors’ and beneficiaries’) (a) benefits accrued under the NiSource Deferred Compensation Plans prior to the Distribution Date and (b) benefits that accrue under the Columbia Deferred Compensation Plans on and after the Distribution Date. All beneficiary designations made by Business Employees and by survivors and beneficiaries of Deceased Business Employees under the NiSource Deferred Compensation Plans shall, to the extent applicable, be transferred to, and be in full force and effect under, the Columbia Deferred Compensation Plans until such beneficiary designations are replaced or revoked by the Business Employee (or the survivor or beneficiary of the Deceased Business Employee) who made the beneficiary designation. Following the Distribution Date, the NiSource Parties shall have no liability or obligation with respect to the benefits accrued by such Business Employees or by such survivors or beneficiaries of Deceased Business Employees under any of the NiSource Deferred Compensation Plans or with respect to any benefits accrued under the Columbia Deferred Compensation Plans. As soon as administratively practicable after the Distribution Date, NiSource shall cause the NiSource Rabbi Trusts to transfer to the Columbia Rabbi Trusts cash, life insurance policies or other assets having an aggregate fair market value equal to (i) the aggregate fair market value of all assets held in the NiSource Rabbi Trusts as of the Distribution Date multiplied by (ii) a percentage, the numerator of which shall be the lump sum present value of the benefits assumed by the Columbia Deferred Compensation Plans pursuant to this Section 3.03 and the denominator of which shall be the lump sum present value of all benefits accrued under the NiSource Deferred Compensation Plans immediately prior to the Distribution Date.
Incentive and Bonus Compensation The Executive shall be eligible to participate in the Company’s existing and future bonus and stock option plans and other incentive compensation programs for similarly situated executives (collectively, “Plans”), to the extent that the Executive is qualified to participate in any such Plan under the generally applicable provisions thereof in effect from time to time. Such eligibility is not a guarantee of participation in or of the receipt of any award, payment or other compensation under any Plan. To the extent the Executive does participate in a Plan and the Plan does not expressly provide otherwise, the Chief Executive Officer and/or the Board, as appropriate, may determine all terms of participation (including, without limitation, the type and size of any award, payment or other compensation and the timing and conditions of receipt thereof by the Executive) in the Chief Executive Officer’s or the Board’s sole and absolute discretion. Nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit the Company or the Board from amending or terminating any and all Plans in its sole and absolute discretion. Except as otherwise provided herein, the terms of each Plan shall govern the Executive’s rights and obligations thereunder during the Executive’s employment and upon the termination thereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the definition of “Cause” hereunder shall not supersede the definition of “cause” in any Plan (unless the Plan expressly defers to the definition of “cause” under an executive’s employment agreement) and any rights of the Executive hereunder upon and subsequent to the termination of the Executive’s employment shall be in addition to, and not in lieu of, any right of the Executive under any Plan then in effect upon or subsequent to a termination of employment.
Annual Bonus Compensation In addition to your Salary, during the Employment Term you shall be eligible to earn an annual bonus for each whole or partial calendar year during the Employment Term, determined and payable as follows (the “Bonus”):
Nonqualified Deferred Compensation (a) It is intended that any payment or benefit which is provided pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement which is considered to be deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code shall be paid and provided in a manner, and at such time and form, as complies with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code to avoid the unfavorable tax consequences provided therein for non-compliance.
