Equity Awards You will be eligible to receive awards of stock options or other equity awards pursuant to any plans or arrangements the Company may have in effect from time to time. The Board or Committee, as applicable, will determine in its sole discretion whether you will be granted any such equity awards and the terms of any such award in accordance with the terms of any applicable plan or arrangement that may be in effect from time to time.
Company Equity Awards (a) Each option to purchase shares of Company Common Stock that has been granted under the Company Stock Plans (each, a “Company Option”) and that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time will, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the Company, Parent, Merger Sub or the holders thereof, be treated as follows:
(i) as of the Effective Time, each Company Option (whether or not vested) that is outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time and that has a per share exercise price less than the Merger Consideration (an “In-the-Money Option”) will be canceled in exchange for payment to the holder of such In-the-Money Option of an amount in cash equal to (A) the number of shares of Company Common Stock remaining subject to such In-the-Money Option immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by (B) the amount by which (x) the Merger Consideration exceeds (y) the per share exercise price for such In-the-Money Option (the “Company Option Cash Out Amount”); and
(ii) each Company Option that is not an In-the-Money Option will be canceled at the Effective Time without payment of any consideration.
(b) As of the Effective Time, each restricted stock unit award subject to time-based or other vesting restrictions that is outstanding under any Company Stock Plan (each, a “Company RSU Award””) immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall, to the extent not vested, become fully vested and then (ii) each such Company RSU Award shall be canceled without any action of the part of any holder or beneficiary thereof in consideration for the right to receive a lump sum cash payment with respect thereto equal to the product of (x) the Merger Consideration and (y) the number of shares of Company Stock represented by such Company RSU Award (the “Company RSU Cash Out Amount”).
(c) All Company Options (whether or not vested) that are outstanding and unexercised immediately prior to the Effective Time, all Company RSU Awards that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, and rights under the Company Stock Plans, will terminate as of, and contingent upon the occurrence of, the Effective Time (after given effect to this Section 2.3), and, following the Effective Time, no holder of any Company Option, Company RSU Award, or any other rights under the Company Stock Plans will have any right to acquire any equity securities of the Company, its Subsidiaries, or the Surviving Corporation as a result of such holder’s Company Options, Company RSU Awards, or other rights under the Company Stock Plans and the Company shall have no further Liability under or with respect to any such Company Option, Company RSU Awards, or the Company Stock Plans (except as provided pursuant to Section 2.3(a)(i) in respect of In-The-Money Options), or as provided pursuant to Section 2.3(b) in respect of the Company RSU Awards.
(d) Payment of the Company Option Cash Out Amount for each In-the-Money Option and the Company RSU Cash Out Amount for each Company RSU Award is subject to Section 2.7 and will be made as follows: No later than thirty (30) Business Days after the Closing Date, Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, deliver (through the Surviving Corporation payroll or such other means of payment as Parent may provide) to the holder of any In-the-Money Option or Company RSU Award the applicable Company Option Cash Out Amount or Company RSU Cash Out Amount, net of Tax withholdings. To the extent that such Taxes are so deducted or withheld and paid over to the appropriate Taxing Authority, the amounts thereof will be treated for all purposes hereunder as having been paid to the Person to whom such amounts would otherwise have been paid.
(e) Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall take (or cause there to be taken, as the case may be) all such actions as are necessary to effect the treatment of Company Options and Company RSU Awards provided for under this Section 2.3, under all Contracts governing the terms of all Company Options and Company RSU Awards, and under any other applicable plan or arrangement to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound with respect to such Company Options, Company RSU Awards or the Company Stock Plans, including (A) to accelerate the vesting of any unvested Company Options that are outstanding and unvested immediately prior to the Effective Time and (B) at the request of Parent or as otherwise may be required, sending to any holders of Company Options notices (if drafted and at the request of Parent, subject to reasonable review and approval by the Company, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) with respect to the treatment of such instruments under this Agreement. The Company shall not send or otherwise make available any notices to any holders of Company Options, or solicit any consents or other approvals from the holders of any Company Options unless and until Parent has reviewed and approved all such notices and related documentation (including any email messages and notifications) to be sent or made available to such holders (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), in each case, solely to the extent such notices, consents or approvals relate to the Merger Transaction.
(f) The Company shall promptly take (or cause there to be taken, as the case may be) all such actions as are necessary to ensure that no offering or purchase period commences under the Company ESPP and that no shares of Company Capital Stock are issued under the Company ESPP. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall take (or cause there to be taken, as the case may be) all such actions as are necessary to terminate the Company ESPP such that, from and after the time of such termination, the Company shall have no Liability under or with respect to the Company ESPP.
Annual Equity Awards (i) TCCC shall not grant any equity-based awards to any Continuing Employee from the date of this Agreement through the Closing other than equity-based awards made (A) to newly hired employees, within one year following the employee’s date of hire, that are in the ordinary course of business and in accordance with TCCC and the Nordic Companies’ past practice of compensating newly hired employees or (B) with the consent of CCE, which consent shall not be unreasonably, withheld, conditioned or delayed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that as of December 16, 2010, the parties reasonably determine that the Closing shall not occur prior to March 15, 2011, following consultation with CCE, TCCC may make grants of equity-based awards no later than March 15, 2011 to Continuing Employees that are in accordance with past practice and guidelines with respect to annual grants made most recently in February 2010 to the Continuing Employees and that do not have an aggregate value as of the grant date (based on a reasonable Black-Scholes valuation or grant date fair value methodology, as applicable, to be agreed upon between CCE and TCCC) that is greater than the aggregate value as of the grant date of the aggregate annual equity awards made by TCCC in February 2010 to the Continuing Employees.
(ii) To the extent that (x) the Closing occurs during the period beginning on October 15, 2010 and ending on December 15, 2010 (the “Interim Period”), and (y) CCE makes an annual grant of equity-based awards during such Interim Period to eligible CCE employees, Splitco shall make a grant of equity-based awards to the Continuing Employees immediately following the Closing Date, with such grant made in a manner consistent with TCCC’s target award levels, award ranges, and performance adjustment criteria employed in such February 2010 annual equity grant by TCCC; provided, however, that such grants shall only be made to those Continuing Employees who were eligible to receive an annual equity grant in February 2010, or would be eligible to receive an annual equity grant in February 2011; and provided, further, that, in no event shall such grant have an aggregate value as of the grant date (based on a reasonable Black-Scholes valuation or grant date fair value methodology, as applicable, to be agreed upon between TCCC and Splitco) that is greater than the aggregate value on the grant date of the aggregate annual equity awards made by TCCC in February 2010 to such employees.
(iii) To the extent that the Closing occurs after December 15, 2010, at such time after the Closing as Splitco makes its regular annual equity awards to its employees in 2011, Splitco shall provide equity-based awards to Continuing Employees who hold a position that was (or, in the case of a new hire, would have been) eligible to receive an equity grant from TCCC in 2010, having a substantially comparable value in the aggregate, for a comparable number of employees, as of the grant date (based on a reasonable Black-Scholes value for stock option grants and based on the grant date fair value for whole share-based awards) as awarded by TCCC to employees providing services to the Nordic Companies in February 2010, with such grant made in a manner consistent with TCCC’s target award levels, award ranges, and performance adjustment criteria employed in such February 2010 annual equity grant by TCCC; provided, however, that Splitco shall have no obligation to replicate the form of award or the terms and conditions of awards previously granted by TCCC, including, without limitation, the number of shares to be subject to such Splitco equity-based awards and the vesting conditions and exercise or purchase price of such Splitco equity-based awards.
Equity Incentive Awards The Executive shall be eligible to receive grants of equity-based long-term incentive awards, which may include options to purchase Company stock, performance or restricted stock units and Company restricted stock contributions to Company’s deferred compensation plan, or other equity-based awards. Such awards shall be determined in the discretion of the Board and the Executive shall be eligible for consideration for such awards in the same manner as other senior executive officers of the Company. In the event of a Change of Control in which the surviving or acquiring corporation does not assume the Executive’s outstanding equity-related awards (including options and equity-based awards granted both before and after the Effective Date) or substitute similar equity-related awards of substantially equivalent value, such equity-related awards shall immediately vest and become exercisable if the Executive’s service with the Company has not terminated before the effective date of the Change of Control; provided, however, that the foregoing provision shall only apply if the Company is not the surviving corporation or if shares of the Company’s common stock are converted into or exchanged for other securities or cash.
Incentive Awards a) The Executive shall participate in the Company's annual incentive plan for senior-level executives as in effect from time to time, subject to the performance standards set by the Compensation Committee. Payment of any annual incentive award shall be made at the same time that such awards are paid to other senior-level executives of the Company. The Executive's annual incentive award target shall be set by the Compensation Committee.
b) The Executive shall be eligible to receive grants under the Company's long-term incentive plans as in effect from time to time; provided, however, that the size, type and other terms and conditions of any such grant to the Executive shall be determined by the Compensation Committee.
Equity-Based Awards (a) As soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Board of Directors of the Company (or, if appropriate, any committee thereof administering the Company Stock Plans) shall adopt such resolutions or use commercially reasonable efforts to take such other actions (including obtaining any required consents) as may be required to effect the following:
(i) (A) prior to the Effective Time, each outstanding unvested Company Stock Option shall automatically accelerate so that each such Company Stock Option shall become fully exercisable for all shares of Company Common Stock at the time subject to such Company Stock Option and may be exercised by the holder thereof for any or all of such shares and (B) upon the Effective Time, all outstanding Company Stock Options shall be canceled, with the holder of each Company Stock Option becoming entitled to receive, in full satisfaction of the rights of such holder with respect thereto, an amount in cash equal to (x) the excess, if any, of the per share Merger Consideration over the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option, multiplied by (y) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option; provided that all amounts payable pursuant to this clause (i) shall be subject to any required withholding of taxes or proof of eligibility for exemption therefrom and shall be paid at or as soon as practicable following the Effective Time, without interest;
(ii) each share of Company Restricted Stock shall be adjusted as necessary to provide that the restrictions on such share shall lapse at the Effective Time, and at the Effective Time, each share of Company Restricted Stock shall be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 2.01(c), subject to any applicable withholding pursuant to Section 2.02(h); and
(iii) make such other changes to the Company Stock Plans as Parent and the Company may reasonably agree are appropriate to give effect to the Merger.
(b) Each provision in each Company Benefit Plan and Company Benefit Agreement providing for the issuance, transfer or grant of any shares of Company Common Stock or any Company Stock Options, Company Restricted Stock or any other interests in respect of any capital stock (including any "phantom" stock, stock appreciation rights or performance units) of the Company shall be deleted prior to the Effective Time, and the Company shall ensure that, following the Effective Time, there shall be no rights to acquire shares of Company Common Stock, Company Stock Options, Company Restricted Stock or any other interests in respect of any capital stock (including any "phantom" stock, stock appreciation rights or performance units) of the Company or the Surviving Corporation.
Restricted Stock Awards (i) The restricted shares of common stock of the Company awarded under this paragraph (c) (collectively, the “Restricted Shares”) shall be awarded pursuant to and, to the extent not expressly inconsistent herewith, governed by the Company stock option and incentive compensation plan as in effect as the effective date of the respective award (the “Stock Plan”). All grants described in this paragraph (c) shall be conditioned upon the approval of the shareholders of the Company at the annual shareholders’ meeting in 2008 of (A) an increase in the maximum number of shares that may be issued pursuant to awards under the Stock Plan, or (B) a new or amended plan authorizing grants of restricted shares of the Company. The number of Restricted Shares shall be adjusted in accordance with the terms of the Stock Plan for stock splits, stock dividends, recapitalizations and the like. Until and only to the extent the Restricted Shares shall vest as provided herein, all stock certificates evidencing the Restricted Shares owned by Employee shall be held by the Company for the benefit of Employee. As and to the extent any Restricted Shares shall vest as provided herein, the Company will promptly deliver certificates representing such vested shares to Employee.
(ii) Provided Employee shall continue to be employed hereunder, effective on July 15, 2008, the Company shall award to Employee 5,000 restricted shares of common stock of the Company. The restricted shares awarded as provided in the preceding sentence shall be referred to as the “Fixed Restricted Shares.” The Fixed Restricted Shares shall be subject to vesting as provided below. Provided Employee shall continue to be employed hereunder, one-fourth (1/4) of the Fixed Restricted Shares shall vest on June 1, 2009, an additional one-fourth (1/4) of the Fixed Restricted Shares shall vest on June 1, 2010, an additional one-fourth (1/4) of the Fixed Restricted Shares shall vest on June 1, 2011, and the final one-fourth (1/4) of the Fixed Restricted Shares shall vest on June 1, 2012.
(iii) Provided Employee shall continue to be employed hereunder, and further provided that the applicable Annual Performance Award Test (as defined below) has been satisfied, on the Performance Award Date (as defined below) each year during the Term, commencing in 2009, the Company shall award to Employee that number of shares of common stock of the Company as is equal to $100,000 divided by the Performance Award Price (as defined below), with any fractional share resulting therefrom being rounded up to one whole share if 0.5 or more and eliminated if less than 0.5. For each year, the “Performance Award Date” shall be that date the Company files its Annual Report on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the immediately preceding calendar year. Satisfaction of the “Annual Performance Award Test” shall be determined as of each Performance Award Date and measured based upon the Company Net Income for the immediately preceding calendar year. The Annual Performance Award Test shall be satisfied for a calendar year if (A) the Annual Net Income Target for the calendar year being measured is at least ten percent (10%) higher than the actual Company Net Income for the immediately preceding calendar year, and (B) the actual Company Net Income for the calendar year being measured equals or exceeds ninety-five percent (95%) of the Annual Net Income Target for the calendar year being measured. The “Performance Award Price” shall be equal to the closing sale price of Company common stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on the respective Performance Award Date (or if the respective Performance Award Date is not a trading date for the Company common stock, on the immediately preceding trading date). Any Restricted Shares awarded pursuant to this subparagraph (iii) shall be immediately vested in full on the respective date such shares are awarded.
(iv) Notwithstanding any provision in this paragraph (c) to the contrary, all of the Restricted Shares that have not been previously vested shall immediately vest if Employee shall continue to be employed hereunder and (A) Employee shall die, (B) Employee shall be subject to a “permanent disability” as described in Section 4(b) hereof, or (C) a Change of Control (as defined below) has occurred with respect to the Company. A “Change of Control” for purposes of this subparagraph (iv) shall have the same meaning as that term is given in the Stock Plan.
Long-Term Incentive Awards The Executive shall participate in any long-term incentive awards offered to senior executives of the Company, as determined by the Compensation Committee.
Equity Plans Executive shall be entitled to participate in any equity or other employee benefit plan that is generally available to senior executive officers, as distinguished from general management, of the Company. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, Executive’s participation in and benefits under any such plan shall be on the terms and subject to the conditions specified in the governing document of the particular plan.
Incentive Plans During the Term of this Agreement, Executive shall be entitled to participate in all bonus, incentive compensation and performance based compensation plans, and other similar policies, practices, programs and arrangements of the Company, now in effect or as hereafter amended or established, on a basis that is commensurate with his position and no less favorable than those generally applicable or made available to other executives of the Company. The Executive's participation shall be in accordance with the terms and provisions of such plans and programs. Participation shall include, but not be limited to: