DEX ONE CORPORATION Equity Incentive Plan Stock Appreciation Right Agreement [Template for Employees Other Than Executive Officers who are Senior Vice Presidents and Above]
Exhibit 10.26
DEX ONE CORPORATION
Equity Incentive Plan
Equity Incentive Plan
Stock Appreciation Right Agreement
[Template for Employees Other Than Executive Officers who are Senior Vice Presidents and Above]
[Template for Employees Other Than Executive Officers who are Senior Vice Presidents and Above]
Dex One Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), hereby grants to
[___] (the “Holder”) as of [___] (the “Grant Date”), pursuant to
the terms and conditions of the Dex One Corporation Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), a
stock appreciation right (the “SAR”) with respect to [___] shares of the Company’s Common
Stock, par value $0.001 per share (“Stock”), at a Base Price of $[___] per SAR upon and
subject to the restrictions, terms and conditions set forth in the Plan and this agreement (the
"Agreement”).
1. SAR Subject to Acceptance of Agreement. The SAR shall be null and void unless the
Holder accepts this Agreement by executing it in the space provided below and returning such
original execution copy to the Company.
2. Time and Manner of Exercise of SAR.
2.1. Maximum Term of SAR. In no event may the SAR be exercised, in whole or in part,
after 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date (the “Expiration
Date”).
2.2. Vesting and Exercise of SAR. Except as otherwise provided herein, the SAR shall
vest and become exercisable (i) on the first anniversary of the Grant Date with respect to
one-third of the number of shares represented by the SAR as of the Grant Date, (ii) on the second
anniversary of the Grant Date with respect to an additional one-third of the number of shares
represented by the SAR as of the Grant Date and (iii) on the third anniversary of the Grant Date
with respect to the remaining one-third of the number of shares represented by the SAR as of the
Grant Date, provided the Holder remains continuously employed by the Company or one of its
Affiliates through such date. The SAR shall be exercisable following a termination of the Holder’s
employment according to the following terms and conditions:
(a) Termination as a Result of Holder’s Death, Disability or Retirement. If
the Holder’s employment with the Company terminates by reason of the Holder’s death,
Disability or Retirement, then the SAR shall be vested only to the extent it is vested on
the effective date of such termination or death and the SAR may thereafter be exercised by
the Holder or the Holder’s executor, administrator, legal representative, guardian or
similar person until and including the earlier to occur of (i) the date which is one year
after the date of such termination or death and (ii) the Expiration Date.
(b) Termination by the Company Other than for Cause, Death or Disability or by the
Holder Other Than Due to Retirement. If the Holder’s employment with the Company
terminates by reason of (i) the Company’s termination of the Holder’s employment other than
for Cause, death or Disability, or (ii) the Holder’s resignation from employment other than
due to Retirement, then in any such case, the SAR shall be vested only to the extent it is
vested on the effective date of such termination of
employment and the SAR may thereafter
be exercised by the Holder until and including the earlier to occur of (i) the date which
is 90 days after the effective date of the Holder’s termination of employment and (ii) the
Expiration Date.
(c) Termination for Cause. If the Holder’s employment with the Company
terminates by reason of the Company’s termination of the Holder’s employment for Cause,
then the SAR, whether or not vested, shall terminate immediately upon such termination of
employment.
(d) Death Following Termination. If the Holder dies during the period set
forth in Section 2.2(a) or Section 2.2(b), the SAR, to the extent vested on
the date of death, may thereafter be exercised by the Holder’s executor, administrator,
legal representative, guardian or similar person until and including the earlier to occur
of (i) the date which is one year after the date of death and (ii) the Expiration Date.
(e) Cause. For purposes of this SAR, “Cause” shall have the meaning
set forth in the Employment Agreement, if any, between the Company and the Holder (the
“Employment Agreement”); provided that if the Holder is not a party to an
Employment Agreement that contains such definition, then “Cause” shall mean: (i)
the Holder’s willful and continued failure substantially to perform the duties of his or
her position (other than as a result of total or partial incapacity due to physical or
mental illness), (ii) any willful act or omission by the Holder constituting dishonesty,
fraud or other malfeasance, which in any such case is demonstrably (and, in the case of
other malfeasance, materially) injurious to the financial condition or business reputation
of the Company, or (iii) the Holder’s conviction of a felony under the laws of the United
States or any state thereof or any other jurisdiction in which the Company conducts
business which materially impairs the value of the Holder’s services to the Company. For
purposes of this definition, no act or failure to act shall be deemed “willful” unless
effected by the Holder not in good faith and without a reasonable belief that such action
or failure to act was in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.
(f) Retirement. For purposes of this SAR, “Retirement” shall mean the
Holder’s termination of employment after attaining (i) age 55 with 10 years of service with
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates or (ii) age 65 years without regard to
years of such service.
2.3. Method of Exercise. Subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement, the
SAR may be exercised by the Holder (1) by giving written notice to the
Company specifying the whole number of vested and exercisable shares of Stock with respect to
which the SAR is being exercised and (2) by executing such documents as the Company may reasonably
request.
2.4. Issuance of Shares. Subject to Section 4, upon the exercise of the SAR,
in whole or in part, the Company shall issue or cause to be issued in the Holder’s name (or such
other name as is acceptable to the Company and designated in writing by the Holder) a whole number
of shares of Stock equal in value to the excess of the Fair Market Value of one share of Stock as
of the date of exercise over the Base Price, multiplied by the number of shares of Stock as to
which the SAR is being exercised. Such issuance shall be evidenced by the appropriate entry on the
books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company. The Company shall pay
all original issue or transfer taxes and all fees and expenses incident to such
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issuance, except as
otherwise provided in Section 4. Prior to the issuance to the Holder of the shares of
Stock subject to the SAR, the Holder shall have no direct or secured claim in any specific assets
of the Company or in such shares of Stock, and will have the status of a general unsecured creditor
of the Company.
3. Transfer Restrictions and Investment Representation.
3.1. Nontransferability of SAR. The SAR may not be transferred by the Holder other
than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to the designation of one or more
beneficiaries on the form prescribed by the Company. Except to the extent permitted by the
foregoing sentence, the SAR may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, hypothecated,
encumbered or otherwise disposed of (whether by operation of law or otherwise) or be subject to
execution, attachment or similar process. Upon any attempt to so sell, transfer, assign, pledge,
hypothecate, encumber or otherwise dispose of the SAR, the SAR and all rights hereunder shall
immediately become null and void.
3.2. Investment Representation. The Holder hereby represents and covenants that (a)
any share of Stock acquired upon the exercise of the SAR will be acquired for investment and not
with a view to the distribution thereof within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the “Securities Act”), unless such acquisition has been registered under the
Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws; (b) any subsequent sale of any such shares
shall be made either pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act and
any applicable state securities laws, or pursuant to an exemption from registration under the
Securities Act and such state securities laws; and (c) if requested by the Company, the Holder
shall submit a written statement, in form satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that such
representation (x) is true and correct as of the date on which the SAR is exercised or (y) is true
and correct as of the date of any sale of any such share, as applicable. As a further condition
precedent to the issuance to the Holder of any shares of Stock subject to the SAR, the Holder shall
comply with all regulations and requirements of any regulatory authority having control of or
supervision over the issuance of the shares and, in connection therewith, shall execute any
documents which the Board shall in its sole discretion deem necessary or advisable.
4. Additional Terms and Conditions of SAR.
4.1. Withholding Taxes. (a) As a condition precedent to the issuance of the Shares
upon the exercise of the SAR, the Holder shall, upon request by the Company, pay to the Company
such amount as the Company may be required, under all applicable federal, state, local or other
laws or regulations, to withhold and pay over as income or other withholding taxes (the
“Required Tax Payments”) with respect to such exercise of the SAR. If the Holder shall
fail to advance the Required Tax Payments after request by the Company, the Company may, in its
discretion, deduct any Required Tax Payments from any amount then or thereafter payable by the
Company to the Holder.
(b) The Holder may elect to satisfy his or her obligation to advance the Required Tax Payments
by any of the following means: (1) a cash payment to the Company, (2) delivery to the Company
(either actual delivery or by attestation procedures established by the Company) of previously
owned whole shares of Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value, determined as of the date on
which such withholding obligation arises (the “Tax Date”), equal to the Required Tax
Payments, (3) authorizing the Company to withhold whole shares of
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Stock which would otherwise be
issued to the Holder having an aggregate Fair Market Value, determined as of the Tax Date, equal to
the Required Tax Payments or (4) any combination of (1), (2) and (3). Shares of Stock to be
delivered or withheld may not have a Fair Market Value in excess of the minimum amount of the
Required Tax Payments. Any fraction of a share of Stock which would be required to satisfy any
such obligation shall be disregarded and the remaining amount due shall be paid in cash by the
Holder. No shares of Stock shall be issued until the Required Tax Payments have been satisfied in
full.
4.2. Adjustment. In the event of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization,
reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, exchange of shares, liquidation, spin-off or
other similar change in capitalization or event, or any distribution to holders of Stock other than
a regular cash dividend, the number and class of securities subject to the SAR and the Base Price
shall be equitably adjusted by the Committee, such adjustment to be made in accordance with Section
409A of the Code. If any adjustment would result in a fractional security being subject to the
SAR, the Company shall pay the Holder in connection with the first exercise, in whole or part,
occurring after such adjustment, an amount in cash determined by multiplying (i) such fraction
(rounded to the nearest hundredth) by (ii) the excess, if any, of (A) the Fair Market Value of such
security on such date over (B) the Base Price of the SAR. The decision of the Committee regarding
any such adjustment and the Fair Market Value of any fractional security shall be final, binding
and conclusive.
4.3. Change in Control. Upon a Change in Control, the SAR, to the extent it is then
outstanding, shall be subject to Section 5.8 of the Plan.
4.4. Compliance with Applicable Law. The SAR is subject to the condition that if the
listing, registration or qualification of the shares of Stock subject to the SAR upon any
securities exchange or under any law, or the consent or approval of any governmental body, or the
taking of any other action is necessary or desirable as a
condition of, or in connection with, the issuance of shares hereunder, the shares of Stock
subject to the SAR shall not be issued, in whole or in part, unless such listing, registration,
qualification, consent, approval or other action shall have been effected or obtained, free of any
conditions not acceptable to the Company. The Company agrees to use reasonable efforts to effect
or obtain any such listing, registration, qualification, consent, approval or other action.
4.5. SAR Confers No Rights as Shareholder. The Holder shall not be entitled to any
privileges of ownership with respect to shares of Stock subject to the SAR unless and until such
shares are issued upon the exercise of the SAR, in whole or in part, and the Holder becomes a
shareholder of record with respect to such issued shares. The Holder shall not be considered a
shareholder of the Company with respect to any such shares not so issued.
4.6. SAR Confers No Rights to Continued Employment. In no event shall the granting of
the SAR or its acceptance by the Holder, or any provision of the Agreement, give or be deemed to
give the Holder any right to continued employment by the Company or prevent or be deemed to prevent
the Company from terminating the Holder’s employment at any time, with or without Cause.
4.7. Interpretation. Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this Agreement shall
be submitted by the Holder or by the Company forthwith to the Committee for review. The resolution
of such a dispute by the Committee shall be final and binding on all parties.
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4.8. Successors and Assigns. The Company may assign any of its rights under this
Agreement to single or multiple assignees, and this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the
successors and assigns of the Company. Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth,
this Agreement shall be binding upon the Holder and his or her heirs, executors, administrators,
successors and assigns.
4.9. Notices. All notices, requests or other communications provided for in this
Agreement shall be made, if to the Company, to Dex One Corporation, Attn. General Counsel, 0000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000, and if to the Holder, to the last known mailing address
of the Holder contained in the records of the Company. All notices, requests or other
communications provided for in this Agreement shall be made in writing either (a) by personal
delivery, (b) by facsimile or electronic mail with confirmation of receipt, (c) by mailing in the
United States mails or (d) by express courier service. The notice, request or other communication
shall be deemed to be received upon personal delivery, upon confirmation of receipt of facsimile or
electronic mail transmission or upon receipt by the party entitled thereto if by United States mail
or express courier service; provided, however, that if a notice, request or other
communication sent to the Company is not received during regular business hours, it shall be deemed
to be received on the next succeeding business day of the Company.
4.10. Governing Law. This Agreement, the SAR and all determinations made and actions
taken pursuant hereto and thereto, to the extent not governed by the
laws of the United States, shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware and
construed in accordance therewith without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws.
4.11. Entire Agreement. The Plan is incorporated herein by reference. Capitalized
terms not defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Plan. This Agreement and the
Plan constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and the Holder
with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Holder’s
interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and the Holder.
4.12. Partial Invalidity. The invalidity or unenforceability of any particular
provision of this Agreement shall not affect the other provisions hereof and this Agreement shall
be construed in all respects as if such invalid or unenforceable provision was omitted.
4.13. Amendment and Waiver. The provisions of this Agreement may be amended or waived
only by the written agreement of the Company and the Holder, and no course of conduct or failure or
delay in enforcing the provisions of this Agreement shall affect the validity, binding effect or
enforceability of this Agreement.
4.14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two counterparts each of which
shall be deemed an original and both of which together shall constitute one and the same
instrument.
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