THIS DOCUMENT CONSTITUTES PART OF A PROSPECTUS COVERING SECURITIES THAT HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. Non-Qualified Stock Option Grant Agreement (Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan)...
Exhibit 10.3
THIS DOCUMENT CONSTITUTES PART OF A PROSPECTUS COVERING SECURITIES THAT HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933.
Non-Qualified Stock Option Grant Agreement
(Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan)
NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT BY WILL OR BY THE LAWS GOVERNING THE DESCENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF ESTATES
(Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan)
NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT BY WILL OR BY THE LAWS GOVERNING THE DESCENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF ESTATES
Non-Qualified Stock Option granted by United States Steel Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), to the optionee identified below (the “Optionee”).
Name of Optionee: | PARTICIPANT NAME | |||
Name of Employing Company | ||||
on Date Hereof: | (the company recognized by the Corporation as employing the Optionee on the date hereof) |
|||
Number of Shares Subject to Purchase: | # SHARES | |||
Exercise Price of Each Share: | XXXXX XXXXX | |||
Date of This Option: | GRANT DATE |
By my acceptance, I agree that this option (the “Option”) is granted under and governed by the terms and conditions of the Corporation’s 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the
“Plan”), the Corporation’s Administrative Regulations for the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program (the “Administrative Regulations”), and the Grant Terms and
Conditions contained herein (the “Agreement”) including the special provisions for my country of residence, if any, attached hereto as Exhibit A, as well as such
amendments to the Plan and/or the Administrative Regulations as the Compensation & Organization Committee, or its successor committee (the “Committee”), may adopt from
time to time.
United States Steel Corporation | Accepted as of the above date: ACCEPTANCE DATE | |||||||||
By
|
By | PARTICIPANT ES | ||||||||
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
1. Grant: Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Administrative Regulations and this Agreement, the Corporation agrees that the Optionee has the right to
purchase the number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation set forth in this Option grant for the exercise price stated herein.
2. Continuous Employment Requirement: The Optionee agrees to continue as an active employee of the employing company identified above or the Corporation, its subsidiaries
or affiliates (each an “Employing Company”) for three years from the date of the Option, subject to the Employing Company’s right to terminate the Optionee’s employment at
any time, performing such duties consistent with his capabilities.
3. Vesting and Termination of Employment: The Option will become exercisable in annual installments over a three-year vesting period according to the following vesting
schedule: 1/3 of the Option shares shall vest upon the 1st anniversary of the date of the Option, provided that the Optionee is employed by an Employing Company
on such anniversary; an additional 1/3 of the Option shares will vest upon the 2nd anniversary of the date of the Option, provided that the Optionee is employed
by an Employing Company on such anniversary; and an additional 1/3 of the Option shares will vest on the 3rd anniversary of the date of the Option, provided
that the Optionee is employed by an Employing Company on such anniversary, with all fractional Option shares, if any, vesting as whole Option shares upon the latest
vesting date. Any portion of the Option that is exercisable may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time during the Option period. In the event of the exercise
of the Option in whole or in part, the portion of the Option so exercised shall terminate. The Option period shall begin on the date of the Option and shall end, except
as provided in Section 5 hereof, on the first to occur of: (a) ten years thereafter, (b) three years after the date upon which the Optionee ceases to be an employee of an
Employing Company by reason of Retirement, death, Disability or Termination with Consent, or (c) immediately following termination of employment, if termination of
employment is due to Termination without Consent or Termination for Cause. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, a prorated number of the Options scheduled to
vest during the current Vesting Year will vest on the vesting date for the current Vesting Year based upon the number of complete months worked during the Vesting Year in
which the Optionee’s termination of employment occurs by reason of Retirement, death, Disability or Termination with Consent. The remaining unvested Option grants are
forfeited immediately upon the Optionee’s termination of employment without consideration or further action required of the Corporation or Employing Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Optionee is a party to an individual Change in Control Agreement (a “CIC Agreement”) with the Corporation providing for benefits upon
a termination for other than “Cause” or “Disability” or a termination for “Good Reason”, then the unvested Option shares shall not be forfeited if (i) the Optionee’s
employment is terminated during a Potential Change in Control Period either by the Employing Company for other than “Cause” or “Disability” or by the Optionee for “Good
Reason”, as such terms are defined in the CIC Agreement and (ii) a 409A Change in Control, as defined in the CIC Agreement, occurs within twenty-four months following the
commencement of the Potential Change in Control Period. In such event, all Options shall vest upon the 409A Change in Control and shall remain exercisable until the end
of their term.
Except as provided in the foregoing sentence, notwithstanding any terms or conditions of the Plan, the Administrative Regulations or this Agreement to the contrary, in the
event of the Optionee’s termination of employment, the Optionee’s right to vest in the Option, if any, will terminate effective as of the date that the Optionee is no
longer actively employed by an Employing Company and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under local law (e.g., active employment would not include a period
of “garden leave” or similar period pursuant to local law); furthermore, in the event of termination of the Optionee’s employment (whether or not in breach of local labor
laws), the Optionee’s right to receive shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Option after such termination, if any, will be measured by the date of termination of the
Optionee’s active employment and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under local law; the Committee shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when
the Optionee is no longer actively employed for purposes of the Option.
4. Payment
of Exercise Price: The exercise price shall be paid in cash or such other form of consideration as permitted in the Plan and the Administrative
Regulations, including through the withholding of shares to be acquired upon exercise of the Option, subject to the Stock Plan Officer’s establishment of procedures with
respect thereto; provided however that, if the Optionee is employed by an Employing Company outside the United States, the Optionee may not pay the exercise price by
surrendering shares of Common Stock that he or she already owns or attesting to the ownership of shares of Common Stock. The Corporation reserves the right to restrict
the methods of payment of the exercise price if necessary to comply with applicable local law, as determined by the Corporation in its sole discretion.
5. Change of Control: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated herein, and in lieu of application of Section 9 of the Plan, (i) all Options vest immediately upon a
Change of Control (as used in this Agreement, “Change of Control” shall be as defined in Section 4(F)(1) of the Administrative Regulations), without regard to the
Optionee’s continued employment or termination thereof, and (ii) if the Optionee’s employment is terminated within three years of a Change of Control, whether voluntarily
or involuntarily (except for Cause), each vested Option will remain exercisable until the end of its term.
6. Transferability: During the Optionee’s lifetime, to the extent the Option is exercisable, the Option may be exercised only by the Optionee or by the Optionee’s
guardian or legal representative. Upon the Optionee’s death, the Option may be transferred by will or by the laws governing the descent and distribution of the Optionee’s
estate. Otherwise, the Option may not be transferred, pledged or encumbered and, in the event of an attempt to transfer, pledge or encumber it, the Committee may cancel
it.
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7. Adjustments: The number of shares subject to the Option and the Option exercise price per share shall be subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 8 of the Plan. The Optionee shall be notified of such adjustment and such adjustment shall
be binding upon the Corporation and the Optionee.
8. Compliance with Laws: Notwithstanding anything in the Plan, the Administrative Regulations or this Agreement to the
contrary, the obligations of the Corporation and the rights of the Optionee are subject to all applicable laws, rules and
regulations including, without limitation, the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the U.S.
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any other applicable laws. No
shares of Common Stock will be issued or delivered to the Optionee under the Plan unless and until there has been compliance
with such applicable laws.
9. Acceptance of Grant: The Option is not valid unless it is accepted by the Optionee and notice of such acceptance is
received by the Stock Plan Officer.
10. Interpretation and Amendments: The Option shall be administered and exercised in accordance with the Plan and the
Administrative Regulations, as the same may be amended by the Committee from time to time, provided that no amendment may,
without the consent of the Optionee, affect the rights of the Optionee under this Option in a materially adverse manner. For
purposes of the foregoing sentence, an amendment that affects the tax treatment of the Option shall not be considered as
affecting the Optionee’s rights in a materially adverse manner. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have
the meaning assigned to such terms in the Plan or the Administrative Regulations. In the event of a conflict between the Plan
and the Administrative Regulations, unless this Agreement specifies otherwise, the Plan shall control.
11. Nature of the Grant: Neither the grant of the Option nor anything else contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to
limit or restrict the right of the Employing Company to terminate the Optionee’s employment at any time, for any reason, with
or without cause. Further, by accepting this Option, the Optionee acknowledges that:
a) | the grant of the Option is voluntary and occasional and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of options, or benefits in lieu of options, even if options have been granted repeatedly in the past; | ||
b) | all decisions with respect to future option grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Committee; | ||
c) | the Optionee is voluntarily participating in the Plan; | ||
d) | the Option is an extraordinary item which does not constitute compensation of any kind for services of any kind rendered to the Corporation or to the Employing Company, and which is outside the scope of the Optionee’s employment contract, if any; | ||
e) | the Option is not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purpose, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, end-of-service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement benefits or similar payments; | ||
f) | in the event that the Employing Company is not the Corporation, the grant of the Option will not be interpreted to form an employment contract or relationship with the Corporation; and furthermore, the grant of the Option will not be interpreted to form an employment contract with the Employing Company; | ||
g) | the future value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Option is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty; | ||
h) | in consideration of the grant of the Option, no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages arises from termination of the Option or diminution in value of the Option or forfeiture of the Option resulting from termination of the Optionee’s employment by the Corporation or the Employing Company (for any reason whether or not in breach of applicable labor laws) and the Optionee irrevocably releases the Corporation and the Employing Company from any such claim that may arise; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen then, by accepting this Option, the Optionee shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived his or her entitlement to pursue such a claim; | ||
i) | it is the Optionee’s sole responsibility to investigate and comply with any applicable exchange control laws in connection with the issuance and delivery of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of the Option; | ||
j) | the Corporation and the Employing Company are not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor are the Corporation or the Employing Company making any recommendations regarding the Optionee’s participation in the Plan or the Optionee’s purchase or sale of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Option; and | ||
k) | the Optionee is hereby advised to consult with his or her own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding his or her participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan. |
12. Withholding Taxes: Regardless of any action the Corporation or the Employing Company takes with respect to any or all
income tax, social security, payroll tax, payment on account or other tax-related withholding (“Tax-Related Items”), the
Optionee acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items is and remains his or her responsibility.
Furthermore, the Optionee acknowledges that the Corporation and/or the Employing Company (a) make no representations or
undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Option, including the
grant, vesting, or exercise of the Option or the subsequent sale of shares of Common Stock or receipt of dividends; and (b) do
not commit to structure the terms of the grant of the Option or any aspect of the Optionee’s participation in the Plan to
reduce or eliminate his or her liability for Tax-Related Items.
Prior to the relevant taxable event, the Optionee shall pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Corporation
and/or the Employing Company to satisfy all withholding obligations of the Corporation and/or the Employing Company. In this
regard, the Corporation may notify the Optionee of the amount of Tax-Related Items, if any, required under U.S. federal and,
where applicable, state and local or non-U.S. law, and in which case, the Optionee shall, forthwith upon the receipt of such
notice, remit the required amount to the Corporation in cash or in accordance with such regulations as the Committee may
prescribe. Alternatively, the Optionee authorizes the Corporation and/or the Employing Company, at their discretion, to
satisfy the obligations with regard to all applicable Tax-Related Items by one or a combination of the following methods: (1)
withholding from Optionee’s wages or other cash compensation paid to Optionee by the Corporation and/or the Employing Company;
(2) selling or arranging for the sale of a sufficient number of shares issued upon exercise of the Option, on the Optionee’s
behalf and at the Optionee’s direction pursuant to this authorization, through such means as the Corporation may determine in
its sole discretion (whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the amount required to be withheld; or (3) withholding
from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Optionee the number of Shares with a Fair Market Value, as defined
in the Plan, on the date of exercise equal to the amount of the aggregate minimum amount of Tax-Related Items to be so
satisfied. If the Tax-Related Items are satisfied by reducing the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Option, (solely for tax purposes), the Optionee is deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares subject to the
Option, notwithstanding that a number of the shares is held back solely for the purpose of paying the Tax-Related Items.
Finally, the Optionee shall pay to the Corporation or the Employing Company any amount of Tax-Related Items that the
Corporation or the Employing Company may be required to withhold as a result of Optionee’s participation in the Plan or
Optionee’s purchase of Shares that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described. The Optionee understands that no
shares of Common Stock shall be delivered to Optionee, notwithstanding the exercise thereof, unless and until the Optionee
shall have satisfied any obligation for Tax-Related Items with respect thereto as provided herein.
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13. Data Privacy: The Optionee hereby explicitly and unambiguously consents to the
collection, use and transfer, in electronic or other form, of his or her personal data as
described in this document by and among, as applicable, any Employing Company and the Corporation
for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing the Optionee’s participation
in the Plan.
The Optionee understands that the Employing Company and the Corporation hold certain personal
information about the Optionee, including, but not limited to, Optionee’s name, home address and
telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number or other identification number, salary,
nationality, job title, any shares or directorships held in the Corporation, details of all options
or any other entitlement to shares awarded, canceled, vested, unvested or outstanding in Optionee’s
favor, as the Employing Company and/or the Corporation deems necessary for the purpose of
implementing, administering and managing the Plan (“Data”). The Optionee acknowledges and
understands that Data may be transferred to any broker as designated by the Corporation and any
third parties assisting in the implementation, administration and management of the Plan, that
these recipients may be located in the Optionee’s country or elsewhere (and outside the European
Economic Area), and that the recipient’s country may have different data privacy laws and
protections than the Optionee’s country. The Optionee understands that he or she may request a
list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting the
Optionee’s local human resources representative. The Optionee authorizes the recipients to
receive, possess, use, retain and transfer the Data, in electronic or other form, for the purposes
of implementing, administering and managing the Optionee’s participation in the Plan, including any
requisite transfer of such Data as may be required to a broker or other third party with whom the
Optionee may elect to deposit any shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of the Option. The
Optionee understands that Data will be held only as long as is necessary to implement, administer
and manage the Optionee’s participation in the Plan. The Optionee understands that he or she may,
at any time, view Data, request additional information about the storage and processing of Data,
require any necessary amendments to Data or refuse or withdraw the consents herein, in any case
without cost, by contacting in writing his or her local human resources representative. The
Optionee understands, however, that refusing or withdrawing his or her consent may affect his or
her ability to realize benefits from the Option or otherwise participate in the Plan. For more
information on the consequences of his or her refusal to consent or withdrawal of consent, the
Optionee understands that he or she may contact his or her local human resources representative.
14. Electronic Delivery: The Corporation may, in its sole discretion, decide to
deliver any documents related to the Option awarded under the Plan, or shares of Common Stock
issued under the Plan, or participation in the Plan or future options that may be awarded under the
Plan by electronic means or request the Optionee’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic
means. The Optionee hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to
participate in the Plan through any on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the
Corporation or another third party designated by the Corporation.
14.
Severability: In the event that any provision in this Agreement is held invalid or
unenforceable, such provision will be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability will
not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
15. Language: If the
Optionee has received this Agreement or any other document related to the Plan translated into a
language other than English and if the translated version is different than the English version,
the English version will control.
16.
Severability: In the event that any provision in this Agreement is held invalid or
unenforceable, such provision will be severable from, and such invalidity or unenforceability will
not be construed to have any effect on, the remaining provisions of this Agreement.
17. Governing Law: This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with
the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without regard to the conflicts of laws thereof.
18. Section 409A. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the
Administrative Regulations or this Agreement, the Plan, the Administrative Regulations and this
Agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with, and incorporate the terms and conditions
required by, Section 409A of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (together with any
Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including
without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the date hereof,
“Section 409A”). The Corporation reserves the right, to the extent the Corporation deems necessary
or advisable in its sole discretion, to unilaterally amend or modify the Plan, the Administrative
Regulations or this Agreement or adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments,
policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, as the Committee
determines are necessary or appropriate to ensure that this Option qualifies for exemption from, or
complies with the requirements of, Section 409A; provided, however, that the Corporation makes no
representation that the Option will be exempt from, or will comply with, Section 409A, and makes no
undertakings to preclude Section 409A of the Code from applying to the Option or to ensure that it
complies with Section 409A.
19. Headings: Headings of paragraphs and sections used in this Agreement are for
convenience only and are not part of this Agreement, and must not be used in construing it.
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EXHIBIT A
Additional Terms and Conditions of the
United States Steel Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan
Non-Qualified Stock Option Grant Agreement
United States Steel Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan
Non-Qualified Stock Option Grant Agreement
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
This Exhibit A includes additional terms and conditions that govern the Option granted to the
Optionee under the Plan if he or she resides in one of the countries listed below. Certain
capitalized terms used but not defined in this Exhibit A have the meanings set forth in the Plan,
the Administrative Regulations and/or the Agreement.
NOTIFICATIONS
This Exhibit A also includes information regarding exchange controls and certain other issues of
which the Optionee should be aware with respect to participation in the Plan. The information is
based on the laws in effect in the applicable countries as of March 2008. Such laws are often
complex and change frequently. As a result, the Corporation strongly recommends that the Optionee
not rely on the information in this Exhibit A as the only source of information relating to the
consequences of his or her participation in the Plan because the information may be out of date at
the time that the Optionee exercises in the Option or sells shares of Common Stock acquired under
the Plan.
In addition, the information contained herein is general in nature and may not apply to the
Optionee’s particular situation, and the Corporation is not in a position to assure the Optionee of
a particular result. Accordingly, the Optionee is advised to seek appropriate professional advice
as to how the relevant laws in his or her country may apply to the Optionee’s situation.
Finally, if the Optionee is a citizen or resident of a country other than the one in which he or
she is currently working, the information contained herein may not be applicable.
CANADA
Securities Law Commitment on Sale of Shares. As a condition of the grant of the Option and the
issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Option, the Optionee undertakes to only
sell, trade or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock issued to the Optionee under the
Plan in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws. Under current laws, this means that
the Optionee will need to sell any shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan using the services
of a broker or dealer that is registered under Canadian provincial or territorial securities
legislation. The Optionee will not be permitted to sell, trade or otherwise dispose of his or her
shares through the Company’s designated U.S. plan broker, Fidelity Investments, unless such sale,
trade or disposal can be executed in accordance with applicable securities laws. This restriction
applies equally to all shares of Common Stock or other securities issued to the Optionee under the
terms of the Plan. As legal requirements may be subject to change, Optionees are encouraged to
seek specific advice about their individual situation before taking any action with respect to
securities issued to them under the Plan.
By accepting this Option, the Optionee expressly agrees that he or she will consult with a personal
legal advisor to address any questions that may arise regarding compliance with this requirement.
The Optionee understands and agrees that he or she will be liable for any failure to comply with
the foregoing provision.
Payment of Exercise Price. Due to current Canadian securities law requirements, notwithstanding
any other provision in the Plan, the Administrative Regulations or the Agreement, permissible
methods of payment of the exercise price include: (i) cash, (ii) check and/or (iii) the Company’s
withholding of shares of Common Stock to be acquired upon exercise of the Option, subject to the
Stock Plan Officer’s establishment of procedures with respect thereto. Prior to exercising the
Option, the Optionee should contact his or her local human resources administrator to confirm the
methods of exercise available to the Optionee under local law.
SERBIA
NOTIFICATIONS
Exchange Control Information. Pursuant to the Law on Foreign Exchange Transactions (effective July
27, 2006), Serbian residents may freely acquire shares of Common Stock under the Plan, however, the
National Bank of Serbia requires reporting of the acquisition of such shares, the value of the
shares at exercise and, on a quarterly basis, any changes in the value of the underlying shares.
The Optionee is advised to consult with a personal legal advisor to determine his or her reporting
obligations upon the acquisition of shares of Common Stock under the Plan. The Corporation
reserves the right to require the Optionee to report details of the sale of his or her Shares to
the Corporation or to follow such other procedures as may be established by the Corporation to
comply with applicable exchange control regulations.
SLOVAK REPUBLIC
NOTIFICATIONS
Exchange Control Information. The Optionee is required to notify the National Bank of Slovakia
with respect to the establishment of accounts abroad within 15 days after the end of the calendar
year (effective from January 1, 2007). The notification forms may be found at the Slovak National
Bank website as follows: xxx.xxx.xx. The Optionee should consult with a personal legal advisor to
determine which forms the Optionee will be required to submit and when they will be due.
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