Borders Group, Inc. Restricted Share Grant Agreement
Borders
Group, Inc.
2004
Long-Term Incentive Plan
This
Restricted Share Grant Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of April 1, 2008 (the “Grant
Date”), is made by and between Borders Group, Inc. (the “Company”) and Name (the
“Participant”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
the Company has established and maintains the Borders Group, Inc. 2004 Long-Term
Incentive Plan (the “Plan”);
WHEREAS,
the Participant is a key employee of the Company;
WHEREAS,
the Company desires to grant to the Participant shares of common stock (“Common
Stock”) under the Plan, subject to certain restrictions and limitations;
and
WHEREAS,
the Participant desires to receive a grant of such shares from the
Company;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the promises and mutual agreements contained
herein, the adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
Company and the Participant agree as follows:
1. Grant of Restricted
Shares.
(a) Number of
Shares/Vesting. The Company hereby grants to the Participant
# shares of Common Stock
under the Plan, subject to the terms and conditions set forth below (the
“Restricted Shares”). The Restricted Shares shall be subject to the
following vesting schedule:
Date Vesting
April
1,
2011 100%
Subject
to Section 1(b), upon the Participant’s termination of employment with the
Company and its Subsidiaries prior to April 1, 2011, all Restricted Shares shall
be forfeited by the Participant and cancelled by the Company; provided, however,
that if the Participant’s termination of employment is due to his death or
Disability (and occurs prior to a Change of Control), then the unvested portion
of the Restricted Shares shall be treated in accordance with the terms of
Section 12 of the Plan. Section 12 of the Plan shall not apply to a
termination due to Retirement.
(b) In
the event of a Change of Control prior to the Participant’s termination of
employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries, the Restricted Shares shall
vest in full, except to the extent they are replaced by a Qualifying Replacement
Award (as defined below). A Qualifying Replacement Award shall mean
an award of publicly traded restricted shares of the Company or its successor in
the Change of Control (or of the appropriate affiliate of such successor) that
(i) has a value, as of such replacement, that is at least equal to the value of
the Restricted Shares, (ii) is subject to the same vesting schedule and terms as
the Restricted Shares, (iii) provides for an acceleration of vesting in the
event of a termination of the Participant’s employment prior to April 1, 2011
that is (1) by the Company other than for Cause (as defined in the Plan, unless
Cause is defined in an individual employment or severance agreement to which the
Participant is party, in which case such definition shall apply), (2) by the
Participant for Good Reason (within the meaning of Section 1(e)), or (3) due to
the Participant’s death or Disability, and (iv) otherwise contains terms and
conditions substantially similar to, and in any event no less favorable to the
Participant than, the terms and conditions of the Restricted
Shares. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a
Qualifying Replacement Award may take the form of a continuation of this
Restricted Share award if the requirements of the preceding sentence are
satisfied.
(c) Additional
Documents/Capitalized Terms. The Participant agrees to execute
such additional documents and forms as the Company may require for purposes of
this Agreement. Any capitalized terms not defined herein shall have
the same meaning as set forth in the Plan document.
(d) Issuance of Restricted
Shares. As soon as practicable following receipt of this
executed Agreement, the Company shall issue on behalf of the Participant the
number of Restricted Shares that the Participant has been
granted. Such Restricted Shares, which shall be fully paid and
nonassessable upon their issuance, shall be represented by a certificate or
certificates registered in the name of the Participant and stamped with an
appropriate legend evidencing the nature of the Restricted
Shares. The certificates shall be held by the Company or such other
custodian as may be designated by the Company as a depository for safekeeping
until the forfeiture restrictions lapse pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
The Participant shall execute such additional documents and forms as the Company
may require for these purposes. Subject to the terms and provisions
of Michigan law, the Participant shall have all the rights of a stockholder upon
the issuance of the Restricted Shares, including the right to vote the
Restricted Shares and to receive all dividends or other distributions paid or
made with respect to the Restricted Shares, provided that the Restricted Shares
shall be subject to the restrictions set forth in this Agreement.
(e) Good Reason
Termination. For purposes of Section 1(b), a termination shall
be deemed to be for “Good Reason” if such termination is (i) effectuated
pursuant to a “good reason” or similar constructive termination right in an
individual employment or severance agreement to which the Participant is party,
or (ii) if the Participant is not party to any such agreement, initiated by the
Participant following the occurrence of any of the following: (1) an involuntary
relocation that increases the Participant’s commute by more than 35 miles, (2) a
material reduction in either the Participant’s base pay or the Participant’s
overall compensation opportunity from the levels in effect immediately prior to
the Change of Control, or (3) a material reduction in the Participant’s
authority, duties, or responsibilities below the levels in effect immediately
prior to the Change of Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a
termination shall be deemed to be for Good Reason under clause (ii) of this
Section 1(e) only if the Participant provides written notice to the Company of
the existence of one or more of the conditions described therein within 90 days
following the Participant’s knowledge of the initial existence of such
condition, the Company fails to cure such condition during the 30-day period
(the “Cure Period”) following its receipt of such notice, and the Participant
terminates employment within 180 days following the conclusion of the Cure
Period.
2. Restrictions on
Transfer. Until the Restricted Shares are vested in accordance
with Section 1 of this Agreement, the Restricted Shares held by the Participant
(and any other securities issued in respect of the Restricted Shares) may not be
sold, exchanged, assigned, transferred, conveyed, gifted, delivered, encumbered,
discounted, pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise disposed of, whether
voluntarily, involuntarily, or by operation of law.
3. Withholding. The
Participant shall be liable for any and all U.S. federal, state or local taxes
of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the vesting of
Restricted Shares. When the Restricted Shares vest, the Participant
shall surrender to the Company a sufficient number of whole shares of Common
Stock as necessary to cover all applicable required withholding taxes and social
security contributions related to such vesting. The Company will
provide the Participant with a cash refund for any fraction of surrendered
shares of Common Stock not necessary for required withholding taxes and social
security contributions. Instead of requiring the Participant to
surrender shares as described above, the Company may, in its discretion, (a)
require the Participant to remit to the Company on the date on which the
Restricted Shares vest cash in an amount sufficient to satisfy all applicable
required withholding taxes and social security contributions related to such
vesting, or (b) deduct from his regular salary payroll cash, on a payroll date
following the date on which the Restricted Shares vest, in an amount sufficient
to satisfy such obligations.
4. Grant Subject to Plan
Provisions. The grant of Restricted Shares is made pursuant to
the Plan, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference, and in all
respects will be interpreted in accordance with the Plan. The
Committee has the authority to interpret and construe this Agreement pursuant to
the terms of the Plan, and its decisions are conclusive as to any questions
arising hereunder. In the event of any conflict between the terms of
this Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall
control.
5. Notification of Election
Under Section 83(b) of the Code. If the Participant shall, in
connection with the grant of Restricted Shares under this Agreement, make the
election permitted under Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code (i.e., an election to include
in gross income in the year of transfer the amounts specified in Section 83(b)
of the Internal Revenue Code), then the Participant shall notify the Company of
such election within 10 days of filing notice of the election with the Internal
Revenue Service.
6. No Employment or Other
Rights. The grant of Restricted Shares does not confer upon
the Participant any right to be employed by the Company or any Subsidiary and
will not interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to
terminate the Participant’s employment at any time. The right of the
Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the Participant’s employment at will at
any time for any reason is specifically reserved. The Participant
will not have any interest in any fund or specific assets of the Company by
reason of this grant.
7. Nontransferability. Except
for tax withholding, the Participant’s rights and interests under this Agreement
may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or otherwise encumbered or
disposed of except, in the event of the Participant’s death, by will or by the
laws of descent and distribution.
8. Applicable
Law. The validity, construction, interpretation and effect of
this instrument will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the State of Michigan, without giving effect to the conflicts of laws provisions
thereof.
9. Notice. Any
notice to the Company or the Committee provided for in this Agreement shall be
addressed to Borders Group, Inc. in care of The Secretary, Borders Group, Inc., 000 Xxxxxxx Xx.,
Xxx Xxxxx, XX 00000 and any notice to the Participant will be addressed
to the Participant at the current address shown on the books and records of the
Company or its Subsidiary. Any notice shall be sent by registered or
certified mail.
10. Discretionary Nature of
Plan. The Plan is discretionary in nature, and the Company may
suspend, modify, amend or terminate the Plan in its sole discretion at any time,
subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable limitations imposed by
law. This Restricted Share grant under the Plan is a one-time benefit
and does not create any contractual or other right to receive additional
Restricted Shares or other benefits in lieu of Restricted Shares in the
future. Future grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the
Committee, including, but not limited to, the timing of any grant, the number of
Restricted Shares granted, and the vesting provisions.
11. Entire
Agreement. This Agreement and the Plan contain the entire
agreement between the Participant and the Company regarding the grant of
Restricted Shares and supersede all prior arrangements or understandings with
respect thereto.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Agreement to be executed by a duly
authorized representative and the Participant has hereunto set his hand
effective as of the Grant Date.
Borders
Group, Inc.
By:
Its:
Executive Vice President, Human Resources
As of:
April 1, 2008
I hereby
accept the Restricted Shares granted pursuant to this Agreement, and I agree to
be bound by the terms of the Plan and this Agreement. I hereby
further agree that all the decisions and determinations of the Committee will be
final and binding.
Participant Date
CHIDMS1/2512118.2
