EXHIBIT 99.1
Published on December 15, 2009
Exhibit
99.1
AVOCENT
CORPORATION
2008
INDUCEMENT EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
(Amended
and Restated as of December 11, 2009)
Section
1. Purposes of the Plan;
Implementation of the Merger Agreement. The purposes of this Plan
are:
(a) to
provide a material inducement for the best available employees to join the
Company, and
(b) to
promote the success of the Company’s business.
The Plan
permits the grant of Nonstatutory Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights,
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units,
Deferred Stock Units and Dividend Equivalents as the Administrator may
determine.
(c) Upon
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of
Merger dated October 5, 2009, among Avocent Corporation (“Avocent”), Emerson
Electric Co. and Globe Acquisition Corporation (the “Merger Agreement”), Avocent
will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emerson Electric Co. Pursuant to
Section 3.07(a) of the Merger Agreement, on the “Acceptance Date” (as defined in
the Merger Agreement) all Restricted Stock Units outstanding under the Plan,
other than Restricted Stock Units held by non-employee members of the Avocent
Board of Directors, will be converted into Restricted Stock Units relating to
shares of Common Stock. Pursuant to Section 3.07(a) of the Merger Agreement and
Board action on October 5, 2009, the Plan was amended and restated as of
December 11, 2009 as set forth herein to implement such Section 3.07(a) and such
Board action.
Section
2. Definitions. As
used herein, the following definitions will apply:
(a) “Administrator” means the Board
or any of its Committees as will be administering the Plan, in accordance with
Section 4 of the Plan.
(b) “Applicable Laws” means the
requirements relating to the administration of equity- based awards under U.S.
state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any
stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted
and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Awards are,
or will be, granted under the Plan.
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(c) “Award” means, individually or
collectively, a grant under the Plan of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights,
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares, Performance Units,
Deferred Stock Units and Dividend Equivalents as the Administrator may
determine.
(d) “Award Agreement” means the
written or electronic agreement setting forth the terms and provisions
applicable to each Award granted under the Plan. The Award Agreement is subject
to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(e) “Awarded Stock” means the
Common Stock subject to an Award.
(f) “Board” means the Board of
Directors of the Company.
(g) “Change of Control” means the
occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) Any
person (other than the Company) or more than one person acting as a group (a
“Person”) acquires
beneficial ownership of the Company’s securities and is or thereby becomes a
beneficial owner of securities entitling such Person to exercise twenty- five
percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then
outstanding stock. For purposes of this Plan, “beneficial ownership” shall be
determined in accordance with Regulation 13D under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, or any similar successor regulation or rule; and the term “Person”
shall include any natural person, corporation, partnership, trust or
association, or any group or combination thereof, whose ownership o(the
Company’s securities would be required to be reported under such Regulation 13D,
or any similar successor regulation or rule.
(ii) Within
any twenty-four (24) month period, the individuals who were Directors at the
beginning of any such period, together with any other Directors first elected as
directors of the Company pursuant to nominations approved or ratified by at
least two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors in office immediately prior to any such
election, cease to constitute a majority of the Board.
(iii) The
closing of any transaction involving:
(A) any
consolidation, merger, or other reorganization of the Company in which the
Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation or pursuant to which
shares of the Company common stock would be converted into cash, securities or
other property, other than a merger, consolidation, or other reorganization of
the Company in which the holders of the Company’s common stock immediately prior
to the merger or consolidation have substantially the same proportionate
ownership and voting control of the surviving corporation immediately after the
merger or consolidation; or
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(B)
any·sale, lease, exchange, liquidation or other transfer (in one transaction or
a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company.
Notwithstanding
subsection 2(g)(iii)(A) and 2(g)(iii)(B) above, the term “Change of Control” shall not include a
consolidation, merger, or other reorganization if upon consummation of such
transaction all of the outstanding voting stock of the Company is owned,
directly or indirectly, by a holding company, and the holders of the Company’s
common stock immediately prior to the transaction have substantially the same
proportionate ownership and voting control of such holding company after such
transaction.
(h) “Code” means the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Any reference to a section of the Code herein
will be a reference to any successor or amended section of the
Code.
(i) “Committee” means a committee
of Directors or of other individuals satisfying Applicable Laws appointed by the
Board, or the compensation committee of the Board, in accordance with Section 4
hereof.
(j) “Common Stock” means the common
stock, par value $0.50 per share, of the Company.
(k) “Company” means Emerson
Electric Co., a Missouri corporation, or any successor thereto.
(l) “Consultant” means any person,
including an advisor, engaged by the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary to render
services to such entity.
(m) “Deferred Stock Unit” means a
deferred stock unit Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section
11(n).
(n) “Director” means a member of
the Board.
(o) “Disability” means total and
permanent disability as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, provided that
the Administrator in its discretion may determine whether a permanent and total
disability exists in accordance with uniform and non-discriminatory standards
adopted by the Administrator from time to time.
(p) “Dividend Equivalent” means a
credit, payable in cash, made at the discretion of the Administrator, to the
account of a Participant in an amount equal to the cash dividends paid on one
Share for each Share represented by an Award held by such Participant. Unless
otherwise determined by the Administrator, the Dividend Equivalent for each
Share subject to an Award
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will only
be paid to a Participant on the vesting date for such Share or such other date
as may be required by Applicable Laws.
(q) “Employee” means any person,
including Officers and Directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or
Subsidiary of the Company. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a
director’s fee by the Company will be sufficient to constitute “employment” by
the Company.
(r) “Exchange Act” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(s) “Exchange Program” means a
program under which Section 1 outstanding Awards are surrendered or cancelled in
exchange for awards of the same type (which may have higher or lower exercise
prices and different terms), awards of a different type, and/or cash, Section 2
Participants would have the opportunity to transfer any outstanding Awards to a
financial institution or other person or entity selected by the Administrator,
and/or Section 3 the exercise price of an outstanding Award is reduced. The
Administrator will determine the terms and conditions of any Exchange Program in
its sole discretion.
(t) “Fair Market Value” means, as
of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined as follows:
(i) If the
Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market
system, including without limitation the Nasdaq National Market of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System (“Nasdaq”) System,
the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common Stock will be the closing sales price
for such stock as quoted on such system or exchange (or the exchange with the
greatest volume of trading in Common Stock) on the day of determination (or, if
no closing sales price is reported for the relevant date, on the last trading
day for which a closing sales price is reported), as reported in The Wall Street Journal or
such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;
(ii) If the
Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq System (but not on the Nasdaq National
Market thereof) or is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but
selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of a Share of Common
Stock will be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common
Stock on the day of determination (or, if no bids and asks were reported on that
date, as applicable, on the last trading date such bids and asks were reported),
as reported in The Wall Street
Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;
or
(iii) In
the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value
will be determined in good faith by the Administrator.
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(u) “Incentive Stock Option” means
an Option that by its terms qualifies and is otherwise intended to qualify as an
incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.
(v) “Nonstatutory Stock Option”
means an Option that by its terms does not qualify or is not intended to qualify
as an Incentive Stock Option.
(w) “Officer” means a person who is
an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(x) “Option” means a stock option
granted pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan. An option under this Plan will only
be a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(y) “Outside Director” means a
Director who is not an Employee.
(z) “Parent” means a “parent
corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of
the Code.
(aa) “Participant” means the holder
of an outstanding Award.
(bb) “Performance Share” means a
performance share Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section
10.
(cc) “Performance Unit” means a
performance unit Award granted to a Participant pursuant to Section
10.
(dd) “Period of Restriction” means
the period during which the transfer of Shares of Restricted Stock are subject
to restrictions and therefore, the Shares are subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture. Such restrictions may be based on the passage of time, the
achievement of target levels of performance, or the occurrence of other events
as determined by the Administrator.
(ee) “Plan” means this 2008
Inducement Equity Incentive Plan.
(ff) “Restricted Stock” means Shares
issued pursuant to an Award of Restricted Stock under Section 8 of the
Plan.
(gg) “Restricted Stock Unit” means a
bookkeeping entry representing an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of one
Share, granted pursuant to Section 9. Each Restricted Stock Unit represents an
unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company.
(hh) “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3
of the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b- 3, as in effect when
discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan.
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(ii) “Section 16(b)” means Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act.
(jj) “Section 409A” means Section
409A of the Code and any proposed or final Treasury Regulations and Internal
Revenue Service guidance that has been promulgated or may be promulgated
thereunder from time to time.
(kk) “Service Provider” means an
Employee, Director, or Consultant.
(ll) “Share” means a share of the
Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 15 of the
Plan.
(mm) “Stock Appreciation Right”
means an Award, granted alone or in connection with an Option, that pursuant to
Section 7 is designated as a Stock Appreciation Right.
(nn) “Subsidiary” means a
“subsidiary corporation” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in
Section 424(f) of the Code; provided, however, that for purposes of
Section 9(f)(ii), “Subsidiary” shall have the meaning ascribed to it
therein.
Section
3. Stock Subject to the
Plan. (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 15 of the Plan, the
maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be awarded and sold under the Plan
is Seven Hundred Thousand (700,000) Shares. The Shares may be authorized, but
unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.
(b) Full Value Awards. Any Shares
subject to Awards other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights
will be counted against the numerical limits of this Section 3 as two (2) Shares
for every one (1) Share subject thereto. Further, if Shares acquired pursuant to
any such Award are forfeited or repurchased by the Company and would otherwise
return to the Plan pursuant to Section 3(c), two (2) times the number of Shares
so forfeited or repurchased will return to the Plan and will again become
available for issuance.
(c) Lapsed Awards. If an Award
expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full, is
surrendered pursuant to an Exchange Program or, with respect to Restricted
Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares, is forfeited to or
repurchased by the Company, the unpurchased Shares (or for Awards other than
Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, the forfeited or repurchased Shares)
which were subject thereto will become available for future grant or sale under
the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated). Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation
Right settled in Shares, the gross number of Shares covered by the portion of
the Award so exercised will cease to be available under the Plan. Shares that
have actually been issued under the Plan under any Award will not be returned to
the Plan and will not become available for future distribution under the Plan;
provided, however, that if unvested
Shares of Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units or Performance Shares are
repurchased by the Company or are forfeited to the Company, such Shares will
become available for future grant under the
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Plan.
Shares used to pay the withholding tax related to an Award or to pay for the
exercise price of an Award will not become available for future grant or sale
under the Plan. To the extent an Award under the Plan is paid out in cash rather
than Shares, such cash payment will not result in reducing the number of Shares
available for issuance under the Plan. Any payout of Performance Units or
Dividend Equivalents, because they are payable only in cash, will not reduce the
number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan. Conversely, any
forfeiture of Performance Units or Dividend Equivalents will not increase the
number of Shares available for issuance under the Plan.
(d) Share Reserve. The Company,
during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such
number of Shares as will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the
Plan.
Section
4. Administration
of the Plan.
(a) Procedure:
(i) Multiple Administrative
Bodies. Different Committees with respect to different groups of
Service Providers may administer the Plan.
(ii) Rule 16b-3. To the extent
desirable to qualify transactions hereunder as exempt under Rule
16b-3, the transactions contemplated hereunder will be structured to satisfy the
requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3.
(iii)
Other Administration.
Other than as provided above, the Plan will be administered by (A) the Board or
(B) a Committee, which committee will be constituted to satisfy Applicable
Laws.
(b) Powers of the Administrator.
Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, subject
to the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, the
Administrator will have the authority, in its discretion:
(i) to
determine the Fair Market Value;
(ii) to select
the Employees to whom Awards may be granted hereunder;
(iii) to
determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan,
of any Award granted hereunder. Such terms and conditions include, but are not
limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when Awards may be exercised
(which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver
of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation regarding any
Award or the Shares relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the
Administrator will determine;
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(iv) to
construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the
Plan;
(v) to
prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan,
including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the
purpose of satisfying applicable foreign laws or for qualifying for preferred
tax treatment under applicable foreign laws;
(vi) to
modify or amend each Award (subject to Section 20(b) of the Plan);
(vii) to
authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required
to effect the grant of an Award previously granted by the
Administrator;
(viii) to
determine whether Dividend Equivalents will be granted in connection with
another Award;
(ix) to
determine the terms and conditions of an Exchange Program and with the approval
of the Company’s stockholders, to institute an Exchange Program;
(x) to
allow a Participant to defer the receipt of the payment of cash or the delivery
of Shares that would otherwise be due to such Participant under an Award
pursuant to such procedures as the Administrator may determine; and
(xi) to
approve forms of agreements for use under the Plan;
(xii) to
make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering
the Plan.
(c)
Effect of Administrator’s Decision. The Administrator’s decisions,
determinations, and interpretations will be final and binding on all
Participants and any other holders of Awards.
Section
5. Eligibility; No Further
Grants. Awards may be granted to Employees so long as the following
requirements are met: (a) the Employee was not previously an Employee or
Director, or the Employee is returning to the employment of the Company
following a bona-fide period of non-employment; and
(b) the
grant of an Award under the Plan is a material inducement to the Employee’s
decision to enter into the employment of the Company. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, an Employee may be granted an Award in connection with a merger,
acquisition or similar transaction, to the extent permitted by the Nasdaq rules
governing stockholder approval of inducement equity compensation
plans.
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(c) No
Awards shall be granted hereunder on or after the Acceptance Date.
Section
6. Stock Options. (a)
Term of Option. The
Administrator will determine the term of each Option in its sole discretion;
provided, however, that the term will
be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof.
(b) Option Exercise Price and
Consideration.
(i) Exercise Price. The per share
exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of
an Option will be determined by the Administrator, but will be no less than 100%
of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Options may be granted with a per Share exercise price of less than
100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant pursuant to a
transaction described in, and in a manner consistent with, Section 424(a) of the
Code.
(ii) Waiting Period and Exercise
Dates. At the time an Option is granted, the Administrator will fix
the period within which the Option may be exercised and will determine any
conditions that must be satisfied before the Option may be
exercised.
(iv) Form of Consideration. The
Administrator will determine the acceptable forms) of consideration
for exercising an Option, including the method of payment, to the extent
permitted by Applicable Laws. Such consideration may consist of, without
limitation, (A) cash, (B)
check, (C) promissory note, to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, (D)
other Shares, provided that such Shares have a Fair Market Value on the date of
surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares to which such
Option shall be exercised and provided that accepting such Shares, in the sole
discretion of the Administrator, shall not result in any adverse accounting
consequences to the Company, (E) consideration received by the Company under a
cashless exercise program implemented by the Company in connection with the
Plan, (F) by net exercise, (G) such other consideration and method of payment
for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, or (H)
any combination of the foregoing methods of payment. In making its determination
as to the type of consideration to accept, the Administrator shall consider if
acceptance of such consideration may be reasonably expected to benefit the
Company.
(c) Exercise of
Option.
(i) Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a
Stockholder. Any Option granted hereunder will be
exercisable according to the terms of the Plan and at such times and under such
conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Award
Agreement. An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a
Share.
An Option
will be deemed exercised when the Company receives: (A) notice of
exercise
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(in such
form as the Administrator specifies from time to time) from the person entitled
to exercise the Option, and (B) full payment for the Shares with respect to
which the Option is exercised (together with any applicable withholding taxes).
Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment authorized
by the Administrator and permitted by the Award Agreement and the Plan. Shares
issued upon exercise of an Option will be issued in the name of the Participant
or, if requested by the Participant, in the name of the Participant and his or
her spouse. Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry
on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the
Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a
stockholder will exist with respect to the Shares subject to an Option,
notwithstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company will issue (or cause to
be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised. No adjustment
will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to
the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 15 of the
Plan.
(ii)
Termination of Relationship as
a Service Provider. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider,
other than upon the Participant’s termination as the result of the Participant’s
death or Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option within such
period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent that the
Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the
expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). In
the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain
exercisable for three (3) months following the Participant’s termination. Unless
otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination the
Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by
the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan. If after termination
the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified by
the Administrator, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such
Option will revert to the Plan.
(iii)
Disability of
Participant. If a Participant ceases to be a Service Provider as a result
of the Participant’s Disability, the Participant may exercise his or her Option
within such period of time as is specified in the Award Agreement to the extent
the Option is vested on the date of termination (but in no event later than the
expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement). In
the absence of a specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain
exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Participant’s termination.
Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, if on the date of termination
the Participant is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered
by the unvested portion of the Option will revert to the Plan. If after
termination the Participant does not exercise his or her Option within the time
specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by such
Option will revert to the Plan.
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(iv) Death of Participant. If a
Participant dies while a Service Provider, the Option may be exercised
following the Participant’s death within such period of time as is specified in
the Award Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of death
(but in no event may the option be exercised later than the expiration of the
term of such Option as set forth in the Award Agreement), by the Participant’s
designated beneficiary, provided such beneficiary has been designated prior to
Participant’s death in a form acceptable to the Administrator. If no such
beneficiary has been designated by the Participant, then such Option may be
exercised by the personal representative of the Participant’s estate or by the
person(s) to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to the Participant’s will
or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. In the absence of a
specified time in the Award Agreement, the Option will remain exercisable for
twelve (12) months following Participant’s death. Unless otherwise provided by
the Administrator, if at the time of death Participant is not vested as to his
or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option
will immediately revert to the Plan. If the Option is not so exercised within
the time specified herein, the Option will terminate, and the Shares covered by
such Option will revert to the Plan.
(v) Other Termination. A
Participant’s Award Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of the
Option following the termination of Participant’s status as a Service Provider
(other than upon the Participant’s death or Disability) would result in
liability under Section 16(b), then the Option will terminate on the earlier of
(A) the expiration of the term of the Option set forth in the Award Agreement,
or (B) the 10th day after the last date on which such exercise would result in
such liability under Section 16(b), but in no event later than the original full
term of the Option. Finally, a Participant’s Award Agreement may also provide
that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the
Participant’s status as a Service Provider (other than upon the Participant’s
death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance
of Shares would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act,
then the Option will terminate on the earlier of (A) the expiration of the term
of the Option, or (B) the expiration of a period of three (3) months after the
termination of the Participant’s status as a Service Provider during which the
exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration
requirements.
Section
7. Stock Appreciation
Rights. (a) Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. Subject to the terms and
conditions of the Plan, a Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to Employees
at any time and from time to time as will be determined by the’ Administrator,
in its sole discretion.
(b) Number of Shares. The
Administrator will have complete discretion to determine the number of Stock
Appreciation Rights granted to any Employee.
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(c) Exercise Price and Other
Terms. The Administrator, subject to the provisions of the Plan, will have
complete discretion to determine the terms and conditions of Stock Appreciation
Rights granted under the Plan, provided, however, that the exercise
price will be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date
of grant.
(d) Stock Appreciation Right
Agreement. Each Stock Appreciation Right grant will be evidenced by an Award
Agreement that will specify the exercise price, the term of the Stock
Appreciation Right, the conditions of exercise, and such other terms and
conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will
determine.
(e) Expiration of Stock Appreciation
Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan will expire
upon the date determined by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and set
forth in the Award Agreement; provided, however, that the term will
be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the rules of Section 6(c) also will apply to Stock Appreciation
Rights.
(f) Payment of Stock Appreciation Right
Amount. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a Participant
will be entitled to receive payment from the Company in an amount determined by
multiplying:
(i) The
difference between the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise over
the exercise price; times
(ii) The
number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is
exercised.
(iii) At
the discretion of the Administrator, the payment upon Stock Appreciation Right
exercise may be in cash, in Shares of equivalent value, or in some combination
thereof, as specified in the Award Agreement.
Section
8. Restricted Stock.
(a) Grant of Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan,
the Administrator, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of
Restricted Stock to Employees in such amounts as the Administrator, in its sole
discretion, will determine.
(b) Restricted Stock Agreement.
Each Award of Restricted Stock will be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will
specify the Period of Restriction, the number of Shares granted, and such other
terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, will
determine. Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, Shares of Restricted
Stock will be held by the Company as escrow agent until the restrictions on such
Shares have lapsed.
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(c) Transferability. Except as
provided in this Section 8, Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold,
transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the
end of the applicable Period of Restriction.
(d) Other Restrictions. The
Administrator, in its sole discretion, may impose such other restrictions on Shares
of Restricted Stock as it may deem advisable or appropriate.
(e) Removal of Restrictions.
Except as otherwise provided in this Section 8, Shares of Restricted Stock
covered by each Restricted Stock grant made under the Plan will be released from
escrow as soon as practicable after the last day of the Period of Restriction or
at such other time as the Administrator may determine. The Administrator, in its
discretion, may accelerate the time at which any restrictions will lapse or be
removed.
(f) Voting Rights. During the
Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding Shares of Restricted Stock
granted hereunder may exercise full voting rights with respect to those Shares,
unless the Administrator determines otherwise.
(g) Dividends and Other
Distributions. During the Period of Restriction, Service Providers holding
Shares of Restricted Stock will be entitled to receive all dividends and other
distributions paid with respect to such Shares unless the Administrator provides
otherwise. If any such dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, the Shares
will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability
as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were
paid.
(h) Return of Restricted Stock to
Company. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, the
Restricted Stock for which restrictions have not lapsed will revert to the
Company and again will become available for grant under the Plan.
Section
9. Restricted Stock
Units. (a) Grant. Restricted Stock Units
may be granted at any time and from time to time as determined by the
Administrator. Each Restricted Stock Unit grant will be evidenced by an Award
Agreement that will specify such other terms and conditions as the
Administrator, in its sole discretion, will determine, including all terms,
conditions, and restrictions related to the grant, the number of Restricted
Stock Units and the form of payout, which, subject to Section 9(d), may be left
to the discretion of the Administrator.
(b) Vesting Criteria and Other
Terms. The Administrator will set vesting criteria in its discretion,
which, depending on the extent to which the criteria are met, will determine the
number of Restricted Stock Units that will be paid out to the Participant. The
Administrator may set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of
Company-wide, business unit, or individual goals (including, but not limited to,
continued employment or status as a Service Provider), or any other basis
determined by the Administrator in its discretion. After the grant of Restricted
Stock Units, the Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any
restrictions for
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such
Restricted Stock Units. Each Award of Restricted Stock Units will be evidenced
by an Award Agreement that will specify the vesting criteria, and such other
terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion will
determine. The Administrator, in its discretion, may accelerate the time at
which any restrictions will lapse or be removed.
(c) Earning Restricted Stock
Units. Upon meeting the applicable vesting criteria, the Participant will be
entitled to receive a payout as specified in the Award Agreement.
(d) Form and Timing of Payment.
Payment of earned Restricted Stock Units will be made as soon as
practicable after the date(s) set forth in the Award Agreement. The
Administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Restricted Stock Units in
cash, Shares, or a combination thereof. Shares represented by Restricted Stock
Units that are fully paid in cash again will be available for grant under the
Plan.
(e) Cancellation. On the date set
forth in the Award Agreement, all unearned Restricted Stock Units will be
forfeited to the Company.
(f) Adjusted Restricted Stock
Units.
(i) On the
Acceptance Date, Restricted Stock Units then outstanding under the Plan, other
than Restricted Stock Units held by non-employee members of the Avocent Board of
Directors, shall be converted into that number of Restricted Stock Units
relating to Common Stock pursuant to and as provided in Section 3.07(a) of the
Merger Agreement (each, an “Adjusted Unit”). Except to the extent provided in
Section 3.07(a) of the Merger Agreement or this Section 9(f), each Adjusted Unit
shall continue to have and be subject to the same terms and conditions as was
applicable under the corresponding Restricted Stock Unit immediately prior to
the Acceptance Date.
(ii) Notwithstanding
any provision herein to the contrary, in the event that the employment of any
Participant holding an Adjusted Unit is terminated by such Participant’s
employer other than for “Cause” (as defined below), each Adjusted Unit held by
such Participant shall be fully vested on the effective date of such
termination. For purposes of this Section 9(f)(ii), “Cause” means: (A) the
Participant’s willful dishonesty towards, fraud upon, or deliberate injury or
attempted injury to, the Company or Avocent which has resulted in material
injury to the Company or Avocent; (B) the Participant’s willful material breach
of the Participant’s employment agreement, if any, which, if curable, is not
cured within thirty (30) days after the Company or Avocent provides the
Participant with written notice describing in detail the material breach; or (C)
the Participant’s conviction of or pleading guilty or nolo contendere to any felony
or misdemeanor involving, theft, embezzlement, dishonesty, or moral turpitude.
For purposes of clarity, if a Participant is transferred as part of a sale of a
Subsidiary, business unit or division of the Company or Avocent, such transfer
shall be deemed a termination
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other
than for Cause. For purposes of this Section 9(f)(ii) only, “Subsidiary” means
any entity of which Avocent or the Company at any time owns, directly or
indirectly, securities or other interests having ordinary voting power to elect
a majority of the board of directors or persons performing similar
functions.
Section
10. Performance Units and
Performance Shares. (a) Grant of Performance Units and Performance Shares.
Performance Units and Performance Shares may be granted to Employees at any time
and from time to time, as will be determined by the Administrator, in its sole
discretion. The Administrator will have complete discretion in determining the
number of Shares subject to a Performance Unit and/or Performance Shares granted
to each Participant. Each Award of Performance Units or Performance Shares will
be evidenced by an Award Agreement that will specify the vesting criteria and
such other terms and conditions as the Administrator, in its sole discretion,
will determine.
(b) Value of Performance
Units/Shares. Each Performance Unit will have an initial value that is
established by the Administrator on or before the date of grant and will
represent an unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company. Each Performance
Share will have an initial value equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share on
the date of grant.
(c) Performance Objectives and Other
Terms. The Administrator will set performance objectives or other
vesting provisions, which, depending on the extent to which the objectives or
other criteria are met, will determine the number of Performance Units or
Performance Shares, as applicable, that will be paid out. The Administrator may
set vesting criteria based upon the achievement of Company-wide, business unit,
or individual goals (including, but not limited to, continued employment or
status as a Service Provider), or any other basis determined by the
Administrator in its discretion.
(d) Earning of Performance Units and
Performance Shares. After the applicable performance period has
ended, the holder of Performance Units or Performance Shares, as applicable,
will been titled to receive a payout of the number of Performance Units or
Performance Shares, as applicable, earned by the Participant over the
performance period, to be determined as a function of the extent to which the
corresponding performance objectives or other vesting provisions have been
achieved. After the grant of a Performance Unit or Performance Share, the
Administrator, in its sole discretion, may reduce or waive any performance
objectives or other vesting provisions for such Performance Units or Performance
Share, as applicable.
(e) Form and Timing of Payment of
Performance Units and Performance Shares. Payment of earned
Performance Units or Performance Shares, as applicable, will be made as soon as
practicable after the expiration of the applicable performance period. The
Administrator, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance Shares and
Performance Units in the form of
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cash, in
Shares (which have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the value of the
earned Performance Shares or Performance Units, as applicable, at the close of
the applicable performance period) or in a combination thereof.
(f) Cancellation of Performance Units
and Performance Shares. On the date set forth in the Award Agreement, all
unearned or unvested Performance Units and Performance Shares will be forfeited
to the Company, and again will be available for grant under the
Plan.
Section
11. Deferred Stock
Units. Deferred Stock Units shall consist of a Restricted Stock,
Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share or Performance Unit Award that the
Administrator, in its sole discretion permits to be paid out in installments or
on a deferred basis, in accordance with rules and procedures established by the
Administrator. Deferred Stock Units will remain subject to the claims of the
Company’s general creditors until distributed to the Participant.
Section
12. Leaves of Absence;
Transfer Between Locations. Unless the Administrator provides otherwise
or as otherwise required by Applicable Laws, vesting of Awards granted hereunder
will be suspended during any unpaid leave of absence. A Service Provider will
not cease to be an Employee in the case of (a) any leave of absence approved by
the Company, or (b) transfers between locations of the Company or between the
Company, its Parent, or any Subsidiary.
Section
13. Part-Time Service.
Unless the Administrator provides otherwise or except as otherwise required by
Applicable Laws, any service-based vesting of Awards granted hereunder will be
extended on a proportionate basis in the event an Employee transitions to a work
schedule under which they are customarily scheduled to work on less than a
full-time basis, or if not on a full-time work schedule, to a schedule requiring
fewer hours of service. Such vesting will be proportionately re-adjusted
prospectively in the event that the Employee subsequently becomes regularly
scheduled to work additional hours of service.
Section
14. Transferability of
Awards. Unless determined otherwise by the Administrator, an Award may
not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any
manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be
exercised, during the lifetime of the Participant, only by the Participant. If
the Administrator makes an Award transferable, such Award will contain such
additional terms and conditions as the Administrator deems appropriate; provided, however, that in no event may
an Award be transferred to a third party for value, without the prior approval
of the Company’s stockholders.
Section
15. Adjustments;
Dissolution or Liquidation; Merger or Change of Control. (a)
Adjustments. In the event
that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other
securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock
split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination,
repurchase, or exchange of
16
Shares or
other securities of the Company, or other change in the corporate structure of
the Company affecting the Shares occurs, the Administrator, in order to prevent
diminution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be
made available under the Plan, will adjust the number and class of Shares that
may be delivered under the Plan and/or the number, class, and price of Shares
covered by each outstanding Award.
(b) Dissolution or Liquidation.
In the event of the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the
Administrator will notify each Participant as soon as practicable prior to the
effective date of such proposed transaction. To the extent it has not been
previously exercised, an Award will terminate immediately prior to the
consummation of such proposed action.
(c) Merger or Change of Control.
In the event of a merger or Change of Control, each outstanding Award will
be treated as the Administrator determines without a Participant’s consent,
including, without limitation, that
(i) Awards
will be assumed, or substantially equivalent Awards will be substituted, by the
acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof) with appropriate
adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices;
(ii) upon
written notice to a Participant, that the Participant’s Awards will terminate
immediately prior to the consummation of such merger or Change of
Control;
(iii)
outstanding Awards will vest and become exercisable, realizable, or payable, or
restrictions applicable to an Award will lapse, in whole or in part prior to or
upon consummation of such merger or Change of Control, and, to the extent the
Administrator determines, terminate upon the effectiveness of such merger of
Change of Control;
(iv)(A)
the termination of an Award in exchange for an amount of cash and/or property,
if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of
such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights as of the date of the
occurrence of the transaction (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the
date of the occurrence of the transaction the Administrator determines in good
faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or
realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by
the Company without payment), or (B) the replacement of such Award with other
rights or property selected by the Administrator in its sole discretion;
or
(v) any
combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted under this
subsection 15(c), the Administrator will not be obligated to treat all Awards,
all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type,
similarly.
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In the
event that the successor corporation does not assume or substitute for the Award
(or portion thereof), the Participant will fully vest in and have the right to
exercise all of his or her outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights,
including Shares as to which such Awards would not otherwise be vested or
exercisable, all restrictions on Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units
will lapse, and, with respect to Awards with performance-based vesting, all
performance goals or other vesting criteria will be deemed achieved at one
hundred percent (100%) of target levels and all other terms and conditions met.
In addition, if an Option or Stock Appreciation Right is not assumed or
substituted in the event of a merger or Change of Control, the Administrator
will notify the Participant in writing or electronically that the Option or
Stock Appreciation Right will be exercisable for a period of time determined by
the Administrator in its sole discretion, and the Option or Stock Appreciation
Right will terminate upon the expiration of such period.
For the
purposes of this subsection 15(c), an Award will be considered assumed if,
following the merger or Change of Control, the Award confers the right to
purchase or receive, for each Share subject to the Award immediately prior to
the merger or Change of Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash, or
other securities or property) received in the merger or Change of Control by
holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of the
transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type of
consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares);
provided, however, that if such
consideration received in the merger or Change of Control is not solely common
stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may, with
the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to be
received upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or upon the
payout of a Restricted Stock Unit, for each Share subject to such Award, to be
solely common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent equal in fair
market value to the per share consideration received by holders of Common Stock
in the merger or Change of Control.
Notwithstanding
anything in this Section 15(c) to the contrary, an Award that vests, is earned
or paid-out upon the satisfaction of one or more performance goals will not be
considered assumed if the Company or its successor modifies any of such
performance goals without the Participant’s consent; provided, however, a modification to
such performance goals only to reflect the successor corporation’s post-Change
of Control corporate structure will not be deemed to invalidate an otherwise
valid Award assumption.
Notwithstanding
anything in this Section 15(c) to the contrary, if a payment under an Award
Agreement is subject to Section 409A and if the change of control definition
contained in the Award Agreement does not comply with the definition of “change
of control” for purposes of a distribution under Section 409A, then any payment
of an amount that is otherwise accelerated under this Section will be delayed
until the earliest time that such payment would be permissible under Section
409A without triggering any penalties applicable under Section
409A.
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Section
16. Tax Withholding.
(a) Withholding
Requirements. Prior to the delivery of any Shares or cash pursuant to an
Award (or exercise thereof), the Company will have the power and the right to
deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount
sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local, foreign or other taxes (including
the Participant’s FICA obligation) required to be withheld with respect to such
Award (or exercise thereof).
(b) Withholding Arrangements. The
Administrator, in its sole discretion and pursuant to such procedures as it may
specify from time to time, may permit a Participant to satisfy such tax
withholding obligation, in whole or in part by (without limitation) (i) paying
cash, (ii) electing to have the Company withhold otherwise deliverable cash or
Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount required to be
withheld, (iii) delivering to the Company already- owned Shares having a Fair
Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld, provided the delivery
of such Shares will not result in any (or additional) adverse accounting
consequences as the Administrator in its sole discretion determines, or (iv)
selling a sufficient number of Shares otherwise deliverable to the Participant
through such means as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion
(whether through a broker or otherwise) equal to the amount required to be
withheld. The amount of the withholding requirement will be deemed to include
any amount which the Administrator agrees may be withheld at the time the
election is made, not to exceed the amount determined by using the maximum
federal, state or local marginal income tax rates applicable to the Participant
with respect to the Award on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is
to be determined. The Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld or
delivered will be determined as of the date that the taxes are required to be
withheld.
Section
17. No Employment
Rights. Neither the Plan nor any Award will confer upon a Participant any
right with respect to continuing the Participant’s relationship as an Employee
or other Service Provider, nor will they interfere in any way with the
Participant’s right or the Company’s or Parent’s or Subsidiary’s right to
terminate such relationship at any time, with or without cause, to the extent
permitted by Applicable Laws.
Section
18. Date of Grant. The
date of grant of an Award will be, for all purposes, the date on which the
Administrator makes the determination granting such Award, or such other later
date as is determined by the Administrator. Notice of the determination will be
provided to each Participant within a reasonable time after the date of such
grant.
Section
19. Term of Plan. The
Plan will become effective upon its adoption by the Board. It will continue in
effect for a term often (10) years unless terminated earlier under Section 20 of
the Plan.
Section
20. Amendment and Termination
of the Plan. (a) Amendment and Termination.
The Administrator may at any time amend, alter, suspend or terminate the
Plan.
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(b) Effect of Amendment or
Termination. No amendment, alteration, suspension, or termination of the
Plan will impair the rights of any Participant, unless mutually agreed otherwise
between the Participant and the Administrator, which agreement must be in
writing and signed by the Participant and the Company. Termination of the Plan
will not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it
hereunder with respect to Awards granted under the Plan prior to the date of
such termination.
Section
21. Conditions Upon Issuance
of Shares. (a) Legal
Compliance. Shares will not be issued pursuant to the exercise of an
Award unless the exercise of such Award and the issuance and delivery of such
Shares will comply with Applicable Laws and will be further subject to the
approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such
compliance.
(b) Investment Representations.
As a condition to the exercise or payout of an Award, the Company may require
the person exercising such Award to represent and warrant at the time of any
such exercise or payout that the Shares are being purchased or received only for
investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares
if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is
required.
Section
22. Inability to Obtain
Authority. The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any
regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s
counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder,
will relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or
sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority will not have been
obtained.
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