gesc14c.htm
SCHEDULE
14C INFORMATION
Information
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
Check the
appropriate box:
o Preliminary
Information Statement
o Confidential, for
Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14c-5(d)(2))
x Definitive Information
Statement
GENERAL EMPLOYMENT
ENTERPRISES, INC.
(Name of
Registrant As Specified In Charter)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
x No fee
required.
o Fee computed on
table below per Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) and 0-11.
1) Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies: Common Stock, no par
value.
2)
Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
3) Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
4)
Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
5) Total
fee paid: None
o Fee paid
previously with preliminary materials.
o Check box if any
part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and
identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify
the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule
and the date of its filing.
1) Amount
Previously Paid: None
2) Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
3) Filing
Party: Registrant
4) Date
Filed: October 16, 2009
GENERAL
EMPLOYMENT ENTERPRISES, INC.
Oakbrook
Terrace Tower, First Floor, One Tower Lane, Suite 2200
Oakbrook
Terrace, Illinois 60181
NOTICE OF
ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 710 OF THE ILLINOIS BUSINESS
CORPORATION ACT OF 1983
Notice is
hereby given that the holder of a majority of the outstanding shares of common
stock of General Employment Enterprises, Inc. (“GEE”), an Illinois corporation,
has acted by written consent on July 24, 2009 to; (i) approve the issuance of
500,000 fully-vested shares off GEE common stock, no par value per share, to Mr.
Herbert F. Imhoff Jr. in accordance with a certain consulting agreement entered
into on March 30, 2009 and thereafter amended with effect on June 22, 2009; and
(ii) on September 8, 2009 to approve the adoption of the GEE Second Amended and
Restated General Employment Enterprises, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan (the
“Option Plan”). The Option Plan, as described below, allows the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors of GEE to grant options to purchase GEE
common stock, no par value per share, in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Option Plan in an amount not to exceed 592,000 shares of GEE
common stock, no par value per share, for the life of the Option Plan, which
expires in ten (10) years.
WE
ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A
PROXY
We are
not asking you for a proxy and please do not send one. This notice is
being provided solely to inform you of the above-referenced action, which
consent for was obtained by written consent of stockholders in lieu of a
meeting. No action is required by you.
By Order
of the Board of Directors of General Employment Enterprises, Inc.
GENERAL
EMPLOYMENT ENTERPRISES, INC.
Name: Ronald
E. Heineman
Title: Chief
Executive Officer
Item 1. Information required by Items
of Schedule 14A.
This
Notice of Action by Written Consent and Information Statement (“Information
Statement”) is being mailed on or about October 20, 2009, to the stockholders of
record of General Employment Enterprises, Inc., an Illinois corporation (“GEE”
or the “Company”), at the close of business on September 8, 2009 (the “Record
Date”), and is being delivered to inform you of the corporate actions described
herein before they take effect in accordance with Rule 14c-2 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and pursuant to Section 710 of the
Illinois Business Corporation Act. 805 ILCS 5/7.10.
This
Information Statement is being furnished to you to inform you that the holder of
shares representing a majority of the voting power of the common stock of GEE
has adopted, by written consent dated July 24, 2009, resolutions authorizing the
issuance of 500,000 fully-vested shares off GEE common stock, no par value, to
Mr. Herbert F. Imhoff Jr., in accordance with a certain consulting agreement
entered into on March 30, 2009 and thereafter amended with effect on June 22,
2009 (“Share Issuance”) and on September 8, 2009 with the adoption and approval
of GEE’s Second Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan (“Option Plan”)
which authorizes the grant of options to purchase no more than 592,000 shares of
GEE common stock, no par value per share, in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Option Plan. The Option Plan is to be administered
by the Compensation Committee of the GEE Board of Directors. A copy of the
Option Plan is attached to this Information Statement as Appendix “A.”
Pursuant to Rule 14c-2 of the Exchange Act, neither the Share Issuance, nor
the Option Plan will not become effective until at least 20 days
thereafter.
We will
bear the expenses relating to this Information Statement, including expenses in
connection with preparing and mailing of this Information Statement and all
documents that now accompany it or may in the future supplement it. We
contemplate that brokerage houses, custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries will
forward this Information Statement to the beneficial owners of the common stock
of GEE held of record by these persons and we will reimburse them for their
reasonable expenses incurred in this process.
Under
Illinois law and our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, as they may be
amended from time-to-time, no stockholder has any right to dissent to the
actions taken herein and is not entitled to appraisal of or payment for their
shares of our common stock.
As of the
Record Date, there are approximately 13,365,265 total outstanding shares of
common stock of the Company, which includes the 500,000 shares of our common
stock representing the Share Issuance, with each share being entitled to one
vote. PSQ, LLC, beneficially owned by Stephen Pence, the stockholder
of GEE who consented to the action approving the Share Issuance and the Option
Plan, held 9,735,287 shares of our common stock as of that date, representing
approximately 72.8% of the voting control of all outstanding GEE common stock.
The following table sets forth information concerning beneficial ownership of
shares of our common stock outstanding as of the Record Date by: (i) each person
known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than five (5%) percent of our
common stock; (ii) each director; (iii) each of the executive officers; and (iv)
all our directors and executive officers as a group:
Name
and Address
|
Amount
and Nature of
|
|
of
Beneficial Owner
|
Beneficial
Ownership
|
Percent
of Class
|
PSQ,
LLC
Stephen
Pence, Managing Member
Hurstbourne
Place, Suite 1205
9300
Shelbyville Road
Louisville,
KY 40222
|
9,735,287
|
(1)
|
72.8%
|
Herbert
F. Imhoff, Jr.
One
Tower Lane, Suite 2200
Oakbrook
Terrace, IL 60181
|
949,485
|
(2)
|
7.1%
|
Kent
M. Yauch
One
Tower Lane, Suite 2200
Oakbrook
Terrace, IL 60181
|
103,505
|
(3)
|
*
|
Marilyn
L. White
One
Tower Lane, Suite 2200
Oakbrook
Terrace, IL 60181
|
108,595
|
(4)
|
*
|
Dennis
Wayne Baker
One
Tower Lane, Suite 2200
Oakbrook
Terrace, IL 60181
|
45,000
|
(5)
|
*
|
Thomas
C. Williams
One
Tower Lane, Suite 2200
Oakbrook
Terrace, IL 60181
|
0
|
|
0
|
Ronald
E. Heineman
One
Tower Lane, Suite 2200
Oakbrook
Terrace, IL 60181
|
150,000
|
(6)
|
1.1%
|
Charles
W.B. Wardell
One
Tower Lane, Suite 2200
Oakbrook
Terrace, IL 60181
|
0
|
|
0
|
All
Officers and Directors as a Group (8)
|
11,091,872
|
|
83%
|
* Denotes
less than 1% of the outstanding shares of common stock. |
|
|
(1)
Based on Schedule 13D/A dated July 16, 2009 filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
The
shares are held by PSQ, LLC, Kentucky limited liability company with
a sole managing-member, Stephen Pence, the Chairman of our Board of
Directors.
(2)
Includes 10,161 shares of Common Stock held by Mr. Imhoff, Jr.’s son and
includes 500,000 shares of common stock which were approved for issuance to Mr.
Imhoff pursuant to his Consulting Agreement with the Company which became
effective as of July 1, 2009.
(3)
Includes 99,505 option shares exercisable within 60 days of the date of this
Information Statement.
(4)
Represents option shares exercisable within 60 days of the date of this
Information Statement.
(5)
Includes 15,000 option shares exercisable into common stock by Mr. Baker at an
exercise price of $2.39 on or before February 25, 2017. Information
based on Form 4, dated August 5, 2009, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
(6)
Represents 150,000 option shares exercisable into common stock by Mr. Heineman
in accordance with the terms of his agreement to serve as Chief Executive
Officer of GEE. These options are exercisable immediately after grant and were
to issue from the Option Plan subject to the approval of same by the Board of
Directors and the adoption thereof by GEE shareholders as described in this
Information Statement.
Item
2. Statement that proxies are not solicited.
We
Are Not Asking You for a Proxy and You are Requested Not to Send Us a
Proxy
This
Information Statement is being sent to you for informational purposes only. No
action is requested or required on your part. This Information Statement
constitutes notice to our stockholders of corporate action by stockholders
without a meeting, as required by Section 710 of the Illinois Business
Corporation Act.
Mr.
Herbert Imhoff, Jr. has a direct interest in the matter to be acted upon as
beneficiary of the Share Issuance. GEE has not received any
opposition by any Directors of the proposed action to be taken relative to the
Share Issuance or the Option Plan.
Item
4. Proposals by Security Holders.
None.
Item
5. Delivery of Documents to Security Holders Sharing an Address.
Only one
copy of this Information Statement, with Appendix “A” attached
is being sent to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless GEE receives
contrary instructions from any stockholder at that address. This practice, known
as “householding”, is designed to reduce printing and postage costs. However, if
any stockholder residing at such address wishes to receive a separate copy of
this Information Statement, he or she may contact investor relations
at:
Investor
Relations Department
General
Employment Enterprises, Inc.
Oakbrook
Terrace Tower
One Tower
Lane, Suite 2200
Oakbrook
Terrace, Illinois 60181
E-mail:
invest@genp.com,
and GEE
will deliver the Information Statement to such stockholder promptly upon
receiving the request. Any such stockholder may also contact investor relations
if he or she would like to receive separate mailings in the
future. If a stockholder receives multiple copies of GEE’s mailing,
he or she may request householding in the future by also contacting investor
relations.
Additional
Information
We file
annual reports on Form 10-KSB, quarterly reports of Form 10-Q, current reports
on Form 8-K or Form 8-K/A, proxy statements and other information with the SEC
under the Exchange Act. You may read and copy this information at the
SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C.
20549. Please call the SEC at (800) 732-0330 for further information
on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room. The SEC also
maintains an internet site that contains reports, proxy statements and other
information about issuers, like us, who file electronically with the
SEC. The address of the SEC’s web site is www.sec.gov.
All
documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, prior to the date of
this Information Statement and including this Information Statement shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference, including the following:
|
·
|
Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
2009;
|
|
·
|
Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
2009;
|
|
·
|
Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31,
2008;
|
|
·
|
Annual
Report on Form 10-KSB for the year ended September 30,
2008;
|
|
·
|
Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30,
2008;
|
|
·
|
Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2008;
and
|
|
·
|
Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31,
2007.
|
By Order
of the Board of Directors of General Employment Enterprises, Inc.
GENERAL
EMPLOYMENT ENTERPRISES, INC.
Name: Ronald
E. Heineman
Title: Chief
Executive Officer
SECOND
AMENDED AND RESTATED
GENERAL EMPLOYMENT
ENTERPRISES, INC. 1997 STOCK OPTION PLAN
Section
1. Purpose.
The
purpose of this Second Amended and Restated General Employment Enterprises, Inc.
1997 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") is to amend and supersede the Amended and
Restated General Employment Enterprises, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan and to
benefit General Employment Enterprises, Inc. (the "Company") and its
Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 2) by recognizing the contributions made to
the Company by officers and other key employees (including members of the Board
of Directors of the Company ("the Directors") who are also employees) of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, to provide such persons with additional incentives
to devote themselves to the future success of the Company, and to improve the
ability of the Company to attract, retain and motivate individuals, by providing
such persons with a favorable opportunity to acquire or increase their
proprietary interest in the Company. In addition, the Plan is intended as an
additional incentive to members of the Board of Directors of the Company who are
not employees of the Company ("Non-Employee Directors") to serve on the Board of
Directors of the Company (the "Board") and to devote themselves to the future
success of the Company by providing them with a favorable opportunity to acquire
or increase their proprietary interest in the Company through receipt of options
to acquire common stock of the Company. The Company may grant stock options that
constitute "incentive stock options" ("ISOs") within the meaning of Section 422
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or stock options
that do not constitute ISOs ("NSOs") (ISOs and NSOs being hereinafter
collectively referred to as "Options").
Section
2. Eligibility.
Non-Employee
Directors shall participate in the Plan only in accordance with the provisions
of Section 5.2 of the Plan. The Committee (as defined in Section 3) shall
initially, and from time to time thereafter, select those officers and other key
employees (including Directors of the Company who are also employees)
(collectively referred to herein as "Key Employees") of the Company or any other
entity of which the Company is the direct or indirect beneficial owner of not
less than fifty percent (50%) of all issued and outstanding equity interests
("Subsidiaries"), to participate in the Plan on the basis of the special
importance of their services in the management, development and operations of
the Company or its Subsidiaries (each such Key Employee receiving Options
granted under the Plan is referred to herein as an "Optionee"). The
determination of whether an individual is an employee shall be made at the time
of grant in accordance with Code Section 3401(c) and the regulations there
under.
Section
3. Administration.
3.1.
The Committee.
The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee (the "Committee")
of the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"). The Committee
shall be comprised of two (2) or more members of the Board who are "non-employee
directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
3.2.
Authority of the
Committee. No person, other than members of the Committee, shall have any
authority concerning decisions regarding the Plan. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Committee may delegate its non-decision making authority,
hereunder, and the person or persons to whom such authority is delegated may in
turn make subsequent delegations. Subject to the express provisions
of this Plan, the Committee shall have sole discretion concerning matters
relating to the Plan and Options granted hereunder. The Committee, in its sole
discretion, shall determine the Key Employees of the Company and its
Subsidiaries to whom, and the time or times at which Options will be granted,
the number of shares to be subject to each Option, the expiration date of each
Option, the time or times within which the Option may be exercised, the
cancellation of the Option (with the consent of the holder thereof) and the
other terms and conditions of the grant of the Option. The terms and conditions
of the Options need not be the same with respect to each Optionee or with
respect to each Option.
The
Committee may, subject to the provisions of the Plan, establish such rules and
regulations as it deems necessary or advisable for the proper administration of
the Plan, and may make determinations and may take such other action in
connection with or in relation to the Plan as it deems necessary or advisable.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) with respect to any Option intended to be an
ISO, the Plan, and the Option Agreement evidencing said ISO, shall be construed
in a manner consistent with Code Section 422 and the regulations there under,
and (ii) the Plan and any Option Agreement shall be construed in a manner
consistent with Code Section 409A. Each determination or other action
made or taken pursuant to the Plan, including interpretation of the Plan and the
specific terms and conditions of the Options granted hereunder by the Committee
as evidenced in an Option Agreement, shall be final and conclusive for all
purposes and upon all persons including, but without limitation, the Company,
its Subsidiaries, the Committee, the Board, officers and the affected employees
of the Company and/or its Subsidiaries and their respective successors in
interest. No member of the Committee shall, in the absence of bad faith, be
liable for any act or omission with respect to service on the
Committee. Service on the Committee shall constitute service as a
Director of the Company so that members of the Committee shall be entitled to
indemnification pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and
By-Laws.
Section
4. Shares of
Common Stock Subject to Plan.
4.1. The
total number of additional shares of common stock, no par value, of the Company
(the "Common Stock"), that are available for issuances under the Plan may be
issued and sold under the Plan within the Applicable Period (as defined below)
shall be 592,000 (“Additional Plan Shares”). For purposes of the
preceding sentence, Applicable Period shall be the ten-year period commencing on
September 30, 2009 and ending on September 30, 2019 (“Term of Plan”). The
aforementioned total number of Additional Plan Shares of Common Stock shall be
adjusted in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2 hereof.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the total number of shares of Common Stock that
may be subject to ISOs under the Plan shall be 592,000 Additional Plan Shares of
Common Stock, adjusted in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.2
hereof. Any shares of Common Stock subject to issuance upon exercise
of Options under the Plan or the General Employment Enterprises, Inc. Amended
and Restated 1997 Stock Option Plan but which are not issued because of a
surrender (other than pursuant to Sections 7.2 or 7.3 of the Plan), forfeiture,
expiration, termination or cancellation of any such Option, to the extent
consistent with applicable law, rules and regulations, shall once again be
available for issuance pursuant to subsequent Options (“Unissued Option
Shares”). Therefore, the total aggregate number of shares available for grant
under the Plan shall be the 592,000 Additional Plan Shares plus all Unissued
Option Shares. The maximum number of Options that may be granted during a
calendar year to any one person is 150,000.
4.2 The
number of share of Common Stock subject to the Plan and to Options granted under
the plan shall be adjusted as follows: (a) in the event that the number of
outstanding shares of Common Stock is changed by any stock dividend, stock split
or combination of shares, the number of shares subject to the Plan and to
Options previously granted there under shall be proportionately adjusted; (b) in
the event of any merger, consolidation or reorganization of the Company with any
other corporation or corporations, there shall be substituted on an equitable
basis as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, for each share of
Common Stock then subject to the Plan and for each share of Common Stock then
subject to an Option granted under the Plan, the number and kind of shares of
stock, other securities, cash or other property to which the holders of Common
Stock of the Company are entitled pursuant to the transaction; and (c) in the
event of any other change in the capitalization of the Company, the Committee,
in its sole discretion, shall provide for an equitable adjustment in the number
of shares of Common Stock then subject to the Plan and to each share of Common
Stock then subject to an Option granted under the Plan. In the event
of any such adjustment, the exercise price per share shall be proportionately
adjusted.
Section
5. Grants of
Options.
5.1.
Grants of Options to
Key Employees. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee
may from time to time grant Options, which may be ISOs or NSOs, to Key Employees
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Unless otherwise expressly
provided at the time of the grant, Options granted under the Plan to Key
Employees will be ISOs. An Option shall be considered granted when
the Company completes the corporate action constituting an offer of stock for
sale provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, corporate action
shall not be considered complete until the date on which the maximum number of
shares that can be purchased and the minimum Exercise Price are fixed and
determined.
5.2.
Grants of Options to
Non-Employee Directors. All grants of Options to Non-Employee
Directors shall be automatic and non-discretionary. Each individual
who is a Non-Employee Director on the effective date of the Plan shall be
granted automatically a NSO to purchase 15,000 shares of Common Stock on the
effective date of the Plan. Each individual who becomes a Non-Employee Director
(other than a Non-Employee Director who was previously an employee Director)
after the effective date of the Plan shall be granted automatically a NSO to
purchase 15,000 shares of Common Stock on the date he or she becomes a
Non-Employee Director.
5.3.
Option
Agreement. Each Option shall be evidenced by a written Option
Agreement (in paper or electronic format) specifying the type of Option granted,
the Option exercise price, the terms for payment of the exercise price, the
expiration date of the Option, the number of shares of Common Stock to be
subject to each Option and such other terms and conditions established by the
Committee, in its sole discretion, not inconsistent with the Plan. In
the event of any inconsistency between the terms of the Plan and the terms of
the Option Agreement, the terms of the Plan shall govern.
5.4.
Expiration. Except
to the extent otherwise provided in or pursuant to Section 6, each Option shall
expire, and all rights to purchase shares of Common Stock shall expire, on the
tenth (10th) anniversary
of the date on which the Option was granted.
5.5.
Exercise
Period. Except to the extent otherwise provided in or pursuant
to Section 6, or in the proviso to this sentence, Options shall become
exercisable pursuant to the following schedule: with respect to one-fifth of the
total number of shares of Common Stock subject to Option on the date twelve
months after the date of its grant and with respect to an additional one-fifth
of the total number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Option at the end
of each twelve-month period thereafter during the succeeding four years;
provided, however, that the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall have the
authority to shorten or lengthen the exercise schedule with respect to any or
all Options, or any part thereof, granted under the Plan.
5.6.
Required Terms and
Conditions of ISOs. Each ISO granted to a Key Employee shall
be in such form and subject to such restrictions and other terms and conditions
as the Committee may determine, in its sole discretion, at the time of grant,
subject to the general provisions of the Plan, the applicable Option Agreement,
and the following specific rules:
(a)
Except as provided in Section 5.6(d), the per share exercise price of each ISO
shall be the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock on the date such
ISO is granted. For all purposes hereunder, Fair Market Value shall be the price
at which one share of Common Stock is last sold in the principal United States
market for such stock as of the grant date.
(b) The
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined with respect to each ISO at the time
such Option is granted) of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which ISOs
are exercisable for the first time by an individual during any calendar year
(under all incentive stock option plans of the Company and its parent and
subsidiary corporations) shall not exceed $100,000. For purposes of
this section, an Option is considered to be first exercisable during a calendar
year if the Option will become exercisable at any time during the year, assuming
that any condition on the Optionee's ability to exercise the Option related to
the performance of services is satisfied. If the Optionee's ability to exercise
the Option in the year is subject to an acceleration provision, then the Option
is considered first exercisable in the calendar year in which the acceleration
provision is triggered. If the aggregate Fair Market Value
(determined at the time of grant) of the Common Stock subject to an Option that
first becomes exercisable in any calendar year exceeds the limitation of this
Section 5.6(b), much of the Option that does not exceed the applicable dollar
limit shall be an ISO and the remainder shall be a NSO; but in all other
respects, the original Option Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect.
(c) As
used of this Section 5, the words "parent" and "subsidiary" shall have the
meanings given to them in Section 424(e) and 424(f) of the Code.
(d)
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if an ISO is granted to an
individual who owns, after application of the stock attribution rules of
Department of Treasury Regulation § 1.424-1(a), stock possessing more than ten
percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or of its parent or subsidiary corporations, within the meaning of
Section 422(b)(6) of the Code: (i) the purchase price of each share of Common
Stock subject to the ISO shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%)
of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the ISO is granted; and
(ii) the ISO shall expire and all rights to purchase shares there under shall
cease no later than the fifth anniversary of the date the ISO was granted. For
purposes of this paragraph: (i) shares of Common Stock that the Optionee may
purchase under existing Options are not treated as shares owned by the Optionee;
and (ii) the combined voting power of all shares of the Company actually owned
and outstanding immediately before the grant of the Option does not include the
voting power of treasury shares or shares of Common Stock authorized for issue
under outstanding Options held by the Optionee or any other person.
(e) No
ISOs may be granted under the Plan after September 30, 2019.
(f) An
inadvertent modification of an ISO shall not be treated as a modification to the
extent the modification is reversed by the earlier of the date the Option is
exercised or the last day of the calendar year during which such change
occurred.
5.7.
Required Terms and
Conditions of NSOs. Each NSO granted shall be in such form and
subject to such restrictions and other terms and conditions as the Committee may
determine, in its sole discretion, at the time of grant, subject to the general
provisions of the Plan, the applicable Option Agreement, and the following
specific rule: in no event may the exercise price be less than the Fair Market
Value of the shares of Common Stock subject to such NSO.
Section
6. Effect of
Termination.
6.1.
Key Employee
Termination Generally. Except as provided in Sections 6.2, 6.3
and 11, or by the Committee in its sole discretion, any Option shall terminate
on the date of the Key Employee's termination of employment with the Company and
its Subsidiaries: (i) for Good Cause (as defined in the Option Agreement); or
(ii) voluntarily, for any other reason other than retirement, death, or
disability. A Key Employee's transfer of employment from the Company
to a Subsidiary, or from a Subsidiary to the Company, or from a Subsidiary to
another Subsidiary, shall not constitute a termination of employment for
purposes of the Plan. Options granted under the Plan shall not be
affected by any change of duties in connection with the employment of the Key
Employee or by military leave, sick leave, or other bona fide leave of absence
(such as temporary employment by the government) if the period of such leave
does not exceed 3 months or, if longer, so long as the Optionee's right to
employment with the Company or a Subsidiary is provided either by statute or by
contract. If the period of leave exceeds 3 months, and the Optionee's
right to reemployment is not provided by either statute or contract, the
Optionees employment relationship is deemed to terminate on the first day
immediately following such three-month period.
6.2.
Death and
Disability. In the event of an Optionee's death or Disability
(as defined below) during employment or service with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, all Options held by the Optionee shall become fully exercisable on
such date of death or Disability. Each of the Options held by such an
Optionee shall expire on the earlier of: (a) the first anniversary of the date
of the Optionee's death or Disability; and (b) the date that such Option expires
in accordance with its terms. For purposes of this Section 6.2,
"Disability" shall mean the inability of an individual to engage in any
substantial gainful activity by reason of any medical determinable physical or
mental impairment which is expected to result in death or which has lasted or
can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than twelve (12)
months. The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall determine the
date of any Disability.
6.3.
Retirement of Key
Employees. In the event the employment of a Key Employee with
the Company and/or its Subsidiaries shall be terminated by reason of Employee
Retirement, all Options held by the Key Employee shall become fully
exercisable. Each of the Options held by such a Key Employee shall
expire on the earlier of: (i) the first anniversary of the date of the Employee
Retirement; and (ii) the date that such Option expires in accordance with its
terms. For purposes of this Section 6.3, "Employee Retirement" shall
mean retirement of a Key Employee after attaining age 55. In the
event the employment of a Key Employee with the Company and/or its Subsidiaries
shall be terminated by reason of a retirement that is not an Employee Retirement
as herein defined, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, determine that the
exercisability and exercise periods set forth in this Section 6.3 shall be
applicable to Options held by such Key Employee. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, in the event the employment of a Key Employee who is also a Director
of the Company is terminated by reason of Employee Retirement, all Options held
by the Key Employee shall become fully exercisable, but each of the Options held
by such a Key Employee shall expire on the earlier of: (i) the first anniversary
of the date of the Key Employee's termination of service on the Board for any
reason; and (ii) the date that such Option expires in accordance with its
terms.
6.4.
Retirement of
Non-Employee Directors. In the event the service of a
Non-Employee Director on the Board shall be terminated by reason of the
retirement of such Non-Employee Director of the Company in accordance with the
Company's retirement policy for Directors, any Option or Options granted to such
Non-Employee Director shall continue to vest and remain exercisable pursuant to
Section 5, in the same manner and to the same extent as if such Director had
continued his or her service on the Board during such period.
Section
7. Exercise
of Options.
7.1.
Notice. A
person entitled to exercise an Option may do so by delivery of a written notice
to that effect specifying the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to
which the Option is being exercised and any other information the Committee may
prescribe. The notice shall be accompanied by payment as described in
Section 7.2. The notice of exercise shall be accompanied by the
Optionee's copy of the writing or writings evidencing the grant of the
Option. All notices or requests provided for herein shall be
delivered to the Secretary of the Company.
7.2.
Exercise
Price. Except as otherwise provided in the Plan or in any
Option Agreement, the Optionee shall pay the purchase price of the shares of
Common Stock upon exercise of any Option: (a) in cash; (b) in cash received from
a broker-dealer to whom the Optionee has submitted and exercise notice
consisting of a fully endorsed Option (however, in the case of an Optionee
subject to Section 16 of the 1934 Act, this payment option shall only be
available to the extent such insider complies with Regulation T issued by the
Federal Reserve Board); (c) by delivering shares of Common Stock having an
aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Option exercise
price; (d) by directing the Company to withhold such number of shares of Common
Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise of such Option having an aggregate Fair
Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Option exercise price; (e) in
the case of a Key Employee, by such other medium of payment as the Committee, in
its discretion, shall authorize at the time of grant; or (f) by any combination
of (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e). In the case of an election pursuant to
(a) or (b) above, cash shall mean cash or a check issued by a federally insured
bank or savings and loan, and made payable to the Company. In the
case of payment pursuant to (b), (c) or (d) above, the Optionee's election must
be made on or prior to the date of exercise and shall be
irrevocable. In lieu of a separate election governing each exercise
of an Option, an Optionee may file a blanket election with the Committee which
shall govern all future exercises of Options until revoked by the
Optionee. The Company shall issue, in the name of the Optionee, stock
certificates representing the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable
pursuant to the exercise of any Option as soon as reasonably practicable after
such exercise, provided that any shares of Common Stock purchased by an Optionee
through a broker-dealer pursuant to clause (b) above shall be delivered to such
broker-dealer in accordance with 12 C.F.R §220.3(e)(4) or other applicable
provision of law.
7.3.
Taxes
Generally. At the time of the exercise of any Option, as a
condition of the exercise of such Option, the Company may require the Optionee
to pay the Company an amount equal to the amount of the tax the Company or any
Subsidiary may be require to withhold to obtain a deduction for federal and
state income tax purposes as a result of the exercise of such Option by the
Optionee or to comply with applicable law.
7.4.
Payment of
Taxes. At any time when an Optionee is required to pay an
amount required to be withheld under applicable income tax or other laws in
connection with the exercise of an Option, the Optionee may satisfy this
obligation in whole or in part by: (a) directing the Company to withhold such
number of shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon exercise of such Option
having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the
amount of tax required to be withheld; or (b) delivering shares of Common Stock
of the Company having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the amount
required to be withheld. In the case of payment of taxes pursuant to
(a) or (b) above, the Optionee's election must be made on or prior to the date
of exercise and shall be irrevocable. The Committee may disapprove
any election or delivery or may suspend or terminate the right to make elections
or deliveries. In lieu of a separate election governing each exercise
of an Option, an Optionee may file a blanket election with the Committee which
shall govern all future exercises of Options until revoked by the
Optionee.
7.5.
Attestation. Wherever in this
Plan or any Option Agreement an Optionee is permitted to pay the Exercise Price
of an Option or taxes relating to the exercise of an Option by delivering shares
of Common Stock, the Optionee may, subject to procedures satisfactory to the
Committee, satisfy such delivery requirements by presenting proof of beneficial
ownership of such shares in which case the Company shall treat the Option as
exercised without further payment and shall not withheld such number of shares
of Common Stock from the Shares acquired by the exercise of the Option, as
appropriate.
Section
8. Transferability
of Options.
No Option
granted pursuant to the Plan shall be transferable otherwise than by will or by
the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic
relations order as defined by the Code. However, if an ISO is
transferred incident to a divorce (within the meaning Code Section 1041) or
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order (within the meaning of Code
Section 414(p)), it shall cease to qualify as an ISO. Notwithstanding
the second preceding sentence, an Optionee, at any time prior to his death, may
assign all or any portion of an Option granted to him (other than an ISO) to (i)
his spouse or lineal descendant, (ii) the trustee of a trust for the primary
benefit of his spouse or lineal descendant, (iii) a partnership of which his
spouse and lineal descendants are the only partners, or (iv) a tax exempt
organization as described in Code Section 501 (c)(3). In such event,
the spouse, lineal descendant, trustee, partnership or tax exempt organization
will be entitled to all of the rights of the Optionee with respect to the
assigned portion of such Option, and such portion of the Option will continue to
be subject to all of the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to the
Option, as set forth herein and in the related Option Agreement immediately
prior to the effective date of the assignment. Any such assignment
will be permitted only if: (i) the Optionee does not receive any consideration
therefore; and (ii) the assignment is expressly permitted by the applicable
Option Agreement as approved by the Committee. Any such assignment
shall be evidenced by an appropriate written document executed by the Optionee,
and a copy thereof shall be delivered to the Company on or prior to the
effective date of the assignment. In addition, the transfer of an ISO
to a trust shall not disqualify the ISO if, under Code Section 671 and
applicable state law, the individual is considered to be the sole beneficial
owner of the Option while it is held in trust.
Section
9. Rights as
Shareholder.
An
Optionee or a transferee of an Optionee pursuant to Section 8 shall have no
rights as a shareholder with respect to any Common Stock covered by an Option or
receivable upon the exercise of an Option until the Optionee or transferee shall
have become the holder of record of such Common Stock, and no adjustments shall
be made for dividends in cash or other property or other distributions or rights
in respect to such Common Stock for which the record date is prior to the date
on which the Optionee shall have in fact become the holder of record of the
shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Option.
Section
10. Change in
Control.
10.1.
Effect of Change in
Control. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of the Plan or
any Option Agreement evidencing Options granted hereunder, upon a Change in
Control of the Company (as defined in Section 10.2) all outstanding Options
shall become fully exercisable and all restrictions thereon shall terminate in
order that Optionees may fully realize the benefits there
under. Further, in addition to the Committee's authority set forth in
Section 3, the Committee, as constituted before such Change in Control, is
authorized, and has sole discretion, as to any Option, either at the time such
Option is granted hereunder or any time thereafter, to take any one or more of
the following actions: (a) provide for the purchase of any such Option, upon the
Optionee's request, for an amount of cash equal to the difference between the
exercise price and the then Fair Market Value of the Common Stock covered
thereby had such Option been currently exercisable; (b) make such adjustment to
any such Option then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect
such Change in Control; and (c) cause any such Option then outstanding to be
assumed, by the acquiring or surviving corporation, after such Change in
Control.
10.2.
Definition
of Change in Control. A "Change in Control" of the Company is
deemed to occur upon:
(a) The
receipt by the Company of a Schedule 13D or other statement filed under Section
13(d) of the 1934 Act, indicating that any entity, person, or group has acquired
beneficial ownership, as that term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act,
of more than 30% of the outstanding capital stock of the Company entitled to
vote for the election of directors ("voting stock");
(b) The
commencement by an entity, person, or group (other than the Company or a
Subsidiary) of a tender offer or an exchange offer for more than 20% of the
outstanding voting stock of the Company;
(c) The
effective time of: (i) a merger or consolidation of the Company with one or more
other corporations as a result of which the holders of the outstanding voting
stock of the Company immediately prior to such merger or consolidation hold less
than 80% of the voting stock of the surviving or resulting corporation; or (ii)
a transfer of substantially all of the property of the Company other than to an
entity of which the Company owns at least 80% of the voting stock;
or
(d) The
election to the Board, without the recommendation or approval of the incumbent
Board, of the lesser of: (i) three directors; or (ii) directors constituting a
majority of the number of directors of the Company then in office.
Section
11. Postponement
of Exercise.
The
Committee may postpone any exercise of an Option for such time as the Committee
in its sole discretion may deem necessary in order to permit the Company: (a) to
effect, amend or maintain any necessary registration of the Plan or the shares
of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of an Option under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or the securities laws of any applicable jurisdiction; (b)
to permit any action to be taken in order to (i) list such shares of Common
Stock on a stock exchange if shares of Common Stock are then listed on such
exchange or (ii) comply with restrictions or regulations incident to the
maintenance of a public market for its shares of Common Stock, including any
rules or regulations of any stock exchange on which the shares of Common Stock
are listed; or (c) to determine that such shares of Common Stock and the Plan
are exempt from such registration or that no action of the kind referred to in
(b)(ii) above needs to be taken; and the Company shall not be obligated by
virtue of any terms and conditions of any Option or any provision of the Plan to
recognize the exercise of an Option or to sell or issue shares of Common Stock
in violation of the Securities Act of 1933 or the law of any government having
jurisdiction thereof. Any such postponement shall not extend the term
of an Option and neither the Company nor its directors or officers shall have
any obligation or liability to an Optionee, to the Optionee's successor or to
any other person with respect to any shares of Common Stock as to which the
Option shall lapse because of such postponement.
Section
12. Termination
or Amendment of Plan.
The Board
or the Committee may terminate, suspend, or amend the Plan, in whole or in part,
from time to time, without the approval of the shareholders of the Company to
the extent allowed by law, provided, however, that a modification of the maximum
aggregate shares of Company Stock that may be issued under the Plan as set forth
in Section 4.1 or the class of employees eligible to receive them as set forth
in Section 2 shall require shareholder approval. The Committee may correct any
defect or supply an omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in
any Option granted hereunder in the manner and to the extent it shall deem
desirable, in its sole discretion, to effectuate the Plan. No amendment or
termination of the Plan shall in any manner affect any Option theretofore
granted without the consent of the Optionee, except that the Committee may amend
the Plan in a manner that does affect Options theretofore granted upon a finding
by the Committee that such amendment is in the best interest of holders of
outstanding Options affected thereby.
Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the extent applicable,
notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Plan and Options issued
hereunder shall be interpreted in accordance with Code Section 409A and
Department of Treasury Regulations and other interpretive guidance issued
thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or guidance that
may be issued after the Effective Date (as defined in Section
13). Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, in
the event that the Committee determines that any amounts payable hereunder will
be taxed to an Optionee under Code Section 409A and related Department of
Treasury guidance, prior to payment to such Optionee of such amount, the Company
may (a) adopt such amendments to the Plan and Option Agreement and appropriate
policies and procedures, including amendments and policies with retroactive
effect, that the Committee determines necessary or appropriate to preserve the
intended tax treatment of the benefits provided by the Plan and Option Agreement
hereunder and (b) take such other actions as the Committee deems necessary or
appropriate to avoid the imposition of an additional tax under Code Section
409A.
Section
13. Effective
Date.
The Plan
is to be adopted and authorized by the Board of Directors for submission to the
shareholders of the Company at the Board’s next meeting scheduled for September
8, 2009. If the Plan as amended and restated is approved by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of the voting stock entitled to be
voted by the holders of stock represented at a duly held shareholders' meeting,
or if the Plan is duly approved by written consent of a majority of the votes
entitled to be cast without a duly held shareholders’ meeting, the Plan shall be
deemed to have become effective as of September 30, 2009 (the "Effective
Date"). The Committee may award Options under the Plan at any time
after the Effective Date and before the termination of the Plan. The
Plan will terminate upon the earliest of (i) the tenth anniversary of the
Effective Date, or (ii) the date on which the Board terminates the Plan in
accordance with Section 12; provided, however, that upon Plan termination, all
Options outstanding under the Plan will continue to have full force and effect
in accordance with the terms of the Option Agreement evidencing such
Option.
Section
14. Reporting
and Disclosure of ISO.
By
January 31 of the year following the year an Optionee exercises an ISO (unless
(i) January 31 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, in which case the
date will be adjusted in accordance with Code Section 7503 and the regulations
thereunder or (ii) an extension of time for good cause is shown pursuant to
Treasury Regulation Section 1.6039-1(a)(2)), an Optionee exercising an ISO shall
be provided with a statement pursuant to Code Section 6039. The
statement shall include the following information:
(i) the
name, address, and EIN of the Company;
(ii) the
name, address, and identifying number of the Optionee;
(iii) the
date the ISO was granted;
(iv) the
date the shares of Common Stock were transferred to the Optionee;
(v) the
fair market value of the shares of Common Stock at the time the ISO is
exercised;
(vi) the
number of shares of Common Stock transferred pursuant to the ISO;
(vii) the
type of option under which the shares of Common Stock were acquired;
and
(viii)
the total cost of all of the shares of Common Stock.
If the
Company provides this statement by mail, it will be deemed to be furnished to an
Optionee if it is mailed to his/her last known address. With the
written consent of the Optionee the statement described in this paragraph can be
furnished electronically rather than in a paper format. The Company
shall identify any share of the Common Stock acquired through the exercise of an
ISO in a manner sufficient to enable the accurate reporting of the transfer of
record title of such shares. Such identification may be accomplished
by assigning to the certificates of stock issued pursuant to such Option a
special serial number or color.
Section
15. Beneficiary
Designation.
Each
Optionee may, from time to time, name any beneficiary or beneficiaries (who may
be named contingently or successively and who need not be a natural person) to
whom any benefit under the Plan is to be paid in case the Optionee should die
before receiving any or all of his or her Plan benefits. Each
beneficiary designation, which will become effective upon receipt by the
Committee, will revoke all prior designations by the same Optionee, must be in a
form prescribed by the Committee, and must be made during the Optionee's
lifetime. If the Optionee's designated beneficiary predeceases the
Optionee or no beneficiary has been designated, benefits remaining unpaid at the
Optionee's death will be paid to the Optionee's estate or other entity described
in the Optionee's Option Agreement in a manner consistent with Code Section
2518.
In the
event of any conflict between a designation of beneficiary hereunder and a
designation under an Optionee's will, the designation hereunder shall
prevail. A designated beneficiary may disclaim any Options
hereunder.
Section
16. 409A
Compliance.
Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Plan or any Option Agreement hereunder, no Option
shall be granted, deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out or modified under
this Plan in a matter that would result in the imposition of an additional tax
under Code Section 409A upon an Optionee. In the event it is
reasonably determined by the Committee that, as a result of Code Section 409A,
payment in respect of any Option under the Plan may not be made at the time
contemplated by the terms of the Plan or the relevant Option Agreement, as the
case may be, without causing the Optionee holding such award to be subject to
taxation under Code Section 409A, the Company will make such payment on the
first day that would not result in the Optionee incurring any tax liability
under Code Section 409A.
To Become
Effective on the 30th day
of September, 2009.