Form 8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 8-K

 


CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 11, 2007

 


SEI Investments Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Pennsylvania   0-10200   23-1707341

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

  (Commission File Number)  

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)

1 Freedom Valley Drive

Oaks, Pennsylvania 19456

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

(610) 676-1000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the Registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 



Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On April 3, 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the 2007 Equity Compensation Plan (the “New Plan”), subject to the approval of the New Plan by the shareholders of the Company. If approved by the shareholders, the New Plan would become effective June 1, 2007. The New Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options and stock appreciation rights with respect to up to 10 million shares of common stock of the Company, subject to adjustment for stock splits, reclassifications, mergers and other events. Permitted grantees under the New Plan include employees, non-employee directors and consultants who perform services for the Company and its subsidiaries. The New Plan will be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, which consists solely of directors meeting the independence requirements of Rule 4200 of The NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. Upon effectiveness of the New Plan, no further grants would be granted under the Company’s 1998 Equity Compensation Plan.

 

Item 5.02. Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

If the New Plan described in Item 1.01 of this Form 8-K receives the requisite shareholder approval and becomes effective on June 1, 2007, grants of options and stock appreciation rights under the New Plan may be made thereafter to executive officers of the Company as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (d) Exhibits.

 

10.10    2007 Equity Compensation Plan.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  SEI INVESTMENTS COMPANY

Date: April 11, 2007

  By:  

/s/ Dennis J. McGonigle

   

Dennis J. McGonigle

Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number
  

Description

10.10    2007 Equity Compensation Plan.
2007 Equity Compensation Plan

Exhibit 10.10

SEI INVESTMENTS COMPANY

2007 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN


SEI INVESTMENTS COMPANY

2007 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

 

  1. Purpose

The purpose of the Plan is to provide designated (i) Employees of the Company and its subsidiaries, (ii) Non-Employee Directors of the Company and its subsidiaries and (iii) Consultants who perform services for the Company and its subsidiaries with the opportunity to receive grants of Options and SARs. The Company believes that the Plan will encourage the participants to contribute materially to the growth of the Company, thereby benefiting the Company’s shareholders, and will align the economic interests of the participants with those of the shareholders.

All capitalized terms shall be as defined in Section 2 below.

 

  2. Definitions

Whenever used in this Plan, the following terms will have the respective meanings set forth below:

(a) “Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

(b) “Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred if:

(i) Any “person” (as such term is used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes a “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than 50% of the voting power of the then outstanding securities of the Company; provided that a Change of Control shall not be deemed to occur as a result of a transaction in which the Company becomes a subsidiary of another corporation and in which the shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the transaction, will beneficially own, immediately after the transaction, shares entitling such shareholders to more than 50% of all votes to which all shareholders of the parent corporation would be entitled in the election of directors;

(ii) The consummation of (1) a merger or consolidation of the Company with another corporation where the shareholders of the Company, immediately prior to the merger or consolidation, will not beneficially own, immediately after the merger or consolidation, shares entitling such shareholders to more than 50% of all votes to which all shareholders of the surviving corporation would be entitled in the election of directors, (2) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (3) a liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or

(iii) After the date on which this Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Company, directors are elected such that a majority of the members of the Board shall have been members of the Board for less than two years, unless the election or nomination for election of each new director who was not a director at the beginning of such two-year period was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period.


(c) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(d) “Committee” means (i) with respect to Grants to Employees and Consultants, the Compensation Committee of the Board or another committee appointed by the Board to administer the Plan, and (ii) with respect to Grants made to Non-Employee Directors, the Board or its delegate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to Grants to Employees that are intended to be “qualified performance-based compensation” under section 162(m) of the Code, as well as to Employees who are officers of the Company, the Committee shall consist of two or more persons appointed by the Board, all of whom shall be “outside directors” as defined under section 162(m) of the Code and related Treasury regulations and “non-employee directors” as defined under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

(e) “Company” means SEI Investments Company and any successor corporation.

(f) “Company Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

(g) “Consultants” means any consultant or advisor who performs services for the Employer.

(h) “Effective Date” means June 1, 2007, subject to approval of the Plan by the shareholders of the Company.

(i) “Employee” means an employee of the Employer (including an officer or director who is also an employee), but excluding any person who is classified by the Employer as a “contractor” or “consultant,” no matter how characterized by the Internal Revenue Service, other governmental agency or a court. Any change of characterization of an individual by the Internal Revenue Service or any court or government agency shall have no effect upon the classification of an individual as an Employee for purposes of this Plan, unless the Committee determines otherwise.

(j) “Employer” means the Company and its subsidiaries.

(k) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

(l) “Exercise Price” means the per share price at which shares of Company Stock may be purchased under an Option, as designated by the Committee.

(m) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, unless otherwise required by any applicable provisions of the Code or regulations thereunder, (i) if the principal trading market for the Company Stock is a national securities exchange, the last reported sale price of Company Stock on the relevant date or (if there were no trades on that date) the latest preceding date upon which a sale was reported, (ii) if the Company Stock is not principally traded on such exchange, the mean between the last reported “bid” and “asked” prices of Company Stock on the relevant date, as reported on the OTC Bulletin Board, or (iii) if the Company Stock is not publicly traded or, if publicly traded, is not so reported, the Fair Market Value per share shall be as determined by the Committee.

 

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(n) “Grant” means an Option or SAR granted under the Plan.

(o) “Grant Agreement” means the written instrument that sets forth the terms and conditions of a Grant, including all amendments thereto.

(p) “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of an incentive stock option under section 422 of the Code.

(q) “Non-Employee Director” means a member of the Board, or a member of the Board of Directors of a subsidiary, who is not an employee of the Employer.

(r) “Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not intended to meet the requirements of section 422 of the Code.

(s) “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or Nonqualified Stock Option to purchase shares of Company Stock at a specified exercise price for a specified period of time, as described in Section 7.

(t) “Participant” means an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultant designated by the Committee to receive a Grant under the Plan.

(u) “Plan” means this SEI Investments Company 2007 Equity Compensation Plan, as in effect from time to time.

(v) “SAR” means an award of a stock appreciation right, as described in Section 8.

 

  3. Administration

(a) Committee. The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Committee. Ministerial functions may be performed by an administrative committee comprised of Company employees appointed by the Committee.

(b) Committee Authority. The Committee shall have the sole authority to (i) determine the Participants to whom Grants shall be made under the Plan, (ii) determine the type, size and terms and conditions of the Grants to be made to each such Participant, (iii) determine the time when the Grants will be made and the duration of any applicable exercise or restriction period, including the criteria for exercisability and the acceleration of exercisability, (iv) amend the terms and conditions of any previously issued Grant, subject to the provisions of Section 14 below, and (v) deal with any other matters arising under the Plan.

(c) Committee Determinations. The Committee shall have full power and express discretionary authority to administer and interpret the Plan, to make factual determinations and to adopt or amend such rules, regulations, agreements and instruments for implementing the Plan and for the conduct of its business as it deems necessary or advisable, in its sole discretion. The

 

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Committee’s interpretations of the Plan and all determinations made by the Committee pursuant to the powers vested in it hereunder shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having any interest in the Plan or in any Grant awarded hereunder. All powers of the Committee shall be executed in its sole discretion, in the best interest of the Company, not as a fiduciary, and in keeping with the objectives of the Plan and need not be uniform as to similarly situated Participants.

 

  4. Grants

Grants under the Plan may consist of Options as described in Section 7 and SARs as described in Section 8. All Grants shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and to such other terms and conditions consistent with the Plan as the Committee deems appropriate and as are specified in writing by the Committee to the Participant in the Grant Agreement or an amendment to the Grant Agreement. The Committee shall approve the form and provisions of each Grant Agreement. Grants under a particular Section of the Plan need not be uniform as among the Participants. All Grants shall be made conditional upon the Participant’s acknowledgement, in writing or by acceptance of the Grant, that all decisions and determinations of the Committee shall be final and binding on the Participant, his or her beneficiaries and any other person having or claiming an interest under such Grant.

 

  5. Shares Subject to the Plan

(a) Shares Authorized. Subject to adjustment as described in subsection (d) below, the aggregate number of shares of Company Stock that may be issued under the Plan is 10,000,000 shares.

(b) Source of Shares; Share Counting. Shares issued under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares of Company Stock or reacquired shares of Company Stock, including shares purchased by the Company on the open market for purposes of the Plan. If and to the extent Options or SARs granted under the Plan terminate, expire, or are canceled, forfeited, exchanged or surrendered without having been exercised, the shares reserved for such Grants shall again be available for purposes of the Plan. Shares of Stock surrendered in payment of the Exercise Price of an Option, and shares withheld or surrendered for payment of taxes, shall not be available for re-issuance under the Plan. If SARs are granted, the full number of shares subject to the SARs shall be considered issued under the Plan, without regard to the number of shares issued upon exercise of the SARs and without regard to any cash settlement of the SARs.

(c) Individual Limits. All Grants under the Plan shall be expressed in shares of Company Stock. The maximum aggregate number of shares of Company Stock with respect to which all Grants may be made under the Plan to any individual during any calendar year shall be 200,000 shares, subject to adjustment as described in subsection (d) below. The individual limits of this subsection (c) shall apply without regard to whether the Grants are to be paid in Company Stock or cash. All cash payments shall equal the Fair Market Value of the shares of Company Stock to which the cash payments relate.

(d) Adjustments. If, after April 3, 2007, there is any change in the number, kind or value of shares of Company Stock outstanding (i) by reason of a stock dividend, spinoff,

 

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recapitalization, stock split, or combination or exchange of shares, (ii) by reason of a merger, reorganization or consolidation, (iii) by reason of a reclassification or change in par value, or (iv) by reason of any other extraordinary or unusual event affecting the outstanding Company Stock as a class without the Company’s receipt of consideration, or if the value of outstanding shares of Company Stock is substantially reduced as a result of a spinoff or the Company’s payment of an extraordinary dividend or distribution, the maximum number of shares of Company Stock available for issuance under the Plan, the maximum number of shares of Company Stock for which any individual may receive Grants in any year, the kind and number of shares covered by outstanding Grants, the kind and number of shares issued and to be issued under the Plan, and the price per share or the applicable market value of such Grants shall be equitably adjusted by the Committee, in such manner as the Committee deems appropriate, to reflect any increase or decrease in the number of, or change in the kind or value of, the issued shares of Company Stock to preclude, to the extent practicable, the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under the Plan and such outstanding Grants; provided, however, that any fractional shares resulting from such adjustment shall be eliminated. In addition, in the event of a Change of Control of the Company, the provisions of Section 11 of the Plan shall apply. Any adjustments to outstanding Grants shall be consistent with section 409A and 424 of the Code, to the extent applicable. Any adjustments determined by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive.

 

  6. Eligibility for Participation

(a) Eligible Persons. All Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.

(b) Selection of Participants. The Committee shall select the Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants to receive Grants and shall determine the number of shares of Company Stock subject to each Grant.

 

  7. Options

(a) General Requirements. The Committee may grant Options to an Employee, Non-Employee Director or Consultants upon such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate under this Section 7. The Committee shall determine the number of shares of Company Stock that will be subject to each Grant of Options to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and Consultants.

(b) Type of Option, Price and Term.

(i) The Committee may grant Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options or any combination of the two, all in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth herein. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees of the Company or its parents or subsidiaries, as defined in section 424 of the Code. Nonqualified Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Non-Employee Directors or Consultants.

(ii) The Exercise Price of Company Stock subject to an Option shall be determined by the Committee and may be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of a share of Company Stock on the date the Option is granted. However, an Incentive Stock Option

 

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may not be granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary, as defined in section 424 of the Code, unless the Exercise Price per share is not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Company Stock on the date of grant.

(iii) The Committee shall determine the term of each Option, which shall not exceed ten years from the date of grant. However, an Incentive Stock Option that is granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary, as defined in section 424 of the Code, may not have a term that exceeds five years from the date of grant.

(c) Exercisability of Options.

(i) Options shall become exercisable in accordance with such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee and specified in the Grant Agreement. The Committee may grant Options that are subject to achievement of performance goals or other conditions. The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any or all outstanding Options at any time for any reason.

(ii) The Committee may provide in a Grant Agreement that the Participant may elect to exercise part or all of an Option before it otherwise has become exercisable. Any shares so purchased shall be restricted shares and shall be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company during a specified restriction period, with the repurchase price equal to the lesser of (A) the Exercise Price or (B) the Fair Market Value of such shares at the time of repurchase, or such other restrictions as the Committee deems appropriate.

(iii) Options granted to persons who are non-exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, may not be exercisable for at least six months after the date of grant (except that such Options may become exercisable, as determined by the Committee, upon the Participant’s death, disability or retirement, or upon a Change of Control or other circumstances permitted by applicable regulations).

(d) Termination of Employment or Service. Except as provided in the Grant Agreement, an Option may only be exercised while the Participant is actively employed by the Employer, or actively providing service as a Non-Employee Director or Consultant; provided that for this purpose a Participant shall not be considered actively employed by or actively providing services to the Employer during any paid notice or severance period. The Committee shall determine in the Grant Agreement under what circumstances and during what time periods a Participant may exercise an Option after termination of active employment or active service.

(e) Exercise of Options. A Participant may exercise an Option that has become exercisable, in whole or in part, by delivering a notice of exercise to the Company. The Participant shall pay the Exercise Price for the Option (i) in cash or by check, (ii) if permitted by the Committee, by delivering shares of Company Stock owned by the Participant and having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price or by attestation to

 

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ownership of shares of Company Stock having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the Exercise Price, (iii) by payment through a broker in accordance with procedures permitted by Regulation T of the Federal Reserve Board, or (iv) by such other method as the Committee may approve, to the extent permitted by applicable law. Shares of Company Stock used to exercise an Option shall have been held by the Participant for the requisite period of time to avoid adverse accounting consequences to the Company with respect to the Option. Payment for the shares pursuant to the Option, and any required withholding taxes, must be received by the time specified by the Committee depending on the type of payment being made, but in all cases prior to the issuance of the Company Stock.

(f) Limits on Incentive Stock Options. Each Incentive Stock Option shall provide that, if the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Company Stock on the date of the grant with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year, under the Plan or any other stock option plan of the Company or a parent or subsidiary, as defined in section 424 of the Code, exceeds $100,000, then the Option, as to the excess, shall be treated as a Nonqualified Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be granted to any person who is not an Employee of the Company or a parent or subsidiary, as defined in section 424 of the Code.

 

  8. Stock Appreciation Rights

(a) General Requirements. The Committee may grant SARs to Employees, Non-Employee Directors or Consultants separately or in tandem with an Option. The Committee shall establish the number of shares, the terms and the base amount of the SAR at the time the SAR is granted. The base amount of each SAR may be equal to or greater than the Fair Market Value of a share of Company Stock as of the date of grant of the SAR.

(b) Tandem SARs. The Committee may grant tandem SARs either at the time the Option is granted or at any time thereafter while the Option remains outstanding; provided, however, that, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, SARs may be granted only at the date of the grant of the Incentive Stock Option. In the case of tandem SARs, the number of SARs granted to a Participant that shall be exercisable during a specified period shall not exceed the number of shares of Company Stock that the Participant may purchase upon the exercise of the related Option during such period. Upon the exercise of an Option, the SARs relating to the Company Stock covered by such Option shall terminate. Upon the exercise of SARs, the related Option shall terminate to the extent of an equal number of shares of Company Stock.

(c) Exercisability. An SAR shall become exercisable in accordance with such terms and conditions as may be specified. The Committee may grant SARs that are subject to achievement of performance goals or other conditions. The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any or all outstanding SARs at any time for any reason. Except as provided in the Grant Agreement, an SAR may only be exercised while the Participant is actively employed by the Employer, or actively providing service as a Non-Employee Director or Consultant; provided that for this purpose a Participant shall not be considered actively employed by or actively providing services to the Employer during any paid notice or severance period. A tandem SAR shall be exercisable only while the Option to which it is related is exercisable.

 

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(d) Grants to Non-Exempt Employees. SARs granted to persons who are non-exempt employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, may not be exercisable for at least six months after the date of grant (except that such SARs may become exercisable, as determined by the Committee, upon the Participant’s death, Disability or retirement, or upon a Change of Control or other circumstances permitted by applicable regulations).

(e) Exercise of SARs. When a Participant exercises SARs, the Participant shall receive in settlement of such SARs an amount equal to the value of the stock appreciation for the number of SARs exercised. The stock appreciation for an SAR is the amount by which the Fair Market Value of the underlying Company Stock on the date of exercise of the SAR exceeds the base amount of the SAR as specified in the Grant Agreement.

(f) Form of Payment. The Committee shall determine whether the stock appreciation for an SAR shall be paid in the form of shares of Company Stock, cash or a combination of the two. For purposes of calculating the number of shares of Company Stock to be received, shares of Company Stock shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the SAR. If shares of Company Stock are to be received upon exercise of an SAR, cash shall be delivered in lieu of any fractional share.

 

  9. Withholding of Taxes

(a) Required Withholding. All Grants under the Plan shall be subject to applicable federal (including FICA), state and local tax withholding requirements. The Company may require that the Participant or other person receiving or exercising Grants pay to the Company the amount of any federal, state or local taxes that the Company is required to withhold with respect to such Grants, or the Company may deduct from other wages paid by the Company the amount of any withholding taxes due with respect to such Grants.

(b) Election to Withhold Shares. If the Committee so permits, shares of Company Stock may be withheld to satisfy the Company’s tax withholding obligation with respect to Grants paid in Company Stock, at the time such Grants become taxable, up to an amount that does not exceed the minimum applicable withholding tax rate for federal (including FICA), state and local tax liabilities.

 

  10. Transferability of Grants

(a) Restrictions on Transfer. Except as described in subsection (b) below, only the Participant may exercise rights under a Grant during the Participant’s lifetime, and a Participant may not transfer those rights except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. When a Participant dies, the personal representative or other person entitled to succeed to the rights of the Participant may exercise such rights. Any such successor must furnish proof satisfactory to the Company of his or her right to receive the Grant under the Participant’s will or under the applicable laws of descent and distribution.

(b) Transfer of Nonqualified Stock Options to or for Family Members. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may provide, in a Grant Agreement, that a Participant may transfer Nonqualified Stock Options to family members, or one or more trusts or

 

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other entities for the benefit of or owned by family members, consistent with applicable securities laws, according to such terms as the Committee may determine; provided that the Participant receives no consideration for the transfer of a Nonqualified Stock Option and the transferred Nonqualified Stock Option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to the Nonqualified Stock Option immediately before the transfer.

 

  11. Consequences of a Change of Control

In the event of a Change of Control, the Committee may take any one or more of the following actions with respect to or all outstanding Grants, without the consent of any Participant: (i) the Committee may determine that outstanding Options and SARs shall be fully exercisable, as of the date of the Change of Control or at such other time as the Committee determines; (ii) the Committee may require that Participants surrender their outstanding Options and SARs in exchange for one or more payments by the Company, in cash or Company Stock as determined by the Committee, in an amount equal to the amount, if any, by which the then Fair Market Value of the shares of Company Stock subject to the Participant’s unexercised Options and SARs exceeds the Exercise Price, and on such terms as the Committee determines; (iii) after giving Participants an opportunity to exercise their outstanding Options and SARs, the Committee may terminate any or all unexercised Options and SARs at such time as the Committee deems appropriate; or (iv) the Committee may determine that Grants that remain outstanding after the Change of Control shall be converted to similar grants of the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation). Such acceleration, surrender, termination, or conversion shall take place as of the date of the Change of Control or such other date as the Committee may specify.

(a) Other Transactions. The Committee may provide in a Grant Agreement that a sale or other transaction involving a subsidiary or other business unit of the Company shall be considered a Change of Control for purposes of a Grant, or the Committee may establish other provisions that shall be applicable in the event of a specified transaction.

 

  12. Requirements for Issuance of Shares

No Company Stock shall be issued in connection with any Grant hereunder unless and until all legal requirements applicable to the issuance of such Company Stock have been complied with to the satisfaction of the Committee. The Committee shall have the right to condition any Grant made to any Participant hereunder on such Participant’s undertaking in writing to comply with such restrictions on his or her subsequent disposition of such shares of Company Stock as the Committee shall deem necessary or advisable, and certificates representing such shares may be legended to reflect any such restrictions. Certificates representing shares of Company Stock issued under the Plan will be subject to such stop-transfer orders and other restrictions as may be required by applicable laws, regulations and interpretations, including any requirement that a legend be placed thereon. No Participant shall have any right as a shareholder with respect to Company Stock covered by a Grant until shares have been issued to the Participant.

 

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  13. Amendment and Termination of the Plan

(a) Amendment. The Board may amend or terminate the Plan at any time; provided, however, that the Board shall not amend the Plan without approval of the shareholders of the Company if such approval is required in order to comply with the Code or applicable laws, or to comply with applicable stock exchange requirements. No amendment or termination of this Plan shall, without the consent of the Participant, materially impair any rights or obligations under any Grant previously made to the Participant under the Plan, unless such right has been reserved in the Plan or the Grant Agreement, or except as provided in Section 14(b) below. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Board may amend the Plan in such manner as it deems appropriate in the event of a change in applicable law or regulations.

(b) No Repricing Without Shareholder Approval. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, the Committee may not reprice Options or SARs, nor may the Board amend the Plan to permit repricing of Options or SARs, unless the shareholders of the Company provide prior approval for such repricing.

(c) Termination of Plan. The Plan shall terminate on the day immediately preceding the tenth anniversary of its Effective Date, unless the Plan is terminated earlier by the Board or is extended by the Board with the approval of the shareholders. The termination of the Plan shall not impair the power and authority of the Committee with respect to an outstanding Grant.

 

  14. Miscellaneous

(a) Grants in Connection with Corporate Transactions and Otherwise. Nothing contained in this Plan shall be construed to (i) limit the right of the Committee to make Grants under this Plan in connection with the acquisition, by purchase, lease, merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the business or assets of any corporation, firm or association, including Grants to employees thereof who become Employees, or for other proper corporate purposes, or (ii) limit the right of the Company to grant stock options or make other stock-based awards outside of this Plan. Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee may make a Grant to an employee of another corporation who becomes an Employee by reason of a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or property, reorganization or liquidation involving the Company in substitution for a grant made by such corporation. The terms and conditions of the Grants may vary from the terms and conditions required by the Plan and from those of the substituted stock incentives, as determined by the Committee

(b) Compliance with Law. The Plan, the exercise of Options and the obligations of the Company to issue or transfer shares of Company Stock under Grants shall be subject to all applicable laws and to approvals by any governmental or regulatory agency as may be required. With respect to persons subject to section 16 of the Exchange Act, it is the intent of the Company that the Plan and all transactions under the Plan comply with all applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange Act. In addition, it is the intent of the Company that Incentive Stock Options comply with the applicable provisions of section 422 of the Code, that Grants of “qualified performance-based compensation” comply with the applicable provisions of section 162(m) of the Code and that, to the extent applicable, Grants comply with the

 

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requirements of section 409A of the Code or an exception from such requirements. To the extent that any legal requirement of section 16 of the Exchange Act or section 422, 162(m) or 409A of the Code as set forth in the Plan ceases to be required under section 16 of the Exchange Act or section 422, 162(m) or 409A of the Code, that Plan provision shall cease to apply. The Committee may revoke any Grant if it is contrary to law or modify a Grant to bring it into compliance with any valid and mandatory government regulation. The Committee may also adopt rules regarding the withholding of taxes on payments to Participants. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, agree to limit its authority under this Section.

(c) Enforceability. The Plan shall be binding upon and enforceable against the Company and its successors and assigns.

(d) Funding of the Plan; Limitation on Rights. This Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of assets to assure the payment of any Grants under this Plan. Nothing contained in the Plan and no action taken pursuant hereto shall create or be construed to create a fiduciary relationship between the Company and any Participant or any other person. No Participant or any other person shall under any circumstances acquire any property interest in any specific assets of the Company. To the extent that any person acquires a right to receive payment from the Company hereunder, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Company.

(e) Rights of Participants. Nothing in this Plan shall entitle any Employee, Non-Employee Director, Consultant or other person to any claim or right to receive a Grant under this Plan. Neither this Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any individual any rights to be retained by or in the employment or service of the Employer.

(f) No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Company Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Grant. The Committee shall determine whether cash, other awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

(g) Employees Subject to Taxation Outside the United States. With respect to Participants who are subject to taxation in countries other than the United States, the Committee may make Grants on such terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate to comply with the laws of the applicable countries, and the Committee may create such procedures, addenda and subplans and make such modifications as may be necessary or advisable to comply with such laws.

(h) Governing Law. The validity, construction, interpretation and effect of the Plan and Grant Agreements issued under the Plan shall be governed and construed by and determined in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without giving effect to the conflict of laws provisions thereof.

 

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