Attached files
file | filename |
---|---|
8-K - FORM 8-K - ITC Holdings Corp. | k50453e8vk.htm |
EX-99.1 - EX-99.1 - ITC Holdings Corp. | k50453exv99w1.htm |
EX-10.98 - EX-10.98 - ITC Holdings Corp. | k50453exv10w98.htm |
Exhibit 10.97
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED
ITC HOLDINGS CORP.
2006 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
(effective May 26, 2011)
ITC HOLDINGS CORP.
2006 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
(effective May 26, 2011)
I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1.1 Establishment. On February 8, 2006, the Board of Directors (Board) of ITC
Holdings Corp. (Corporation) adopted the ITC Holdings Corp. 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan
(Plan), subject to the approval of shareholders at the Corporations annual meeting of
shareholders on May 17, 2006. The Board approved the Amended and Restated Plan on March 25, 2008,
which was approved by shareholders at the Corporations annual meeting of shareholders on May 21,
2008. The Board approved the Second Amended and Restated Plan on April 6, 2011, subject to
approval of shareholders at the Corporations annual meeting of shareholders on May 26, 2011.
1.2 Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to (a) promote the best interests of the
Corporation and its shareholders by encouraging Employees, Non-Employee Directors, and Consultants
of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries to acquire an ownership interest in the Corporation by
granting stock-based Awards, thus aligning their interests with those of shareholders, and (b)
enhance the ability of the Corporation to attract, motivate and retain qualified Employees,
Non-Employee Directors and Consultants. It is the further purpose of the Plan to authorize certain
Awards that will constitute performance based compensation, as described in Code Section 162(m) and
Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder.
1.3 Plan Duration. Subject to shareholder approval, the Plan shall become effective
on May 17, 2006 and shall continue in effect until its termination by the Board; provided, however,
that no new Awards may be granted on or after February 7, 2016.
1.4 Definitions. As used in this Plan, the following terms have the meaning described
below:
(a) Agreement means the written document that sets forth the terms of a Participants Award.
(b) Annual Incentive Award means an Award that is granted in accordance with Article VI.
(c) Award means any form of Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted
Stock Unit, Performance Award, Annual Incentive Award or other incentive award granted under the
Plan.
(d) Board means the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
1
(e) Change in Control means the occurrence of any of the following events:
(i) If any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (as defined in Code
Section 409A and IRS guidance issued thereunder), acquires ownership of Common Stock of the
Corporation that, together with stock held by such person or group, constitutes more than
fifty (50) percent of the total fair market value or total voting power of the Common Stock
of the Corporation. However, if any one person or more than one person acting as a group,
is considered to own more than fifty (50) percent of the total fair market value or total
voting power of the Common Stock of the Corporation, the acquisition of additional stock by
the same person or persons is not considered to cause a Change in Control, or to cause a
change in the effective control of the Corporation (within the meaning of Code Section 409A
and IRS guidance issued thereunder). An increase in the percentage of Common Stock owned
by any one person, or persons acting as a group, as a result of a transaction in which the
Corporation acquires its stock in exchange for property shall be treated as an acquisition
of stock for purposes of this Section. This paragraph applies only when there is a
transfer of stock of the Corporation (or issuance of stock of the Corporation) and stock in
such Corporation remains outstanding after the transaction.
(ii) If any one person, or more than one person acting as a group (as determined in
accordance with Code Section 409A and IRS guidance thereunder), acquires (or has acquired
during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person
or persons) ownership of Common Stock of the Corporation possessing thirty-five (35)
percent or more of the total voting power of the Common Stock of the Corporation; or
(iii) If a majority of members on the Corporations Board is replaced during any
12-month period by Directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of
the members of the Corporations Board prior to the date of the appointment or election
(provided that for purposes of this paragraph, the term Corporation refers solely to the
relevant Corporation, as defined in Code Section 409A and IRS guidance issued
thereunder), for which no other Corporation is a majority shareholder.
(iv) If there is a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the
Corporations assets, which shall occur on the date that any one person, or more than one
person acting as a group (within the meaning of Code Section 409A and IRS guidance issued
thereunder) acquires (or has acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the
most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the Corporation that have a
total gross fair market value equal to or more than forty (40) percent of the total gross
fair market value of all of the assets of the Corporation immediately prior to such
acquisition or acquisitions. For this purpose, gross fair market value means the value of
the assets of the Corporation, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined
without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.
2
(f) Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(g) Committee means the Compensation Committee of the Board, or any other committee or
sub-committee of the Board, designated by the Board from time to time, comprised solely of two or
more Directors who are Non-Employee Directors, as defined in Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act,
Outside Directors as defined in Code Section 162(m) and Treasury regulations thereunder, and
Independent Directors for purposes of the rules and regulations of the Stock Exchange. However,
the fact that a Committee member shall fail to qualify under any of these requirements shall not
invalidate any Award made by the Committee, if the Award is otherwise validly made under the Plan.
The members of the Committee shall be appointed by, and may be changed at any time and from time to
time, at the discretion of the Board.
(h) Common Stock means shares of the Corporations authorized common stock.
(i) Consultant means a consultant or advisor (other than as an Employee or member of the
Board) to the Corporation or a Subsidiary; provided that such person (1) renders bona fide services
that are not in connection with the offer and sale of the Corporations securities in a
capital-raising transaction, and (2) does not promote or maintain a market for the Corporations
securities.
(j) Corporation means ITC Holdings Corp., a Michigan corporation.
(k) Director means an individual, other than an Employee, who has been elected or appointed
to serve as a Director of the Corporation.
(l) Disability means total and permanent disability, as defined in Code Section 22(e);
provided, however, that for purposes of a Code Section 409A distribution event, disability shall
be defined under Code Section 409A and IRS guidance issued thereunder.
(m) Dividend Equivalent means a credit, made at the discretion of the Committee or as
otherwise provided by the Plan, to the account of a Participant in an amount equal to the cash
dividend paid on one share of Common Stock for each share of Common Stock represented by an Award
held by such Participant. Dividend Equivalents shall not be paid on Option or Stock Appreciation
Right Awards.
(n) Employee means an individual who has an employment relationship with the Corporation
or a Subsidiary, as defined in Treasury Regulation 1.421-7(h), and the term employment means
employment with the Corporation, or a Subsidiary of the Corporation.
(o) Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time,
and any successor thereto.
3
(p) Fair Market Value means for purposes of determining the value of Common Stock on the
Grant Date, the closing price of the Common Stock on the Stock Exchange for the Grant Date. In the
event that there are no Common Stock transactions on such date, the Fair Market Value shall be
determined as of the immediately preceding date on which there were Common Stock transactions.
Unless otherwise specified in the Plan, Fair Market Value for purposes of determining the value
of Common Stock on the date of exercise means the closing price of the Common Stock on the Stock
Exchange for the last date preceding the exercise on which there were Common Stock transactions.
(q) Grant Date means the date on which the Committee authorizes an Award, or such later date
as shall be designated by the Committee.
(r) Incentive Stock Option means an Option that is intended to meet the requirements of
Section 422 of the Code.
(s) Nonqualified Stock Option means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.
(t) Option means either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.
(u) Participant means an Employee (including an Employee who is a Director), Director or
Consultant, who is designated by the Committee to participate in the Plan.
(v) Performance Award means any Award of Performance Shares or Performance Units granted
pursuant to Article V.
(w) Performance Measures means the measures of performance of the Corporation and its
Subsidiaries used to determine a Participants entitlement to an Award under the Plan. Such
performance measures shall have the same meanings as used in the Corporations financial
statements, or, if such terms are not used in the Corporations financial statements, they shall
have the meaning applied pursuant to generally accepted accounting principles, or as used generally
in the Corporations industry. Performance Measures shall be calculated with respect to the
Corporation and each Subsidiary consolidated therewith for financial reporting purposes or such
division or other business unit as may be selected by the Committee. For purposes of the Plan, the
Performance Measures shall be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles, but, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, prior to the accrual or payment of
any Award under this Plan for the same performance period and excluding the effect (whether
positive or negative) of any change in accounting standards or any extraordinary, unusual or
nonrecurring item, as determined by the Committee, occurring after the establishment of the
performance goals. Performance Measures shall be one or more of the following, or a combination of
any of the following, on an absolute or peer group comparison, as determined by the Committee:
4
| earnings (as measured by net income, operating income, operating income before interest, EBIT, EBITA, EBITDA, pre-tax income, or cash earnings, or earnings as adjusted by excluding one or more components of earnings, including each of the above on a per share and/or segment basis); |
| revenues/net revenues; |
| return on net revenue (as measured by net income, operating income, operating income before interest, EBIT, EBITA, EBITDA, pre-tax income, operating cash flow or cash earnings as a percentage of net revenue); |
| revenue growth; |
| cash flow; |
| operating cash flow; |
| free cash flow; |
| discounted cash flow; |
| working capital; |
| market capitalization; |
| cash return on investment CRI; |
| return on capital; |
| return on cost of capital; |
| shareholder value; |
| return on equity; |
| total shareholder return; |
| return on investment; |
| economic value added; |
| return on assets/net assets; |
| stock trading multiples (as measured vs. investment, net income, operating income, operating income before interest, EBIT, EBITA, EBITDA, pre-tax income, cash earnings or operating cash flow); |
5
| stock price; |
| attainment of strategic or operational initiatives; |
| achievement of operational goals, including but not limited to safety records, outage frequencies, and capital and maintenance projects. |
(x) Performance Share means any grant pursuant to Article V and Section 5.2(b)(i).
(y) Performance Unit means any grant pursuant to Article V and Section 5.2(b)(ii).
(z) Plan means the ITC Holdings Corp. 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan, the terms of which are
set forth herein, and any amendments thereto.
(aa) Restriction Period means the period of time during which a Participants Restricted
Stock or Restricted Stock Unit is subject to restrictions and is nontransferable.
(bb) Restricted Stock means Common Stock granted pursuant to Article IV that is subject to a
Restriction Period.
(cc) Restricted Stock Unit means a right granted pursuant to Article IV to receive
Restricted Stock or an equivalent value in cash.
(dd) Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(ee) Stock Appreciation Right means the right to receive a cash or Common Stock payment from
the Corporation, in accordance with Article III of the Plan.
(ff) Stock Exchange means the principal national securities exchange on which the Common
Stock is listed for trading, or, if the Common Stock is not listed for trading on a national
securities exchange, such other recognized trading market or quotation system upon which the
largest number of shares of Common Stock has been traded in the aggregate during the last 20 days
before a Grant Date, or date on which an Option is exercised, whichever is applicable.
(gg) Subsidiary means a corporation or other entity defined in Code Section 424(f).
(hh) Substitute Awards shall mean Awards granted or shares issued by the Corporation in
assumption of, or in substitution or exchange for, awards previously granted, or the right or
obligation to make future awards, by a company acquired by the Corporation or any Subsidiary or
with which the Corporation or any Subsidiary combines.
6
(ii) Vested or Vesting means the extent to which an Award granted or issued hereunder has
become exercisable or any applicable Restriction Period has terminated or lapsed in accordance with
the Plan and the terms of any respective Agreement pursuant to which such Award was granted or
issued or has become payable in whole or in part due to the satisfaction of performance goal(s) set
forth in any respective Agreement pursuant to which such Award was granted or issued.
1.5 Administration.
(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall interpret the Plan,
prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and make all other
determinations necessary or advisable for its administration. The decision of the Committee on any
question concerning the interpretation of the Plan or its administration with respect to any Award
granted under the Plan shall be final and binding upon all Participants. No member of the
Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the
Plan or any Award hereunder.
(b) In addition to any other powers set forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the
Plan, but, in the case of Awards designated as Awards under Code Section 162(m), subject to the
requirements of Code Section 162(m), the Committee shall have the full and final power and
authority, in its discretion to:
(i) amend, modify, or cancel any Award, or to waive any restrictions or conditions
applicable to any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto;
(ii) subject to Code Section 409A, accelerate, continue, or defer the exercisability
or Vesting of any Award or any shares acquired pursuant thereto;
(iii) authorize, in conjunction with any applicable deferred compensation plan of the
Corporation, that the receipt of cash or Common Stock subject to any Award under this Plan
may be deferred under the terms and conditions of such deferred compensation plan;
(iv) determine the terms and conditions of Awards granted to Participants and whether
such terms and conditions have been satisfied, including without limitation as required in
Section 7.2 of the Plan; and
(v) establish such other Awards, besides those specifically enumerated in the Plan,
which the Committee determines are consistent with the Plans purposes.
1.6 Participants. Participants in the Plan shall be such Employees (including
Employees who are directors of the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries), Directors and
Consultants of the Corporation and its Subsidiaries as the Committee in its sole discretion may
select from time to time. The Committee may grant Awards to an individual upon the condition that
the individual become an Employee, Director or Consultant of the
7
Corporation or of a Subsidiary, provided that the Award shall be deemed to be granted only on
the date that the individual becomes an Employee, Director or Consultants, as applicable.
1.7 Stock.
(a) The Corporation has reserved four million nine hundred fifty thousand (4,950,000) shares
of Common Stock for issuance pursuant to stock-based Awards. Up to three million two hundred fifty
thousand (3,250,000) of the reserved shares may be granted as Awards that may be settled in shares
of Common Stock other than Options or Stock Appreciation Rights. Up to one million four hundred
thousand (1,400,000) of the reserved shares may be granted as Incentive Stock Options under the
Plan. All provisions in this Section 1.7 shall be adjusted, as applicable, in accordance with
Article IX.
(b) Each share of Common Stock subject to any Award shall be counted against the aggregate
reserved share limit in paragraph (a) above as one share.
(c) If any shares subject to any portion of an Award that is forfeited, cancelled, or expires
or otherwise terminates without issuance of such shares, or any Award is settled for cash or
otherwise does not result in the issuance of all or a portion of the shares subject to such Award,
the shares shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, cancellation, expiration, termination, cash
settlement or non-issuance, again be available for issuance pursuant to Awards under the Plan and
shall not be counted against the other limitations in Section 1.7(a).
(d) For the avoidance of doubt, the following shares of Common Stock, however, may not again
be made available for issuance as Awards under the Plan: (i) shares not issued or delivered as a
result of the net settlement of an outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right, (ii) shares used
to pay the exercise price or withholding taxes related to an outstanding Award or (iii) shares
repurchased on the open market with the proceeds of the option exercise price.
(e) Substitute Awards shall not reduce the shares reserved for issuance under the Plan or
authorized for grant to a Participant in any fiscal year. Additionally, in the event that a
company acquired by the Corporation or any Subsidiary or with which the Corporation or any
Subsidiary combines has shares available under a pre-existing plan approved by shareholders and not
adopted in contemplation of such acquisition or combination, the shares available for grant
pursuant to the terms of such pre-existing plan (as adjusted, to the extent appropriate, using the
exchange ratio or other adjustment or valuation ratio or formula used in such acquisition or
combination to determine the consideration payable to the holders of common stock of the entities
party to such acquisition or combination) may be used for Awards under the Plan and shall not
reduce the Shares authorized for issuance under the Plan; provided that Awards using such
8
available shares shall not be made after the date awards or grants could have been made under
the terms of the pre-existing plan, absent the acquisition or combination, and shall only be made
to individuals who were not Employees or Directors or an affiliate of the Corporation or its
Subsidiaries prior to such acquisition or combination.
1.8 Repricing. Without the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of
Common Stock cast in person or by proxy at a meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation at
which a quorum representing a majority of all outstanding shares is present or represented by
proxy, neither the Board nor the Committee shall approve a program providing for (a) the
cancellation of outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights and the grant in substitution
therefore of any new Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan having a lower
exercise price than the Fair Market Value of the underlying Common Stock on the original Grant
Date, (b) the amendment of outstanding Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights to reduce the
exercise price thereof below the Fair Market Value of the underlying Common Stock on the original
Grant Date, or (c) the exchange of outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights for cash or
other Awards if the exercise price per share of such Options or Stock Appreciation Rights is less
than the Fair Market Value per share as of the date of exchange. This Section shall not be
construed to apply to issuing or assuming a stock option in a transaction to which section 424(a)
applies, within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code.
II. STOCK OPTIONS
2.1 Grant of Options. The Committee, at any time and from time to time, subject to
the terms and conditions of the Plan, may grant Options to such Participants and for such number of
shares of Common Stock as it shall designate. Any Participant may hold more than one Option under
the Plan and any other plan of the Corporation or Subsidiary. The Committee shall determine the
general terms and conditions of exercise, which shall be set forth in a Participants Agreement.
No Option granted hereunder may be exercised after the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date. The
Committee may designate any Option granted as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified
Stock Option, or the Committee may designate a portion of an Option as an Incentive Stock Option or
a Nonqualified Stock Option. Unless otherwise provided in a Participants Agreement, Options are
intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and the regulations promulgated
thereunder, to the extent applicable.
2.2 Incentive Stock Options. Any Option intended to constitute an Incentive Stock
Option shall comply with the requirements of this Section 2.2. An Incentive Stock Option only may
be granted to an Employee. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted with an exercise price below
the Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the Grant Date nor with an exercise term that extends
beyond ten (10) years from the Grant Date. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be granted to any
Participant who owns (within the meaning of Code Section 424(d)) stock of the Corporation or any
Subsidiary possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of
the Corporation or a Subsidiary unless, at the Grant Date, the exercise price for the Option is at
least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the shares subject to the Option and the Option,
9
by its terms, is not exercisable more than five (5) years after the Grant Date. The aggregate
Fair Market Value of the underlying Common Stock (determined at the Grant Date) as to which
Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan (including a plan of a Subsidiary) may first be
exercised by a Participant in any one calendar year shall not exceed $100,000. To the extent that
an Option intended to constitute an Incentive Stock Option shall violate the foregoing $100,000
limitation (or any other limitation set forth in Code Section 422), the portion of the Option that
exceeds the $100,000 limitation (or violates any other Code Section 422 limitation) shall be deemed
to constitute a Nonqualified Stock Option.
2.3 Option Price. The Committee shall determine the per share exercise price for each
Option granted under the Plan. No Option may be granted with an exercise price below 100% of the
Fair Market Value of Common Stock on the Grant Date.
2.4 Payment for Option Shares.
(a) The purchase price for shares of Common Stock to be acquired upon exercise of an Option
granted hereunder shall be paid in full in cash or by personal check, bank draft or money order at
the time of exercise; provided, however, that in lieu of such form of payment, unless otherwise
provided in a Participants Agreement, payment may be made by (i) delivery to the Corporation of
outstanding shares of Common Stock that have been held at least six (6) months, on such terms and
conditions as may be specified in the Participants Agreement; (ii) by delivery to the Corporation
of a properly executed exercise notice, acceptable to the Corporation, together with irrevocable
instructions to the Participants broker to deliver to the Corporation sufficient cash to pay the
exercise price and any applicable income and employment withholding taxes, in accordance with a
written agreement between the Corporation and the brokerage firm; (iii) delivery of other
consideration approved by the Committee having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to
the total purchase price; (iv) other means determined by the Committee; or (v) any combination of
the foregoing.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may not be exercised by delivery to or
withholding by the Corporation of shares of Common Stock to the extent that such delivery or
withholding (i) would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law or regulation (including
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), or (ii) if there is a substantial likelihood that the use of such
form of payment would result in adverse accounting treatment to the Corporation under generally
accepted accounting principles. Until a Participant has been issued a certificate or certificates
for the shares of Common Stock so purchased (or the book entry representing such shares has been
made and such shares have been deposited with the appropriate registered book-entry custodian), he
or she shall possess no rights as a record holder with respect to any such shares.
III. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
3.1 Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted,
held and exercised in such form and upon such general terms and conditions as determined by the
Committee on an individual basis. A Stock Appreciation Right may
10
be granted to a Participant with respect to such number of shares of Common Stock of the
Corporation as the Committee may determine. Unless otherwise provided in a Participants
Agreement, Stock Appreciation Rights are intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section
162(m) and the regulations promulgated thereunder, to the extent applicable. No Stock Appreciation
Right shall be granted with an exercise term that extends beyond ten (10) years from the Grant
Date.
3.2 Exercise Price. The Committee shall determine the per share exercise price for
each Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan; provided, however, that the exercise price of
a Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the shares of
Common Stock covered by the Stock Appreciation Right on the Grant Date.
3.3 Exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right shall be deemed
exercised upon receipt by the Corporation of written notice of exercise from the Participant. The
Committee shall specify in a Participants Agreement whether payment shall be made in cash or
shares of Common Stock, or any combination thereof.
3.4 Stock Appreciation Right Payment. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, a
Participant shall be entitled to payment from the Corporation, in cash, shares, or partly in each
(as determined by the Committee in accordance with any applicable terms of the Agreement), of an
amount equal to the difference between (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value on the exercise date for
the specified number of shares being exercised, and (ii) the aggregate exercise price for the
specified number of shares being exercised.
3.5 Maximum Stock Appreciation Right Amount Per Share. The Committee may, at its sole
discretion, establish (at the time of grant) a maximum amount per share which shall be payable upon
the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, expressed as a dollar amount.
IV. RESTRICTED STOCK AND UNITS
4.1 Grant of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. Subject to the terms and
conditions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant shares of
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units under the Plan to such Participants and in such amounts
as it shall determine.
4.2 Restricted Stock Agreement. Each Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock
Units shall be evidenced by an Agreement that shall specify the terms of the restrictions,
including the Restriction Period, or periods, the number of Common Stock shares or units subject to
the Award, the purchase price for the shares of Restricted Stock, if any, the form of consideration
that may be used to pay the purchase price of the Restricted Stock, including those specified in
Section 2.4, and such other general terms and conditions, including performance goal(s), as the
Committee shall determine.
4.3 Transferability. Except as provided in this Article IV and Section 10.3 of the
Plan, the shares of Common Stock subject to an Award of Restricted Stock or
11
Restricted Stock Units granted hereunder may not be transferred, pledged, assigned, or
otherwise alienated or hypothecated until the termination of the applicable Restriction Period or
for such period of time as shall be established by the Committee and specified in the applicable
Agreement, or upon the earlier satisfaction of other conditions as specified by the Committee in
its sole discretion and as set forth in the applicable Agreement.
4.4 Other Restrictions. The Committee shall impose such other restrictions on any
shares of Common Stock subject to an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units under the
Plan as it may deem advisable including, without limitation, restrictions under applicable Federal
or State securities laws, and the issuance of a legended certificate of Common Stock representing
such shares to give appropriate notice of such restrictions (or, if issued in book entry form, a
notation with similar restrictive effect with respect to the book entry representing such shares).
The Committee shall have the discretion to waive the applicable Restriction Period with respect to
all or any part of the Common Stock subject to an Award of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock
Units that has not been granted under Code Section 162(m).
4.5 Voting Rights. During the Restriction Period, Participants holding issued and
outstanding shares of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock Award may exercise full voting
rights with respect to the Restricted Stock, whether or not such Award has Vested.
4.6 Dividends and Dividend Equivalents.
(a) Except as set forth below or in a Participants Agreement, during the Restriction Period,
a Participant shall be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions paid with respect
to issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock subject to an Award of Restricted Stock, whether
or not such Award has Vested. If any dividends or distributions are paid in shares of Common Stock
during the Restriction Period applicable to an Award of Restricted Stock, the dividend or other
distribution shares shall be subject to the same restrictions on transferability as the shares of
Common Stock with respect to which they were paid.
(b) The Committee, in its discretion, may provide in the Agreement evidencing any Restricted
Stock Unit that the Participant shall be entitled to receive Dividend Equivalents with respect to
the payment of cash dividends on Common Stock having a record date prior to the date on which
Restricted Stock Units held by such Participant are settled. Such Dividend Equivalents, if any,
shall be paid by crediting the Participant with additional whole Restricted Stock Units as of the
date of payment of such cash dividends on Common Stock. The number of additional Restricted Stock
Units (rounded to the nearest whole number) to be so credited shall be determined by dividing (i)
the amount of cash dividends paid on such date with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock
represented by the Restricted Stock Units previously credited to the Participant, by (ii) the Fair
Market Value per share of Common Stock on such date. Such additional Restricted Stock Units shall
be subject to the same terms and conditions and shall be settled in the same manner and at the same
time (or as soon thereafter as
12
practicable) as the Restricted Stock Units originally subject to the Award. In the event of a
dividend or distribution paid in shares of Common Stock or any other adjustment made upon a change
in the capital structure of the Corporation as described in Article IX, appropriate adjustments
shall be made in the Participants Restricted Stock Unit so that it represents the right to receive
upon settlement any and all new, substituted or additional securities or other property (other than
normal cash dividends) to which the Participant would be entitled by reason of the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon settlement of the Restricted Stock Unit, and all such new, substituted or
additional securities or other property shall be immediately subject to the same restrictions as
are applicable to the Restricted Stock Unit.
4.7 Settlement of Restricted Stock Units. If a Restricted Stock Unit is payable in
Common Stock, the Corporation shall issue to a Participant on the date on which Restricted Stock
Units subject to the Participants Award Vest or on such other date determined by the Committee, in
its discretion, and set forth in the Agreement, one share of Common Stock and/or any other new,
substituted or additional securities or other property pursuant to an adjustment described in
Section 9.1 for each Restricted Stock Unit then becoming Vested or otherwise to be settled on such
date, subject to the withholding of applicable taxes. Notwithstanding any other provision in this
Plan to the contrary, any Restricted Stock Unit, whether settled in Common Stock, cash or other
property, shall be paid no later than two and a half (2 1/2) months after the later of the end of
the fiscal or calendar year in which the Restricted Stock Unit Vests.
4.8 Restricted Stock Unit Bonus Deferral Awards. A Participant designated by the
Committee who is an insider or otherwise among a select group of highly compensated Employees may
irrevocably elect, prior to a date specified by the Committee and in compliance with Code Section
409A, to defer receipt of any cash bonus or cash Annual Incentive Award payable by the Corporation
(subject to any minimum or maximum limitations imposed by the Committee), which shall be credited
to the Participant in the form of Restricted Stock Units, subject to such terms and other
conditions established by the Committee as set forth in the associated Agreement. In consideration
for foregoing bonus or Annual Incentive Award compensation, the dollar amount deferred by a
Participant may be increased by the Committee up to fifty (50) percent (or such lesser percentage
specified by the Committee), for purposes of determining the number of Restricted Stock Units in
the Participants Award. The electing Participant shall be credited, as of the date specified in
the Agreement, with a number of Restricted Stock Units, equal to the amount of the deferral
(increased by any Committee match), divided by the Fair Market Value on the applicable date.
V. PERFORMANCE AWARDS
5.1 Grant of Performance Awards. The Committee, at its discretion, may grant
Performance Awards to Participants and may determine, on an individual or group basis, the
performance goal or goals to be attained pursuant to each Performance Award.
5.2 Terms of Performance Awards.
13
(a) Performance Awards shall consist of rights to receive cash, Common Stock, other property
or a combination of each, if designated performance goal(s) are achieved. The terms of a
Participants Performance Award shall be set forth in a Participants Agreement. Each Agreement
shall specify the performance goal or goals, which may include the Performance Measures, applicable
to a particular Participant or group of Participants, the period over which the targeted goal(s)
are to be attained, the payment schedule if the goal(s) are attained, and any other general terms
as the Committee shall determine and conditions applicable to an individual Performance Award. The
Committee, at its discretion, may waive all or part of the conditions, goals and restrictions
applicable to the receipt of full or partial payment of a Performance Award that has not been
granted as a Code Section 162(m) Award.
(b) Performance Awards may be granted as Performance Shares or Performance Units, at the
discretion of the Committee. Performance Awards shall be paid no later than two and a half (2 1/2)
months after the later of the end of the fiscal or calendar year in which the Performance Award is
no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.
(i) In the case of Performance Shares, the Participant shall receive a legended
certificate of Common Stock, restricted from transfer prior to the satisfaction of the
designated performance goals and restrictions (or shares may be issued in book entry form
with a notation having similar restrictive effect with respect to the book entry
representing such shares), as determined by the Committee and specified in the
Participants Agreement. Prior to satisfaction of the performance goal(s) and
restrictions, the Participant shall be entitled to vote the Performance Shares to the
extent such shares are issued and outstanding. Further, any dividends paid on such shares
during the performance period automatically shall be reinvested on behalf of the
Participant in additional Performance Shares under the Plan, and such additional shares
shall be subject to the same performance goals and restrictions as the other shares under
the Performance Share Award.
(ii) In the case of Performance Units, the Participant shall receive an Agreement from
the Committee that specifies the performance goal(s) and restrictions that must be
satisfied before the Corporation shall issue the payment, which may be cash, a designated
number of shares of Common Stock, other property, or a combination thereof.
VI. ANNUAL INCENTIVE AWARDS
6.1 Grant of Annual Incentive Awards.
(a) The Committee, at its discretion, may grant Annual Incentive Awards to such Participants
as it may designate from time to time. The terms of a Participants Annual Incentive Award shall
be set forth in the Participants individual Agreement. Each Agreement shall specify such general
terms and conditions as the Committee shall determine.
14
(b) The determination of Annual Incentive Awards for a given year may be based upon the
attainment of specified levels of Corporation or Subsidiary performance as measured by
pre-established, objective performance criteria determined at the discretion of the Committee,
including any or all of the Performance Measures.
(c) The Committee shall (i) select those Participants who shall be eligible to receive an
Annual Incentive Award, (ii) determine the performance period, (iii) determine target levels of
performance, and (iv) determine the level of Annual Incentive Award to be paid to each selected
Participant upon the achievement of each performance level. The Committee generally shall make the
foregoing determinations prior to the commencement of services to which an Annual Incentive Award
relates (or within the permissible time-period established under Code Section 162(m)), to the
extent applicable, and while the outcome of the performance goals and targets is uncertain.
6.2 Payment of Annual Incentive Awards.
(a) Annual Incentive Awards shall be paid in cash, shares of Common Stock or other property,
at the discretion of the Committee. Payments shall be made following a determination by the
Committee that the performance targets were attained and shall be made within two and a half (21/2)
months after the later of the end of the fiscal or calendar year in which the Annual Incentive
Award is no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture.
(b) The amount of an Annual Incentive Award to be paid upon the attainment of each targeted
level of performance shall equal a percentage of a Participants base salary for the fiscal year, a
fixed dollar amount, or such other formula, as determined by the Committee.
VII. CODE SECTION 162(m) PERFORMANCE MEASURE AWARDS
7.1 Awards Granted Under Code Section 162(m). The Committee, at its discretion, may
designate that a Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Share, Performance Unit or
Annual Incentive Award shall be granted as a Code Section 162(m) Award. Such an Award must comply
with the following additional requirements, which shall control over any other provision that
pertains to such Award under Articles IV, V and VI.
(a) Each Code Section 162(m) Award shall be based upon the attainment of specified levels of
pre-established, objective Performance Measures that are intended to satisfy the performance based
compensation requirements of Code Section 162(m) and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Further, at the discretion of the Committee, an Award also may be subject to goals and restrictions
in addition to the Performance Measures.
(b) For each Code Section 162(m) Award, the Committee shall (i) select the Participant who
shall be eligible to receive a Code Section 162(m) Award, (ii) determine the applicable performance
period, (iii) determine the target levels of the Corporation or Subsidiary Performance Measures,
and (iv) determine the number of
15
shares of Common Stock or cash or other property (or combination thereof) subject to an Award
to be paid to each selected Participant. The Committee shall make the foregoing determinations
prior to the commencement of services to which an Award relates (or within the permissible time
period established under Code Section 162(m)) and while the outcome of the performance goals and
targets is uncertain.
7.2 Attainment of Code Section 162(m) Goals.
(a) After each performance period, the Committee shall certify, in writing (which writing may
include the minutes for any meeting of the Committee): (i) if the Corporation has attained the
performance targets, and (ii) the number of shares pursuant to the Award that are to become freely
transferable, if applicable, or the cash or other property payable under the Award. The Committee
shall have no discretion to waive all or part of the conditions, goals and restrictions applicable
to the receipt of full or partial payment of an Award except in the case of the death or Disability
of a Participant.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its discretion, reduce any Award
based on such factors as may be determined by the Committee, including, without limitation, a
determination by the Committee that such a reduction is appropriate in light of pay practices of
competitors, or the performance of the Corporation, a Subsidiary or a Participant relative to the
performance of competitors, or performance with respect to the Corporations strategic business
goals.
7.3 Individual Participant Limitations. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section
9.1, no Participant in any one fiscal year of the Corporation may be granted (a) Options or Stock
Appreciation Rights with respect to more than two hundred thousand (200,000) shares of Common
Stock; (b) Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units that are denominated in shares of Common
Stock with respect to more than one hundred thousand (100,000) shares; (c) Performance Awards that
are denominated in shares of Common Stock with respect to more than one hundred thousand (100,000)
shares; and (d) an Annual Incentive Award denominated in shares of Common Stock with respect to
more than one hundred thousand (100,000) shares. The maximum dollar value payable to any
Participant in any one fiscal year of the Corporation with respect to Restricted Stock Units,
Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards that are valued in property other than Common Stock
is the lesser of three million dollars ($3,000,000) or four (4) times the Participants base salary
for the fiscal year. If an Award is cancelled, the cancelled Award shall continue to be counted
towards the applicable limitations.
VIII. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICES
8.1 Options and Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) If, prior to the date when an Option or Stock Appreciation Right first becomes Vested, a
Participants employment or services are terminated for any reason, the Participants right to
exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall
16
terminate and all rights thereunder shall cease, unless provided otherwise in a Participants
Agreement.
(b) If, on or after the date when an Option or Stock Appreciation Right first becomes Vested,
a Participants employment or services are terminated for any reason other than death or
Disability, the Participant shall have the right, within the earlier of (i) the expiration of the
Option or Stock Appreciation Right, and (ii) three (3) months after termination of employment or
services, as applicable, to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right to the extent that it
was exercisable and unexercised on the date of the Participants termination of employment or
services, subject to any other limitation on the exercise of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right
in effect on the date of exercise. The Committee may designate in a Participants Agreement that
an Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall terminate at an earlier or later time than set forth
above.
(c) If, on or after the date when an Option or Stock Appreciation Right first becomes Vested,
a Participants employment or services are terminated due to death while an Option or Stock
Appreciation Right is still exercisable, the person or persons to whom the Option or Stock
Appreciation Right shall have been transferred by will or the laws of descent and distribution,
shall have the right within the exercise period specified in the Participants Agreement to
exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right to the extent that it was exercisable and
unexercised on the Participants date of death, subject to any other limitation on exercise in
effect on the date of exercise. The beneficial tax treatment of an Incentive Stock Option may be
forfeited if the Option is exercised more than one year after a Participants date of death.
(d) If, on or after the date when an Option or Stock Appreciation Right first becomes Vested,
a Participants employment or services are terminated due to Disability, the Participant shall have
the right, within the exercise period specified in the Participants Agreement, to exercise the
Option or Stock Appreciation Right to the extent that it was exercisable and unexercised on the
date of the Participants termination of employment or services due to Disability, subject to any
other limitation on the exercise of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right in effect on the date of
exercise. If the Participant dies after termination of employment or services, as applicable,
while the Option or Stock Appreciation Right is still exercisable, the Option or Stock Appreciation
Right shall be exercisable in accordance with the terms of paragraph (c), above.
(e) The Committee, at the time of a Participants termination of employment or services, may
accelerate a Participants right to exercise an Option or, subject to Code Section 409A and Section
2.1 of the Plan, may extend an Option term.
(f) Shares subject to Options and Stock Appreciation Rights that are not exercised in
accordance with the provisions of (a) through (e) above shall expire and be forfeited by the
Participant as of their expiration date and shall become available for new Awards under the Plan as
of such date.
8.2 Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units. If a Participants employment or
services are terminated for any reason, the Participants right to shares of
17
Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award that are still
subject to a Restriction Period automatically shall terminate and be forfeited by the Participant
(or, if the Participant was required to pay a purchase price for the Restricted Stock, other than
for the performance of services, the Corporation shall have the option to repurchase any shares
acquired by the Participant which are still subject to the Restriction Period for the purchase
price paid by the Participant) and, subject to Section 1.6, said shares shall be available for new
Awards under the Plan as of such termination date. Provided, however, that the Committee, in its
sole discretion, may provide in a Participants Agreement for the continuation of a Restricted
Stock Award or Restricted Stock Unit after a Participants employment or services are terminated or
may waive or, subject to Code Section 409A, change the remaining restrictions or add additional
restrictions, as it deems appropriate. The Committee shall not waive any restrictions on a Code
Section 162(m) Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award, but the Committee may provide in a
Participants Code Section 162(m) Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Agreement or otherwise
that upon the Participants termination of employment due to (a) death, or (b) Disability prior to
the termination of the Restriction Period, that the performance goals and restrictions shall be
deemed to have been satisfied on terms determined by the Committee.
8.3 Performance Awards. Performance Awards shall expire and be forfeited by a
Participant upon the termination of Participants employment or services for any reason, and,
subject to Section 1.6, shall be available for new Awards under the Plan as of such termination
date. Provided, however, that the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in a Participants
Agreement or, subject to Code Section 409A, may provide otherwise for the continuation of a
Performance Award after a Participants employment or services are terminated or may waive or
change all or part of the conditions, goals and restrictions applicable to such Performance Award.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall not waive any restrictions on a Code Section
162(m) Performance Award, but the Committee may provide in an Participants Code Section 162(m)
Performance Share Agreement or otherwise that upon the Participants termination of employment due
to (a) death, or (b) Disability prior to the attainment of the associated performance goals and
restrictions, that the performance goals and restrictions shall be deemed to have been satisfied on
terms determined by the Committee.
8.4 Annual Incentive Awards.
(a) A Participant who has been granted an Annual Incentive Award and whose employment or
services terminate due to Disability or death prior to the end of the Corporations fiscal year
shall be entitled to a pro-rated payment of the Annual Incentive Award, based on the number of full
months of employment or services, as applicable during the fiscal year. Any such prorated Annual
Incentive Award shall be paid at the same time as regular Annual Incentive Awards and, in the event
of the Participants death, to the Participants designated beneficiary.
(b) Except as otherwise determined by the Committee in its discretion, a Participant who has
been granted an Annual Incentive Award and resigns or is terminated for any reason (other than
Disability or death), before the payment date of an
18
Annual Incentive Award, shall forfeit the right to the Annual Incentive Award payment for that
fiscal year.
8.5 Other Provisions. The transfer of an Employee from one corporation to another
among the Corporation and any of its Subsidiaries, or a leave of absence under the leave policy of
the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries shall not be a termination of employment for purposes of
the Plan, unless a provision to the contrary is expressly stated by the Committee in a
Participants Agreement issued under the Plan.
IX. ADJUSTMENTS AND CHANGE IN CONTROL
9.1 Adjustments. In the event of a merger, reorganization, consolidation,
recapitalization, dividend or distribution (whether in cash, shares or other property), stock
split, reverse stock split, spin-off or similar transaction or other change in corporate structure
affecting the Common Stock or the value thereof, such adjustments and other substitutions shall be
made to the Plan and Awards as the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems equitable or
appropriate, including adjustments in the aggregate number, class and kind of securities that may
be delivered under the Plan and, in the aggregate or to any one Participant, in the number, class,
kind and option or exercise price of securities subject to outstanding Awards granted under the
Plan (including, if the Committee deems appropriate, the substitution of similar options to
purchase the shares of, or other awards denominated in the shares of, another company, as the
Committee may determine to be appropriate in its sole discretion).
9.2 Change in Control.
(a) Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, the Committee, in its
discretion, may provide in a Participants Agreement or otherwise that upon a Change in Control,
any or all of the following shall occur: (i) any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right
granted hereunder immediately shall become fully Vested and exercisable, regardless of any
installment provision applicable to such Option or Stock Appreciation Right; (ii) the remaining
Restriction Period on any Shares of Common Stock subject to a Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock
Unit Award granted hereunder immediately shall lapse and the shares shall become fully
transferable, subject to any applicable Federal or State securities laws; (iii) all performance
goals and conditions shall be deemed to have been satisfied and all restrictions shall lapse on any
outstanding Performance Awards, which immediately shall become payable (either in full or pro-rata
based on the portion of the applicable performance period completed as of the Change in Control);
(iv) all performance targets and performance levels shall be deemed to have been satisfied for any
outstanding Annual Incentive Awards, which immediately shall become payable (either in full or
pro-rata based on the portion of the applicable performance period completed as of the Change in
Control); or (v) such other treatment as the Committee may determine.
(b) The Committee may, in its sole discretion and without the consent of any Participant,
determine that, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, each or any Option or Stock
Appreciation Right outstanding immediately prior to the Change in
19
Control shall be cancelled in exchange for a payment with respect to each Vested share of
Common Stock subject to such cancelled Option or Stock Appreciation Right in (i) cash, (ii) stock
of the Corporation or of a corporation or other business entity a party to the Change in Control,
or (iii) other property which, in any such case, shall be in an amount having a Fair Market Value
equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the consideration to be paid per share of Common
Stock in the Change in Control transaction over the exercise price per share under such Option or
Stock Appreciation Right (the Spread). In the event such determination is made by the Committee,
the Spread (reduced by applicable withholding taxes, if any) shall be paid to a Participant in
respect of the Participants cancelled Options and Stock Appreciation Rights as soon as practicable
following the date of the Change in Control.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee, in its discretion, may provide in a
Participants Agreement or otherwise that, if in the event of a Change in Control the successor
company assumes or substitutes for an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, or
Restricted Stock Unit payable in shares of Common Stock, Performance Award payable in shares of
Common Stock or Annual Incentive Award payable in shares of Common Stock, then each such
outstanding Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance
Award or Annual Incentive Award shall not be accelerated as described in Section 9.2(a). For the
purposes of this Section 9.2(c), such an Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock,
Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award shall be considered assumed or
substituted for if following the Change in Control the Award confers the right to purchase or
receive, for each share of Common Stock subject to such Option, Stock Appreciation Right,
Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award immediately
prior to the Change in Control, the consideration (whether stock, cash or other securities or
property) received in the transaction constituting a Change in Control by holders of shares of
Common Stock for each share held on the effective date of such 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 transaction
constituting a Change in Control is not solely common stock of the successor company, the Committee
may, with the consent of the successor company, provide that the consideration to be received upon
the exercise or vesting of such Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Restricted
Stock Unit, Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award, for each share of Common Stock subject
thereto, shall be solely common stock of the successor company substantially equal in fair market
value to the per share consideration received by holders of shares of Common Stock in the
transaction constituting a Change in Control. The determination of such substantial equality of
value of consideration shall be made by the Committee in its sole discretion and its determination
shall be conclusive and binding.
X. MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 Partial Exercise/Fractional Shares. The Committee may permit, and shall
establish procedures for, the partial exercise of Options and Stock Appreciation Rights granted
under the Plan. No fractional shares shall be issued in connection with the
20
exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or payment of a Performance Award,
Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, or Annual Incentive Award; instead, the Fair Market
Value of the fractional shares shall be paid in cash, or at the discretion of the Committee, the
number of shares shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares and any fractional
shares shall be disregarded.
10.2 Rights Prior to Issuance of Shares. No Participant shall have any rights as a
shareholder with respect to shares covered by an Award until the issuance of a stock certificate
for such shares (or book entry representing such shares has been made and such shares have been
deposited with the appropriate registered book-entry custodian). No adjustment shall be made for
dividends or other rights with respect to such shares for which the record date is prior to the
date the certificate is issued except as otherwise provided in the Plan or a Participants
Agreement or by the Committee.
10.3 Non-Assignability; Certificate Legend; Removal.
(a) Except as described below or as otherwise determined by the Committee in a Participants
Agreement, no Award shall be transferable by a Participant except by will or the laws of descent
and distribution, and an Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercised only by a
Participant during the lifetime of the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant
may assign or transfer an Award that is not an Incentive Stock Option with the consent of the
Committee (each transferee thereof, a Permitted Assignee); provided that such Permitted Assignee
shall be bound by and subject to all of the terms and conditions of the Plan and any Agreement
relating to the transferred Award and shall execute an agreement satisfactory to the Corporation
evidencing such obligations; and provided further that such Participant shall remain bound by the
terms and conditions of the Plan.
(b) Each certificate representing shares of Common Stock subject to an Award, to the extent a
certificate is issued, shall bear the following legend:
The sale or other transfer of the shares of stock represented by this certificate,
whether voluntary, involuntary or by operation of law, is subject to certain
restrictions on transfer set forth in the ITC Holdings Corp. 2006 Long Term
Incentive Plan (Plan), rules and administrative guidelines adopted pursuant to
such Plan [and an Agreement dated ______ __, ____]. A copy of the Plan, such
rules [and such Agreement] may be obtained from the Vice President and General
Counsel of International Transmission Company.
If shares are issued in book entry form, a notation to the same restrictive effect as the
legend shall be placed on the Transfer Agents books in connection with such shares.
(c) Subject to applicable Federal and State securities laws, issued shares of Common Stock
subject to an Award shall become freely transferable by the Participant after all applicable
restrictions, limitations, performance requirements or other
21
conditions have terminated, expired, lapsed or been satisfied. Once such issued shares of
Common Stock are released from such restrictions, limitations, performance requirements or other
conditions, the Participant shall be entitled to have the legend required by this Section 10.3
removed from the applicable Common Stock certificate (or notation removed from such book entry).
10.4 Securities Laws.
(a) Anything to the contrary herein notwithstanding, the Corporations obligation to sell and
deliver Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or deliver
Common Stock pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, Performance Award or
Annual Incentive Award is subject to such compliance with Federal and State laws, rules and
regulations applying to the authorization, issuance or sale of securities as the Corporation deems
necessary or advisable. The Corporation shall not be required to sell and deliver or issue Common
Stock unless and until it receives satisfactory assurance that the issuance or transfer of such
shares shall not violate any of the provisions of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, or the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder or those of
the Stock Exchange or any stock exchange on which the Common Stock may be listed, the provisions of
any State laws governing the sale of securities, or that there has been compliance with the
provisions of such acts, rules, regulations and laws.
(b) The Committee may impose such restrictions on any shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant
to the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or the grant of Restricted Stock or
Restricted Stock Units or the payment of a Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award under the
Plan as it may deem advisable, including, without limitation, restrictions (i) under applicable
Federal securities laws; (ii) under the requirements of the Stock Exchange or any other securities
exchange or recognized trading market or quotation system upon which such shares of Common Stock
are then listed or traded; and (iii) under any blue sky or State securities laws applicable to such
shares.
10.5 Withholding Taxes.
(a) The Corporation shall have the right to withhold from a Participants compensation or
require a Participant to remit sufficient funds to satisfy applicable withholding for income and
employment taxes upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or the lapse of the
Restriction Period on a Restricted Stock Award, Restricted Stock Unit, or the payment of a
Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award. A Participant may in order to fulfill the withholding
obligation tender previously-acquired shares of Common Stock that have been held at least six (6)
months or have shares of stock withheld from the exercise, provided that the shares have an
aggregate Fair Market Value sufficient to satisfy in whole or in part the applicable withholding
taxes. The broker assisted exercise procedure described in Section 2.4 may also be utilized to
satisfy the withholding requirements related to the exercise of an Option. At no point shall the
Corporation withhold from the exercise of an Option more
22
shares than are necessary to meet the established tax withholding requirements of federal,
state and local obligations.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Participant may not use shares of Common Stock to satisfy
the withholding requirements to the extent that (i) there is a substantial likelihood that the use
of such form of payment or the timing of such form of payment would subject the Participant to a
substantial risk of liability under Section 16 of the Exchange Act; (ii) such withholding would
constitute a violation of the provisions of any law or regulation (including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002); or (iii) there is a substantial likelihood that the use of such form of payment would
result in adverse accounting treatment to the Corporation under generally accepted accounting
principles.
10.6 Termination and Amendment.
(a) The Board may terminate the Plan, or the granting of Awards under the Plan, at any time.
No new Awards shall be granted under the Plan after February 7, 2012.
(b) The Board may amend or modify the Plan at any time and from time to time, and the
Committee may amend or modify the terms of an outstanding Agreement at any time and from time to
time, but no amendment or modification, without the approval of the shareholders of the
Corporation, shall (i) materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan;
(ii) increase the amount of Common Stock for which Awards may be made under the Plan, except as
permitted under Sections 1.7 and Article 9; or (iii) change the provisions relating to the
eligibility of individuals to whom Awards may be made under the Plan. In addition, if the
Corporations Common Stock is listed on a Stock Exchange, the Board may not amend the Plan in a
manner requiring approval of the shareholders of the Corporation under the rules of the Stock
Exchange without obtaining the approval of the shareholders.
(c) No amendment, modification, or termination of the Plan or an outstanding Agreement shall
in any manner adversely affect any then outstanding Award under the Plan without the consent of the
Participant holding such Award, except as set forth in any Agreement relating to the Award, or to
bring the Plan and/or an Award into compliance with the requirements of Code Section 409A or to
qualify for an exemption under Code Section 409A.
10.7 Code Section 409A. It is intended that Awards granted under the Plan shall be
exempt from or in compliance with Code Section 409A, and the Board reserves the right to amend the
terms of the Plan, and the Committee reserves the right to amend any outstanding Agreement if
necessary either to exempt such Award from Code Section 409A or comply with the requirements of
Code Section 409A, as applicable. Further, Plan Participants who are Specified Employees (as
defined under Code Section 409A and IRS guidance issued thereunder), shall be required to delay
payment of an Award for six (6) months after separation from service to the extent such Award is
governed by Code Section 409A, and the delay is required thereunder.
23
10.8 Effect on Employment or Services. Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the
granting of any Award pursuant to the Plan shall be deemed to create any right in any individual to
be retained or continued in the employment or services of the Corporation or a Subsidiary.
10.9 Use of Proceeds. The proceeds received from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to
the Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes of the Corporation.
10.10 Severability. If any one or more of the provisions (or any part thereof) of
this Plan or of any Agreement issued hereunder, shall be held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, such provision shall be modified so as to make it valid, legal and
enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions (or any part
thereof) of the Plan or of any Agreement shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The
Board may, without the consent of any Participant, and in a manner determined necessary solely in
the discretion of the Board, amend the Plan and any outstanding Agreement as the Corporation deems
necessary to ensure the Plan and all Awards remain valid, legal or enforceable in all respects.
10.11 Beneficiary Designation. Subject to local laws and procedures, each Participant
may file a written beneficiary designation with the Corporation stating who is to receive any
benefit under the Plan to which the Participant is entitled in the event of such Participants
death before receipt of any or all of a Plan benefit. Each designation shall revoke all prior
designations by the same Participant, be in a form prescribed by the Corporation, and become
effective only when filed by the Participant in writing with the Corporation during the
Participants lifetime. If a Participant dies without an effective beneficiary designation for a
beneficiary who is living at the time of the Participants death, the Corporation shall pay any
remaining unpaid benefits to the Participants legal representative.
10.12 Unfunded Obligation. A Participant shall have the status of a general unsecured
creditor of the Corporation. Any amounts payable to a Participant pursuant to the Plan shall be
unfunded and unsecured obligations for all purposes. The Corporation shall not be required to
segregate any monies from its general funds, or to create any trusts, or establish any special
accounts with respect to such obligations. The Corporation shall retain at all times beneficial
ownership of any investments, including trust investments, which the Corporation may make to
fulfill its payment obligations hereunder. Any investments or the creation or maintenance of any
trust or any Participant account shall not create or constitute a trust or fiduciary relationship
between the Committee or the Corporation and a Participant, or otherwise create any Vested or
beneficial interest in any Participant or the Participants creditors in any assets of the
Corporation. A Participant shall have no claim against the Corporation for any changes in the
value of any assets which may be invested or reinvested by the Corporation with respect to the
Plan.
10.13 Approval of Plan. The Plan shall be subject to the approval of the holders of
at least a majority of the votes cast at a duly held meeting of shareholders of the Corporation
held within twelve (12) months after adoption of the Plan by the Board.
24
No Award granted under the Plan may be exercised or paid in whole or in part unless the Plan
has been approved by the shareholders as provided herein. If not approved by shareholders within
twelve (12) months after approval by the Board, the Plan and any Awards granted under the Plan
shall be null and void, with no further force or effect.
10.14 Governing Law. Except to the extent governed by applicable federal law, the
validity, interpretation, construction and performance of the Plan and Agreements under the Plan,
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Michigan, without regard to its conflict of law
rules.
25
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this ITC Holdings Corp. 2006 Long Term Incentive Plan, as amended and
restated, has been executed on behalf of the Corporation on this 26th day of May, 2011.
ITC HOLDINGS CORP. |
||||
By: | /s/ Linda H. Blair | |||
Its: Executive Vice President | ||||
and Chief Business Officer | ||||
BOARD APPROVAL: 02/08/06
SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL: 05/17/06
BOARD APPROVAL OF AMENDED AND RESTATED PLAN: 3/25/08
SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL OF AMENDED AND RESTATED PLAN: 5/21/08
BOARD APPROVAL OF SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED PLAN: 4/6/11
SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL OF SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED PLAN: 5/26/11
SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL: 05/17/06
BOARD APPROVAL OF AMENDED AND RESTATED PLAN: 3/25/08
SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL OF AMENDED AND RESTATED PLAN: 5/21/08
BOARD APPROVAL OF SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED PLAN: 4/6/11
SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL OF SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED PLAN: 5/26/11
26