DANIEL GREEN COMPANY
450 North Main Street
Old Town, Maine 04468
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD SEPTEMBER 6, 2001
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The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Daniel Green Company (the "Company")
will be held at The Strathallan Hotel, 550 East Avenue, Rochester, New York
14607 on Thursday, September 6, 2001 at 10:00 o'clock in the forenoon, for the
following purposes:
1. To elect seven persons to the Board of Directors of the Company.
2. To ratify the action of the Board of Directors in selecting Deloitte &
Touche LLP as auditors for the Company for 2001.
3. To approve a proposal to amend the Company's Articles of Organization to
increase the number of authorized shares from 4,000,000 to 6,000,000.
4. To amend the existing Stock Incentive Plan and to replace it with the
2001 Long-Term Incentive Plan.
5. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Stockholders of record as of the close of business on July 24, 2001 are
entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting and at any adjournment thereof.
By order of the Board of Directors
GARY E. PFLUGFELDER, Clerk
August 6, 2001
A form of proxy and a return envelope are enclosed for the use of Stockholders.
It is requested that you fill in, date and sign the enclosed proxy and return it
in the enclosed envelope even if you plan to attend the meeting in Rochester on
September 6, 2001.
DANIEL GREEN COMPANY
450 North Main Street
Old Town, Maine 04468
PROXY STATEMENT
For The Annual Meeting Of Stockholders
To Be Held September 6, 2001
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of Daniel Green Company, a corporation
organized under the laws of The Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the "Company"),
for use at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company to be held on
Thursday, September 6, 2001 at 10:00 A.M. at The Strathallan Hotel, 550 East
Avenue, Rochester, New York 14607, together with any and all adjournments
thereof. It is anticipated that this Proxy Statement and the enclosed proxy will
first be sent or given to stockholders on or about August 6, 2001.
A copy of the Annual Report to Stockholders of the Company for the year
ended December 31, 2000, including audited financial statements, is being mailed
with this Proxy Statement. You may also obtain a copy of the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-KSB filed with the Securities Exchange Commission without
charge upon written request submitted to Daniel Green Company, c/o Chief
Financial Officer, 450 North Main Street, Old Town, Maine 04468.
The close of business on July 24, 2001 has been fixed as the record date
for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the
meeting and at any adjournment. Each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote
for each share held of record in his or her name on that date. There were
outstanding on the record date 1,901,413 shares of Common Stock, $2.50 par value
per share, of the Company, being the only class of stock of the Company issued
and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting.
The enclosed proxy is solicited by and on behalf of the Board of Directors
of the Company, which has designated the nominees for Directors listed below. A
stockholder giving such proxy has the right to revoke it at the meeting or at
any time prior thereto. All shares represented by proxies in the form enclosed
herewith will be voted at the meeting and at any adjournments in accordance with
the terms of such proxies, provided such proxies appear to be valid and to have
been executed by stockholders of record entitled to vote at the meeting and have
not previously been revoked. If no contrary instructions are given, the persons
named in the proxy will vote FOR the seven nominees described on the following
pages; FOR the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as
auditors of the Company for 2001; FOR the amendment of the Company's Articles of
Organization to increase the number of authorized shares; FOR the amendment of
the existing Stock Incentive Plan and adoption of its replacement, the 2001
Long-Term Incentive Plan; and, in their discretion, upon any other matter which
may properly come before the meeting or any adjournment. The Board of Directors
does not know of any matters not specifically referred to in this Proxy
Statement which may come before the meeting.
In accordance with the By-Laws of the Company, a majority of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock entitled to vote, present in person or
represented by proxy at the meeting, is required to constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. The affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum shall
be required for the election of Directors and to pass any measure properly
presented to the meeting, except Proposal 3 which requires the affirmative vote
of a majority of the outstanding shares. Shares which abstain from voting on any
matter shall be included for purposes of determining the presence of a quorum,
but shall be excluded in tabulating votes cast for or against any proposal to
which an abstention pertains. Abstention may not be specified on the proposal
relating to the election of directors. However, votes that are withheld will be
excluded entirely from the vote and have no effect. Broker non-votes will count
only in the determination of a quorum.
All costs of preparing, assembling and mailing the enclosed proxy material,
and any additional material which may hereafter be sent in connection with the
solicitation and collection of the enclosed proxy, will be paid by the Company
and no part will be paid directly or indirectly by any other person.
Solicitation of proxies may be made by personal interview, mail, telephone or
telecopier by officers and regular employees of the Company but no additional
compensation will be paid them for the time so employed.
1
PROPOSAL 1 -- ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
Seven persons are to be elected to the Board of Directors. The Board of
Directors has nominated the persons listed below for election. If elected, each
nominee will hold office until the Annual Meeting to be held in 2002, and until
his successor is elected and shall qualify.
The following biographies set forth certain information with respect to the
nominees for election as directors of the Company, none of whom is related to
any other nominee or executive officer.
EDWARD BLOOMBERG, Age: 63
Edward Bloomberg has been a director of the Company since 1993. For more
than the last five years Mr. Bloomberg has been an independent investment
advisor.
STEVEN M. DEPERRIOR, Age: 42
Steven M. DePerrior has been a director of the Company since 1996. He is a
Principal with Burke Group, which provides certain human-resources consulting
services to the Company. Mr. DePerrior also serves on the board of directors of
Centennial Technologies.
GREGORY M. HARDEN, Age: 44
Gregory M. Harden has been a director of the Company since 1996. He is
President and Chief Executive Officer of Harden Furniture Co., Inc., a furniture
manufacturer in McConnellsville, New York. Mr. Harden also serves on the board
of directors for Oneida, Ltd. and Utica Mutual Insurance Company.
WILHELM PFANDER, Age: 63
Wilhelm Pfander has been a director of the Company since April, 2000. He is
Senior Vice President--Sourcing and Development of the Company, having been
elected in February, 2000. For more than five years prior thereto he was Vice
President-Manufacturing and Product Development at Penobscot Shoe Company.
GARY E. PFLUGFELDER, Age: 69
Gary E. Pflugfelder has been a Director of the Company since 1983. Mr.
Pflugfelder is sales consultant to, and prior to September 6, 1992 served as
General Manager of, the Personal Financial Security Division of Aetna Life &
Casualty Company.
JAMES R. RIEDMAN, Age: 41
James R. Riedman has been a Director of the Company since 1993 and has been
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of the Company
since 1996. Mr. Riedman is President of Riedman Corporation, a holding company
which, until January, 2001, included a commercial insurance agency which
obtained property and casualty insurance coverage for the Company. Mr. Riedman
is also a director of Harris Interactive Inc.
GREG A. TUNNEY, Age: 39
Greg A. Tunney has been a Director of the Company since 1998 and has been
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since 1998. From 1992 to
1998, Mr. Tunney was a Vice President of Brown Shoe Company.
A stockholder using the enclosed form of proxy may authorize the persons
named in the proxy to vote for all or any of the above named nominees or may
withhold from said persons authority to vote for all or any of such nominees.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the nominees named above. If, for
any reason, any of the nominees named above should not be available for election
as contemplated, it is the intention of the persons named in the proxy to vote
for such other person or persons, if any, as the Board of Directors may
recommend. The Board of Directors has no reason to believe any nominees will be
unavailable.
2
Meetings Of The Board Of Directors And Committees
Of The Board Of Directors During 2000
The Board of Directors held eight meetings during 2000. Each of the
Directors attended more than 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board of
Directors and any committee on which he served, except Mr. Pfander who missed
one of three Board meetings since he was elected and Mr. Bloomberg who missed
five of the 17 meetings of the Board and Committees to which he was elected.
The Board has a Compensation/Pension Committee whose function is to review
executive compensation, including the grant of stock options under the Company's
Stock Incentive Plan, and matters relating to the Company's benefit plans. The
members of the Compensation/Pension Committee at the end of 2000 were Messrs.
Pflugfelder, DePerrior and Bloomberg. The Compensation/Pension Committee met
twice during 2000.
The Board has a Nominating Committee whose function is to select candidates
for nomination to the Board of Directors. The members of the Nominating
Committee at the end of 2000 were Messrs. Riedman, Bloomberg and DePerrior. The
Nominating Committee met once during 2000. While there is no formal procedure
established for stockholders to submit recommendations to the Nominating
Committee, the Nominating Committee will consider candidates whose names are
submitted to the Company.
The Board also has an Audit Committee whose members at the end of 2000 were
Messrs. Bloomberg, Harden and Pflugfelder. The Audit Committee met three times
during 2000. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Audit Committee reviews
the Company's policies and procedures for internal accounting and financial
controls with the Company's independent auditors and with management and also
reviews the degree of cooperation extended to the auditors by Company employees.
The Committee also reviews the results of the audit of the Company's year-end
financial statements and notes.
Other functions of the Audit Committee are to recommend the selection of
the Company's independent auditors and to approve any professional service
rendered by the independent auditors after considering whether providing such
service will affect the independence of the auditors.
On July 27, 2000 the Board of Directors adopted the Audit Committee Charter
which sets forth the Company's policies with respect to the role, independence
and responsibilities of Audit Committee members. A copy is attached to this
Proxy Statement as Exhibit A.
The Audit Committee Report to Stockholders is found in Proposal 2.
A Special Committee of the Board was appointed on November 18, 1999 to
consider, negotiate and vote upon an agreement with Riedman Corporation for the
purchase by the Company of the common stock of Penobscot Shoe Company which
Riedman Corporation had acquired in a cash tender offer. All of the members of
the Board other than James R. Riedman, President of Riedman Corporation, and
Greg Tunney, President of the Company, were appointed to the Special Committee.
The Special Committee met five times, including meetings with independent
counsel. A Stock Purchase Agreement was unanimously approved by the Committee
and signed by the Company and Riedman Corporation on February 10, 2000. See
"Certain Relationships and Related Transactions."
Compensation Of Directors
Each Director receives a $500 fee for each meeting of the Board of
Directors attended. In addition, each Director who is not an officer of the
Company receives a $500 fee for each meeting of a committee of the Board
attended ($650 in the case of the committee chairman). Directors who are not
officers of the Company were also paid an annual retainer of $2,500 in 2000. On
February 16, 2001 the Board increased the annual retainer for non-employee
directors to $5,000 in cash (payable at the rate of $625 per quarter commencing
January 1, 2001) and an option to purchase $5,000 worth of shares to be granted
at the annual meeting of directors, commencing in 2001 (the exercise price being
the market price of the Company's common shares on that date). The option
portion is subject to the stockholders' approval of the 2001 Long-Term Incentive
Plan set forth in Proposal 4. Fifty percent of the director options will vest
immediately and the balance will vest equally on the first and second
anniversary of the date of grant, if the optionholder continues to be a director
on those dates.
3
Security Ownership Of Certain Beneficial Owners And Management
The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
beneficial ownership of the Company's Common Stock by each beneficial owner
known by the Company to own 5% or more of the Common Stock, each current
Director, each nominee for Director, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
the four most highly compensated executive officers other than the CEO and all
Directors, nominees for Director and executive officers of the Company as a
group, as of August 6, 2001.
Shares of Percentage of
Common Stock Common Stock
Beneficially Beneficially
Name And Address Owned as of Owned as of
of Beneficial Owner August 6, 2001 August 6, 2001
-------------- -------------- --------------
Edward Bloomberg, Director ................................... 131,500(1) 6.9%
11 Turnagain Road
Kentfield, CA 94904
Michael J. Crew .............................................. 103,858(2) 5.5%
Investment Advisor
681 Falmouth Rd., Box C-2
Mashpee, MA 02649
Steven DePerrior, Director ................................... 527,631(8) *
Burke Group
10 East Street
Honeoye Falls, NY 14472
Gregory Harden, Director ..................................... 2,000 *
Harden Furniture
Mill Pond Way
McConnellsville, NY 13401
Wilhelm Pfander, Director .................................... 5,000(3) *
11273 Callaway Green Drive
Ft. Myers, FL 33913
Gary E. Pflugfelder, Director & Clerk ........................ 5,000(4) *
500 South Salina Street
Suite 320
Syracuse, NY 13202
James R. Riedman, Chairman & CEO ............................. 1,442,790(5) 59.1%
Riedman Corporation
45 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14064
Riedman Corporation .......................................... 601,355(6) 29.7%
45 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14604
Retirement Committee of the Daniel Green Company
Retirement Savings Partnership Plan ........................ 527,131 25.9%
450 North Main Street
Old Town, Maine 04468
Greg A. Tunney, President .................................... 57,109(7) 2.9%
Daniel Green Company
450 North Main Street
Old Town, Maine 04468
Robert Weedon, CFO & Treasurer ............................... -0- *
Daniel Green Company
450 North Main Street
Old Town, ME 04468
8 Officers and Directors as a Group........................... 1,643,899(1)(3) 66.8%
(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)
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* Less than 1%
4
(1) Includes 14,000 shares held by members of Mr. Bloomberg's family and 61,500
shares held by Mr. Bloomberg on behalf of clients in his capacity as an
investment advisor, as to which Mr. Bloomberg disclaims beneficial
ownership.
(2) Based upon information provided to the Company on a Schedule 13D filed on
August 10, 1998 and subsequent correspondence.
(3) Consists of 5,000 shares which Mr. Pfander has the option to purchase
provided the market price of the Company's common stock reaches certain
prices. See "Option Grants In Last Fiscal Year."
(4) Includes 500 shares owned by a family member, as to which Mr. Pflugfelder
disclaims beneficial ownership.
(5) Includes 25,000 shares which Mr. Riedman may purchase through exercise of a
stock option granted to him on April 11, 2001 in connection with a $750,000
loan to the Company which he can convert to 203,804 shares (included) and
50,000 shares which he may purchase through exercise of a stock option
granted to him on June 1, 2000 in connection with his guarantee of $1
million of the Company's bank debt. It also includes 601,355 shares
beneficially owned by Riedman Corporation, of which Mr. Riedman is a
shareholder, director and President, and the following shares of which Mr.
Riedman disclaims beneficial ownership: 7,700 shares owned by his children
and 527.131 shares owned by the Daniel Green Company Retirement Savings
Partnership Plan (the "Retirement Plan") of whose Retirement Committee, the
Plan fiduciary, Mr. Riedman is a member and shares the right to vote.
(6) Includes 25,000 shares that Riedman Corporation may purchase through
exercise of a stock option granted to it on July 29, 1997 in connection
with a bridge loan to the Company, 50,000 shares that Riedman Corporation
may purchase through exercise of a stock option granted to it on September
1, 1999 in connection with a guaranty provided for certain bank financing
for the Company, and 50,000 shares that Riedman Corporation may purchase
through exercise of a stock option granted to it on January 19, 2001, in
connection with a guaranty of additional bank financing provided to the
Company.
(7) Includes 50,000 shares which Mr. Tunney has the option to purchase provided
the market price of the Company's common stock reaches certain prices and
7,109 shares allocated to Mr. Tunney's account in the Company's Retirement
Savings Partnership Plan. See "Option Grants In Last Fiscal Year."
(8) Includes 527,131 shares owned by the Retirement Plan, of whose Retirement
Committee, the Plan fiduciary, Mr. DePerrior is a member and shares the
right to vote.
Executive Officers of the Company
In addition to Mr. Riedman, Mr. Tunney and Mr. Pfander who are also
directors, Robert Weedon, age 46, served as an executive officer of the Company
during 2000. He became Chief Financial Officer of the Company on November 1,
2001. For more than five years prior thereto, Mr. Weedon was Business Systems
Manager for Reebok International Ltd.
Compensation of Executive Officers During 2000
The following information concerning annual and long-term compensation is
furnished for the years 1998, 1999 and 2000 with respect to the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company and each executive officer of the Company who received
compensation for 2000 which exceeded $100,000.
Summary Compensation Table
Long-Term
Compensation
Annual Compensation Other Securities
-------------------- Annual Underlying
Name and Principal Position Year Salary Bonus Compensation Options
-------------------- ---- -------- ----- ---------- ----------
James R. Riedman........................ 2000 $ 25,000 -0- (1) -0-(2)
(CEO since June, 1996) 1999 $ 25,000 -0- (1) -0-(2)
1998 $ 25,000 -0- (1) -0-
Greg A. Tunney ......................... 2000 $178,675 -0- (1) 50,000 Shares
(President and COO 1999 $165,843 -0- (1) -0-
since April 1998) 1998 $119,400 -0- (1) -0-
Wilhelm Pfander ........................ 2000 $ 99,900 -0- (1) 5,000 Shares(3)
(Senior VP-Sourcing &
Product Development)
----------
(1) Other annual compensation, if any, did not exceed the lesser of $50,000 or
10% of salary and bonus.
(2) Options for 50,000 shares each were granted in 1999 and 2000 to Riedman
Corporation of which James R. Riedman is President, in connection with
guaranties provided by Riedman Corporation for certain bank financing for
the Company.
(3) The Company has also entered into a deferred compensation agreement with
Mr. Pfander whereby it will pay him $100,000 during the first year
following his retirement after age 65.
5
Option Grants In Last Fiscal Year
Percent of Total
Number of Shares Options Granted to
Underlying Employees Exercise of Base
Name Options Granted in Fiscal Year Price ($/Share) Expiration Date
---- ---------------- ------------------ ---------------- ---------------
Gregg Tunney, President ............... 50,000 68% $3.56 10/25/10
Wilhelm Pfander, VP ................... 5,000 7% 3.56 10/25/10
Mr. Tunney's option was granted in exchange for his surrender of an option
for the same number of shares granted to him on April 1, 1998. The earlier
option had an exercise price of $4.50 per share which, in keeping with the
provisions of the Company's Stock Incentive Plan, was $1.00 more than the market
price of the Company's common stock on the date of grant. As explained in
Proposal 4, the Board of Directors determined that the exercise price formula of
the Plan prevented the Company from realizing the full benefit of option grants
to employees and future employees. Thus, it amended the Plan to provide that the
exercise price would be equal to the market value on date of grant and awarded a
new option for 50,000 shares to Mr. Tunney at $3.56, the market price on October
26, 2000. The grant was on condition a) that the stockholders approved the
amendment and b) that Mr. Tunney surrender his existing option. The option which
Mr. Tunney will surrender if Proposal 4 is approved vested upon the Company's
common stock reaching certain market prices as follows: 50% at $5.50, 75% at
$6.50 and 100% at $7.50. The new option vests 50% at $4.50, 75% at $5.50, and
100% at $6.50.
Mr. Pfander's option was granted in exchange for his surrender of an option
for the same number of shares granted to him on April 6, 2000 which had an
exercise price of $4.75, one dollar more than the market price of the Company's
stock on that date. The option vests on the same terms as does Mr. Tunney's new
option described above.
None of the options granted has been exercised. The market value of the
Company's stock at December 31, 2000 was $3.86. Thus, the options granted to
Messrs. Tunney and Pfander were not exercisable (not having vested).
Nevertheless, the difference between the market price at year end and the
exercise price (i.e., $.30) multiplied by the number of shares subject to their
options produces a "value" for the options of $15,000 for Mr. Tunney and $1,500
for Mr. Pfander.
(See below, "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions" for
information with respect to options granted in 1999 and 2001 to Riedman
Corporation of which James R. Riedman, CEO of Daniel Green, is President.)
Certain Relationships And Related Transactions
Riedman Corporation, a holding company which, until January, 2000, included
a commercial insurance agency, obtained property and casualty insurance for the
Company. During 1998, 1999 and 2000, the Company paid approximately $272,102,
$234,700 and $162,569, respectively, for such insurance coverage. Riedman
Corporation's total fees in connection with these transactions were less than
approximately $26,000 for 1998, $21,476 for 1999 and $30,000 for 2000.
Riedman Corporation entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with the
Company dated February 10, 2000. Because James R. Riedman is both President and
director of Riedman Corporation and Chairman and CEO of the Company, the Board
of Directors appointed a Special Committee of all directors other than Mr.
Riedman and Greg A. Tunney, President of the Company, to consider, negotiate and
vote upon the Stock Purchase Agreement on behalf of the Company. The Agreement
provided for the sale by Riedman Corporation to the Company of all of the
outstanding stock of Penobscot Shoe Company ("Penobscot") for approximately
$17.8 million. Penobscot is a Maine corporation engaged in the design, importing
and sale of branded footwear to retailers.
Riedman Corporation acquired the Penobscot stock in a cash tender offer
(commenced October 12, 1999) and cash-out merger (concluded January 18, 2000).
Prior to the Riedman Corporation tender offer, the Company had negotiated
directly with Penobscot to conduct its own cash tender offer at $11.75 per
share. However, the Company was unable to secure necessary financing without the
guaranties of Riedman Corporation which determined that the terms proposed by
the bank were unacceptable. Accordingly, with the approval of the Company's
Board of Directors, Riedman Corporation proceeded to make the acquisition at the
same price per share.
The Special Committee of the Company's Board of Directors retained
independent legal counsel and an appraiser to advise it with respect to its
fiduciary obligations and the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement with Riedman
6
Corporation which, after negotiation, was unanimously approved by the Special
Committee. The Purchase Price reflects the sum of (a) $11.75 per share times the
number of shares of Penobscot acquired by Riedman Corporation in the tender
offer, (b) direct expenses incurred by Riedman Corporation including interest on
funds borrowed (the "Acquisition Loan") to fund the escrow agreement for all the
Penobscot shares' cash price and (c) a negotiated amount that the Special
Committee deemed reasonable. The balance of the Acquisition Loan escrow funds,
after payment of the tendered Penobscot shares, was paid over to Penobscot
together with interest earned while in escrow. Riedman Corporation then borrowed
$3 million from Penobscot to reduce the Acquisition Loan. This amount and
interest thereon were offset against the Purchase Price at closing.
The Company agreed to pay all Penobscot stockholders who dissented and
exercised appraisal rights the "fair value" of their shares under Maine law. It
also agreed to pay all remaining stockholders (those who neither tendered nor
dissented) $11.75 per share. In furtherance of these agreements, the Company
agreed to defend and indemnify Riedman Corporation, its officers, directors and
agents, from liability to Penobscot stockholders for claims arising after
closing the Stock Purchase Agreement which relate to acts or omissions of the
Company. Riedman Corporation made various customary representations and
warranties to the Company concerning both Penobscot and the conduct of the
tender offer and merger by Riedman Corporation.
In connection with the bank financing for its acquisition of Penobscot and
the dissenters' action, the Company twice required the guaranties of Riedman
Corporation. In consideration therefor, the Board of Directors (Mr. Riedman
abstaining) granted Riedman Corporation two options for 50,000 shares each to
purchase Daniel Green common stock for 10 years. The first was given on
September 1, 1999 and has an exercise price of $4.75 per share, $1.00 per share
more than the market price on that date. The second was given on January 19,
2001 and has an exercise price of $4.00 per share, the market price on that
date.
In order to assist the Company with its working capital requirements, Mr.
Riedman loaned the Company $750,000 on April 11, 2001. The note evidencing the
indebtedness is due in one year and is convertible into 203,804 shares of common
stock at $3.68, the market price of the stock on that date. At the same time,
Mr. Riedman was granted an option to purchase 25,000 shares for 10 years at
$3.68 per share. The Company's continuing cash requirements necessitated an
increase in the Company's bank line and on June 1, 2001 Mr. Riedman guaranteed a
portion thereof for which he was granted an option to purchase 50,000 shares for
10 years at $3.50 per share, the market price of the stock on that date.
On June 1, 2001 the Board of Directors of the Company and the Retirement
Committee of the Retirement Plan approved the Company's sale and the Plan's
purchase of 330,097 newly issued shares of common stock at $5.15 per share ($1.7
million aggregate) the "fair market price" determined by an independent
appraisal company. The shares will be allocated to the accounts of Retirement
Plan participants (Company employees) annually over seven years. The funds for
the purchase were transferred to the Retirement Plan from surplus funds
remaining after termination of the pension plan of the Company's subsidiary,
Penobscot Shoe Company. The Retirement Plan has the right for 120 days to
purchase up to 135,922 additional shares at the same price per share. Messrs.
Riedman and DePerrior are members of the Retirement Committee which has the
right to vote the Retirement Plan's shares which include 61,112 shares
previously acquired by the Retirement Plan, the 330,097 purchased on June 1 and
those it has the right to purchase, a total of 466,019.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company's
directors and executive officers and persons who hold more than 10% of its
Common Stock to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC")
reports of ownership and changes in ownership of Common Stock. Officers,
directors and greater-than-10% shareholders are required by SEC regulation to
furnish the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based solely on review of the copies of such reports furnished to the
Company or written representations that no other reports were required, the
Company believes that, with respect to its 2000 fiscal year, all filing
requirements applicable to the Company's officers, directors and
greater-than-10% shareholders were complied with, except that reports of the
following were not timely filed: Edward Bloomberg did not timely file a Form 4
Statement of Change in Beneficial Ownership with regard to the purchase of 2,000
shares and James Riedman did not timely file a Form 4 Statement of Change in
Beneficial Ownership with regard to the receipt of a note convertible to 203,804
shares and an option to purchase 25,000 shares.
PROPOSAL 2 -- RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF AUDITORS
The Company's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2000
were examined by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent certified public
accountants. Deloitte & Touche LLP (or a predecessor firm) has served as the
Company's independent auditors since 1973. The Board of Directors, on the
recommendation of the Audit Committee, has appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP as
the independent auditors of the Company for 2001, subject to ratification by the
stockholders.
A representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP will be present at the meeting to
answer questions and make a statement if he desires to do so.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the ratification of its
selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's independent auditors. In the
event that stockholders do not ratify the appointment, the appointment will be
reconsidered by the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors.
Report of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed with management the
Company's financial statements audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, ("Deloitte"),
the Company's independent auditors. It has also discussed with Deloitte the
matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards 61 including
the role of the auditor, the Company's significant accounting policies, the
methodology used by management in making significant accounting
7
estimates and the basis for the auditor's conclusions regarding the
reasonableness of those estimates, the methodology used by management in making
significant adjustments in the financial statements, any disagreements with
management over the application of accounting principles, the basis for
management's accounting estimates and the disclosures in the financial
statements, any difficulties encountered in performing the audit, and certain
other matters. Deloitte has provided the Committee with the written disclosures
and letter required by Independent Standards Board Statement No. 1 and the
Committee has discussed with Deloitte, Deloitte's independence. Based on the
review and discussions mentioned, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board
of Directors that the audited financial statements be included in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for 2000 for filing with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
Respectfully submitted,
The Audit Committee
Edward Bloomberg
Gregory Harden
Gary Pflugfelder
Audit Fees
The aggregate fees billed by Deloitte for professional services rendered
for the audit of the Company's annual financial statements for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2000 and for the reviews of the financial statements included
in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB ("Audit Fees") for that fiscal
year were $98,900.
Financial Information Systems Design and Implementation Fees
Deloitte did not perform professional services for information technology
services relating to financial information systems design and implementation
("IT Fees") for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000.
All Other Fees
The aggregate fees billed by Deloitte for services rendered to the Company,
other than the services for which "Audit Fees" and "IT Fees" were charged for
the fiscal year ended December 31,2000 were $10,500.
The Audit Committee has considered whether the provision of non-audit
services is compatible with maintaining the principal accountant's independence.
PROPOSAL 3 -- AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION
TO INCREASE AUTHORIZED SHARES
The Company is presently authorized to issue 4,000,000 shares of common
stock, par value $2.50 per share. As of July 24, 2001 there were 1,901,413
shares of common stock issued and outstanding, 100,000 shares reserved for
issuance under the Company's Stock Incentive Plan (of which options for 65,500
shares have been granted), 125,000 reserved for issuance under options to
Riedman Corporation and 278,804 shares reserved for options and conversion
rights held by Mr. Riedman. The 2001 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Proposal 4 below)
calls for 300,000 shares to be reserved, replacing the 100,000 reserved under
the Stock Incentive Plan. The Company's Rights Plan of February 9, 1996 requires
the reservation of _____________ shares.
On February 16, 2001 the Board of Directors adopted a resolution, subject
to stockholder approval at the Annual Meeting on April 26, 2001, to amend the
Company's Articles of Organization to increase the number of authorized shares
from 4,000,000 to 6,000,000. The affirmative vote of holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares is required to adopt the proposed amendment set forth in
Exhibit B attached hereto. If approved by the stockholders, the amendment will
take effect on September 7, 2001.
The purpose of the amendment is to provide the Company with additional
shares of common stock which may be made available for future financing and
acquisition transactions, stock dividends or splits, employee benefit plans and
other general corporate purposes. If the amendment is approved, the Company also
will have generally greater flexibility in the future to issue shares in excess
of those presently authorized, without the expense and delay of a special
stockholders' meeting.
Except in connection with its stock option plans discussed below, the
Company currently has no arrangements or understandings for the reservation or
issuance of additional shares of common stock and no holder of common
8
stock has any preemptive right with respect to the common stock. If the Board
deems it in the best interests of the Company and the stockholders to issue
additional shares of common stock in the future, the Board generally would not
seek further authorization by vote of the stockholders, unless such
authorization is otherwise required by applicable law or regulations.
Should the Board desire to issue additional shares of common stock in the
future, such issuance of additional shares could dilute the voting power of a
person seeking control of the Company, thereby deterring or rendering more
difficult a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or an extraordinary corporate
transaction opposed by the Company's Board of Directors. The Company has no
knowledge that any person intends to effect such a transaction.
The Board recommends a vote FOR adoption of the proposal.
PROPOSAL 4 -- AMENDMENT OF THE COMPANY'S
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN AND APPROVAL OF ITS
REPLACEMENT, THE 2001 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
The Company's Stock Incentive Plan provides that the exercise price of
options awarded under the Plan shall be $1.00 more than the market price of the
Company's common stock on the date the option is granted. The Board of Directors
concluded that this premium was a substantial detriment to the attractiveness of
options awarded to employees and potential employees. Thus, on October 26, 2000
the Board of Directors adopted a resolution, subject to stockholder approval at
the Annual Meeting on September 6, 2001, to amend the Stock Incentive Plan to
provide that exercise price of options awarded under the Plan shall be equal to
the market value of the Company's common stock on the date the option is granted
(the "Exercise Price Amendment").
At the same time the Board approved the grant of options at the then market
price of its common stock to holders of existing options to purchase 65,500
shares, provided that they surrendered their existing options. In each instance
the exercise price on the new option ($3.56) is less than that for the existing
option ($4.75). The grant of the new options is subject to the stockholders'
approval of the Exercise Price Amendment to the existing Stock Incentive Plan.
The Exercise Price Amendment occasioned a review of the Stock Incentive
Plan and the Company's entire method of dealing with long-term incentives. As a
result the Board of Directors, on February 16, 2001, adopted, subject to
stockholder approval, a replacement plan called the 2001 Long-Term Plan (the
"Plan"), a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit C. Under the Plan, awards
may be made to existing and future officers, other employees, consultants and
directors of the Company or its subsidiaries from time to time. The Plan is
intended to promote the long-term financial interests and growth of the Company
by providing its employees, officers, directors and consultants with appropriate
incentives and rewards to enter into and continue in the employ of, or their
relationship with, the Company. Plan awards create for participants a
proprietary interest in the long-term success of the Company and provide
incentive to the performance of individual officers, other employees,
consultants and directors in fulfilling their responsibilities for long-range
achievements.
The Board of Directors or the compensation committee (both of which are
referred to below as the "committee"), will make recommendations for grants
under the Plan from among those eligible persons who hold positions of
responsibility and whose performance, in the judgment of the committee, has a
significant effect on the Company's success.
Under the Plan 300,000 shares of common stock are available for awards and
have been reserved from authorized common stock. As of July 24, 2001, there were
outstanding options to purchase 65,500 shares of common stock. Options to
purchase additional shares will be granted to the outside (non-employee)
directors at the annual meeting if the Plan is approved by stockholders (see
above, Proposal 1 -- Election of Directors -- Compensation of Directors).
The Plan provides for the grant of stock options, stock appreciation
rights, stock awards and cash awards. Stock options may be incentive stock
options that comply with Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended ("Code") or non-qualified stock options. Future allocation of awards
under the Plan is not currently determinable as the allocation is dependent upon
future decisions to be made by the committee in its sole discretion, and the
applicable provisions of the Plan.
Stock options may be granted at exercise prices that are no less than 100%
of the fair market value of the Company's common shares on the date of the
grant. The exercise price of any stock option may, at the discretion of
9
the committee, be paid in cash or by surrendering shares or another award under
the Plan, valued at fair market value on the date of exercise, or any
combination of cash or stock.
Stock appreciation rights are rights to receive, without payment to Daniel
Green, cash or shares of Company common stock with a value determined by
reference to the difference between the exercise or strike price of the stock
appreciation rights and the fair market value or other specified valuation of
the shares at the time of exercise. Stock appreciation rights may be granted in
tandem with stock options or separately.
Stock awards may consist of shares of Daniel Green common stock or be
denominated in units of shares of common stock. A stock award may provide for
voting rights and dividend equivalent rights. Stock awards may be granted at no
less than 100% of the fair market value of Daniel Green common shares on the
date of the grant.
The committee may specify conditions for awards, including vesting service
and performance conditions. Vesting conditions may include, without limitation,
provision for acceleration in the case of a change-in-control of the Company,
and performance conditions may include, without limitation, conditions based on
achievement of specific business objectives, increases in specified indices and
attaining specified growth measures or rates.
An award may provide for the granting or issuance of additional,
replacement or alternative awards upon the occurrence of specified events,
including the exercise of the original award.
An award may provide for a tax gross-up payment to a participant if a
change-in-control of the Company results in the participant owing an excise tax
or other tax above the rate ordinarily applicable, due to the parachute tax
provisions of Section 280G of the Code or otherwise. The gross-up payment would
be in an amount so that the net amount received by the participant, after paying
the increased tax and any additional taxes on the additional amount, would be
equal to that receivable by the participant if the increased tax were not
applicable.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR approval of the Exercise Price
Amendment and the 2001 Long-Term Incentive Plan which will replace the existing
Stock Incentive Plan.
PROPOSALS FOR NEXT ANNUAL MEETING
A stockholder proposal submitted for inclusion in the proxy and proxy
statement relating to the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company
must be received by the Company no later than December 1, 2001.
STOCKHOLDERS OF RECORD AS OF THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON JULY 24, 2001 AND
BENEFICIAL OWNERS OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK ARE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE A COPY
WITHOUT CHARGE OF THE COMPANY'S 2000 ANNUAL REPORT TO THE SEC ON FORM 10-KSB.
STOCKHOLDERS WHO WISH TO RECEIVE A COPY OF THIS REPORT SHOULD WRITE TO: ROBERT
WEEDON, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, DANIEL GREEN COMPANY, 450 NORTH MAIN STREET,
OLD TOWN, MAINE 04468.
GARY E. PFLUGFELDER, Clerk
August 6, 2001
EXHIBITS Attached
A. Audit Committee Charter
B. Amendment of Articles of Organization
C. 2001 Long-Term Incentive Plan
10
EXHIBIT A
Audit Committee Charter
This charter for the Daniel Green Company ("the Company") shall be
reviewed, updated and approved annually by the Company's board of directors
("the board").
Role and Independence
The audit committee of the board of directors assists the board in
fulfilling its responsibility for oversight of the quality and integrity of the
accounting, auditing and reporting practices of the Company and other such
duties as directed by the board. The membership of the committee shall consist
of at least three directors who are generally knowledgeable in financial and
auditing matters, including at least one member with accounting or related
financial management expertise. Each member shall be free of any relationship
that, in the opinion of the board, would interfere with his or her individual
exercise of independent judgment, and shall meet the director independence
requirements for serving on audit committees as set forth in the corporate
governance standards of NASDAQ. The committee is expected to maintain free and
open communication (including private executive sessions at least annually) with
the independent accountants and the management of the Company. In discharging
this oversight role, the committee is empowered to investigate any matter
brought to its attention, with full power to retain outside counsel or other
experts for this purpose.
The board of directors shall appoint one member of the audit committee as
chairperson. He or she shall be responsible for leadership of the committee,
including preparing the agenda, presiding over the meetings, making committee
assignments and reporting to the board of directors. The chairperson will also
maintain regular liaison with the CEO, CFO and the lead independent audit
partner.
Responsibilities
The audit committee's primary responsibilities include:
o Recommending to the board the independent accountants to be selected
or retained to audit the financial statements of the Company. In so
doing, the committee will request from the auditor written affirmation
that the auditor is in fact independent, discuss with the auditor any
relationships that may impact the auditor's independence, and
recommend to the board any actions necessary to oversee the auditors'
independence.
o Overseeing the independent auditors relationship by discussing with
the auditor the nature and rigor of the audit process, receiving and
reviewing audit reports, and providing the auditor full access to the
committee (and the board) to report any and all appropriate matters.
o Reviewing the audited financial statements and discussing them with
management and the independent auditor. These discussions shall
include consideration of the quality of the Company's accounting
principles as applied in its financial reporting, including review of
estimates, reserves and accruals, review of judgmental areas, review
of audit adjustments whether or not recorded and such other inquiries
as may be appropriate. Based on the review, the committee shall make
its recommendation to the board as to the inclusion of the Company's
audited financial statements in the Company's annual report on Form
10-KSB or Form 10-K, whichever is applicable.
o Reviewing with management and the independent auditor the quarterly
financial information prior to the Company's filing of Form 10-QSB or
Form 10-Q, whichever is applicable. This review may be performed by
the committee or its chairperson.
o Discussing with management and the external auditors the quality and
adequacy of the Company's internal controls. Particular emphasis will
be on controls over acquisition related activities and inventory
valuation.
o Discussing with management the status of banking relationships and
related debt agreements, pending litigation, taxation matters and
other areas of oversight to the legal and compliance area as may be
appropriate.
o Reporting audit committee activities to the full board and issuing
annually a report to be included in the proxy statement (including
appropriate oversight conclusions) for submission to the shareholders.
A-1
EXHIBIT B
Amendment of Articles of Organization
RESOLVED, that the Articles of Organization of Daniel Green Company be
amended to increase the authorized capital stock from $10,000,000 consisting of
4,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $2.50 par value, to $15,000,000, consisting of
6,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $2.50 par value.
B-1
EXHIBIT C
2001 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
OF
DANIEL GREEN COMPANY
1. Objective. The objective of the 2001 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the
"Plan") of DANIEL GREEN COMPANY, a Massachusetts corporation (the "Company"), is
to advance the interests of the Company and its stockholders by providing a
means to attract and retain officers and other key employees to the Company and
its Subsidiaries (hereinafter defined) and to reward the performance of
officers, other employees, consultants and directors for fulfilling their
responsibilities for long-range achievements. These objectives are to be
accomplished by making awards under the Plan to Participants (as hereinafter
defined) that provide them with a proprietary interest in the growth and
performance of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
2. Definitions. As used herein, the terms set forth below shall have the
meanings ascribed thereto below:
"Affiliate" means an affiliate of the Company as defined in Rule 12b-2
promulgated under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.
"Award" means the grant of any form of stock option, stock appreciation
right, stock award, cash award or other rights or interests, whether granted
singly, in combination or in tandem, by the Company to a Participant under this
Plan.
"Award Agreement" means any written agreement, contract, notice or other
instrument or document evidencing an Award.
"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Change of Control" means the occurrence of any one of the following
events:
(a) any person or entity other than Riedman Corporation or any
affiliate of Riedman Corporation (including James R. Riedman or any entity
controlled by him) is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in
Section 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), directly or
indirectly, of securities of the Company (not including in the securities
beneficially owned by such person any securities acquired directly from the
Company or any of its affiliates (as defined in SEC Rule 12b-2))
representing thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the combined voting power
of the Company's then outstanding voting securities;
(b) the following individuals cease for any reason to constitute a
majority of the number of directors then serving: individuals who, on the
effective date of this Plan (the "Effective Date"), constitute the
Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") and any new Director (other than
a director whose initial assumption of office is in connection with an
actual or threatened election contest, including, but not limited to, a
consent solicitation, relating to the election of directors of the Company)
whose appointment or election by the Board or nomination for election by
the Company's stockholders was approved or recommended by a vote of at
least two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors then still in office who either
were directors on the Effective Date or whose appointment, election or
nomination for election was previously so approved or recommended;
(c) there is consummated a merger or consolidation of the Company or
any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company with any other
corporation, other than (i) a merger or consolidation which would result in
the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
converted into voting securities of the surviving or parent entity) more
than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting
securities of the Company or such surviving or parent entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation or (ii) a merger or
consolidation effected to implement a recapitalization of the Company (or
similar transaction) in which no person, directly or indirectly, acquired
thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the combined voting power of the
Company's then outstanding securities (not including in the securities
beneficially owned by such person any securities acquired directly from the
Company or its affiliates); or
(d) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete
liquidation of the Company or there is consummated an agreement for the
sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets (or any transaction having a similar effect), other than a
sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the
Company's assets to an entity, at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined
voting power
C-1
of the voting securities of which are owned by stockholders of the Company
in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the Company
immediately prior to such sale.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time. References to any provision of the Code shall be deemed to include
regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.
"Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board; the composition
of the committee shall at all times satisfy the provisions of Section 162(m) of
the Code and the requirements of Section 14(c) of this Plan.
"Common Stock" means the common stock, par value $2.50 per share (or $1.25
per share if the Amendment to the Articles of Organization of the Company
reducing par value to $1.25 has been approved by the stockholders) of the
Company.
"Director" means an individual serving as a member of the Board.
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from
time to time. References to any provision of the Exchange Act shall be deemed to
include rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.
"Fair Market Value" means, with respect to Common Stock, Awards or other
property, as of a particular date, (i) if the Common Stock is listed on a
national securities exchange, the closing sales price per share of Common Stock
on the consolidated transaction reporting system for the principal such national
securities exchange on that date, or, if there shall have been no such sale so
reported on that date, on the last preceding date on which such a sale was so
reported, (ii) if the Common Stock is not so listed, but is quoted in the Nasdaq
National Market System, the closing sales price per share of Common Stock on the
Nasdaq National Market System on that date, or, if there shall have been no such
sale so reported on that date, on the last preceding date on which such a sale
was so reported, (iii) if the Common Stock is not so listed or quoted, the mean
between the closing bid and asked price on that date, or, if there are no
quotations available for such date, on the last preceding date on which such
quotations shall be available, as reported by Nasdaq, or, if not reported by
Nasdaq, by the National Quotation Bureau, Inc.
"Incentive Stock Option" or "ISO" means an option that is intended to be
and is designated as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section
422 of the Code, or any successor provision.
"Non-Qualified Stock Option" or "NQO" means an option that is not intended
to qualify as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section 422 of
the Code, or any successor provision.
"Participant" means any eligible person described in Section 3 of the Plan
to whom an Award has been made under this Plan and his or her successors, heirs,
executors and administrators, as the case may be.
"Pricing Date" means the date on which an Award consisting of an option or
stock appreciation right is granted, except that the Committee may provide that
(i) the Pricing Date is the date on which the recipient is hired or promoted (or
similar event), if the grant of the option or stock appreciation right occurs
not more than 90 days after the date of such hiring, promotion or other event,
and (ii) if an Award consisting of an option or stock appreciation right is
granted in tandem with or in substitution for an outstanding option or stock
appreciation right, the Pricing Date is the date of grant of such outstanding
option or stock appreciation right.
"Subsidiary" means any corporation of which the Company directly or
indirectly owns shares representing more than 50% of the voting power of all
classes or series of capital stock of such corporation which have the right to
vote generally on matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of such
corporation.
3. Eligibility. Executive officers and other employees of the Company, its
parent or any of its Subsidiaries, including any officer or member of the Board
who is also such an employee, and persons who provide consulting or other
services to the Company deemed by the Board to be of substantial value to the
Company, and non-employee Directors are eligible to be granted Awards under the
Plan. In addition, persons who have been offered employment by the Company or
its Subsidiaries, and persons employed by an entity that the Board reasonably
expects to become a Subsidiary of the Company, are eligible to be granted an
Award under the Plan.
4. Stock Subject to the Plan.
(a) The total amount of Common Stock that may be subject to
outstanding Awards shall not exceed three hundred thousand (300,000) shares
of common stock.
C-2
(b) If an Award valued by referenced to Common Stock may only be
settled in cash, the number of shares to which such Award relates shall be
deemed to be Common Stock subject to such Award for purposes of this
Section 4. Any shares of Common Stock delivered pursuant to an Award may
consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares, treasury
shares or shares acquired in the market for a Participant's account.
(c) Except as provided in an Award Agreement, in the event that the
Committee shall determine that any dividend or other distribution (whether
in the form of cash, stock or other property), recapitalization, Common
Stock split, reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation,
spin-off, combination, repurchase or share exchange, or other similar
corporate transaction or event, affects the Common Stock such that an
adjustment is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of
the rights of holders of Awards under the Plan, then the Committee shall
make such equitable changes or adjustments as it deems necessary or
appropriate to any or all of (i) the number and kind of shares of Common
Stock or other property (including cash) that may thereafter be issued in
connection with Awards, (ii) the number and kind of shares of Common Stock
or other property (including cash) issued or issuable in respect of
outstanding Awards, (iii) the exercise price, grant price or purchase price
relating to any Award; provided that, with respect to Incentive Stock
Options, such adjustment shall be made in accordance with Section 424(h) of
the Code, (iv) any performance goals and (v) the individual limitations
applicable to Awards.
5. Administration. This Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which
shall have full and exclusive power to interpret this Plan and to adopt such
rules, regulations and guidelines and taking such actions as necessary for
carrying out this Plan as it may deem necessary or proper. Unless otherwise
provided in an Award Agreement with respect to a particular award, the Committee
may, in its discretion, provide for the extension of the exercisability of an
Award, accelerate the vesting or exercisability of an Award, eliminate or make
less restrictive any restrictions contained in an Award, waive any restriction
or other provision of this Plan or an Award or otherwise amend or modify an
Award in any manner that is either (i) not adverse to the Participant holding
such Award or (ii) consented to by such Participant. The Committee may correct
any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan or
in any Award in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or
desirable to carry it into effect. References in this Plan to "permitted by the
Committee" and words of similar import refer to authorization contained in the
original Award Agreement or an amendment thereto or to other action by the
Committee, whether of general or limited applicability or in connection with a
particular exercise, Award payment or other event. Any decision of the Committee
in the interpretation and administration of this Plan shall lie within its sole
and absolute discretion and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all
parties concerned. The express grant of any specific power to the Committee, and
the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be construed as limiting
any power or authority of the Committee.
Each member of the Committee shall be entitled, in good faith, to rely or
act upon any report or other information furnished to him by any officer or
other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary, the Company's independent
certified public accountants or any executive compensation consultant, legal
counsel or other professional retained by the Company or the Committee to assist
in the administration of the Plan. No member of the Committee nor officer or
employee of the Company to whom it has delegated authority in accordance with
the provisions of Section 6 of this Plan, shall be liable for anything done or
omitted to be done by him or her, by any member of the Committee or by any
officer of the Company in connection with the performance of any duties under
this Plan, except for his or her own willful misconduct or as expressly provided
by statute. The Company shall indemnify (to the extent permitted under
Massachusetts law) and hold harmless each member of the Committee and each other
director or employee of the Company to whom any duty or power relating to the
administration or interpretation of the Plan has been delegated against any cost
or expense (including counsel fees) or liability (including any amount paid in
settlement of a claim with the approval of the Committee) arising out of any
action, omission or determination relating to the Plan, unless, in either case,
such action, omission or determination was taken or made by such member,
director or employee without good faith or the reasonable belief that it was in
the best interests of the Company.
6. Delegation of Authority. The Committee may delegate to the Chief
Executive Officer and to other senior officers of the Company its duties under
this Plan pursuant to such conditions or limitations as the Committee may
establish, except that the Committee may not delegate to any person the
authority to grant Awards to, or take other action with respect to, Participants
who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
C-3
7. Awards. The Committee shall select persons to whom Awards may be
granted, determine the type or types of Awards to be made to each Participant
under this Plan, determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of
shares of Common Stock to which an Award will relate and determine all other
terms, conditions, restrictions and conditions, including achievement of
specific business objectives, increases in specified indices, attaining
specified growth rates and other comparable measurements of performance goals,
if any. Each Award made hereunder shall be embodied in an Award Agreement, which
shall contain such terms, conditions and limitations as shall be determined by
the Committee, in its sole discretion and consistent with the provisions hereof,
and shall be signed by the Participant and by the Chief Executive Officer, the
President or any Vice President of the Company for and on behalf of the Company.
Award Agreements and the forms contained therein need not be identical for each
Participant. By accepting an Award, a Participant thereby agrees that the Award
shall be subject to all of the terms and provisions of the Plan and the
applicable Award Agreement. Awards may consist of those listed in this Section
7. Awards may be made in combination or in tandem with, in replacement of, or as
alternatives to, Awards under this Plan or any other employee plan of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including any incentive or similar plan of
any acquired entity, or reload options automatically granted to offset specified
exercises of options. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which
an option may be exercised, in whole or in part, the method by which the
exercise price may be paid or deemed to be paid, the form of such payment,
including, without limitation, cash, Common Stock or other Awards or awards
granted under other the Company plans or other property (including notes or
other contractual obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred
basis, such as through "cashless exercise" arrangements, to the extent permitted
by applicable law), and the methods by which Common Stock will be delivered or
be deemed to be delivered to Participants. An Award may provide for the granting
or issuance of additional, replacement or alternative Awards upon the occurrence
of specified events, including the exercise of the original Award. An Award may
provide that to the extent that the acceleration of vesting or any payment made
to a Participant under this Plan in the event of a Change of Control of the
Company is subject to federal income, excise, or other tax at a rate above the
rate ordinarily applicable to like payments paid in the ordinary course of
business ("Penalty Tax"), whether as a result of the provisions of Sections 28OG
and 4999 of the Code, any similar or analogous provisions of any statute adopted
subsequent to the date hereof, or otherwise, then the Company shall be obligated
to pay such Participant an additional amount of cash (the "Additional Amount")
such that the net amount received by such Participant, after paying any
applicable Penalty Tax and any federal or state income tax on such Additional
Amount, shall be equal to the amount that such Participant would have received
if such Penalty Tax were not applicable.
(a) Stock Option. An Award may consist of an option to purchase a
specified number of shares of Common Stock at a specified exercise price
that is not less than the greater of (i) the Fair Market Value of the
Common Stock on the Pricing Date and (ii) the par value of the Common
Stock. The number of shares and exercise price shall be specified by the
Committee. A stock option may be in the form of an NQO or an ISO. In
addition to being subject to applicable terms, conditions and limitations
established by the Committee, an ISO shall comply with the requirement that
no ISO shall be granted with an exercise price less than 100% (110% for an
individual described in Section 422(b)(6) of the Code) of the Fair Market
Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of the grant and granted no
more than ten (10) years after the effective date of the Plan. Anything in
the plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of the Plan relating to
ISOs shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or
authority granted under the Plan be exercised, so as to qualify either the
Plan or any ISO under Section 422 of the Code unless so requested by the
affected Participant. Each option shall be clearly identified in the
applicable Award Agreement as either an ISO or an NQO.
(b) Stock Appreciation Right. An Award may consist of a right to
receive a payment, in cash or Common Stock, equal to the excess of the Fair
Market Value or other specified valuation of a specified number of shares
of Common Stock on the date the stock appreciation right ("SAR") is
exercised over a specified strike price determined by the Committee that
shall be set forth in the applicable Award Agreement. The Committee shall
determine the time or times at which an SAR may be exercised in whole or in
part, the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration
payable in settlement, method by which Common Stock will be delivered or be
deemed to be delivered to Participants, whether or not the SAR will be in
tandem with any other Award and any other terms and conditions of any SAR.
(c) Stock Award. An Award may consist of Common Stock or may be
denominated in units of Common Stock. All or part of any Award may be
subject to restrictions on transfer and other restrictions and conditions
established by the Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement, which
may include, but is not limited to, continuous service with the Company
and/or its Subsidiaries. Such Awards may be based on Fair Market
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Value or other valuations determined by the Committee. The certificates
evidencing shares of Common Stock issued in connection with an Award shall
contain appropriate legends and restrictions describing the terms and
conditions applicable thereto, the Company may retain physical possession
of the certificates and the Participant shall have delivered a stock power
to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Common Stock. Except to
the extent restricted under the terms of the Plan and any Award Agreement
relating to the Award, a Participant granted an Award shall have all of the
rights of a stockholder, including, without limitation, the right to vote
Common Stock issued as an Award or the right to receive dividends thereon.
(d) Cash Award. An Award may be denominated in cash with the amount of
the eventual payment subject to future service and such other restrictions
and conditions as may be established by the Committee, and set forth in the
Award Agreement, including, but not limited to, continuous service with the
Company and its Subsidiaries.
(e) Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee is authorized, subject to
limitations under applicable law, to grant such other Awards that may be
denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or
otherwise based on, or related to, Common Stock and factors that may
influence the value of Common Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be
consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including, without limitation,
convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or
exchangeable into Common Stock, purchase rights for Common Stock, Awards
with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or any
other factors designated by the Committee and Awards valued by reference to
the book value of Common Stock or the value of securities of or the
performance of specified Subsidiaries ("Other Stock Based Awards"). The
Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards. Stock
issued pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under
this Section 7(e) shall be purchased for such consideration, paid for at
such times, by such methods and in such forms, including, without
limitation, cash, Common Stock, other Awards or other property, as the
Committee shall determine.
(f) Loan Provisions. With consent of the Committee, and subject at all
times to, and only to the extent, if any, permitted under and in accordance
with, laws and regulations and other binding obligations or provisions
applicable to the Company, the Company may make, guarantee or arrange for a
loan or loans to a Participant with respect to the exercise of any option
or other payment in connection with any Award, including the payment by a
Participant of any or all federal, state or local income or other taxes due
in connection with any Award. Subject to such limitations, the Committee
shall have full authority to decide whether to make a loan or loans
hereunder and to determine the amount, terms and provisions of any such
loan or loans, including the interest rate to be charged in respect of any
such loan or loans, whether the loan or loans are to be paid with or
without recourse against the borrower, the terms on which the loan is to be
repaid and conditions, if any, under which the loan or loans may be
forgiven.
(g) Performance-Based Awards. The Committee may, in its discretion,
designate any Award the exercisability or settlement of which is subject to
the achievement of performance conditions as a performance-based Award
subject to this Section 7(g), in order to qualify such Award as "qualified
performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Code Section 162(m)
and regulations thereunder. The performance objectives for an Award subject
to this Section 7(g) shall consist of one or more business criteria, as
specified by the Committee, but subject to this Section 7(g). Performance
objectives shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of
Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code. The levels of performance required with
respect to such business criteria may be expressed in absolute or relative
levels. Achievement of performance objectives with respect to such Awards
shall be measured over a period of not less than one (1) year nor more than
five (5) years, as the Committee may specify. Performance objectives may
differ for such Awards to different Participants. The Committee shall
specify the weighting to be given to each performance objective for
purposes of determining the final amount payable with respect to any such
Award. The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of a payout
otherwise to be made in connection with an Award subject to this Section
7(g), but may not exercise discretion to increase such amount, and the
Committee may consider other performance criteria in exercising such
discretion. All determinations by the Committee as to the achievement of
performance objectives shall be in writing. The Committee may not delegate
any responsibility with respect to an Award subject to this Section 7(g).
(h) Acceleration Upon a Change of Control. Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, all conditions and/or restrictions
relating to the continued performance of services and/or the achievement of
performance objectives with respect to the exercisability or full enjoyment
of an Award shall immediately
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lapse upon a Change in Control, provided, however, that such lapse shall
not occur if (i) it is intended that the transaction constituting such
Change in Control be accounted for as a pooling of interests under
Accounting Principles Board Option No. 16 (or any successor thereto), and
operation of this Section 7(h) would otherwise violate Paragraph 47(c)
thereof, or (ii) the Committee, in its discretion, determines that such
lapse shall not occur, provided, further, that the Committee shall not have
the discretion granted in clause (ii) if it is intended that the
transaction constituting such Change in Control be accounted for as a
pooling of interests under Accounting Principles Board No. 16 (or any
successor thereto), and such discretion would otherwise violate Paragraph
47(c) thereof.
8. Payment of Awards.
(a) General. Payment required to be made by the Company pursuant to
Awards may be made in the form of cash or Common Stock or combinations
thereof and may include such restrictions as the Committee shall determine,
including in the case of Common Stock, restrictions on transfer and
forfeiture provisions.
(b) Deferral. With the approval of the Committee, payments may be
deferred, either in the form of installments or a future lump sum payment.
The Committee may permit selected Participants to elect to defer payments
of some or all types of Awards in accordance with procedures established by
the Committee. Any deferred payment, whether elected by the Participant or
specified by the Award Agreement or by the Committee, may be forfeited if
and to the extent that the Award Agreement so provides.
(c) Dividends and Interest. Dividends or dividend equivalent rights
may be extended to and made part of any Award denominated in Common Stock
or units of Common Stock, subject to such terms, conditions and
restrictions as the Committee may establish. Dividend equivalent rights may
be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another Award.
The Committee may provide that dividend equivalent rights shall be paid or
distributed when accrued or shall be deemed to be reinvested in additional
Common Stock, Awards or other investment vehicles, and subject to such
restrictions on transferability and risks of forfeiture, as the Committee
may specify. The Committee may establish rules and procedures for the
crediting of interest on deferred cash payments and dividend equivalents
for deferred payment denominated in Common Stock or units of Common Stock.
(d) Substitution of Awards. At the discretion of the Committee, a
Participant may be offered an election to substitute an Award for another
Award or Awards of the same or different type.
9. Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the right to deduct applicable
taxes from any Award payment and withhold, at the time of delivery or vesting of
cash or shares of Common Stock under this Plan, or from payroll or other
payments to the Participant, an appropriate amount of cash or number of shares
of Common Stock or a combination thereof for payment of taxes required by law or
to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Committee to
satisfy all obligations for withholding of such taxes. The Committee may also
permit withholding to be satisfied by the transfer to the Company of shares of
Common Stock theretofore owned by the holder of the Award with respect to which
withholding is required. If shares of Common Stock are used to satisfy tax
withholding, such shares shall be valued based on the Fair Market Value when the
tax withholding is required to be made.
10. Employment, Termination, Etc.
(a) Nothing contained in the Plan or any Award Agreement shall confer
upon any Participant any right with respect to the continuation of
employment or engagement by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, subject to the terms of any separate agreement to the
contrary, at any time to terminate such employment or service or to
increase or decrease the compensation of the Participant.
(b) No person shall have any claim or right to receive an Award
hereunder or require the Committee to make an Award at any time to any
Participant. The Committee's grant of an Award to a Participant at any time
shall neither require the Committee to grant any other Award to such
Participant or other person at any time or preclude the Committee from
making subsequent grants to such Participant or any other person.
(c) Upon the termination of employment or engagement of a Participant,
any unexercised, deferred or unpaid Awards shall be treated as provided in
the specific Award Agreement evidencing the Award. In the
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event of such a termination, the Committee may, in its discretion, provide
for the extension of the exercisability of an Award, accelerate the vesting
or exercisability of an Award, eliminate or make less restrictive any
restrictions contained in an Award, waive any restriction or other
provision of this Plan or an Award or otherwise amend or modify the Award
in any manner that is either (i) not adverse to such Participant or (ii)
consented to by such Participant.
11. Amendment, Modification, Suspension or Termination. The Board may
amend, modify, suspend, discontinue or terminate this Plan at any time for the
purpose of meeting or addressing any changes in legal requirements or for any
other purpose permitted by law except that (a) no amendment or alteration that
would impair the rights of any Participant under any Award previously granted to
such Participant shall be made without such Participant's consent and (b) no
amendment or alteration shall be effective prior to approval by the Company's
stockholders if and to the extent the Board determines that such approval is
appropriate for purposes of satisfying Section 162(m) or 422 of the Code or is
otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements. Awards may
be granted under the Plan prior to the receipt of such approval. The Board may
also modify, suspend, terminate, discontinue or limit the power and authority of
the Committee at any time. Except as required in Section 11(b) hereunder, unless
the Board determines otherwise, no stockholder approval shall be required before
any action taken by the Board pursuant to this Section 11 is effective. Nothing
herein shall restrict the Committee's ability to exercise its discretionary
authority pursuant to Section 5 which discretion may be exercised without
amendment to the Plan.
12. Transfer and Assignment.
(a) Awards and other rights under the Plan will not be transferable by
a Participant except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or to
a Beneficiary in the event of a Participant's death. Awards shall not be
pledged, mortgaged, hypothecated or otherwise encumbered, or otherwise
subject to the claims of creditors, and, in the case of ISOs and SARs in
tandem therewith, shall be exercisable during the lifetime of a Participant
only by such Participant or his guardian or legal representative; provided,
however, that such Awards and other rights (other than ISOs or SARs in
tandem therewith) may be transferred to one or more Beneficiaries during
the lifetime of the Participant to the extent and on such terms as then may
be permitted by the Committee.
(b) Upon the death of a Participant, outstanding Awards granted to
such Participant may be exercised only by the executor or administrator of
the Participant's estate or by a person who shall have acquired the right
to such exercise by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. No
transfer of an Award by will or the laws of descent and distribution shall
be effective to bind the Company unless the Committee shall have been
furnished with (i) written notice thereof and with a copy of the will
and/or such evidence as the Committee may deem necessary to establish the
validity of the transfer and (ii) an agreement by the transferee to comply
with all of the terms and conditions of the Award that are or would have
been applicable to the Participant and to be bound by the acknowledgements
made by the Participant in connection with the grant of the Award.
13. The Company's Right to Engage in Certain Transactions. The existence of
this Plan or outstanding Awards shall not affect in any manner the right or
power of the Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all
adjustments, recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the capital
stock of the Company or its business or any merger or consolidation of the
Company, or any issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock
(whether or not such issue is prior to, on a parity with or junior to the Common
Stock) or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer
of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or
proceeding of any kind, whether or not of a character similar to that of the
acts or proceedings enumerated above.
14. Securities Laws.
(a) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company shall
not be obligated to cause to be issued or delivered any certificates
evidencing Common Stock pursuant to the Plan unless and until the Company
is advised by its counsel that the issuance and delivery of such
certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of
governmental authority and the requirements of any securities exchange on
which shares of Common Stock are traded. The Company, however, shall be
under no obligation to effect the registration pursuant to the Securities
Act of any interests in the Plan or any Stock to be issued hereunder or to
effect similar compliance under any state laws. The Committee may require,
as a condition of the issuance and delivery of certificates evidencing
shares of Common Stock, that the Participant to whom such shares will be
issued make
C-7
such agreements and representations, and that such certificates bear such
legends, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or
desirable.
(b) The transfer of any shares of Common Stock hereunder shall be
effective only at such time as counsel to the Company shall have determined
that the issuance and delivery of such shares of Common Stock is in
compliance with all applicable laws, regulations of governmental authority
and the requirements of any securities exchange on which shares of Common
Stock are traded or quoted. The Committee may, in its sole discretion,
defer the effectiveness of any transfer of Common Stock hereunder in order
to allow the issuance of such Common Stock to be made pursuant to
registration or an exemption from registration or other methods for
compliance available under federal or state securities laws. The Committee
shall inform the Participant in writing of its decision to defer the
effectiveness of a transfer. During the period of such deferral in
connection with the exercise of an Option, the Participant may, by written
notice, withdraw such exercise and obtain the refund of any amount paid
with respect thereto.
(c) The grant of Awards to persons who are required to file reports
under Section 16(a) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
shall be determined by a body constituted in accordance with, and to the
extent required by, Rule 16b-3 promulgated under said Act.
15. Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts. The Plan is intended to
constitute an "unfunded" plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With
respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant pursuant to an Award,
nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall give any such Participant any
rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company;
provided, however, that the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or
make other arrangements to meet the Company's obligations under the Plan to
deliver cash, Common Stock, other Awards or other property pursuant to any
Award, which trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the
"unfunded" status of the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines with the
consent of each affected Participant.
16. Notification of Election Under Section 83(b) of the Code. If any
Participant shall, in connection with the acquisition of Common Stock under the
Plan, make the election permitted under Section 83(b) of the Code (i.e., an
election to include in gross income in the year of transfer the amounts
specified in Section 83(b)), such Participant shall notify the Company of such
election within ten (10) days of filing notice of the election with the Internal
Revenue Service, in addition to any filing and a notification required pursuant
to regulation issued under the authority of Section 83(b) of the Code.
17. Notification Upon Disqualifying Disposition Under Section 421(b) of the
Code. Each Participant shall notify the Company of any disposition of Common
Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of an ISO under the circumstances
described in Section 421(b) of the Code (relating to certain disqualifying
dispositions), within ten (10) days of such disposition.
18. Participant Rights. No Participant shall have any claim to be granted
any award under the Plan, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment
for Participants. Except as provided specifically herein, a Participant or a
transferee of an Award shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any
shares of Common Stock covered by any Award until the date of the issuance of a
certificate or certificates to him or her for such shares of Common Stock.
19. Beneficiary. A Participant may file with the Committee a written
designation of a Beneficiary on such form as may be prescribed by the Committee
and may, from time to time, amend or revoke such designation. If no designated
Beneficiary survives the Participant, the executor or administrator of the
Participant's estate shall be deemed to be the grantee's Beneficiary.
20. Interpretation. The Plan is designed and intended to comply with Rule
16b-3 and, to the extent applicable, shall constitute "qualified performance
based compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, and all
provisions hereof shall be construed in a manner to so comply. Accordingly, if
any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement does not comply or is
inconsistent with the requirement of Code Section 162(m), such provision shall
be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such
requirements, and no provision shall be deemed to confer upon the Committee or
any other person discretion to increase the amount of compensation otherwise
payable in connection with any Awards upon attainment of the performance
objectives.
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21. Severability. If any provision of the Plan is held to be invalid or
unenforceable, the other provisions of the Plan shall not be affected but shall
be applied as if the invalid or unenforceable provision had not been included in
the Plan.
22. Expenses and Receipts. The expenses of the Plan shall be paid by the
Company. Any proceeds received by the Company in connection with any Award will
be used for general corporate purposes.
23. Failure to Comply. In addition to the remedies of the Company elsewhere
provided for herein, failure by a Participant (or Beneficiary) to comply with
any of the terms and conditions of the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement,
unless such failure is remedied by such Participant (or Beneficiary or other
person) within ten (10) days after notice of such failure by the Committee,
shall be grounds for the cancellation and forfeiture of such Award, in whole or
in part, as the Committee, in its absolute discretion, may determine.
24. Non-Exclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the
Board nor its submission to the Company's stockholders for approval shall be
construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such
other compensatory arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without
limitation, the granting of stock options otherwise than under the Plan, and
such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.
25. No Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be
issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award. 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.
26. Governing Law. This Plan and all determinations made and actions taken
pursuant hereto, to the extent not otherwise governed by mandatory provisions of
the Code or the securities laws of the United States, shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or,
if the Company is reincorporated in another state while the Plan is in effect,
the laws of that state.
27. Effective Date of Plan. This Plan shall be effective on February 16,
2001, provided the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company at
the Annual Meeting to be held on April 26, 2001. Unless earlier terminated by
the Board, the right to grant Awards under the Plan will terminate on the tenth
(10th) anniversary of the Effective Date. Awards outstanding at Plan termination
will remain in effect according to their terms and the provisions of the Plan.
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