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As filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 25, 2009
Registration
No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT
UNDER
THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Charter Communications,
Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)
Delaware |
|
43-1857213 |
(State or
other jurisdiction of incorporaton or organization) |
|
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) |
12405 Powerscourt Drive |
|
|
St. Louis,
Missouri |
|
63131 |
(Address of
Principal Executive Offices) |
|
(Zip
Code) |
Charter
Communications, Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan
(Full
title of the plan)
Gregory
L. Doody
Chief
Restructuring Officer and General Counsel
Charter
Communications, Inc.
12405
Powerscourt Drive
St.
Louis, Missouri 6313
Telephone:
(314) 965-0555
(Name,
address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for
service)
Copy to:
Christian
O. Nagler, Esq.
Kirkland
& Ellis LLP
601
Lexington Avenue
New
York, New York 10022
Telephone:
(212) 446-4800
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See
the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller
reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated filer o
|
Accelerated
filer x
|
Non-accelerated
filer o
(Do
not check if a smaller reporting company)
|
Smaller
reporting company o
|
CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title
of securities to be
registered
(1)
|
|
Amount
to be
registered
(2)
|
|
Proposed
maximum
offering
price per
share
(3)
|
|
|
Proposed
maximum
aggregate
offering
price
(3)
|
|
|
Amount
of
registration
fee
|
|
Class
A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
|
|
3,848,393
shares
|
|
$ |
19.37 |
|
|
$ |
74,543,372 |
|
|
$ |
4,185 |
|
Total
|
|
3,848,393
shares
|
|
$ |
19.37 |
|
|
$ |
74,543,372 |
|
|
$ |
4,185 |
|
(1)
|
The
Class A Common Stock, par
value $0.001 per share registered hereby is the Class A Common Stock, par
value $0.001 per share of Charter Communications, Inc. that will be deemed
authorized after giving effect the Joint Plan of Reorganization of
Charter Communications, Inc. and its Affiliate Debtors, as confirmed by
the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York on November 17,
2009.
|
(2)
|
Pursuant
to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities Act”), this Registration Statement shall also cover any
additional shares of common stock of the Registrant which become issuable
under the 2009 stock incentive plan being registered pursuant to this
Registration Statement by reason of certain corporate transactions or
events, including any stock dividend, stock split, recapitalization or any
other similar transaction effected without the receipt of consideration
which results in an increase in the number of our outstanding shares of
common stock.
|
(3)
|
Estimated
solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance
with Rule 457(h)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933 and based on the
value attributed to the common stock on the date of the Company’s
emergence from bankruptcy pursuant to the Joint Plan of Reorganization of
Charter Communications, Inc. and its Affiliate Debtors, as confirmed by
the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York on November 17,
2009.
|
PART
I
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
Item
1.
|
Plan
Information.
|
The
documents containing the information specified in Part I will be delivered in
accordance with Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act. Such
documents are not required to be, and are not, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), either as part of this Registration
Statement or as prospectuses or prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424
under the Securities Act. These documents, and the documents
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement pursuant to Item 3 of
Part II of this Form S-8, taken together, constitute a prospectus that meets the
requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act.
Item
2.
|
Registrant
Information and Employee Plan Annual
Information.
|
Upon
written or oral request, any of the documents incorporated by reference to
Item 3 of Part II of this Registration Statement (which documents are also
incorporated by reference in the Section 10(a) prospectus), other documents
required to be delivered to eligible participants pursuant to Rule 428(b) under
the Securities Act and additional information about the 2009 stock incentive
plan are available without charge by contacting:
Vice President, Associate General
Counsel and Corporate Secretary
12405 Powerscourt
Drive
St. Louis, Missouri
63131
(314)
965-0555
PART
II
INFORMATION
REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item
3.
|
Incorporation of
Documents by Reference.
|
The
following documents, which have been filed by Charter Communications, Inc. (the
“Company”) with the Commission, are incorporated in this Registration Statement
by reference:
(a) The
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2008, filed on March 16, 2009, as amended; and
(b) All other
reports filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), since December
31, 2008.
All
reports and other documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this
Registration Statement, but prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment
which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which
deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing
of such documents.
Any
statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of
this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or
in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be
deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Registration Statement.
Item
4.
|
Description
of Securities.
|
The
following summarizes the terms of our capital stock following the Company’s
emergence from chapter 11, and is not meant to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the restated certificate of
incorporation and the bylaws which will be effective upon the Company’s
emergence from chapter 11and the provisions of applicable law. Copies
of our current restated certificate of incorporation and the bylaws are filed as
exhibits to the registration statement, of which this prospectus is a
part.
Authorized
Capital Stock upon Emergence
Charter
will have the authority to issue a total of 1,175,000,000 shares of capital
stock, consisting of:
·
|
900,000,000
shares of Class A Common Stock;
|
·
|
25,000,000
shares of Class B Common Stock; and
|
·
|
250,000,000
shares of preferred stock, including 5,520,001 shares of Series A
Preferred.
|
Common
Stock
Common
Stock Outstanding
The
shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock to be issued
will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of
Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will be subject to, and
may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series
of our preferred stock which we may designate and issue in the
future.
To the
greatest extent permitted by applicable Delaware law, the shares of Class A
Common Stock will be uncertificated, and transfer will be reflected by
book-entry, unless a physical certificate is requested by a holder.
The Class
B Common Stock will be identical to the Class A Common Stock except with respect
to certain voting, transfer and conversion rights. Subject to a certain Lock-Up
Agreement, each share of Class B Common Stock will be convertible into one share
of Class A Common Stock at the option of the holder or, at any time on or after
January 1, 2011 and until September 15, 2014, at the option of a majority of the
disinterested members of the board of directors, and at any time after September
15, 2014 at the election of a majority of the members of the board of directors
(other than members of the board of directors elected by holders of Class B
Common Stock). Class B Common Stock will be subject to significant transfer
restrictions including restrictions under a Lock-Up Agreement between the
Company and the holders of the Class B Common Stock (the “Lock-Up Agreement”).
Class A Common Stock, however, issued upon conversion of Class B Common Stock,
will not be subject to the same restrictions. Shares of Class B Common Stock
must at all times be held only by (i) Mr. Paul G. Allen, (ii) his estate,
spouse, immediate family members and heirs, and (iii) any trust, corporation,
partnership or other entity, the beneficiaries, stockholders, partners or other
owners of which consist exclusively of Mr. Allen or such other persons referred
in to in clause (ii) above or a combination of the above, which we refer to
collectively as Authorized Class B Holders, and upon any transfer to a person or
entity other than an Authorized Class B Holder, each share of Class B Common
Stock will be automatically converted into one share of Class A Common Stock. In
addition, certain restrictions on conversion and transfer of Class B Common
Stock are set forth in the Lock-Up Agreement. Shares of the Class B
Common Stock will only be issued to Mr. Allen or certain of his
affiliates.
Voting
Rights
Holders
of shares of our capital stock will be entitled to vote on all matters submitted
to a vote of our stockholders, including the election of directors, as
follows:
·
|
shares
of Class A Common Stock will be entitled to one vote per
share;
|
·
|
shares
of Class B Common Stock will be entitled to a number of votes per share,
which at all times when shares of Class B Common Stock are outstanding
represent 35% of the combined voting power of the Company’s capital stock,
on a fully diluted basis; and
|
·
|
the
Series A Preferred will be entitled to .025 vote per
share.
|
Mr. Allen
and entities affiliated with Mr. Allen, will hold 35% of the combined voting
power of the capital stock of Charter and will have the right to elect four of
11 members of the board of directors. There may be additional holders of
significant voting power in Charter, though pursuant to the Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, prior to September 15, 2014, the votes
attributable to each share of Class A Common Stock held by any holder (other
than Mr. Allen and certain of his affiliates) will be automatically reduced pro
rata among all shares of Class A Common Stock held by such holder and (if
applicable) shares of Class A Common Stock held by any other holder (other than
Mr. Allen and certain of his affiliates) included in any “person” or “group”
with such holder so that no “person” or “group” (other than Mr. Allen and
certain of his affiliates) is or becomes the holder or beneficial owner (as such
term is used in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in
calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as such term is
used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) such “person” shall be deemed to have
beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to
acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon
the occurrence of a subsequent condition), directly or indirectly, of more than
34.9% of the combined voting power of the capital stock of Charter, subject to
waiver by the disinterested members of the board of directors as provided in the
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. We refer to this voting power
limitation as the Voting Threshold. Holders of Class B Common Stock
(other than Mr. Allen and certain of his affiliates) will also be subject to a
reduction of their voting power to comply with the Voting
Threshold.
The
holders of Common Stock and their respective affiliates will not have cumulative
voting rights.
Under the
Amended and Restated By-laws of Charter, the number of members of the board of
directors shall be fixed at 11 members. Except for the initial board of
directors, which will be appointed pursuant to the terms of the Plan, for as
long as shares of Class B Common Stock are outstanding, holders of Class B
Common Stock will have the right to elect 35% of the members of the board of
directors (rounded up to the next whole number), and all other members of the
board of directors will be elected by majority vote of the holders of Class A
Common Stock (and any series of preferred stock then entitled to vote at an
election of the directors). In addition, members of the board of
directors elected by holders of Class B Common Stock will have no less than
proportionate representation on each committee of the board of directors,
subject to applicable SEC and stock exchange rules and except for any committee
formed solely for the purpose of reviewing, recommending and/or authorizing any
transaction in which holders of Class B Common Stock or their affiliates (other
than Charter or its subsidiaries) are interested parties.
Under the
new Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, (i) any director may be
removed for cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of
the outstanding Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock (and any series of
preferred stock then entitled to vote at an election of directors), voting
together as a single class, (ii) any director elected by the holders of Class B
Common Stock voting separately as a class may be removed from office, without
cause, solely by the vote of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding
Class B Common Stock, voting as a separate class, and (iii) any director elected
by the vote of the holders of Class A Common Stock voting separately as a class
(including holders of voting preferred stock, as applicable) may be removed from
office, without cause, solely by the vote of a majority of the voting power of
the outstanding Class A Common Stock, voting separately as a class (including
any holders of voting preferred stock entitled to vote thereon).
Dividend
Rights
Subject
to limitations under Delaware law, preferences that may apply to any outstanding
shares of preferred stock, and contractual restrictions, holders of each class
of Common Stock are entitled to receive ratably dividends or other distributions
when and if declared by the board of directors. In addition to such
restrictions, whether any future dividends are paid to Charter’s stockholders
will depend on decisions that will be made by the board of directors and will
depend on then existing conditions, including Charter’s financial condition,
contractual restrictions, corporate law restrictions, capital requirements and
business prospects. The ability of the board of directors to declare
dividends also will be subject to the rights of any holders of outstanding
shares of the Charter’s preferred stock, including the Series A Preferred, and
the availability of sufficient funds under the DGCL (defined below) to pay
dividends. For a more complete description of the dividend rights of
holders of shares of Charter’s preferred stock, see the sections titled
“Description of Capital Stock—Series A 15% Pay-In-Kind Preferred Stock,” and
“—Blank Check Preferred Stock” below.
Warrants
to Purchase Class A Common Stock
Pursuant
to the Plan, Charter will issue warrants to purchase Class A Common Stock to
holders of notes issued by CIH, holders of notes issued by Charter Holdings and
Mr. Allen. The warrants will have an exercise price of, with respect
to the holders of notes issued by CIH, $46.86, and, with respect to the holders
of notes issued by Charter Holdings, $51.28, each will expire five years after
the date of issuance; the exercise price of the warrants with respect to Mr.
Allen, will be $19.80, and will expire seven years after the date of
issuance. The warrants will provide for a cashless exercise by the
warrant holder. The warrant exercise price and the number of shares issuable
upon exercise of the warrants will be subject to adjustment upon certain events
including: stock subdivisions, combinations, splits, stock dividends, capital
reorganizations, or capital reclassifications of Class A Common Stock and in
connection with certain distributions of cash, assets or
securities. In addition, holders of certain of the warrants will have
the right to participate, along with other holders of Common Stock, in future
below-market offerings of rights to purchase securities (including but not
limited to Common Stock) on an as-exercised basis. The warrants will
not be redeemable.
Liquidation
Rights
In the
event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Charter, the holders of
Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will be entitled to
share pari passu in the
net assets of Charter available after the payment of all debts and other
liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any outstanding Charter preferred
stock.
Preemptive
Rights
Under our
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of Class A
Common Stock and Class B Common Stock will have no preemptive
rights.
Anti-Takeover
Provisions
Our new
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation will provide that the board of
directors may impose restrictions on the trading of Charter’s stock if (i)
Charter has experienced an “owner shift” as determined for purposes of Section
382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, of at least 25
percentage points and (ii) the equity value of Charter has decreased by at least
35% since the Effective Date. These restrictions, which are intended to preserve
Charter’s ability to use its net operating losses, which we refer to as NOLs,
may prohibit any person from acquiring stock of Charter if such person is a “5%
shareholder” or would become a “5% shareholder” as a result of such
acquisition. The restrictions will not operate to prevent any
stockholder from disposing of shares and will be subject to certain other
exceptions relating to shares of Common Stock issued or issuable under the Plan.
The board of director’s ability to impose these restrictions will terminate on
the fifth anniversary of the date of Charter’s emergence from
bankruptcy.
In
addition, our new Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, in addition
to any affirmative vote required by law or our new By-laws, a “business
combination” (as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation) involving as a party, or proposed by or on behalf of, an
“interested stockholder,” an “affiliate,” or an “associate” of the “interested
stockholder” (each as defined in the Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation) or a person who upon consummation of the “business combination”
would become an “affiliate” or “associate” of an “interested stockholder”
requires, unless prohibited by law, that (i) a majority of the members of the
board of directors who are not an “affiliate” or “associate” or representative
of an “interested stockholder” must determine that the “business combination,”
including the consideration, is fair to the Company and its stockholders (other
than any “interested stockholder” or its “affiliates and associates); and (ii)
holders of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of all of the
then outstanding shares of “voting stock” (as defined in the Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation), voting together as a single class
(excluding voting stock beneficially owned by any “interested stockholder” or
its “affiliate” or “associate”) must approve the transaction.
Section 203
of the DGCL provides that if a person acquires 15% or more of the voting stock
of a Delaware corporation, such person becomes an “interested stockholder” and
may not engage in certain “business combinations” with the corporation for a
period of three years from the time such person acquired 15% or more of the
corporation’s voting stock, unless: (1) the board of directors approves the
acquisition of stock or the merger transaction before the time that the person
becomes an interested stockholder, (2) the interested stockholder owns at
least 85% of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation at the time the
merger transaction commences (excluding voting stock owned by directors who are
also officers and certain employee stock plans), or (3) the merger
transaction is approved by the board of directors and by the affirmative vote at
a meeting, not by written consent, of stockholders of 2/3 of the holders of the
outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested
stockholder. A Delaware corporation may elect in its certificate of
incorporation or bylaws not to be governed by this particular Delaware law, or
“opt-out.” We have not elected to “opt-out.”
Preferred
Stock
Series
A 15% Pay-In-Kind Preferred Stock
Shares of
our Series A Preferred will rank senior as to dividends to shares of our Common
Stock. For the first three years after the Effective Date, each share
of Series A Preferred will be entitled to an annual dividend at the rate of 15%
of the initial liquidation preference of $25 (equivalent to $3.75 per annum per
share), payable in cash or, at the option of Charter, by issuing additional
Series A Preferred in the amount of the dividend payment, or a combination of
both. Such dividends will be cumulative and will be payable semi-annually in
arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year. Series A Preferred
will not be convertible or exchangeable at the option of a holder thereof into
any other class or series of stock or obligations of Charter and for the first
six months after the Effective Date Series A Preferred may only be redeemed in
cash. Thereafter, Charter may redeem Series A Preferred in whole or
in part at any time upon at least 15 days prior written notice and payment of
100% of the liquidation preference,
together
with accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not declared, which
amounts would be payable in cash, our Common Stock or a combination of both. To
the extent any shares of Series A Preferred are not redeemed within the three
years following the Effective Date, Series A Preferred shall be entitled to an
annual dividend as follows: in the fourth year after the Effective Date, 17%,
and in the fifth year after the Effective Date, 19%. The terms of Series A
Preferred will require that five years after the Effective Date, Charter shall
redeem Series A Preferred at 100% of the liquidation preference, together with
accrued and unpaid dividends thereon, whether or not declared, which amounts
will be payable in cash, our Common Stock or a combination of both. Any
redemption payment in our Common Stock may not exceed 20% of the fully diluted
Common Stock at the time of such redemption payment. In the event of Charter’s
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, winding-up, bankruptcy or dissolution,
after payment in full of all amounts owed to the debtors’ creditors and any
stock senior to Series A Preferred, holders of Series A Preferred will be
entitled to receive and to be paid out of the Charter’s assets available for
distribution to its stockholders, before any payment or distribution is made to
holders of junior stock (including Common Stock), a liquidation preference in
the amount of $25 per share of Series A Preferred, plus accumulated and unpaid
dividends on the shares to the payment date of liquidation, winding-up,
bankruptcy or dissolution. If, upon Charter’s voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, winding up, bankruptcy or dissolution, the amounts payable with
respect to the liquidation preference of the Series A Preferred and all stock
pari passu to Series A
Preferred are not paid in full, the holders of Series A Preferred and such pari passu stock will share
equally and ratably in any distribution of Charter’s assets in proportion to the
full liquidation preference and accumulated and unpaid dividends to which they
are entitled. In each case, after the payment in full of all amounts owed to the
debtors’ creditors and all amounts owed to holders of Series A Preferred or any
other preferred stock outstanding, the remaining assets of Charter will be
distributed ratably to the holders of shares of Common Stock, treated as a
single class. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of shares of
Common Stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of
the holders of shares of Series A Preferred as well as any series of preferred
stock which Charter may designate and issue in the future without stockholder
approval.
Blank
Check Preferred Stock
Under the
terms of the new Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the board of
directors will be authorized to issue from time to time up to an aggregate of
approximately 250 million shares of additional series of preferred stock and to
fix or alter the designations, preferences, rights and any qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of the shares of each series, including the dividend
rights, dividend rates, conversion rights, voting rights, rights and terms of
redemption (including sinking fund provisions), redemption price or prices,
liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting any series. These
additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including
future public offerings, to raise additional capital or to facilitate
acquisitions. If the board of directors decides to issue shares to persons
supportive of current management, this could render more difficult or discourage
an attempt to obtain control of the company by means of a merger, tender offer,
proxy contest or otherwise. Authorized but unissued shares also could be used to
dilute the stock ownership of persons seeking to obtain control of
Charter.
Transfer
Agent and Registrar
Mellon
Investor Services, LLC is the transfer agent and registrar for our Class A
Common Stock.
Listing
of Our Common Stock
We intend
to apply to list our Class A Common Stock on NASDAQ under the trading
symbol “CHTR.”
Item
5.
|
Interests
of Named Experts and Counsel.
|
The
validity of the common stock offered hereby will be passed upon for the Company
by Kirkland & Ellis LLP (a partnership that includes professional
corporations), New York, New York.
Item
6.
|
Indemnification
of Directors and Officers.
|
The
Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of
Delaware. Section 145 (“Section 145”) of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (the “DGCL”),
provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who were, are or
are threatened to be made, parties to any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of such corporation), by
reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or
agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or
enterprise. The indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding,
provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and, with respect to
any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his
conduct was illegal. Section 145(b) of the DGCL provides that a
Delaware corporation may indemnify officers and directors in an action by or in
the right of the corporation under the same conditions, except that no
indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if the officer or
director is adjudged to be liable to the corporation. Where an
officer, director, employee or agent is successful on the merits or otherwise in
the defense of any action referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him
against the expenses which such officer or director has actually and reasonably
incurred.
Section
145(g) of the DGCL provides that a corporation shall have the power to purchase
and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or
officer of the corporation against any liability asserted against the person in
any such capacity, or arising out of the person’s status as such, whether or not
the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against such
liability under the provisions of the DGCL.
Article
VII of the Company’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides
that a director of the Company shall not be personally liable to the Company or
its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a
director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation
thereof is not permitted under Delaware law. Article X of the
Company’s amended and restated bylaws provides for indemnification of the
officers and directors of the Company to the fullest extent permitted by the
DGCL.
The
foregoing is only a general summary of certain aspects of Delaware law and the
registrant’s organizational documents dealing with indemnification of directors
and officers and does not purport to be complete. It is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the applicable provisions of the DGCL and of the
registrant’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and
bylaws.
The
Company expects to enter into indemnification agreements with its directors and
certain of its officers. The indemnification agreements shall provide
indemnification to the Company’s directors and such officers under certain
circumstances for acts or omissions which may not be covered by directors’ and
officers’ liability insurance, and may, in some cases, be broader than the
specific indemnification provisions contained under Delaware law. The Company
has obtained directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, which insures against
liabilities that its directors or officers may incur in such
capacities.
Item
7.
|
Exemption from Registration
Claimed. None.
|
Item
8.
|
Exhibits. Reference
is made to the attached Exhibit Index, which is incorporated by reference
herein.
|
(a) The
undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file,
during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement:
(i) To
include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities
Act;
(ii) To
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date
of the Registration Statement (or most recent post-effective amendment thereof)
which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum
offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume
and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering
price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective
Registration Statement; and
(iii) To
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to
such information in the Registration Statement;
provided, however, that
paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the information required to
be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in
reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement.
(2) That, for
the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such
post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;
and
(3) To remove
from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
(b) The
undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company’s annual report
pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where
applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
(c) Insofar
as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been
advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has
reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing
on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the County of St.
Louis, State of Missouri, on November 25, 2009.
|
CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. |
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By:
/s/ Kevin D.
Howard |
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Name:
Kevin D. Howard |
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Title: Vice
President, Controller and Chief |
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Accounting
Officer |
POWER
OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL
MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below
constitutes and appoints Eloise E. Schmitz, Gregory L. Doody and Richard
Dykhouse and each of them his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent,
with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or
her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities (including his or her
capacity as a director and/or officer) to sign any or all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and any subsequent
registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and
other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he
or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been
signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on November 25,
2009.
SIGNATURE
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TITLE
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DATE
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/s/ Neil
Smit
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Chief
Executive Officer and Director
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October
23, 2009
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Neil
Smit
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(Principal
Executive Officer)
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/s/
Eloise E. Schmitz
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Chief
Financial Officer
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November
25, 2009
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Eloise
E. Schmitz
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(Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)
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/s/
Paul G. Allen
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Chairman
of the Board of Directors
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October
28, 2009
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Paul
G. Allen
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/s/
W. Lance Conn
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Director
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November
25, 2009
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W.
Lance Conn
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/s/
Rajive Johri
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Director
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October
23, 2009
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Rajive
Johri
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/s/
Robert P. May
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Director
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November
25, 2009
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Robert
P. May
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/s/
David C. Merritt
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Director
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November
25, 2009
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David
C. Merritt
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/s/
Jo Lynn Patton
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Director
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November
25, 2009
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Jo
Lynn Allen
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/s/ John H. Tory |
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Director
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November
25, 2009
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John
H. Tory
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/s/
Larry W. Wangberg
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Director
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November
25, 2009
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Larry
W. Wangberg
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EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
Number
|
|
Description
|
3.1(a)
|
|
Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of Charter Communications, Inc. (Originally
incorporated July 22, 1999) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to
Amendment No. 3 to the registration statement on Form S-1 of Charter
Communications, Inc. filed on October 18, 1999 (File No.
333-83887)).
|
3.1(b) |
|
Certificate
of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Charter
Communications, Inc. filed May 10, 2001 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.1(b) to the annual report of Form 10-K of Charter
Communications, Inc. filed on March 29, 2002 (File No.
000-27927)). |
3.1(c) |
|
Certificate
of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Charter
Communications, Inc. filed October 11, 2007 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.1(c) to the quarterly report of Form 10-Q of Charter
Communications, Inc. filed on November 8, 2007 (File No.
000-27927)). |
3.2
|
|
Amended
and Restated By-laws of Charter Communications, Inc. as of October 30,
2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the quarterly report on
Form 10-Q of Charter Communications, Inc. filed on October 31, 2006 (File
No. 000-27927)).
|
10.1*
|
|
Charter
Communications, Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan.
|
5.1*
|
|
Opinion
of Kirkland & Ellis LLP with respect to the legality of the shares of
common stock being registered hereby.
|
23.1*
|
|
Consent
of KPMG LLP.
|
23.2
|
|
Consent
of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
|
24.1
|
|
Power
of Attorney of certain officers and directors of the Company to file
future amendments (set forth on the signature page of this Registration
Statement).
|
* filed herewith
exhibit5_1.htm
Exhibit
5.1
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
AND
AFFILIATED PARTNERSHIPS
601
Lexington Avenue
New York,
New York, 10022
212
446-4800
www.kirkland.com
Facsimile:
212
446-6460
November
25, 2009
Charter
Communications, Inc.
12405
Powerscourt Drive
St.
Louis, Missouri 63131
|
|
Registration Statement on
Form S-8
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
We are
providing this letter in our capacity as special counsel to Charter
Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with
the filing by the Company of a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
“Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Act”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) covering
the offering of up to 3,848,393 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001
per share (the “Shares”), pursuant to the Charter Communications, Inc. 2009
Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of the Company.
For
purposes of this letter, we have examined such documents, records, certificates,
resolutions and other instruments deemed necessary as a basis for this opinion
including drafts of the Company’s (i) By-laws, (ii) Amended and Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, (the “Charter” and collectively, the “Charter and
By-Laws”), and (iii) Plan that, in each case, will be deemed adopted pursuant to
the Findings Of Facts, Conclusions of Law, And Order Confirming Debtors’ Joint
Plan Of Reorganization (the “Plan of Reorganization”) dated November 17, 2009,
(in re Charter Communications, Inc. et al.), entered in the United States
Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (Case No.09-11435 (JMP)
(the “Confirmation Order”) when the Plan of Reorganization becomes
effective. References to Shares means New Class A Stock (as defined
in the Plan).
Based
upon and subject to the assumptions and limitations stated in this letter, when
(i) the Registration Statement becomes effective under the Act, (ii) the Charter
is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (iii) the Plan
becomes effective under the Bankruptcy Code, and (iv) the Shares have been duly
issued in accordance with the terms of the Plan the Charter and By-laws, the
Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.
Hong
Kong
|
London
|
Los
Angeles
|
Munich
|
New
York
|
San
Francisco
|
Washington,
D.C.
|
Charter Communications, Inc.
November 25, 2009
Page 2
We note
that the advice set forth above is based on the entry of the Confirmation Order
by the Bankruptcy Court. This letter does not speak to, and the
advice herein is subject to, the results or effects of any appeal from such
Confirmation Order including the Notices of Appeal dated November 23, 2009,
filed by (1) JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for prepetition
first-lien secured lenders to Charter Communications Operating, LLC, (2) Law
Debenture Trust Company of New York, as Indenture Trustee for the 6.50%
Convertible Senior Notes due 2027 issued by Charter Communications, Inc., (3) R2
Investments, LDC, and (4) Wilmington Trust Company, as indenture trustee for the
holders of (i) the 8% Senior Second Lien Notes due 2012 and the 8.375% Senior
Second Lien Notes due 2014 issued pursuant to that certain Indenture dated as of
April 27, 2004 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to
time) by and among Charter Communications Operating, LLC (“CCO”) and Charter
Communications Operating Capital Corp. (“CCO Capital”), as issuers, and
Wilmington Trust, as successor trustee, and (ii) the 10.875% Senior Second Lien
Notes due 2014 issued pursuant to that certain Indenture dated as of March 19,
2008 (as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time) by and
among CCO and CCO Capital, as issuers, and Wilmington Trust, as indenture
trustee, and the Notice of Appeal dated November 24, 2009, filed by Wells Fargo
Bank, N.A., Solely in its Capacities as Successor Administrative Agent and
Collateral Agent, and the Ad Hoc Consortium of Third Lien
Lenders. Such appeals were made to the United States District Court
for the Southern District of New York, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 158 and Rule
8001(a) of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure.
Our
opinion expressed above is subject to the qualification that we express no
opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of any laws
except the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
We have
relied without independent investigation upon, among other things, an assurance
from the Company that the number of shares which the Company is authorized to
issue in the Charter exceeds the number of shares outstanding and the number of
shares which the Company is obligated to issue (or had otherwise reserved for
issuance) for any purposes other than issuances in connection with the Plan,
collectively, by at least the number of Shares which may be issued in connection
with the Plan, collectively, and we have assumed that such condition will remain
true at all future times relevant to this opinion. We have assumed that the
Company will cause certificates, if any, representing the Shares issued in the
future to be properly executed and delivered and will take all other actions
appropriate for the issuances of such Shares. We have made other assumptions we
have deemed appropriate for purposes of this letter.
We hereby
consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we
are in the
Charter Communications, Inc.
November 25, 2009
Page 3
category
of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the
rules and regulations of the Commission.
We do not
find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion, and accordingly we do not
purport to cover herein, the application of the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of
the various states to the issuance and sale of the Shares.
This
opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may
be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. We assume no
obligation to revise or supplement this opinion should the present laws of the
State of Delaware be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or
otherwise.
This
opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of the Registration
Statement and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon for
any other purpose.
Sincerely,
/s/ Kirkland
& Ellis LLP
KIRKLAND &
ELLIS LLP
exhibit10_1.htm
Exhibit
10.1
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS,
INC.
2009 STOCK INCENTIVE
PLAN
CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS,
INC.
2009 STOCK INCENTIVE
PLAN
The
purpose of this Plan is to strengthen Charter Communications, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”), by providing an incentive to the employees,
officers, consultants and directors of the Company, its Subsidiaries and
Affiliates and thereby encouraging them to devote their abilities and industry
to the success of the Company’s business enterprise. It is intended
that this purpose be achieved by extending to employees (including future
employees who have received a written offer of employment), officers,
consultants and directors of the Company, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates an
added long-term incentive for high levels of performance and unusual efforts
through the grant of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock Options, Stock
Appreciation Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights, Performance Units and
Performance Shares, Share Awards, Phantom Stock, Restricted Stock Units and
Restricted Stock (as each term is herein defined).
For
purposes of the Plan:
“Affiliate”
means, with respect to any person or entity, any entity, directly or indirectly,
controlled by, controlling or under common control with such person or
entity.
“Agreement”
means the written agreement or other instrument evidencing the grant of an
Option or Award and setting forth the terms and conditions
thereof. An Agreement may be in the form of an agreement to be agreed
to by both the Optionee or Grantee and the Company (or an authorized
representative of the Company) or certificates, notices or similar instruments
as approved by the Committee.
“Award”
means a grant of Restricted Stock, a Restricted Stock Unit, Phantom Stock, a
Stock Appreciation Right, a Performance Award, a Dividend Equivalent Right, a
Share Award or any or all of them.
“Board”
means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Cause”
means:
(a) in
the case of a Participant whose employment with the Company or a Subsidiary is
subject to the terms of an employment agreement between such Participant and the
Company or Subsidiary, which employment agreement includes a definition of
“Cause” (or similar term), the term “Cause” as used in this Plan or any
Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in such employment agreement during
the period that such employment agreement remains in effect; and
(b) in
all other cases, the Participant (i) has committed any crime; (ii) has committed
any act of fraud knowing material misrepresentation or concealment, embezzlement
or gross dishonesty; (iii) has committed any act of sex discrimination or sexual
harassment under
the
provisions of any Federal, state or local law, resulting in any of the above
cases in a material financial loss to the Company or damage to the reputation of
the Company; (iv) has refused to comply with the lawful directives of the Board
or of the Participant’s supervisors; (v) has breached any fiduciary duty to the
Company or has engaged in conduct which constitutes gross negligence or willful
misconduct; (vi) fails to adhere in any material respect to (x) the Company’s
Code of Conduct in effect from time to time or (y) any written Company policy,
if such policy is material to the effective performance by Participant of
Participant’s duties; (vii) Participant’s conviction of, the entering of a
guilty plea or plea or nolo contendere or no contest (or the equivalent), or
entering into any pretrial diversion program or agreement or suspended
imposition of sentence, with respect to either a felony or a crime that
adversely affects or could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the
Company or its business reputation; or the institution of criminal charges
against Participant which are not dismissed within sixty (60) days after
institution, for fraud, embezzlement, any felony offense involving dishonesty or
constituting a breach of trust, or any felony (including without limitation a
crime in any jurisdiction other than the United States or any state thereof in
which Company does business which would constitute such a felony under the laws
of the United States or any state thereof); (viii) Participant’s admission of
liability of, or finding of liability, for a knowing and deliberate violation of
any “Securities Laws” (as used herein, the term “Securities Laws” means any
federal or state law, rule or regulation governing generally the issuance or
exchange of securities, including without limitation the Securities Act of 1933,
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder); or (ix) Participant’s illegal possession or use of any controlled
substance, or excessive use of alcohol at a work function, in connection with
Participant’s duties, or on Company premises; “excessive” meaning either
repeated unprofessional use or any single event of consumption giving rise to
significant intoxication or unprofessional behavior.
“Change
in Capitalization” means any increase or reduction in the number of Shares, or
any change (including, but not limited to, in the case of a spin-off, dividend
or other distribution in respect of Shares, a change in value) in the Shares or
exchange of Shares for a different number or kind of shares or other securities
of the Company or another corporation, by reason of a reclassification,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization, spin-off, split-up,
issuance of warrants or rights or debentures, stock dividend, stock split or
reverse stock split, property dividend, cash dividend (other than regular,
quarterly dividends), combination or exchange of Shares, repurchase of Shares,
change in corporate structure or otherwise.
A “Change
in Control” means:
(a) in
the case of a Participant whose employment with the Company or a Subsidiary is
subject to the terms of an employment agreement between such Participant and the
Company or a Subsidiary, which employment agreement includes a definition of
“Change in Control” (or similar term), the term “Change in Control” as used in
this Plan or any Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in such employment
agreement during the period that such employment agreement remains in effect;
and
(b) in
all other cases, the occurrence of any of the following:
(i) an
acquisition of any voting securities of the Company by any “Person” or “Group”
(as those terms are used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange
Act), immediately after which such Person has “Beneficial Ownership” (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of fifty percent (50%)
or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting
securities; provided, however, in determining whether a Change in Control has
occurred pursuant to this definition, Shares or voting securities which are
acquired in a “Non-Control Acquisition” (as hereinafter defined) shall not
constitute an acquisition which would cause a Change in Control. A
“Non-Control Acquisition” shall mean an acquisition by (i) an employee benefit
plan (or a trust forming a part thereof) maintained by (A) the Company or (B)
any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, (ii) the Company or any Subsidiary
of the Company, (iii) an underwriter acquiring such voting securities in
connection with a public offering of such securities; or (iv) any Person in
connection with a “Non-Control Transaction” (as hereinafter
defined);
(ii) The
individuals who, as of June 30, 2009 are members of the Board (the “Incumbent
Board”), cease for any reason to constitute at least one half of the members of
the Board or, following a Merger which results in a Parent Corporation (as
defined in paragraph (iii)(A)(l) below), the board of directors of the Parent
Corporation; provided, however, that if the election, or nomination for election
by the Company’s common stockholders, of any new director was approved by a vote
of at least one half of the Incumbent Board, such new director shall, for
purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board;
provided further, however, that no individual shall be considered a member of
the Incumbent Board if such individual initially assumed office as a result of
either an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on
behalf of a Person other than the Board (a “Proxy Contest”) including by reason
of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Proxy Contest; or
(iii) The
consummation of:
(A) A
merger, consolidation, reorganization or similar transaction involving the
Company or in which securities of the Company are issued (a “Merger”), unless
such Merger is a “Non-Control Transaction.” A “Non-Control
Transaction” shall mean a Merger where:
(1) the
stockholders of the Company, immediately before such Merger own directly or
indirectly immediately following such Merger more than fifty percent (50%) of
the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of (x) the
corporation resulting from such Merger (the “Surviving Corporation”), or (y) if
any Person or Group, directly or indirectly, owns fifty percent (50%) or more of
the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the
Surviving Corporation (such Person or Group shall be defined as a “Parent
Corporation”), the Parent Corporation;
(2) the
individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board immediately prior to the
execution of the agreement
providing
for such Merger constitute at least a majority of the members of the board of
directors of (x) the Surviving Corporation, or (y) the Parent Corporation, if
the Parent Corporation, directly or indirectly, owns fifty percent (50%) or more
of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the
Surviving Corporation; and
(3) no
Person other than (a) the Company, (b) any Subsidiary of the Company, (c) any
employee benefit plan (or any trust forming a part thereof) that, immediately
prior to such Merger was maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary or
Affiliate of the Company, or (d) any Person who, immediately prior to such
Merger had Beneficial Ownership of fifty percent (50%) or more of the then
outstanding voting securities or Shares, has Beneficial Ownership of fifty
percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting
securities or common stock of (x) the Surviving Corporation, or (y) the Parent
Corporation, if the Parent Corporation, directly or indirectly, owns fifty
percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the then outstanding
voting securities of the Surviving Corporation.
(B) A
complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company (other than where assets of
the Company are transferred to or remain with Subsidiaries of the Company);
or
(C) The
sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company, directly or indirectly, to any Person (other than a transfer to a
Subsidiary of the Company, including, without limitation, the Allen Entities, if
and only if the Allen Entities are Affiliates (individually or collectively) of
the Company immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, or under
conditions that would constitute a Non-Control Transaction with the disposition
of assets being regarded as a Merger for this purpose or the distribution to the
Company’s stockholders of the stock of a Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company
or any other assets).
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, for 409A Awards that are settled or distributed upon a “Change in
Control,” the foregoing definition shall only apply to the extent the applicable
event otherwise constituting a “Change in Control” would also constitute a
“change in control event” under Code Section 409A.
Unless
otherwise provided in an employment agreement between a Participant and the
Company, notwithstanding the foregoing a Change in Control shall not be deemed
to occur solely because any Person (the “Subject Person”) acquired Beneficial
Ownership of more than the permitted amount of the then outstanding Shares or
voting securities as a result of the acquisition of Shares or voting securities
by the Company which, by reducing the number of Shares or voting securities then
outstanding, increases the proportional number of Shares Beneficially Owned by
the Subject Persons, provided that if a Change in Control would occur (but for
the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of Shares or
voting securities by the Company, and after such share acquisition by the
Company, the Subject Person becomes
the
Beneficial Owner of any additional Shares or voting securities which increases
the percentage of the then outstanding Shares or voting securities Beneficially
Owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in Control shall occur.
Unless
otherwise provided in an employment agreement between the Participants and the
Company, if a Participant’s employment is terminated (A) by the Company without
Cause within the thirty (30) day period immediately preceding a Change in
Control or (B) by the Company without Cause preceding a Change in Control at the
written request of a third party (or such third party’s agent) who has indicated
an intention or taken steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control,
such termination shall be deemed to have occurred after a Change in Control for
purposes of this Plan provided a Change in Control shall actually have
occurred.
“Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Reference to a
specific section of the Code or regulation thereunder shall include such section
or regulation, any valid regulation or other guidance promulgated under such
section, and any comparable provision of any future legislation or regulation
amending, supplementing or superseding such section or regulation.
“Committee”
means at least one committee, as described in Section 3.1, appointed by the Board from time to time to
administer the Plan and to perform the functions set forth herein.
“Company”
means Charter Communications, Inc., a Delaware Corporation.
“Director”
means a director of the Company.
“Disability”
means:
(a) in
the case of a Participant whose employment with the Company or a Subsidiary is
subject to the terms of an employment agreement between such Participant and the
Company or Subsidiary, which employment agreement includes a definition of
“Disability” (or similar term), the term “Disability” as used in this Plan or
any Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in such employment agreement
during the period that such employment agreement remains in effect;
or
(b) in
all other cases, the term “Disability” as used in this Plan or any Agreement
shall mean a physical or mental infirmity which impairs the Participant’s
ability to perform substantially his or her duties, and for which the
Participant is also receiving benefits under the Company’s long-term disability
plan, if any, then in effect.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, for 409A Awards that are settled or distributed upon a
“Disability,” “Disability” shall mean that a Participant is disabled under
Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(4)(i).
“Division”
means any of the operating units or divisions of the Company or Subsidiary
designated as a Division by the Committee in its discretion.
“Dividend
Equivalent Right” means a right to receive all or some portion of the dividends
that are or would be payable with respect to Shares, payable in either cash or
Shares.
“Eligible
Individual” means any of the following individuals who is designated by the
Committee in its discretion as eligible to receive Options or Awards subject to
the conditions set forth herein: (a) any director, officer or
employee of the Company or a Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, (b) any
individual to whom the Company, or a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of the Company,
has extended a formal offer of employment, so long as the grant of any Option or
Award shall not become effective until the individual commences employment or
(c) any consultant or advisor of the Company or a
Subsidiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the eligibility and/or
participation of those employees represented by a collective bargaining
representative shall be governed solely by the results of good faith
negotiations between the Company and such employees’ representative and/or by
the express terms of any collective bargaining agreement resulting
therefrom.
“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Fair
Market Value” on any date means the average of the high and low sales prices of
the Shares on such date on the principal national securities exchange on which
such Shares are listed or admitted to trading, or if there were no reported
transaction for such date, the opening transaction price as reported by such
exchange for the first trading date following the date by which such value is
being determined on the next preceding date, or if such Shares are not so listed
or admitted to trading, the average of the high and low sales price per Share on
such date as quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated
Quotation System or such other market in which such prices are regularly quoted
or, if there have been no regularly quoted or reported high and low sales prices
with respect to Shares on such date, the Fair Market Value shall be the value
established by the Board or the Committee in good
faith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Fair Market Value relating to
the exercise price or base price of any Non-409A Option or SAR may be determined
in any manner permitted by Code Section 409A.
“Good
Reason” means the occurrence after a Change in Control of any of the events or
conditions described in subsections (1) through (8) hereof, so long as, in the case of events or conditions described in
subsections (2) through (8) hereof, the Participant provides notice of
the existence of such breach within ninety (90) days of the Participant’s
knowledge of such breach, and the Company does not remedy such breach within
ninety (90) days of receipt of such notice:
(1) in
the case of a Participant whose employment with the Company or a Subsidiary is
subject to the terms of an employment agreement between such Participant and the
Company or Subsidiary, which employment agreement includes a definition of “Good
Reason” (or similar term), the term “Good Reason” as used in this Plan or any
Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in such employment agreement during
the period that such employment agreement remains in effect;
(2) a
change in the Participant’s status, title, position or responsibilities
(including reporting responsibilities) which represents an adverse
change
from his
status, title, position or responsibilities as in effect at any time within
ninety (90) days preceding the date of a Change in Control or at any time
thereafter; the assignment to the Participant of any duties or responsibilities
which are inconsistent with his status, title, position or responsibilities as
in effect at any time within ninety (90) days preceding the date of a Change in
Control or at any time thereafter; or any removal of the Participant from or
failure to reappoint or reelect him to any of such offices or positions, except
in connection with the termination of his employment for Disability, Cause, as a
result of his death or by the Participant other than for Good
Reason;
(3) a
reduction in the Participant’s base salary or any failure to pay the Participant
any compensation or benefits to which he is entitled within five (5) days of
notice thereof;
(4) the
Company’s or any Subsidiary’s requiring the Participant to be based at any place
more than fifty (50) miles from the Participant’s principal place of employment,
except for reasonably required travel on the Company’s business which is not
materially greater than such travel requirements prior to the Change in Control
or relocation pursuant to a voluntary change in position;
(5) the
failure by the Company, any Subsidiary or an Affiliate to provide the
Participant with compensation and benefits, in the aggregate, at least equal (in
terms of benefit levels and/or reward opportunities) to those provided for under
each other employee benefit plan, program and practice in which the Participant
was participating at any time within ninety (90) days preceding the date of a
Change in Control or at any time thereafter;
(6) the
insolvency or the filing (by any party, including the Company) of a petition for
bankruptcy of the Company or Subsidiary, which petition is not dismissed within
sixty (60) days;
(7) any
purported termination of the Participant’s employment for Cause by the Company
which does not comply with the terms of such definition; or
(8) the
failure of the Company or Successor to obtain an agreement from any Successors
and Assigns to assume and agree to perform this Plan, as contemplated in Section
16 hereof.
Any event
or condition described in subsections (1) through (8) hereof which occurs prior
to a Change in Control but which the Participant reasonably demonstrates (A) was
at the request of a third party, or (B) otherwise arose in connection with,
or in anticipation of, a Change in Control which actually occurs, shall
constitute Good Reason for purposes of the Plan notwithstanding that it occurred
prior to the Change in Control.
“Grantee”
means a person to whom an Award has been granted under the Plan.
“Incentive
Stock Option” or “ISO” means any Option designated as an incentive stock option
within the meaning of Code Section 422 and qualifying thereunder.
“Nonemployee
Director” means a director of the Company who is a “non-employee director” under
Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act.
“Nonqualified
Stock Option” means an Option which is not an incentive stock option as defined
under Code Section 422.
“Option”
means a Nonqualified Stock Option or an ISO.
“Optionee”
means a person to whom an Option has been granted under the Plan.
“Outside
Director” means a director of the Company who is an “outside director” within
the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and the regulations promulgated
thereunder.
“Participant”
means any Eligible Individual to whom Options and/or Awards have been granted
from time to time by the Committee and any authorized transferee of such
individual.
“Performance
Awards” means Performance Units, Performance Shares or either or both of
them.
“Performance-Based
Compensation” means any Option or Award that is intended to constitute
“performance based compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m)(4)(C)
and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Performance
Cycle” means the time period specified by the Committee in its discretion at the
time Performance Awards are granted during which the performance of the Company,
a Subsidiary or a Division will be measured.
“Performance
Objectives” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.
“Performance
Shares” means Shares issued or transferred to an Eligible Individual under
Section 10.
“Performance
Units” means Performance Units granted to an Eligible Individual under Section
10.
“Phantom
Stock” means a right granted to an Eligible Individual under Section 11 representing a number of hypothetical
Shares.
“Plan”
means this Charter Communications, Inc. 2009 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended
from time to time.
“Restricted
Stock” means Shares issued or transferred to an Eligible Individual pursuant to
Section 9.
“Restricted
Stock Unit” means an Award granted to an Eligible Individual pursuant to Section
9 pursuant to which Shares or cash in lieu thereof
may be issued in the future.
“Retirement”
means a termination of employment with the Company or a Subsidiary (i) after age
55, (ii) with the sum of the employee’s age and years of service equaling 70 or
more, and (iii) following one or more years of service from the date of
grant. For the purposes of this definition, “years of service” shall
include years of service with the Company, as well as any years of service with
an Affiliate or Subsidiary but only during such time as those entities are
Affiliates or Subsidiaries.
“Share
Award” means an Award of Shares granted pursuant to Section 11.
“Shares”
means the Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company and any
other securities into which such shares are changed or for which such shares are
exchanged.
“Stock
Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right to receive all or some portion of the
increase in the value of the Shares as provided in Section 7 hereof.
“Subsidiary”
means any entity, whether or not incorporated, in which the Company, directly or
indirectly, (i) owns thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the outstanding equity
or other ownership interests, (ii) owns thirty-five percent (35%) or more of the
outstanding voting power, or (iii) has sole management
responsibility. With respect to the grant and administration of
Incentive Stock Options, “Subsidiary” shall have the meaning set forth in Code
Section 424(f).
“Successors
and Assigns” for purposes of the Plan, shall mean a corporation or other entity
acquiring all or substantially all the assets and business of the Company or a
Subsidiary whether by operation of law or otherwise, and any affiliate of such
Successors and Assigns.
“Ten
Percent Holder” means an employee (together with persons whose stock ownership
is attributed to the employee pursuant to Code Section 424(d)) who, at the time
an Option is granted, owns stock representing more than ten percent of the
voting power of all classes of stock of the Company.
“409A
Awards” means Awards that constitute a deferral of compensation under Code
Section 409A and regulations thereunder. “Non-409A Awards” means Awards other
than 409A Awards. Although the Committee retains authority under the Plan to
grant Options, SARs and Restricted Stock units on terms that will qualify those
Awards as 409A Awards, Options, SARs exercisable for Stock, and Restricted Stock
units are intended to be designed to qualify as Non-409A Awards unless otherwise
expressly specified by the Committee.
3.1. The Plan
shall be administered by the Committee, which shall hold meetings at such times
as may be necessary for the proper administration of the Plan. The
Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings. If the Committee
consists of more than one (1) member, a quorum shall consist of not fewer than
two (2) members of the Committee and a majority of a quorum may authorize any
action. Any decision or determination reduced to writing and signed
by all of the members of the Committee shall be as fully effective as if made
by a
majority vote at a meeting duly called and held. The Committee shall
consist of one (1) or more Directors and may consist of the entire Board;
provided, however, (A) if the Committee consists of less than the entire Board,
then with respect to any Option or Award to an Eligible Individual who is
subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the Committee shall consist of at
least two (2) Directors, each of whom shall be a Nonemployee Director and (B) to
the extent necessary for any Option or Award intended to qualify as
Performance-Based Compensation to so qualify, the Committee shall consist of at
least two (2) Directors, each of whom shall be an Outside
Director. For purposes of the preceding sentence, if one or more
members of the Committee is not a Nonemployee Director and an Outside Director
but recuses himself or herself or abstains from voting with respect to a
particular action taken by the Committee, then the Committee, with respect to
that action, shall be deemed to consist only of the members of the Committee who
have not recused themselves or abstained from voting.
3.2. Subject
to applicable law, the Committee may delegate its authority under the Plan to
any other person or persons, including but not limited to, a subcommittee
comprised of one or more member(s) of the Committee, pursuant to such conditions
or limitations as the Committee may establish, and may grant authority to
officers or subcommittee members to grant Awards and/or execute agreements or
other documents on behalf of the Committee; provided that (i) the Committee may
not authorize any such officer or subcommittee member to designate himself or
herself as a recipient of any Option or Award and (ii) the resolution
authorizing any officer or subcommittee member to grant Options or Awards shall
specify the total number of Options or Awards such officer may
grant. In the event that the Committee’s authority is delegated to
officers or subcommittee members in accordance with the foregoing, all
provisions of the Plan relating to the Committee shall be interpreted in a
manner consistent with the foregoing by treating any such reference as a
reference to such individual for such purpose. Any action undertaken
in accordance with the Committee’s delegation of authority hereunder shall have
the same force and effect as if such action was undertaken directly by the
Committee and shall be deemed for all purposes of the Plan to have been taken by
the Committee.
3.3. No member
of the Committee or the Board or any person designated pursuant to Section 3.2 shall be liable for any action, failure to act,
determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect to this Plan or
any transaction hereunder. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify
each member of the Committee for all costs and expenses and, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, any liability incurred in connection with defending
against, responding to, negotiating for the settlement of or otherwise dealing
with any claim, cause of action or dispute of any kind arising in connection
with any actions in administering this Plan or in authorizing or denying
authorization to any transaction hereunder.
3.4. Subject
to the express terms and conditions set forth herein, the Committee shall have
the power and the discretion from time to time to:
(a) determine
those Eligible Individuals to whom Options shall be granted under the Plan and
the number of such Options to be granted and to prescribe the terms and
conditions (which need not be identical) of each such Option, (including, but
not limited to, the exercise or purchase price (if any), the duration of each
Option, any restriction or limitation, any vesting schedule or acceleration
thereof, or any forfeiture restrictions or waiver thereof, regarding any Option
and the Shares relating thereto, based on such factors, if any, as the
Committee
shall determine, in its sole discretion), and make any amendment or modification
to any Option Agreement consistent with the terms of the
Plan;
(b) select
those Eligible Individuals to whom Awards shall be granted under the Plan and to
determine the number of Shares in respect of which each Award is granted, the
terms and conditions (which need not be identical) of each such
Award (including, but not limited to, the exercise or purchase price
(if any), the duration of each Award, any restriction or limitation, any vesting
schedule or acceleration thereof, or any forfeiture restrictions or waiver
thereof, regarding any Award and the Shares relating thereto, based on such
factors, if any, as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion), and
make any amendment or modification to any Agreement consistent with the terms of
the Plan;
(c) to
construe and interpret the Plan and the Options and Awards granted hereunder and
to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for the administration of
the Plan, including, but not limited to, correcting any defect or supplying any
omission, or reconciling any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Agreement, in
the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or advisable, including so
that the Plan and the operation of the Plan complies with Rule 16b-3 under the
Exchange Act, the Code to the extent applicable and other applicable law, and
otherwise to make the Plan fully effective. All decisions and
determinations by the Committee in the exercise of this power shall be final,
binding and conclusive upon the Company, its Subsidiaries, the Optionees and
Grantees, and all other persons having any interest therein;
(d) to
determine the duration and purposes for leaves of absence which may be granted
to an Optionee or Grantee on an individual basis without constituting a
termination of employment or service for purposes of the Plan;
(e) to
exercise its discretion with respect to the powers and rights granted to it as
set forth in the Plan;
(f) generally,
to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as are deemed necessary or
advisable to promote the best interests of the Company with respect to the
Plan;
(g) engage an
agent to (i) maintain records of Participants and holdings under the Plan, (ii)
execute sales transactions in Shares at the direction of an Optionee or Grantee,
(iii) deliver sales proceeds as directed by an Optionee or Grantee, (iv) hold
Shares owned without restriction at the direction of the Optionee or Grantee and
(v) engage in such other activities as the Committee determines from time to
time necessary to administer the Plan; and
(h) generally,
to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as are deemed necessary or
advisable to promote the best interests of the Company with respect to the
Plan.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the participation of an Eligible Individual represented by a
collective-bargaining representative shall also be governed by the results of
good-faith collective bargaining and/or any collective bargaining agreement
resulting therefrom.
4.
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Stock Subject to the
Plan; Grant Limitations.
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4.1. Awards
under the Plan may be in the form of Nonqualified Stock Options, Incentive Stock
Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights, Performance
Units and Performance Shares, Share Awards, Phantom Stock, Restricted Stock
Units and Restricted Stock, cash payments and such other forms as the Committee
in its discretion deems appropriate, including any combination of the
above. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, no fractional
Shares shall be issued under the Plan nor shall any right be exercised under the
Plan with respect to a fractional Share.
4.2. Subject
to adjustment pursuant to Section 13, the maximum
number of Shares that may be made the subject of Options and Awards granted
under the Plan is 3,848,393. The Company shall reserve for the
purposes of the Plan, out of its authorized but unissued Shares or out of Shares
held in the Company’s treasury, or partly out of each, such number of Shares as
shall be determined by the Board in its discretion. The aggregate
number of Shares subject to Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights granted
under this Plan during any calendar year to any one Participant shall not exceed
1,000,000 which number shall be calculated and adjusted pursuant to Section 13 only to the extent that such calculation or
adjustment will not affect the status of any Option and/or Award intended to
qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Code Section
162(m). The maximum number of Shares that may be granted under this
Plan during any calendar year to any one Participant as Performance Shares or
Performance Units (in either case, denominated in Shares) shall not exceed
1,000,000, which number shall be calculated and adjusted pursuant to Section 13 only to the extent that such calculation or
adjustment will not affect the status of any such Performance Shares or
Performance Units intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under
Code Section 162(m). The aggregate number of Shares that may be
issued pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock Options granted under this
Plan shall not exceed 3,848,393 which number shall be calculated and adjusted
pursuant to Section 13 only to the extent that such
calculation or adjustment will not affect the status of any Option intended to
qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under Code Section 422. The maximum cash
amount payable pursuant to an Award denominated in cash and granted in any
calendar year to any Participant under this Plan that is intended to satisfy the
requirements for “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m)
shall not exceed $6,000,000.
4.3. Upon the
granting of an Option or an Award, the number of Shares available under Section
4.2 for the granting of further Options and Awards
shall be reduced as follows: in connection with the granting of an
Option or an Award (other than the granting of a Performance Unit denominated in
dollars), the number of Shares shall be reduced by the number of Shares in
respect of which the Option or Award is granted or denominated; provided,
however, that (i) if any Option is exercised by tendering Shares, either
actually or by attestation, to the Company as full or partial payment of the
exercise price, the maximum number of Shares available under Section 4.2 shall be increased by the number of Shares so
tendered and (ii) upon settlement of Stock Appreciation Rights, the maximum
number of Shares available under
Section
4.2 shall be increased by the excess of (x) the
number of Shares covered by portion of the Stock Appreciation Right exercised,
over (y) the number of Shares delivered in connection with the settlement of the
Stock Appreciation Right.
4.4. Whenever
any outstanding Option or Award or portion thereof expires, is canceled, is
settled in cash (including the settlement of tax withholding obligations using
Shares) or is otherwise terminated for any reason without having been exercised
or payment having been made by issuance of Shares in respect of the Option or
Award, the Shares allocable to the expired, canceled, settled or otherwise
terminated portion of the Option or Award may again be the subject of Options or
Awards granted hereunder.
5.
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Option Grants for
Eligible Individuals.
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5.1. Authority of
Committee. Subject
to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have full and final authority
to select those Eligible Individuals who will receive Options, and the terms and
conditions of the grant to such Eligible Individuals shall be set forth in an
Agreement. An Award of Options may include Incentive Stock Options,
Non-Qualified Stock Options, or a combination thereof; provided, however, that
an Incentive Stock Option may only be granted to an employee of the Company or a
Subsidiary and no Incentive Stock Option shall be granted more than ten years
after the earlier of (i) the date this Plan is adopted by the Board or (ii) the
date this Plan is approved by the Company’s shareholders.
5.2. Exercise
Price. Subject
to Section 6.5, the purchase price or the manner in
which the exercise price is to be determined for Shares under each Option shall
be determined by the Committee in its discretion and set forth in the Agreement;
provided, however, unless otherwise determined by the Committee, the exercise
price per Share under each Option shall not be less than one hundred percent
(100%) of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Option is granted
unless the Options are substituted for options issued by another company where
the Company or a Subsidiary acquires (whether by purchase, merger, or otherwise)
all or substantially all of outstanding capital stock or assets of another
company or in the event of any reorganization or other transaction qualifying
under Code Section 424.
5.3. Maximum
Duration. Options
granted hereunder shall be for such term as the Committee shall determine in its
discretion, provided that an Option shall not be exercisable after the
expiration of ten (10) years from the date it is granted. Unless the
Committee provides otherwise in the Agreement or in an employment agreement
between the Optionee and the Company, subject to the preceding sentence in this
Section 5.3, an Option (i) may, upon the death,
Disability or Retirement of the Optionee prior to the expiration of the Option,
be exercised for up to two (2) years following the date of the Optionee’s death,
Disability or Retirement, as applicable, but in any event no later than the
original expiration date, (ii) may, following the voluntary termination of
service by the Optionee or a termination other than for Cause, be exercised for
up to sixty (60) days following the date of termination, but in any event no
later than the original expiration date, and (iii) shall, in the event of a
termination of service for Cause, be terminated effective immediately prior to
such termination, whether or not such Option was then exercisable and, provided
further, that termination for this purpose is the later of (x) with respect to
an Optionee who upon termination of employment as an employee remains an
Eligible Individual shall occur only when the Optionee is no longer an Eligible
Individual and (y) with
respect
to an Optionee who is receiving severance payments shall occur when such
payments cease, provided Optionee enters into a release in the form acceptable
to the Company. The Committee may, in its discretion, subsequent to the granting
of any Option, extend the term thereof, but in no event shall the term as so
extended exceed the maximum term provided for in the first sentence
hereof.
5.4. Vesting. Subject
to Section 6.4 addressing the effect of a Change in
Control, each Option shall entitle the Eligible Individual to purchase, in whole
at any time or in part from time to time, twenty-five percent (25%) of the total
number of Shares covered by the Option as of the first anniversary of the date
of grant and an additional twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number of
Shares covered by the Option after the expiration of each of the second, third
and fourth anniversaries of the date of grant while the Optionee is an Eligible
Individual; provided however, that Options (i) may become exercisable in such
other installments (which need not be equal) and at such times as may be
designated by the Committee in its discretion and set forth in the Agreement and
(ii) unless the Committee provides otherwise in the Agreement or in an
employment agreement between the Optionee and the Company, shall continue to
vest only while the Optionee is an Eligible
Individual. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the vesting of any Option
shall continue during the period the Optionee is receiving severance payments
provided Optionee enters into a release in the form acceptable to the
Company. To the extent not exercised, installments shall accumulate
and be exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time after becoming exercisable,
but not later than the date the Option expires. The Committee may, in
its discretion permit the continued vesting or, accelerate the exercisability of
any Option or portion thereof at any time.
5.5. Option
Repricing. Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Plan to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole
discretion, approve an Option repricing without stockholder
approval. For the purposes of the preceding sentence, an “Option
repricing” shall include reducing the exercise price per share of any
outstanding Option, permitting the cancellation, forfeiture or tender of
outstanding Options in exchange for other Awards or for new Options with a lower
exercise price per Share, by any other method repricing or replacing any
outstanding Option, or taking any other action deemed to be a “repricing” under
the rules of the national securities exchange or other market on which the
Shares are listed or admitted to trading.
6.
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Terms and Conditions
Applicable to All Options.
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6.1. Non-Transferability.
(a) No Option
shall be transferable by the Optionee otherwise than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order (within the
meaning of Rule 16a-12 promulgated under the Exchange Act), and an Option shall
be exercisable during the lifetime of such Optionee only by the Optionee or his
or her guardian or legal representative. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Committee may, in its discretion, set forth in the Agreement
evidencing an Option at the time of grant or thereafter, that the Option may be
transferred to members of the Optionee’s immediate family, to trusts solely for
the benefit of such immediate family members and to partnerships in which such
family members and/or trusts are the only partners, and for purposes of this
Plan, a transferee of an Option shall
be deemed
to be the Optionee. For this purpose, immediate family means the
Optionee’s spouse, parents, children, stepchildren and grandchildren and the
spouses of such parents, children, stepchildren and
grandchildren. The terms of an Option shall be final, binding and
conclusive upon the beneficiaries, executors, administrators, heirs and
successors of the Optionee.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, including, without limitation, the provisions
of Section 5.3, if an Option has been transferred
in accordance with this Section 6.1, the Option
shall be exercisable solely by the transferee. The Option shall
remain subject to the provisions of the Plan, including that it shall be
exercisable only to the extent that the Optionee or Optionee’s estate would have
been entitled to exercise it if the Optionee had not transferred the
Option. Unless otherwise provided in the Optionee’s Agreement, in the
event of the death of the Optionee prior to the expiration of the right to
exercise the transferred Option, the period during which the Option shall be
exercisable shall terminate on the date one (1) year following the date of the
Optionee’s death. In the event of the death of the transferee prior
to the expiration of the right to exercise the Option, the period during which
the Option shall be exercisable by the executors, administrators, legatees and
distributees of the transferee’s estate, as the case may be, shall terminate on
the date one (1) year following the date of the transferee’s
death. In no event, however, shall the Option be exercisable after
the expiration of the Option period set forth in the terms and conditions of the
Agreement. The Option shall be subject to such other rules as the
Committee shall determine in its discretion.
6.2. Method of
Exercise. The
exercise of an Option shall be made only by a written notice delivered in
person, electronically or by mail to the Company (or its designee) specifying
the number of Shares to be exercised and, to the extent applicable, accompanied
by payment therefor and otherwise in accordance with the Agreement pursuant to
which the Option was granted; provided, however, that Options may not be
exercised by an Optionee for six (6) months following a hardship distribution to
the Optionee, to the extent such exercise is prohibited under Treasury
Regulation § 1.401(k)-1(d)(3)(B)(2)(iv)(E)(2). The exercise price for
any Shares purchased
pursuant to the exercise of an Option shall be paid, in any of the following
forms (or any combination thereof): (a) cash, (b) the transfer of Shares, either
actually or by attestation, to the Company, such transfer to be upon such terms
and conditions as determined by the Committee in its discretion, (c) withholding
of Shares deliverable upon exercise or (d) a combination of any of the foregoing
or such other methods as determined by the Committee in its discretion;
provided, however, that the Committee may determine at any time in its
discretion that the exercise price shall be paid only in cash. In
addition, if Shares are regularly traded on an established securities market at
the time of exercise, Options may be exercised through a registered
broker-dealer pursuant to such “same day sale” procedures which are, from time
to time, deemed acceptable by the Committee in its discretion. Any
Shares transferred to or withheld by the Company as payment of the exercise
price under an Option shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the date of
exercise of such Option. If requested by the Committee in its
discretion, the Optionee shall deliver the Agreement evidencing the Option to
the Company (or its designee) who shall endorse thereon a notation of such
exercise and return such Agreement to the Optionee. Unless otherwise
determined by the Committee in its discretion, no fractional Shares (or cash in
lieu thereof) shall be issued upon exercise of an Option and the number of
Shares that may be purchased upon exercise shall be rounded to the nearest
number of whole Shares.
6.3. Rights of
Optionees. No
Optionee shall be deemed for any purpose to be the owner of any Shares subject
to any Option unless and until (a) the Option shall have been exercised pursuant
to the terms thereof, (b) the Company shall have issued and delivered Shares to
the Optionee, and (c) the Optionee’s name shall have been entered as a
stockholder of record on the books of the Company. Thereupon, the
Optionee shall have full voting, dividend and other ownership rights with
respect to such Shares, subject to such terms and conditions as may be set forth
in the applicable Agreement.
6.4. Effect of Change in
Control. Notwithstanding
any other provision contained in this Plan, except as otherwise provided in an
Agreement or employment agreement between the Optionee and the Company, in the
event of a Change in Control, any unvested Options issued under this Plan to any
Optionee shall vest and become fully exercisable, subject to the provisions of
Section 12.2, upon (i) the termination by the
Company, Subsidiary, or Affiliate of the Optionee’s employment other than for
Cause during the thirteen (13) month period following the Change in
Control (taking into account the deemed termination provisions of the last
paragraph of such definition) or (ii) the termination of the Optionee’s
employment for Good Reason, during the thirteen (13) month period
following the Change in Control (taking into account the deemed termination
provisions of the last paragraph of such definition). Except as
otherwise provided in an employment agreement between the Optionee and the
Company, in the event of a Change in Control, the Committee may, in its
discretion, do one or more of the following: (i) shorten the period
during which Options are exercisable (provided they remain exercisable for at
least thirty (30) days after the date on which notice of such shortening is
given to the Optionees); (ii) arrange to have the surviving or successor entity
assume the Options or grant replacement options with appropriate adjustments in
the Option prices and adjustments in the number and kind of securities issuable
upon
exercise so that the options or their replacements either (A) represent the
right to purchase the shares of stock, securities or other property (including
cash) as may be issuable or payable as a result of a Change in Control with
respect to or in exchange for the number of Shares purchasable and receivable
upon the exercise of the Options had such exercise occurred in full prior to
such Change in Control, or (B) represent the right to purchase equity securities
of such surviving or successor entity, but only if such equity securities are
actively traded on an established securities market or (iii) cancel the Options
upon the payment to the Optionee in cash and/or securities of the surviving or
successor entity (but only if such securities are actively traded on an
established securities market) with respect to each Option to the extent then
exercisable (including any Options as to which the exercise has been accelerated
in accordance with this Section 6.4), of an amount
that is equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Option or
portion thereof over the aggregate exercise price for such Shares under the
Option or portion thereof surrendered at the effective time of the Change in
Control. The Committee may, in its discretion, also provide for one
or more of the foregoing alternatives in any particular Option
Agreement.
6.5.
ISOs. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in Section 5 and this
Section 6, in the case of the grant of an Option
intending to quality as an ISO: (i) if the Optionee is a Ten Percent Holder, the
purchase price of such Option must be at least one hundred and ten percent
(110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant and the
Option must expire within a period of not more than five (5) years from the date
of grant, and (ii) termination of employment will occur when the person to whom
an ISO was granted ceases to be an employee (as determined in accordance with
Code Section 3401(c) and the regulations
promulgated
thereunder) of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Notwithstanding
anything in Section 5 and this Section 6 to the contrary, Options designated as ISOs shall
not be eligible for treatment under the Code as ISOs to the extent that either
(a) the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares (determined as of the time of
grant) with respect to which such Options are exercisable for the first time by
the Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any
Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, taking Options into account in the order in which
they were granted, or (b) such Options otherwise remain exercisable but are not
exercised within three (3) months of termination of employment (or such other
period of time provided in Code Section 422). Should any Option
granted under this Plan be designated an “Incentive Stock Option,” but fail, for
any reason, to meet the requirements of the Code for such a designation, then
such Option shall be deemed to be a Non-Qualified Stock Option and shall be
valid as such according to its terms.
7.
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Stock Appreciation
Rights.
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The
Committee may, in its discretion, either alone or in connection with the grant
of an Option, grant Stock Appreciation Rights in accordance with the Plan, the
terms and conditions of which shall be set forth in an Agreement. If
granted in connection with an Option, a Stock Appreciation Right shall cover the
same Shares covered by the Option (or such lesser number of Shares as the
Committee may determine in its discretion) and shall, except as provided in this
Section 7, be subject to the same terms and
conditions as the related Option.
7.1.
Time of Grant. A
Stock Appreciation Right may be granted (a) at any time if unrelated to an
Option, or (b) if related to an Option, either at the time of grant or at any
time thereafter during the term of the Option.
7.2. Stock Appreciation Right
Related to an Option.
(a) Exercise. A
Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with an Option shall be
exercisable at such time or times and only to the extent that the related
Options are exercisable, and will not be transferable except to the extent the
related Option may be transferable.
(b) Amount
Payable. Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right
related to an Option, the Grantee shall be entitled to receive an amount
determined by multiplying (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on
the date preceding the date of exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right over
the per Share exercise price under the related Option, by (ii) the number of
Shares as to which such Stock Appreciation Right is being
exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its
discretion, limit in any manner the amount payable with respect to any Stock
Appreciation Right by including such a limit in the Agreement evidencing the
Stock Appreciation Right at the time it is granted.
(c) Treatment of Related Options
and Stock Appreciation Rights Upon Exercise. Upon the exercise
of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with an Option, the Option
shall be canceled to the extent of the number of Shares as to which the Stock
Appreciation Right is exercised, and upon the exercise of an Option granted in
connection with a
Stock
Appreciation Right, the Stock Appreciation Right shall be canceled to the extent
of the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised or
surrendered.
7.3. Stock Appreciation Right
Unrelated to an Option The
Committee may, in its discretion, grant to Eligible Individuals Stock
Appreciation Rights unrelated to Options. Stock Appreciation Rights
unrelated to Options shall contain such terms and conditions as to
exercisability (subject to Section 7.7), vesting
and duration as the Committee shall determine in its discretion, but in no event
shall they have a term of greater than ten (10) years. Unless the
Committee provides otherwise in the Agreement or in an employment agreement
between the Grantee and the Company, subject to the preceding sentence in this
Section 7.3, a Stock Appreciation Right (i) may,
upon the death, Disability or Retirement of the Grantee prior to the expiration
of the Stock Appreciation Right, be exercised for up to two (2) years following
the date of the Grantee’s death, Disability or Retirement, but in any event no
later than the expiration date, as applicable, (ii) may, following the voluntary
termination of service by the Grantee or a termination other than for Cause, be
exercised for up to sixty (60) days following the date of termination, but in
any event no later than the expiration date, and (iii) shall, in the event of a
termination of service for Cause, be terminated effective immediately prior to
such termination, whether or not such Stock Appreciation Right was then
exercisable. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right unrelated to
an Option, the Grantee shall be
entitled to receive an amount determined by multiplying (a) the excess of the
Fair Market Value of a Share on the date preceding the date of exercise of such
Stock Appreciation Right over the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the
Stock Appreciation Right was granted, by (b) the number of Shares as to which
the Stock Appreciation Right is being exercised.
7.4. Non-Transferability. No
Stock Appreciation Right shall be transferable by the Grantee otherwise than by
will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic
relations order (within the meaning of Rule 16a-12 promulgated under the
Exchange Act), and such Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable during the
lifetime of such Grantee only by the Grantee or his or her guardian or legal
representative. The terms of such Stock Appreciation Right shall be
final, binding and conclusive upon the beneficiaries, executors, administrators,
heirs and successors of the Grantee.
7.5. Method of
Exercise. Stock
Appreciation Rights shall be exercised by a Grantee only by a written notice
delivered in person, electronically or by mail to the Company (or its designee)
specifying the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation
Right is being exercised. If requested by the Committee in its
discretion, the Grantee shall deliver the Agreement evidencing the Stock
Appreciation Right being exercised and the Agreement evidencing any related
Option to the Company (or its designee) who shall endorse thereon a notation of
such exercise and return such Agreement to the Grantee.
7.6. Form of
Payment. Payment
of the amount determined under Sections 7.2(b) or
7.3 may be made in the discretion of the Committee
solely in whole Shares in a number determined at their Fair Market Value on the
date preceding the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right, or solely
in cash, or in a combination of cash and Shares. If the Committee, in
its discretion, decides to make full payment in Shares and the amount payable
results in a fractional Share, payment for the fractional Share will be made in
cash.
7.7. Effect of Change in
Control. Notwithstanding
any other provision contained in this Plan, except as otherwise provided in an
Agreement or employment agreement between the Grantee and the Company, in the
event of a Change in Control, any unvested Stock Appreciation Rights issued
under this Plan to any Grantee shall vest and become fully exercisable, subject
to the provisions of Section 12.2, upon (i) the
termination by the Company, Subsidiary, or Affiliate of the Grantee’s employment
other than for Cause, during the thirteen (13) month period following
the Change in Control (taking into account the deemed termination provisions of
the last paragraph of such definition) or (ii) the termination of the Grantee’s
employment for Good Reason, during the thirteen (13) month period
following the Change in Control (taking into account the deemed termination
provisions of the last paragraph of such definition). Except as
otherwise provided in an employment agreement between the Grantee and the
Company, in the event of a Change in Control,
the Committee may, in its discretion, do one or more of the
following: (i) shorten the period during which Stock Appreciate
Rights are exercisable (provided they remain exercisable for at least thirty
(30) days after the date on which notice of such shortening is given to the
Grantees); (ii) arrange to have the surviving or successor entity assume the
Stock Appreciation Rights or grant replacement Stock Appreciation Rights with
appropriate adjustments so that the Stock Appreciation Rights or their
replacements represent the right to receive cash as may be payable as a result
of a Change in Control with respect to the amount of cash receivable upon the
exercise of the Stock Appreciation Rights had such exercise occurred in full
prior to such Change in Control, or (iii) cancel Stock Appreciation Rights upon
the payment to the Grantees in cash and/or securities of the surviving or
successor entity (but only if such securities are actively traded on an
established securities market) with respect to each Stock Appreciation Rights to
the extent then exercisable (including any Stock Appreciation Rights as to which
the exercise has been accelerated in accordance with this Section 7.7), of an amount that is equal to the Fair Market
Value of the Shares subject to the Stock Appreciation Right or portion thereof
over the aggregate exercise price for such Shares under the Stock Appreciation
Right or portion thereof surrendered at the effective time of the Change in
Control. The Committee may, in its discretion, also provide for one
or more of the foregoing alternatives in any particular
Agreement.
8.
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Dividend Equivalent
Rights.
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Dividend
Equivalent Rights may be granted to Eligible Individuals in tandem with an
Option or Award or as a separate Award. The terms and conditions
applicable to each Dividend Equivalent Right shall be specified in the Agreement
under which the Dividend Equivalent Right is granted. Amounts payable
in respect of Dividend Equivalent Rights may be payable currently or deferred
until the lapsing of restrictions on such Dividend Equivalent Rights or until
the vesting, exercise, payment, settlement or other lapse of restrictions on the
Option or Award to which the Dividend Equivalent Rights relate. In
the event that the amount payable in respect of Dividend Equivalent Rights is to
be deferred, the Committee shall, in its discretion, determine whether such
amount is to be held in cash or reinvested in Shares or deemed (notionally) to
be reinvested in Shares. If amounts payable in respect of Dividend
Equivalent Rights are to be held in cash, there may be credited at the end of
each year (or portion thereof) interest on the amount of the account at the
beginning of the year at a rate per annum as the Committee may, in its
discretion, determine. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in
cash or Shares or a combination thereof, in a single installment or multiple
installments as the Committee, in its discretion,
determines.
9.
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Restricted Stock and
Restricted Stock Units.
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9.1. Grant. The
Committee may, in its discretion, grant Awards to Eligible Individuals of
Restricted Stock and/or Restricted Stock Units, which shall be evidenced by an
Agreement. Restricted
Stock is a grant or issuance of Shares the retention, vesting and/or
transferability of which is subject during specified periods of time to such
conditions (including continued employment or performance conditions) and terms
as the Committee deems appropriate. Restricted Stock Units are Awards
denominated in units of Shares under which the issuance of Shares is subject to
such conditions (including continued employment or performance conditions) and
terms as the Committee deems appropriate. Each Agreement shall contain such
restrictions, terms and conditions as the Committee may, in its discretion,
determine and (without limiting the generality of the foregoing) such Agreements
may require that an appropriate legend be placed on Share certificates of
Restricted Stock. For example, the Committee may determine that some
or all certificates representing Shares of Restricted Stock shall bear the
following legend: “THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO
VESTING CONDITIONS AND CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER, SALE AND HYPOTHECATION
AND CERTAIN REPURCHASE RIGHTS. A COMPLETE STATEMENT OF THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS GOVERNING SUCH RESTRICTIONS IS SET FORTH IN THE CHARTER
COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 2009 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN AND IN A RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD
AGREEMENT. A COPY OF THE PLAN AND AWARD AGREEMENT ARE ON FILE AT THE
CORPORATION’S PRINCIPAL OFFICE.” Awards of Restricted Stock and
Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to the terms and provisions set forth
below in this Section 9.
9.2. Rights of
Grantee. Shares
of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to an Award hereunder shall be issued in
the name of the Grantee as soon as reasonably practicable after the Award is
granted provided that the Grantee, to the extent required by the Committee and
in the manner specified by the Committee, has executed an Agreement evidencing
the Award, the appropriate blank stock powers and, in the discretion of the
Committee, an escrow agreement and any other documents which the Committee may,
in its discretion, require as a condition to the issuance of such
Shares. If a Grantee shall fail, to the extent required by the
Committee, to execute the Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Award, or any
documents which the Committee may, in its discretion, require within the time
period prescribed by the Committee at the time the Award is granted, the Award
shall be null and void. At the discretion of the Committee, Shares
issued in connection with a Restricted Stock Award shall be deposited together
with the stock powers with an escrow agent (which may be the Company) designated
by the Committee. Unless the Committee in its discretion determines
otherwise and as set forth in the Agreement, upon delivery of the Shares to the
escrow agent, the Grantee shall have all of the rights of a stockholder with
respect to such Shares, including the right to vote the Shares and to receive
all dividends or other distributions paid or made with respect to the
Shares. Participants shall have no rights as a stockholder with
respect to Shares underlying Restricted Stock Units unless and until such Shares
are reflected as issued and outstanding Shares on the Company’s stock
ledger.
9.3. Non-Transferability. Until
all restrictions upon the Shares of Restricted Stock awarded to a Grantee shall
have lapsed in the manner set forth in Section 9.4,
such Shares shall not be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of and shall
not be pledged or otherwise
hypothecated. No Restricted Stock Unit shall be transferable by
the Optionee otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order (within the meaning of
Rule 16a-12 promulgated under the Exchange Act).
9.4. Lapse of
Restrictions.
(a) Generally. Restrictions
upon Shares of Restricted Stock awarded hereunder shall lapse, and Restricted
Stock Units shall vest, at such time or times and on such terms and conditions
as the Committee may determine in its discretion. The Agreement
evidencing the Award shall set forth any such restrictions.
(b) Effect of Change in
Control. Notwithstanding any other provision contained in this
Plan, except as otherwise provided in an Agreement or employment agreement
between the Grantee and the Company, in the event of a Change in Control, any
restrictions with respect to Restricted Stock issued under this Plan to any
Grantee shall lapse and Restricted Stock Units issued under this Plan to any
Grantee shall vest, subject to the provisions of Section 12.2, upon (i) the termination by the Company,
Subsidiary, or Affiliate of the Optionee’s employment other than for Cause,
during the thirteen (13) month period following the Change in Control
(taking into account the deemed termination provisions of the last paragraph of
such definition) or (ii) the termination of the Optionee’s employment for Good
Reason, during the thirteen (13) month period following the Change in Control
(taking into account the deemed termination provisions of the last paragraph of
such definition). Except as otherwise provided in an employment
agreement between the Grantee and the Company, in the event of a Change in
Control, the Committee may, in its discretion, do one or more of the
following: (i) arrange to have the surviving or successor entity
assume the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units or grant replacement
Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units with appropriate adjustments in the
number and kind of securities so that the Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock
Unit Award or its replacement either (x) represents the right to receive cash or
Shares as may be payable as a result of a Change in Control with respect to the
amount of cash or Shares receivable upon the lapse of the restrictions on the
Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units had such lapse occurred prior to such
Change in Control, or (y) represents the right to the equity securities of the
surviving or successor entity, but only if such equity securities are actively
traded on an established securities market, or (ii) cancel the Restricted Stock
or Restricted Stock Unit Award upon the payment to the Grantees in cash and/or
securities of the surviving or successor entity (but only if such securities are
actively traded on an established securities market), with respect to each
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Award to the extent then lapsed
(including any Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units as to which the lapse
of restrictions has been accelerated in accordance with this Section 9.4(b)), of an amount
that is equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Restricted
Stock or Restricted Stock Unit Award surrendered at the effective time of the
Change in Control. The Committee may, in its discretion, also provide
for one or more of the foregoing alternatives in any particular
Agreement.
9.5. Treatment of
Dividends. At
the time an Award of Shares of Restricted Stock is granted, the Committee may,
in its discretion, determine that the payment to the Grantee of dividends, or a
specified portion thereof, declared or paid on such Shares by the Company shall
be (a) deferred until the lapsing of the restrictions imposed upon such Shares
and (b) held by the Company for the account of the Grantee until such
time. In the event that dividends are to
be
deferred, the Committee shall, in its discretion, determine whether such
dividends are to be reinvested in Shares (which shall be held as additional
Shares of Restricted Stock) or held in cash, or, if such dividends are paid in
Shares, whether the Shares shall be deposited with the Company and subject to
the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as the Shares of
Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid. If deferred
dividends are to be held in cash, there may be credited at the end of each year
(or portion thereof) interest on the amount of the account at the beginning of
the year at a rate per annum as the Committee may, in its discretion,
determine. Payment of deferred dividends in respect of Shares of
Restricted Stock (whether held in cash or as additional Shares of Restricted
Stock), together with interest accrued thereon, if any, shall be made upon the
lapsing of restrictions imposed on the Shares in respect of which the deferred
dividends were paid, and any dividends deferred (together with any interest
accrued thereon) in respect of any Shares of Restricted Stock shall be forfeited
upon the forfeiture of such Shares. Shares underlying Restricted
Stock Units shall be entitled to dividends or dividend equivalents only to the
extent and under the terms provided by the Committee.
9.6. Delivery of
Shares. Upon
the lapse of the restrictions on Shares of Restricted Stock and upon the vesting
of Restricted Stock Units, the Committee shall cause a stock certificate to be
promptly delivered to the Grantee with respect to such Shares, free of the
restrictions set forth in this Section 9. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Committee may impose such additional restrictions as it may deem advisable,
including, but not limited to, restrictions related to applicable federal
securities laws, the requirements of any national securities exchange or system
upon which Shares are then listed or traded, or any blue sky or state securities
laws.
10.1. Performance
Units. The
Committee may, in its discretion, grant Awards of Performance Units to Eligible
Individuals, the terms and conditions of which shall be set forth in an
Agreement. Performance Units may be denominated in Shares or a
specified dollar amount and, contingent upon the attainment of specified
Performance Objectives within the Performance Cycle, represent the right to
receive payment as provided in Section 10.3(c) of
(i) in the case of Share-denominated Performance Units, the Fair Market Value of
a Share on the date the Performance Unit was granted, the date the Performance
Unit became vested or any other date specified by the Committee in its
discretion, (ii) in the case of dollar-denominated Performance Units, the
specified dollar amount or (iii) a percentage (which may be more than one
hundred percent (100%)) of the amount described in clause (i) or (ii) depending
on the level of Performance Objective attainment; provided, however, that, the
Committee may, in its discretion, at the time a Performance Unit is granted
specify a maximum amount payable in respect of a vested Performance
Unit. Each Agreement shall specify the number of Performance Units to
which it relates,
the Performance Objectives which must be satisfied in order for the Performance
Units to vest and the Performance Cycle within which such Performance Objectives
must be satisfied.
(a) Vesting and
Forfeiture. Subject to Sections 10.3(c) and 10.4, a
Grantee shall become vested with respect to the Performance Units to the extent
that the Performance Objectives set forth in the Agreement are satisfied for the
Performance Cycle.
(b) Payment of
Awards. Subject to Section 10.3(c), payment to Grantees in respect of vested
Performance Units shall be made as soon as practicable after the last day of the
Performance Cycle to which such Award relates unless the Agreement evidencing
the Award provides for the deferral of payment, in which event the terms and
conditions of the deferral shall be set forth in the
Agreement. Subject to Section 10.4, such
payments may be made entirely in Shares valued at their Fair Market Value,
entirely in cash, or in such combination of Shares and cash as the Committee
shall, in its discretion, determine at any time prior to such payment; provided,
however, that if the Committee in its discretion determines to make such payment
entirely or partially in Shares of Restricted Stock, the Committee must
determine the extent to which such payment will be in Shares of Restricted Stock
and the terms of such Restricted Stock at the time the Award is
granted.
10.2. Performance
Shares. The
Committee may, in its discretion, grant Awards of Performance Shares to Eligible
Individuals, the terms and conditions of which shall be set forth in an
Agreement. Each Agreement may require that an appropriate legend be
placed on Share certificates. Awards of Performance Shares shall be
subject to the following terms and provisions:
(a) Rights of
Grantee. The Committee shall provide at the time an Award of
Performance Shares is made the time or times at which the actual Shares
represented by such Award shall be issued in the name of the Grantee; provided,
however, that no Performance Shares shall be issued until the Grantee has, to
the extent required by the Committee and in the manner specified by the
Committee, executed an Agreement evidencing the Award, the appropriate blank
stock powers and, in the discretion of the Committee, an escrow agreement and
any other documents which the Committee may require as a condition to the
issuance of such Performance Shares. If a Grantee shall fail, to the
extent required by the Committee, to execute the Agreement evidencing an Award
of Performance Shares, the appropriate blank stock powers and, in the discretion
of the Committee, an escrow agreement and any other documents which the
Committee may require within the time period prescribed by the Committee at the
time the Award is granted, the Award shall be null and void. At the
discretion of the Committee, Shares issued in connection with an Award of
Performance Shares shall be deposited together with the stock powers with an
escrow agent (which may be the Company) designated by the
Committee. Except as restricted by the terms of the Agreement, upon
delivery of the Shares to the escrow agent, the Grantee shall have, in the
discretion of the Committee, all of the rights of a stockholder with respect to
such Shares, including the right to vote the Shares and to receive all dividends
or other distributions paid or made with respect to the
Shares.
(b) Non-Transferability. Until
any restrictions upon the Performance Shares awarded to a Grantee shall have
lapsed in the manner set forth in Sections 10.2(c) or 10.4, such
Performance Shares shall not be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of and
shall not be pledged or otherwise hypothecated, nor shall they be delivered to
the Grantee. The Committee may, in its discretion, also impose such
other restrictions and conditions on the Performance Shares, if any, as it deems
appropriate.
(c) Lapse of
Restrictions. Subject to Sections 10.3(c) and 10.4,
restrictions upon Performance Shares awarded hereunder shall lapse and such
Performance Shares shall become vested at such time or times and on such terms,
conditions and satisfaction of
Performance
Objectives as the Committee may, in its discretion, determine at the time an
Award is granted.
(d) Treatment of
Dividends. At the time the Award of Performance Shares is
granted, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine that the payment to the
Grantee of dividends, or a specified portion thereof, declared or paid on Shares
represented by such Award which have been issued by the Company to the Grantee
shall be (i) deferred until the lapsing of the restrictions imposed upon such
Performance Shares and (ii) held by the Company for the account of the Grantee
until such time. In the event that dividends are to be deferred, the
Committee shall determine whether such dividends are to be reinvested in Shares
(which shall be held as additional Performance Shares) or held in cash or, if
such dividends are paid in Shares, whether the Shares shall be deposited with
the Company and subject to the same restrictions on transferability and
forfeitability as the Performance Shares with respect to which they were
paid. If deferred dividends are to be held in cash, there may be
credited at the end of each year (or portion thereof) interest on the amount of
the account at the beginning of the year at a rate per annum as the Committee
may, in its discretion, determine. Payment of deferred dividends in
respect of Performance Shares (whether held in cash or in additional Performance
Shares), together with interest accrued thereon, if any, shall be made upon the
lapsing of restrictions imposed on the Performance Shares in respect of which
the deferred dividends were paid, and any dividends deferred (together with any
interest accrued thereon) in respect of any Performance Shares shall be
forfeited upon the forfeiture of such Performance Shares.
(e) Delivery of
Shares. Upon the lapse of the restrictions on Performance
Shares awarded hereunder, the Committee shall cause a stock certificate to be
delivered to the Grantee with respect to such Shares, free of all restrictions
hereunder.
10.3. Performance
Objectives
(a) Establishment. Performance
Objectives for Performance Awards may be based on and expressed in terms of one
or more of the following business criteria: (i) revenue, (ii) net income, (iii)
operating income, (iv) earnings, (v) net earnings, (vi) Share price, (vii) cash
flow, (viii) EBITDA, (ix) total shareholder return, (x) total shareholder return
relative to peers, (xi) financial returns (including, without limitation, return
on assets, return on equity and return on investment), (xii) cost reduction
targets, (xiii) customer satisfaction, (xiv) customer growth, (xv) employee
satisfaction, (xvi) pre-tax profits, (xvii) net earnings, or (xiii) any
combination of the foregoing. Performance Objectives (and underlying
business criteria, as applicable) may be in respect of: (i) the performance of
the Company, (ii) the performance of any of its Subsidiaries, (b) (iii) the
performance of any of its Divisions, (iv) a per Share basis, (v) a per
subscriber basis, or (vi) any combination of the
foregoing. Performance Objectives may be absolute or relative (to
prior performance of the Company or to the performance of one or more other
entities or external indices) and may be expressed in terms of a progression
within a specified range. The formula for determining Performance
Objectives may include or exclude items to measure specific objectives, such as
losses from discontinued operations, extraordinary, unusual or nonrecurring
gains and losses, the cumulative effect of accounting changes, acquisitions or
divestitures, core process redesigns, structural changes/outsourcing, and
foreign exchange impacts. The Performance Objectives with respect to
a Performance Cycle shall be established in writing by the Committee by the
earlier of (x) the date on which a quarter of the Performance Cycle has
elapsed
or (y) the date which is ninety (90) days after the commencement of the
Performance Cycle, and in any event while the performance relating to the
Performance Objectives remain substantially uncertain.
(b) Effect of Certain
Events. At the time of the granting of a Performance Award, or
at any time thereafter, in either case to the extent permitted under Code
Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder without adversely affecting the
treatment of the Performance Award as Performance-Based Compensation, the
Committee may, in its discretion, provide for the manner in which performance
will be measured against the Performance Objectives (or may adjust the
Performance Objectives) to reflect the impact of specified corporate
transactions, accounting or tax law changes and other extraordinary or
nonrecurring events.
(c) Determination of
Performance. Prior to the vesting, payment, settlement or
lapsing of any restrictions with respect to any Performance Award that is
intended to constitute Performance-Based Compensation made to a Grantee who is
subject to Code Section 162(m), the Committee shall certify in writing that the
applicable Performance Objectives have been satisfied to the extent necessary
for such Award to qualify as Performance Based Compensation.
10.4. Effect of Change in
Control. In
the event of a Change in Control, unless otherwise determined by the Committee
in its discretion and set forth in the Agreement evidencing the Award or in an
employment agreement between the Grantee and the Company, and subject to the
provisions of Section 12.2, upon (i) the
termination by the Company, Subsidiary, or Affiliate of the Optionee’s
employment other than for Cause, during the thirteen (13) month period following
the Change in Control (taking into account the deemed termination provisions of
the last paragraph of such definition) or (ii) the termination of the Optionee’s
employment for Good Reason, during the thirteen (13) month period following the
Change in Control (taking into account the deemed termination provisions of the
last paragraph of such definition).
(a) With
respect to Performance Units, the Grantee shall (i) become vested in all
outstanding Performance Units as if all Performance Objectives had been
satisfied at the maximum level and (ii) be entitled to receive in respect of all
Performance Units which become vested as a result of a Change in Control a cash
payment within ten (10) days after termination of employment.
(b) With
respect to Performance Shares, all restrictions shall lapse immediately on all
outstanding Performance Shares as if all Performance Objectives had been
satisfied at the maximum level.
(c) The
Agreements evidencing Performance Shares and Performance Units shall provide for
the treatment of such Awards (or portions thereof), if any, which do not become
vested as the result of a Change in Control, including, but not limited to,
provisions for the adjustment of applicable Performance
Objectives.
(d) Notwithstanding
the above, except as otherwise provided in an Agreement or employment agreement
between the Grantee and the Company, the Committee may, in its discretion, do
one or more of the following: (i) arrange to have the surviving or
successor entity assume the Performance Units or Performance Shares or grant
replacement Performance Units or Performance Shares, as applicable, with
appropriate adjustments so that such Awards or their replacements either (x)
represent the right to receive cash or Shares as may be payable as a result of a
Change in Control with respect to the amount of cash or Shares receivable upon
the vesting of the Performance Units or Performance Shares had such vesting
occurred in full prior to such Change in Control, or (y) represent the right to
receive equity securities of the surviving or successor entity, but only if such
equity securities are actively traded on an established securities market, or
(ii) cancel the Performance Units or Performance Shares upon the payment to the
Grantees in cash with respect to each such Award to the extent then otherwise
payable in cash and/or securities of the surviving or successor entity (but only
if such securities are actively traded on an established securities market) or
in Shares (including any Awards as to which vesting or lapse of restrictions has
taken place in accordance with (a) and (b) of this Section 10), of an amount, with respect to Performance Units,
that is equal to the amount of cash payable as if all Performance Objectives had
been satisfied at the maximum level, and, with respect to Performance Shares,
that is equal to the Fair Market Value of the Shares payable as if all
Performance Objectives had been satisfied at the maximum level.
10.5. Non-Transferability. Until
the vesting of Performance Units or the lapsing of any restrictions on
Performance Shares, as the case may be, such Performance Units or Performance
Shares shall not be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of and shall not be
pledged or otherwise hypothecated.
11.
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Other Share Based
Awards.
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11.1. Share
Awards. The
Committee may, in its discretion, grant a Share Award to any Eligible Individual
on such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in its sole
discretion. Share Awards may be made as additional compensation for
services rendered by the Eligible Individual or may be in lieu of cash or other
compensation to which the Eligible Individual is entitled from the
Company.
11.2.
Phantom Stock Awards.
(a) Grant. The
Committee may, in its discretion, grant shares of Phantom Stock to any Eligible
Individual. Such Phantom Stock shall be subject to the terms and
conditions established by the Committee in its discretion and set forth in the
applicable Agreement.
(b) Payment of
Awards. Upon the vesting of a Phantom Stock Award, the Grantee
shall be entitled to receive a cash payment in respect of each share of Phantom
Stock which shall be equal to the Fair Market Value of a Share as of the date
the Phantom Stock Award was granted, or such other date as determined by the
Committee in its discretion at the time the Phantom Stock Award was
granted. The Committee may, in its discretion, at the time a Phantom
Stock Award is granted, provide a limitation on the amount payable in respect of
each share of Phantom Stock. In lieu of a cash payment, the Committee
may, in its discretion, settle Phantom
Stock
Awards with Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the cash payment to which
the Grantee has become entitled.
12.
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Effect of a
Termination of Employment.
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12.1. The
Agreement evidencing the grant of each Option and each Award shall set forth the
terms and conditions applicable to such Option or Award upon a termination or
change in the status of the employment of the Optionee or Grantee by the
Company, a Subsidiary or a Division (including a termination or change by reason
of the sale of a Subsidiary or a Division), which shall be as the Committee may,
in its discretion, determine at the time the Option or Award is granted or
thereafter. In addition, such terms and conditions may be set forth
in an employment agreement between the Eligible Individual and the
Company.
12.2. Excise Tax
Limitation.
(a) Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Plan to the contrary, except as otherwise provided in
an employment agreement between the Eligible Individual and the Company, to the
extent that any payment, distribution or acceleration of vesting to or for the
benefit of the Optionee or Grantee by the Company (within the meaning of Code
Section 280G and the regulations thereunder), whether paid or payable or
distributed or distributable pursuant to the terms of this Plan or otherwise
(the “Total Payments”) is or will be subject to the excise tax imposed under
Code Section 4999 (the “Excise Tax”), then the Total Payments shall be reduced
(but not below zero) if and to the extent that a reduction in the Total Payments
would result in the Optionee or Grantee retaining a larger amount, on an
after-tax basis (taking into account federal, state and local income taxes and
the Excise Tax), than if the Optionee or Grantee received the entire amount of
such Total Payments. Unless the Optionee or Grantee shall have given
prior written notice specifying a different order to the Company to effectuate
the foregoing, the Company shall reduce or eliminate the Total Payments, by
first reducing or eliminating
the portion of the Total Payments which are payable in cash and then by reducing
or eliminating non-cash payments, in each case in reverse order beginning with
payments or benefits which are to be paid the farthest in time from the
Determination (as hereinafter defined). Any notice given by the
Optionee or Grantee pursuant to the preceding sentence shall take precedence
over the provisions of any other plan, arrangement or agreement governing the
Executive’s rights and entitlements to any benefits or
compensation.
(b)
The
determination of whether the Total Payments shall be reduced as provided in
Section 12.2(a) and
the amount of such reduction shall be made at the Company’s expense by an
accounting firm selected by the Optionee or Grantee from among the four largest
accounting firms in the United States or at the Optionee’s or Grantee’s expense
by an attorney selected by the Optionee or Grantee. Such accounting
firm or attorney (the “Determining Party”) shall provide its determination (the
“Determination”), together with detailed supporting calculations and
documentation to the Company and the Optionee or Grantee within ten (10) days of
the termination of Optionee’s or Grantee’s employment. If the
Determining Party determines that no Excise Tax is payable by the Optionee or
Grantee with respect to the Total Payments, it shall furnish the Optionee or
Grantee with an opinion reasonably acceptable to the Optionee or Grantee that no
Excise Tax will be imposed with respect to any such payments and, absent
manifest error, such Determination shall be binding, final and conclusive upon
the
Company
and the Optionee or Grantee. If the Determining Party determines that
an Excise Tax would be payable, the Company shall have the right to accept the
Determination of the Determining Party as to the extent of the reduction, if
any, pursuant to Section 12.2(a), or to have such Determination reviewed by an
accounting firm selected by the Company, at the Company’s expense. If
the Company’s accounting firm and the Determining Party do not agree, a third
accounting firm shall be jointly chosen by the Determining Party and the
Company, at the Company's expense, in which case the determination of such third
accounting firm shall be binding, final and conclusive upon the Company and the
Optionee or Grantee.
13.
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Adjustment Upon
Changes in Capitalization.
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(a) In the
event of a Change in Capitalization, the Committee shall conclusively determine
the appropriate proportional adjustments to (i) the maximum number and class of
Shares or other stock or securities with respect to which Options or Awards may
be granted under the Plan, (ii) the maximum number and class of Shares or other
stock or securities with respect to which Options or Awards may be granted to
any Eligible Individual in any one calendar year period, (iii) the number and
class of Shares or other stock or securities or other property (including cash)
which are subject to outstanding Options or Awards granted under the Plan and
the exercise price therefor, if applicable, (iv) for Stock Appreciation Rights
unrelated to an Option, the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Stock
Appreciation Right was granted, and (v) the Performance Objectives.
(b) Any such
adjustment in the Shares or other stock or securities subject to outstanding
Options or Awards that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation
shall be made in such a manner as not to adversely affect the treatment of the
Options or Awards as Performance-Based Compensation.
(c) Any
adjustment pursuant to this Section 13 in respect
of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights that are Non-409A Awards shall be made
only to the extent consistent with Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-1(b)(5)(v)
or a successor provision.
(d) If, by
reason of a Change in Capitalization, a Grantee of an Award shall be entitled
to, or an Optionee shall be entitled to exercise an Option with respect to, new,
additional or different shares of stock or securities of the Company or any
other corporation, such new, additional or different shares shall thereupon be
subject to all of the conditions, restrictions and performance criteria which
were applicable to the Shares subject to the Award or Option, as the case may
be, prior to such Change in Capitalization.
14.
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Effect of Certain
Transactions.
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Subject
to Sections 6.4, 7.7,
9.4(b), and 10.4 or as
otherwise provided in an Agreement or employment agreement between the Eligible
Individual and the Company, in the event of (a) the liquidation or dissolution
of the Company or (b) a merger or consolidation of the Company (a “Transaction”)
that does not constitute a Change in Control, the Plan and each Option and Award
issued hereunder shall continue in effect in accordance with their respective
terms, except that the Committee may, in its discretion, do one or more of the
following: (i) shorten the period during which Options and Awards are
exercisable (provided they remain
exercisable
for at least thirty (30) days after the date on which notice of such shortening
is given to the Optionees or Grantees); (ii) accelerate the vesting schedule or
the lapse of any restrictions with respect to Options and Awards, (iii) arrange
to have the surviving or successor entity assume the Options and Awards or grant
replacement Options and Awards with appropriate adjustments in the exercise
prices, and adjustments in the number and kind of securities issuable upon
exercise or lapse of restrictions or adjustments so that the Options and Awards
or their replacements represent the right to purchase or receive the stock,
securities or other property (including cash) as may be issuable or payable as a
result of such Transaction with respect to or in exchange for the number of
Shares purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the Options and Awards
had such exercise occurred in full prior to the Transaction, or (iv) with the
prior written consent of the Optionee or Grantee (unless otherwise stated in the
Agreement), cancel the Options and Awards upon the payment to the Grantees in
cash (A) with respect to each Option and Award to the extent exercisable for or
payable in Shares, of an amount that is equal to the Fair Market Value of the
Shares subject to the Award or portion thereof over the aggregate exercise price
for such Shares under the Award or portion thereof surrendered at the effective
time of the Transaction, or (B) with respect to each Award to the extent not
exercisable for or payable in Shares, of an amount that is equal to the cash
value of the Award or portion thereof surrendered at the effective time of the
Transaction. The Committee may, in its discretion, also provide for
one or more of the following alternatives in any particular
Agreement. The treatment of any Option or Award as provided in this
Section 14 shall be conclusively presumed to be
appropriate for purposes of Section 10.
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Following
the required registration of any equity security of the Company pursuant
to Section 12 of the Exchange Act:
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(a) The Plan
is intended to comply with Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and the
Committee shall interpret and administer the provisions of the Plan or any
Agreement in a manner consistent therewith. Any provisions
inconsistent with such Rule shall be inoperative and shall not affect the
validity of the Plan.
(b) Unless
otherwise expressly stated in the relevant Agreement, each Option, Stock
Appreciation Right and Performance Award granted under the Plan is intended to
be Performance-Based Compensation. The Committee shall not be
entitled to exercise any discretion otherwise authorized hereunder with respect
to such Options or Awards if the ability to exercise such discretion or the
exercise of such discretion itself would cause the compensation attributable to
such Options or Awards to fail to qualify as Performance-Based
Compensation.
16.
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Successors; Binding
Agreement.
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This Plan
shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the Company, its
Successors and Assigns, and the Company shall require any Successors and Assigns
to expressly assume and agree to comply with the terms of the Plan in the same
manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform it
if no such succession or assignment had taken place.
17.
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Termination and
Amendment of the Plan or Modification of Options and
Awards.
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17.1. Plan Amendment or
Termination. The
Plan shall terminate as of the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date of its
adoption by the Board and no Option or Award may be granted
thereafter. The Board may sooner terminate the Plan and the Board may
at any time and from time to time amend, modify or suspend the Plan; provided,
however, that:
(a) no such
amendment, modification, suspension or termination shall impair or adversely
alter in any material respect any Options or Awards theretofore granted under
the Plan, except with the consent of the Optionee or Grantee, nor shall any
amendment, modification, suspension or termination deprive any Optionee or
Grantee of any Shares which he or she may have acquired through or as a result
of the Plan; and
(b) to the
extent necessary under any applicable law, regulation or exchange requirement,
no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the stockholders of the
Company in accordance with applicable law, regulation or exchange
requirement.
17.2. Modification of
Options and Awards. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, no modification
of an Option or Award shall adversely alter or impair in any material respect
any of the Participant's rights or the Company's obligations under the Option or
Award without the consent of the Optionee or Grantee, as the case may
be.
18.
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Non-Exclusivity of the
Plan.
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The
adoption of the Plan by the Board shall not be construed as amending, modifying
or rescinding any previously approved incentive arrangement or as creating any
limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive 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.
19.
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Regulations and Other
Approvals; Governing Law; Jury Trial
Waiver.
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19.1. Except as
to matters of federal law, the Plan and the rights of all persons claiming
hereunder shall be construed and determined in accordance with the laws of the
State of Delaware without giving effect to conflicts of laws principles
thereof.
19.2. Unless
otherwise specified in an applicable Agreement, any suit, action or proceeding
with respect to this Plan or any Award Agreement, or any judgment entered by any
court of competent jurisdiction in respect of any thereof, shall be brought in
any Court in St. Louis County, Missouri, and the Company and each Participant
shall submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of any
such suit, action, proceeding or judgment. The Company and each
Participant shall irrevocably waive any objections which he, she or it may have
to the laying of the venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or
relating to this
Plan or
any Award Agreement brought in any Court in St. Louis County, Missouri, and
shall further irrevocably waive any claim that any such suit, action or
proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in any inconvenient
forum. The Company and each Participant shall waive any right he, she
or it may have to trial by jury in respect of any litigation based on, arising
out of, under or in connection with this Plan or any Award Agreement or any
course of conduct, course of dealing, verbal or written statement or action of
any party to any Award Agreement or relating to this Plan in any
way.
19.3. The
obligation of the Company to sell or deliver Shares with respect to Options and
Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and
regulations, including all applicable federal and state securities laws, and the
obtaining of all such approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed
necessary or appropriate by the Committee in its discretion.
19.4. The Board
may make such changes as may be necessary or appropriate to comply with the
rules and regulations of any government authority.
19.5. Each
Option and Award is subject to the requirement that, if at any time the
Committee determines, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or
qualification of Shares issuable pursuant to the Plan is required by any
securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or
approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a
condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Option or Award or the
issuance of Shares, no Options or Awards shall be granted or payment made or
Shares issued, in whole or in part, unless listing, registration, qualification,
consent or approval has been effected or obtained free of any conditions as
acceptable to the Committee in its discretion.
19.6. Notwithstanding
anything contained in the Plan or any Agreement to the contrary, in the event
that the disposition of Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan is not covered by a
then current registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the “Securities Act”), and is not otherwise exempt from such registration, such
Shares shall be restricted against transfer to the extent required by the
Securities Act and Rule 144 or other regulations thereunder. The
Committee may, in its discretion, require any individual receiving Shares
pursuant to an Option or Award granted under the Plan, as a condition precedent
to receipt of such Shares, to represent and warrant to the Company in writing
that the Shares acquired by such individual are acquired without a view to any
distribution thereof and will not be sold or transferred other than pursuant to
an effective registration thereof under said Act or pursuant to an exemption
applicable under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder. The certificates evidencing any of such Shares shall be
appropriately amended or have an appropriate legend placed thereon to reflect
their status as restricted securities as aforesaid.
20.1. Multiple
Agreements. The
terms of each Option or Award may differ from other Options or Awards granted
under the Plan at the same time, or at some other time. The Committee
may, in its discretion, also grant more than one Option or Award to a given
Eligible
Individual during the term of the Plan, either in addition to, or in
substitution for, one or more Options or Awards previously granted to that
Eligible Individual.
20.2. Withholding of
Taxes.
(a) At such
times as an Optionee or Grantee recognizes taxable income in connection with the
receipt of Shares or cash hereunder (a “Taxable Event”), the Optionee or Grantee
shall pay to the Company an amount equal to the federal, state and local income
taxes and other amounts as may be required by law to be withheld by the Company
in connection with the Taxable Event (the “Withholding Taxes”) prior to the
issuance, or release from escrow, of such
Shares or the payment of such cash. The Company shall have the right
to deduct from any payment of cash to an Optionee or Grantee an amount equal to
the Withholding Taxes in satisfaction of the obligation to pay Withholding
Taxes. In satisfaction of the obligation to pay Withholding Taxes to
the Company, the Optionee or Grantee may make a written election (the “Tax
Election”), which may be accepted or rejected in the discretion of the
Committee, to have withheld a portion of the Shares then issuable to him or her
having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the Withholding
Taxes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its
discretion, provide that an Optionee or Grantee shall not be entitled to
exercise or receive an Award, as applicable, for which cash has not been
provided by the Optionee or Grantee with respect to the Withholding Taxes
applicable to such Award.
(b) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if Options have been transferred pursuant to the provisions of
Section 6.1 the Optionee shall provide the Company
with funds sufficient to pay such tax withholding when such withholding is
due. Furthermore, if such Optionee does not satisfy the applicable
tax withholding obligation, the transferee may provide the funds sufficient to
enable the Company to pay the tax withholding. However, if Options
have been transferred, the Company shall have no right to retain or sell without
notice, or to demand surrender from the transferee of, Shares in order to pay
such tax withholding.
(c) Required Consent to and
Notification of Code Section 83(b) Election. No election under
Code Section 83(b) (to include in gross income in the year of transfer the
amounts specified in Code Section 83(b) or under a similar provision of the laws
of a jurisdiction outside the United States may be made unless expressly
permitted by the terms of the Award document or by action of the Committee in
writing prior to the making of such election. In any case in which a Participant
is permitted to make such an election in connection with an Award, the
Participant shall notify the Company of such election within ten (10) days of
filing notice of the election with the Internal Revenue Service or other
governmental authority, in addition to any filing and notification required
pursuant to regulations issued under Code Section 83(b) or other applicable
provision.
(d) Requirement of Notification
Upon Disqualifying Disposition Under Code Section 421(b). If
any Participant shall make any disposition of Shares delivered pursuant to the
exercise of an ISO under the circumstances described in Code Section 421(b)
(i.e., a disqualifying disposition), such Participant shall notify the Company
of such disposition within ten (10) days thereof.
20.3. Effective
Date. The
effective date of this Plan shall be as determined by the Board in its
discretion, subject only to the approval by the affirmative vote of the holders
of a majority of the securities of the Company (i) pursuant to a written consent
or (ii) present, or represented, and entitled to vote at a meeting of
stockholders duly held, in either case in accordance with the applicable laws of
the State of Delaware within twelve (12) months of the adoption of the Plan by
the Board. If any Awards are granted under the Plan before the date
of such shareholder approval, such Awards automatically shall be granted subject
to such approval.
20.4. Compliance with
Code Section 162(m). It is the intent of the Company that Options and SARs
granted to “covered employees” (within the meaning of Code Section 162(m)) and
other Awards designated as awards of Performance-Based Compensation are intended
to constitute qualified “performance-based compensation” within the meaning of
Code Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder. Accordingly, the
terms of Sections 4.1, 5.2, 7 and 10 shall
be interpreted in a manner consistent with Code Section 162(m) and the
regulations thereunder. The foregoing notwithstanding, because the
Committee cannot determine with certainty whether a given Participant will be in
a covered employee with respect to a fiscal year that has not yet been
completed, the term covered employee as used herein shall mean only a person
designated by the Committee as likely to be a covered employee with respect to a
specified fiscal year. If any provision of the Plan or any Agreement
relating to an Award that is designated as intended to comply with Code Section
162(m) does not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of Code Section
162(m) or regulations thereunder, such provision shall be construed or deemed
amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements, and no
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 such Award upon attainment
of the applicable performance objectives.
20.5. Certain Limitations on Awards to Ensure Compliance with
Code Section 409A. For
purposes of this Plan, references to an Option or Award term or event (including
any authority or right of the Company or a Participant) being “permitted” under
Code Section 409A mean, for a 409A Award, that the term or event will not cause
the Participant to be liable for payment of interest or a tax penalty under Code
Section 409A and, for a Non-409A Award, that the term or event will not cause
the Award to be treated as subject to Code Section 490A. Other
provisions of the Plan notwithstanding, the terms of any 409A Award and any
Non-409A Award, including any authority of the Company and rights of the
Participant with respect to the Award, shall be limited to those terms permitted
under Code Section 409A, and any terms not permitted under Code Section 409A
shall be automatically modified and limited to the extent necessary to conform
with Code Section 409A. For this purpose, other provisions of the
Plan notwithstanding, the Company shall have no authority to accelerate
distributions relating to 409A Awards in excess of authority permitted under
Code Section 409A, and any distribution subject to Code Section
409A(a)(2)(A)(i)(separation from service) to a “specified employee” as defined
under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i), shall not occur earlier than the earliest
time permitted under Code Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i). The Company shall
have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Award that is
intended to be exempt from, or compliant with, Code Section 409A is not so
exempt or compliant or for any action taken by the Committee or the Company and,
in the event that any amount or benefit under the Plan becomes subject to
penalties under Section
409A, responsibility for payment of such penalties shall rest solely with the
affected Participant(s) and not with the Company.
20.6. Certain Limitations Relating
to Accounting Treatment of Awards. Other
provisions of the Plan notwithstanding, the Committee’s authority under the Plan
is limited to the extent necessary to ensure that any Option or other Award of a
type that the
Committee has intended to be subject to fixed accounting with a measurement date
at the date of grant or the date performance conditions are satisfied under FAS
123(R) shall not become subject to “variable” accounting solely due to the
existence of such authority.
20.7. Awards to Participants
Outside the United States. The
Committee may modify the terms of any Award under the Plan made to or held by a
Participant who is then resident or primarily employed outside of the United
States in any manner deemed by the Committee to be necessary or appropriate in
order that such Award shall conform to laws, regulations, and customs of the
country in which the Participant is then resident or primarily employed, or so
that the value and other benefits of the Award to the Participant, as affected
by foreign tax laws and other restrictions applicable as a result of the
Participant's residence or employment abroad shall be comparable to the value of
such an Award to a Participant who is resident or primarily employed in the
United States. An Award may be modified under this Section 20.7 in a manner that is inconsistent with the express
terms of the Plan, so long as such modifications will not contravene any
applicable law or regulation or result in actual liability under Section 16(b)
for the Participant whose Award is modified.
20.8. Payments in the Event of
Forfeitures; Fractional Shares. No
fractional Shares 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.
20.9. Right of
Setoff. The
Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate may, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, deduct from and set off against any amounts the Company or a
Subsidiary or Affiliate may owe to the Participant from time to time (including
amounts payable in connection with any Award that are owed as wages, fringe
benefits, or other compensation owed to the Participant), such amounts as may be
owed by the Participant to the Company, although the Participant shall remain
liable for any part of the Participant’s payment obligation not satisfied
through such deduction and setoff; provided, however, that no such setoff may be
made if such setoff would result in the imposition of penalties under Code
Section 409A. By accepting any Award granted hereunder, the
Participant agrees to any deduction or setoff under this Section 20.9.
20.10. Unfunded Status of Awards;
Creation of Trusts. To
the extent that any Award is deferred compensation, the Plan is intended to
constitute an “unfunded” plan for deferred compensation with respect to such
Award. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant or
obligation to deliver Stock pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan
or any Agreement shall give any Participant the right to any specific assets or
securities of the Company or any Subsidiary or
Affiliate.
20.11. Conditions and
Restrictions Upon Securities Subject to Awards. Each Participant to whom an Award is made under the Plan
shall (i) enter into an Agreement with the Company that shall contain such
provisions consistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be approved by the
Committee and (ii) to the extent the Award is made at a time prior to the date
Shares are not listed for trading on an established securities exchange, enter
into a “Stockholder’s Agreement” that is substantially similar in all material
respect to any stockholder’s agreement entered into by any other employee of the
Company or its Subsidiaries in connection with the Award of any equity-based
compensation. The Committee may provide that the Shares issued upon exercise of
an Option or Stock Appreciation Right or otherwise subject to or issued under an
Award shall be subject to such further agreements, restrictions, conditions or
limitations as the Committee in its discretion may specify prior to the exercise
of such Option or Stock Appreciation Right or the grant, vesting or settlement
of such Award, including without limitation, conditions on vesting or
transferability, forfeiture or repurchase provisions and method of payment for
the Shares issued upon exercise, vesting or settlement of such Award (including
the actual or constructive surrender of Shares already owned by the Participant)
or payment of taxes arising in connection with an Award. Without
limiting the foregoing, such restrictions may address the timing and manner of
any resales by the Participant or other subsequent transfers by the Participant
of any Shares issued under an Award, including without limitation (i)
restrictions under an insider trading policy or pursuant to applicable law, (ii)
restrictions designed to delay and/or coordinate the timing and manner of sales
by Participant and holders of other Company equity compensation arrangements,
(iii) restrictions as to the use of a specified brokerage firm for such resales
or other transfers and (iv) provisions requiring Shares to be sold on the open
market or to the Company in order to satisfy tax withholding or other
obligations.
20.12. Compliance with Laws and Regulations. This
Plan, the grant, issuance, vesting, exercise and settlement of Options and
Awards thereunder, and the obligation of the Company to sell, issue or deliver
Shares under such Options and Awards, shall be subject to all applicable
foreign, federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations, stock exchange
rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental or regulatory
agency as may be required. The Company shall not be required to register in a
Participant’s name or deliver any Shares prior to the completion of any
registration or qualification of such Shares under any foreign, federal, state
or local law or any ruling or regulation of any government body which the
Committee shall determine to be necessary or advisable. To the extent the
Company is unable to or the Committee deems it infeasible to obtain authority
from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the
Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares
hereunder, the Company and its Affiliates shall be relieved of any liability
with respect to the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such
requisite authority shall not have been obtained. No Option shall be exercisable
and no Shares shall be issued and/or transferable under any Option or Award
unless a registration statement with respect to the Shares underlying such
Option or Award is effective and current or the Company has determined that such
registration is unnecessary. References in this Plan to a particular
law, rule or regulation shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments,
modifications and interpretations as well as any successor provision
thereto.
20.13. Deferral of
Gains. The Committee may, in an Agreement or otherwise, provide
for the deferred delivery of Shares upon settlement, vesting or other events
with respect
to an Award (other than an
Option or Stock Appreciation Right). Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary, in no event will any deferral of the delivery of Shares or any other
payment with respect to any Award be allowed if the Committee determines, in its
sole discretion, that the deferral would result in the imposition of the
additional tax under Code Section 409A(a)(1)(B).
20.14. No Effect on Employment or
Service. Nothing
in the Plan shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company to
terminate any Participant’s employment or service at any time, for any reason
and with or without cause.
20.15. Participation. No
person shall have the right to be selected to receive an Award under this Plan,
or, having been so selected, to be selected to receive a future
Award. The Committee’s determination under the Plan (including,
without limitation, determination of the Eligible Employees who shall be granted
Awards, the form, amount and timing of such Awards, the terms and provisions of
Awards and the Agreements and the establishment of Performance Objectives) need
not be uniform and may be made by it selectively among Eligible Employees who
receive or are eligible to receive Awards under the Plan, ether or not such
Eligible Employees are similarly situated.
20.16. No Rights as
Stockholder. No
Participant (nor any beneficiary) shall have any of the rights or privileges of
a stockholder of the Company with respect to any Shares issuable pursuant to an
Award (or exercise thereof), unless and until certificates representing such
Shares shall have been issued, recorded on the records of the Company or its
transfer agents or registrars, and delivered to the Participant (or
beneficiary).
20.17. Gender and
Number. Except
where otherwise indicated by the context, any masculine term used herein also
shall include the feminine; the plural shall include the singular and the
singular shall include the plural.
20.18. Severability. In
the event any provision of the Plan or of any Award Agreement shall be held
illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect
the remaining parts of the Plan or the Award Agreement, and the Plan and/or the
Award Agreement shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid
provision had not been included.
20.19. Captions. Captions are provided herein for convenience only, and
shall not serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of the
Plan.
20.20. Other
Benefits. No
Award granted or paid out under this Plan shall be deemed compensation for
purposes of computing benefits under any retirement plan of the Company or its
Affiliates nor affect any benefits under any other benefit plan now or
subsequently in effect under which the availability or amount of benefits is
related to the level of compensation.
20.21. Costs. The
Company shall bear all expenses associated with administering this Plan,
including expenses of issuing Shares pursuant to any Awards
hereunder.
[End of
Document]
exhibit23_1.htm
Exhibit
23.1
Consent
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board
of Directors
Charter
Communications, Inc.:
We
consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement on Form
S-8 of Charter Communications, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) of our report
dated March 13, 2009, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of the
Company as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated
statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ deficit, and cash flows for
each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2008, and the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31,
2008, which report appears in the December 31, 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K
of the Company.
Our
report dated March 13, 2009 contains an explanatory paragraph that states the
Company has announced that it expects to file voluntary petitions for relief
under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, primarily as a result of
the following matters: (i) the Company’s significant indebtedness; (ii) the
Company’s ability to raise additional capital given its current leverage; and
(iii) the potential inability of the Company’s subsidiaries to make
distributions for payments of interest and principal on the debts of the parents
of such subsidiaries due in 2009 based on the availability of funds and
restrictions under the Company’s applicable debt instruments and under
applicable law. Such matters raise substantial doubt about the
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial
statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of
that uncertainty.
/s/
KPMG LLP
KPMG
LLP
St.
Louis, Missouri
November
25, 2009