azzproxyfy08.htm
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14A INFORMATION
PROXY
STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a)
OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by
the Registrant ý
Filed by
a Party other than the Registrant o
Check the
appropriate box:
o Preliminary
Proxy Statement
o Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
ý Definitive
Proxy Statement
o Definitive
Additional Materials
o Soliciting
Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12
AZZ
INCORPORATED
(Name of
Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of
Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
ý No
fee required.
o Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
0-11.
(1) Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)
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Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was
determined):
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(4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of
transaction:
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o
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary
materials:
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o
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Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration
statement number, or the form or schedule and the date of its
filing.
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(1) Amount
previously paid:
(2) Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
AZZ
incorporated
University
Centre I, Suite 200
1300
South University Drive
Fort
Worth, Texas 76107
June 1,
2008
Dear
Shareholder:
The Board
of Directors and Management cordially invite you to attend our Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held at 10:00 a.m., local time, on Tuesday, July 8, 2008, at
the City Club, President’s Room, D.R. Horton Tower, 301 Commerce, Fort Worth,
Texas 76102. The formal Notice of the Annual Meeting of Shareholders
and Proxy Statement are attached. Please read them
carefully.
It is
important that your shares be voted at the meeting in accordance with your
preference. Please complete the proxy card located in the envelope’s
address window by indicating your vote on the issues presented and sign, date
and return the proxy card in the prepaid envelope provided. If you
are able to attend the meeting and wish to vote in person, you may withdraw your
proxy at that time.
Sincerely,
David H.
Dingus
President
and Chief Executive Officer
AZZ
incorporated
University
Centre I, Suite 200
1300
South University Drive
Fort
Worth, Texas 76107
NOTICE
OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To
Be Held July 8, 2008
Our
Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”) will be held on Tuesday,
July 8, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., local time, at the City Club, President’s Room,
D.R. Horton Tower, 301 Commerce Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 for the
following purposes:
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to
elect three directors to hold office, each for a term of three
years;
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to
approve the amendments to the 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan described in
the accompanying Proxy Statement;
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to
approve the adoption of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan described in the
accompanying Proxy Statement; and
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(4)
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to
transact any other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting
or any adjournment.
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Only
shareholders of record at the close of business on May 12, 2008, will be
entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. A copy of our Annual Report
to Shareholders for the year ended February 29, 2008, is enclosed with this
Notice and Proxy Statement, but it does not form a part of our soliciting
material.
To ensure
that your vote will be counted, please complete, sign and date the enclosed
proxy card and return it promptly in the enclosed prepaid envelope, whether or
not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting. You may revoke your proxy
in the manner described in the accompanying Proxy Statement at any time before
it has been voted at the Annual Meeting.
By Order
of the Board of Directors,
Dana L.
Perry,
Secretary
June 1,
2008
Fort
Worth, Texas
PLEASE
PROMPTLY SUBMIT YOUR PROXY BY MAIL
WHETHER
OR NOT YOU INTEND
TO
BE PRESENT AT THE ANNUAL MEETING.
AZZ
incorporated
University
Centre I, Suite 200
1300
South University Drive
Fort
Worth, Texas 76107
_______________
PROXY
STATEMENT
FOR
ANNUAL
MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To
Be Held July 8, 2008
The board
of directors of AZZ incorporated is soliciting proxies for the 2008 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders (the “Annual Meeting”). You are receiving
this proxy statement because you own shares of AZZ common stock that entitle you
to vote at the meeting. By use of a proxy, you can vote on the
matters to be decided at the meeting without actually attending the meeting in
person. Simply complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy
card in the envelope provided, and your shares will be voted at the meeting in
accordance with your instructions. If no instructions are given on
your proxy card with respect to a matter to be voted on, your shares will be
voted in accordance with the recommendation of the board of directors contained
in this proxy statement. Submitting your proxy by mail will not
affect your right to attend the meeting and vote in person.
If you
submit your proxy but later decide to change or revoke the instructions you
provided, you may do so at any time before the proxies are voted at the meeting
by notifying our corporate secretary in writing at University Centre I, Suite
200, 1300 South University Drive, Fort Worth, Texas 76107 that you wish to
revoke your proxy, by delivering a subsequent proxy relating to the same shares,
or by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person. Please note,
however, that attendance at the Annual Meeting will not, in and of itself,
result in your proxy being revoked.
AZZ will
begin sending this proxy statement and the enclosed proxy card to our
shareholders on or about June 1, 2008.
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
Our
bylaws, as amended to date, provide that the board of directors will consist of
twelve members, classified into three classes, each class consisting of four
directors, the members of which will serve three-year staggered
terms. We currently have nine directors, and there are three
vacancies. The six directors previously elected to serve until the
2009 and 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will continue to serve out those
terms.
The board
of directors has nominated the three directors who were elected at the 2005
Annual Meeting of Shareholders, each of whose term expires at this year’s Annual
Meeting, for election to a three-year term expiring at the 2011 Annual
Meeting. In order to be elected, a nominee for director must receive
a plurality of the votes properly cast at the meeting in person or by
proxy. Therefore, the three nominees who receive the most votes will
be elected, provided that a quorum is present at the meeting.
Each of
the nominees has consented to serve if elected. If for any unforeseen
reason a nominee would be unable to serve if elected, the persons named in the
accompanying proxy may exercise their discretion to vote for a substitute
nominee selected by the board of directors. However, the board has no
reason to anticipate that any of the nominees will not be able to serve, if
elected. After the Annual Meeting, the board will have one vacancy
among the group of directors whose term expires at the 2009 Annual Meeting, one
vacancy among the group of directors whose term expires at the 2010 Annual
Meeting and one vacancy among the group of directors whose term expires at the
2011 Annual Meeting.
Nominees
for Terms Continuing to 2011
Martin C. Bowen, 64, has been
a director of AZZ since 1993. Mr. Bowen has been vice president and
chief financial officer of Fine Line, a privately held investment holding
company, for over five years. Mr. Bowen is a director of Encore
Acquisition Company, a publicly held company engaged in the acquisition,
development and production of oil and natural gas reserves.
Sam Rosen, 72, has been a
director of AZZ since 1996. Mr. Rosen has been a partner in the law
firm of Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller, L.L.P. since 1966, and is a
director of GAINSCO, INC., a publicly held insurance holding
company.
Kevern R. Joyce, 61, has been
a director since 1997. Mr. Joyce was President and CEO of Cap Rock Energy
Corporation, a privately owned electric utility, from June 2006 until February
2007. Mr. Joyce was senior advisor to ZTEK Corporation from 2003 to
2006. Mr. Joyce was president, chief executive officer and chairman
of Texas New Mexico Power Company from 1994 to 2001, and senior advisor to that
company until 2003.
Directors
for Terms Expiring 2010
Dr. H. Kirk Downey, 65, has been a
director of AZZ since 1992. Dr. Downey currently is an independent
business consultant and investor. Dr. Downey served as professor of
management, dean and associate provost for academic affairs at Texas Christian
University from 1983 to 2000. Dr. Downey is also chairman and a
member of the board of trustees of LKCM Funds and LKCM Aquinas Funds, a publicly
held family of mutual funds.
Daniel R. Feehan, 57, has been
a director of AZZ since 2000. Mr. Feehan has served as president and
chief executive officer of Cash America International, Inc., a publicly held
provider of specialty financial services, since 2000. Prior to that,
he served as president and chief operating officer of Cash
America. Mr. Feehan is also a director of Cash America and RadioShack
Corporation, a publicly held company in the retail consumer electronic goods and
services business.
Peter A. Hegedus, 67, joined
AZZ’s Board in September 2006. Mr. Hegedus is a member of the
Supervisory Board of ABB Hungary, a specialty electrical equipment manufacturer,
and prior to that served as the Country Manager-ABB Hungary and President of ABB
Kft., a position he held since 1995, where he was responsible for all activities
of the global ABB organization in Hungary.
Directors
With Terms Expiring 2009
David H. Dingus, 60, has been
a director of AZZ since 1999. Mr. Dingus has served as AZZ’s
president and chief executive officer since 2001, and served as president and
chief operating officer from 1998 to 2001.
Dana L. Perry, 59, has been a
director of AZZ since 1992. Mr. Perry has served as AZZ’s senior vice
president of finance, chief financial officer and secretary since January 2005,
and, prior to that, served as vice president of finance, chief financial officer
and assistant secretary.
Daniel E. Berce, 54, has been
a director of AZZ since 2000. Mr. Berce has been president and chief
executive officer of AmeriCredit Corp., a publicly held national automobile
consumer finance company, since August 2005 and served as president of
AmeriCredit Corp. from April 2003 to August 2005 and as vice chairman and chief
financial officer of AmeriCredit prior to that. He serves on the
boards of directors of AmeriCredit Corp. and Cash America International, Inc., a
publicly held provider of specialty financial services.
The
Board of Directors Recommends That You Vote “FOR” Each of the Nominees Listed
Above Under the Heading “Nominees For Terms Continuing To 2011” For Terms
Continuing Until the 2011 Annual Meeting.
MATTERS
RELATING TO CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, BOARD STRUCTURE,
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION AND STOCK OWNERSHIP
Corporate
Governance
The board
of directors believes very strongly that good corporate governance is a
prerequisite to achieving business success. The board of directors
has adopted formal, written Corporate Governance Guidelines designed to
strengthen our corporate governance. In 2003, the board amended those
guidelines to meet new requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC") and The New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"). Among
other things, the enhanced guidelines contain standards for determining whether
a director is independent. The board also adopted a Code of Ethics
applicable to all of our directors, officers and employees, and charters for
each of the board’s committees. The nominating and corporate
governance committee is responsible for overseeing and reviewing the Corporate
Governance Guidelines and Code of Ethics at least annually, and recommending any
proposed changes to the full board for its approval. The AZZ
incorporated Corporate Governance Guidelines, Code of Ethics and charters for
the audit, compensation and nominating and corporate governance committees are
available on our web site at www.azz.com, under the heading "Investor Relations
— Corporate Governance".
Director
Independence
It is our
policy that the board of directors will at all times consist of a majority of
independent directors. In addition, all members of the audit
committee, compensation committee and nominating and corporate governance
committee must be independent. To be considered independent, a
director must satisfy the independence requirements established by the NYSE and
the SEC. The board will consider and apply all facts and
circumstances relating to a director in determining whether that director is
independent. The board has determined that all of the current members
of the board of directors are independent except for directors David H. Dingus
and Dana L. Perry.
Directors’
Attendance at Board and Committee Meetings and at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders
Our board
of directors met five times during fiscal year 2008. Each director
attended at least 75% of the total number of board meetings and meetings of the
board committee or committees on which he served during fiscal
2008. Although we have no formal policy on the matter, all directors
are encouraged to attend, and, typically have attended, our Annual Meeting of
Shareholders. All of our directors except Messrs. Bowen, Feehan,
Joyce and Rosen attended the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Board
Committees
There are
three standing committees of the board of directors. They are the
nominating and corporate governance committee, the audit committee and the
compensation committee. A brief description of each committee’s
function, the number of meetings held last fiscal year and the names of the
directors who are members of the committees follows.
Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee. The nominating and corporate governance committee
is responsible for considering and making recommendations to the board regarding
nominees for election to the board and the membership of the various board
committees. The committee is also responsible for recommendations to
the board compensation of our directors and is responsible for establishing and
overseeing the AZZ incorporated Corporate Governance Guidelines and the AZZ
incorporated Code of Ethics described earlier in this proxy statement, as well
as the Director Nomination Process which is set forth below. The
nominating and corporate governance committee met on six occasions during the
last fiscal year. Committee members are Directors Downey (chairman),
Rosen and Bowen.
Audit
Committee. The audit committee provides assistance to the
board in overseeing AZZ’s accounting, auditing, financial reporting and systems
of internal controls regarding finance and accounting. As part of its
duties, the audit committee is directly responsible for the appointment,
compensation, retention and oversight of our independent
auditors. The committee also reviews our quarterly and year-end
financial statements. The audit committee held five meetings during
the last fiscal year. During the last fiscal year, audit committee
members were Directors Feehan (chairman), Berce, and Joyce. The board
of directors has determined that each member of the audit committee is an audit
committee financial expert, as defined by the SEC, and has accounting or related
financial management expertise within the meaning of NYSE listing
standards.
Compensation
Committee. The compensation committee establishes, amends and
oversees AZZ’s incentive-based compensation plans and sets compensation for our
chief executive officer, our other executive officers and other senior
management. It also oversees the administration of other compensation
and benefit plans and recommends to the board changes in or the establishment of
compensation and benefit plans for our employees. The committee held
five meetings during the last fiscal year. Compensation committee
members are Directors Downey (chairman), Berce, Hegedus and Joyce.
Meetings
of Independent Directors without Management Present
To
empower our independent directors to serve as a more effective check on
management, our independent directors meet at regularly scheduled executive
sessions without members of AZZ’s management present. The independent
directors met without management present four times during the last fiscal year.
Executive sessions ordinarily are held in conjunction with quarterly scheduled
board meetings. Dr. Downey, as our independent chairman of the board,
presides over these meetings.
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION
The
Company uses a combination of cash and stock-based incentive compensation to
attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on the board. In setting
director compensation, the Company considers the significant amount of time that
directors expend in fulfilling their duties to the Company as well as the
skill-level required by the Company of members of the board.
Fees
Paid to Directors (Cash Compensation paid to Board Members)
Each
director who was not an AZZ employee received the following cash compensation
for services to the board during fiscal year 2008:
• a
fee of $18,000;
• $1,500
for each quarterly meeting of the board of directors he attended;
• $500
for each special meeting of the board of directors he attended; and
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$1000
for each nominating and corporate governance committee or compensation
committee meeting he attended as a member and $1,500 for each audit
committee meeting.
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The
chairman of the compensation committee and of the nominating committee and
corporate governance committee of the board of directors each received
additional cash compensation of $1,500 during fiscal 2008, the chairman of the
audit committee received additional cash compensation of $3,000 during fiscal
2008, and Director Downey received additional cash compensation of $69,200 for
serving as independent chairman of our board of directors.
Under our
1999 Independent Director Share Ownership Plan, each continuing independent
director was granted 500 shares of common stock following each annual meeting of
the shareholders, beginning with the 1999 Annual Meeting and continuing until
the 2004 Annual Meeting, at which time the number of shares granted increased to
1,000.
Additionally,
stock appreciation rights ("SARs") have been granted from time to time to our
non-employee directors. During fiscal 2008, 2,960 SARs, adjusted to
reflect a two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend on
May 4, 2007, were granted to each non-employee
director.
Director
Summary Compensation Table
The table
below summarizes the compensation paid by the Company to non-employee directors
for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008.
Name
(1)
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Fees
Earned or
Paid
in Cash
($)
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Stock
Awards
($)(2)
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Option/
SARs
Awards
($)(3)
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Non-Equity
Incentive Plan Compensation
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Change
in
Pension
Value
and
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
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All
Other
Compensation
($)
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Total
($)
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Dr.
Kirk H. Downey
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$
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90,700
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$
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25,000
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$
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16,382
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—
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—
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$
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132,082
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Daniel
R. Feehan
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$
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36,500
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$
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25,000
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$
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9,953
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—
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—
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$
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71,453
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Martin
C. Bowen
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$
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32,000
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$
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25,000
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$
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16,382
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—
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—
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$
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73,382
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Robert
H. Johnson(4)
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$
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21,000
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-0-
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$
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16,382
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|
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—
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—
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$
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37,382
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Daniel
E. Berce
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$
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40,000
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$
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25,000
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$
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9,953
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—
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—
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$
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74,953
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|
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Sam
Rosen
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$
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32,000
|
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$
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25,000
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$
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16,382
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—
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—
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$
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73,382
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|
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Kevern
R. Joyce
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$
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34,000
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$
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25,000
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$
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16,382
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—
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—
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$
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75,382
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|
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|
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R.
J. Schumacher(4)
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$
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19,000
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|
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-0-
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$
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16,382
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|
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—
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|
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—
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$
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35,382
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|
|
|
|
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Peter
A. Hegedus
|
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$
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28,000
|
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$
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25,000
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$
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5,461
|
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—
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—
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$
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58,461
|
|
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Non-Executive
Director Group
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$
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333,200
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$
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175,000
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$
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123,659
|
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$
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631,859
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___________
(1)
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David
H. Dingus, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Dana L. Perry, the
Company’s Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Secretary, are not included in this table, as they are employees of the
Company and thus receive no compensation for their services as Directors.
The compensation received by Messrs. Dingus and Perry as employees of the
Company is shown in the Summary Compensation Table on page
16.
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(2)
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Reflects
the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes
for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 in accordance with FAS
123(R).
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(3)
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Reflects
the dollar amount recognized for financial statement reporting purposes
for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008 in accordance with FAS
123(R). During fiscal 2008, 2,960 SARs, adjusted to reflect a
two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a stock dividend on May 4,
2007, were granted to each non-employee
director.
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(4)
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Directors
Johnson and Schumacher retired and did not stand for re-election as
directors at the 2007 Annual
meeting.
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COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
During
the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008, the compensation committee was composed
of Directors Downey (chairman), Joyce, Hegedus and Berce, none of whom is an
employee of AZZ.
No member
of the compensation committee (i) was an officer or employee of the Company or a
subsidiary of the Company during fiscal 2008, (ii) was formerly an officer or
employee of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company or (iii) has any
relationship required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation
S-K.
During
fiscal 2008, none of the Company's executive officers served as (a) a member of
a compensation committee of another company, one of whose executive officers
served on the Company’s compensation committee, (b) a director of another
company, one of whose executive officers served on the Company's compensation
committee, or (c) a member of a compensation committee of another company, one
of whose executive officers served as one of the Company's
directors.
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
During
the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008, we did not enter into any transactions
with any of our officers, directors or shareholders owning 5% or more of our
common stock in which the amount involved exceeded $120,000. In
addition, we are not currently planning to enter into any such transaction or
series of similar transactions.
PROCEDURES
FOR COMMUNICATING WITH DIRECTORS
The board
of directors has established a process by which shareholders can send
communications to board members. Interested parties would use the
same method as shareholders to communicate directly with the presiding director
or with non-mangement directors as a group. Shareholders and interested parties
can send written communications to one or more members of our board, addressed
to:
Dr. H.
Kirk Downey
Chairman,
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
AZZ
incorporated
University
Centre 1, Suite 200
1300
South University Drive
Fort
Worth, Texas 76107
Generally,
we distribute communications to the board or to the individual director or
directors, as appropriate, depending on the subject matter and facts and
circumstances outlined in the communication. We will not distribute
communications that are not related to the duties and responsibilities of the
board, including:
• spam;
• junkmail
and mass mailings;
• product
or service complaints;
• product
or service inquiries;
• new
product or service suggestions;
• resumés
and other forms of job inquiries;
• surveys;
and
• business
solicitations or advertisements.
In
addition, we will not distribute unsuitable material to our directors, including
material that is unduly hostile, threatening or illegal, although any
communication that is filtered out is available to any independent director upon
request.
DIRECTOR
NOMINATION PROCESS
Board
Member Qualification Criteria.
The
nominating and corporate governance committee has adopted Board Member Qualification
Criteria, which set forth the
attributes and qualifications considered by the committee in evaluating nominees
for director. The primary qualities and characteristics the committee
looks for in nominees for director are:
• management
and leadership experience;
• relevant
knowledge and diversity of background and experience; and
• personal
and professional ethics, integrity and professionalism.
The
committee also believes that the board should be composed of individuals who
have achieved a high level of distinction in business, law, education or public
service and who possess one or more of the following specific qualities or
skills:
• financial
expertise;
• general
knowledge of the electrical and industrial products industry and/or galvanizing
services;
• legal
or accounting experience; and
• CEO,
CFO or other senior management experience.
Internal
Process for Identifying Candidates.
Members
of the nominating and corporate governance committee or other AZZ directors or
executive officers may, from time to time, identify potential candidates for
nomination to our board. All proposed nominees, including candidates
recommended for nomination by shareholders in accordance with the procedures
described below, will be evaluated in light of the Board Member Qualification Criteria
and the projected needs of the board at the time. The
committee may retain a search firm to assist in identifying potential candidates
for nomination to the board of directors. The search firm’s
responsibilities may include identifying and evaluating candidates believed to
possess the qualities and characteristics set forth in the Board Member Qualification
Criteria, as well as providing background information on potential
nominees and interviewing and screening nominees if requested to do so by the
committee.
Shareholder
Recommendations for Directors
The
committee will consider candidates recommended by shareholders for election to
our board. A shareholder who wishes to recommend a candidate for
evaluation by the committee should forward the candidate’s name, business or
residence address, principal occupation or employment and a description of the
candidate’s qualifications to the Chairman of the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee, care of the Corporate Secretary, AZZ incorporated,
University Centre I, Suite 200, 1300 South University Drive, Fort Worth,
Texas 76107.
In order
for a candidate proposed by a shareholder to be considered by the committee for
inclusion as a board nominee at the 2009 Annual Meeting, the candidate must meet
the Board Member Qualification
Criteria described above and must be expressly interested and willing to
serve as an AZZ director. In addition, the corporate secretary must
receive the request for consideration and all required information no later than
5:00 p.m., local time, on March 14, 2009. Proposals should be sent
via registered, certified or express mail. The corporate secretary
will send properly submitted shareholder recommendations to the chairman of the
committee. Individuals recommended to the committee by shareholders
in accordance with these procedures will be evaluated by the committee in the
same manner as individuals who are recommended through other
means.
Shareholder
Nominations of Directors
Section 8
of Article III of our by-laws also permits a shareholder to propose a candidate
at an annual meeting of shareholders who is not otherwise nominated by the board
of directors through the process described above if the shareholder complies
with the advance notice, information and consent provisions contained in the
by-laws. To comply with the advance notice provision of the by-laws,
a shareholder who wishes to nominate a director at the 2009 Annual Meeting must
provide AZZ written notice no earlier than April 27, 2009 and no later than May
22, 2009. You may contact our corporate secretary to obtain the specific
information that must be provided with the advance notice.
Nominees
for Election at the 2008 Annual Meeting
No
nominee for election to the board of directors at our 2008 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders was recommended by shareholders or groups of shareholders owning
more than 5% of our common stock.
Security
Ownership of Management
The
following table indicates the ownership on April 30, 2008, of AZZ’s common stock
(which is our only class of stock outstanding) by each director and nominee,
each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table, and all
directors and executive officers as a group:
Name
of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Amount
and Nature of Beneficial
Ownership(1)(2)
|
|
Acquirable
Within
60 Days
|
|
Percent
of
Class
|
Daniel
E. Berce
|
|
21,683
|
|
-0-
|
|
*
|
Martin
C. Bowen
|
|
11,883
|
|
-0-
|
|
*
|
David
H. Dingus
|
|
96,000
|
|
91,450
|
|
1.5%
|
Dr.
H. Kirk Downey
|
|
4,683
|
|
-0-
|
|
*
|
Daniel
R. Feehan
|
|
11,683
|
|
-0-
|
|
*
|
Peter
A. Hegedus
|
|
683
|
|
-0-
|
|
*
|
Robert
H. Johnson (4)
|
|
-0-
|
|
-0-
|
|
*
|
Kevern
R. Joyce
|
|
33,436
|
|
8,000
|
|
*
|
Dana
L. Perry
|
|
230,320
|
|
-0-
|
|
1.9%
|
John
V. Petro
|
|
-0-
|
|
-0-
|
|
*
|
Sam
Rosen
|
|
20,725
|
|
8,000
|
|
*
|
R.J.
Schumacher (4)
|
|
-0-
|
|
-0-
|
|
*
|
C.H.
Watson
|
|
-0-
|
|
-0-
|
|
*
|
Fred
L. Wright
|
|
-0-
|
|
-0-
|
|
*
|
Tim
E. Pendley
|
|
-0-
|
|
4,902
|
|
*
|
All
Current Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (4)
|
|
431,496
|
|
112,352
|
|
4.3%
|
__________
*Indicates ownership of less than
1%
(1)
|
Except as otherwise indicated,
each person named in the table has sole investment and voting power with
respect to all shares of common stock shown to be beneficially owned by
such person. Beneficial ownership has been determined in
accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. The percent of voting stock held is based upon
12,136,384 shares outstanding as of April 30, 2008, except for persons who
hold options that may be exercised within 60 days of April 30,
2008.
|
(2)
|
The percentage of voting stock
held by persons who hold options that may be exercised within 60 days is
based upon the same 12,136,384 shares outstanding on April 30, 2008 plus
the number of shares that may be acquired by that person through exercise
of options exercisable within 60 days of that
date.
|
(3)
|
Adjusted to reflect a two-for-one
stock split, effected in the form of a stock dividend on May 4,
2007.
|
(4)
|
Directors Johnson and Schumacher
retired and did not stand for reelection as directors at the 2007 Annual
Meeting.
|
Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
The
following table indicates the ownership by each person who is known by us to own
beneficially, as of April 30, 2008, five percent or more of our common
stock:
Name
and Address of
Beneficial
Owner
|
|
Amount
and Nature of Beneficial Ownership
|
|
Percent
of Class
|
|
|
|
|
|
FMR
Corp.
82
Devonshire Street
Boston,
Massachusetts 02109
|
|
1,088,200(1)
|
|
8.9%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tontine
Partners
31
West 52nd
Street, 17th
Floor
New
York, NY 10019
|
|
1,068,600
(2)
|
|
8.8%
|
|
|
|
|
|
Keeley
Asset Management Corp.
401
South LaSalle Street
Chicago,
IL 60605
|
|
765,000(3)
|
|
6.3%
|
__________
(1)
|
Based
on information set forth in a Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2008,
Fidelity Management & Research Company (“Fidelity”), a wholly-owned
subsidiary of FMR Corp. and an investment adviser registered under Section
203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, is the beneficial owner of
1,088,200 shares of the common stock outstanding of AZZ as a result of
acting as investment adviser to various investment companies registered
under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The ownership of
one investment company, Fidelity Low Priced Stock Fund, amounted to
1,088,200 shares of AZZ common stock outstanding. Edward C. Johnson 3d and
FMR Corp., through its control of Fidelity, and the Funds, each has sole
power to dispose of the 1,088,200 shares owned by the Funds. Members of
the family of Edward C. Johnson 3d, Chairman of FMR Corp., are the
predominant owners, directly or through trusts, of Series B shares of
common stock of FMR Corp., representing 49% of the voting power of FMR
Corp. The Johnson family group and all other Series B shareholders have
entered into a shareholders’ voting agreement under which all Series B
shares will be voted in accordance with the majority vote of Series B
shares. Neither FMR Corp. nor Edward C. Johnson 3d, Chairman of
FMR Corp., has the sole power to vote or direct the voting of the shares
owned directly by the Fidelity Funds, which power resides with the Funds’
Boards of Trustees. Fidelity carries out the voting of the shares under
written guidelines established by the Funds’ Boards of
Trustees.
|
(2)
|
Based
on information set forth in a Schedule 13G filed on February 1, 2008,
Tontine Partners, an investment advisor registered under Section 203 of
the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, furnishes investment advice to four
investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940,
|
and
serves as investment manager to certain other commingled group trusts and
separate accounts. These investment companies, trusts and accounts
are referred to in this note as the “Funds.” In its role as
investment advisor or manager, Tontine Partners possesses voting and/or
investment power over the securities of the Issuer described in the Schedule 13G
that are owned by the Funds, and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the
shares of the Issuer held by the Funds. Tontine Partners disclaims
beneficial ownership of the securities. In addition, the Schedule 13G
specifically provides that its filing should not be construed as an admission
that the reporting person or any of its affiliates is the beneficial owner of
any securities covered by the Schedule 13G for any purposes other than Section
13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
(3)
|
Based
on information set forth in a Schedule 13G filed on February 1, 2008,
Keeley Asset Management Corp., an investment advisor registered under
Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, furnishes investment
advice to four investment companies registered under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, and serves as investment manager to certain other
commingled group trusts and separate accounts. These investment
companies, trusts and accounts are referred to in this note as the
“Funds.” In its role as investment advisor or manager, Keeley
Asset Management possesses voting and/or investment power over the
securities of the Issuer described in the Schedule 13G that are owned by
the Funds, and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of
the Issuer held by the Funds. Keeley Asset Management disclaims
beneficial ownership of the securities. In addition, the
Schedule 13G specifically provides that its filing should not be construed
as an admission that the reporting person or any of its affiliates is the
beneficial owner of any securities covered by the Schedule 13G for any
purposes other than Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
|
SECTION
16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our directors and
executive officers, and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of
our equity securities, to file with the SEC and the NYSE reports disclosing
their ownership and changes in ownership of our common stock or other equity
securities. Our officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders
are required by SEC regulations to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a)
forms they file. To our knowledge, all Section 16(a) filing
requirements applicable to our officers, directors and greater than 10%
beneficial owners during the last fiscal year were observed.
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
Compensation
Discussion and Analysis
Compensation
Program Overview
The
Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board has responsibility for
establishing, implementing and continually monitoring adherence to the
Company’s compensation philosophy. The Committee ensures that the total
compensation paid to the Company’s management team is fair, reasonable and
competitive. Generally, the types of compensation and benefits provided to
members of the management team, including the named executive officers, are
similar to those provided to other executive officers.
The
individuals who served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer during fiscal 2008, as well as the other individuals included
in the Summary Compensation Table on page 16, are
referred to as the “named executive officers” throughout this proxy
statement.
Compensation
Philosophy and Objectives
The
Committee believes that the most effective executive compensation program is one
that is designed to reward the achievement of specific annual, long-term and
strategic goals by the Company, and which aligns executives’ interests with
those of the shareholders by rewarding performance to achieve goals set by the
Company, with the ultimate objective of improving shareholder value. The
Committee evaluates both performance and compensation to ensure that the Company
maintains its ability to attract and retain superior employees in key positions
and that compensation provided to key employees remains competitive relative to
the compensation paid to similarly situated executives of publicly traded
companies with similar characteristics. To that end, the Committee believes
executive compensation packages provided by the Company to its executives,
including the named executive officers, should include both cash and
equity-based compensation that reward performance as measured against
established goals.
Role
of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions
The
Committee makes all compensation decisions including equity awards for the
management team (which includes the named executive officers).
The Chief
Executive Officer annually reviews the performance of each member of the
management team (other than his own, which is reviewed by the Committee). The
conclusions reached and recommendations based on these reviews, including with
respect to salary adjustments and annual award amounts, are presented to the
Committee. The Committee can exercise its discretion in modifying any
recommended adjustments or awards to executives made by the Chief Executive
Officer.
Setting
Executive Compensation
Based on
the foregoing objectives, the Committee has structured the Company’s annual and
long-term incentive-based cash and non-cash executive compensation to motivate
executives to achieve the business goals set by the Company and reward the
executives for achieving such goals. In furtherance of this, the Committee has
the authority under its charter to periodically engage an outside human
resources consulting firm to conduct a review of its total compensation program
for the Chief Executive Officer as well as for other key executives. The human
resources consulting firm provides the Committee with relevant market data
and alternatives to consider when making compensation decisions for the Chief
Executive Officer and on the recommendations being made by the Company’s Chief
Executive Officer for executives other than the Chief Executive Officer.
The Committee did not use a human resources consulting firm during fiscal
2008.
In making
compensation decisions, the Committee compares each element of total
compensation against a group of publicly-traded manufacturing companies.
This group of companies, which is periodically reviewed and updated by the
Committee, consists of companies against which the Committee believes the
Company competes for talent and for shareholder investment.
The
Committee strives to develop compensation packages for our executives made up of
a balanced combination of base salary, annual incentive awards, and long term
compensation. The compensation of our executive officers, including the
employment agreements with our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer, each address these forms of compensation. In setting executives’
compensation, our committee reviews the total remuneration that each respective
officer potentially could receive over the next several years, under scenarios
contemplating the executive’s continued employment or retirement during the
period.
Fiscal
Year 2008 Executive Compensation Components
For the
fiscal year ended February 29, 2008, the principal components of compensation
for named executive officers were:
|
•
|
|
performance-based
incentive compensation;
|
|
•
|
|
long-term
incentive compensation; and
|
|
•
|
|
perquisites
and other personal benefits.
|
Base
Salary
The
Company provides named executive officers and other employees with base salary
to compensate them for services rendered during the fiscal year. Base salary
ranges for named executive officers are determined for each executive based on
his or her position and responsibility by using market data. Base salary ranges
are designed so that salary opportunities for a given position will be between
75% and 125% of the midpoint of the base salary established for each
range.
During
its review of base salaries for executives, the Committee primarily
considers:
|
•
|
|
market
data periodically provided by our outside
consultants;
|
|
•
|
|
internal
review of the executive’s compensation, both individually and relative to
other executive officers; and
|
|
•
|
|
individual
performance of the executive.
|
Salary
levels are typically considered annually as part of the Company’s performance
review process as well as upon a promotion or other change in job
responsibility.
Performance-Based
Incentive Compensation
|
Annual
Incentive Compensation
The
Senior Management Bonus Plan is an annual cash incentive program. The Senior
Management Bonus Plan provides guidelines for the calculation of annual
non-equity incentive based compensation, subject to Committee oversight and
modification. At its January meeting each year, the Committee considers whether
a Senior Management Bonus Plan should be established for the succeeding year
and, if so, approves the group of employees eligible to participate in the
Senior Management Bonus Plan for that year. The Senior Management Bonus Plan
includes various incentive levels based on the participant’s accountability and
impact on Company operations, with target award opportunities that are
established as a percentage of base salary. These targets range from 30% to 60%
of base salary for the Company’s named executive officers. The
maximum award is reached by the named executives by achieving an average
performance level of 125% of their performance targets. Award payments under the
Senior Management Bonus Plan may not exceed 120% of base salary for Mr. Dingus,
80% of base salary for Messrs. Perry, Pendley, Wright, and Petro, and 60% of
base salary for Mr. Watson.
Each
participant in the plan is assigned one or more quantitative goals taken
from AZZ’s operating plan for the current fiscal year. Their success in reaching
those goals determines the size of the annual cash incentive award received by
each participant. For Messrs. Dingus and Perry, whose responsibilities are
Company-wide, 70% of the award is based upon the Company’s diluted earnings per
share and, in the case of Mr. Dingus, 30% of the award is based on the
achievement of qualitative goals set by the Committee for his individual
performance during the year and, in the case of Mr. Perry, 30% of the award is
based on the achievement of qualitative goals set by Mr. Dingus for Mr. Perry’s
individual performance during the year. The determining factors for Messrs.
Pendley, Wright, Petro, and Watson, whose responsibilities relate, in the case
of Mr. Pendley and Mr. Wright, to AZZ’s Galvanizing Service Segment and, in the
case of Mr. Petro, to the Electrical and Industrial Products Segment, and in the
case of Mr. Watson to the Electrical Products Group of our Electrical and
Industrial Products Segment, include not only diluted earnings per share but
also revenue, operating income or return on assets for their respective
segments.
In
February of each year, the Committee sets minimum, target and maximum levels for
each component of the Senior Management Bonus Plan. Payments of awards under the
Senior Management Bonus Plan are based upon the achievement of such objectives
for the current year. Named executive officers participating in the Senior
Management Bonus Plan receive:
|
•
|
|
no
payment for the Senior Management Bonus Plan award unless the participant
achieves the minimum performance
level;
|
|
•
|
|
a
payment of at least 50% but less than 100% of the Senior Management Bonus
Plan award if the participant achieves or exceeds the minimum performance
level but does not achieve the target performance
level;
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
a
payment of at least 100% but less than the maximum Senior Management Bonus
Plan award if the participant achieves or exceeds the target performance
level but does not attain the maximum performance level;
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
a
payment of the maximum Senior Management Bonus Plan award if the
participant achieves or exceeds the maximum performance
level.
|
Upon
completion of the fiscal year, the Committee assesses the performance of the
Company for each of the Senior Management Bonus Plan targets comparing the
actual fiscal year results to the pre-determined minimum, target, and maximum
levels for each objective and an overall percentage amount is
calculated.
Awards
made to named executive officers under the Senior Management Bonus Plan for
performance in 2008 are reflected in column (g) of the Summary Compensation Table on page 16.
Long-Term
Incentive Compensation
|
Stock
Appreciation Rights Program
The Stock
Appreciation Rights Program assists the Company to:
|
•
|
|
enhance
the link between the creation of shareholder value and long-term executive
incentive compensation;
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
provide
an opportunity for increased equity ownership by executives;
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
maintain
competitive levels of total
compensation.
|
The
compensation packages of our executive officers include long-term compensation
in the form of stock appreciation rights. During fiscal year 2008, rights were
granted under the AZZ incorporated 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, which are to
be settled in shares of AZZ incorporated common stock. Each stock appreciation
right has a base value equal to the average of the closing price of one share of
AZZ common stock on the New York Stock Exchange for those days on which it
trades during the period of thirty-calendar days immediately following the grant
date. The stock appreciation rights vest and are exercisable in full on the
third anniversary of the grant date and are exercisable for a period of 60 days
following the vesting date. During the 60 day period, the participant may
exercise the stock appreciation rights with respect to all of the common shares
by delivering written notice of exercise to the Committee. The exercise price
shall be determined on the date of delivery of such notice, but no later than
the 60th day after vesting. On the same terms and conditions described above, on
March 1, 2008, the committee awarded 27,686 stock appreciation rights to certain
directors, officers and employees of the Company under the proposed Amended and
Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan. Each of the stock
appreciation rights awarded under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term
Incentive Plan is subject to shareholder approval of such plan. For
additional information, please see "Proposal 2 – Amendments to 2005 Long term
Incentive Plan".
Stock
appreciation rights award levels are determined based on market data, vary among
participants based on their positions within the Company, and are granted at the
Committee’s regularly scheduled January meeting.
|
Perquisites
and Other Personal Benefits
|
The
Company provides named executive officers with perquisites and other employee
benefits that the Company and the Committee believe are reasonable and
consistent with its overall compensation program to better enable the Company to
attract and retain superior employees for key positions. The Committee
periodically reviews the levels of perquisites and other personal benefits
provided to named executive officers.
Attributed
costs of the personal benefits described above for the named executive officers
for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008, are included in column (i) of
the “Summary Compensation Table” on page
16.
The
Company has entered into employment agreements with two of our key executives,
Messrs. Dingus and Perry. Additionally, the Company has entered into Change of
Control Severance Agreements with certain key employees, including the named
executive officers. The Change of Control Severance Agreements are designed to
promote stability and continuity of senior management. Information regarding
applicable payments under such agreements for the named executive officers is
provided under the heading “Potential Payment Upon
Termination or Change of Control” on page 23.
Retirement
and Other Benefits
We do not
maintain a defined-benefit retirement program. Instead, all Company
employees, including named executive officers, are eligible to participate in
the Company’s 401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan known as the AZZ incorporated
Employee Benefit Plan and Trust.
401(k). The
Company maintains a 401(k) plan for all employees. The 401(k) plan is
a tax-qualified savings plan pursuant to which all Company employees, including
the named executive officers, can contribute a portion of their annual salary on
a pre-tax basis up to certain limits prescribed by the Internal Revenue
Service. The Company will match 50% of the first 6% of pay that an
employee contributes. All employee contributions to the 401(k) plan are fully
vested upon contribution. Company matching contributions vest over the first
five years of an employee’s service with the Company, and are fully vested for
employees who have five or more years of service. Employees may
select from among several mutual funds when investing their 401(k) account
funds.
Profit Sharing. In
addition to the 401(k) matching contributions, the Company may make a profit
sharing contribution that all Company employees who have satisfied a one year
eligibility waiting period, including named executive officers, are eligible to
receive. In the event a contribution is made, each Company employee,
including named executives, will receive a portion of the contribution as
determined by the following formula:
Participant
Eligible Compensation
--------------------------------------------------- X Profit
Sharing Contribution
Eligible
Compensation All Participants
This
amount is allocated to the participant’s account and is invested in one or more
mutual funds as determined by the participant.
The
profit sharing contribution made by the Company is subject to the same vesting
rules as the matching 401(k) funds.
Tax
and Accounting Implications
Deductibility
of Executive Compensation
As part
of its role, the Committee reviews and considers the deductibility of executive
compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, which
provides that the Company may not deduct compensation of more than $1,000,000
that is paid to certain individuals. The Company believes that compensation
paid under the management incentive plans is generally fully deductible for
federal income tax purposes. However, in certain situations, the Committee may
approve compensation that will not meet these requirements in order to ensure
competitive levels of total compensation for its executive
officers.
Accounting
for Stock-Based Compensation
Beginning
on March 1, 2006, the Company began accounting for stock-based payments
under its Stock Option Program and Stock Appreciation Rights Program in
accordance with the requirements of FASB Statement 123(R).
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE REPORT
The
Compensation Committee of the Company has reviewed and discussed the
Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation
S-K with management, and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation
Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis
be included in this Proxy Statement.
|
THE
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
|
|
Dr.
H. Kirk Downey, Chairman
|
SUMMARY
COMPENSATION TABLE
The table
below summarizes the total compensation paid or earned by each of the named
executive officers for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008. The Company has
entered into employment agreements with two of the named executive officers,
Messrs. Dingus and Perry. When setting total compensation for each of the named
executive officers, the Compensation Committee reviews tally sheets which show
the executive’s current compensation, including equity and non-equity based
compensation.
Name
and
Principal
Position
(a)
|
|
Year
(b)
|
|
Salary
($)
(c)
|
|
Bonus
($)
(d)
|
|
Stock
Awards
($)
(e)
|
|
Option
/SARs
Awards
($)(1)
(f)
|
|
Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)
(g)
|
|
Change
in
Pension
Value
and
Nonquali-
fied
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
(h)
|
|
All
Other
Compensation
($)(2)
(i)
|
|
Total
($)
(j)
|
David
H. Dingus
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
421,500
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
195,407
|
|
$
|
385,926
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
32,842
|
|
$
|
1,035,675
|
President
& Chief
Executive
Officer
|
|
2007
|
|
$
|
390,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
57,578
|
|
$
|
338,542
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
24,656
|
|
$
|
810,776
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dana
L. Perry
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
236,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
50,363
|
|
$
|
179,950
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
31,445
|
|
$
|
497,758
|
Senior
Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
|
|
2007
|
|
$
|
218,400
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
41,428
|
|
$
|
158,924
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
18,260
|
|
$
|
437,012
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fred
L. Wright, Jr. (3)
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
60,924
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
-0-
|
|
$
|
19,600
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
3,456
|
|
$
|
83,980
|
Senior
Vice President Galvanizing Services
|
|
2007
|
|
$
|
198,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
39,327
|
|
$
|
156,800
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
21,031
|
|
$
|
415,158
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
V. Petro
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
214,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
47,817
|
|
$
|
171,200
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
33,378
|
|
$
|
466,395
|
Senior
Vice President, Electrical and Industrial Products Segment
|
|
2007
|
|
$
|
198,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
39,327
|
|
$
|
156,800
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
18,495
|
|
$
|
412,622
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clement
H. Watson
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
190,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
29,048
|
|
$
|
114,000
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
30,211
|
|
$
|
363,259
|
Vice
President of Sales Electrical Products Group
|
|
2007
|
|
$
|
175,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
9,832
|
|
$
|
105,000
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
17,633
|
|
$
|
307,465
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tim
E. Pendley (4)
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
181,000
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
29,048
|
|
$
|
144,800
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
30,254
|
|
$
|
355,102
|
Vice
President Galvanizing Services
|
|
2007
|
|
$
|
122,500
|
|
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
9,832
|
|
$
|
73,500
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
22,617
|
|
$
|
228,449
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
__________
(1)
|
The
amounts in column (f) reflect the dollar amount recognized for
financial statement reporting purposes for the fiscal year ended February
29, 2008, in accordance with FAS 123(R) of awards pursuant to the Stock
Appreciation Rights Program. Assumptions used in the calculation of this
amount are included in footnote 1 to the Company’s audited financial
statements for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2008, included in the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on May 12,
2008.
|
(2)
|
The
amount shown in column (i) reflects for each named executive
officer:
|
|
•
|
|
Matching
contributions allocated by the Company to each of the named executive
officers pursuant to the AZZ incorporated Employee Benefit Plan and Trust
(which is more fully described on page 14 under the heading
“Retirement and Other Benefits”);
|
|
•
|
|
The
value attributable to group health and life insurance benefits which are
provided to all employees, including the named executive officers,
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
The
amount attributable to each such perquisite or benefit for each named
executive officer does not exceed the greater of $25,000 or 10% of the
total amount of perquisites received by such named executive
officer.
|
(3)
|
Mr.
Wright retired as Senior Vice President Galvanizing Segment on June
1, 2007.
|
(4)
|
Mr.
Pendley assumed all responsibilities of the Galvanizing Segment upon
the retirement of Mr. Wright on June 1,
2007.
|
GRANTS
OF PLAN BASED AWARDS
The
following table provides information about equity awards made to each of the
named executive officers under our Long Term Incentive Plan during fiscal
2008.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All
Other
Stock
Awards:
|
All
Other
Option/SARs
Awards:
|
|
Grant
Date
Fair
Value
|
|
|
|
Estimated
Future Payouts Under Non- Equity Incentive Plan Awards
|
Estimated
Future Payouts
Under
Equity Incentive
Plan
Awards
|
Number
of
Shares
of
Stock
|
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Options/
|
Exercise
or
Base
Price
of
Option/
SARs
|
of
Stock
and
Option/
SARs
|
Name
|
Grant
Date
|
|
Threshold
($)
|
|
Target
($)
|
Maximum
($)
|
Threshold
(#)
|
Target
(#)
|
Maximum
(#)
|
or
Units
(#)
|
SARs
(#)(1)
|
Awards
($/sh)(1)
|
Awards
($)(2)
|
David
H.
Dingus
|
3/1/07
|
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
39,300
|
$ 19.89
|
$
|
217,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dana
L.
Perry
|
3/1/07
|
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
9,100
|
$ 19.89
|
$
|
50,363
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fred
L. Wright (3)
|
3/1/07
|
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
-0-
|
-0-
|
|
-0-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
V.
Petro
|
3/1/07
|
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
8,640
|
$ 19.89
|
$
|
47,817
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clement
H. Watson
|
3/1/07
|
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
8,640
|
$ 19.89
|
$
|
47,817
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tim E.
Pendley
|
3/1/07
|
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
8,640
|
$ 19.89
|
$
|
47,817
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive
Group
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
74,320
|
|
$
|
411,314
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Executive
Officer Employee Group
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
-
|
__________
(1)
|
Adjusted
to reflect a two-for-one stock split, effected in the form of a stock
dividend on May 4, 2007.
|
(2)
|
Amounts
set forth in the Grant Date Fair Value of Stock or Options/SARs Awards
column represent the aggregate grant date fair value computed in
accordance with FAS123(R) based on the assumptions set forth in Note 1 to
the Company’s financial statements contained in the Company’s annual
report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 29,
2008.
|
(3)
|
Mr.
Wright retired as Senior Vice President Galvanizing Segment on June 1,
2007.
|
OUTSTANDING
EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
The
following table provides information on the holdings of stock options and stock
appreciation rights by each of the named executive officers as of February 29,
2008. Each option grant and stock appreciation right is shown
separately for each named executive officer.
|
Option/SARs
Awards (1)
|
Stock
Awards
|
Name
|
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options/SARs
(#)
Exercisable
(2)
|
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options/SARs
(#)
Unexercisable
(2)
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number
of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#)
|
|
Option/
SARs
Exercise
Price
($)
|
Option/
SARs
Expiration
Date
|
Number of
Shares
or
Units
of
Stock That
Have
Not
Vested
|
Market
Value of
Shares or
Units
of
Stock
That
Have
Not
Vested
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units
or
Other
Rights
That
Have
Not
Vested
|
Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market
or
Payout
Value
of
Unearned
Shares,
Units
or
Other
Rights
That
Have
Not
Vested
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David
H. Dingus
|
76,730(3)
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
8.37
|
|
03/27/12
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|
14,720(3)
|
|
|
|
$
|
5.55
|
|
03/03/13
|
|
|
|
|
|
61,400(4)
|
|
|
$
|
7.98
|
|
04/27/08
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
61,400(5)
|
|
|
$
|
11.55
|
|
04/07/09
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
39,300(5)
|
|
|
$
|
19.89
|
|
03/01/10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dana
L. Perry
|
|
14,200(4)
|
—
|
|
$
|
7.98
|
|
01/27/08
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|
|
14,200(5)
|
|
|
$
|
11.55
|
|
04/07/09
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,100(5)
|
|
|
$
|
19.89
|
|
03/01/10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fred
L. Wright(6)
|
|
—
|
—
|
|
|
—
|
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
V. Petro
|
|
13,480(4)
|
—
|
|
$
|
7.98
|
|
04/27/08
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|
|
13,480(5)
|
|
|
$
|
11.55
|
|
04/07/09
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,640(5)
|
|
|
$
|
19.89
|
|
03/01/10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clement
H. Watson
|
|
13,480(4)
|
—
|
|
$
|
7.98
|
|
04/27/08
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|
|
13,480(5)
|
|
|
$
|
11.55
|
|
04/07/09
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,640(5)
|
|
|
$
|
19.89
|
|
03/01/10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tim
E. Pendley
|
946
|
|
—
|
|
$
|
8.80
|
|
03/27/12
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
|
3,956
|
|
|
|
$
|
4.22
|
|
04/02/13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,480(4)
|
|
|
$
|
7.98
|
|
04/27/08
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,480(5)
|
|
|
$
|
11.55
|
|
04/07/09
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,640(5)
|
|
|
$
|
19.89
|
|
03/01/10
|
|
|
|
|
__________
(1)
|
Adjusted
to reflect a two-for-one stock split, effected in the form of a stock
dividend on May 4, 2007.
|
(2)
|
All
options listed above vest at a rate of 25% per year over the first
four years of the ten-year option term.
All
SARs listed above vest upon expiration date of the SAR.
|
(3)
|
Represents
stock option awards.
|
(4)
|
Represents
cash settled stock appreciation awards.
|
(5)
|
Represents
equity settled stock appreciation awards.
|
(6)
|
Mr.
Wright retired as Senior Vice President Galvanizing Segment on June 1,
2007.
|
OPTION
EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED
The
following table provides information for each of the named executive officers on
the aggregate stock option exercises during Fiscal 2008, including the number of
shares acquired on exercise and the value realized.
|
|
Option
Awards
|
|
|
Stock
Awards
|
|
Name
|
|
Number of Shares
Acquired On Exercise
(#)(1)
|
|
|
Value Realized
on
Exercise
($)
|
|
|
Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting
(#)
|
|
|
Value Realized on
Vesting
($)
|
|
David
H.
Dingus
|
|
|
147,302 |
|
|
$ |
3,016,943 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dana
L.
Perry
|
|
|
64,436 |
|
|
$ |
1,341,049 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fred
L. Wright(2)
|
|
|
37,398 |
|
|
$ |
620,143 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
John
V.
Petro
|
|
|
23,050 |
|
|
$ |
572,591 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Clem
H.
Watson
|
|
|
37,398 |
|
|
$ |
897,217 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tim
E.
Pendley
|
|
|
5,604 |
|
|
$ |
76,439 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
__________
(1)
|
Adjusted
to reflect a two-for-one stock split, effected in the form of a stock
dividend on May 4, 2007.
|
|
|
(2)
|
Mr.
Wright retired as Senior Vice President Galvanizing Segment on June 1,
2007.
|
POTENTIAL
PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE OF CONTROL
Payments
Made Upon Resignation, Termination, Death or Disability
Dingus Employment Agreement and
Management Incentive Plan. In the event that Mr. Dingus’
employment is terminated, prior to a change of control, due to disability or
death or for Cause, Mr. Dingus, or his estate, shall be entitled to receive (i)
all earned but unpaid base salary, (ii) payment for all earned but unused
vacation time, and (iii) reimbursement for business expenses incurred prior to
the date of termination. He, or his estate, shall also receive a
bonus prorated to the last completed full month of service prior to
termination. If the Company terminates Mr. Dingus’ employment without
Cause, he shall be entitled to receive (i) a cash amount equal to his base pay
from the date of his termination to the end of the term of his employment
agreement but in no event less than his base pay for a 24 month period plus any
amounts to which he is entitled under any compensation plan of the Company and
(ii) a bonus prorated to the last completed full month of service prior to
termination. Mr. Dingus also received Stock Options and Stock Appreciation
Rights under the terms of this Agreement. These Stock Options and Stock
Appreciation Rights shall vest and become exercisable upon Mr. Dingus’
termination as described in each separate Stock Option Agreement and Stock
Appreciation Rights Agreement.
In Mr.
Dingus’ Agreement, “Cause” is defined as (1) Mr. Dingus being convicted of a
crime involving moral turpitude or a crime providing for a term of imprisonment
in a federal or state penitentiary or (2) Mr. Dingus commits any willful
malfeasance or gross negligence in the discharge of his duties to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, having a material adverse effect on the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, their business or reputations or
(3) Mr. Dingus fails to correct within five days after written
notice, any specific failure in performance of the duties of his position with
the Company.
Mr.
Dingus’ Employment Agreement contains provisions requiring him to hold in strict
confidence and not to disclose any Confidential Information, as defined therein,
to any person except those engaged by the Company to further the business of the
Company, without the prior written consent of the Company. Mr. Dingus
is also prohibited from using the Confidential Information for any purpose other
than the pursuit of the business of the Company without the prior written
consent of the Company. These obligations of confidentiality and
non-use shall remain in effect during Mr. Dingus’ employment and indefinitely
thereafter.
Mr.
Dingus’ Employment Agreement also contains provisions requiring him not to,
without the prior written consent of the Company, solicit for employment any
person who was employed by the Company at the time of Mr. Dingus’ termination of
employment with the Company. After his termination of employment with
the Company, if Mr. Dingus is approached by an employee of the Company
concerning prospective employment he will inform such employee that he cannot
discuss matters further with such employee without the consent of the
Company. This non-solicitation provision shall remain in effect
during the course of Mr. Dingus’ employment with the Company and for a period of
12 months after termination of such employment at any time and for any
reason.
Mr.
Dingus’ Employment Agreement also contains a provision requiring that for a
period of twelve months following his termination he may not directly or
indirectly solicit any person, who at the time of his termination was a client,
customer, vendor, consultant, or agent of the Company to cease doing business in
whole or in part with the Company. If such a client, customer,
vendor, consultant, or agent should contact him about ceasing to do business
with the Company he will inform such person that he cannot discuss the matter
further without the consent of the Company.
Perry Employment Agreement and
Management Incentive Plan. Mr. Perry’s Employment Agreement
and Management Incentive Plan contain provisions identical to those described
above with respect to Mr. Dingus’ Employment Agreement and Management Incentive
Plan.
Payments
made upon a Change In Control
Dingus Change Of Control
Agreement. If Mr. Dingus remains in the service of the Company for a
period of one year following a change in control of the Company, (i) he shall be
entitled to a payment equal to 2.99 times his “base amount,” as defined in
Section 280G(b)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and (ii) all Options and Stock
Appreciation Rights shall fully vest and become exercisable.
If Mr.
Dingus is terminated during a period in which a potential change in control is
in effect or before one year following a change in control as a result of (i)
his death (ii) his total disability (iii) his termination by the Company for any
reason other than cause or (iv) voluntary termination by him for good reason,
(a) the Company shall pay him, in addition to the amount indicated above his
full base salary through his date of termination plus any amounts to which he is
entitled under any compensation agreement at the time such payments are due, and
(b) all Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall fully vest and become
immediately exercisable.
If Mr.
Dingus’ employment is terminated before one year following a change in control
of the Company (i) by Mr. Dingus for any reason whatsoever other than as a
result of his death, total disability or for Good Reason or (ii) by the Company
for Cause, the Company shall pay him his full base salary through the date of
termination plus any amounts to which he is entitled under any compensation plan
of the Company at the time such payments are made, but he will not be entitled
to the payment of 2.99 times his “base amount.”
The
Company shall also reimburse Mr. Dingus all legal fees and expenses he might
incur in seeking to obtain or enforce any right or benefit provided by the
Change of Control Agreement.
“Cause”
as used in this Change of Control Agreement has the same meaning as “Cause”
contained in the “Dingus
Employment Agreement” as shown above.
“Good
Reason” is defined, as used in this Change of Control Agreement, as
follows:
(A) The
assignment of duties to Mr. Dingus inconsistent with his present status as
President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company (or such other title or
titles as he may be holding immediately prior to the change in control of the
Company) or a substantial adverse alteration in the nature or status of his
responsibilities from those in effect immediately prior to the change in control
of the Company;
(B) A
reduction by the Company in his annual base salary in effect on the date of the
change in control of the Company;
(C) The
relocation of the Company’s principal executive offices to a location outside of
Tarrant County, Texas (or, if different, the metropolitan area in which such
offices are located immediately prior to the change in control of the Company)
or the Company’s requiring Mr. Dingus to be based anywhere other than a site
less than thirty (30) miles from the site where he is now principally based
except for (i) required travel on Company business to an extent substantially
consistent with his present business travel obligations and (ii) proposed
relocations of which he has already been informed in writing on or prior to the
date of the Agreement or to which he may thereafter consent;
(D) The
failure by the Company, without his consent, to pay to Mr. Dingus any portion of
his current compensation, after the same shall have become due and payable and
within seven (7) days after receipt by the Company of written notice from Mr.
Dingus specifying that such compensation is due and has not been
paid;
(E) The
failure by the Company to continue in effect any compensation plan in which he
participates immediately prior to the change in control of the Company which is
material to his total compensation, unless an equitable arrangement (embodied in
an ongoing substitute or alternative plan) has been made with respect to such
plan, or the failure by the Company to continue his participation therein on a
basis not materially less favorable, both in terms of the amount of benefits
provided and the level of his participation relative to other participants, as
existed at the time of the change in control of the Company;
(F) The
failure of the Company to continue to provide Mr. Dingus with benefits
substantially similar to those enjoyed by him under the AZZ incorporated
Employee Benefit Plan & Trust or under any of the Company’s other deferred
compensation plans, life insurance, medical, health and accident, or disability
plans in which he was participating at the time of the change in control of the
Company, the taking of any action by the Company which would directly or
indirectly materially reduce any of such benefits or deprive him of any material
fringe benefit enjoyed by him at the time of the change in control of the
Company, or the failure by the Company to provide him with the number of paid
vacation days to which he is entitled on the basis of any employment contract
with him or years of service with the Company in accordance with the Company’s
normal vacation policy for officers in effect at the time of the change in
control of the Company;
(G) The
failure of the Company to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any successor to
assume and agree to perform this Change of Control Agreement; or
(H) Any
purported termination of his employment by the Company other than because of
total disability, death or for Cause. With respect to clauses (A),
(B), (E), (F), (G) or (H) of the immediately preceding sentence, such clauses
shall not constitute Good Reason unless the circumstances described in such
clauses are not fully corrected within 15 days of the Company’s receipt of
notice from Mr. Dingus that such circumstances exist.
Perry Change Of Control Agreement.
Mr. Perry’s Change of Control Agreement contains provisions identical to
those described above for Mr. Dingus with respect to Mr. Dingus’ Change of
Control Agreement, provided that with respect to clause (A) in the definition of
“Good Reason” above, Mr. Perry’s Change of Control Agreement references his
status as “Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer” rather than
“President and Chief Executive Officer.”
Executive Change-In-Control
Severance Agreements. The Executive Change-in-Control Severance
Agreements with Mr. Pendley, Mr. Petro, and Mr. Watson, provide:
·
|
If
such executive’s employment is terminated within one year following a
change in control of the Company for Cause or by such executive for other
than Good Reason, the Company shall pay him his full base salary through
the date of termination plus all other amounts to which he is entitled
under any compensation or benefit plan of the Company at the time such
payments are due and the Company shall have no further obligation to him
under this Change in Control
Agreement.
|
·
|
If
such executive’s employment is terminated before one year following a
change in control (i) by the Company other than for Cause or disability,
or (ii) by such executive for Good Reason, he shall be entitled to his
base salary through the date of termination plus any other amounts to
which he (a) is entitled to under any compensation plan of the Company at
the time such payments are due; (b) a severance payment in an amount equal
to two times his base amount, as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code, and all Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
held by such executive shall fully vest and become immediately exercisable
and (c) the Company will reimburse such executive for all legal fees and
expenses incurred by him in seeking to obtain or enforce any right or
benefit provided by the Change in Control
Agreement.
|
·
|
“Cause”
as used in such Executive Change-in-Control Severance Agreements has the
same meaning as contained in the “Dingus Employment
Agreement.”
|
·
|
“Good
Reason” as used in such Executive Change-in-Control Severance Agreements
means
|
(A) the
assignment of duties to him inconsistent with his present status or position
with the Company (or such other title or titles as he may be holding immediately
prior to the change in control of the Company) or a substantial adverse
alteration in the nature or status of his responsibilities from those in effect
immediately prior to the change in control of the Company;
(B) a
reduction by the Company in his annual base salary in effect on the date of the
change in control of the Company;
(C) the
relocation of the Company’s principal executive offices to a location requiring
him to be based anywhere other than a site less than thirty (30) miles from the
site where he is now principally based except for (i) required travel on Company
business to an extent substantially consistent with his present business travel
obligations and (ii) proposed relocations of which he has already been informed
in writing on or prior to the date of the Agreement or to which he may
thereafter consent;
(D) the
failure by the Company, without his consent, to pay to him any portion of his
current compensation, after the same shall have become due and payable and
within seven (7) days after receipt by the Company of written notice from him
specifying that such compensation is due and has not been paid;
(E) the
failure by the Company to continue in effect any compensation plan in which he
participates immediately prior to the change in control of the Company which is
material to his total compensation, unless an equitable arrangement (embodied in
an ongoing substitute or alternative plan) has been made with respect to such
plan, or the failure by the Company to continue his participation therein on a
basis not materially less favorable, both in terms of the amount of benefits
provided and the level of his participation relative to other participants, as
existed at the time of the change in control of the Company;
(F) the
failure of the Company to continue to provide him with benefits substantially
similar to those enjoyed by him under the AZZ incorporated Employee Benefit Plan
& Trust or under any of the Company’s other deferred compensation plans,
life insurance, medical, health and accident, or disability plans in which he
was participating at the time of the change in control of the Company, the
taking of any action by the Company which would directly or indirectly
materially reduce any of such benefits or deprive him of any material fringe
benefit enjoyed by him at the time of the change in control of the Company, or
the failure by the Company to provide him with the number of paid vacation days
to which he is entitled on the basis of any employment contract with him or
years of service with the Company in accordance with the Company’s normal
vacation policy for employees in effect at the time of the change in control of
the Company;
(G) the
failure of the Company to obtain a satisfactory agreement from any successor to
assume and agree to perform this Change-in-Control Severance Agreement;
or
(H) any
purported termination of his employment by the Company other than because of
total disability, death or for Cause. With respect to clauses (A),
(B), (E), (F), (G), or (H) of the immediately preceding sentence, such clauses
shall not constitute Good Reason unless the circumstances described in such
clauses are not fully corrected within 15 days of the Company’s receipt of
notice from such executive that such circumstances exist.
Except
for Mr. Wright who retired as Senior Vice President Galvanizing Segment on June
1, 2007, the following table reflects the amount of compensation to each of the
named executive officers of the Company in the event of termination of such
executive’s employment. The amount of compensation payable to each named
executive officer upon voluntary termination, involuntary not-for-cause
termination, for cause termination, termination following a change of control
and in the event of disability or death of the executive is shown below. The
amounts shown assume that such termination was effective as of February 29, 2008
and that the named executive officers had met requirements under our incentive
compensation plans that the executive be employed as of year end to receive
benefits related to the year, and thus includes amounts earned through such time
and are estimates of the amounts which would be paid out to the executives upon
their termination. The actual amounts to be paid out can only be determined at
the time of such executive’s separation from the Company. As of
February 29, 2008, each executive had received all of the base salary earned
during fiscal 2008, and no portion of the base salary was unpaid at that
date.
DAVID
H. DINGUS
|
|
TRIGGERING
EVENT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination
of Employment Before Change in Control
|
|
|
Termination
of Employment Within
One
Year After Change in Control
|
|
|
|
Death/
Disability
|
|
|
Termination
for Cause
|
|
|
Termination
Without Cause
|
|
|
Death/
Disability
|
|
|
Termination
for Cause
|
|
|
Termination
Without Cause
|
|
|
Voluntary
For Good Reason
|
|
|
Voluntary
Without Good Reason
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Severance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,264,500
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
2,309,369
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,309,369
|
(1)
|
|
$
|
2,309,369
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-Term
Cash
Incentive
|
|
$
|
385,926
|
|
|
$
|
385,926
|
|
|
$
|
385,926
|
|
|
$
|
385,926
|
|
|
$
|
385,926
|
|
|
$
|
385,926
|
|
|
$
|
385,926
|
|
|
$
|
385,926
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
Options
|
|
$
|
2,515,882
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
2,515,882
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
2,515,882
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(4)
|
|
$
|
2,515,882
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(4)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(4)
|
|
$
|
2,515,882
|
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
Appreciation Rights
|
|
$
|
3,760,763
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
3,760,763
|
|
|
$
|
3,760,763
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
3,760,763
|
|
|
$
|
3,760,763
|
|
|
|
|
|
__________
(1)
|
This
amount is 2.99 times the average base amount, defined as base salary plus
short-term incentive payments, for Mr. Dingus for the fiscal years 2006,
2007 and 2008.
|
(2)
|
This
amount is Mr.
Dingus’s base salary for a period of three years. Mr. Dingus’s Employment
Agreement with the Company provides that if he is terminated without
cause, he will be entitled to his base salary for the period from the date
of termination to the end of the term of the Employment Agreement. Because
Mr. Dingus received no notice from the Company of a termination of the
Employment Agreement, Mr. Dingus's Employment Agreement term is for the
period from March 1, 2008 through March 1,
2011.
|
(3)
|
This
amount is the total value of vested options held by the named executive
officer as of February 29, 2008.
|
(4)
|
This
amount is the total value of all options held by the named executive
officer as of February 29, 2008 following the application of the
accelerated vesting provision contained in the Change in Control
Agreement.
|
DANA
L. PERRY
|
|
TRIGGERING
EVENT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination
of Employment Before Change in Control
|
|
|
Termination
of Employment Within
One
Year After Change in Control
|
|
|
|
Death/
Disability
|
|
|
Termination
for Cause
|
|
|
Termination
Without Cause
|
|
|
Death/
Disability
|
|
|
Termination
for Cause
|
|
|
Termination
Without Cause
|
|
|
Voluntary
For Good Reason
|
|
|
Voluntary
Without Good Reason
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Severance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
708,000
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
1,189,894
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,189,894
|
(1)
|
|
$
|
1,189,894
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-Term
Cash Incentive
|
|
$
|
179,950
|
|
|
$
|
179,950
|
|
|
$
|
179,950
|
|
|
$
|
179,950
|
|
|
$
|
179,950
|
|
|
$
|
179,950
|
|
|
$
|
179,950
|
|
|
$
|
179,950
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
Options
|
|
$
|
0
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(4)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(4)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(4)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
Appreciation Rights
|
|
$
|
869,925
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
869,925
|
|
|
$
|
869,925
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
869,925
|
|
|
$
|
869,925
|
|
|
|
|
|
__________
(1)
|
This
amount is 2.99 times the average base amount, defined as base salary plus
short-term incentive payments, for Mr. Perry for the fiscal years 2006,
2007 and 2008.
|
(2)
|
This
amount is Mr.
Perry’s base salary for a period of three years. Mr. Perry’s Employment
Agreement with the Company provides that if he is terminated without
cause, he will be entitled to his base salary for the period from the date
of termination to the end of the term of the Employment Agreement. Because
Mr. Perry received no notice from the Company of a termination of the
Employment Agreement, Mr. Perry's Employment Agreement term is for the
period from March 1, 2008 through March 1,
2011.
|
(3)
|
This
amount is the total value of vested options held by the named executive
officer as of February 29, 2008.
|
(4)
|
This
amount is the total value of all options held by the named executive
officer as of February 29, 2008 following the application of the
accelerated vesting provision contained in the Change in Control
Agreement.
|
JOHN
V. PETRO
|
|
TRIGGERING
EVENT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination
of Employment Before Change in Control
|
|
|
Termination
of Employment Within
One
Year After Change in Control
|
|
|
|
Death/
Disability
|
|
|
Termination
for Cause
|
|
|
Termination
Without Cause
|
|
|
Death/
Disability
|
|
|
Termination
for Cause
|
|
|
Termination
Without Cause
|
|
|
Voluntary
For Good Reason
|
|
|
Voluntary
Without Good Reason
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Severance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
731,787
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
731,787
|
(1)
|
|
$
|
731,787
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-Term
Cash Incentive
|
|
$
|
171,200
|
|
|
$
|
171,200
|
|
|
$
|
171,200
|
|
|
$
|
171,200
|
|
|
$
|
171,200
|
|
|
$
|
171,200
|
|
|
$
|
171,200
|
|
|
$
|
171,200
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
Options
|
|
$
|
0
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
Appreciation Rights
|
|
$
|
825,838
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
825,838
|
|
|
$
|
825,838
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
825,838
|
|
|
$
|
825,838
|
|
|
|
|
|
__________
(1)
|
This
amount is two times the average base amount, defined as base salary plus
short-term incentive payments, for Mr. Petro for the fiscal years 2006,
2007 and 2008.
|
(2)
|
This
amount is the total value of vested options held by the listed executive
officer as of February 29, 2008.
|
(3)
|
This
amount is the total value of all options held by the listed executive
officer as of February 29, 2008 following the application of the
accelerated vesting provision contained in the Change in Control
Agreement.
|
CLEMENT
H. WATSON
|
|
TRIGGERING
EVENT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination
of Employment Before Change in Control
|
|
|
Termination
of Employment Within
One
Year After Change in Control
|
|
|
|
Death/
Disability
|
|
|
Termination
for Cause
|
|
|
Termination
Without Cause
|
|
|
Death/
Disability
|
|
|
Termination
for Cause
|
|
|
Termination
Without Cause
|
|
|
Voluntary
For Good Reason
|
|
|
Voluntary
Without Good Reason
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Severance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
581,104
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
581,104
|
(1)
|
|
$
|
581,104
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-Term
Cash Incentive
|
|
$
|
114,000
|
|
|
$
|
114,000
|
|
|
$
|
114,000
|
|
|
$
|
114,000
|
|
|
$
|
114,000
|
|
|
$
|
114,000
|
|
|
$
|
114,000
|
|
|
$
|
114,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
Options
|
|
$
|
0
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
Appreciation Rights
|
|
$
|
825,838
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
825,838
|
|
|
$
|
825,838
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
825,838
|
|
|
$
|
825,838
|
|
|
|
|
|
__________
(1)
|
This
amount is two times the average base amount, defined as base salary plus
short-term incentive payments, for Mr. Watson for the fiscal years 2006,
2007 and 2008.
|
(2)
|
This
amount is the total value of vested options held by the listed executive
officer as of February 29, 2008.
|
(3)
|
This
amount is the total value of all options held by the listed executive
officer as of February 29, 2008 following the application of the
accelerated vesting provision contained in the Change in Control
Agreement.
|
TIM
E. PENDLEY
|
|
TRIGGERING
EVENT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Termination
of Employment Before Change in Control
|
|
|
Termination
of Employment Within
One
Year After Change in Control
|
|
|
|
Death/
Disability
|
|
|
Termination
for Cause
|
|
|
Termination
Without Cause
|
|
|
Death/
Disability
|
|
|
Termination
for Cause
|
|
|
Termination
Without Cause
|
|
|
Voluntary
For Good Reason
|
|
|
Voluntary
Without Good Reason
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Severance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
554,653
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
554,653
|
(1)
|
|
$
|
554,653
|
(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Short-Term
Cash Incentive
|
|
$
|
144,800
|
|
|
$
|
144,800
|
|
|
$
|
144,800
|
|
|
$
|
144,800
|
|
|
$
|
144,800
|
|
|
$
|
144,800
|
|
|
$
|
144,800
|
|
|
$
|
144,800
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
Options
|
|
$
|
148,630
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
148,630
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
148,630
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
148,630
|
(2)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
0
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
148,630
|
(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
Appreciation Rights
|
|
$
|
825,838
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
825,838
|
|
|
$
|
825,838
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
825,838
|
|
|
$
|
825,838
|
|
|
|
|
|
__________
(1)
|
This
amount is two times the average base amount, defined as base salary plus
short-term incentive payments, for Mr. Pendley for the fiscal years 2006,
2007 and 2008.
|
(2)
|
This
amount is the total value of vested options held by the listed executive
officer as of February 29, 2008.
|
(3)
|
This
amount is the total value of all options held by the listed executive
officer as of February 29, 2008 following the application of the
accelerated vesting provision contained in the Change in Control
Agreement.
|
AUDIT
COMMITTEE REPORT
The audit
committee during fiscal 2008 was composed of Directors Feehan (chairman), Berce,
and Joyce (and for a portion of fiscal 2008, Directors Schumacher and Johnson,
each of who retired as directors after the 2007 Annual Meeting). The
board has determined that all members are independent as that term is defined in
The New York Stock Exchange listing standards and Section 10A(m)(3) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that each member qualifies as an audit
committee financial expert as defined in the SEC rules adopted under the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
The audit
committee has sole authority for the appointment and replacement of the
independent auditor and is directly responsible for the compensation and
oversight of the work of the independent auditor. The independent
auditor reports directly to the audit committee. The audit committee
reviews with the auditors the plan and scope of the annual audit. It
reviews with management and the independent auditor the annual audited financial
statements and recommends to the board whether they should be included in AZZ’s
annual report. It similarly reviews quarterly financial reports and
all earnings press releases. The audit committee also has general
oversight of AZZ’s accounting, financial reporting and internal audit
function. Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation
and integrity of AZZ’s financial statements, accounting and financial reporting
principles, internal controls and procedures designed to ensure compliance with
accounting standards, applicable laws and regulations. BDO Seidman
LLP (“BDO Seidman”), our independent registered public accounting firm, is
responsible for performing an independent audit of the consolidated financial
statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States).
The audit
committee members are not professional auditors, and their functions are not
intended to duplicate or to certify the activities of management and BDO
Seidman. The audit committee serves an oversight role, providing
advice, counsel and direction to management and BDO Seidman on the basis of
information it receives, discussions with management and BDO Seidman, and the
experience of the audit committee’s members in business, financial and
accounting matters.
The audit
committee operates under a written charter, which was adopted in revised form by
the board of directors on June 20, 2007. A copy of the full text of
the charter is available on AZZ’s website at www.azz.com. The audit
committee reviews and assesses the adequacy of its charter on an annual
basis.
The audit
committee has:
|
•
|
|
reviewed
and discussed the audited consolidated financial statements with
management;
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
discussed
with BDO Seidman the matters, if any, required to be discussed by SAS 61
(Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards, AU § 380), as amended;
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
received
the written disclosures from BDO Seidman required by Independence
Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Standards Board Standard No.
1, Independence Discussions with Audit Committees), as
amended.
|
Based on
the review and discussions referred to in the preceding paragraph, the audit
committee recommended to the board of directors that the audited consolidated
financial statements be included in AZZ’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its
fiscal year ended February 29, 2008.
Audit
Committee:
Daniel R.
Feehan, Chairman
Daniel E.
Berce
Kevern
Joyce
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary set forth in any of AZZ’s previous filings under the
Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that might
incorporate future filings, including this proxy statement, in whole or in part,
the compensation committee discussion and analysis and the audit committee
report shall not be incorporated by reference into any such
filings.
AMENDMENTS
TO 2005 LONG TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
Our 2005
Long-Term Incentive Plan was approved at the 2005 Annual Shareholder’s Meeting.
The plan currently allows for granting of stock options (including incentive
stock options and nonqualified stock options), stock appreciation rights,
restricted stock awards, stock unit awards, and performance awards on up to
500,000 shares of our common stock (adjusted up from 250,000 shares of our
common stock due to the two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a stock
dividend on May 4, 2007). If approved by the shareholders, the 2005
Long Term Incentive Plan will be amended (1) to provide that the maximum number
of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the plan shall be
increased to 1,000,000 shares, (2) to provide that, in the event that the
Company issues shares of common stock in connection with the exercise of stock
appreciation rights, only the shares of common stock actually issued as payment
in connection with the exercise of such stock appreciation right shall be
treated as issued under the plan, (3) to provide that, in the event that the
Company distributes cash in lieu of issuing shares of common stock as payment
upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right, the corresponding number of
shares of common stock related to the stock appreciation right (or portion
thereof) being exercised shall again be available for issue and (4) to change
the name of the 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan to the “Amended and Restated 2005
Long Term Incentive Plan.” The following summary of the Amended and
Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan is not intended to be complete, and you
are encouraged to read the complete text of the plan, attached hereto as
Appendix A, prior to voting.
Purpose
The
purpose of the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan is to promote
the Company’s growth and general prosperity by enabling us to grant to our
employees and directors awards of stock options, stock appreciation rights,
restricted stock, stock unit awards and performance awards. The Amended and
Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan is designed to assist the Company and its
subsidiaries in attracting and retaining superior personnel for positions of
substantial responsibility, to provide employees and directors with an
additional incentive to contribute to the success of the Company and to align
employees’ and directors’ long-term financial interests with those of our other
shareholders.
Available
Shares
Pursuant
to the 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan, the maximum number of shares of common
stock that may currently be issued under such plan (or with respect to which
awards may be granted) is 500,000 shares (adjusted up from 250,000 shares of our
common stock due to the two-for-one stock split effected in the form of a stock
dividend on May 4, 2007). Under the 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan, the maximum
number of shares of common stock that may currently be granted to any one person
during any calendar year is 100,000 shares. Giving effect to currently
outstanding grants under the 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan, as of February 29,
2008, a total of 102,114 shares were available for further grants or issuance
under the plan. Stock appreciation rights covering an aggregate of
27,686 shares have been issued subject to shareholder approval of the Amended
and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan. In this Proposal 2, the board of
directors is seeking shareholder approval to amend the plan to increase the
maximum number of shares issuable under the plan. Under the Amended
and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan, the maximum number of shares of
common stock that may be issued under the plan (or with respect to which awards
may be granted) is 1,000,000 shares and the maximum number of shares of common
stock that may be granted to any one person during any calendar year is
100,000 shares.
Shares issued under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan may
be either authorized and unissued shares of common stock or shares of common
stock issued and later acquired by the Company. Any shares of common stock
subject to a stock option that are not issued prior to the time the award
expires, or any restricted stock that is forfeited, will again be available for
award under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan.
Pursuant
to the 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan, each share of common stock related to a
stock appreciation right granted under the plan is currently counted against the
maximum number of shares of common stock issuable under the plan, regardless of
whether the Company delivers cash or common stock as payment upon exercise of
such stock appreciation right. In this Proposal 2, the
board of directors is also seeking shareholder approval to amend the 2005 Long
Term Incentive Plan to clarify the proper method of calculating how the exercise
of stock appreciation rights affects the number of shares of common stock
available for issuance under the plan. Under the Amended and Restated
2005 Long Term Incentive Plan, upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right,
only the number of shares of common stock actually issued in connection with the
exercise of such stock appreciation right (and not the corresponding number of
shares of common stock related to the stock appreciation right (or portion
thereof) being exercised) shall be treated as issued under the plan and, for the
purpose of the limitation set forth in Section 1.6 of the plan on the number of
shares of common stock issuable under the plan, the remaining number of shares
of common stock related to such exercised stock appreciation right (or portion
thereof) shall again be available for issuance under the plan. In the
event that the Company distributes cash in lieu of issuing shares of common
stock as payment upon the exercise of a stock appreciation right, the
corresponding number of shares of common stock related to the stock appreciation
right (or portion thereof) being exercised shall again be available for issuance
under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan.
Persons
Eligible To Participate
All of
our employees and directors are eligible to participate in the Amended and
Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan; currently, we have nine directors and
approximately 1,700 employees. Subject to the provisions of the Amended and
Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan, the compensation committee may grant
awards in its sole discretion. Awards of incentive stock options, however, may
be granted only to persons who are employees of the Company or of an affiliate
whose employees qualify, under federal income tax law, to receive incentive
stock options.
Administration
The
compensation committee has broad powers under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long
Term Incentive Plan to, among other things, administer and interpret the plan,
establish guidelines for the plan’s operation, select persons to whom awards are
to be made under the plan, determine the types and sizes of awards to be granted
under the plan and determine other terms and conditions of an award. In
addition, except as the plan otherwise provides, the committee also has the
power to waive restrictions or limitations on the exercisability of awards and
to accelerate and extend existing awards. The compensation committee also has
the power to modify or amend the terms of existing awards.
Types
of Awards
The
Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan provides for the grant of any
or all of the following types of awards:
|
•
|
|
stock
options (including incentive stock options and nonqualified stock
options);
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
stock
appreciation rights:
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
restricted
stock awards;
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
stock
unit awards; and
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
Performance
awards.
|
Stock Options. Under the
Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan, the committee may grant
awards in the form of options to purchase shares of common stock. Options may be
in the form of incentive stock options or nonqualified stock options. The
committee will, with regard to each stock option, determine the number of shares
subject to the option, the term of the option (which, for both incentive and
nonqualified stock options, may not exceed ten years), the exercise price per
share of stock subject to the option (which, for both incentive and nonqualified
stock options, must not be less than the fair market value of the shares of
common stock at the time of grant), the vesting schedule (which will be over a
four year term, unless the committee determines otherwise), and the other
material terms of the option. Any option granted in the form of an incentive
stock option must satisfy the applicable requirements of Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
The
option price upon exercise shall be paid by the optionee, as the committee may
in each case determine:
|
•
|
|
in
cash;
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
by
certified or cashier’s check;
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
in
shares of our common stock held for at least six
months;
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
by
delivery of a copy of irrevocable instructions from the optionee to a
broker or dealer, reasonably acceptable to the committee, to sell shares
of common stock purchased upon exercise of the option or to pledge them as
collateral for a loan from a third party and promptly to deliver to the
Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds necessary to pay such purchase
price; or
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
in
any other form of valid consideration permitted by the committee in its
discretion.
|
Restricted Stock Awards. The
Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan authorizes the committee to
grant awards in the form of restricted shares of the Company’s common stock. The
awards may be in amounts and subject to terms and conditions the committee may
determine, provided that the shares will be restricted for a period of not more
than ten years. During this period, the sale, assignment, transfer, pledge or
other encumbrance of the shares is restricted, and the shares are subject to
forfeiture to the Company in the event the awardee ends his position as an
employee or director of the Company or one of our subsidiaries before the period
of restriction expires. However, if an awardee’s employment or service ends due
to his death, permanent disability or retirement, or termination without cause,
or constructive termination after a change in control (as defined in the Amended
and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan), his shares are not
forfeited.
Stock Appreciation Rights.
The Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan also authorizes the
committee to grant awards in the form of stock appreciation rights. A stock
appreciation right represents the right to receive payment in cash, the
Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and common stock in an amount
equal to the excess of the fair market value (as defined in the Amended and
Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan) of a specified number of shares of our
common stock at the time the right is exercised over the exercise price of such
right at the time it was granted (which may not be less than 100% of the fair
market value (as defined in the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive
Plan) of the same number of shares of our common stock at the time the right was
granted). The committee may determine fair market value based on the average
reported sales price for common stock over a period specified by the committee
or the reported sales price as of a specified date. The committee has the
authority to designate the terms and conditions of stock appreciation rights
granted under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan, which
terms may differ from one grant to another, although rights may not expire more
than ten years from the date of grant. All the Company’s employees and directors
are eligible to receive stock appreciation rights, and, as a condition to
receiving an award, each awardee must enter a written stock appreciation rights
agreement with our Company. Subject to shareholder approval of the
Amended and Restated 2005 Long term Incentive Plan, on March 1, 2008 the
committee awarded 27,686 stock appreciation rights to certain directors,
officers and employees of the Company.
Stock Unit Awards. The
committee may also grant stock unit awards under the Amended and Restated 2005
Long Term Incentive Plan. Awards of stock units are denominated in shares of
common stock, but may be paid either in shares of common stock or cash, as the
committee determines. The committee has the authority to designate the terms and
conditions of stock unit awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long
Term Incentive Plan, which terms may differ from one grant to another, although
awards may not expire more than ten years from the date of grant. All the
Company’s employees and directors are eligible to receive these awards, and, as
a condition to receiving an award, each awardee must enter a written stock unit
award agreement with our Company.
Performance Awards. The
Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan also authorizes the committee
to grant performance awards. These awards are divided into two
categories:
|
•
|
|
performance
shares, which include the right to receive shares of our common stock,
restricted stock or cash of equal value (or any combination of these as
determined by the committee); and/or
|
|
|
|
|
|
•
|
|
performance
units, which include the right to receive a fixed cash payment, shares of
our common stock or restricted stock (or any combination of these as
determined by the committee).
|
The
committee can grant performance awards for no cash consideration or for any
other consideration required by law or specified at the time of the grant. Each
performance award will have its own terms and conditions (determined and
modified at the committee’s discretion), which can include provisions
establishing the performance period, the performance criteria to be achieved
during a performance period and the maximum and minimum settlement values. These
awards may be valued according to the fair market value of our shares or any
method chosen by the committee. Performance awards may be paid in cash, shares
of our common stock (including restricted stock) and/or other consideration.
Achievement of the performance objective can constitute consideration as well.
These awards may be paid in a single payment or in installments and can be paid
at a specified date or upon attaining the performance objective, all at the
committee’s discretion. All of the Company’s employees and directors are
eligible to receive these awards, and, as a condition to receiving an award,
each awardee must enter a written performance award agreement with our
company.
Awards
Granted to Certain Individuals and Groups
The
number of awards that an employee or director may receive under the Amended and
Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan is at the discretion of the committee and
therefore cannot be determined in advance. The information required
to be provided by Item 10(a)(2)(iii) of Schedule 14A is set forth collectively
in the Director Summary Compensation Table and the table regarding Grants of
Plan Based Awards, in each case as set forth herein.
Termination
of Awards
Awards of
options granted under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan may
terminate early upon the death, disability, or termination of awardee’s
employment. If an awardee’s employment is terminated for cause, the awardee’s
awards (other than restricted stock that has already vested) will automatically
expire on the termination date.
Compliance
With Securities Laws
No awards
may be granted under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan
unless we comply with applicable securities laws and list our shares of common
stock granted by awards with the New York Stock Exchange. With regard to any
shares that we grant under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive
Plan through options or restricted stock, the Company’s management plans to
register these shares under the federal securities laws and list them with the
New York Stock Exchange.
Transferability
Awards
granted under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan (other than
restricted stock that has fully vested) cannot be transferred except by will or
the laws of descent and distribution, or with respect to nonqualified stock
options, by the terms of a qualified domestic relations order. Incentive stock
options awarded under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan may
be exercised during the life of an optionee only by the optionee or his legally
authorized representative. The committee, in its discretion, may permit
nonqualified stock options to be transferred to members of the awardee’s
immediate family, trusts for the benefit of immediate family members, and
partnerships in which immediate family members are the only partners, but only
if there is no consideration for the transfer.
Acceleration
of Awards
The
committee may accelerate the exercisability or other vesting of any award at any
time. Awards granted under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive
Plan will vest in full immediately if the Company experiences an actual or a
threatened change in control (as determined by the committee in its sole
discretion).
Term
The
Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan terminates on May 9, 2015. No
award will be granted under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive
Plan after that date.
Summary
of Certain Material Federal Income Tax Consequences of Awards
The
following is a limited discussion of certain of the material federal income tax
consequences of awards under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive
Plan. No attempt has been made to comment on all relevant tax matters related to
the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan or those dependent upon
the particular circumstances of a recipient of an award. The summary is based on
current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the
"Code") regulations thereunder, administrative rulings and court decisions, all
of which are subject to change (possibly retroactively). The summary does not
address state, local, or foreign income tax considerations, federal income tax
considerations of non-U.S. persons or federal gift and estate
considerations.
Incentive Stock Options. The
Company generally will not be entitled to a compensation deduction for federal
income tax purposes with respect to the grant or exercise of an incentive stock
option or upon the disposition of common stock received upon exercise of an
incentive stock option. No taxable income will generally be realized by an
optionee upon the grant or exercise of an incentive stock option (other than
alternative minimum tax consequences, if any), and an optionee will generally
recognize long-term or short-term capital gain upon disposition of common stock
received upon exercise of an incentive stock option, depending upon the length
of time the optionee has held the common stock before disposition. If, however,
an optionee disposes of common stock acquired upon exercise of an incentive
stock option when the shares have not been held by the optionee for more than
one year after their issuance and two years after the date of grant of the
incentive stock option, the optionee will realize ordinary income and the
Company will be entitled to a compensation deduction, subject to certain
limitations, with respect to the lesser of (i) the excess of the fair market
value of the shares on the date of exercise over the option exercise price and
(ii) the excess of the amount realized on the disposition of the shares and the
optionee’s adjusted basis in the shares. Certain special rules apply if an
incentive stock option is exercised by tendering our stock.
Nonqualified Stock Options.
The Company will generally be entitled to a compensation deduction with respect
to nonqualified stock options granted under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long
Term Incentive Plan upon their exercise and in an amount equal to the excess of
the fair market value of the common stock issued upon exercise over the exercise
price if any. Such excess will generally constitute ordinary compensation income
to the optionee for the year of exercise. Any appreciation or depreciation in
the fair market value of those shares after the exercise date of the option will
generally result in capital gain or loss to the option holder at the time he or
she disposes of those shares, subject to short-term or long-term
characterization depending on the holding period of the shares.
Restricted Stock Grants. The
Company will generally be entitled to a compensation deduction with respect to
restricted stock grants under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive
Plan when the shares are “substantially vested” and in an amount equal to any
excess of the fair market value of the shares at the time of vesting over any
amounts paid for the shares. Such excess will generally constitute ordinary
compensation income to the holder for the year in which the shares become
“substantially vested.” The shares will become “substantially vested” as of the
first date (the “vesting date”) the holder’s interest in the shares is no longer
subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or such shares are transferable free
of any substantial risk of forfeiture. Dividends paid with respect to restricted
stock prior to the lapse of restrictions applicable to such stock will be
taxable as compensation income. A holder may, however, elect, pursuant to
Section 83(b) of the Code, to report any excess of the fair market value of the
shares on the date of grant over the amount paid, if any, for the shares as
ordinary income for the taxable year of the grant. If such an election is made,
dividends will not be treated as compensation income but rather as dividend
income. In such case, the Company’s corresponding deduction is limited to such
amount and required to be taken only in the taxable year of the grant. To be
effective, the Section 83(b) election must be filed with the Internal Revenue
Service within 30 days after the date the shares are transferred to the
holder.
Stock Appreciation Rights, Stock
Unit Awards and Performance Awards. The Company will generally be
entitled to a compensation deduction with respect to stock appreciation rights,
Stock Unit Awards and Performance Awards granted under the Amended and Restated
2005 Long Term Incentive Plan in an amount equal to the fair market value of the
cash, shares or other property delivered at exercise, receipt or vesting and
which amount shall be treated as ordinary income to the holder at such time
(less any amount paid for the award). See the discussion of Section 162(m) of
the Code below.
Code Section 162(m).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Section 162(m) of the Code denies the Company a
deduction with respect to the aggregate compensation of certain covered
employees to the extent a covered employee’s aggregate compensation for any
taxable year exceeds $1,000,000. Covered employees include the Company’s chief
executive officer and its four other highest compensated officers for the
applicable taxable year. Compensation resulting from the grant, exercise or
disposition of awards is potentially subject to the Code Section 162(m)
limitation. Certain “qualified performance based compensation” (“QPBC”) is
excepted from the Section 162(m) limitation, however. Incentive stock options
granted under the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan should
qualify for the QPBC exception. Additionally, nonqualified stock options, Stock
Appreciation Rights, and Performance Awards granted under the Amended and
Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan should so qualify, since their exercise
prices are required by the Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan to
be at least equal to the fair market value of the underlying common stock on the
date of grant. Restricted Stock Grants and Stock Unit Awards that may be subject
to the attainment of performance measures but that do not meet the requirements
of Section 162(m) of the Code will not qualify as QPBC and, in such event, would
be subject to Section 162(m) deduction restrictions. When applicable, the
Company presently intends to use its best efforts to limit awards to those
qualifying for the QPBC exception. Nevertheless, the Company may issue awards
that do not so qualify. In such case, all or part of the compensation deduction
otherwise available to the Company will be denied and the Company’s after-tax
cost of the Award will increase.
Internal Revenue Code Section
409A. Section 409A of the Code imposes new constraints on nonqualified
deferred compensation, and some awards under the Amended and Restated 2005
Long-Term Incentive Plan may be subject to these new rules. Failure to comply
with the new rules under Section 409A may result in the early taxation of
deferred compensation and the imposition of a 20% penalty. Notwithstanding
anything in the Amended and Restated 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan to the
contrary, if any provision or award under the plan would result in the
imposition of an applicable tax under Section 409A and related regulations and
pronouncements, that plan provision or award may be reformed to avoid imposition
of the applicable tax and no action taken to comply with Section 409A shall be
deemed to adversely affect the participant’s rights to an award.
Shareholder
Approval
The
Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan is subject to shareholder
approval at the Annual Meeting. Without this shareholder approval, no additional
awards will be granted under the 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan, but awards
outstanding under the plan will continue in accordance with their terms. If the
Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan is not approved by the
shareholders, the stock appreciation rights awards that the compensation
committee has awarded under the plan that are contingent upon shareholder
approval of the plan shall be null and void. The affirmative vote of the holders
of a majority of the total number of shares voting “FOR” or “AGAINST” the plan
at the meeting, assuming a quorum is present, is required for approval of the
plan.
The
Board of Directors recommends you vote “FOR” approval of the amendments to the
2005 Long Term Incentive Plan described above.
ADOPTION
OF EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
In May
2008, the board of directors authorized the adoption of the AZZ incorporated
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Purchase Plan”) and reserved 500,000 shares
of the Company’s common stock for issuance thereunder, subject to the approval
of the shareholders of the Company. No options have yet been granted
under the Purchase Plan. The purpose of the Purchase Plan is to provide
employees (including officers) of the Company and certain of its majority owned
subsidiaries with an opportunity to purchase common stock from the Company
through payroll deductions. The essential features of the Purchase
Plan are outlined below. The description that follows, however, is
only a summary and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of
the Purchase Plan, which is attached as Appendix B to this Proxy
Statement.
Offering
Period
Offerings
under the Purchase Plan have a duration of twenty-four months and commence on
the Monday immediately following the completion of the first payroll period
ending in September and March of each year, unless otherwise specified by the
board of directors. Each offering period is composed of four
six-month exercise periods. The board of directors has the power to
alter the duration of an offering period with respect to future offerings if
announced at least fifteen days prior to the scheduled beginning of the first
offering period to be affected.
Grant
and Exercise of Option
On the
first day of an offering period (the “Enrollment Date”), the participant is
granted an option to purchase on each exercise date during such offering period
up to a number of whole shares of the common stock determined by dividing 10% of
the participant's Compensation (as defined in the Purchase Plan) by the lower of
(i) 85% of the fair market value of a share of the common stock on the
Enrollment Date or (ii) 85% of the fair market value of a share of common stock
on the exercise date. The number of shares subject to such option
shall be reduced, if necessary, to maintain the limitations with respect to a
participant's ownership of stock and/or options to purchase stock possessing 5%
or more of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock
of the Company or any subsidiary, and to restrict a participant's
right to purchase stock under the Purchase Plan to the maximum amount allowed
under the Code which is currently $25,000 in fair market value of such stock
(determined at the time the option is granted), for each calendar year in which
such option is outstanding at any time. Unless the employee's
participation is discontinued, his option for the purchase of shares of common
stock will be exercised automatically at the end of each six month exercise
period within the offering period at the applicable price. To the
extent an employee's payroll deductions exceed the amount required to purchase
the shares subject to option, such excess amount shall be held in such
participant's account for the next exercise period, unless such participant has
withdrawn from the offering period or unless such offering period has terminated
with such exercise date, in which case such amount shall be returned to the
employee without interest.
Shares
Available Under the Purchase Plan
The total
number of shares of common stock that are issuable under the Purchase Plan is
500,000 shares.
Eligibility
and Participation
Any
employee who is employed by the Company or its participating majority owned
subsidiaries for at least twenty hours per week (customarily) and more than
ninety days prior to such employee’s election to participate in the Purchase
Plan is eligible to participate in offerings under the Purchase
Plan. Employees become participants in the Purchase Plan by
delivering to the Company a subscription agreement authorizing payroll
deductions within the specified period of time prior to the commencement of each
offering period. Currently, the Company and its majority owned
subsidiaries have approximately 1,700 employees eligible to participate in the
Purchase Plan. The board of directors has the sole discretion to
designate majority owned subsidiaries of the Company for participation in the
Purchase Plan, and the board of directors may amend this designation at any time
in its sole discretion.
No
employee is permitted to purchase shares under the Purchase Plan if such
employee owns five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or
value of all classes of shares of stock of the Company (including shares that
may be purchased under the Purchase Plan or pursuant to any other
options). In addition, no employee is entitled to purchase more than
the maximum amount of shares allowed under the Code which is currently $25,000
worth of shares (based on the fair market value of the shares at the time the
option is granted) in any calendar year.
Purchase
Price
The price
at which shares of common stock are sold under the Purchase Plan is eighty-five
percent (85%) of the fair market value per share of common stock at either the
beginning of the offering period or at the end of each six-month
exercise period, whichever is lower.
Payroll
Deductions
The
purchase price of the shares of common stock is accumulated by payroll deduction
over each offering period. The deductions may not be greater than ten
percent (10%) of a participant's compensation. Compensation for
purposes of the Purchase Plan includes the regular earnings paid to the
participant during the offering period by the Company or a participating
majority owned subsidiary, whichever employs the participant, used to calculate
federal taxable income for the offering period and reported on the participant’s
Form W-2. A participant may decrease or, within such limits, increase
his or her rate of payroll deductions at any time during the offering period,
provided that a participant that wishes to continue participating in the
Purchase Plan may not decrease his or her rate of payroll deductions below one
percent (1%) of his or her Compensation (as defined in the Purchase
Plan).
All
payroll deductions of a participant are credited to his or her account under the
Purchase Plan and are deposited with the general funds of the
Company. Such funds may be used for any corporate purpose pending the
purchase of shares. No charges for administrative or other costs may
be made by the Company against the payroll deductions.
Awards
Granted to Certain Individuals and Groups
The
number of shares of the Company's common stock that any employee may elect to
purchase under the Purchase Plan is determined at the discretion of such
employee and is based on the future price of the Company’s common
stock. Therefore, the number of shares of the Company's common stock
that may be purchased under the Purchase Plan cannot be determined in
advance. Similarly, the Company cannot predict the number of shares
of the Company's common stock that any employee would have elected to purchase
had the Purchase Plan been in effect for the last completed fiscal
year. Therefore, the information required to be provided by Items
10(a)(2)(i) through 10(a)(2)(iii) of Schedule 14A is not determinable at this
time.
Administration
The
Purchase Plan is administered by the board of directors or a committee appointed
by the board of directors. Directors who are eligible employees are
permitted to participate in the Purchase Plan; provided, however, that (i)
directors who are eligible to participate in the Purchase Plan may not vote on
any matter affecting the administration or the grant of any option pursuant to
the Purchase Plan and (ii) if a committee is established to administer the
Purchase Plan, no committee member will be eligible to participate in the
Purchase Plan. In the event that the shareholders approve the
Purchase Plan, the Board will delegate administration of the Purchase Plan to
the Compensation Committee.
Withdrawal
from the Plan
A
participant may terminate his or her interest in a given offering, or in a given
exercise period, by withdrawing all, but not less than all, of the accumulated
payroll deductions credited to such participant's account at any time prior to
the end of the offering period. The withdrawal of accumulated payroll
deductions automatically terminates the employee's interest in that offering, or
exercise period, as the case may be. As soon as practicable after
such withdrawal, the payroll deductions credited to a participant's account are
returned to the participant without interest.
A
participant's withdrawal from an offering does not have any effect upon such
participant's eligibility to participate in subsequent offerings under the
Purchase Plan. Similarly, a participant's withdrawal from a six-month
exercise period does not have any effect upon such participant's eligibility to
participate in subsequent exercise periods within the same offering
period.
Termination
of Employment
Termination
of a participant's employment for any reason, including retirement or death or
the failure to remain in the continuous employ of the Company for at least
twenty hours per week (except for certain leaves of absence), cancels his or her
participation in the Purchase Plan immediately. In such
event, the payroll deductions credited to the participant's account will be
returned to the participant or in the case of death, to the person or persons
entitled thereto, without interest.
Capital
Changes
In the
event of changes in the common stock of the Company due to stock dividends or
other changes in capitalization, or in the event of any merger, sale or any
other reorganization, appropriate adjustments will be made by the Company to the
shares subject to purchase and to the price per share.
Nonassignability
No rights
or accumulated payroll deductions of an employee under the Purchase Plan may be
pledged, assigned or transferred for any reason, and any such attempt may be
treated by the Company as an election to withdraw from the Purchase
Plan.
Amendment
and Termination of the Plan
The board
of directors may at any time amend or terminate the Purchase Plan, except that
such termination cannot affect options previously granted nor may any amendment
make any change in an existing option that adversely affects the rights of any
participant. No amendment may be made to the Purchase Plan without
prior approval of the shareholders of the Company if such amendment would
increase the number of shares that may be issued under the Purchase Plan, permit
payroll deductions at a rate in excess of ten percent (10%) of a participant's
compensation, change the designation of the employees eligible for participation
in the Purchase Plan or constitute an amendment for which shareholder approval
would be required by law or the rules of the New York Stock
Exchange.
Tax
Information
The
Purchase Plan and the right of participants to make purchases thereunder is
intended to qualify under the provisions of Sections 421 and 423 of the
Code. Under these provisions, no income will be taxable to a
participant at the time of grant of the option or purchase of
shares. Upon disposition of the shares, the participant will
generally be subject to tax and the amount of the tax will depend upon the
holding period. If the shares have been held by the participant for
more than two years after the date of option grant and one year from the date of
option exercise, the lesser of (a) the excess of the fair market value of the
shares at the time of such disposition over the option price, or (b) the excess
of the fair market value of the shares at the time the option was granted over
the option price (which option price will be computed as of the grant date) will
be treated as ordinary income, and any further gain will be treated as long-term
capital gain. If the shares are disposed of before the expiration of
these holding periods, the excess of the fair market value of the shares on the
exercise date over the option price will be treated as ordinary income, and any
further gain or loss on such disposition will be long or short-term capital gain
or loss, depending on the holding period. The Company is not entitled
to a deduction for amounts taxed as ordinary income or capital gain to a
participant except to the extent of ordinary income reported by participants
upon disposition of shares prior to the expiration of the holding period
described above.
The
foregoing is only a summary of the effect of federal income taxation upon the
participant and the Company with respect to the shares purchased under the
Purchase Plan. Reference should be made to the applicable provisions
of the Code. In addition, the summary does not discuss the tax
consequences of a participant's death or the income tax laws of any state or
foreign country in which the participant may reside.
Required
Vote
The
Purchase Plan is subject to shareholder approval at the 2008 Annual Meeting. The
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of shares
voting “FOR” or “AGAINST” the plan at the meeting, assuming a quorum is present,
is required for approval of the plan.
The
Board of Directors recommends you vote “FOR” approval of the Employee Stock
Purchase Plan described above.
OTHER
BUSINESS
We do not
plan to act on any matters at the meeting other than those described in this
proxy statement. If any other business should properly come before the meeting,
the persons named in the proxy will vote in accordance with their best
judgment.
RELATIONSHIP
WITH INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
Independent
Auditor Fees
The
following table presents fees incurred for professional services rendered by BDO
Seidman, our independent auditors for our fiscal year ended February 29, 2008,
and our fiscal year ended February 28, 2007. All services listed
below were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.
|
|
February
29, 2008
|
|
|
February
28, 2007
|
|
Audit
Fees
(1)
|
|
$
|
367,829
|
|
|
$
|
402,612
|
|
Audit-Related
Fees
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
Tax
Fees
(2)
|
|
$
|
72,400
|
|
|
$
|
144,660
|
|
All
Other
Fees
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Fees
|
|
$
|
440,229
|
|
|
$
|
547,272
|
|
__________
(1)
|
Includes
fees for services related to the annual audit of the consolidated
financial statements, required statutory audits, and reviews of our
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Includes fees for services
related to assistance with Section 404 internal control reporting
requirements.
|
(2)
|
Includes
fees for services related to tax compliance, tax advice and tax
planning.
|
Pre-approval
of Nonaudit Fees
The audit
committee has adopted a policy that requires advance approval of all audit,
audit-related, tax and other services performed by the independent
auditor. The policy provides for pre-approval by the audit committee
of specifically defined audit and non-audit services. Unless the
specific service has been previously pre-approved with respect to that year, the
audit committee must approve the permitted service before the independent
auditor is engaged to perform it. The audit committee has delegated
to the chairman of the audit committee authority to approve permitted services
where the fees for the engagement do not exceed $25,000, provided that the
chairman reports any decisions to the committee at its next scheduled
meeting.
SHAREHOLDER
PROPOSALS FOR 2009 ANNUAL MEETING
To be
included in the proxy statement relating to the 2009 Annual Meeting, shareholder
proposals must be received by our secretary no later than 5:00 p.m., local time,
February 1, 2009.
In order
to bring a matter before the 2009 Annual Meeting that is not contained in the
proxy statement, including the nomination of an individual for election as a
director, a shareholder must comply with the advance notice provisions of our
by-laws. Our by-laws require that we receive notice of the matter no
earlier than April 27, 2009, and no later than May 22, 2009. You may contact our
secretary to find out what specific information regarding the matter must be
included with the advance notice.
PROXY
SOLICITATION
We will
pay all costs associated with the solicitation, which we expect to be $5,000 or
less, and all mailing and delivery expenses. In addition to
solicitations by mail, our officers and employees may solicit proxies personally
and by telephone or other means, for which they will receive no compensation in
addition to their normal compensation. We may also make arrangements
with brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward
solicitation material to the beneficial owners of stock held of record by such
persons, and we will reimburse them for their reasonable out-of-pocket and
clerical expenses.
VOTING
SECURITIES
Shareholders
of record on May 12, 2008, will be entitled to vote at the
meeting. Each share of common stock entitles the holder
to one vote on each matter voted on at the meeting. An abstention
will not be counted as voting for a matter, and, therefore, will have the same
effect as a vote against the matter. Votes withheld, including broker
non-votes, will not be counted as a vote either for or against the
matter.
QUORUM
Shareholders
representing a majority of the shares of our common stock outstanding as of May
12, 2008, must be present at the Annual Meeting in order to conduct business at
the meeting.
YOUR
VOTE IS IMPORTANT
You are
encouraged to let us know your preference by completing and returning the
enclosed proxy card.
Dana L.
Perry
Corporate
Secretary
June 1,
2008
AZZ
incorporated
AMENDED
AND RESTATED 2005 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN
ARTICLE
I
THE
PLAN
1.1 Name. This
Plan shall be known as the “Amended and Restated AZZ incorporated 2005 Long-Term
Incentive Plan.” Capitalized terms used herein are defined in Article
IX hereof.
1.2 Purpose. The
purpose of the Plan is to promote the growth and general prosperity of the
Company by permitting the Company to award to its Employees and Directors shares
of Common Stock of the Company and options to purchase Common Stock in the form
of Incentive Stock Options, Non-qualified Stock Options, Performance Awards,
Restricted Stock, Stock Appreciation Rights and Stock Unit
Awards. The Plan is designed to help the Company and its Affiliates
attract and retain superior personnel for positions of substantial
responsibility, to provide Employees and Directors with an additional incentive
to contribute to the long-term performance and success of the Company and to
align Employees’ and Directors’ long-term financial interests with those of the
Company’s stockholders. The Company intends that Incentive Stock
Options granted pursuant to Article III shall qualify as “incentive stock
options” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
1.3 Effective
Date. The Plan shall become effective upon the Effective Date;
provided, however, that if the shareholders of the Company have not approved the
Plan by the date that is twelve months after the Effective Date, the Plan and
all grants made under the Plan shall be void and of no force or
effect.
1.4 Eligibility to
Participate. Any Employee or Director shall be eligible to
participate in the Plan. Subject to the following provisions, the
Committee may make Awards in accordance with such determinations as the
Committee from time to time in its sole discretion shall make; provided,
however, that Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to persons who are
Employees.
1.5 Shares Subject to the
Plan. The shares of Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the
Plan shall be either authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock or shares of
Common Stock issued and thereafter acquired by the Company in open market
transactions or otherwise.
1.6 Maximum Number of Plan
Shares. Subject to adjustment pursuant to the provisions of
Section 9.2, and subject to any additional restrictions elsewhere in the Plan,
the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued and
sold hereunder shall not exceed 1,000,000 shares, and the maximum aggregate
number of Plan Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted to any person
during any calendar year shall not exceed 100,000 shares.
1.7 Shares Granted Under
Plan. Plan Shares with respect to which an Option has been
exercised or Restricted Stock or Stock Unit Awards have vested and Plan Shares
which have been issued in connection with Performance Awards shall not again be
available for grant hereunder. If Options or Stock Appreciation
Rights terminate for any reason without being wholly exercised, if Restricted
Stock or Stock Unit Awards are forfeited prior to vesting or if Plan Shares are
not issued under Performance Awards, the number of Plan Shares underlying such
Award shall not count towards the maximum aggregate number of Plan Shares that
may be issued under the Plan as set forth in Section 1.6, and new Awards may be
granted hereunder covering the number of Plan Shares to which such termination,
forfeiture or lapse relates. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the
extent required for Awards intended to constitute “qualified performance-based
compensation” under Code Section 162(m) to satisfy the requirements for
deductibility under Code Section 162(m), Plan Shares subject to an Option or
Stock Appreciation Right that is cancelled shall not again be available under
the Plan for purposes of Section 1.6 and such other purposes, if any, as are
required to satisfy such requirements under Code Section 162(m).
Upon the
exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, only the number of shares of Common
Stock actually issued in connection with the exercise of such Stock Appreciation
Right (and not the corresponding number of shares of Common Stock related to the
Stock Appreciation Right (or portion thereof) being exercised) shall be treated
as issued under the Plan and, for the purpose of the limitation set forth in
Section 1.6 of the Plan in regard to the number of shares of Common Stock
issuable under the Plan, the remaining number of shares of Common Stock related
to such exercised Stock Appreciation Right (or portion thereof) shall again be
available for issuance under the Plan. In the event that the Company
distributes cash in lieu of issuing shares of Common Stock in connection with
the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the corresponding number of shares
of Common Stock related to the Stock Appreciation Right (or portion thereof)
being exercised shall again be available for issuance under the
Plan.
1.8 Conditions
Precedent. The Company shall not issue any certificate for
Plan Shares pursuant to the Plan prior to fulfillment of all of the following
conditions:
(a)
|
the
admission of the Plan Shares to listing on all stock exchanges on which
the Common Stock is then listed, unless the Committee determines in its
sole discretion that such listing is neither necessary nor
advisable;
|
(b)
|
the
completion of any registration or other qualification of the offer or sale
of the Plan Shares under any federal or state law or under the rulings or
regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other
governmental regulatory body that the Committee shall in its sole
discretion deem necessary or advisable;
and
|
(c)
|
the
obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any federal or state
governmental agency that the Committee shall in its sole discretion
determine to be necessary or
advisable.
|
1.9 Reservation of Shares of
Common Stock. During the term of the Plan, the Company shall
at all times reserve and keep available such number of shares of Common Stock as
shall be necessary to satisfy the requirements of the Plan as to the number of
Plan Shares. In addition, the Company shall from time to time, as is
necessary to accomplish the purposes of the Plan, seek or obtain from any
regulatory agency having jurisdiction any requisite authority that is necessary
to issue Plan Shares hereunder. The inability of the Company to
obtain from any regulatory agency having jurisdiction the authority deemed by
the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance of any Plan Shares
shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the nonissuance of Plan
Shares as to which the requisite authority shall not have been
obtained.
1.10 Tax Withholding and
Reporting.
(a)
|
Condition
Precedent. The issuance of Plan Shares pursuant to the
exercise of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right or in connection with a
Performance Award, and the vesting of any Restricted Stock or
Stock Unit Award, is subject to the condition that if at any time the
Committee shall determine, in its discretion, that the satisfaction of
withholding tax or other withholding liabilities under any federal, state,
or local law is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection
with such issuance, vesting or payment, then the issuance, vesting or
payment shall not be effected unless the withholding shall have been
effected or obtained in a manner acceptable to the
Committee.
|
(b)
|
Manner of Satisfying
Withholding Obligation. When the Committee requires an
Awardee to pay to the Company an amount required to be withheld under
applicable income tax laws in connection with paragraph (a) above, such
payment shall be made, as the Committee may in each case in its discretion
determine, (i) in cash, (ii) by check, (iii) by delivery to the Company of
shares of Common Stock already owned by the Awardee having a Fair Market
Value on the Tax Date equal to the amount required to be withheld, (iv)
through the withholding by the Company (“Company Withholding”) of a
portion (but no more than the portion as so calculated) of the Plan Shares
acquired upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Appreciation Right having
a Fair Market Value on the Tax Date equal to the amount required to be
withheld, or (v) in any other form of valid consideration permitted by the
Committee in its discretion.
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(c)
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Notice of Disposition
of Stock Acquired Pursuant to Incentive Stock
Options. The Company may require as a condition to the
issuance of Plan Shares covered by any Incentive Stock Option that the
party exercising the Option give a written representation to the Company,
satisfactory in form and substance to its counsel and upon which the
Company may reasonably rely, that he shall report to the Company any
disposition of such shares prior to the expiration of the holding periods
specified by Section 422(a)(l) of the Code. If and to the
extent the realization of income in such a disposition imposes upon the
Company federal, state, or local withholding tax requirements or any such
withholding is required to secure for the Company an otherwise available
tax deduction, the Company shall have the right to require that the
recipient remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy those
requirements; and the Company may require as a condition to the issuance
of Plan Shares covered by an Incentive Stock Option that the party
exercising such Option give a satisfactory written representation
promising to make such a
remittance.
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(d)
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Tax
Reporting. The Company shall file, and shall furnish the
Awardee a copy of, all federal, state, and local tax information returns
that it deems to be required in connection with the grant, exercise, or
vesting of any Award.
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1.11 Exercise of
Options.
(a)
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Method of
Exercise. Each Option shall be exercisable in accordance
with the terms of the Option Agreement pursuant to which the Option was
granted. No Option may be exercised for a fraction of a Plan
Share.
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(b)
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Payment of Purchase
Price. The purchase price of any Plan Shares purchased
pursuant to an Option shall be paid at the time of exercise of the Option,
as the Committee may in each case in its discretion determine, (i) in
cash, (ii) by certified or cashier’s check, (iii) in shares of Common
Stock held for at least six months, (iv) by delivery of a copy of
irrevocable instructions from the Optionee to a broker or dealer,
reasonably acceptable to the Company, to sell certain of the Plan Shares
purchased upon exercise of the Option or to pledge them as collateral for
a loan and promptly to deliver to the Company the amount of sale or loan
proceeds necessary to pay such purchase price or (v) in any other form of
valid consideration permitted by the Committee in its discretion. If any
portion of the purchase price or a note given at the time of exercise is
paid in shares of Common Stock, those shares shall be valued at their then
Fair Market Value.
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1.12 Acceleration in Certain
Events. The Committee may accelerate the exercisability or
other vesting of any Award in whole or in part at any
time. Notwithstanding the provisions of any Award Agreement, the
following provisions shall apply:
(a)
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Mergers,
Consolidation, Etc. In the event that the Company,
pursuant to action by the Board, at any time enters an agreement whereby
the Company will merge into, consolidate with, or sell or otherwise
transfer all or substantially all of its assets to another corporation or
other entity and provision is not made pursuant to the terms of such
transaction for the assumption by the surviving, resulting, or acquiring
corporation or other entity of outstanding Awards, or for the substitution
of new Awards with substantially equivalent benefit therefor, each
outstanding Award shall become fully (100 percent) vested upon approval of
the merger or consolidation by the shareholders or owners of all
constituent entities as required by the applicable laws of their
respective domiciles. The Committee shall advise each Awardee in writing
of the manner and terms under which such fully vested Awards shall be
exercised, if applicable.
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(b)
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Change in
Control. Anything contained herein to the contrary
notwithstanding, (1) an Awardee shall become fully (100 percent) vested in
each of his or her Awards upon the occurrence of a Change in Control (as
defined below) or a threatened Change in Control (as determined by the
Committee in its sole discretion); and (2) no Award held by an Awardee at
the time a Change in Control or threatened Change in Control occurs or at
any time thereafter shall terminate for any reason before the end of the
Award’s express term. For purposes of this section, “Change in Control”
means one or more of the following
events:
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(i)
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Any
person within the meaning of Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act,
other than the Company (including its Subsidiaries, directors or executive
officers) has become the beneficial owner, within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, of 50 percent or more of the
combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding Common Stock and
any other class or classes of the Company’s outstanding securities
ordinarily entitled to vote in elections of directors (collectively,
“Voting Securities”) (other than through the purchase of Voting Securities
from the Company); or
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(ii)
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Shares
representing 50 percent or more of the combined voting power of the
Company’s Voting Securities are purchased pursuant to a tender offer or
exchange offer (other than an offer by the Company or its subsidiaries or
affiliates); or
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(iii)
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As
a result of, or in connection with, any reorganization, tender offer or
exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sale of assets,
actual or threatened election contest (as such terms are used in Rule
14a-11 of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Exchange Act) or other
actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf
of a person (within the meaning of Section 14d of the Exchange Act) other
than the Board, or any combination of the foregoing transactions (a
“Transaction”), the persons who were Directors of the Company before the
Transaction shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board of the
Company or of any successor to the Company;
or
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(iv)
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Following
the effective date of the Plan, the Company is merged or consolidated with
another corporation and as a result of such merger or consolidation less
than 50 percent of the outstanding Voting Securities of the surviving or
resulting corporation shall then be owned in the aggregate by the former
shareholders of the Company; or
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(v)
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The
Company transfers more than 50 percent of its assets, or the last of a
series of transfers results in the transfer of more than 50 percent of the
assets of the Company, to another entity that is not wholly-owned by the
Company. For purposes of this subsection (v), the determination
of what constitutes a transfer and what constitutes over 50 percent of the
assets of the Company shall be made by the Committee, as constituted
immediately prior to the events that would constitute a Change in Control
if 50 percent of the Company’s assets were transferred in connection with
such events, in its sole
discretion.
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(vi)
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During
any two consecutive years, individuals who, at the beginning of such
period constituted the entire Board, ceased to constitute a majority of
the Directors, unless the election of each was approved by at least
two-thirds of the Directors still in office who were Directors at the
beginning of the period.
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1.13 Written Notice
Required. Any Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall be
deemed to be exercised for purposes of the Plan when written notice of exercise
has been received by the Company at its principal office from the person
entitled to exercise the Option or Stock Appreciation Right and payment for the
Plan Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised (if applicable) has
been received by the Company in accordance with Section 1.11.
1.14 Compliance with Securities
Laws. Plan Shares shall not be issued with respect to any
Award unless the issuance and delivery of the Plan Shares (and the exercise of
an Option or Stock Appreciation Right, if applicable) shall comply with all
relevant provisions of state and federal law (including without limitation (i)
the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii)
the requirements of any stock exchange upon which the Plan Shares may then be
listed) and shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company
with respect to such compliance. The Committee may also require an Awardee to
furnish evidence satisfactory to the Company, including without limitation a
written and signed representation letter and consent to be bound by any transfer
restrictions imposed by law, legend, condition, or otherwise, that the Plan
Shares are being acquired only for investment and without any present intention
to sell or distribute the shares in violation of any state or federal law, rule,
or regulation. Further, each Awardee shall consent to the imposition
of a legend on the certificate representing the Plan Shares issued pursuant to
an Award, restricting their transfer as required by law or this
section.
1.15 Employment or Service of
Awardee. Nothing in the Plan or in any Award shall confer upon
any Employee any right to continued employment by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary at
any time to terminate or alter the terms of that employment. Nothing
in the Plan or in any Award shall confer upon any Director any right to
continued service as a Director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary at any time to
terminate or alter the terms of that service.
1.16 Rights of Awardees Upon
Termination of Employment or Service. The provisions in this
Section 1.16 shall be subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 8.1 the
provisions of any Award Agreement. In the event an Awardee ceases to
be an Employee or Director, or for any reason other than death, Retirement,
Permanent Disability, or Cause or pursuant to a right of termination under an
Employee’s employment agreement with the Company, (i) the Committee shall have
the ability to accelerate the vesting of the Awardee’s Awards, in its sole
discretion, and (ii) any Option or Stock Appreciation Right held by such Awardee
shall be exercisable (to the extent exercisable on the date of termination of
employment or rendition of services, or, if the vesting of such Option or Stock
Appreciation Right has been accelerated, to the extent exercisable following
such acceleration) at any time within three months after the date of termination
of employment or rendition of services, unless by its terms the Option or Stock
Appreciation Right expires earlier or unless, with respect to a Nonqualified
Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right, the Committee agrees, in its sole
discretion, to extend its term further; provided, however, that the term of any
such Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall not be extended beyond its initial
term. In the event an Awardee ceases to serve as an Employee or Director due to
death, Permanent Disability, Retirement, or Cause or pursuant to a right of
termination under an Employee’s employment agreement with the Company, (i) the
Committee shall have the ability to accelerate the vesting of the Awardee’s
Awards, in its sole discretion, and (ii) the Awardee’s Options or Stock
Appreciation Right may be exercised as follows:
(a)
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Death. Except
as otherwise limited by the Committee at the time of the grant of an
Option or Stock Appreciation Right, if an Awardee dies while serving as an
Employee or Director or within three months after ceasing to be an
Employee or Director, his Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights shall
become fully (100 percent) vested on the date of his death and shall
expire twelve months thereafter, unless by their terms they expire sooner
or unless, with respect to a Nonqualified Stock Option or Stock
Appreciation Right, the Committee agrees, in its sole discretion, to
extend its term further; provided, however, that the term of any such
Nonqualified Stock Option shall not be extended beyond its initial term.
During such period, the Option or Stock Appreciation Right may be fully
exercised, to the extent that it remains unexercised on the date of death,
by the Awardee’s personal representative or by the distributees to whom
the Awardee’s rights under the Option or Stock Appreciation Right pass by
will or by the laws of descent and
distribution.
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(b)
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Retirement. If
an Awardee ceases to serve as an Employee or Director as a result of
Retirement, (i) the Committee shall have the ability to accelerate the
vesting of the Awardee’s Awards, in its sole discretion, and (ii) the
Awardee’s Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercisable
(to the extent exercisable on the effective date of such Retirement or, if
the vesting of such Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights has been
accelerated, to the extent exercisable following such acceleration) only
at any time within three months after the effective date of such
Retirement, unless by their terms the Options and/or Stock Appreciation
Rights expire earlier or unless, with respect to a Nonqualified Stock
Option or Stock Appreciation Right, the Committee agrees, in its sole
discretion, to extend its term further; provided that the term of any such
Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall not be extended beyond its
initial term.
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(c)
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Disability. If
an Awardee ceases to serve as an Employee or Director as a result of
Permanent Disability, the Awardee’s Awards shall become fully (100
percent) vested and shall expire twelve months thereafter, unless by their
terms they expire sooner or, unless, with respect to a Nonqualified Stock
Option or Stock Appreciation Right, the Committee agrees, in its sole
discretion, to extend its term; provided, however, that the term of any
such Option or Stock Appreciation Right shall not be extended beyond its
initial term.
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(d)
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Cause. If an
Awardee ceases to be employed by the Company or a Subsidiary or ceases to
serve as a Director because the Awardee’s employment or service
relationship with the Company or a Subsidiary is terminated for Cause, the
Awardee’s Awards (other than Restricted Stock or Stock Unit Award that has
already vested), and any rights related thereto, shall automatically
expire on the date of such termination. If any facts that would
constitute Cause for termination or removal of an Awardee are discovered
after the Awardee’s employment or service relationship with the Company
has ended, any Awards then held by the Awardee (other than Restricted
Stock or Stock Unit Award that has already vested) may be immediately
terminated by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if
an Awardee is an Employee employed pursuant to a written employment
agreement with the Company or a Subsidiary, the Awardee’s relationship
with the Company or a Subsidiary shall be deemed terminated for Cause for
purposes of the Plan only if the Awardee is considered under the
circumstances to have been terminated “for cause” for purposes of such
written agreement or the Awardee voluntarily ceases to be an Employee in
breach of his employment agreement with the Company or a
Subsidiary.
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(e)
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Notice. If
an Awardee’s employment agreement with the Company or an Affiliate
is terminated by either the Company, an Affiliate, or the Awardee by
providing a required or permitted notice of termination thereunder, the
Awards that are exercisable as of the date of termination shall remain
exercisable for a period of twelve months (three months if Incentive Stock
Options) after the date of termination and shall expire at the end of such
twelve-month period (three-month period if Incentive Stock
Options).
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1.17 Transferability of
Awards. Except as may be agreed upon by the Committee in
accordance with this section, Awards (other than Restricted Stock or Stock Unit
Award that has fully vested) shall not be transferable other than by will or the
laws of descent and distribution or, with respect to Nonqualified Stock Options
or Stock Appreciation Rights, pursuant to the terms of a qualified domestic
relations order as defined by the Code or Title I of ERISA, or the rules
thereunder. Incentive Stock Options may be exercised during the
lifetime of an Optionee only by that Optionee or by his legally authorized
representative. The designation by an Awardee of a beneficiary shall
not constitute a transfer of the Award. The Committee may, in its
discretion, provide in an Award Agreement that Nonqualified Stock Options or
Stock Appreciation Rights may be transferred to members of the Awardee’s
immediate family, trusts for the benefit of the Awardee and/or such immediate
family members, and partnerships in which the Awardee and/or such immediate
family members are the only partners, provided that there is no consideration
for the transfer.
1.18 Information to
Awardees. The Company shall furnish to each Awardee a copy of
the annual report, proxy statements and all other reports sent to the Company’s
shareholders, unless the Awardee otherwise receives the same as a shareholder of
the Company. Upon written request, the Company shall furnish to each
Awardee a copy of its most recent Annual Report or Form 10-K and each quarterly
report to shareholders issued since the end of the Company’s most recent fiscal
year.
ARTICLE
II
ADMINISTRATION
2.1 Committee. The
Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors consisting of not fewer than two members of the Board. The
Committee shall be appointed by the Board. Each member of the
Committee shall satisfy the independence requirements of the New York Stock
Exchange and shall meet the definition of “non-employee director” within the
meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and “outside director” within the
meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations issued pursuant
thereto. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall
have the sole discretion and authority to determine from time to time the
persons to whom Awards shall be granted and the number of Plan Shares subject to
each Award, to interpret the Plan, to prescribe, amend, and rescind any rules
and regulations necessary or appropriate for the administration of the Plan, to
determine and interpret the details and provisions of each Award Agreement, to
modify or amend any Award Agreement or waive any conditions or restrictions
applicable to any Award (or the exercise thereof), and to make all other
determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan, all of
which determinations shall be final and binding upon all persons having an
interest in the Plan.
2.2 Awards under the
Plan. Awards under the Plan may be granted as Options, Stock
Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Stock Unit Awards or Performance Awards,
as described herein. Awards may be granted separately, in combination
or in tandem as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.
2.3 Action by the
Committee. Action by the Committee shall be taken in
accordance with the Committee’s Charter as currently in effect, and as may be
amended from time to time.
2.4 Company
Assistance. The Company shall supply full and timely
information to the Committee on all matters relating to Employees and Directors,
their employment, death, Retirement, Permanent Disability, or other termination
of employment or service, and such other pertinent facts as the Committee may
require. The Company shall furnish the Committee with such clerical
and other assistance as is necessary in the performance of its
duties.
2.5 Exculpation of
Committee. No member of the Committee shall be personally
liable for, and the Company shall indemnify all members of the Committee and
hold them harmless against, any claims resulting directly or indirectly from any
action or inaction by the Committee pursuant to the Plan, including without
limitation any determination by the Committee regarding whether a Change in
Control (within the meaning of Section 1.12) is threatened and any failure by
the Committee to consider such a determination.
ARTICLE
III
INCENTIVE
STOCK OPTIONS
3.1 Terms and
Conditions. The terms and conditions of Options granted under
this Article may differ from one another as the Committee shall, in its
discretion, determine, as long as all Options granted under this Article satisfy
the requirements of this Article. However, in the absence of a
determination by the Committee to the contrary, the right to exercise Options
granted under this Article shall vest 20% on the date of the Award and 20% on
each of the first four anniversaries of that date.
3.2 Duration of
Options. Each Option granted pursuant to this Article and all
rights thereunder shall expire on the date determined by the Committee, but in
no event shall any Option granted under this Article expire earlier than one
year or later than ten years after the date on which the Option is granted; and
in no event shall any Option granted under this Article to an individual who, at
the time the Option is granted, owns shares of stock possessing more than ten
percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or any Subsidiary or affiliate thereof within the meaning of Section 422
of the Code expire later than five years after the date on which the Option is
granted. In addition, each Option shall be subject to early termination as
provided elsewhere in the Plan.
3.3 Purchase
Price. The purchase price for Plan Shares acquired pursuant to
the exercise, in whole or in part, of any Option granted under this Article
shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Plan Shares at the time of
the grant of the Option; provided, however, in the event of the grant of any
Option to an individual who, at the time the Option is granted, owns shares of
stock possessing more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company or any Subsidiary or affiliate thereof within
the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, the purchase price for the Plan Shares
subject to that Option must be at least 110 percent of the Fair Market Value of
those Plan Shares at the time the Option is granted.
3.4 Maximum Amount of Options
First Exercisable in Any Calendar Year. The aggregate Fair
Market Value of Plan Shares (determined at the time the Option is granted) with
respect to which Options issued under this Article are exercisable for the first
time by any Employee during any calendar year under all incentive stock option
plans of the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates shall not exceed
$100,000. Any portion of an Option granted under the Plan in excess
of the foregoing limit shall be considered granted pursuant to Article
IV.
3.5 Individual Option
Agreements. Each Employee receiving Options pursuant to this
Article shall be required to enter into a written Option Agreement with the
Company, the terms of which may differ from Option Agreements entered into by
other Optionees. In such Option Agreement, the Employee shall agree
to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Options granted
pursuant thereto, and such other matters as the Committee deems
appropriate.
3.6 Persons
Eligible. Each Employee of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries shall be eligible to receive a grant of Incentive Stock
Options.
ARTICLE
IV
NONQUALIFIED
STOCK OPTIONS
4.1 Option Terms and
Conditions. The terms and conditions of Options granted under
this Article may differ from one another as the Committee shall, in its
discretion, determine as long as all Options granted under this Article satisfy
the requirements of this Article. However, in the absence of a
determination by the Committee to the contrary, the right to exercise Options
granted under this Article shall vest 20% on the date of the Award and 20% on
each of the first four anniversaries of that date.
4.2 Duration of
Options. Each Option granted pursuant to this Article and all
rights thereunder shall expire on the date determined by the Committee, but in
no event shall any Option granted under this Article expire later than ten years
after the date on which the Option is granted. In addition, each
Option shall be subject to early termination as provided elsewhere in the
Plan.
4.3 Purchase
Price. The purchase price for the Plan Shares acquired
pursuant to the exercise, in whole or in part, of any Option granted under this
Article shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of the Plan Shares at the
time of the grant of the Option.
4.4 Individual Option
Agreements. Each Optionee receiving Options pursuant to this
Article shall be required to enter a written Option Agreement with the Company,
the terms of which may differ from Option Agreements entered into by other
Optionees. In such Option Agreement, the Optionee shall agree to be
bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Options granted pursuant
thereto, and such other matters as the Committee deems appropriate.
4.5 Persons
Eligible. Each Employee and Director of the Company or any of
its Affiliates shall be eligible to receive a grant of Nonqualified Stock
Options.
ARTICLE
V
STOCK
APPRECIATION RIGHTS
5.1 Terms and
Conditions. The terms and conditions of Stock Appreciation
Rights granted under this Article may differ from one another as the Committee
shall, in its discretion, determine, as long as all Stock Appreciation Rights
granted under this Article satisfy the requirements of this
Article. Notwithstanding anything herein or in any Award Agreement to
the contrary, no participant in the Plan who is subject to United States federal
income tax shall be awarded a Stock Appreciation Right unless the Committee
determines that such Stock Appreciation Right does not provide for the deferral
of compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code.
5.2 Duration of Stock
Appreciation Rights. Each Stock Appreciation Right granted
pursuant to this Article and all rights related thereto shall expire on the date
determined by the Committee, but in no event shall any Stock Appreciation Right
granted under this Article expire later than ten years after the date on which
the Stock Appreciation Right is granted. In addition, each Stock
Appreciation Right shall be subject to early termination as provided elsewhere
in the Plan.
5.3 Payment Upon
Exercise. A Stock Appreciation Right represents the right to
receive payment in cash, Common Stock or a combination of cash and Common Stock
in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of a specified number
of shares of Common Stock at the time the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised
over the exercise price of such Stock Appreciation Right which shall be no less
than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the same number of shares at the time the
Stock Appreciation Right was granted. Solely for purposes of this
Section 5.3, Fair Market Value may be based on the average reported sales prices
for Common Stock over a period determined by the Committee or the reported sales
price on the specified date, as determined by the Committee.
5.4 Individual Stock
Appreciation Rights Agreements. Each Awardee receiving Stock
Appreciation Rights pursuant to this Article shall be required to enter a
written Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement with the Company, the terms of which
may differ from Stock Appreciation Rights Agreements entered into by other
Awardees. In such Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement, the Awardee
shall agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Stock
Appreciation Rights granted pursuant thereto, and such other matters as the
Committee deems appropriate.
5.5 Persons
Eligible. Each Employee and Director of the Company or any of
its Affiliates shall be eligible to receive a grant of Stock Appreciation
Rights.
ARTICLE
VI
RESTRICTED
STOCK
6.1 Terms and
Conditions. Each grant of Restricted Stock shall confer upon
the Awardee thereof the right to receive a specified number of Plan Shares in
accordance with the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Agreement as set
forth in Section 6.2. The general terms and conditions of the
Restricted Stock grants shall be as follows:
(a)
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Restrictions. Any
Plan Shares awarded under this Article shall be restricted for a period of
time to be determined by the Committee at the time of the award, which
period shall be not less than 3 years and not more than 10
years. The restrictions shall prohibit the sale, assignment,
transfer, pledge, or other encumbrance of the Plan Shares and will provide
for possible reversion thereof to the Company in accordance with paragraph
(b) during the period of
restriction.
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(b)
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Forfeiture Upon
Termination of Employment. All Restricted Stock awarded
under this Article shall be forfeited and returned to the Company in the
event the Awardee ceases to be an Employee or Director of the Company or
one of its subsidiaries or affiliates prior to the expiration of the
period of restriction, unless the Awardee’s termination of employment or
service is due to his death, Permanent Disability, or Retirement, or
termination without Cause, or constructive termination after a Change in
Control. Whether or not an Awardee’s Retirement or Permanent
Disability has occurred will be determined by the Committee in its sole
discretion.
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(c)
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Lapse of Restrictions
Upon Death or Disability. In the event of an Awardee’ s
death or Permanent Disability, or termination without cause, or
constructive termination after a Change in Control, the restrictions under
paragraph (a) will lapse with respect to all Restricted Stock awarded to
the Awardee under this Article prior to any such event, and the Plan
Shares involved shall cease to be Restricted Stock within the meaning of
this Article and shall no longer be subject to forfeiture to the Company
pursuant to paragraph (b).
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(d)
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Effect of
Retirement. In the event of an Awardee’s Retirement, the
restrictions under paragraph (a) shall continue to apply as though the
Awardee were still an Employee or Director unless the Committee shortens
the restriction period.
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(e)
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Certificates. Plan
Share certificates issued with respect to awards of Restricted Stock shall
be registered in the name of the Awardee but shall be delivered by him to
the Company together with a stock power endorsed in blank. Each
such certificate shall bear the following
legend:
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“THE
SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO FORFEITURE, RESTRICTIONS
ON TRANSFER, AND CERTAIN OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE AZZ
incorporated 2005 LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN AND THE RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE REGISTERED OWNER OF THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND
AZZ incorporated, ENTERED PURSUANT TO SUCH PLAN.”
(f)
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Lapse of Restriction
Period. Upon the lapse of a restriction period as
determined pursuant to paragraph (a), the Company will return the stock
certificates representing the Plan Shares with respect to which the
restriction has lapsed to the Awardee or his legal representative and
pursuant to the instruction of the Awardee or his legally authorized
representative will issue a certificate for such Plan Shares which does
not bear the legend set forth in paragraph
(e).
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(g)
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Restrictions on
Corresponding Securities and Assets. Any other
securities or assets (other than ordinary cash dividends) that are
received by an Awardee with respect to Restricted Stock awarded to him,
which is still subject to restrictions provided for in paragraph (a), will
be subject to the same restrictions and shall be delivered by the Awardee
to the Company as provided in paragraph
(e).
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(h)
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Rights in Restricted
Stock. From the time of grant of the Restricted Stock,
the Awardee shall be entitled to exercise all voting rights attributable
to the Restricted Stock, subject to forfeiture of such voting rights and
the Restricted Stock as provided in paragraph
(b).
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6.2 Individual Restricted Stock
Agreements. Each Awardee of Restricted Stock shall be required
to enter a written Restricted Stock Agreement with the Company, the terms of
which may differ from Restricted Stock Agreements entered into by other
Awardees, as a precondition to receiving the award. In such
Restricted Stock Agreement, the Awardee shall agree to be bound by the terms and
conditions of the Plan, the awards made pursuant hereto, and such other matters
as the Committee deems appropriate.
6.3 Persons
Eligible. Each Employee and Director of the Company or any of
its Affiliates shall be eligible to receive a grant of Restricted
Stock.
ARTICLE
VII
STOCK
UNIT AWARDS
7.1 Terms and
Conditions. The terms and conditions of Stock Unit Awards
granted under this Article may differ from one another as the Committee shall,
in its discretion, determine, as long as all Stock Unit Awards granted under
this Article satisfy the requirements of this Article. However, in
the absence of a determination by the Committee to the contrary, the right to
exercise Stock Unit Awards granted under this Article shall vest 20% on the date
of the Award and 20% on each of the first four anniversaries of that
date.
7.2 Settlement of Stock Unit
Awards. A Stock Unit Award is an Award denominated in shares
of Common Stock that may be settled either in shares of Common Stock or in cash,
in the discretion of the Committee. Notwithstanding anything herein
or in any Award Agreement to the contrary, no participant in the Plan who is
subject to United States federal income tax shall be awarded a Stock Unit Award
unless the Committee determines that such Stock Unit Award does not provide for
the deferral of compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the
Code.
7.3 Individual Stock Unit Award
Agreements. Each Awardee receiving a Stock Unit Award pursuant
to this Article shall be required to enter a written Stock Unit Award Agreement
with the Company, the terms of which may differ from Stock Unit Award Agreements
entered into by other Awardees. In such Stock Unit Award Agreement,
the Awardee shall agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Plan, the
Stock Unit Award granted pursuant thereto, and such other matters as the
Committee deems appropriate.
7.4 Persons
Eligible. Each Employee and Director of the Company or any of
its Affiliates shall be eligible to receive a grant of Stock Unit
Awards.
ARTICLE
VIII
PERFORMANCE
AWARDS
8.1 Terms and
Conditions. The
terms and conditions of Performance Awards granted under this Article may differ
from one another as the Committee shall, in its discretion, determine, as long
as all Performance Awards granted under this Article satisfy the requirements of
this Article. A Performance Award may consist of either or both, as
the Committee may determine, (i) "Performance Shares" or the right to receive
shares of Common Stock, Restricted Stock or cash of an equivalent value, or any
combination thereof as the Committee may determine, or (ii) "Performance Units,"
or the right to receive a fixed dollar amount payable in cash, shares of Common
Stock, Restricted Stock or any combination thereof, as the Committee may
determine. The Committee may grant Performance Awards to any Awardee
for no cash consideration, for such minimum consideration as may be required by
applicable law or for such other consideration as may be specified at the time
of the grant. The terms and conditions of Performance Awards shall be
specified at the time of the grant and may include provisions establishing the
performance period, the performance criteria to be achieved during a performance
period, the criteria used to determine vesting (including the acceleration
thereof), whether Performance Awards are forfeited or vest upon termination of
employment or service during a performance period and the maximum or minimum
settlement values; provided, however, that Performance Awards may not fully vest
in less than one year in the case of performance vesting or three years in the
case of time vesting. Each Performance Award shall have its own terms
and conditions, which shall be determined at the discretion of the
Committee. If the Committee determines, in its sole discretion, that
the established performance measures or objectives are no longer suitable
because of a change in the Company's business, operations, corporate structure
or for other reasons that the Committee deems satisfactory, the Committee may
modify the performance measures or objectives and/or the performance
period. Performance Awards may be valued by reference to the Fair
Market Value of a share of common stock or according to any formula or method
deemed appropriate by the Committee, in its sole discretion, including, but not
limited to, achievement of specific financial, production, sales, cost or
earnings performance objectives that the Committee believes to be relevant to
the Company's business and for remaining in the employ or active service of the
Company for a specified period of time, or the Company's performance or the
performance of its shares of Common Stock measured against the performance of
the market, the Company's industry segment or its direct
competitors. Notwithstanding anything herein or in any Award
Agreement to the contrary, no participant in the Plan who is subject to United
States federal income tax shall be awarded a Performance Award unless the
Committee determines that such Performance Award does not provide for the
deferral of compensation within the meaning of Section 409A of the
Code.
8.2 Settlement of Performance
Awards. Performance Awards may be paid in cash, shares of
Common Stock (including Restricted Stock) or other consideration, or any
combination thereof. If payable in shares of Common Stock, the
consideration for the issuance of the shares of Common Stock may be the
achievement of the performance objective established at the time of the grant of
the Performance Award. Performance Awards may be payable in a single
payment or in installments and may be payable at a specified date or dates or
upon attaining the performance objective, all at the Committee's
discretion. The extent to which any applicable performance objective
has been achieved shall be conclusively determined by the
Committee.
8.3 Individual Performance Award
Agreements. Each Awardee of a Performance Award pursuant to
this Article shall be required to enter a written Performance Award Agreement
with the Company, the terms of which may differ from Performance Award
Agreements entered into by other Awardees. In such Performance Award
Agreement, the Awardee shall agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of
the Plan, the Performance Award granted pursuant thereto, and such other matters
as the Committee deems appropriate.
8.4 Persons
Eligible. Each Employee and Director of the Company or any of
its Affiliates shall be eligible to receive a Performance Award.
ARTICLE
IX
TERMINATION,
AMENDMENT AND ADJUSTMENT
9.1 Termination and
Amendment. The Plan shall terminate on the date that is one
day prior to the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date. No Award
shall be granted under the Plan after that date of
termination. Subject to the limitations contained in this Section,
the Committee may at any time amend or revise the terms of the Plan, including
the form and substance of the Award Agreements to be used in connection
herewith; provided that no amendment or revision may be made without the
approval of the shareholders of the Company if such approval is required under
the Code, Rule 16b-3, or any other applicable law or rule or if such amendment
increases the number of shares available for Awards under the
Plan. No amendment, suspension, or termination of the Plan shall,
without the consent of the individual who has received an Award hereunder, alter
or impair any of that individual’s rights or obligations under any Award granted
prior to that amendment, suspension, or termination. Notwithstanding any
provision in this plan to the contrary, no option or stock appreciation right
may be amended to reduce the price per share of the shares subject to such
option or the exercise price of such stock appreciation right, as applicable,
below the option price or exercise price as of the date the option or stock
appreciation right is granted. In addition, no option or stock
appreciation rights maybe granted in exchange for, or in connection with, the
cancellation or surrender of an option, stock appreciation right or other award
having a higher option or exercise price.
9.2 Adjustments. If
the outstanding Common Stock is increased, decreased, changed into, or exchanged
for a different number or kind of shares or securities through merger,
consolidation, combination, exchange of shares, other reorganization,
recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, or reverse
stock split, an appropriate and proportionate adjustment shall be made in the
maximum number and kind of Plan Shares as to which Awards may be granted under
the Plan. A corresponding adjustment changing the number or kind of
shares allocated to outstanding Awards, or portions thereof granted prior to any
such change also shall be made. Any such adjustment in outstanding
Options shall be made without change in the aggregate purchase price applicable
to the unexercised portion of the Options but with a corresponding adjustment in
the price for each share covered by the Options. The foregoing
adjustments and the manner of application of the foregoing provisions shall be
determined solely by the Committee, and any such adjustment may provide for the
elimination of fractional share interests.
ARTICLE
X
MISCELLANEOUS
10.1 Other Compensation
Plans. The adoption of the Plan shall not affect any other
stock option or incentive or other compensation plans in effect for the Company
or any Affiliate of the Company, nor shall the Plan preclude the Company or any
Affiliate thereof from establishing any other forms of incentive or other
compensation plans.
10.2 Plan Binding on
Successors. The Plan shall be binding upon the successors
and
assigns
of the Company and any Subsidiary or affiliate of the Company that adopts the
Plan.
10.3 Number and
Gender. Whenever used herein, nouns in the singular shall
include the plural where appropriate, and the masculine pronoun shall include
the feminine gender.
10.4 Headings. Headings
of articles and sections hereof are inserted for convenience of reference and
constitute no part of the Plan.
10.5 Governing
Law. The Plan shall be construed and governed in accordance
with the laws of the State of Texas.
ARTICLE
XI
CODE
SECTION 162(M) LIMITATIONS
11.1 Applicability. The
provisions of this Article XI apply, to the extent specified in the applicable
Award Agreement, to Awards granted to “covered individuals” within the meaning
of Code Section 162(m) and to individuals who the Committee determines may be
“covered individuals” at the time of payment of an Award. In the
event of any inconsistencies between this Article XI and the other Plan
provisions, the provisions of this Article XI shall control.
11.2 Establishment of Performance
Goals. Awards,
other than Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, shall be based on the
attainment of certain performance goals. No later than the earlier of
(i) ninety (90) days after the commencement of the applicable fiscal year or
such other award period as may be established by the Committee ("Award Period")
and (ii) the completion of twenty-five percent (25%) of such Award Period, the
Committee shall establish, in writing, the performance goals applicable to each
such Award. At the time the performance goals are established by the
Committee, their outcome must be substantially uncertain. In
addition, the performance goal must state, in terms of an objective formula or
standard, the method for computing the amount of compensation payable to the
Awardee if the goal is obtained. Such formula or standard shall be
sufficiently objective so that a third party with knowledge of the relevant
performance results could calculate the amount to be paid to the subject
Awardee. The material terms of the performance goals for Awardees and
the compensation payable thereunder shall be submitted to the Shareholders for
their review and approval if and to the extent required for such compensation to
be deductible pursuant to Section 162(m) (or any successor thereto) of the Code,
and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. Shareholder approval, if
necessary, shall be obtained for such performance goals prior to any Award being
paid to such Awardee. If Shareholder approval is required and the
Shareholders do not approve such performance goals, no amount shall be paid to
such Awardee for such applicable Award Period under the Plan. The
disclosure of the "material terms" of a performance goal and the compensation
payable thereunder shall be determined under the guidelines set forth under
Section 162(m) of the Code, and the Treasury Regulations
thereunder.
11.3 Components of
Awards. Each
Award to an Awardee, other than Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, shall be
based on performance goals that are sufficiently objective so that a third party
having knowledge of the relevant facts could determine whether the goal was
met. Except as provided in Section 11.8 hereof, performance measures
that may serve as determinants of Awards shall be limited to the following
measures: [earnings per share; return on assets; return on equity; return on
capital; net profit after taxes; net profit before taxes; economic value added;
operating profits; stock price; market share; and sales or
expenses.] Within ninety (90) days following the end of each Award
Period, the Committee shall certify in writing that the performance goals, and
any other material terms were satisfied. Thereafter, Awards shall be
made for each Awardee as determined by the Committee. The Awards may
not vary from the pre-established amount based on the level of
achievement.
11.4 No Mid-Year Change in
Awards. Except
as provided in Sections 11.8 and 11.9 hereof, each Award, other than Options and
Stock Appreciation Rights, shall be based exclusively on the performance
measures established by the Committee pursuant to Sections 11.2 and
11.3.
11.5 No Partial Award Period
Participation. An Awardee who becomes eligible to participate
in the Plan after performance goals have been established in an Award Period
pursuant to Sections 11.2 and 11.3 may not participate in the Plan prior to the
next succeeding Award Period, except with respect to Awards that are Options or
Stock Appreciation Rights.
11.6 Performance
Goals. Except as provided in Section 11.8 hereof, performance
goals shall not be changed following their establishment, and Awardees shall not
receive any payout, except with respect to Awards that are Options or Stock
Appreciation Rights, when the minimum performance goals are not met or
exceeded.
11.7 Individual Performance and
Discretionary Adjustments. Except as provided in Section 11.8
hereof, subjective evaluations of individual performance of the Awardees shall
not be reflected in their Awards, other than Awards that are Options or Stock
Appreciation Rights. The payment of such Awards shall be entirely
dependent upon the attainment of the pre-established performance
goals.
11.8 Amendments. No
amendment of the Plan with respect to any Awardee may be made that would (i)
increase the maximum amount that can be paid to any one Optionee under the Plan,
(ii) change the specified performance goal for payment of Awards, or (iii)
modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan, unless
the Shareholders have first approved such amendment in a manner that would
permit the deduction under Section 162(m) of the Code of such payment in the
fiscal year it is paid. The Committee may amend this Article XI and
such other provisions as it deems appropriate, to cause amounts payable to
Awardees to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) and the Treasury
Regulations promulgated thereunder.
11.9 Stock Options and Stock
Appreciation Rights; Maximum Amount of
Compensation. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan
(including the provisions of this Article XI) to the contrary, the amount of
compensation that an Awardee may receive with respect to Options and Stock
Appreciation Rights that are granted hereunder shall be based solely on an
increase in the value of the applicable shares of Common Stock after the date of
grant of such Award. Thus, no Option may be granted hereunder to an
Awardee with an exercise price less than the Fair Market Value of the subject
shares of Common Stock on the date of grant. The maximum amount of
compensation payable as an Award (other than an Award that is an Option or Stock
Appreciation Right) to any Awardee during any calendar year may not exceed
$1,000,000. Section 1.6 sets forth the maximum number of shares of
Common Stock with respect to which Options or Stock Appreciation Rights may be
granted to any Awardee during any calendar year.
ARTICLE
XII
DEFINITIONS
As used herein, the following terms
have the meanings hereinafter set forth unless the context clearly indicates to
the contrary:
12.1 The
term “Affiliate” means,
with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling
or controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with such Person,
including each Subsidiary, as defined below.
12.2 “Award” means the
grant of an Option or Restricted Stock, Stock Appreciation Right, Stock Unit
Award or Performance Award.
12.3 “Award Agreement”
means an Option Agreement, Restricted Stock Agreement, Stock Appreciation Rights
Agreement, Stock Unit Award Agreement or Performance Award
Agreement.
12.4 “Award Period” has the
meaning set forth in Section 11.2.
12.5 “Awardee” means the
recipient of an Award.
12.6 “Board” means the
Board of Directors of the Company.
12.7 “Cause” means
conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude or a crime providing for a term
of imprisonment in a federal or state penitentiary; commission of any willful
malfeasance or gross negligence in the discharge of duties to the Company or any
of its Affiliates having a material adverse effect on the Company or any of its
affiliates, their business or reputations; or, failure to correct within five
days after written notice, any specific failure in performance of the duties of
the Person’s position with the Company.
12.8 The
term “Change in
Control” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.12(b).
12.9 “Code” means the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
12.10 “Committee” means the
committee appointed in accordance with Section 2.1.
12.11 “Common Stock” means
the Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company or, in the event
that the outstanding shares of such Common Stock are hereafter changed into or
exchanged for shares of a different stock or security of the Company or some
other corporation, such other stock or security.
12.12 “Company” means AZZ
incorporated, a Texas corporation, or any successor resulting from a corporate
reorganization of the Company.
12.13 “Director” means a
member of the Board.
12.14 “Effective Date”
means the date on which the Board approves the Plan.
12.15 “Employee,” as used
with regard to any provision of the Plan relating to Incentive Stock Options,
means an employee (within the meaning of Section 3401(c) of the Code and the
regulations thereunder) of the Company or of any Affiliate of the Company that
adopts the Plan, including Officers.
12.16 “ERISA” means the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
12.17 “Exchange Act” means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
12.18 “Fair Market Value”
means such value as determined by the Committee on the basis of such factors as
it deems appropriate; provided that if the Common Stock is traded on a national
securities exchange or transactions in the Common Stock are quoted on the Nasdaq
National Market System, such value as shall be determined by the Committee on
the basis of the reported sales prices for the Common Stock on the date or dates
for which such determination is relevant, as reported on the national securities
exchange or the Nasdaq National Market System, as the case may be. If
the Common Stock is not listed and traded upon a recognized securities exchange
or on the Nasdaq National Market System, the Committee shall make a
determination of Fair Market Value on a reasonable basis which may include the
mean between the closing bid and asked quotations for such stock on the date for
which such determination is relevant (as reported by a recognized stock
quotation service) or, in the event that there shall be no bid or asked
quotations on the date for which such determination is relevant, then on the
basis of the mean between the closing bid and asked quotations on the date
nearest preceding the date for which such determination is relevant for which
such bid and asked quotations were available.
12.19 “Incentive Stock
Option” means an Option granted pursuant to Article III.
12.20 “Nonqualified Stock
Option” means an Option granted pursuant to Article IV.
12.21 “Officer” means an
officer of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate.
12.22 “Option” means an
Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option.
12.23 “Optionee” means an
Awardee to whom an Option has been granted hereunder.
12.24 “Option Agreement”
means an agreement between the Company and an Optionee with respect to one or
more Options.
12.25 “Performance Award”
means an Award issued pursuant to Article VIII, either in the form of “Performance Shares”
or “Performance
Units” as those terms are defined in Section 8.1.
12.26 “Performance Award
Agreement” means an agreement between the Company and an Awardee with
respect to a Performance Award.
12.27 “Permanent
Disability” has the meaning provided for that term in Section 22(e)(3) of
the Code.
12.28 “Person” means any
individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or unincorporated
organization.
12.29 “Plan” means the AZZ
incorporated Amended and Restated 2005 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as set forth
herein and as amended from time to time.
12.30 “Plan Shares” means
shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the Plan.
12.31 “Restricted Stock”
means stock issued pursuant to Article V.
12.32 “Restricted Stock
Agreement” means an agreement between the Company and an Awardee with
respect to Restricted Stock.
12.33 “Retirement” occurs
when an Awardee terminates his employment or service relationship with the
Company or a Subsidiary on or after the date he (a) turns 65 years old or (b)
turns 55 years old and has completed ten years of service with the Company or a
Subsidiary or Affiliate as otherwise determined by the Board.
12.34 “Rule 16b-3” means
Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor
rule.
12.35 “Securities Act”
means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
12.36 “Shareholders” means
the holders of Common Stock and/or, to the extent the context requires, other
equity securities of the Company.
12.37 “Stock Appreciation
Right” means a right granted pursuant to Article V.
12.38 “Stock Appreciation Rights
Agreement” means an agreement between the Company and an Awardee with
respect to Stock Appreciation Rights.
12.39 “Stock Unit Award”
means an award granted pursuant to Article VII.
12.40 “Stock Unit Award
Agreement” means an Agreement between the Company and an Awardee with
respect to a Stock Unit Award.
12.41 “Subsidiary” means
(i) any “subsidiary corporation” of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of
the Code, (ii) any other entity that is taxed as a corporation under Section
7701(a)(3) of the Code and is a member of the “affiliated group” as defined in
Section 1504(a) of the Code, of which the Company is the common parent, and
(iii) any other entity as may be permitted from time to time by the Code or by
the Internal Revenue Service to be an employer of Employees to which Incentive
Stock Options may be granted.
12.42 “Tax Date” means the
date on which the amount of tax to be withheld is determined.
12.43 “Transaction” has the
meaning set forth in Section 1.12(b)(iii).
12.44 “Treasury Regulations”
means those regulations promulgated under and interpreting the
Code.
12.45 The
term “Voting
Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.12(b)(i).
AZZ
incorporated
EMPLOYEE
STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
The
following constitute the provisions of the Employee Stock Purchase Plan of AZZ
incorporated, a Texas corporation.
1. Purpose. The
purpose of the Plan is to provide employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries
with an opportunity to purchase Common Stock of the Company through accumulated
payroll deductions. It is the intention of the Company to have the
Plan qualify as an “Employee Stock Purchase Plan” under Section 423 of the Code
(as defined herein). The provisions of the Plan shall, accordingly,
be construed so as to extend and limit participation in a manner consistent with
the requirements of that section of the Code.
2. Definitions.
(a) “Board” shall mean the Board of
Directors of the Company.
(b) “Code” shall mean the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(c) “Common Stock” shall mean the
common stock, $1.00 par value per share, of the Company.
(d) “Company” shall mean AZZ
incorporated, a Texas corporation, or any successor which adopts this
Plan.
(e) “Compensation” for the Offering
Period shall mean the regular earnings paid to the Employee by the Employer for
the applicable period used to compute federal taxable income for such period and
reported as such for purposes of the Employee’s Form W-2.
(f) “Continuous Status as an Employee”
shall mean the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an
Employee. Continuous Status as an Employee shall not be considered
interrupted in the case of a leave of absence that meets the requirements of
paragraph 10(b).
(g) “Designated Subsidiary” shall mean
any Subsidiary of the Company designated by the Board in its sole discretion as
eligible to participate in the Plan and listed on Schedule 1 hereto,
provided that the Board, in its sole discretion, may determine at any time that
any such Subsidiary will no longer be eligible to participate in the Plan and
that such Subsidiary will accordingly be removed from Schedule 1
hereto.
(h) “Employee” shall mean any person,
including an officer, who has been employed by the Employer for at least 90 days
prior to such person electing to participate in the Plan, in accordance with the
terms and conditions herein, and is customarily employed for at least twenty
(20) hours per week and whose wages are subject to withholding for purposes of
federal income taxes.
(i) “Employer” shall mean the Company
and each of its Subsidiaries.
(j) “Enrollment Date” shall mean the
first day of each Offering Period.
(k) “Exercise Date” shall mean the last
day of the first payroll period ending in August and February of each year
within an Offering Period.
(l) “Exercise Period” shall mean the
six (6) month period commencing one (1) day after one (1) Exercise Date and
ending with the next Exercise Date.
(m) “NYSE” shall mean the New York
Stock Exchange.
(n) “Offering Period” shall mean the
period of twenty-four (24) months during which an option granted pursuant to the
Plan may be exercised, as described in paragraph 4.
(o) “Participant” shall mean an
Employee who has been offered the opportunity to purchase Common Stock hereunder
and who has elected to participate herein by authorizing payroll
deductions.
(p) “Payroll Deduction Account” shall
mean that separate account maintained hereunder to record the amount of a
Participant's Compensation that has been withheld hereunder.
(q) “Plan” shall mean the AZZ
incorporated Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
(r) “Subsidiary” shall mean a limited
partnership, limited liability company or corporation, domestic or foreign, of
which, at the time of the granting of the option pursuant to paragraph 7, either
not less than 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or
membership interests are held by the Company or a Subsidiary or, with respect to
limited partnerships, the Company is or controls the general partner of such
limited partnership, whether or not such limited partnership, limited liability
company or corporation now exists or is hereafter organized or acquired by the
Company or a Subsidiary.
3. Eligibility.
(a) General
Rule. Any Employee, as defined in paragraph 2, who shall be
employed by an Employer on a given Enrollment Date and for at least ninety (90)
days prior to such Enrollment Date, shall be eligible to participate in the
Plan, subject to the requirements of paragraph 5(a) and the limitations imposed
by Section 423(b) of the Code.
(b) Exceptions. Any
provisions of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no Employee shall be
granted an option to purchase Common Stock under the Plan if:
(i) Immediately after the grant, such
Employee (or any other person whose stock would be attributed to such Employee
pursuant to Section 425(d) of the Code) would own stock (including for purposes
of this paragraph 3(b) any stock he or she holds outstanding options to
purchase) possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting
power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Designated
Subsidiary computed in accordance with the Code Section 423(b)(3),
or
(ii) Such option would permit such
Employee's right to purchase stock under all employee stock purchase plans
(described in Section 423 of the Code) of the Company and its Subsidiaries to
accrue at a rate which exceeds the maximum rate allowed by Section 423 of the
Code, which is currently Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) of the fair
market value of such stock (determined at the time such option is granted), for
each calendar year in which such option is outstanding at any time, in
accordance with the provisions of Code Section 423(b)(8).
4. Offering
Periods. The Plan shall be implemented by Offering Periods
with the first Offering Period beginning on or about the first Monday
immediately following the completion of the first payroll period ending in
September 2008, and continuing until terminated in accordance with the Plan. The
Board of the Company shall have the power to change the duration of the offering
Periods with respect to future offerings without shareholder approval if such
change is announced at least fifteen (15) days prior to the scheduled beginning
of the first Offering Period to be affected. Absent action by the
Board, each Offering Period shall be for a period of twenty-four (24) months and
new Offering Periods shall commence on the Monday immediately following the
completion of the first payroll period ending in September and March of each
year.
5. Participation.
(a) An eligible Employee may become a
Participant in the Plan by completing a subscription agreement authorizing
payroll deductions, in a form substantially similar to Exhibit A attached to
the Plan (“Subscription Agreement”), and filing it with the Company's Human
Resources Department prior to the applicable Enrollment Date, unless a later
time for filing the Subscription Agreement is set by the Board
for all eligible Employees with respect to a given Offering
Period.
(b)
Payroll deductions for a Participant shall commence with the first payroll
following the Enrollment Date and shall end on the last payroll in the Offering
Period to which such authorization is applicable, unless sooner terminated by
the Participant as provided in paragraph 10.
(c) An Employee who is otherwise
eligible to participate herein may waive his or her right to participate for any
Offering Period by declining to authorize a payroll deduction. Such declination
must be filed in writing in the time and manner specified
thereby. The filing of a written declination shall result in the
Employee's waiver of participation for only the Offering Period to which it
relates and shall be irrevocable with respect to such Offering
Period. Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, an Employee's
waiver of participation for a specified Offering Period shall not, in and of
itself, adversely impact the right of such Employee to participate in the Plan
during any subsequent Offering Periods except those Offering Periods with
respect to which he or she files additional written declinations in accordance
with the provisions of this paragraph.
6. Payroll
Deductions.
(a) At the time a Participant files his
or her Subscription Agreement, such Participant shall elect to have payroll
deductions made on each pay date during the Offering Period at the rate not to
exceed ten percent (10%) of the Compensation which he or she receives on each
pay date during the Offering Period, provided that the aggregate amount of such
payroll deductions during the Offering Period shall not exceed ten percent (10%)
of the Participant's aggregate Compensation during said Offering
Period. An eligible Employee may participate in only one Offering
Period at a time.
(b) All payroll deductions made by a
Participant shall be credited to his or her Payroll Deduction Account under the
Plan. A Participant may not make any additional payments into such Payroll
Deduction Account.
(c) A Participant may discontinue his
or her payroll deductions during the Offering Period by completing and filing
with the Human Resources Department of the Company a new Subscription Agreement
authorizing a change in the rate of payroll deductions, provided that, in the
event that Participant desires to change the rate of his or her payroll
deductions but to otherwise continue participating in the Plan, such a change in
the rate of payroll deductions shall provide for payroll deductions of at least
one percent (1%) of such Participant’s Compensation and any changes to his or
her payroll deductions shall otherwise be made in increments of one percent
(1%). The change in rate shall be effective no earlier than fifteen
(15) days following the Company's receipt of the new authorization.
7. Grant of
Option.
(a) On the Enrollment Date
of each Offering Period each Participant in such Offering Period shall be
granted an option to purchase on each Exercise Date during such Offering Period
up to a number of whole shares of the Company's Common Stock determined by
dividing ten percent (10%) of the Participant's Compensation by eighty-five
percent (85%) of the lower of (i) fair market value of a share of Common Stock
on the Enrollment Date, or (ii) the fair market value of a share of Common Stock
on the Exercise Date; provided, however, that the number of shares subject to
such option shall be reduced, if necessary, to a number of shares which would
not exceed the limitations described in paragraph 3(b) or paragraph 12(a)
hereof. The fair market value of a share of the Company's Common
Stock shall be determined as provided in paragraph 7(b) herein.
(b) The exercise price per
share of the shares offered in a given Offering Period shall be the lower of:
(i) 85% of the fair market value of a share of the Common Stock on the
Enrollment Date, or (ii) 85% of the fair market value of a share of the Common
Stock on the Exercise Date. The fair market value of the Company's
Common Stock on a given date shall be the closing price of such Common Stock as
reported by the NYSE, or reported on such other national exchange as it may,
from time to time, be reported on, on such date (or if there shall be no trading
on such date, then on the first previous date on which there is such trading),
unless the Common Stock ceases to be traded on a national
exchange. If the Common Stock ceases to be traded on a national
exchange, its fair market value shall be determined by the Board in its
discretion.
(c) All Employees granted
options hereunder shall have the same rights and privileges subject to the
limitations contained herein.
8. Exercise of
Option. The Participant's option for the purchase of shares
will be exercised automatically on each Exercise Date of each Offering Period,
and the maximum number of full shares subject to such option will be purchased
for such Participant at the applicable exercise price with the payroll
deductions accumulated in his or her Payroll Deduction Account, unless prior to
such Exercise Date the Participant has withdrawn from the Offering Period or
from the Exercise Period as provided in paragraph 10. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to issue fractional shares for
the Participant pursuant to the Plan. During a Participant's lifetime
a Participant's option to purchase shares hereunder is exercisable only by such
Participant.
9. Delivery. As
promptly as practicable after each Exercise Date, the Company shall arrange the
delivery to each Participant, or to his or her account at a brokerage firm, of a
certificate representing the shares purchased upon exercise of his or her
option, provided, however, that the Board may permit or require that shares of
Common Stock issued pursuant to the Plan be deposited directly with a broker
designated by the Board or to a designated agent of the Company. The Board may
require that shares be retained with such broker or agent for a designated
period of time and/or may establish other procedures to permit tracking of
disqualifying dispositions of such shares. Notwithstanding anything
in this Plan to the contrary, the Company, in its sole discretion, upon a
Participant’s purchase of shares of Common Stock through exercise of his or her
option, may issue such shares of Common Stock pursuant to the direct
registration system, and, in lieu of the issuance of certificated shares, may
issue uncertificated shares, to the account of the Participant. Any
references to share certificates shall, in such event, be deemed to refer to
uncertificated shares. Any amount remaining in the Participant's
Payroll Deduction Account after an Exercise Date shall be held in the Payroll
Deduction Account until the next Exercise Date in such Offering Period, unless
the Offering Period has been oversubscribed or has terminated with such Exercise
Date, in which case such amount shall be refunded to the
Participant. In the event that Participant transfers shares of Common
Stock acquired pursuant to the Plan, Participant shall first give his or her
Employer notice of such transfer by delivering to the Company a notice in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit
B. Upon receipt of such notice, the Company will provide the
Participant with a notice in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
C.
10. Withdrawal;
Termination of Employment.
(a) A Participant may withdraw all, but
not less than all, of the payroll deductions credited to his or her Payroll
Deduction Account and not yet used toward the exercise of his or her option
under the Plan at any time by giving written notice to the Company on a form
substantially similar to Exhibit D attached to
this Plan. All of the Participant's payroll deductions credited to
his or her Payroll Deduction Account will be paid to such Participant promptly
after receipt of his or her notice of withdrawal. A withdrawal of a
Participant's Payroll Deduction Account shall terminate the Participant's
participation for the Exercise Period in which the withdrawal
occurs. No further payroll deductions for the purchase of shares will
be made during the Exercise Period. A Participant may resume payroll
deductions as the beginning of any subsequent Exercise Period that is within the
Offering Period by delivering written notice on a form substantially similar to
Exhibit E
attached to this Plan.
(b) Upon termination of the
Participant's Continuous Status as an Employee of the Company for any reason, he
or she will be deemed to have elected to withdraw from the Plan and the payroll
deductions credited to his or her Payroll Deduction Account will be returned to
such Participant and his or her option will be cancelled; provided, however,
that a Participant who goes on a leave of absence shall be permitted to remain
in the Plan with respect to an Offering Period which commenced prior to the
beginning of such leave of absence. If such Participant is not
guaranteed reemployment by contract or statute and the leave of absence exceeds
ninety (90) days, such Participant shall be deemed to have terminated employment
on the 91st day of such leave of absence. Payroll deductions for a
Participant who has been on a leave of absence will resume upon return to work
at the same rate as in effect prior to such leave unless changed by such
Participant or unless the leave of absence begins in one Offering Period and
ends in a subsequent Offering Period, in which case the Participant shall not be
permitted to re-enter the Plan until a new Subscription Agreement is filed with
respect to an Offering Period which commences after such Participant has
returned to work from the leave of absence.
(c) A Participant's withdrawal
from one Offering Period will not have any effect upon his or her eligibility to
participate in a different Offering Period or in any similar Plan which may
hereafter be adopted by the Company. Although a Participant may
withdraw from one Offering Period and join another Offering Period which
commenced prior to the end of the Offering Period from which he or she withdrew,
such a change shall not transfer payroll deductions from one Offering Period to
another.
11. Interest. No
interest shall accrue on the payroll deductions of a Participant in the
Plan.
12. Common
Stock.
(a) The maximum number of shares of the
Company's Common Stock which shall be made available for sale under the Plan
shall be five hundred thousand (500,000) shares, subject to adjustment upon
changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in paragraph
18. Either authorized and unissued shares or issued shares heretofore
or hereafter reacquired by the Employer may be made subject to purchase under
the Plan, in the sole and absolute discretion of the Board. Further,
if for any reason any purchase of Common Stock under the Plan is not
consummated, shares subject to such purchase agreement may be subjected to a new
Subscription Agreement under the Plan. If, on a given Exercise Date,
the number of shares with respect to which options are to be exercised exceeds
the number of shares then available under the Plan, the Company shall make a pro
rata allocation of the shares remaining available for purchase in as uniform a
manner as shall be practicable and as it shall determine to be
equitable. In such event, the Company shall give written notice of
such reduction of the number of shares which each Employee shall be allowed to
purchase. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the
Company shall not be obligated to issue Common Stock hereunder if, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company, such issuance would constitute a violation
of Federal or state securities laws or NYSE listing standards.
(b) The Participant will have no
interest or voting right in shares covered by his or her option until such
option has been exercised.
(c) Shares to be delivered to a
Participant under the Plan will be registered in the name of the Participant or,
at the prior written request of the Participant, in the names of the Participant
and his or her spouse.
13. Administration. The
Plan shall be administered by the Board or a committee appointed by the
Board. If a committee is appointed by the Board, such committee shall
have all of the powers of the Board with respect to the Plan except for those
powers set forth in paragraph 19 hereof. Members of the Board who are
eligible employees are permitted to participate in the Plan; provided, however,
that (i) members of the Board who are eligible Employees may not vote on any
matter affecting the administration of the Plan or the grant of any option
pursuant to the Plan, and (ii) if a committee is appointed by the Board to
administer the Plan, no committee member will be eligible to participate in the
Plan. The Board or a committee appointed hereunder shall have the
following powers and duties:
(a) To direct the administration of the
Plan in accordance with the provisions herein set forth;
(b) To adopt rules of procedure and
regulations necessary for the administration of the Plan provided the rules are
not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;
(c) To determine all questions with
regard to rights of Employees and Participants under the Plan, including, but
not limited to, rights of eligibility of an Employee to participate in the
Plan;
(d) To enforce the terms of the Plan
and the rules and regulations it adopts;
(e) To direct the distribution of the
shares of Common Stock purchased hereunder;
(f) To furnish the Employer with
information which the Employer may require for tax or other
purposes;
(g) To engage the service of counsel
(who may, if appropriate, be counsel for the Employer) and agents whom it may
deem advisable to assist it with the performance of its duties;
(h) To prescribe procedures to be
followed by Participants in electing to participate herein;
(i) To receive from each Employer and
from Employees such information as shall be necessary for the proper
administration of the Plan;
(j) To maintain, or cause to be
maintained, separate accounts in the name of each Participant to reflect the
Participant's Payroll Deduction Account under the Plan; and
(k) To interpret and construe the
Plan.
14. Designation of
Beneficiary.
(a) A Participant may file a written
designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any shares from the Participant's
Payroll Deduction Account under the Plan in the event of such Participant's
death subsequent to an Exercise Date on which an option is exercised but prior
to the issuance of such shares. In addition, a Participant may file a
written designation of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the
Participant's Payroll Deduction Account under the Plan in the event of such
Participant's death prior to the Exercise Date of the option.
(b) Such designation of beneficiary may
be changed by the Participant at any time by delivering written notice of such
change to the Company, which shall set forth the name and address of the new
beneficiary. In the event of the death of a Participant and in the
absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the
time of such Participant's death, the Company shall deliver such shares and/or
cash to the executor or administrator of the estate of the Participant, or if no
such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the
Company), the Company, in its discretion, may deliver such shares and/or cash to
the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the Participant, or
if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company, then to such other
person as the Company may designate.
15.
Transferability. Neither payroll deductions credited to
Participant's Payroll Deduction Account nor any rights with regard to the
exercise of an option to receive shares under the Plan may be assigned,
transferred, pledged or otherwise disposed of in any way (other than by will,
the laws of descent and distribution or as provided in paragraph 14 hereof) by
the Participant. Any such attempt at assignment, transfer, pledge or
other disposition, other than as permitted in the Code, shall be without effect,
except that the Company may treat such act as an election to withdraw funds in
accordance with paragraph 10.
16. Use of
Funds. All payroll deductions received or held by the Company
under the Plan may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, and the
Company shall not be obligated to segregate such payroll
deductions.
17.
Reports. Individual Payroll Deduction Accounts will be
maintained for each Participant in the Plan. Statements of Payroll
Deduction Account will be given to participating Employees promptly following an
Exercise Date, which statements will set forth the amounts of payroll
deductions, the per share purchase price, the number of shares purchased and the
remaining cash balance, if any.
18. Adjustments Upon Changes in
Capitalization. If an option under this Plan is exercised
subsequent to any stock dividend, stock split, spinoff, recapitalization,
merger, consolidation, exchange of shares or the like, occurring after such
option was granted, as a result of which shares of any class shall be issued in
respect of the outstanding shares, or shares shall be changed into a different
number of the same or another class or classes, the number of shares to which
such option shall be applicable and the option price for such shares shall be
appropriately adjusted by the Company. Any such adjustment, however,
in the Common Stock shall be made without change in the total price applicable
to the portion of the Common Stock purchased hereunder which has not been fully
paid for, but with a corresponding adjustment, if appropriate, in the price for
each share of Common Stock.
In the event of the proposed
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Offering Period will terminate
immediately prior to the consummation of such proposed action, unless otherwise
provided by the Board. In the event of a proposed sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company, or the merger of the
Company with or into another corporation, each option under the Plan shall be
assumed or an equivalent option shall be substituted by such successor
corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation, unless the
Board determines, in the exercise of its sole discretion and in lieu of such
assumption or substitution, that the Participant shall have the right to
exercise the option as to all of the optioned stock, including shares as to
which the option would not otherwise be exercisable. If the Board
makes an option fully exercisable, in lieu of assumption or substitution in the
event of a merger or sale of assets, the Board shall notify the Participant that
the option shall be fully exercisable for a period of thirty (30) days from the
date of such notice, and the option will terminate upon the expiration of such
period.
19. Amendment or
Termination. The Board may at any time and for any reason
terminate or amend the Plan. Except as specifically provided in the
Plan, no such termination can affect options previously granted, provided that
an Offering Period may be terminated by the Board on any Exercise Date if the
Board determines that the termination of the Plan is in the best interest of the
Company and its shareholders. Except as specifically provided in the
Plan or as required to obtain a favorable ruling from the Internal Revenue
Service, no amendment may make any change in any option theretofore granted
which adversely affects the rights of any Participant. To the extent
necessary to comply with Section 423 of the Code (or any successor rule or
provision or any other applicable law or regulation), the Rules of the NYSE or
any other requirement applicable to the Employer, the Company shall obtain
shareholder approval in such manner and to such a degree as
required. Furthermore, the Board shall not modify, extend or renew
any option granted hereunder that would subject the option to Section 409A of
the Code pursuant to Treasury Regulation § 1.409A-1(b)(5)(ii) or take any other
action that would result in an impermissible deferral of compensation in
violation of Section 409A of the Code.
20. Notices. All
notices or other communications by a Participant to the Company under or in
connection with the Plan shall be deemed to have been duly given when received
in the form specified by the Company at the location, or by the person,
designated by the Company for the receipt thereof.
21. Shareholder
Approval. Commencement of the Plan shall be subject to
approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve months before or after
the date the Plan is adopted.
22. Conditions Upon Issuance of
Shares. Shares shall not be issued with respect to an option
unless the exercise of such option and the issuance and delivery of such
shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all applicable provisions
of law, domestic or foreign, including, without limitation, the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the
requirements of any stock exchange upon which the shares may then be listed, and
shall be further subject to the approval of counsel for the Company with respect
to such compliance.
As a condition to the exercise of an
option, the Company may require the person exercising such option to represent
and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the shares are being purchased
only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute,
such shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation
is required by any of the aforementioned applicable provisions of
law.
23. Term of
Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to
occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the shareholders of the
Company as described in paragraph 21. It shall continue in effect for
a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated under paragraph
19.
24. No Rights
Implied. Nothing contained in this Plan or any modification or
amendment to the Plan or in the creation of any Participant's Payroll Deduction
Account, or the execution of any participation election form, or the issuance of
any shares of Common Stock, shall give any Employee or Participant any right to
continue employment, any legal or equitable right against the Employer or
Company or any officer, director, or Employee of the Employer or
Company, except as expressly provided by the Plan.
25.
Severability. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be
held to be illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall
not affect the remaining provisions of the Plan, but shall be fully severable
and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid
provision had never been included herein.
26. Notice. Any
notice required to be given herein by the Employer, the Company or the Board
shall be deemed delivered, when (a) personally delivered, or (b) placed in the
United States mails, in an envelope addressed to the last known address of the
person to whom the notice is given.
27. Waiver of
Notice. Any person entitled to notice under the Plan may waive
the notice.
28. Successors and
Assigns. The Plan shall be binding upon all persons entitled
to purchase Common Stock under the Plan, their respective heirs, legatees, and
legal representatives upon the Employer, its successors and
assigns.
29. Headings. The
titles and headings of the paragraphs are included for convenience of reference
only and are not to be considered in construction of the provisions
hereof.
30. Law. All
questions arising with respect to the provisions of this Agreement shall be
determined by application of the laws of the State of Texas except to the extent
Texas law is preempted by Federal statute. The obligation of the
Employer to sell and deliver Common Stock under the Plan is subject to
applicable laws and to the approval of any governmental authority required in
connection with the authorization, issuance, sale or delivery of such Common
Stock.
31. No Liability for Good Faith
Determinations. Neither the members of the Board nor any
member of the committee appointed by the Board (nor their delegates) shall be
liable for any act, omission, or determination taken or made in good faith with
respect to the Plan or any right to purchase shares of Common Stock granted
under it, and members of the Board and such committee (and their delegatees)
shall be entitled to indemnification and reimbursement by the Company in respect
of any claim, loss, damage, or expense (including attorneys' fees, the costs of
settling any suit, provided such settlement is approved by independent legal
counsel selected by the Company, and amounts paid in satisfaction of a judgment,
except a judgment based on a finding of bad faith) arising therefrom to the full
extent permitted by law and under any directors and officers liability or
similar insurance coverage that may from time to time be in effect.
32. Application of Plan
Provisions. Except as provided in paragraph 32, the provisions
of this Plan shall be applied separately to each Subsidiary and its employees
exactly as if each such Subsidiary participating in the Plan was the sole and
only employer which is a party hereto. Except in paragraph 32, the
word “Employer,” wherever used herein, shall be deemed to refer only to the
particular Employer separately insofar as that Employer and its Employees are
concerned, and likewise the words “Employee,” “Employees,” “Participant” and
“Participants” shall be deemed to refer solely to the Employees of that
particular Employer, or such of them as may become Participants, as if their
Employer were the sole and only Employer which is a party hereto.
[Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Employee Stock
Purchase Plan has been executed effective this __________ day of
______________, 2008.
AZZ
INCORPORATED
By:
Name:
David H. Dingus
Title: Chief
Executive Officer
Signature
Page to AZZ incorporated Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Schedule
1
Designated
Subsidiaries
(attached
hereto and incorporated by reference herein)
EXHIBIT
A
AZZ
incorporated
EMPLOYEE
STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
SUBSCRIPTION
AGREEMENT
I, ________________, have read the
attached AZZ incorporated Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Plan”). I
understand that capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Subscription
Agreement shall have the meaning given to such terms in the Plan. I have decided
(check one):
|
NOT
to participate in the Plan.
|
|
TO
PARTICIPATE in the Plan. I wish to purchase that amount of
common stock that can be purchased with _______ % of my compensation
(select the percentage of your compensation from either 0 or 1 to 10, in
increments of 1, that you elect to
contribute).
|
|
TO
STOP my current payroll deductions with respect to the
Plan.
|
In order to pay for the shares of
Common Stock that I have elected to purchase under the Plan, I hereby authorize
my Employer to deduct the percentage of my compensation that I specified above
from my pay each pay period while this election is in effect.
I understand that said payroll
deductions shall be accumulated for the purchase of shares of Common Stock at
the applicable purchase price determined in accordance with the
Plan. I further understand that, except as otherwise set forth in the
Plan, shares will be purchased for me automatically on each Exercise Date of the
Offering Period unless I otherwise withdraw from the Offering Period or the
Plan.
I understand that any shares of Common
Stock purchased in accordance with the Plan shall be subject to restrictions on
transfer as set out in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”). In particular, I understand that the Code requires that I
hold any shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to the Plan until the earlier
of (1) two years from the date that I receive the option to purchase such shares
of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan and (2) one year from the date that such
shares of Common Stock are issued to me. I agree that I will hold the
shares of Common Stock purchased by me pursuant to the Plan and this
Subscription Agreement in accordance with the restrictions set forth in the
immediately preceding sentence.
I have received a copy of the complete
Plan. I understand that my participation in the Plan is in all respects subject
to the terms of the Plan.
I hereby agree to be bound by the terms
of the Plan. The effectiveness of this Subscription Agreement is
dependent upon my eligibility to participate in the Plan.
[Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
In the event of my death, I hereby
designate the following as my beneficiary to receive all payments and
shares due me and not yet paid or issued under the Plan:
Name and
Address of Beneficiary:
I hereby confirm the statements and
instructions set forth above subject to the terms and conditions set forth
herein and in the Plan.
EMPLOYEE:
[Signature]
[Name]
[Date]
[Address]
[Address]
EXHIBIT
B
AZZ
incorporated
EMPLOYEE
STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
NOTICE
TO TRANSFER SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
The undersigned Participant in the
Offering Period of the AZZ incorporated Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
“Plan”) that began on ____________ _____, 20__ hereby notifies the Company that
the undersigned Participant intends to transfer _____________ shares of Common
Stock acquired by the undersigned Participant pursuant to the Plan.
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined
in this Notice to Transfer Shares of Common Stcok shall have the meaning given
to such terms in the Plan.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges
receipt of a copy of the Plan, and confirms the statements and instructions set
forth above subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, in the
Subscription Agreement signed by the undersigned Participant on ________________
___, 20___ and in the Plan.
PARTICIPANT:
[Signature]
[Name]
[Date]
[Address]
[Address]
EXHIBIT
C
Section
6039 Notice Regarding Transfer of Stock Purchased
Under
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
TO: [Transferor
of § 423 stock (generally an employee)]
FROM: AZZ
incorporated
RE:
|
Transfer
of Stock Acquired Under an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (as described in §
423 of the Internal Revenue Code)
|
Dear :
Pursuant
to §§ 6039(a)(2) and 6039(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the “Code”), the following information is being furnished to you with regard to
your transfer during 20_ of stock acquired under the AZZ incorporated Employee
Stock Purchase Plan:
1. Corporation
whose stock was transferred:
|
Address:
|
University
Centre I, Suite 200
|
|
1300
South University Drive
|
|
Employer
Identification Number:
|
75-0948250
|
2. Person
who transferred stock originally acquired under an employee stock purchase plan
(“transferor”):
Name:
Address:
Social
Security Number:
3. Date
stock originally acquired by transferor:
4. Number
of shares to which title was transferred by transferor during
20___:
The shares transferred were acquired by
you under a purchase right that is an option described in § 423(c) of the
Code. As a result of your transfer described above, you are subject to taxation
as described in § 423(c) of the Code and therefore, may have to recognize
income that is taxable as ordinary income.
Please
keep this statement for income tax purposes.
Dated:
AZZ
INCOPORATED
By:
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT
D
AZZ
incorporated
EMPLOYEE
STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
NOTICE
OF WITHDRAWAL
The undersigned Participant in the
Offering Period of the AZZ incoporporated Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
“Plan”) that began on ____________ _____, 20___, (the “Enrollment Date”) hereby
notifies the Company that effective on ____________ _____, 20___ (the
“Withdrawal Date”) he or she withdraws from
the current Exercise Period only
the Offering Period
The undersigned hereby directs the
Company to pay to the undersigned as promptly as possible following the
Withdrawal Date all the payroll deductions created to his or her Payroll
Deduction Account with respect to such Offering Period. The
undersigned understands and agrees that if withdrawing from the Exercise Period
no further payroll deductions will be made for the purchase of shares in such
Exercise Period and the undersigned may not participate in another Exercise
Period within the Offering Period unless the undersigned delivers to the Company
a Notice to Resume Payroll Deductions. If the withdrawal is from the Offering
Period, no further payroll deductions will be made for the purchase of shares in
the Offering Period.
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined
in this Notice of Withdrawal shall have the meaning given to such terms in the
Plan.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges
receipt of a copy of the Plan, and confirms the statements and instructions set
forth above subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the
Plan.
PARTICIPANT:
[Signature]
[Name]
[Date]
[Address]
[Address]
EXHIBIT
E
AZZ
incorporated
EMPLOYEE
STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
NOTICE
TO RESUME PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS
The undersigned Participant in the
Offering Period of the AZZ incorporated Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
“Plan”) that began on ____________ _____, 20__ hereby notifies the Company to
resume payroll deductions for his or her Payroll Deduction Account at the
beginning of the next Exercise Period in accordance with the terms of the
Subscription Agreement executed by the undersigned at the beginning of the
Offering Period.
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined
in this Notice to Resume Payroll Deduction shall have the meaning given to such
terms in the Plan.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges
receipt of a copy of the Plan, and confirms the statements and instructions set
forth above subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the
Plan.
PARTICIPANT:
[Signature]
[Name]
[Date]
[Address]
[Address]
2008
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
10:00
a.m., July 8, 2008
City
Club, D.R. Horton Tower
President’s
Room
301
Commerce Street
Fort
Worth, Texas