UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrantý ☒
Filed by a Party other than the Registranto
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Check the appropriate box:
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☒ | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
☐ | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a‑6(e)(2)) |
☐ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
☐ | Definitive Additional Materials |
☐ | Soliciting Material under §240.14a‑12 |
WESTWATER RESOURCES, INC.
(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):
PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIALS – SUBJECT TO COMPLETION NOTICE OF To the stockholders of Westwater Resources, Inc.: We will hold our
The Board has fixed the close of business on Stockholders are cordially invited to attend the meeting in person. Whether or not you plan to be present at the meeting, you are requested to sign and return the enclosed proxy in the enclosed envelope, or vote all of your shares over the telephone or over the Internet, so that your shares may be voted in accordance with your wishes and in order that the presence of a quorum may be assured. The giving of such proxy will not affect your right to vote in person, should you later decide to attend the meeting.Please date and sign the enclosed proxy and return it promptly in the enclosed envelope, or vote over the telephone or Internet. Your vote is important.
Centennial, Colorado
2020 PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY This summary highlights selected information contained in this proxy statement, but it does not contain all the information you should consider. We urge you to read the whole proxy statement and our
VOTING MATTERS AND BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION HIGHLIGHTS Our compensation program provides total direct compensation to our named executive officers (“NEOs”) that supports our philosophy of pay-for-performance and alignment of incentives between our management and stockholders. To that end, we have implemented the following policies and practices:
DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY AND 2020 NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR
*independent director
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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PRELIMINARY PROXY MATERIALS – SUBJECT TO COMPLETION PROXY STATEMENT
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by Westwater Resources, Inc. (“Westwater” or the “Company”) on behalf of its Board of Directors for the Questions and Answers About the Annual Meeting Q:Why am I receiving this proxy statement? A:You are receiving this proxy statement because you have been identified as a holder of the Company’s common stock as of the close of business on Q:When and where is the Annual Meeting? A:The Annual Meeting will take place on April Q:What are holders of commons stock being asked to vote on? A:Holders of common stock are being asked to:
In addition, we may consider such other business that may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting. Q:Why is the Company seeking stockholder approval of the A: 1 securities in connection with a transaction, other than a public offering, involving the sale, issuance or potential issuance by us of more than 19.99 percent of our outstanding shares Future sales under the Purchase Agreement may result in the issuance by us of more than 19.99% of our outstanding shares of our common stock, which requires stockholder approval for purposes of Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(d). Accordingly, we are seeking approval from our stockholders of the proposed issuances of shares under the Purchase Agreement. Q:Why is the Company seeking an amendment to the 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan? A:The Company has not awarded significant equity to officers, employees or non-employee directors for the last Q:Who is eligible to vote at the Annual Meeting? A:Holders of common stock as of the close of business on If you own shares that are registered in the name of someone else, such as a broker, bank or other nominee, you need to direct that organization to vote those shares or obtain an authorization from them and vote the shares yourself at the meeting. Q:How many votes do stockholders have? A:Holders of common stock are entitled to cast one vote on each proposal properly brought before the Annual Meeting for each share of common stock that such holder owned at the close of business on the record date. As of the record date, directors and executive officers of the Company as a group beneficially owned and were entitled to vote approximately Q:What vote is required to approve each of the proposals? A:Assuming a quorum is present:
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Q:What constitutes a quorum for the Annual Meeting? A:The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of one-third of the votes entitled to be cast at the Annual Meeting constitutes a quorum under the Company’s bylaws. The Company will treat shares of common stock represented by a properly signed and returned proxy, including abstentions and broker non-votes, as present at the Annual Meeting for the purposes of determining the existence of a quorum. If a quorum is not present, the holders of record of a majority of such shares present and entitled to vote may adjourn the Annual Meeting until a quorum is obtained. Q:How does the Board recommend that I vote? A:The Board unanimously recommends that you vote Q:What happens if I don’t vote? A:If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” (that is, if you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other holder of record), the broker, bank or other holder of record who holds your shares of common stock will have authority to vote on “routine” proposals, such as the However, banks, brokerage firms and other nominees are precluded from exercising their voting discretion with respect to non-routine matters, such as the approval of the common stock issuance proposal (Proposal 1), the approval of an amendment to the Westwater Resources, Inc. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan (Proposal 2), the election of directors (Proposal 3), and advisory approval of our executive compensation (Proposal No matter how many or few shares you own you are encouraged to vote and have your voice heard. Q:What do I need to do now? A:After carefully reading and considering the information contained in this proxy statement, please vote promptly by calling the toll-free number listed on your proxy card, accessing the Internet website listed on your proxy card or by completing, signing and dating your proxy card and returning it by mail in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. If you hold your stock in “street name” through a bank or broker, you must direct your bank or broker to vote in accordance with the instructions you have received from your bank or broker. Submitting your proxy by telephone, Internet or mail or directing your bank or broker to vote your shares will ensure that your shares are represented and voted at the Annual Meeting. For information on how to vote your shares in person at the Annual Meeting, see“Can I attend the Annual Meeting and vote my shares in person?” below. Q:How do I vote? A:Stockholders of record may vote, either in person or by proxy, through the following methods:
If you are a beneficial owner of shares held in “street name” (that is, if you hold your shares through a broker, bank or other holder of record), you can vote in one of four ways:
Q:How will my proxy be voted? A:All shares of common stock represented at the Annual Meeting by properly executed proxy cards, voted over the telephone or voted over the Internet will be voted in accordance with the instructions indicated on those proxies. If you hold shares in your name and sign and return a proxy card or submit a proxy by telephone or over the Internet without giving specific voting instructions, your shares will be voted “FOR” each director nominee and all other proposals. Q:If my broker holds my shares in “street name,” will my broker automatically vote my shares for me? A:No. If you do not provide your broker with instructions on how to vote your “street name” shares, your broker will not be permitted to vote on non-routine matters on your behalf. You should therefore be sure to provide your broker with instructions on how to vote your shares, following the directions your broker provides to you. Please check the voting form used by your broker to see if the broker offers telephone or Internet voting.
Q:Can I attend the Annual Meeting and vote my shares in person? A:Yes. All stockholders, including stockholders of record and stockholders who hold their shares through banks, brokers, custodians or any other record holder, are invited to attend the Annual Meeting. Holders of record of common stock as of the record date can vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If you are not a stockholder of record, you must obtain a valid proxy, executed in your favor, from the record holder of your shares, such as a bank, broker, custodian or other record holder, to be able to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, you must hold your shares in your own name, have a letter or recent brokerage statement from the record holder of your shares confirming your ownership or have a valid proxy authorizing you to vote shares at the meeting, and you must bring a form of personal photo identification with you in order to be admitted. The Company reserves the right to refuse admittance to anyone without proper proof of share ownership, proper authorization to vote shares, or proper photo identification. Q:What does it mean if I receive more than one set of materials? A:This means you own shares of the Company that are registered under different names. For example, you may own some shares directly as a stockholder of record and other shares through a broker, or you may own shares through 4 more than one broker. In these situations, you will receive multiple sets of proxy materials. You must complete, sign, date and return all of the proxy cards or follow the instructions for any alternative voting procedures on each of the proxy cards you receive in order to vote all of the shares you own. Each proxy card you receive will come with its own postage-paid return envelope; if you vote by mail, make sure you return each proxy card in the return envelope that accompanied that proxy card. Q:What can I do if I want to change or revoke my vote? A:You have the right to revoke a proxy, whether delivered over the Internet, by telephone or by mail, at any time before it is exercised, by voting again at a later date through any of the methods available to you, by attending the Annual Meeting and voting in person, or if you are a holder of record, by giving written notice of revocation to the Company prior to the time the meeting begins. Written notice of revocation should be mailed to: Westwater Resources, Inc., Attention: Secretary, 6950 S. Potomac Street, Suite 300, Centennial, Colorado 80112. If you hold your shares in “street name,” and wish to change or revoke your vote, please refer to the information on the voting instruction form included with these materials and forwarded to you by your bank, broker, custodian or other record holder to see your voting options. Q:Whom should I call if I have questions about the Annual Meeting? A:You should call 5 APPROVAL, PURSUANT TO NASDAQ LISTING RULE 5635(d), OF THE PURSUANT TO A PURCHASE AGREEMENT TO BE ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND LINCOLN PARK CAPITAL FUND, LLC WITHIN 90 DAYS FOLLOWING THE DATE OF THE 2020 ANNUAL MEETING
Under the terms and subject to the Following the Commencement Date, under the Purchase Agreement, on any business day selected by us, we may direct Lincoln Park to purchase up to 20,000 shares of common stock on such business day (each, a “Regular Purchase”), provided, however, that (i) the Regular Purchase may be increased to up to 30,000 shares, provided that the closing sale price of our common stock is not below $7.00 on the purchase date, (ii) the Regular Purchase may be increased to up to 40,000 shares, provided that the closing sale price of our common stock is not below $8.00 on the purchase date, and (iii) the Regular Purchase may be increased to up to 50,000 shares, provided that the closing sale price of the common stock is not below $9.00 on the purchase date, subject in each case to adjustment for any reorganization, recapitalization, non-cash dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction to be provided in the Purchase Agreement. In each case, Lincoln Park’s maximum commitment in any single Regular Purchase may not exceed $600,000. The purchase price for Regular Purchases will On any trading day when the closing price of our common stock is above a threshold to be determined and when the maximum Regular Purchase has been made as described above, we will also have the right (but not the obligation), in our sole discretion, to present Lincoln Park with a purchase notice for an accelerated purchase. An accelerated purchase directs Lincoln Park to purchase up to the lesser of (i) three times the number of shares purchased pursuant to a Regular Purchase, or (ii) 30 percent of the trading volume on the date of the accelerated purchase at a purchase price equal to the lesser of the closing price in the date of the accelerated purchase, or 93 percent of the volume weighted average price on the date of the accelerated purchase. 6 Lincoln Park will not have the right to require the Company to sell any shares of common stock Requirement to Seek Stockholder Approval As a result of our listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market, issuances of our common stock are subject to the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules, including Rule 5635(d), which requires us to obtain stockholder Under the Nasdaq 20% Rule, in no event may we issue or sell to Lincoln Park under the Purchase Agreement more than 19.99% of the shares of our common stock outstanding immediately
Based on the closing sale price of our common stock as reported on The Nasdaq Capital Market on March 2, 2019, to fully utilize the $12.0 million expected to be available to us, we would need to issue [ ] shares of common stock to Lincoln Park, which would be in excess of the Nasdaq 20% Rule. Accordingly, in order to be able to sell to Lincoln Park the full amount available under the Purchase Agreement, we are seeking stockholder approval to issue more than 19.99% of our outstanding shares as of the date we enter into the Purchase Agreement with Lincoln Park. In order to comply with the Nasdaq 20% Rule and to satisfy conditions under the Purchase Agreement, we are seeking stockholder approval to permit issuance of more than 19.99% of our common stock to Lincoln Park pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. We are seeking stockholder approval for the issuance of up to [ ] shares of our common stock under the Purchase Agreement. We would seek additional stockholder approval before issuing more than such [ ] shares. Existing Purchase Agreement and Timing of New Purchase Agreement We entered into the Existing Purchase Agreement with Lincoln Park on June 6, 2019. Through the date of this proxy statement, we have sold 2,054,534 shares of common stock for aggregate gross proceeds of $6.5 million under the Existing Purchase Agreement, and $3.5 million of the $10.0 million total commitment under the Existing Purchase Agreement remains available for sale. On August 6, 2019, our stockholders approved the sale of up to 3,200,000 shares of our common stock under the Existing Purchase Agreement, and we may sell up to an additional 1,145,466 shares under the Existing Purchase Agreement without seeking additional stockholder approval in compliance with the Nasdaq 20% 7 Rule. In addition to the Existing Purchase Agreement, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with Lincoln Park on May 24, 2019 pursuant to which we issued and sold to Lincoln Park (i) 104,294 shares of our common stock and (ii) warrants to initially purchase an aggregate of up to 182,515 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $5.062 per share, for aggregate gross proceeds of $550,751. The transaction closed May 30, 2019. The prior transaction did not impose any obligation on either the Company or Lincoln Park to enter into the Existing Purchase Agreement or new Purchase Agreement. We are seeking stockholder approval of this Proposal 1 at the Annual Meeting to avoid the expense and delay required for a special meeting of stockholders, which we anticipate would be necessary if the Company were to wait until it no longer satisfies the conditions for selling shares to Lincoln Park under the Existing Purchase Agreement. We anticipate that we will enter into the new Purchase Agreement within 90 days of the date of the Annual Meeting. If we do not enter into the new Purchase Agreement within such 90‑day period, we will seek additional stockholder approval before issuing shares of common stock under the new Purchase Agreement in excess of the Exchange Cap. We will terminate the Existing Purchase Agreement at the same time or before entering into the new Purchase Agreement with Lincoln Park. Effect of Failure to Obtain Stockholder Approval If the stockholders do not approve this Proposal 1, we will be unable to issue shares of common stock to Lincoln Park pursuant to the Purchase Agreement in excess of the Exchange Cap. The Company anticipates it would need to seek alternative sources of financing, which may include additional transactions with Lincoln Park. Reasons for Transaction and Effect on Current Stockholders The Board of Directors has determined that the Purchase Agreement with Lincoln Park is in the best interests of the Company and its
The Purchase Agreement will not affect the Notwithstanding the
8 Effect of If this Proposal 1 is approved by our stockholders,
Annual Meeting. The
In addition, the additional shares that we could issue to Lincoln Park will result in greater dilution to existing stockholders and may result in a decline in our stock Each addition share of common stock that would be issuable to Lincoln Park would have the same rights and Vote Required and Recommendation of the If a quorum is present, the number of
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE 9 AMENDMENT TO OUR 2013 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN The Westwater Resources, Inc. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the Stockholders originally approved the 2013 OIP at our June 4, 2013 annual meeting of stockholders, authorizing the issuance of up to On July 18, 2017, our stockholders approved an amendment to the 2013 OIP to increase the authorized number of shares of common stock available and reserved for issuance under such plan by On April 18, 2019, our stockholders approved another amendment to the 2013 OIP to increase the authorized number of shares of common stock available and reserved for issuance under such plan by 66,000 shares, and approved amendments to the limitations on the number of shares that may be issued to individual recipients in any calendar year. On February The following table summarizes the number of shares of common stock subject to outstanding stock-based awards under the 2013 OIP and our prior equity plans, along with the shares remaining available for issuance under the 2013 OIP, in each case as of December 31,
Upon stockholder approval of the amendment to the 2013 OIP, it will become effective. If the stockholders do not approve the amendment to the 2013 OIP, it will not become effective, the existing 2013 OIP will continue in effect, and we may continue to grant awards under the existing 2013 OIP, subject to its terms, conditions and limitations.
Our executive officers and directors have an interest in this proposal as they would be eligible to receive awards under the amended 2013 OIP. A copy of the proposed amendment is attached to this proxy statement asAppendix The Board recommends a vote The spot price of uranium has declined significantly over the last several years, from approximately While we have made strides to better position the Company for growth and future success over the past several years, including by embarking on a growth strategy in the lithium and battery graphite industries, we are committed to further improving the Company’s performance, and significant continued effort, focus and dedication will be necessary from our management and employees to do so. We believe it will be critical to our future success that we take steps to maintain the competitiveness of our incentive pay programs and that we continue to tightly align these incentive opportunities with the interests of our stockholders. To achieve these critical objectives, as discussed more fully below, we are seeking additional shares for issuance under the 2013 OIP and modification of certain issuance limitations thereunder. Retaining and Attracting Employees Our ability to recruit, retain, reward and motivate employees and officers depends in part on our ability to offer competitive equity compensation. We believe we would be at a competitive disadvantage if we could not continue to use stock-based awards to recruit and compensate these individuals. We have continued to face industry and economic headwinds and experienced challenges relating to our market capitalization. Given our stock price and market capitalization, delivering competitive compensation to our employees will require granting more shares as compared to our prior practice and grants made by our peer companies with higher stock values. Despite the resulting additional dilution, we believe that it is critical that we continue to retain our employees by delivering competitive levels of equity compensation. By approving the amendment to the 2013 OIP, based on our current stock price, we anticipate we could deliver competitive equity compensation and grant stock-based awards for the next several Aligning our Employees’ Interests with our Stockholders We believe that the use of stock-based awards as part of our compensation program is important to our continued success because it fosters a 11 As discussed above, we believe that stock-based compensation aligns the goals and objectives of our employees with the interests of our stockholders and promotes a focus on long-term value creation. This long-term alignment between our employees and the interests of our stockholders is critical as our management strives to execute on our vision and growth plans. Stock-based awards that are subject to Given our stock price, all of our outstanding stock options are significantly underwater, meaning they have an exercise price greater than If we do not have the flexibility to grant stock-based awards made available by the increased reserve under the amendment to the 2013 OIP, we We are requesting approval of the amendment to the 2013 OIP in order to continue to recruit and retain the key employee talent that is vital to the execution of our vision and growth plans and to continue to tightly align compensation opportunities with the creation of stockholder value. Corporate Governance Considerations As discussed in more detail below, our 2013 OIP includes provisions designed to serve stockholders’ interests and promote effective corporate governance, including the following:
Background for Approval of Additional Shares As of December 31,
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The major features of the 2013 OIP, as proposed to be amended, are summarized below. Background for Modification of Issuance Limitations
Description of the 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan Including the proposed amendment, the following is a general description of the material features of the 2013 OIP and its operation. A copy of the 2013 OIP is attached asAppendix Eligibility All of our officers, directors and employees, and the officers, directors and employees of our subsidiaries and affiliates, are eligible to receive awards under the 2013 OIP. In addition, consultants, advisers and certain other individuals whose participation in the 2013 OIP is determined to be in the best interests of the Company by the Compensation 13 Committee may participate. Incentive share options, however, are only available Administration of the 2013 OIP The 2013 OIP is administered by our Compensation Committee, and our Compensation Committee determines all terms of awards under the 2013 OIP. Each member of our Compensation Committee is both a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule the Internal Revenue Code. Our Compensation Committee also determines who will receive awards under the 2013 OIP, the types of award and their terms and conditions and the number of shares of common stock subject to awards, if an award is equity-based. Our Compensation Committee also interprets the provisions of the 2013 OIP. During any period of time in which we do not have a Compensation Committee, the 2013 OIP will be administered by the Board of Directors or another committee appointed by the Board of Directors. References herein to our Compensation Committee include a reference to the Board of Directors or another committee appointed by the Board of Directors for those periods in which the Board of Directors or such other committee appointed by the Board of Directors is acting. Stock Authorization The maximum number of shares of common stock available for awards under the 2013 OIP is equal to the sum of (x) The maximum number of shares of common stock subject to options or stock appreciation rights that can be issued under the 2013 OIP to any person is Share Usage Each share subject to an award, including through dividend reinvestment rights, is counted against the share issuance limit on a one-for-one basis. The number of shares subject to a stock appreciation right is also counted against the share issuance limit on a one-for-one basis, regardless of the number of shares actually issued to settle the stock appreciation right. An award that, by its terms, cannot be settled in shares of stock will not count against the share issuance limit. No Repricing Except in connection with certain corporate transactions, no amendment or modification may be made to an outstanding stock option or stock appreciation right, including by replacement with or substitution of another award type, 14 that would reduce the exercise price of the stock option or stock appreciation right or would replace any stock option or stock appreciation right with an exercise price above the current market price with cash or another security, in each case without the approval of our stockholders (although appropriate adjustments may be made to outstanding stock options and stock appreciation rights to achieve compliance with applicable law, including the Internal Revenue Code). Options The 2013 OIP authorizes our Compensation Committee to grant incentive stock options (under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code) and options that do not qualify as incentive stock options. The exercise price of each option is determined by our Compensation Committee, provided that the price cannot be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date on which the option is granted. If we were to grant incentive stock options to any stockholder owning more than 10% of our common stock (a “10% stockholder”), the exercise price may not be less than 110% of the fair market value of a share of our common stock on the date of grant. The term of an option cannot exceed 10 years from the date of grant. If we were to grant incentive stock options to any 10% stockholder, the term cannot exceed five years from the date of grant. Our Compensation Committee determines at what time or times each option may be exercised and the period of time, if any, after retirement, death, disability or termination of employment during which options may be exercised. Options may be made exercisable in installments. The exercisability of options may be accelerated by our Compensation Committee. The exercise price for any option or the purchase price for shares of restricted stock is generally payable (i) in cash or cash equivalents, (ii) to the extent the award agreement provides, by the surrender of shares of common stock (or attestation of ownership of such shares) with an aggregate fair market value on the date on which the option is exercised or the date shares are tendered to satisfy the purchase price, of the exercise or purchase price, (iii) with respect to an option only, to the extent the award agreement provides, by payment through a broker in accordance with procedures established by us, or (iv) to the extent the award agreement provides and/or unless otherwise specified in an award agreement, any other form permissible by applicable laws, including net exercise and service to us. Stock Awards The 2013 OIP also provides for the grant of stock awards, which includes restricted stock, unrestricted stock and stock units. An award of shares of common stock may be subject to restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as our Compensation Committee determines in its sole discretion on the date of grant. The restrictions, if any, may lapse over a specified period of time or through the satisfaction of conditions, in installments or otherwise, as our Compensation Committee may determine. A participant who receives restricted stock will have all of the rights of a stockholder as to those shares, including, without limitation, the right to vote and the right to receive dividends or distributions on the shares of stock, except that the Board of Directors may require any dividends to be reinvested in shares of stock. A participant who receives stock units will have no such rights. During the period, if any, when stock awards are non-transferable or forfeitable, a participant is prohibited from selling, transferring, assigning, pledging, exchanging, hypothecating or otherwise encumbering or disposing of his or her shares of award stock. Stock Appreciation Rights The 2013 OIP authorizes our Compensation Committee to grant stock appreciation rights that provide the recipient with the right to receive, upon exercise of the stock appreciation right, cash, shares of common stock or a combination of the two. The amount that the recipient will receive upon exercise of the stock appreciation right generally will equal the excess of the fair market value of shares of our common stock on the date of exercise over the fair market value of shares of our common stock on the date of grant. Stock appreciation rights will become exercisable in accordance with terms determined by our Compensation Committee. Stock appreciation rights may be granted in tandem with an option grant or independently from an option grant. The term of a stock appreciation right cannot exceed 10 years from the date of grant. 15 Performance Based-Awards The 2013 OIP also authorizes our Compensation Committee to grant performance-based awards. Performance-based awards are awards of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock units, other equity-based awards or cash that are made subject to the achievement of performance goals over a performance period specified by our Compensation Committee. Our Compensation Committee determines the applicable performance period, the performance goals and such other conditions that apply to the performance-based award. Performance goals may relate to our financial performance, the participant’s performance or such other criteria as determined by our Compensation Committee. Dividend Equivalents Our Compensation Committee may grant dividend equivalents in connection with the grant of any equity-based award. Dividend equivalents may be paid currently or accrued as contingent cash obligations and may be payable in cash, shares of common stock or a combination of the two. Our Compensation Committee will determine the terms of any dividend equivalents. No dividend equivalent rights can be granted in tandem with an option or stock appreciation right. Other Equity-Based Awards Our Compensation Committee may grant other types of stock-based awards under the 2013 OIP. Other equity-based awards are payable in cash, shares of common stock or other equity, or a combination thereof, and may be restricted or unrestricted, as determined by our Compensation Committee. Any dividends paid on equity-based awards which vest or are earned based upon the achievement of performance goals shall not vest unless such performance goals are achieved. The terms and conditions that apply to other equity-based awards are determined by our Compensation Committee. Recoupment Award agreements for awards granted pursuant to the 2013 OIP provide for mandatory repayment by the recipient to us of any gain realized by the recipient to the extent the recipient is in violation of or in conflict with certain agreements with us (including but not limited to an employment or non-competition agreement) or upon termination for “cause” as defined in the 2013 OIP, applicable award agreement, or any other agreement between us and the grantee. Awards are also subject to mandatory repayment to the extent the grantee is or becomes subject to any clawback or recoupment right we may have or to the extent any law, rule or regulation imposes mandatory recoupment. Change in Control If the Company experiences a change in control in which outstanding awards that are not exercised prior to the change in control will not be assumed or continued by the surviving entity: (i) except for performance-based awards, all shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units will vest and the underlying shares of common stock and all dividend equivalent rights will be delivered immediately before the change in control; and (ii) either or both of the following actions will be taken: (a) all options and stock appreciation rights will become exercisable 15 days before the change in control and terminate upon the completion of the change in control, or (b) the Compensation Committee may elect, in its sole discretion to cash out all options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock and stock units before the change in control for an amount equal to, in the case of restricted stock or stock units, the formula or fixed price per share paid to stockholders pursuant to the change in control, in the case of options or stock appreciation rights, such formula or fixed price reduced by the option price or stock appreciation right price applicable to the award. In the case of performance-based awards denominated in shares of common stock, if more than half of the performance period has lapsed, the awards will be converted into shares of restricted stock or stock units based on actual performance to date. If less than half of the performance period has lapsed, or if actual performance is not determinable, the awards will be converted into shares of restricted stock or stock units assuming target performance has been achieved. 16 A change in control under the 2013 OIP occurs if:
Adjustments for Stock Dividends and Similar Events The Compensation Committee will make appropriate adjustments in outstanding awards and the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2013 OIP, including the individual limitations on awards, to reflect stock splits and other similar events. Amendment or Termination The Board of Directors may amend, suspend or terminate the 2013 OIP at any time;provided that no amendment, suspension or termination may adversely impair the benefits of participants withoutstanding awards without the participants’ consent or violate our plan’s prohibition on repricing. Our stockholders must approve any amendment if such approval is required under applicable law or stock exchange requirements. Our stockholders also must approve any amendment that changes the no-repricing provisions of the 2013 OIP. The 2013 OIP has a term that expires ten years after stockholder approval of the plan, but it may be earlier terminated by the Board of Directors at any time. Equity Compensation Plan Information The table appearing on page Federal Income Tax Consequences Incentive Stock Options.The grant of an option will not be a taxable event for the grantee or for the Company. A grantee will not recognize taxable income upon exercise of an incentive stock option (except that the alternative minimum tax may apply), and any gain realized upon a disposition of our common stock received pursuant to the exercise of an incentive stock option will be taxed as long-term capital gain if the grantee holds the shares of common stock for at least two years after the date of grant and for one year after the date of exercise (the “holding period requirement”). We will not be entitled to any business expense deduction with respect to the exercise of an incentive stock option, except as discussed below. For the exercise of an option to qualify for the foregoing tax treatment, the grantee generally must be our employee or an employee of a subsidiary from the date the option is granted through a date within three months before the date of exercise of the option. 17 If all of the foregoing requirements are met except the holding period requirement mentioned above, the grantee will recognize ordinary income upon the disposition of the common stock in an amount generally equal to the excess of the fair market value of the common stock at the time the option was exercised over the option exercise price (but not in excess of the gain realized on the sale). The balance of the realized gain, if any, will be capital gain. We will be allowed a business expense deduction to the extent the grantee recognizes ordinary income. Non-Qualified Options.The grant of an option will not be a taxable event for the grantee or the Company. Upon exercising a non-qualified option, a grantee will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the common stock on the date of exercise. Upon a subsequent sale or exchange of shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of a non-qualified option, the grantee will have taxable capital gain or loss, measured by the difference between the amount realized on the disposition and the tax basis of the shares of common stock (generally, the amount paid for the shares plus the amount treated as ordinary income at the time the option was exercised). We will be entitled to a business expense deduction in the same amount and generally at the same time as the grantee recognizes ordinary income. Restricted Stock.A grantee who is awarded restricted stock will not recognize any taxable income for federal income tax purposes in the year of the award, provided that the shares of common stock are subject to restrictions (that is, the restricted stock is nontransferable and subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture). The fair market value of the common stock on the date the restrictions lapse (less the purchase price, if any) will be treated as compensation income to the grantee and will be taxable in the year the restrictions lapse and dividends paid while the common stock is subject to restrictions will be subject to withholding taxes. We will be entitled to a business expense deduction in the same amount and generally at the same time as the grantee recognizes ordinary income. Stock Units.There are no immediate tax consequences of receiving an award of stock units under the 2013 OIP. A grantee who is awarded stock units will be required to recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the fair market value of shares issued to such grantee at the end of the restriction periodor, if later, the payment date. We will be entitled to a business expense deduction in the same amount and generally at the same time as the grantee recognizes ordinary income. Dividend Equivalent Rights.Participants who receive dividend equivalent rights will be required to recognize ordinary income in an amount distributed to the grantee pursuant to the award. We will be entitled to a business expense deduction in the same amount and generally at the same time as the grantee recognizes ordinary income. Stock Appreciation Rights.There are no immediate tax consequences of receiving an award of stock appreciation rights under the 2013 OIP. Upon exercising a stock appreciation right, a grantee will recognize ordinary income in an amount equal to the difference between the exercise price and the fair market value of the common stock on the date of exercise. We will be entitled to a business expense deduction in the same amount and generally at the same time as the grantee recognizes ordinary income. THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDMENT TO THE WESTWATER RESOURCES, INC. 2013 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN TO INCREASE THE AUTHORIZED NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AVAILABLE AND RESERVED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER SUCH PLAN BY 18 SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS The following table provides information as of December 31,
19
The Board has nominated five directors for election at the Annual Meeting. The directors will hold office from election until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified or until their death, resignation or removal. All of the nominees are currently directors, If your proxy is properly completed and received in time for the Annual Meeting, and if your proxy does not indicate otherwise, the represented shares will be voted “FOR” each of the directors presented below. We have no reason to believe that any of the nominees for director will be unable to serve if elected. However, if any of these nominees becomes unavailable, the persons named in the proxy intend to vote for any alternate designated by the current Board. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the nominees named. The paragraphs below describe each nominee’s individual management and leadership experience for at least the last five years, which the Company believes, in the aggregate, creates a well-rounded and capable Board of Directors and contributes to the overall effectiveness of our Board and each of its Committees. Each nominee is an incumbent Following each nominee’s biography below, we have highlighted certain notable skills and qualifications that contributed to his or her selection as a member of our Board of Directors.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE “FOR” THE ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES NAMED BELOW. 20 Terence J. Cryan Terence J. Cryan rejoined the Westwater Resources Board as its Chairman in August 2017. He previously served as a director from October 2006 to March 2016, served asWestwater’s Interim President and Chief Executive Officer from September 2012 to March 2013, and served as Chairman of the Board from June 2014 through March 2016. Mr. Cryan is also Chairman of the Board of Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. where he has served as a director since October 2012. Mr. Cryan served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Global Power Equipment Group Inc. from March 2015 until July 2017. Previously, Mr. Cryan served as Co-founder and Managing Director of Concert Energy Partners, an investment and private equity firm based in New York City from 2001 until 2015. Prior to that, Mr. Cryan was a Senior Managing Director in the Investment Banking Division at Bear Stearns. Additionally, Mr. Cryan was a Managing Director, Head of the Energy and Natural Resources Group and member of the Investment Banking Operating Committee at Paine Webber which he joined following its acquisition of Kidder, Peabody in 1994. From 2007 to 2010, Mr. Cryan also served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Medical Acoustics LLC. Mr. Cryan served as a Director on the Board of Global Power Equipment Group Inc. from January 2008 until July 2017. Mr. Cryan was previously a Director on the Board of Superior Drilling Products, Inc. from June 2014 to December 2016. He was also previously a director of The Providence Service Corporation from May 2009 to May 2011 and Gryphon Gold Corporation from August 2009 to December 2012. Mr. Cryan has also been an adjunct professor at the Metropolitan College of New York Graduate School of Business and is a frequent speaker at finance and energy & natural resources industry gatherings. Mr. Cryan received a Master of Science degree in Economics from the London School of Economics in 1984 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Tufts University in 1983. Mr. Cryan is a Board Leadership Fellow and member of the National Association of Corporate Directors. Christopher M. Jones Christopher M. Jones has served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a director since April 2013 and served as the interim Chairman of the Board from March 2016 to August 2017. Mr. Jones has more than 30 years’ experience in the mining industry and was most recently President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Wildcat Silver Corporation from August 2008 to May 2012, where he and his team effectively doubled the size of Wildcat Silver’s resources twice using proven metallurgical technologies. Prior to that, Mr. Jones was the Chief Operating Officer and the Mining General Manger at Albian Sands Energy from April 2004 to June 2008. Mr. Jones also held management positions at RAG Coal West Inc., Phelps Dodge Sierrita Corp. and Cyprus Amax Coal Company. He is a member of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers and is a Professional Engineer registered in Utah and Alberta as well as a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors. Mr. Jones received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines and a Master of Business Administration degree from Colorado State University. Mr. Jones has extensive executive and leadership experience as a result of his prior employment in management roles at other companies within the mining industry, which enables him to provide valuable counsel to Westwater on issues of strategic planning and corporate governance. Mr. Jones’ extensive experience engaging First Nations peoples in Canada, leading efforts to secure ISO 14001 certifications, and receiving national safety awards for safe mine performance will help secure success for Westwater as it develops businesses in the energy materials sector. In addition, Mr. Jones has a 21 history of leading various mining and production operations, as well as exploration and development projects, which will be useful to
Tracy D. Pagliara Tracy D. Pagliara has served as a director since July 2017. Since April 2018, Mr. Pagliara has been serving as CEO of Williams Industrial Services Group Inc. (f/k/a Global Power Equipment Group, Inc.), a publicly traded provider of construction and maintenance services to the power, energy and industrial customers (“Williams”). From July 2017 to April 2018, Mr. Pagliara served as Co-President and Co-CEO of Williams. Mr. Pagliara joined Williams in April 2010 as General Counsel, Secretary and Vice President, Business Development and served in multiple other positions of increasing responsibility, including Senior Vice President, Administration Officer, prior to his appointment as Co-President and Co-CEO in July 2017. Prior to joining Williams in April 2010, Mr. Pagliara served as the Chief Legal Officer of Gardner Denver, Inc., a leading global manufacturer of highly engineered compressors, blowers, pumps and other fluid transfer equipment, from August 2000 through August 2008. He also had responsibility for other roles during his tenure with Gardner Denver, including Executive Vice President of Administration, Chief Compliance Officer, and Corporate Secretary. Prior to joining Gardner Denver, Mr. Pagliara held positions of increasing responsibility in the legal departments of Verizon Communications/GTE Corporation from August 1996 to August 2000 and Kellwood Company from May 1993 to August 1996, ultimately serving in the role of Assistant General Counsel for each company. Mr. Pagliara has a B.S. in Accounting and a J.D. from the University of Illinois. He is a member of the Missouri and Illinois State Bars and a Certified Public Accountant. Mr. Pagliara brings to the Board extensive experience advising public companies and companies in the energy industry, in addition to companies with similar capital needs to Westwater. Mr. Pagliara’s background in accounting will also permit him to contribute substantially as a member of the Audit Committee. Karli S. Anderson Pennsylvania and is in the process of completing her Master’s Degree in Professional Accounting from Colorado State University. Ms. Anderson is a Governance Fellow and member of the National Association of Corporate Directors. Ms. Peacock is a nominee for election to the Board of Directors at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Ms. Peacock is an attorney licensed to practice law in New Mexico, Colorado and New York, and she is a Registered Patent Attorney. Ms. Peacock is also a Registered Professional Engineer in Colorado and New Mexico. Ms. Peacock is the President, CEO, Managing Director and owner of Peacock Law P.C. located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, which she founded in 22 April 1995. In 2014, Ms. Peacock co-founded the Greater New Mexico Chapter of Women Corporate Directors and currently serves on its Board. Since 2011, Ms. Peacock has served on the Board of Regents of New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology and currently serves as the Chair. Ms. Peacock has served on the New Mexico Mining Safety Board since 2015. Since 2017, Ms. Peacock has served on the Board of Directors of THEMAC Resources Group, Ltd. (and Chairs its Corporate Governance Committee and is a member of its Audit Committee) as well as its wholly-owned subsidiary New Mexico Copper Corp. Since 2017, Ms. Peacock has served on the Board of Directors of New Mexico Gas Company, and since 2018 she has served on the Board of Directors of Emera Technologies, LLC – both wholly-owned subsidiaries of Emera, Inc. Ms. Peacock has served on the Board of New Mexico Angels since 2005. In addition to her current Board service, Ms. Peacock previously served on the Board of The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum located in Santa Fe, New Mexico and both its Audit and Executive Committees, and as Chair of its Audit Committee. She previously served on the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board and as Chair for four years. Ms. Peacock obtained her bachelors of science degree (B.S.) in Metallurgical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, and her law degree (J.D.) from Harvard Law School. She is also a Governance Fellow with the National Association of Corporate Directors. Ms. Peacock will bring to the Board extensive experience in or with corporate governance, financial oversight, a wide variety of business and corporate legal matters including intellectual property and mergers & acquisitions, and has knowledge of mining and metallurgy industries, environmental regulations, permitting, and community involvement and engagement. 23 The Company’s business and affairs are overseen by the Board pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law and the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended (the Regular attendance at Board meetings and the Annual Meeting is expected of each director. Our Board held The Company’s governing documents allow the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer to be filled by the same or different individuals. This approach allows the Board flexibility to determine whether the two roles should be separate or combined based upon the Company’s needs and the Board’s assessment of the Company’s leadership from time to time. Currently, Mr. Cryan serves as Chairman and Mr. Jones serves as Chief Executive Officer. Determination of Each of the director nominees at the
The Board annually reviews all relationships that directors have with the Company to affirmatively determine whether the directors are “independent” under Nasdaq listing standards. The Board has determined that each of Ms. Anderson and Peacock and Messrs. Interested parties, including the Company’s stockholders, desiring to communicate with the Board members, including its non-management directors as a group, may do so by mailing a request to the Secretary of Westwater Resources, Inc. at 6950 S. Potomac Street, Suite 300, Centennial, Colorado 80112. Pursuant to the instruction of the Company’s non-management directors, the Secretary will review inquiries and if they are relevant to, and consistent with our operations, policies and procedures, they will be forwarded to the director or directors to whom they are addressed. Inquiries not forwarded will be retained by the Company and will be made available to any director upon request. 24 The Board has established four standing committees: an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and a Health, Safety, Environment and
*independent director
Each of the Company’s Audit Committee, Compensation Committee, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee operates under a charter, adopted by the Board, which is available on the Company’s website atwww.westwaterresources.net under “Corporate Governance,” or in print, without charge, to any stockholder who sends a request to the office of the Secretary of Westwater Resources, Inc. at 6950 S. Potomac Street, Suite 300, Centennial, Colorado 80112. The functions performed by each of the standing Committees are briefly described below. We have a separately-designated Audit Committee composed solely of independent directors. The Audit Committee heldfour meetings in The Audit Committee’s primary responsibilities are to:
The Board has determined that Mr. Kaiser, the chairman of the Audit Committee, satisfies the criteria adopted by the SEC to serve as an “audit committee financial expert.” In addition, the Board has determined that each of Messrs. Kaiser and Pagliara and The Compensation Committee held 25 implementing the Company’s incentive compensation plans and equity-based plans. The Compensation Committee’s duties and responsibilities are to:
The Compensation Committee also reviews and discusses the Compensation Discussion and Analysis appearing in the Company’s proxy statements with management, and based on such review and discussions, has recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis set forth herein be included in this proxy statement. Under the Compensation Committee Charter, the Compensation Committee has the authority to retain compensation consultants. Meridian Compensation Partners was engaged in March 2018 to review our Long-Term Incentive program to ensure it was competitive as an incentive and retention program. See the discussion under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” for further information regarding the executive compensation programs. The Compensation Committee also has the authority to obtain advice and assistance from executives, internal or external legal, accounting or other advisors as it determines necessary to carry out its duties. The Compensation Committee may delegate its authority to determine the amount and form of compensation paid to non-executive employees and consultants to officers and other appropriate supervisory personnel. It may also delegate its authority (other than its authority to determine the compensation of the Chief Executive Officer) to a subcommittee of the Compensation Committee. Finally, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the Compensation Committee may delegate to one or more officers (or other appropriate personnel) the authority to recommend stock options and other stock awards for employees who are not executive officers or members of the Board. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee held
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board identifies director candidates based on input provided by a number of sources, including members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, other directors, our stockholders, members of management and third parties. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not distinguish between nominees recommended by our stockholders and those recommended by other parties. Any stockholder recommendation must be sent to the Secretary of Westwater Resources, Inc. at 6950 S. Potomac Street, Suite 300, Centennial, Colorado 80112, and must include detailed background information regarding the suggested candidate that demonstrates how the individual meets the Board membership criteria discussed below. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also has the authority to consult with or retain advisors or search firms to assist in the identification of qualified director candidates. As part of the identification process, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee takes into account each candidate’s business and professional skills, experience serving in management or on the board of directors of companies similar to the Company, financial literacy, independence, personal integrity and judgment. In conducting this assessment, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will, in connection with its assessment and 26 recommendation of candidates for director, consider diversity (including, but not limited to, gender, race, ethnicity, age, experience and skills) and such other factors as it deems appropriate given the then-current and anticipated future needs of the Board and the Company, and to maintain a balance of perspectives, qualifications, qualities and skills on the Board. The Board does not have a formal diversity policy for directors. However, the Board is committed to an inclusive membership. Although the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may seek candidates that have different qualities and experiences at different times in order to maximize the aggregate experience, qualities and strengths of the Board members, nominees for each election or appointment of directors will be evaluated using a substantially similar process. Incumbent directors who are being considered for re-nomination are re-evaluated both on their performance as directors and their continued ability to meet the required qualifications. The Health, Safety, Environment and The Health, Safety, Environment and The Company has adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers, which is applicable to the Company’s chief executive officer, chief financial officer, controller, treasurer and chief internal auditor, and a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which is applicable to all of directors, officers and employees. Copies of the codes are available on the Company’s website at http://www.westwaterresources.net/corporate/corporate-governance or in print, without charge, to any stockholder who sends a request to the office of the Secretary of Westwater Resources, Inc. at 6950 S. Potomac Street, Suite 300, Centennial, Colorado 80112. In the event that the Company makes any amendment to, or grants any waiver from, a provision of the Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers that applies to the Company’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer, controller, or certain other senior officers and requires disclosure under applicable SEC rules, the Company intends to disclose such amendment or waiver and the reasons for the amendment or waiver on the Company’s website or, as required by Nasdaq rules, file a Current Report on Form 8 K with the SEC reporting the amendment or waiver. The Company’s Internet website address is provided as an inactive textual reference only. The information provided on the website is not incorporated into, and does not form a part of, this proxy statement. The Company’s general policy with respect to related party transactions is included in its Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, the administration of which is overseen by the Audit Committee. Directors and officers are required to report any transaction that the Company would be required to disclose pursuant to Item 404(a) of Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-K (a The Company collects information about potential Related Party Transactions in its annual questionnaire completed by directors and officers. Potential Related Party Transactions are subject to the review and approval of the non-interested members of the Audit Committee. In determining whether to approve any such transaction, the Audit Committee will consider such factors as it deems relevant, including, but not limited to, whether the transaction is on terms comparable to those that could be obtained in arm’s length negotiations with an unrelated third party. The Company was not a party to any Related Party Transaction since the beginning of 2018. 27
Board Oversight of Risk Management The Board has overall responsibility for risk oversight with a focus on the most significant risks facing the Company. The Board relies upon the President and Chief Executive Officer to supervise day-to-day risk management, who reports directly to the Board and certain Committees on such matters as appropriate. The Board delegates certain oversight responsibilities to its Committees. For example, while the primary responsibility for financial and other reporting, internal controls, compliance with laws and regulations and ethics rests with the management, the Audit Committee provides risk oversight with respect to the Company’s financial statements, the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and corporate policies and controls, and the independent auditor’s selection, retention, qualifications, objectivity and independence. Additionally, the Compensation Committee provides risk oversight with respect to the Company’s compensation programs, and the Nominating and The Audit Committee, operating under a written charter adopted by the Board, reports to and acts on behalf of the Board by providing oversight of the Company’s independent auditors and the Company’s financial management and financial reporting procedures. Management has primary responsibility for preparing the Company’s financial statements and establishing and maintaining effective internal financial controls and for the public reporting process. Moss Adams LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accountants, is responsible for auditing those financial statements and expressing an opinion on the conformity of the Company’s audited financial statements with generally accepted accounting principles. In this context, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with management and Moss Adams LLP the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, Based on the considerations referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, The Report was submitted by the following members of the Audit Committee of the Board: Marvin K. Kaiser, Chairman
Tracy D. Pagliara Karli S. Anderson The information contained in the foregoing Audit Committee Report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into a future filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 28 In In addition, each non-employee director earned $1,250 per quarter for each committee served upon, with the Chairman of each committee earning either an additional $2,500 per quarter (in the case of the Audit and Compensation Committees) or $1,250 per quarter (in the case of the Nominating and Corporate Governance and the Health, Safety, The following table summarizes all compensation earned by directors, excluding Mr. Jones, whose compensation is set forth in the
The number of RSUs and vested and unvested stock options held by each non-employee director at fiscal year-end
29 EXECUTIVES AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The executive officers serve at the discretion of the Board. All officers are employed on a full-time basis.
Jeffrey L. Vigil joined the Company as Vice President—Finance and Chief Financial Officer in June 2013. Mr. Vigil is a mining industry financial veteran with more than thirty years of financial management experience in both production stage and development stage enterprises. Previously, he served in various financial positions, including Chief Financial Officer, at Energy Fuels, a uranium company, from April 2009 to May 2013, where he was responsible for financial and management reporting, equity financings, tax planning and compliance, treasury functions and risk management. Mr. Vigil also managed financial, operational and legal due diligence for a number of acquisitions. Prior to Energy Fuels, he served as Chief Financial Officer for Koala Corporation. Mr. Vigil is a graduate of the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of Colorado. Dain A. McCoig joined the Company in 2004 as Plant Engineer and was promoted to Kingsville Dome Plant Supervisor in 2005, Senior Engineer in August 2008, Manager—South Texas Operations in April 2010, Vice President—South Texas Operations in January 2013 and Vice President—Operations in May 2018. Mr. McCoig earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado School of Mines in 2002 and attained his certification as a Professional Engineer from the Texas Board of Professional Engineers in 2010. Compensation Discussion and Analysis In this section, we discuss the Company’s compensation philosophy and describe the compensation program for the senior executive team. We explain how the Board’s Compensation Committee determines compensation for its senior executives and its rationale for specific The Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the compensation of the following named executive officers (“
30 The Company’s executive compensation program is designed to attract and retain qualified management personnel, to align the Company’s management interests with that of its stockholders, and to reward exceptional organizational and individual performance. Performance of the Company’s executives is evaluated based on financial and non-financial goals that balance achievement of As a result of a negative outcome on Westwater’s
Further discussion regarding Westwater’s specific performance and goal attainment,
Philosophy and Objectives of Our Compensation Plan The Company’s compensation program is centered around a philosophy that focuses on management retention, alignment of interests between management and the stockholders and pay-for-performance compensation. The Company believes this philosophy allows the Company to compensate its NEOs competitively, while simultaneously ensuring continued development and achievement of key business strategy goals. The Compensation Committee firmly believes that the Company’s pay-for-performance philosophy should recognize both short- and long-term performance and should include both cash and equity compensation arrangements that are supported by strong corporate governance, including active and effective oversight by the Compensation Committee. 31 The Compensation Committee has outlined the following objectives for compensation of our NEOs and considers such objectives in making compensation decisions:
How Executive Compensation is Determined Role of the Compensation Committee The Compensation Committee oversees the Company’s executive compensation programs. Additionally, the Compensation Committee is charged with the review and approval of all annual compensation decisions relating to the NEOs and other officers. The Compensation Committee is composed entirely of independent, non-management members of the Board. Each member of the Compensation Committee is both a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule Company reviews any and all relationships that each director has with the Company, and the Board subsequently reviews these findings. The responsibilities of the Compensation Committee, as stated in its charter, include the following:
Role of Management The Compensation Committee considers input from the CEO when making executive compensation decisions for the other NEOs. The CEO’s input is useful because the CEO reviews and observes the performance of the other NEOs. No other NEO is present or privileged to the recommendations of the CEO to the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee andthe Board of Directors determine the compensation of the CEO without any management input. 32 Financial and Non-Financial Performance Goals The Compensation Committee believes that a significant portion of each NEO’s compensation should be tied to the Company’s performance measured against specific financial performance targets. The Company measures financial performance awards against certain operational cost targets, budget targets and development, production, restoration and/or Core Values: Continuous Improvement in:
oOf our environment; oOf the communities where we work; oOf our assets; and oOf our reputation.
oFocus on first quartile cost performance; and oEffective and efficient use of our cash.
oLeadership with integrity counts; oEmpowered people make the difference; and oConservative promises well kept. Peer Group Analysis and Use of Compensation Consultants The Company has historically evaluated its compensation program against the programs at other companies in order to ensure its compensation program is competitive. Peer companies were selected based on (i) revenue scope within a reasonable range, (ii) asset size within a reasonable range of the Company’s asset size, and (iii) mining companies with operational scope comparable to that of the
In June 2013, The 2013 OIP provides the Compensation Committee substantial flexibility in structuring awards that meet the objectives outlined above. In particular, the 2013 OIP permits the grant of performance-based and time-based RSUs, with many possible performance criteria available as the Compensation Committee determines to be appropriate. In addition to RSUs, the 2013 OIP provides for the grant of awards of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, unrestricted stock, dividend equivalent rights, performance shares and other performance-based awards, other equity-based awards and cash bonus awards. All of the Company’s officers, directors and employees, and the officers, directors and employees of our subsidiaries and affiliates are eligible to receive awards under the 2013 OIP. In addition, consultants, 33 advisors and certain other individuals whose participation in the 2013 OIP is determined to be in the best interests of the Company by the Compensation Committee may participate. Incentive share options, however, are only available The 2013 OIP is administered by the Compensation Committee. The Compensation Committee also interprets the provisions of the 2013 OIP. The Compensation Committee also determines who will receive awards under the 2013 OIP, the types of award made, the terms and conditions of awards, and the number of shares of common stock subject to an award, if the award is equity-based. Executive Compensation Elements The following table illustrates the principal elements of the Company’s executive compensation program, each of which is evaluated and updated on an annual basis by the Compensation Committee:
In addition to the above-mentioned elements, the Company also provides a retirement, health and welfare benefit component to the executive compensation program. Actions Taken by the Board and the Compensation Committee as a Result of the Failed Say-on-Pay Proposals The Compensation Committee takes shareholder feedback seriously. The Committee considers the results of the advisory vote of the stockholders at each annual meeting as the Committee completes its annual review of each pay element and the compensation packages provided to our NEOs. Based on its review and analysis as well as stockholder outreach in 2018 and 2019, the Compensation Committee regularly evaluates whether the compensation program provides a competitive pay-for-performance package that effectively incentivizes its NEOs to maximize stockholder value. The Compensation Committee will continue to consider the outcome of the Company’s Say-on-Pay votes and its stockholder views when making future compensation decisions for our NEOs. At our 2018 Annual Meeting, 51% of the shares cast on the Say-on-Pay proposal voted against the compensation paid to our NEOs, 45% voted to approve such compensation, and 4% abstained. Due to the results of the Say-on-Pay vote, the Compensation Committee initiated and directed a comprehensive review of the Company’s compensation policies and practices. The Board of Directors directed management to contact some of our largest stockholders to determine how the Company can improve its executive compensation practices. As a result of investor outreach, the Compensation Committee did not award short-term incentive (STI) bonuses to NEOs for 2018. In addition, since total shareholder return in 2018 did not meet specific performance objectives identified in the 2017 LTI goals set by the Compensation Committee, 2018 performance-based RSUs were forfeited. Also in direct response to the failed Say-on-Pay proposal at the 2018 Annual Meeting, the Board of Directors held a meeting on January 29, 2019 and therein accepted an offer from Patrick Burke to step-down as Chairman of the Compensation Committee. At the same meeting, the Board appointed Karli Anderson to the Compensation Committee, and also appointed her to serve as the new Chairman of the Compensation Committee effective immediately. Mr. Burke continued to serve on the Compensation Committee until April 18, 2019, when the 2019 annual general meeting of stockholders was held and Mr. Burke’s term as a director ended. 34 At our 2019 Annual Meeting, 45% of the shares cast on the Say-on-Pay proposal voted against the compensation paid to our NEOs, 39% voted to approve such compensation, and 26% abstained. In direct response to the failed Say-on-Pay proposals at the 2018 and 2019 Annual Meetings, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors held meetings on August 6, 2019 and August 15, 2019 and therein directed the Westwater management team to prepare a survey of stockholders in order to solicit their input regarding the Company’s compensation structure for its named executive officers. The stockholder survey was conducted in December 2019 and its results are discussed below. Deliberations of the Compensation Committee in 2019 The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors currently consists of three independent directors: Ms. Anderson (as Chair), and Tracy D. Pagliara and Marvin K. Kaiser. In 2019, the Compensation Committee held seven meetings and its members engaged in numerous additional informal telephone conference calls. At every meeting in 2019, the Compensation Committee discussed executive compensation issues and made several significant decisions involving both short-term incentive (STI) awards and long-term incentive (LTI) awards for the named executive officers, as follows:
othat the three NEOs would forego an STI award for 2018 in light of the failed Say-on-Pay proposal at the 2018 Annual Meeting and the absence of specific STI goals and objectives for 2018; and othat two-thirds of previously issued LTI awards that were tied to shareholder performance metrics would be forfeited because those metrics were not met.
oin direct response to failed Say-on-Pay proposals at the 2018 and 2019 Annual Meetings of Stockholders, the Compensation Committee discussed the value of conducting a survey of the Company’s stockholders in matters involving executive compensation and directed the Westwater management team to prepare such a survey for consideration by the Committee and eventual posting on the Company’s website after the third quarter financials were issued; and ore-affirming its decision not to issue STI awards to the three NEOs for fiscal year 2018 but concluding that, as appropriate, STI and LTI awards for performance in fiscal year 2019 could be determined, in part, based upon extraordinary circumstances in 2019; and 35
oLTI awards made in July 2018 that were conditioned upon a stockholder approval of an increase to the 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan, which occurred at the 2019 Annual Meeting in April 2019, should be made; and othe nature of the stockholder survey as well as the method and timing of its availability was discussed.
othe Committee acknowledged that the STI goals established at the beginning of 2019 and decided against changing those goals despite changes in the Company’s business activities, which occurred throughout the year, making some of those goals unachievable; othe Committee recognized that some of the Company business activities that occurred in 2019 may warrant a discretionary STI award and requested the Westwater management team to address those issues separately; and othe Committee requested that its deliberations during fiscal 2019 on executive compensation be incorporated into the Compensation Discussion & Analysis in this proxy statement. 2019 Stockholder Survey on Executive Compensation As noted above, on August 6, 2019 and on August 15, 2019, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors held meetings and therein directed the Westwater management team to prepare a survey of stockholders regarding the Company’s compensation structure for its NEOs. Through informal discussions with Westwater’s management team, the Compensation Committee and other members of the Board of Directors participated in the development of the survey questions. On December 7, 2019, the Chairman of the Board approved the survey and issued a letter to the Company’s stockholders encouraging their participation. Immediately thereafter the Westwater management team posted the survey to the Company’s website, caused the survey also to be posted to website of a third-party service provider, and sent a broadcast email message to approximately 2,500 addresses from Westwater’s investor relations database alerting them to the availability of the survey. The survey was posted for approximately two (2) months and during that time Westwater received 64 responses, of which 55 responses indicated that they owned Westwater common stock. All responses were provided anonymously. The survey revealed that the stockholders are aligned with the Board of Directors in their expectations regarding compensation planning for the Company’s NEOs. The stockholders agreed with the Board that NEO incentive compensation should emphasize goal achievement, should be “at risk” and should be tied to approved key performance indicators. In addition, the stockholders agreed that STI and LTI awards should be granted when the Westwater management team is challenged with and achieves goals that include specific performance criteria, but if those criteria are not satisfied, the STI or LTI award should be “at risk” – i.e., the failure to achieve a goal forfeits in part or in whole the incentive compensation that is tied to the goal. The survey also reveals that the stockholders would prefer LTI awards issued to NEOs to consist principally of performance-based stock awards and to a lesser extent time-based awards. When evaluating the long-term performance of the Company’s executive management team, the preference is to reward in greater proportion the achievement of specific goals, with the remainder tied to length of service. Finally, the surveyed stockholders believe that approximately one-quarter of the total NEO compensation should involve equity compensation. 36 2019 STI and LTI Goals and Objectives The Company did not have proper goals and objectives for STI awards in place for 2018, which contributed in part to the decision by the Compensation Committee not to make an STI award to the NEOs for fiscal 2018. The Company had LTI goals and objectives from 2017 that were both performance-based and time-based, and which were operative in 2018; however, the performance-based portions of those 2017 LTIs were not met and they lapsed in 2018. The Company had only time-based LTI goals in 2018, which were operative in both 2018 and 2019. In early 2019, the Compensation Committee directed the Westwater management team to prepare both STI and LTI goals for 2019 and beyond, and to present them to the Committee for consideration and approval. As noted above, on February 14, 2019, the Compensation Committee held a meeting and therein considered 2019 STI goals and 2019 LTI goals that were presented by Westwater management and discussed whether different goals should be added to or substituted for the 2019 STIs. The Committee directed the management team to work towards the proposed goals while recognizing that changes could be made after further consideration by the Committee. On April 2, 2019, the Compensation Committee held a meeting and therein approved the following 2019 STIs and 2019 LTIs based upon input received from the Westwater management team, all of which goals were substantially uncertain of achievement as of April 2, 2019:
The Compensation Committee’s evaluation of the NEO’s performance in fiscal 2019 against the 2019 STI goals, as well as the evaluation of NEO’s performance against the 2017 LTI goals and the 2018 LTI goals is discussed below. Evaluation of NEO performance in fiscal 2019 The 2019 compensation mix for 37 The following is a summary of the components of the compensation policy for NEOs. As described in greater detail below, for Base Salary The Compensation Committee establishes base salaries for our executives based on the scope of their responsibilities, and takes into account competitive market compensation paid by comparable mining industry companies. The Company believes that a competitive compensation program will enhance its ability to attract and retain senior executives. In each case, the Compensation Committee takes into account each officer’s (i) current and prior compensation, (ii) scope of responsibilities, (iii) experience, (iv) comparable market salaries and (v) the Company’s achievement of performance goals (both financial and non-financial). The Compensation Committee also (i) has the opportunity to meet with the officers at various times during the year, which allows the Compensation Committee to form its own assessment of each individual’s performance and (ii) reviews reports of the CEO presented to the Compensation Committee, evaluating each of the other officers, including a review of their contributions and performance over the past year, strengths, weaknesses, development plans and succession potential. For fiscal 2018, after taking into account the above-mentioned factors, historical base salaries, the performance of the NEOs and the challenging uranium pricing environment, the Compensation Committee increased base salaries for NEOs by 5% in fiscal
For more information about the Retirement, Health and Welfare Benefits The Company offers a variety of health and welfare and retirement programs to all eligible employees. The NEOs generally are eligible for the same benefit programs on the same basis as the rest of 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan. The Company maintains a defined contribution profit sharing plan for employees (the No Perquisites The Company does not provide any perquisites, whether cash or otherwise, to its NEOs. Short-Term Incentive Compensation In 38 Committee decided against changing those goals. Instead, the Committee recognized that some of the Company business activities that occurred in fiscal 2019 may warrant a discretionary STI award and requested the Westwater management team to
In response to the
oThe graphite business plan was de-risked and improved by using third party contractors and avoiding staffing and technology licensing costs associated with the in-house option; oThe anticipated capital expenditures for the pilot plant were reduced by over $1 million; oRoyalty payments that would have been owed for technology licensing required with the in-house option were eliminated, which would have amounted to approximately $28 million over the life of the graphite project; oThe ability to study and utilize alternate methods for graphite purification were available with the third party contractors, which could save costs and simplify operations; oLicensing costs and longer time frames associated with the in-house pilot plant option were eliminated; and 39 oWhile land acquisition costs are delayed, production plant design and construction activities and timing are not negatively impacted.
In an executive session that occurred on January 15, 2020, the Compensation Committee met and agreed with the scoring proposed by the Westwater management team for the STI goals. Specifically, the Compensation Committee awarded a full payout for the first goal (10 percent) and a one-third payout for the second goal (3.33 percent) but no payout for either the third or fourth goals. The Compensation Committee also agreed that the Westwater management team should be awarded a discretionary payout (of 61.7 percent) for their extraordinary performance throughout fiscal 2019 in the following areas:
Long-Term Incentive Compensation In September 2017, the Compensation Committee approved the 2017 LTI goals that set long-term performance criteria for each of the The criteria for vesting of
In evaluating TSR performance in 2019, 40 In July 2018, the Compensation Committee approved the 2018 LTI goals that set long-term criteria for each of the NEOs with the awards being 10‑year stock options. A portion of the award vested upon the grant of the award and the remainder vesting if the stockholders at the 2019 Annual Meeting approved an increase in the number of shares to
The Compensation Committee expects the incentive program to evolve over time as the Company transitions from its current primary focus on developmental and restoration activities to an operational focus driving towards enhancement of profit and stockholder returns. Stock Ownership Policy The Compensation Committee believes that stock ownership by senior management and stock-based performance compensation arrangements are beneficial in aligning management and stockholders’ interests and serves as an executive retention tool through vesting and post-vesting holding period requirements. To that end, the employment agreements for each of Mr. Jones and Mr. Vigil establish stock ownership targets for each executive of stock valued at three times the initial base salary of each executive under the employment agreements. Each of Mr. Jones and Mr. Vigil
Target Total Direct Compensation for Fiscal
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code imposes limitations on the deductibility for corporate federal income tax purposes of remuneration in excess of $1 million paid to the chief executive officer, chief financial officer and each of the three next most highly compensated executive officers of a public company. Prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was signed into law on December 22, 2017, compensation that satisfied conditions set forth under Section 162(m) to qualify as "performance-based compensation" was not subject to the limitation, and the limitation did not apply to compensation paid to the chief financial officer. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act eliminated the performance-based compensation exception beginning January 1, 2018, but provided a transition rule with respect to remuneration provided pursuant to a written binding contract that was in effect on November 2, 2017 and not materially modified after that date. The Compensation Committee considers the anticipated tax treatment to the Company when determining executive compensation. It should be noted that there are many factors which are considered by the Compensation Committee in determining executive compensation, and the Compensation Committee retains flexibility in establishing the Company’s executive compensation programs. 41 The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the foregoing Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based on this review and discussion, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference into the Company’s Annual Report on Form This Report was submitted by the following members of the Compensation Committee of the Board: Karli S. Anderson, Chairman
Tracy D. Pagliara The information contained in the foregoing Compensation Committee Report shall not be deemed to be “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC, nor shall such information be incorporated by reference into a future filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent Westwater specifically incorporates this Report by reference therein. 42
The following table sets forth information regarding
The following table shows outstanding stock option awards classified as exercisable and unexercisable as of December 31,
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control Employment Agreements The employment agreements with Messrs. Jones and Vigil provide that, in the event of a change of control, if either executive is terminated without cause (as defined therein), demoted or has his responsibilities materially changed, or circumstances arise that constitute good reason (as defined therein), the Company will pay severance in an amount equal to two years of base salary in the case of Mr. Jones and one-and-one-half year of base salary in the case of Mr. Vigil, in 43 each case in a lump sum within 30 days after his termination or termination of the agreement. If the Company otherwise terminates either executive, including following the disability of either executive, without cause, or fails to renew either employment agreement, or either executive otherwise terminates his employment for good reason, the Company will pay severance in an amount equal to one year of base salary in the case of Mr. Jones and six months of base salary in the case of Mr. Vigil, in each case in a lump sum within 30 days after the termination date. The employment agreements automatically terminate upon the death of the executive. The employment agreements define “change of control” as (i) any person or group of affiliated or associated persons acquires more than 50% of the voting power of the Company; (ii) the consummation of a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; (iii) the dissolution of the Company; (iv) a majority of the members of the Board are replaced during any The Compensation Committee believes such agreements are useful in recruiting and retaining executives, provide continuity of management in the event of an actual or threatened change in control and provide the executives with the security to make decisions that are in the best long-term interest of the stockholders. Equity Awards In addition, upon a change in control, the stock options granted under the Company’s 2004 Stock Incentive Plan, the restricted stock granted under the Company’s 2007 Restricted Stock Plan and any awards under the Company’s 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan will immediately vest in full, to the extent not already vested, for all NEOs. The Compensation Committee believes that the above-mentioned vesting and acceleration is appropriate on the basis that our NEOs should receive the full benefit of such awards in the event of a change in control. The following table shows the payments and benefits that would be made to our NEOs, assuming a qualifying termination or a qualifying termination following a change in control occurred on December 31,
Christopher M. Jones On March 12, 2013, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Jones in connection with his joining the Company as President and CEO. Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Jones is entitled to an annual base salary, which was set initially at $275,000 and was subject to annual adjustment by the Compensation Committee, has a target bonus equal to 60% of his base salary, and was awarded The employment agreement also provides for potential payments in the event of a change of control (as defined therein), if Mr. Jones is terminated without cause (as defined therein), demoted or has his responsibilities materially changed, or circumstances arise that constitute good reason (as defined therein). See The employment agreement also contains customary confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation provisions. Mr. Jones has agreed not to perform any work in the United States related in any way to uranium mining, or 44 to solicit customers, suppliers or employees of the Company, during the term of the employment agreement and for a period of one year thereafter. Jeffrey L. Vigil On June 11, 2013, the Company entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Vigil in connection with his joining the Company as Vice President—Finance and CFO, which was subsequently amended on May 22, 2017. Pursuant to his employment agreement, Mr. Vigil is entitled to an annual base salary, which was set initially at $200,000 and was subject to annual adjustment by the Compensation Committee, has a target bonus equal to 30% of his base salary, and also provided for a grant of The employment agreement, as amended, also provides for potential payments in the event of a change of control (as defined therein), if Mr. Vigil is terminated without cause (as defined therein), demoted or has his responsibilities materially changed, or circumstances arise that constitute good reason (as defined therein). See “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control” The employment agreement also contains customary confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation provisions. Mr. Vigil has agreed not to perform any work in the United States related in any way to uranium mining, or to solicit customers, suppliers or employees of the Company, during the term of the employment agreement and for a period of six No Other Employment Agreement Other than the foregoing employment agreements, the Company does not have any other employment agreements with any of its executive officers. 45 ADVISORY APPROVAL OF COMPENSATION OF THE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS In accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act, “RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby approved.” The Company is asking stockholders to approve an advisory resolution on compensation of our named executive officers as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables and related narrative discussion included in this Proxy Statement. This proposal, commonly known as a “say-on-pay” proposal, gives stockholders the opportunity to approve, reject or abstain from voting with respect to our executive compensation programs and policies and the compensation paid to the named executive officers. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers as described in this Proxy Statement. As described in detail under the heading “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” and in the compensation tables and narrative disclosures that accompany the compensation tables, the Company’s compensation program for the named executive officers is designed to reward exceptional organizational and individual performance. The primary objectives of our compensation program are to (i) enhance the Company’s ability to attract and retain knowledgeable and experienced senior executives, (ii) drive and reward performance which supports Westwater’s core values, (iii) provide a percentage of total compensation that is “at-risk”, or variable, based on predetermined performance criteria, (iv) require significant stock holdings to align the interests of our CEO and CFO with those of stockholders, and (v) set compensation and incentive levels that reflect competitive market practices. Although the vote on this proposal is advisory only, the Board and the Compensation Committee will review and consider the voting results when evaluating our executive compensation program. THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. 46 RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF THE INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS The Board has unanimously appointed Moss Adams LLP to be Ratification of the appointment of Moss Adams LLP by the stockholders is not required by law. As a matter of policy, however, such appointment is being submitted to the stockholders for ratification at the Representatives of Moss Adams LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting to answer appropriate questions from the stockholders and will be given an opportunity to make a statement on behalf of Moss Adams LLP should they desire to do so. None of Westwater’s directors or executive officers has any substantial interest, direct or indirect, in Moss Adams LLP. THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF MOSS ADAMS LLP AS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS OF WESTWATER.
The following table presents fees billed for professional audit services rendered by Moss Adams LLP
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures The Audit Committee is required to pre-approve the audit and non-audit services performed by the independent auditor to assure that the provision of such services does not impair the auditor’s independence. All of the foregoing services were pre-approved by the Audit Committee. 47 OWNERSHIP OF WESTWATER COMMON STOCK The table below sets forth information as of In accordance with applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, beneficial ownership includes voting or investment power with respect to securities and includes the shares issuable pursuant to stock options that are exercisable, and shares subject to restricted stock units that vest, on, or within 60 days
*Represents less than 1%.
48
The Board knows of no other matters to be brought before the Annual Meeting. However, if other matters should come before the Annual Meeting, it is the intention of each person named in the proxy to vote such proxy in accordance with his or her own judgment on such matters. Delivery of Stockholder Documents The Securities and Exchange Commission (the A number of brokers with account holders who are Westwater stockholders may be householding our proxy materials, to the extent such stockholders have given their prior express or implied consent in accordance with SEC rules. A single proxy statement and Annual Report will be delivered to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless contrary instructions have been received from the affected stockholders. Once you have received notice from your broker that it will be householding communications to your address, householding will continue until you are notified otherwise or until you revoke your consent, which is deemed to be given unless you inform the broker otherwise when you receive the original notice of householding. If, at any time, you no longer wish to participate in householding and would prefer to receive separate proxy materials, please notify your broker to discontinue householding and direct your written request to receive a separate proxy statement and annual report to Solicitation of Proxies; Payment of Solicitation Expenses The Company is providing these proxy materials in connection with the solicitation by its Board of Directors of proxies to be voted at our Annual Meeting. The Company has retained Adjournments and Postponements Although it is not currently expected, the meeting may be adjourned on one or more occasions for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies if a quorum is not present at the meeting. An adjournment generally may be made with the affirmative vote of the owners of a majority of the shares of our common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon if no quorum is present or, if a quorum is present, with the majority of the votes cast. Any adjournment of the meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies will allow our stockholders who have already sent in their proxies to revoke them at any time prior to their use at the meeting as adjourned. In order to include a stockholder proposal in 49 been changed by more than 30 days from the anniversary date of the Any stockholder proposal or director nomination submitted to us for consideration at the Stockholders who wish to submit a proposal or a director nominee must meet the eligibility requirements of the SEC and comply with the requirements of our Bylaws and the SEC. In addition, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC, the persons appointed as proxies for the annual meeting to be held in We have mailed this proxy statement to each stockholder entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. A copy of our 50 Appendix A THIRD AMENDMENT
WESTWATER RESOURCES, INC.
In accordance with those certain resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of Westwater Resources, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Corporation”), and the Board of Directors’ Compensation Committee and the approval by the stockholders of the Corporation at the Corporation’s Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 1. Section 4.1 of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to increase the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan by “4.1 Number of Shares of Stock Available for Awards. Subject to such additional shares of Stock as shall be available for Awards under the Plan pursuant to Section 4.2, and subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 17.1, the maximum number of shares of Stock available for Awards under the Plan shall be equal to the sum of (x) 2. Section 6.2 of the Plan is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to increase the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be granted in a calendar year to any person, as follows: “6.2Limitation on Shares of Stock Subject to Awards and Cash Awards. During any time when the Company has a class of equity security registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act: (a)the maximum number of shares of Stock subject to Options or SARs that may be granted under the Plan in a calendar year to any person eligible for an Award under Section 6 is (b)the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be granted under the Plan, other than pursuant to Options or SARs, in a calendar year to any person eligible for an Award under Section 6 is (c)the maximum amount that may be paid as a cash-settled Performance-Based Award for a Performance Period of twelve (12) months or less to any person eligible for an Award shall be four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) and the maximum amount that may be paid as a cash-settled Performance-Based Award for a Performance Period of greater than twelve (12) months to any person eligible for an Award shall also be four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000). The preceding limitations in this Section 6.2 are subject to adjustment as provided in Section 17.”
3. Unless otherwise expressly provided for in this A-1 Appendix A 4. Except as expressly set forth in this 5. This
A-2 Appendix B 2013 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN Westwater Resources, Inc. (the “Company”) sets forth herein the terms of its 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), as follows: The Plan is intended to(a) provide eligible persons with an incentive to contribute to the success of the Company and to operate and manage the Company’s business in a manner that will provide for the Company’s long-term growth and profitability to benefit its stockholders and other important stakeholders, including its employees and customers, and(b) provide a means of obtaining, rewarding and retaining key personnel. To this end, the Plan provides for the grant of awards of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock units, unrestricted stock, dividend equivalent rights, performance shares and other performance-based awards, other equity-based awards, and cash bonus awards. Any of these awards may, but need not, be made as performance incentives to reward the holders of such awards for the achievement of performance goals in accordance with the terms of the Plan. Stock options granted under the Plan may be non-qualified stock options or incentive stock options, as provided herein. For purposes of interpreting the Plan documents (including the Plan and Award Agreements), the following definitions shall apply: 2.1“Affiliate”means any company or other entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with the Company within the meaning of Rule405 of Regulation C under the Securities Act, including any Subsidiary. For purposes of grants of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, an entity may not be considered an Affiliate unless the Company holds a “controlling interest” in such entity within the meaning of Treasury RegulationSection 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i), provided that(a) except as specified in clause (b) below, an interest of “at least 50 percent” shall be used instead of an interest of “at least 80 percent” in each case where “at least 80 percent” appears in Treasury RegulationSection 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i) and(b) where the grant of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights is based upon a legitimate business criterion, an interest of “at least 20 percent” shall be used instead of an interest of “at least 80 percent” in each case where “at least 80 percent” appears in Treasury RegulationSection 1.414(c)-2(b)(2)(i). 2.2 2.5“Award Stock”shall have the meaning set forth inSection17.3(a)(ii). 2.6“Benefit Arrangement”shall have the meaning set forth inSection15. B-1 Appendix B 2.7“Board”means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.10“Change in Control”means the occurrence of any of the following: (a)a “Person” or “group” (within the meaning of (d)there is consummated any direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any “Person” or “group” (within the meaning of 2.12“Committee”means the Compensation Committee of the Board. 2.13“Company”means Westwater Resources, Inc. B-2 Appendix B 2.14“Covered Employee”means a Grantee who is a “covered employee” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m)(3).
permanent in character or which can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months; provided that, with respect to rules regarding expiration of an Incentive Stock Option following termination of a Grantee’s Service, Disability shall mean the inability of such Grantee to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. 2.16“Dividend Equivalent Right”means a right, granted to a Grantee pursuant toSection13, to receive cash, Stock, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends or other periodic payments paid or made with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock. 2.20“Existing Stockholders”means Resource Capital Fund V L.P. and RMB Australia Holdings Limited. (b)If on such Grant Date the shares of Stock are not listed on a Stock Exchange or publicly traded on a Securities Market, the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock shall be the value of the Stock as determined by the Committee by the reasonable application of a reasonable valuation method, in a manner consistent with Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding thisSection 2.21 B-3 Appendix B sales of such shares are effectuated at more than one sale price, the weighted average sale price of such shares on such date). 2.22“Family Member” means, with respect to any Grantee as of any date of determination,(a) a person who is a spouse, former spouse, child, stepchild, grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother, sister, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law, including adoptive relationships, of such Grantee,(b) any person sharing such Grantee’s household (other than a tenant or employee),(c) a trust in which any one or more of the persons specified in clauses (a) and(b) above (and such Grantee) own more than fifty percent (50%) of the beneficial interest,(d) a foundation in which any one or more of the persons specified in clauses (a) and(b) above (and such Grantee) control the management of assets, and(e) any
other entity in which one or more of the persons specified in clauses (a) and(b) above (and such Grantee) own more than fifty percent (50%) of the voting interests. 2.23“Fully Diluted Basis” means, as of any date of determination, the sum of(x) the number of shares of Voting Stock outstanding as of such date of determination plus(y) the number of shares of Voting Stock issuable upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of all then-outstanding warrants, options, convertible Capital Stock or indebtedness, exchangeable Capital Stock or indebtedness, or other rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into, directly or indirectly, shares of Voting Stock, whether at the time of issue or upon the passage of time or upon the occurrence of some future event, and whether or not in the money as of such date of determination 2.24“Grant Date” means, as determined by the Committee, the latest to occur of(a) the date as of which the Committee approves the Award,(b) the date on which the recipient of an Award first becomes eligible to receive an Award underSection6 hereof (e.g., in the case of a new hire, the first date on which such new hire performs any Service), or(c) such subsequent date specified by the Committee in the corporate action approving the Award. 2.25“Grantee” means a person who receives or holds an Award under the Plan. 2.26“Incentive Stock Option” means an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Code Section 422, or the corresponding provision of any subsequently enacted tax statute, as amended from time to time. 2.27 ��“Non-qualified Stock Option” means an Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option. 2.28“Option” means an option to purchase one or more shares of Stock pursuant to the Plan. 2.29“Option Price” means the exercise price for each share of Stock subject to an Option. 2.30“Other Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth inSection15. 2.32“Outside Director” means a member of the Board who is not an Employee. 2.33“Parachute Payment” shall have the meaning set forth inSection15(a). 2.34“Performance-Based Award” means an Award of Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Stock Units, Performance Shares, Other Equity-Based Awards or cash made subject to the achievement of performance goals (as provided inSection14) over a Performance Period specified by the Committee. B-4 Appendix B 2.35“Performance-Based Compensation” means compensation under an Award that is intended to satisfy the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for “qualified performance-based compensation” paid to Covered Employees. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in the Plan shall be construed to mean that an Award which does not satisfy the requirements for “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of and pursuant to Code Section 162(m) does not constitute performance-based compensation for other purposes, including the purposes of Code Section 409A. 2.36“Performance Measures” means measures as specified inSection14.6.4 on which the performance goals under Performance-Based Awards are based and which are approved by the Company’s stockholders pursuant to, and to the extent required by, the Plan in order to qualify such Performance-Based Awards as Performance-Based Compensation.
2.38“Performance Shares” means a Performance-Based Award representing a right or other interest that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Stock, made subject to the achievement of performance goals (as provided inSection14) over a Performance Period of up to ten (10) years. 2.40“Plan” means this 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time. 2.42“Reporting Person” means a person who is required to file reports under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, or any successor provision. 2.43“Restricted Period” shall have the meaning set forth inSection10.2. 2.44“Restricted Stock” means shares of Stock awarded to a Grantee pursuant toSection10. 2.45“SAR Price” shall have the meaning set forth inSection9.1. B-5 Appendix B 2.48“Service Provider” means an Employee, officer, or director of the Company or an Affiliate, or a consultant or adviser (who is a natural person) to the Company or an Affiliate currently providing services to the Company or an Affiliate. 2.49“Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company, or any security which shares of Stock may be changed into or for which shares of Stock may be exchanged as provided inSection17.1. 2.50“Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted to a Grantee pursuant toSection9.
2.53“Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company) or non-corporate entity with respect to which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock, membership interests or other ownership interests of any class or kind ordinarily having the power to vote for the directors, managers or other voting members of the governing body of such corporation or non-corporate entity. In addition, any other entity may be designated by the Committee as a Subsidiary, provided that(a) such entity could be considered as a subsidiary according to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, and(b) in the case of an Award of Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, such Award would be considered to be granted in respect of “service recipient stock” under Code Section 409A. 2.55“Ten Percent Stockholder” means a natural person who owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of outstanding voting securities of the Company, the Company’s parent (if any) or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries. In determining stock ownership, the attribution rules of Code Section 424(d) shall be applied. 2.56“Unrestricted Stock” shall have the meaning set forth inSection11. The Committee shall administer the Plan and shall have such powers and authorities related to the administration of the Plan as are consistent with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Applicable Laws. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Committee shall have full power and authority to take all actions and to make all determinations required or provided for under the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement, and shall have full power and authority to take all such other actions and make all such other determinations not inconsistent B-6 Appendix B with the specific terms and provisions of the Plan which the Committee deems to be necessary or appropriate to the administration of the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement. All such actions and determinations shall be made by(a) the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present, or(b) the unanimous consent of the members of the Committee executed in writing in accordance with the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws and Applicable Laws. Unless otherwise expressly determined by the Board, the Committee shall have the authority to interpret and construe all provisions of the Plan, any Award and any Award Agreement, and any such interpretation or construction, and any other determination contemplated to be made under the Plan or any Award Agreement, by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive whether or not expressly provided for in any provision of the Plan, such Award or such Award Agreement. In the event that the Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement provides for any action to be taken by the Board or any determination to be made by the Board, such action may be taken or such determination may be made by the Committee constituted in accordance with thisSection 3.1
The Committee shall be a committee composed of not fewer than two directors of the Company designated by the Board to administer the Plan. Each member of the Committee shall be a “Non-Employee Director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, an “outside director” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m)(4)(C)(i) and, for so long as the Stock is listed on The NASDAQ Stock Exchange LLC, an “independent director” within the meaning of NASDAQ Listing Rule 5605(a)(2) (or, in each case, any successor term or provision);provided that any action taken by the Committee shall be valid and effective whether or not members of the Committee at the time of such action are later determined not to have satisfied the requirements for membership set forth in thisSection 3.1.2 The Board also may appoint one or more committees of the Board, each composed of one or more directors of the Company who need not be Outside Directors, which may administer the Plan with respect to Grantees who are not “officers” as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act or directors of the Company, may grant Awards under the Plan to such Grantees, and may determine all terms of such Awards, subject to the requirements of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, Code Section 162(m) and, for so long as the Stock is listed on The NASDAQ Stock Exchange LLC, the rules of such Stock Exchange. To the extent permitted by Applicable Laws, the Committee may by resolution delegate some or all of its authority with respect to the Plan and Awards to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company and/or any other officer of the Company designated by the Committee,providedthat the Committee may not delegate its authority hereunder(a) to make Awards to directors of the Company,(b) to make Awards to Employees who are(i) “officers” as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) under the Exchange Act, (ii) Covered Employees or (iii) officers of the Company who are delegated authority by the Committee pursuant to thisSection 3.1.4 B-7 Appendix B such officer of the Company in accordance with the Committee’s delegation of authority shall have the same force and effect as if undertaken directly by the Committee, and any reference in the Plan to the “Committee” shall, to the extent consistent with the terms and limitations of such delegation, be deemed to include a reference to each such officer. The Board from time to time may exercise any or all of the powers and authorities related to the administration and implementation of the Plan, as set forth inSection 3.1 Subject to the other terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee shall have full and final authority to:
(c)determine the number of shares of Stock to be subject to an Award; (d)establish the terms and conditions of each Award (including the Option Price of any Option or the purchase price for Restricted Stock), the nature and duration of any restriction or condition (or provision for lapse thereof) relating to the vesting, exercise, transfer, or forfeiture of an Award or the shares of Stock subject thereto, the treatment of an Award in the event of a Change in Control (subject to applicable agreements), and any terms or conditions that may be necessary to qualify Options as Incentive Stock Options; (e)prescribe the form of each Award Agreement evidencing an Award; and (f)subject to the limitation on repricing in Section3.4, amend, modify or supplement the terms of any outstanding Award, which authority shall include the authority, in order to effectuate the purposes of the Plan but without amending the Plan, to make Awards or to modify outstanding Awards made to eligible natural persons who are foreign nationals or are natural persons who are employed outside the United States to reflect differences in local law, tax policy, or custom,provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment, modification or supplement of the terms of any outstanding Award shall, without the consent of the Grantee thereof, impair such Grantee’s rights under such Award. The Committee shall have the right, in its discretion, to make Awards in substitution or exchange for any award granted under another compensatory plan of the Company, an Affiliate, or any business entity acquired or to be acquired by the Company or an Affiliate or with which the Company or an Affiliate has combined or will combine. The Committee may reserve the right in an Award Agreement to cause a forfeiture of the gain realized by a Grantee with respect to an Award thereunder on account of actions taken by, or failed to be taken by, such Grantee in violation or breach of or in conflict with any(a) employment agreement,(b) non-competition agreement,(c) agreement B-8 Appendix B prohibiting solicitation of Employees or clients of the Company or an Affiliate,(d) confidentiality obligation with respect to the Company or an Affiliate,(e) Company policy or procedure,(f) other agreement, or(g) any other obligation of such Grantee to the Company or an Affiliate, as and to the extent specified in such Award Agreement. The Committee may annul an outstanding Award if the Grantee thereof is an Employee of the Company or an Affiliate and is terminated for Cause as defined in the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement or for “cause” as defined in any other agreement between the Company or such Affiliate and such Grantee, as applicable. Any Award granted pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to mandatory repayment by the Grantee to the Company to the extent the Grantee is, or in the future becomes, subject to(a) any Company “clawback” or recoupment policy that is adopted to comply with the requirements of any Applicable Law, rule or regulation, or otherwise, or(b) any law, rule or regulation which imposes mandatory recoupment, under circumstances set forth in such law, rule or regulation. Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, distribution (whether in the form of cash, shares of Stock, other securities or other property), stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, change in control, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares of Stock or other securities or similar transaction), the Company may not, without obtaining stockholder approval:(a) amend the terms of outstanding Options or SARs to reduce the exercise price of such outstanding Options or SARs;(b) cancel outstanding Options or SARs in exchange for or substitution of Options or SARs with an exercise price that is less
than the exercise price of the original Options or SARs; or(c) cancel outstanding Options or SARs with an exercise price above the current stock price in exchange for cash or other securities. The Committee may permit or require the deferral of any payment pursuant to any Award into a deferred compensation arrangement, subject to such rules and procedures as it may establish, which may include provisions for the payment or crediting of interest or Dividend Equivalent Rights and, in connection therewith, provisions for converting such credits into Stock Units and for restricting deferrals to comply with hardship distribution rules affecting tax-qualified retirement plans subject to Code Section 401(k)(2)(B)(IV), provided that no Dividend Equivalent Rights may be granted in connection with, or related to, an Award of Options or SARs. Any such deferrals shall be made in a manner that complies with Code Section 409A, including, if applicable, with respect to when a Separation from Service occurs as defined under Section 409A. No member of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award or Award Agreement. 3.7Registration; Share Certificates. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the ownership of the shares of Stock issued under the Plan may be evidenced in such a manner as the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate, including by book-entry or direct registration (including transaction advices) or the issuance of one or more share certificates. B-9 Appendix B 4.STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN 4.1Number of Shares of Stock Available for Awards. Subject to such additional shares of Stock as shall be available for Awards under the Plan pursuant toSection 4.2 4.2Adjustments in Authorized Shares of Stock. In connection with mergers, reorganizations, separations, or other transactions to which Code Section 424(a) applies, the Committee shall have the right to cause the Company to assume awards previously granted under a compensatory plan by another business entity that is a party to such transaction and to substitute Awards under the Plan for such awards. The number of shares of Stock available for Awards under the Plan pursuant toSection 4.1 (a)Shares of Stock subject to an Award shall be counted as used as of the Grant Date.
(c)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section4.1, any shares of Stock related to Awards under the Plan or the Prior Plans which terminate by expiration, forfeiture, cancellation, or otherwise without the issuance of such shares shall be available again for issuance under the Plan. B-10 Appendix B (d)The number of shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall not be increased by the number of shares of Stock(i) tendered or withheld or subject to an Award surrendered in connection with the purchase of shares of Stock upon exercise of an Option as provided in Section12.2, (ii) deducted or delivered from payment of an Award in connection with the Company’s tax withholding obligations as provided in Section18.3 or (iii) purchased by the Company with proceeds from Option exercises. 5.EFFECTIVE DATE; TERM; AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date. Following the Effective Date, no awards shall be made under the Prior Plans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares of Stock reserved under the Prior Plans to settle awards, including performance-based awards, which are made under the Prior Plans prior to the Effective Date may be issued and delivered following the Effective Date to settle such awards. The Plan shall terminate automatically ten (10) years after the Effective Date and may be terminated on any earlier date as provided inSection 5.3 The Board may, at any time and from time to time, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan as to any shares of Stock as to which Awards have not been made. The effectiveness of any amendment to the Plan shall be contingent on approval of such amendment by the Company’s stockholders to the extent provided by the Board or required by Applicable Laws (including the rules of any Stock Exchange on which the Stock is then listed),provided that no amendment shall be made to the no-repricing provisions ofSection 3.4
Subject to thisSection 6 6.2Limitation on Shares of Stock Subject to Awards and Cash Awards. During any time when the Company has a class of equity security registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act: (a)the maximum number of shares of Stock subject to Options or SARs that may be granted under the Plan in a calendar year to any person eligible for an Award under Section6 is B-11 Appendix B (b)the maximum number of shares of Stock that may be granted under the Plan, other than pursuant to Options or SARs, in a calendar year to any person eligible for an Award under Section6 is (c)the maximum amount that may be paid as a cash-settled Performance-Based Award for a Performance Period of twelve (12) months or less to any person eligible for an Award shall be four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) and the maximum amount that may be paid as a cash-settled Performance-Based Award for a Performance Period of greater than twelve (12) months to any person eligible for an Award shall also be four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000). The preceding limitations in thisSection 6.2 6.3Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem and Substitute Awards. Subject toSection 3.4 Each Award granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement, which shall be in such form or forms as the Committee shall from time to time determine. Award Agreements employed under the Plan from time to time or at the same time need not contain similar provisions, but shall be consistent with the terms of the Plan. Each Award Agreement evidencing an Award of Options shall specify whether such Options are intended to be Non-qualified Stock Options or Incentive Stock Options, and, in the absence of such specification, such Options shall be deemed to constitute Non-qualified Stock Options.
The Option Price of each Option shall be fixed by the Committee and stated in the Award Agreement evidencing such Option. Except in the case of Substitute Awards, the Option Price of each Option shall be at least the Fair Market Value of one(1) share of Stock on the Grant Date;providedthat in the event that a Grantee is a Ten Percent Stockholder, the Option Price of an Option granted to such Grantee that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of one(1) share of Stock on the Grant Date. In no case shall the Option Price of any Option be less than the par value of a share of Stock. B-12 Appendix B 8.2Vesting. Subject toSections 8.3 Each Option granted under the Plan shall terminate, and all rights to purchase shares of Stock thereunder shall cease, upon the expiration of ten (10) years from the Grant Date of such Option, or under such circumstances and on such date prior thereto as is set forth in the Plan or as may be fixed by the Committee and stated in the Award Agreement relating to such Option;provided that in the event that the Grantee is a Ten Percent Stockholder, an Option granted to such Grantee that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from its Grant Date; andprovided, further, that, to the extent deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee to reflect differences in local law, tax policy, or custom with respect to any Option granted to a Grantee who is a foreign national or is a natural person who is employed outside the United States, such Option may terminate, and all rights to purchase shares of Stock thereunder may cease, upon the expiration of such period longer than ten (10) years from the Grant Date of such Option as the Committee shall determine. Each Award Agreement with respect to the grant of an Option shall set forth the extent to which the Grantee thereof, if at all, shall have the right to exercise such Option following termination of such Grantee’s Service. Such provisions shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Committee, need not be uniform among all Options issued pursuant to the Plan, and may reflect distinctions based on the reasons for termination of Service. 8.5Limitations on Exercise of Option. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, in no event may any Option be exercised, in whole or in part, after the occurrence of an event referred to inSection 17 Subject to the terms ofSection 12
8.7Rights of Holders of Options. Unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, a Grantee or other person holding or exercising an Option shall have none of the rights of a stockholder of the Company (for example, the right to receive cash or dividend payments or distributions attributable to the shares of Stock subject to such Option, to direct the voting of the shares of Stock subject to such Option, or to receive notice of any meeting of the Company’s stockholders) until the shares of Stock subject thereto are fully paid and issued to such Grantee or other person. Except as provided inSection 17 B-13 Appendix B adjustment shall be made for dividends, distributions or other rights with respect to any shares of Stock subject to an Option for which the record date is prior to the date of issuance of such shares of Stock. Promptly after the exercise of an Option by a Grantee and the payment in full of the Option Price with respect thereto, such Grantee shall be entitled to receive such evidence of such Grantee’s ownership of the shares of Stock subject to such Option as shall be consistent withSection 3.7 8.9Transferability of Options. Except as provided inSection 8.10 If authorized in the applicable Award Agreement and by the Committee, in its sole discretion, a Grantee may transfer, not for value, all or part of an Option which is not an Incentive Stock Option to any Family Member. For the purpose of thisSection 8.10 8.11Limitations on Incentive Stock Options. An Option shall constitute an Incentive Stock Option only(a) if the Grantee of such Option is an Employee of the Company or any corporate Subsidiary,(b) to the extent specifically provided in the related Award Agreement and(c) to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time such Option is granted) of the shares of Stock with respect to which all Incentive Stock Options held by such Grantee become exercisable for the first time during any calendar year (under the Plan and all other plans of the Company and its Affiliates) does not exceed one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000). Except to the extent provided in the regulations under Code Section 422, this limitation shall be applied by taking Options into account in the order in which they were granted.
If any Grantee shall make any disposition of shares of Stock issued pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option under the circumstances provided in Code Section 421(b) (relating to certain disqualifying dispositions), such Grantee shall notify the Company of such disposition within ten (10) days thereof. B-14 Appendix B 9.TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS 9.1Right to Payment and Grant Price. A SAR shall confer on the Grantee to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of(x) the Fair Market Value of one(1) share of Stock on the date of exercise over(y) the per share exercise price of such SAR (the “SAR Price”) as determined by the Committee. The Award Agreement for a SAR shall specify the SAR Price, which shall be no less than the Fair Market Value of one(1) share of Stock on the Grant Date of such SAR. SARs may be granted in tandem with all or part of an Option granted under the Plan or at any subsequent time during the term of such Option, in combination with all or any part of any other Award or without regard to any Option or other Award;provided that a SAR that is granted subsequent to the Grant Date of a related Option must have a SAR Price that is no less than the Fair Market Value of one(1) share of Stock on the Grant Date of such SAR. The Committee shall determine, on the Grant Date or thereafter, the time or times at which and the circumstances under which a SAR may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future Service requirements), the time or times at which SARs shall cease to be or become exercisable following termination of Service or upon other conditions, the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, method by or forms in which shares of Stock shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Grantees, whether or not a SAR shall be granted in tandem or in combination with any other Award, and any and all other terms and conditions of any SAR. Each SAR granted under the Plan shall terminate, and all rights thereunder shall cease, upon the expiration of ten (10) years from the Grant Date of such SAR or under such circumstances and on such date prior thereto as is set forth in the Plan or as may be fixed by the Committee and stated in the Award Agreement relating to such SAR. Except as provided inSection 9.5 If authorized in the applicable Award Agreement and by the Committee, in its sole discretion, a Grantee may transfer, not for value, all or part of a SAR to any Family Member. For the purpose of thisSection 9.5
Family Members of the original Grantee in accordance with thisSection 9.5 B-15 Appendix B 10.TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK AND STOCK UNITS 10.1Grant of Restricted Stock or Stock Units. Awards of Restricted Stock and Stock Units may be made for consideration or for no consideration, other than the par value of the shares of Stock, which shall be deemed paid by past Service or, if so provided in the related Award Agreement or a separate agreement, the promise by the Grantee to perform future Service to the Company or an Affiliate. At the time a grant of Restricted Stock or Stock Units is made, the Committee may, in its sole discretion,(a) establish a period of time during which such Restricted Stock or Stock Units are unvested (a “Restricted Period”) and(b) prescribe restrictions in addition to or other than the expiration of the Restricted Period, including the achievement of corporate or individual performance goals, which may be applicable to all or any portion of such Restricted Stock or Stock Units as provided inSection 14 10.3Registration; Restricted Share Certificates. Pursuant toSection 3.7 10.4Rights of Holders of Restricted Stock. Unless the Committee otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, holders of Restricted Stock shall have the right to vote such shares of Restricted Stock and the right to receive any dividends declared or paid with respect to such shares of Restricted Stock. The Committee may provide that any dividends paid on Restricted Stock must be reinvested in shares of Stock, which may or may not be subject to the same vesting conditions and restrictions as the vesting conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock. Dividends paid on Restricted Stock which vests or is earned based upon the achievement of performance goals shall not vest unless such performance goals for such Restricted Stock are achieved, and if such performance goals are not achieved, the Grantee of such Restricted Stock shall promptly forfeit and repay to the Company such dividend payments. All stock distributions, if any, received by a Grantee with respect to Restricted Stock as a result of any stock split, stock dividend, combination of stock, or other similar transaction shall be subject to the vesting conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock.
B-16 Appendix B 10.5Rights of Holders of Stock Units. 10.5.1Voting and Dividend Rights. Holders of Stock Units shall have no rights as stockholders of the Company (for example, the right to receive cash or dividend payments or distributions attributable to the shares of Stock subject to such Stock Units, to direct the voting of the shares of Stock subject to such Stock Units, or to receive notice of any meeting of the Company’s stockholders). The Committee may provide in an Award Agreement evidencing a grant of Stock Units that the holder of such Stock Units shall be entitled to receive, upon the Company’s payment of a cash dividend on its outstanding shares of Stock, a cash payment for each such Stock Unit which is equal to the per-share dividend paid on such shares of Stock. Dividends paid on Stock Units which vest or are earned based upon the achievement of performance goals shall not vest unless such performance goals for such Stock Units are achieved. Such Award Agreement also may provide that such cash payment shall be deemed reinvested in additional Stock Units at a price per unit equal to the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date on which such cash dividend is paid. Such cash payments paid in connection with Stock Units which vest or are earned based upon the achievement of performance goals shall not vest unless such performance goals for such Stock Units are achieved, and if such performance goals are not achieved, the Grantee of such Stock Units shall promptly forfeit and repay to the Company such cash payments. A holder of Stock Units shall have no rights other than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company. Stock Units represent unfunded and unsecured obligations of the Company, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Award Agreement. Unless the Committee otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, in another agreement with the Grantee or otherwise in writing after such Award Agreement is entered into, but prior to termination of Grantee’s Service, upon the termination of such Grantee’s Service, any Restricted Stock or Stock Units held by such Grantee that have not vested, or with respect to which all applicable restrictions and conditions have not lapsed, shall immediately be deemed forfeited. Upon forfeiture of such Restricted Stock or Stock Units, the Grantee thereof shall have no further rights with respect thereto, including any right to vote such Restricted Stock or any right to receive dividends with respect to such Restricted Stock or Stock Units. 10.7Purchase of Restricted Stock and Shares of Stock Subject to Stock Units. The Grantee of an Award ofRestricted Stock or vested Stock Units shall be required, to the extent required by Applicable Laws, to purchase such Restricted Stock or the shares of Stock subject to such vested Stock Units from the Company at a purchase price equal to the greater of(x) the aggregate par value of the shares of Stock represented by such Restricted Stock or such vested Stock Units or(y) the purchase price, if any, specified in the Award Agreement relating to such Restricted Stock or such vested Stock Units. Such purchase price shall be payable in a form provided inSection12 or, in the sole discretion of the Committee, in consideration for Service rendered or to be rendered to the Company or an Affiliate. 10.8Delivery of Shares of Stock. Upon the expiration or termination of any Restricted Period and the satisfaction of any other conditions prescribed by the Committee, including, but not limited to, any delayed delivery period, the restrictions applicable to Restricted Stock or Stock Units settled in shares of Stock shall lapse, and, unless otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement, a book-entry or direct registration (including transaction advices) or a share certificate evidencing B-17 Appendix B ownership of such shares of Stock shall, consistent withSection 3.7
11.1Unrestricted Stock Awards. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant (or sell at the par value of a share of Stock or at such other higher purchase price as shall be determined by the Committee) an Award to any Grantee pursuant to which such Grantee may receive shares of Stock free of any restrictions (“Unrestricted Stock”) under the Plan. Unrestricted Stock Awards may be granted or sold to any Grantee as provided in the immediately preceding sentence in respect of past Service or, if so provided in the related Award Agreement or a separate agreement, the promise by the Grantee to perform future Service, to the Company or an Affiliate or other valid consideration, or in lieu of, or in addition to, any cash compensation due to such Grantee. 11.2Other Equity-Based Awards. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant Awards in the form of Other Equity-Based Awards, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. Awards granted pursuant to thisSection 11.2 12.FORM OF PAYMENT FOR OPTIONS AND RESTRICTED STOCK Payment of the Option Price forthe shares of Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option or the purchase price, if any, for Restricted Stock shall be made in cash or in cash equivalents acceptable to the Company. 12.2Surrender of Shares of Stock. To the extent that the applicable Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price for shares of Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option or the purchase price, if any, for Restricted Stock may be made all or in part through the tender or attestation to the Company of shares of Stock, which shall be valued, for purposes of determining the extent to which such Option Price or purchase price has been paid thereby, at their Fair Market Value on the date of such tender or attestation. B-18 Appendix B 12.3Cashless Exercise. To the extent permitted by Applicable Laws and to the extent the Award Agreement so provides, payment of the Option Price for shares of Stock purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option may be made all or in part by delivery (on a form acceptable to the Committee) of an irrevocable direction to a licensed securities broker acceptable to the Company to sell shares of Stock and to deliver all or part of the proceeds of such sale to the Company in payment of such Option Price and any withholding taxes described inSection 18.3
To the extent the Award Agreement so provides and/or unless otherwise specified in an Award Agreement, payment of the Option Price for shares of Stock purchased pursuant to exercise of an Option or the purchase price, if any, for Restricted Stock may be made in any other form that is consistent with Applicable Laws, including(a) Service by the Grantee thereof to the Company or an Affiliate and(b) by withholding shares of Stock that would otherwise vest or be issuable in an amount equal to the Option Price or purchase price and the required tax withholding amount. 13.TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS 13.1Dividend Equivalent Rights. A Dividend Equivalent Right is an Award entitling the recipient thereof to receive credits based on cash distributions that would have been paid on the shares of Stock specified in such Dividend Equivalent Right (or other Award to which such Dividend Equivalent Right relates) if such shares of Stock had been issued to and held by the recipient of such Dividend Equivalent Right as of the record date. A Dividend Equivalent Right may be granted hereunder to any Grantee, provided that no Dividend Equivalent Rights may be granted in connection with, or related to, an Award of Options or SARs. The terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be specified in the Award Agreement therefor. Dividend equivalents credited to the holder of a Dividend Equivalent Right may be paid currently (with or without being subject to forfeiture or a repayment obligation) or may be deemed to be reinvested in additional shares of Stock, which may thereafter accrue additional Dividend Equivalent Rights (with or without being subject to forfeiture or a repayment obligation). Any such reinvestment shall be at the Fair Market Value thereof on the date of such reinvestment. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash or shares of Stock or a combination thereof, in a single installment or in multiple installments, all as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award may provide that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall be settled upon exercise, settlement, or payment of, or lapse of restrictions on, such other Award, and that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall expire or be forfeited or annulled under the same conditions as such other Award. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award also may contain terms and conditions which are different from the terms and conditions of such other Award,providedthat Dividend Equivalent Rights credited pursuant to a Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award which vests or is earned based upon the achievement of performance goals shall not vest unless such performance goals for such underlying Award are achieved, and if such performance goals are not achieved, the Grantee of such Dividend Equivalent Rights shall promptly forfeit and repay to the Company payments made in connection with such Dividend Equivalent Rights. Unless the Committee otherwise provides in an Award Agreement, in another agreement with the Grantee, or otherwise in writing after such Award Agreement is issued, a Grantee’s rights in all Dividend Equivalent Rights shall automatically terminate upon such Grantee’s termination of Service for any reason. B-19 Appendix B 14.TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS 14.1Grant of Performance-Based Awards. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Performance-Based Awards to a Plan participant in such amounts and upon such terms as the Committee shall determine. 14.2Value of Performance-Based Awards. Each grant of a Performance-Based Award shall have an actual or target number of shares of Stock or initial value that is established by the Committee at the time of grant. The Committee shall set performance goals in its discretion which, depending on the extent to which they are achieved, shall determine the value and/or number of shares of Stock subject to a Performance-Based Award that will be paid out to the Grantee thereof.
Subject to the terms of the Plan, in particularSection 14.6.3 14.4Form and Timing of Payment of Performance-Based Awards. Payment of earned Performance-Based Awards shall be made in the manner described in the applicable Award Agreement as determined by the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may pay earned Performance-Based Awards in the form of cash or shares of Stock (or a combination thereof) equal to the value of such earned Performance-Based Awards and shall pay the Awards that have been earned at the close of the applicable Performance Period, or as soon as reasonably practicable after the Committee has determined that the performance goal or goals relating thereto have been achieved;provided that, unless specifically provided in the Award Agreement for such Awards, such payment shall occur no later than the 15th day of the third month following the end of the calendar year in which such Performance Period ends. Any shares of Stock paid out under such Performance-Based Awards may be granted subject to any restrictions deemed appropriate by the Committee. The determination of the Committee with respect to the form of payout of such Performance-Based Awards shall be set forth in the Award Agreement therefor. The right of a Grantee to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of any Performance-Based Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions as may be specified by the Committee. The Committee may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions. If and to the extent required under Code Section 162(m), any power or authority relating to an Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m) shall be exercised by the Committee and not by the Board. 14.6Performance-Based Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees. If and to the extent that the Committee determines that a Performance-Based Award to be granted to a Grantee should constitute “qualified performance-based compensation” for purposes of Code Section 162(m), the grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Award shall be contingent upon achievement of pre-established performance goals and other terms set forth in thisSection 14.6 B-20 Appendix B 14.6.1Performance Goals Generally. The performance goals for Performance-Based Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with thisSection 14.6 14.6.2Timing For Establishing Performance Goals. Performance goals for any Performance-Based Award shall be established not later than the earlier of(a) 90 days after the beginning of any Performance Period applicable to such Award, and(b) the date on which twenty-five percent (25%) of any Performance Period applicable to such Award has expired, or at such other date as may be required or permitted for compensation payable to a Covered Employee to constitute Performance-Based Compensation.
Payment of Performance-Based Awards shall be in cash, shares of Stock, or other Awards, including an Award that is subject to additional Service-based vesting, as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, reduce the amount of a payment otherwise to be made in connection with such Awards. The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Performance-Based Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of Service by the Grantee prior to the end of a Performance Period or settlement of such Awards. In the event payment of the Performance-Based Award is made in the form of another Award subject to Service-based vesting, the Committee shall specify the circumstances in which the payment Award will be paid or forfeited in the event of a termination of Service. The performance goals upon which the payment or vesting of a Performance-Based Award to a Covered Employee that is intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation may be conditioned shall be limited to the following Performance Measures, with or without adjustment: (a)net earnings or net income; (e)share price, including growth measures and total stockholder return; (f)earnings before interest and taxes; (g)earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization; B-21 Appendix B (h)earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization as adjusted to exclude any one or more of the following: stock-based compensation expense; income from discontinued operations; gain on cancellation of debt; debt extinguishment and related costs; restructuring, separation and/or integration charges and costs; reorganization and/or recapitalization charges and costs; impairment charges; gain or loss related to investments; sales and use tax settlement; and gain on non-monetary transactions. (i)sales or revenue growth, whether in general, by type of product or service, or by type of customer; (j)gross or operating margins; (k)return measures, including return on assets, capital, investment, equity, sales or revenue; operating cash flow;
levered free cash flow, defined as free cash flow less interest expense; cash flow return on equity; and cash flow return on investment; (p)financial ratios as provided in credit agreements of the Company and its subsidiaries; (r)completion of acquisitions of businesses or companies; B-22 Appendix B (v)burn rates; (w)resource and reserve identification and targeting; (x)attainment of measurable objectives with respect to compliant resource statements or technical reports; (y)safety and environmental performance; (z)completion of capital markets transactions as approved by the Board; or (aa)any combination of the foregoing business criteria. Performance under any of the foregoing Performance Measures(a) may be used to measure the performance of(i) the Company and its Subsidiaries and other Affiliates as a whole, (ii) the Company, any Subsidiary, and/or any other Affiliate or any combination thereof, or (iii) any one or more business units of the Company, any Subsidiary, and/or any other Affiliate, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate and(b) may be compared to the performance of one or more other companies or one or more published or special indices designated or approved by the Committee for such comparison, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. In addition, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may select performance under the Performance Measure specified in clause (e) above for comparison to performance under one or more stock market indices designated or approved by the Committee. The Committee also shall have the authority to provide for accelerated vesting of any Performance-Based Award based on the achievement of performance goals pursuant to the Performance Measures specified in thisSection 14 14.6.5Evaluation of Performance. The Committee may provide in any Performance-Based Award that any evaluation of performance may include or exclude any of the following events that occur during a Performance Period: (a) asset write-downs;
(b) litigation or claims, judgments or settlements;(c) the effect of changes in tax laws, accounting principles or other laws or provisions affecting reported results;(d) any reorganization or restructuring events or programs;(e) extraordinary, non-core, non-operating or non-recurring items;(f) acquisitions or divestitures; and(g) foreign exchange gains and losses. To the extent such inclusions or exclusions affect Awards to Covered Employees that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, such inclusions or exclusions shall be prescribed in a form that meets the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for deductibility. 14.6.6Adjustment of Performance-Based Compensation. The Committee shall have the sole discretion to adjust Awards that are intended to qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, either on a formula or discretionary basis, or on any combination thereof, as the Committee determines consistent with the requirements of Code Section 162(m) for deductibility. In the event that Applicable Laws change to permit Committee discretion to alter the governing Performance Measures without obtaining stockholder approval of such changes, the Committee shall have sole discretion to make such changes without obtaining stockholder approval,provided that the exercise of such discretion shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of Code Section 162(m). In addition, in the event that the Committee determines that it is advisable to grant Awards that shall not qualify as Performance-Based Compensation, the Committee may make such grants without satisfying the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and base vesting on Performance Measures other than those set forth inSection 14.6.4 B-23 Appendix B 14.7Status of Awards Under Code Section 162(m). It is the intent of the Company that Performance-Based Awards underSection 14.6 If any Grantee is a “disqualified individual,” as defined in Code Section 280G(c), then, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or of any other agreement, contract, or understanding heretofore or hereafter entered into by such Grantee with the Company or an Affiliate, except an agreement, contract, or understanding that expressly addresses Code Section 280G or Code Section 4999 (an “Other Agreement”), and notwithstanding any formal or informal plan or other arrangement for the direct or indirect provision of compensation to the Grantee (including groups or classes of Grantees or beneficiaries of which the Grantee is a member), whether or not such compensation is deferred, is in cash, or is in the form of a benefit to or for the Grantee (a “Benefit Arrangement”), any right of the Grantee to any exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit under the Plan shall be reduced or eliminated: (a)to the extent that such right to exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit, taking into account all other rights, payments, or benefits to or for the Grantee under the Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements, would cause any exercise, vesting, payment, or benefit to the Grantee under the Plan to be considered a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(2) as then in effect (a “Parachute Payment”); and (b)if, as a result of receiving such Parachute Payment, the aggregate after-tax amounts received by the Grantee from the Company under the Plan, all Other Agreements, and all Benefit Arrangements would be less than the maximum after-tax amount that could be received by the Grantee without causing any such payment or benefit to be considered a Parachute Payment.
The Company shall accomplish such reduction by first reducing or eliminating any cash payments (with the payments to be made furthest in the future being reduced first), then by reducing or eliminating any accelerated vesting of Performance-Based Awards, then by reducing or eliminating any accelerated vesting of Options or SARs, then by reducing or eliminating any accelerated vesting of Restricted Stock or Stock Units, then by reducing or eliminating any other remaining Parachute Payments. The Company shall not be required to offer, sell or issue any shares of Stock under any Award, whether pursuant to the exercise of an Option or SAR or otherwise, if the offer, sale or issuance of such shares of Stock would constitute a violation by the Grantee, the Company or an Affiliate, or any other person, of any provision of Applicable Laws, including any federal or state securities laws or regulations. If at any time the Company shall determine, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of any shares of Stock subject to an Award upon any securities exchange or under any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the offering, issuance, sale or purchase of shares of Stock in connection with any Award, no shares of Stock may be B-24 Appendix B offered, issued or sold to the Grantee or any other person under such Award, whether pursuant to the exercise of an Option or SAR or otherwise, unless such listing, registration or qualification shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Company, and any delay caused thereby shall in no way affect the date of termination of such Award. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, upon the exercise of any Option or any SAR that may be settled in shares of Stock or the delivery of any shares of Stock underlying an Award, unless a registration statement under the Securities Act is in effect with respect to the shares of Stock subject to such Award, the Company shall not be required to offer, sell or issue such shares of Stock unless the Committee shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that the Grantee or any other person exercising such Option or SAR or accepting delivery of such shares may acquire such shares of Stock pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act. Any determination in this connection by the Committee shall be final, binding, and conclusive. The Company may register, but shall in no event be obligated to register, any shares of Stock or other securities issuable pursuant to the Plan pursuant to the Securities Act. The Company shall not be obligated to take any affirmative action in order to cause the exercise of an Option or a SAR or the issuance of shares of Stock or other securities issuable pursuant to the Plan or any Award to comply with any Applicable Laws. As to any jurisdiction that expressly imposes the requirement that an Option or SAR that may be settled in shares of Stock shall not be exercisable until the shares of Stock subject to such Option or SAR are registered under the securities laws thereof or are exempt from such registration, the exercise of such Option or SAR under circumstances in which the laws of such jurisdiction apply shall be deemed conditioned upon the effectiveness of such registration or the availability of such an exemption. During any time when the Company has a class of equity security registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, it is the intention of the Company that Awards pursuant to the Plan and the exercise of Options and SARs granted hereunder that would otherwise be subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act shall qualify for the exemption provided by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. To the extent that any provision of the Plan or action by the Committee does not comply with the requirements of such Rule 16b-3, such provision or action shall be deemed inoperative with respect to such Awards to the extent permitted by Applicable Laws and deemed advisable by the Committee, and shall not affect the validity of the Plan. In the event that such Rule 16b-3 is revised or replaced, the Board may exercise its discretion to modify the Plan in any respect necessary or advisable in its judgment to satisfy the requirements of, or to permit the Company to avail itself of the benefits of, the revised exemption or its replacement. 17.EFFECT OF CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION If the number of outstanding shares of Stock is increased or decreased or the shares of Stock are changed into or exchanged for a different number of shares or kind of capital stock or other securities of the
Company on account of any recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split, spin-off, combination of stock, exchange of stock, stock dividend or other distribution payable in capital stock, or other increase or decrease in shares of Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company occurring after the Effective Date, the number and kinds of shares of stock for which grants of Options and other Awards may be made under the Plan, including the share limits set forth inSection 6.2 B-25 Appendix B dividend, but excluding a non-extraordinary dividend, declared and paid by the Company) without receipt of consideration by the Company, the Board or the Committee constituted pursuant toSection 3.1.2 17.2Reorganization in Which the Company Is the Surviving Entity Which Does not Constitute a Change in Control. Subject toSection 17.3 17.3Change in Control in which Awards are not Assumed. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or in another agreement with the Grantee, or as otherwise set forth in writing, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control in which outstanding Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Rights or Other Equity-Based Awards are not being assumed or continued, the following provisions shall apply to such Award, to the extent not assumed or continued: (a)in each case with the exception of Performance-Based Awards, all outstanding Restricted Stock shall be deemed to have vested, all Stock Units shall be deemed to have vested and the shares of Stock subject thereto shall be delivered, and all Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be deemed to have vested and the shares of Stock subject thereto shall be delivered, immediately prior to the occurrence of such Change in Control, and either of the following two actions shall be taken: (i)fifteen (15) days prior to thescheduled consummation of such Change in Control, all Options and SARs outstanding hereunder shall become immediately
exercisable and shall remain exercisable for a period of fifteen (15) days, which exercise shall be effective upon such consummation; or (ii)the Committee may elect, in its sole discretion, to cancel any outstanding Awards of Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Stock Units and/or Dividend Equivalent Rights and pay or deliver, or cause to be paid or delivered, to the holder thereof an amount in cash or securities having a value (as determined by the Committee acting in good faith), in the case of Restricted Stock or Stock Units and Dividend Equivalent Rights (for shares of Stock subject thereto), equal to the formula or fixed price per share paid to holders of shares of Stock pursuant to such Change in Control and, in the case of Options or B-26 Appendix B SARs, equal to the product of the number of shares of Stock subject to such Options or SARs (the “Award Stock”) multiplied by the amount, if any, by which(x) the formula or fixed price per share paid to holders of shares of Stock pursuant to such transaction exceeds(y) the Option Price or SAR Price applicable to such Award Stock. (b)For Performance-Based Awards denominated in Stock, if less than half of the Performance Period has lapsed, such Awards shall be treated as though target performance has been achieved. If at least half the Performance Period has lapsed, actual performance to date shall be determined as of a date reasonably proximal to the date of consummation of the Change in Control as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, and that level of performance thus determined shall be treated as achieved immediately prior to occurrence of the Change in Control. For purposes of the preceding sentence, if, based on the discretion of the Committee, actual performance is not determinable, the Awards shall be treated as though target performance has been achieved. After application of this Section17.3(b), if any Awards arise from application of this Section17, such Awards shall be settled under the applicable provision of Section17.3(a). (c)Other Equity-Based Awards shall be governed by the terms of the applicable Award Agreement. With respect to the Company’s establishment of an exercise window,(A) any exercise of an Option or SAR during the fifteen (15)-day period referred to above shall be conditioned upon the consummation of the applicable Change in Control and shall be effective only immediately before the consummation thereof, and(B) upon consummation of any Change in Control, the Plan and all outstanding but unexercised Options and SARs shall terminate. The Committee shall send notice of an event that shall result in such a termination to all natural persons and entities who hold Options and SARs not later than the time at which the Company gives notice thereof to its stockholders. 17.4Change in Control in which Awards are Assumed. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Award Agreement or in another agreement with the Grantee, or as otherwise set forth in writing, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control in which outstanding Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Rights or Other Equity-Based Awards are being assumed or continued, the following provisions shall apply to such Award, to the extent assumed or continued: The Plan and the Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Other Equity-Based Awards granted under the Plan shall continue in the manner and under the terms so provided in the event of any Change in Control to the extent that provision is made in writing in connection with such Change in Control for the assumption or continuation of such Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Other Equity-Based Awards, or for the substitution for such Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Stock Units, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Other Equity-Based Awards of new common stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, common stock units, dividend equivalent rights and other equity-based awards relating to the stock of a successor entity, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the
number of shares (disregarding any consideration that is not common stock) and option and stock appreciation rights exercise prices. In the event an Award is assumed, continued or substituted upon the consummation of any Change in Control and the employment of such Grantee with the Company or an Affiliate is terminated without Cause within one year following the consummation of such Change in Control, such Award shall be fully vested and may be exercised in full, to the extent applicable, beginning on the date of such termination and for the one-year period immediately following such termination or for such longer period as the Committee shall determine. B-27 Appendix B 17.5Adjustments Adjustments under thisSection 17 17.6No Limitations on Company. The making of Awards pursuant to the Plan shall not affect or limit in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations, or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, or liquidate, or to sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets (including all or any part of the business or assets of any Subsidiary or other Affiliate) or engage in any other transaction or activity. No provision in the Plan or in any Award or Award Agreement shall be construed to confer upon any individual the right to remain in the employ or Service of the Company or an Affiliate, or to interfere in any way with any contractual or other right or authority of the Company or an Affiliate either to increase or decrease the compensation or other payments to any natural person or entity at any time, or to terminate any employment or other relationship between any natural person or entity and the Company or an Affiliate. In addition, notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, unless otherwise stated in the applicable Award Agreement, in another agreement with the Grantee, or otherwise in writing, no Award granted under the Plan shall be affected by any change of duties or position of the Grantee thereof, so long as such Grantee continues to provide Service. The obligation of the Company to pay any benefits pursuant to the Plan shall be interpreted as a contractual obligation to pay only those amounts provided herein, in the manner and under the conditions prescribed herein. The Plan and Awards shall in no way be interpreted to require the Company to transfer any amounts to a third-party trustee or otherwise hold any amounts in trust or escrow for payment to any Grantee or beneficiary under the terms of the Plan. 18.2Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the submission of the Plan to the stockholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations upon the right and authority of the Board to adopt such other incentive compensation arrangements (which arrangements may be applicable either generally to a class or classes of individuals or specifically to a particular individual or particular individuals) as the Board in its discretion determines desirable.
The Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, shall have the right to deduct from payments of any kind otherwise due to a Grantee any federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to the vesting of or other lapse of restrictions applicable to an Award or upon the issuance of any shares of Stock upon the exercise of an Option or pursuant to any other Award. At the time of such vesting, lapse, or exercise, the Grantee shall B-28 Appendix B pay in cash to the Company or an Affiliate, as the case may be, any amount that the Company or such Affiliate may reasonably determine to be necessary to satisfy such withholding obligation;providedthat if there is a same-day sale of shares of Stock subject to an Award, the Grantee shall pay such withholding obligation on the day on which such same-day sale is completed. Subject to the prior approval of the Company or an Affiliate, which may be withheld by the Company or such Affiliate, as the case may be, in its sole discretion, the Grantee may elect to satisfy such withholding obligation, in whole or in part,(a) by causing the Company or such Affiliate to withhold shares of Stock otherwise issuable to the Grantee or(b) by delivering to the Company or such Affiliate shares of Stock already owned by the Grantee. The shares of Stock so withheld or delivered shall have an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to such withholding obligation. The Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock used to satisfy such withholding obligation shall be determined by the Company or such Affiliate as of the date on which the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. A Grantee who has made an election pursuant to thisSection 18.3 The use of captions in the Plan or any Award Agreement is for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning of any provision of the Plan or such Award Agreement. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in the Plan to “including” shall mean “including, without limitation.” Each Award granted under the Plan may contain such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. With respect to words used in the Plan, the singular form shall include the plural form and the masculine gender shall include the feminine gender, as the context requires.
If any provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement shall be determined to be illegal or unenforceable by any court of law in any jurisdiction, the remaining provisions hereof and thereof shall be severable and enforceable in accordance with their terms, and all provisions shall remain enforceable in any other jurisdiction. B-29 Appendix B 18.9Governing Law. The validity and construction of the Plan and the instruments evidencing the Awards hereunder shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, other than any conflicts or choice of law rule or principle that might otherwise refer construction or interpretation of the Plan and the instruments evidencing the Awards granted hereunder to the substantive laws of any other jurisdiction. 18.10Section 409A of the Code. The Company intends to comply with Code Section 409A, or an exemption to Code Section 409A, with regard to Awards hereunder that constitute nonqualified deferred compensation within the meaning of Code Section 409A. To the extent that the Company determines that a Grantee would be subject to the additional twenty percent (20%) tax imposed on certain nonqualified deferred compensation plans pursuant to Code Section 409A as a result of any provision of any Award granted under the Plan, such provision shall be deemed amended to the minimum extent necessary to avoid application of such additional tax. The nature of any such amendment shall be determined by the Committee. * * *
B-30
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