Merck & Co. Inc. Contracts
Sample Business Contracts
2001 Incentive Stock Plan - Merck & Co. Inc.
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MERCK & CO., INC.
2001 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN
(amended and restated
July 22, 2003)
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2001 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN
The 2001 Incentive Stock Plan ("ISP"), effective January 1, 2001, is
established to encourage employees of Merck & Co., Inc. (the "Company"), its
subsidiaries, its affiliates and its joint ventures to acquire Common Stock in
the Company ("Common Stock"). It is believed that the ISP will stimulate
employees' efforts on the Company's behalf, will tend to maintain and strengthen
their desire to remain with the Company, will be in the interest of the Company
and its Stockholders and will encourage such employees to have a greater
personal financial investment in the Company through ownership of its Common
Stock.
1. INCENTIVES
Incentives under the ISP may be granted in any one or a combination of (a)
Incentive Stock Options (or other statutory stock options); (b) Nonqualified
Stock Options; (c) Stock Appreciation Rights; (d) Restricted Stock Grants and
(e) Performance Shares (collectively "Incentives"). All Incentives shall be
subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and to such other terms and
conditions as may be established by the Compensation and Benefits Committee of
the Board of Directors (the "Committee").
2. ELIGIBILITY
Regular full-time and part-time employees of the Company, its
subsidiaries, its affiliates and its joint ventures, including officers, whether
or not directors of the Company, and employees of a joint venture partner or
affiliate of the Company who provide services to the joint venture with such
partner or affiliate, shall be eligible to participate in the ISP ("Eligible
Employees") if designated by the Committee. Directors of the Company who are not
regular employees are not eligible to participate in the ISP.
3. ADMINISTRATION
The ISP shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee shall be
responsible for the administration of the ISP including, without limitation,
determining which Eligible Employees receive Incentives, what kind of Incentives
are made under the ISP and for what number of shares, and the other terms and
conditions of such Incentives. Determinations by the Committee under the ISP
including, without limitation, determinations of the Eligible Employees, the
form, amount and timing of Incentives, the terms and provisions of Incentives
and the agreements evidencing Incentives, need not be uniform and may be made
selectively among Eligible Employees who receive, or are eligible to receive,
Incentives hereunder, whether or not such Eligible Employees are similarly
situated.
The Committee shall have the responsibility of construing and interpreting
the ISP and of establishing and amending such rules and regulations as it may
deem necessary or desirable for the proper administration of the ISP. Any
decision or action taken or to be taken by the Committee, arising out of or in
connection with the construction, administration, interpretation and effect of
the ISP and of its rules and regulations, shall, to the maximum extent permitted
by applicable law, be within its absolute discretion (except as otherwise
specifically provided herein) and shall be conclusive and binding upon the
Company, all Eligible Employees and any person claiming under or through any
Eligible Employee.
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The Committee may delegate some or all of its power and authority
hereunder to the Chief Executive Officer or other senior member of management as
the Committee deems appropriate; provided, however, that the Committee may not
delegate its authority with regard to any matter or action affecting an officer
subject to Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
For the purpose of this section and all subsequent sections, the ISP shall
be deemed to include this plan and any comparable sub-plans established by
subsidiaries which, in the aggregate, shall constitute one plan governed by the
terms set forth herein.
4. SHARES AVAILABLE FOR INCENTIVES
(a) SHARES SUBJECT TO ISSUANCE OR TRANSFER. Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 4(c) hereof, there is hereby reserved for issuance under the
ISP 95 million shares of Common Stock. The shares available for granting awards
shall be increased by the number of shares as to which options or other benefits
granted under the ISP have lapsed, expired, terminated or been canceled. In
addition, any shares reserved for issuance under the Company's 1996 Incentive
Stock Plan and 1991 Incentive Stock Plan ("Prior Plans") in excess of the number
of shares as to which options or other benefits have been awarded thereunder,
plus any such shares as to which options or other benefits granted under the
Prior Plans may lapse, expire, terminate or be canceled, shall also be reserved
and available for issuance or reissuance under the ISP. Shares under this ISP
may be delivered by the Company from its authorized but unissued shares of
Common Stock or from Common Stock held in the Treasury.
(b) LIMIT ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S INCENTIVES. In any given year, no Eligible
Employee may receive Incentives covering more than three (3) million shares of
the Company's Common Stock (such number of shares shall be adjusted in
accordance with Section 4(c)).
(c) ADJUSTMENT OF SHARES. In the event of a reorganization,
recapitalization, stock split, stock dividend, combination of shares, merger,
consolidation, rights offering, spin off, split off, split up or other event
identified by the Committee, the Committee shall make such adjustments, if any,
as it may deem appropriate in (i) the number and kind of shares authorized for
issuance under the ISP, (ii) the number and kind of shares subject to
outstanding Incentives, (iii) the option price of Stock Options and (iv) the
fair market value of stock appreciation rights.
5. STOCK OPTIONS
The Committee may grant options qualifying as Incentive Stock Options
under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor code
thereto (the "Code"), other statutory options under the Code and Nonqualified
Options (collectively "Stock Options"). Such Stock Options shall be subject to
the following terms and conditions and such other terms and conditions as the
Committee may prescribe:
(a) OPTION PRICE. The option price per share with respect to each
Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee, but shall not be less
than 100% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the
Stock Option is granted, as determined by the Committee.
(b) PERIOD OF OPTION. The period of each Stock Option shall be fixed
by the Committee, but shall not exceed ten (10) years.
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(c) PAYMENT. No shares shall be issued until full payment of the
option price has been made. The option prices may be paid in cash or, if
the Committee determines, in shares of Common Stock or a combination of
cash and shares. If the Committee approves the use of shares of Common
Stock as a payment method, the Committee shall establish such conditions
as it deems appropriate for the use of Common Stock to exercise a stock
option. Stock options awarded under the ISP shall be exercised through the
Company's broker-assisted stock option exercise program, provided such
program is available at the time of the option exercise, or by such other
means as the Committee may determine from time to time. The Committee may
establish rules and procedures to permit an optionholder to defer
recognition of gain upon the exercise of a stock option.
(d) EXERCISE OF OPTION. The Committee shall determine how and when
shares covered by a Stock Option may be purchased. The Committee may
establish waiting periods, the dates on which options become exercisable
or "vested" and exercise periods, provided that in no event (including
those specified in paragraphs (e), (f) and (g) of this section) shall any
Stock Option be exercisable after its specified expiration period.
(e) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Upon the termination of a Stock
Option grantee's employment (for any reason other than retirement, death
or termination for deliberate, willful or gross misconduct), Stock Option
privileges shall be limited to the shares which were immediately
exercisable at the date of such termination. The Committee, however, in
its discretion, may provide that any Stock Options outstanding but not yet
exercisable upon the termination of a Stock Option grantee's employment
may become exercisable in accordance with a schedule as may be determined
by the Committee. Such Stock Option privileges shall expire unless
exercised or surrendered under a Stock Appreciation Right within such
period of time after the date of termination of employment as may be
established by the Committee, but in no event later than the expiration
date of the Stock Option.
(f) RETIREMENT. Upon retirement of a Stock Option grantee, Stock
Option privileges shall apply to those shares immediately exercisable at
the date of retirement. The Committee, however, in its discretion, may
provide that any Stock Options outstanding but not yet exercisable upon
the retirement of a Stock Option grantee may become exercisable in
accordance with a schedule as may be determined by the Committee. Stock
Option privileges shall expire unless exercised within such period of time
as may be established by the Committee, but in no event later than the
expiration date of the Stock Option.
(g) DEATH. Upon the death of a Stock Option grantee, Stock Option
privileges shall apply to those shares which were immediately exercisable
at the time of death. The Committee, however, in its discretion, may
provide that any Stock Options outstanding but not yet exercisable upon
the death of a Stock Option grantee may become exercisable in accordance
with a schedule as may be determined by the Committee. Such privileges
shall expire unless exercised by legal representative(s) within a period
of time as determined by the Committee, but in no event later than the
expiration date of the Stock Option.
(h) TERMINATION DUE TO MISCONDUCT. If a Stock Option grantee's
employment is terminated for deliberate, willful or gross misconduct, as
determined by the Company, all rights under the Stock Option shall expire
upon receipt of the notice of such termination.
(i) LIMITS ON INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS. Except as may otherwise be
permitted by the Code, the Committee shall not grant to an Eligible
Employee Incentive Stock Options that, in the aggregate, are first
exercisable during any one calendar year to the extent that the aggregate
fair market value of the Common Stock, at the time the Incentive Stock
Options are granted, exceeds $100,000, or such other amount as the
Internal Revenue Service may decide from time to time.
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6. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
The Committee may, in its discretion, grant a right to receive the
appreciation in the fair market value of shares of Common Stock ("Stock
Appreciation Right") either singly or in combination with an underlying Stock
Option granted hereunder or under the Prior Plans. Such Stock Appreciation
Rights shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and such other
terms and conditions as the Committee may prescribe:
(a) TIME AND PERIOD OF GRANT. If a Stock Appreciation Right is
granted with respect to an underlying Stock Option, it may be granted at
the time of the Stock Option grant or at any time thereafter but prior to
the expiration of the Stock Option grant. If a Stock Appreciation Right is
granted with respect to an underlying Stock Option, at the time the Stock
Appreciation Right is granted the Committee may limit the exercise period
for such Stock Appreciation Right, before and after which period no Stock
Appreciation Right shall attach to the underlying Stock Option. In no
event shall the exercise period for a Stock Appreciation Right granted
with respect to an underlying Stock Option exceed the exercise period for
such Stock Option. If a Stock Appreciation Right is granted without an
underlying Stock Option, the period for exercise of the Stock Appreciation
Right shall be set by the Committee.
(b) VALUE OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT. If a Stock Appreciation Right
is granted with respect to an underlying Stock Option, the grantee will be
entitled to surrender the Stock Option which is then exercisable and
receive in exchange therefor an amount equal to the excess of the fair
market value of the Common Stock on the date the election to surrender is
received by the Company over the Stock Option price multiplied by the
number of shares covered by the Stock Option which is surrendered. If a
Stock Appreciation Right is granted without an underlying Stock Option,
the grantee will receive upon exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right an
amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the Common Stock on
the date the election to surrender such Stock Appreciation Right is
received by the Company over the fair market value of the Common Stock on
the date of grant multiplied by the number of shares covered by the grant
of the Stock Appreciation Right.
(c) PAYMENT OF STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT. Payment of a Stock
Appreciation Right shall be in the form of shares of Common Stock, cash or
any combination of shares and cash. The form of payment upon exercise of
such a right shall be determined by the Committee either at the time of
grant of the Stock Appreciation Right or at the time of exercise of the
Stock Appreciation Right.
7. PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARDS
The Committee may grant awards under which payment may be made in shares
of Common Stock, cash or any combination of shares and cash if the performance
of the Company or any subsidiary, division, affiliate or joint venture of the
Company selected by the Committee during the Award Period meets certain goals
established by the Committee ("Performance Share Awards"). Such Performance
Share Awards shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and such
other terms and conditions as the Committee may prescribe:
(a) AWARD PERIOD AND PERFORMANCE GOALS. The Committee shall
determine and include in a Performance Share Award grant the period of
time for which a Performance Share Award is made ("Award Period"). The
Committee shall also establish performance objectives ("Performance
Goals") to be met by the Company, subsidiary, division or joint venture
during the Award Period as a condition to payment of the Performance Share
Award. The Performance Goals may include earnings per share, return on
stockholders' equity, return on assets, net income or any other financial
or other measurement established by the Committee. The Performance Goals
may include minimum and optimum objectives or a single set of objectives.
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(b) PAYMENT OF PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARDS. The Committee shall
establish the method of calculating the amount of payment to be made under
a Performance Share Award if the Performance Goals are met, including the
fixing of a maximum payment. The Performance Share Award shall be
expressed in terms of shares of Common Stock and referred to as
"Performance Shares." After the completion of an Award Period, the
performance of the Company, subsidiary, division or joint venture shall be
measured against the Performance Goals, and the Committee shall determine
whether all, none or any portion of a Performance Share Award shall be
paid. The Committee, in its discretion, may elect to make payment in
shares of Common Stock, cash or a combination of shares and cash. Any cash
payment shall be based on the fair market value of Performance Shares on,
or as soon as practicable prior to, the date of payment.
(c) REVISION OF PERFORMANCE GOALS. At any time prior to the end of
an Award Period, the Committee may revise the Performance Goals and the
computation of payment if unforeseen events occur which have a substantial
effect on the performance of the Company, subsidiary, division or joint
venture and which, in the judgment of the Committee, make the application
of the Performance Goals unfair unless a revision is made.
(d) REQUIREMENT OF EMPLOYMENT. A grantee of a Performance Share
Award must remain in the employ of the Company until the completion of the
Award Period in order to be entitled to payment under the Performance
Share Award; provided that the Committee may, in its discretion, provide
for a full or partial payment where such an exception is deemed equitable.
(e) DIVIDENDS. The Committee may, in its discretion, at the time of
the granting of a Performance Share Award, provide that any dividends
declared on the Common Stock during the Award Period, and which would have
been paid with respect to Performance Shares had they been owned by a
grantee, be (i) paid to the grantee, or (ii) accumulated for the benefit
of the grantee and used to increase the number of Performance Shares of
the grantee.
(f) LIMIT ON PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARDS. Incentives granted as
Performance Share Awards under this section and Restricted Stock Grants
under Section 8 shall not exceed, in the aggregate, six (6) million shares
of Common Stock (such number of shares shall be adjusted in accordance
with Section 4(c)).
8. RESTRICTED STOCK GRANTS
The Committee may award shares of Common Stock to a grantee, which shares
shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and such other terms and
conditions as the Committee may prescribe ("Restricted Stock Grant"):
(a) REQUIREMENT OF EMPLOYMENT. A grantee of a Restricted Stock Grant
must remain in the employment of the Company during a period designated by
the Committee ("Restriction Period") in order to retain the shares under
the Restricted Stock Grant. If the grantee leaves the employment of the
Company prior to the end of the Restriction Period, the Restricted Stock
Grant shall terminate and the shares of Common Stock shall be returned
immediately to the Company provided that the Committee may, at the time of
the grant, provide for the employment restriction to lapse with respect to
a portion or portions of the Restricted Stock Grant at different times
during the Restriction Period. The Committee may, in its discretion, also
provide for such complete or partial exceptions to the employment
restriction as it deems equitable.
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(b) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER AND LEGEND ON STOCK CERTIFICATES.
During the Restriction Period, the grantee may not sell, assign, transfer,
pledge or otherwise dispose of the shares of Common Stock. Each
certificate for shares of Common Stock issued hereunder shall contain a
legend giving appropriate notice of the restrictions in the grant.
(c) ESCROW AGREEMENT. The Committee may require the grantee to enter
into an escrow agreement providing that the certificates representing the
Restricted Stock Grant will remain in the physical custody of an escrow
holder until all restrictions are removed or expire.
(d) LAPSE OF RESTRICTIONS. All restrictions imposed under the
Restricted Stock Grant shall lapse upon the expiration of the Restriction
Period if the conditions as to employment set forth above have been met.
The grantee shall then be entitled to have the legend removed from the
certificates.
(e) DIVIDENDS. The Committee shall, in its discretion, at the time
of the Restricted Stock Grant, provide that any dividends declared on the
Common Stock during the Restriction Period shall either be (i) paid to the
grantee, or (ii) accumulated for the benefit of the grantee and paid to
the grantee only after the expiration of the Restriction Period.
(f) LIMIT ON RESTRICTED STOCK GRANT. Incentives granted as
Restricted Stock Grants under this section and Performance Share Awards
under Section 7 shall not exceed, in the aggregate, six (6) million shares
of Common Stock (such number of shares shall be adjusted in accordance
with Section 4(c)).
9. TRANSFERABILITY
Each Incentive Stock Option granted under the ISP shall not be
transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution; each
other Incentive granted under the ISP will not be transferable or assignable by
the recipient, and may not be made subject to execution, attachment or similar
procedures, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution or as
determined by the Committee in accordance with regulations promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any other applicable law or regulation.
10. DISCONTINUANCE OR AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN
The Board of Directors may discontinue the ISP at any time and may from
time to time amend or revise the terms of the ISP as permitted by applicable
statutes, except that it may not revoke or alter, in a manner unfavorable to the
grantees of any Incentives hereunder, any Incentives then outstanding, nor may
the Board amend the ISP without stockholder approval where the absence of such
approval would cause the Plan to fail to comply with Rule 16b-3 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any other requirement of applicable law or
regulation. Unless approved by the Company's stockholders, no adjustments or
reduction of the exercise price of any outstanding Incentives shall be made by
cancellation of outstanding Incentives and the subsequent regranting of
Incentives at a lower price to the same individual. No Incentive shall be
granted under the ISP after December 31, 2003, but Incentives granted
theretofore may extend beyond that date.
11. NO RIGHT OF EMPLOYMENT OR PARTICIPATION
The ISP and the Incentives granted hereunder shall not confer upon any
Eligible Employee the right to continued employment with the Company, its
subsidiaries, its affiliates or its joint ventures or affect in any way the
right of such entities to terminate the employment of an Eligible Employee at
any time and for any reason. No individual shall have a right to be granted an
Incentive, or having been granted an Incentive, to receive any future
Incentives.
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12. NO LIMITATION ON COMPENSATION
Nothing in the ISP shall be construed to limit the right of the Company to
establish other plans or to pay compensation to its employees, in cash or
property, in a manner which is not expressly authorized under the ISP.
13. NO IMPACT ON BENEFITS
Except as may otherwise be specifically stated under any employee benefit
plan, policy or program, no amount payable in respect of any Incentive shall be
treated as compensation for purposes of calculating an employee's right under
any such plan, policy or program.
14. NO CONSTRAINT ON CORPORATE ACTION
Nothing in the ISP shall be construed (i) to limit, impair or otherwise
affect the Company's right or power to make adjustments, reclassifications,
reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure, or to merge or
consolidate, or dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its
business or assets, or (ii) except as provided in Section 10, to limit the right
or power of the Company or any subsidiary to take any action which such entity
deems to be necessary or appropriate.
15. WITHHOLDING TAXES
The Company shall be entitled to deduct from any payment under the ISP,
regardless of the form of such payment, the amount of all applicable income and
employment taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payment or
may require the Eligible Employee to pay to it such tax prior to and as a
condition of the making of such payment. In accordance with any applicable
administrative guidelines it establishes, the Committee may allow an Eligible
Employee to pay the amount of taxes required by law to be withheld from an
Incentive by withholding from any payment of Common Stock due as a result of
such Incentive, or by permitting the Eligible Employee to deliver to the
Company, shares of Common Stock having a fair market value, as determined by the
Committee, equal to the amount of such required withholding taxes.
16. GOVERNING LAW
The ISP, and all agreements hereunder, shall be construed in accordance
with and governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey.
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