2002 Stock Plan for Associates - Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO.
2002 STOCK PLAN FOR ASSOCIATES
(as amended and restated May 22, 2003)
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of the Abercrombie & Fitch Co. 2002 Stock Plan for Associates (the
"Plan") is to promote the interests of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (the "Company")
and its stockholders by allowing the Company to attract and retain the best
available associates for itself and its subsidiaries and to encourage the
highest level of performance by such associates. The Plan is expected to
contribute to the attainment of these objectives by offering eligible associates
the opportunity to acquire shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per
share ("Shares"), of the Company, and other rights with respect to Shares of the
Company and to thereby provide them with incentives to put forth maximum efforts
for the success of the Company and its subsidiaries. Eligible associates may be
granted options to purchase Shares of the Company, Shares which are restricted
as provided in Section 6 of this Plan ("Restricted Shares") and stock units,
each representing the right to receive one Share as described in Section 7 of
this Plan ("Stock Units").
2. ADMINISTRATION
The Plan shall be administered by a committee (the "Committee") appointed by the
Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") and consisting of not less than two
(2) members of the Board. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee
shall be authorized to interpret the Plan; to establish, amend and rescind any
rules and regulations relating to the Plan; and to make all determinations
necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. In addition, subject
to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the power and authority
(a) to grant options and to determine the eligible associates to whom such
options will be granted, the purchase price of the Shares covered by each
option, the term of each option, the number of Shares covered by each option,
the vesting schedule applicable to each option and such other terms and
conditions pertaining to each option as the Committee may deem appropriate; (b)
to grant Restricted Shares and to determine the eligible associates to whom such
Restricted Shares will be granted, the number of Restricted Shares covered by
each grant, the duration of the restricted period applicable to the Restricted
Shares and such other terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to each
grant of Restricted Shares as the Committee may deem appropriate; and (c) to
grant Stock Units and to determine the eligible associates to whom such Stock
Units will be granted, the number of Stock Units covered by each grant, the
vesting schedule applicable to each Stock Unit and such other terms and
conditions pertaining to each Stock Unit as the Committee may deem appropriate.
The determinations of the Committee in the administration of the Plan, as
described herein, shall be final and conclusive. Any officer of the Company
shall be authorized to implement the Plan in accordance with its terms and to
take such actions of a ministerial nature as shall be necessary to effectuate
the intent and purposes thereof. The validity, construction and effect of the
Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
3. ELIGIBILITY
The class of individuals eligible to receive grants of options, Restricted
Shares and/or Stock Units (collectively, "Awards") under the Plan, shall be
associates of the Company or its subsidiaries ("Eligible Associates"). Any
holder of an Award granted under the Plan shall hereinafter be referred to as a
"Participant."
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4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
(a) Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 9, the maximum number of
Shares that may be delivered to Participants and their beneficiaries under the
Plan shall be 7,000,000 Shares. The Shares to be delivered under the Plan may
consist of either Shares currently held or Shares subsequently acquired by the
Company as treasury Shares, including Shares purchased in the open market or in
private transactions.
(b) In the event that prior to the date the Plan shall terminate in
accordance with Section 12, any Award granted under the Plan expires unexercised
or unvested or is terminated, surrendered or cancelled without the delivery of
Shares, or any Restricted Shares are forfeited back to the Company, then the
Shares subject to such Award may be made available for subsequent Awards under
the terms of the Plan. To the extent that any Shares covered by an Award are not
delivered to a Participant or beneficiary because the Award is settled in cash
or used to satisfy any applicable tax withholding obligation, such Shares shall
not be deemed to have been delivered for purposes of determining the maximum
number of Shares available for delivery under this Plan. If the exercise price
of any option granted under the Plan is satisfied by tendering already owned
Shares to the Company (either by actual delivery or by attestation), only the
number of Shares issued net of the Shares tendered shall be deemed delivered for
purposes of determining the maximum number of Shares available for delivery
under this Plan.
5. GRANT, TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS
(a) The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall select from among the
Eligible Associates the individuals to whom options to purchase Shares are to be
granted under this Plan. Options shall be granted in such form and upon such
terms and conditions, as the Committee shall from time to time determine.
(b) The options granted under this Plan shall be nonstatutory stock options
not intended to qualify under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code"), and shall have the following terms and conditions:
(i) Exercise Price. The purchase price per Share deliverable upon the
exercise of each option shall be 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the
date the option is granted. For purposes of this Plan, Fair Market Value shall
be the "closing price" of the Shares as reported on the principal exchange on or
through which the Shares are listed or traded for the date in question, or if
there were no sales on such date, the most recent prior date on which there were
sales.
(ii) Exercisability and Term of Options. Each option granted under the Plan
shall become exercisable pursuant to a vesting schedule, as determined by the
Committee, to be included in the option agreement described in paragraph (vi).
Subject to the provisions of Sections 5(c) and 5(d), once vested and
exercisable, each option granted under the Plan shall remain exercisable until
the earlier of (A) ten years from the date of grant and (B) the expiration of
the period described in paragraph (iv) below.
(iii) Exercise and Payment. An option granted under this Plan may be
exercised, in whole or in part, at such time or times as the Committee shall
determine. The Committee may, in its discretion, accelerate the exercisability
of any option at any time. Options may be exercised by a Participant by giving
written notice to any individual or individuals designated from time to time by
the Committee stating the number of Shares with respect to which the option is
being exercised and tendering payment therefor. The Committee shall develop
procedures through which a Participant may pay an option's exercise price,
including tendering Shares the Participant already owns, either by actual
delivery of the previously acquired Shares or by attestation, valued at the Fair
Market Value of the Shares on the exercise date, as partial or full payment of
the exercise price. As soon as reasonably practicable following such exercise,
the Shares purchased shall be registered in the name of the Participant.
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(iv) Termination of Service as Eligible Associate. Subject to the provisions
of Sections 5(c) and 5(d), upon termination of a Participant's service as an
associate of the Company and its subsidiaries for any reason, all outstanding
options held by such Participant, to the extent then vested and exercisable,
shall remain exercisable in whole or in part for the time period specified in
the agreement described in paragraph (vi) or otherwise provided at any time by
the Committee; provided that in no event shall the options be exercisable after
the tenth anniversary of the date of their grant.
(v) Nontransferability of Options. No option may be assigned, alienated,
pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred, encumbered or disposed of by a
Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and
during the lifetime of the Participant to whom an option is granted, it may be
exercised only by the Participant or by the Participant's guardian or legal
representative. Notwithstanding the foregoing, options may be transferred
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, as defined in Section 414(p)
of the Code or any successor provision.
(vi) Option Agreement. Each option granted under this Plan shall be
evidenced by an agreement with the Company which shall contain the terms and
conditions of the option and shall otherwise be consistent with the provisions
of this Plan.
(c) Death of Participant. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (ii)
and (iv) of Section 5(b) of this Plan, if a Participant should die while
employed by the Company or one of its subsidiaries or within three months after
the termination of such employment, all outstanding options held by such
Participant (whether or not then exercisable by their terms) shall become
immediately vested and exercisable in full by the Participant's estate or by the
person who acquires the right to exercise such options upon the Participant's
death by bequest or inheritance. Such exercise may occur at any time within one
year after the date of the Participant's death or such other period as the
Committee may at any time determine, provided that in no event shall any option
of a deceased Participant be exercisable after the tenth anniversary of the date
of its grant.
(d) Total Disability of Participant. Notwithstanding the provisions of
paragraphs (ii) and (iv) of Section 5(b) of this Plan, if a Participant's
employment with the Company and its subsidiaries ceases as a result of the
Participant's becoming totally disabled, all outstanding options held by such
Participant (whether or not then exercisable by their terms) shall become
immediately vested and exercisable in full. Such exercise may occur at any time
during the first nine months that the Participant receives benefits under the
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. Long-Term Disability Program or any successor plan or
program (the "Disability Plan"); provided that, in no event shall the options of
a totally disabled Participant be exercisable after the tenth anniversary of the
date of their grant. For purposes of this Plan, "total disability" shall have
the definition set forth in the Disability Plan, which definition is hereby
incorporated by reference.
(e) Change of Control. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, all
outstanding options held by Participants (whether or not then exercisable by
their terms) shall become immediately vested and exercisable in full. For
purposes of this Plan, the term "Change of Control" shall mean, unless otherwise
defined in an Award agreement, an occurrence of a nature that would be required
to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") or any successor rule
or regulation. Without limiting the inclusiveness of the definition in the
preceding sentence, a Change of Control of the Company shall be deemed to have
occurred as of the first day that any one or more of the following conditions is
satisfied: (i) any person is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act or any successor rule or regulation), directly
or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 20% or more of the
combined voting power of the Company's then outstanding securities and such
person would be deemed an
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"Acquiring Person" for purposes of the Rights Agreement dated as of July 16,
1998, as amended (the "Rights Agreement"), to which the Company and National
City Bank, as successor Rights Agent, are parties; or (ii) any of the following
occur: (A) any merger or consolidation of the Company, other than a merger or
consolidation in which the voting securities of the Company immediately prior to
the merger or consolidation continue to represent (either by remaining
outstanding or by being converted into securities of the surviving entity) 80%
or more of the combined voting power of the Company or surviving entity
immediately after the merger or consolidation with another entity; (B) any sale,
exchange, lease, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in a single
transaction or a series of related transactions) of assets or earning power
aggregating more than 50% of the assets or earning power of the Company and its
subsidiaries on a consolidated basis; (C) any complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Company; (D) any reorganization, reverse stock split or
recapitalization of the Company that would result in a Change of Control as
otherwise defined in this Plan; or (E) any transaction or series of related
transactions having, directly or indirectly, the same effect as any of the
foregoing.
6. GRANT, TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED SHARES
(a) The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall select from among the
Eligible Associates the individuals to whom Restricted Shares are to be granted
under this Plan. Restricted Shares shall be granted subject to such
restrictions, conditions and other terms as the Committee shall from time to
time determine. At the time a grant of Restricted Shares is made, the Committee
shall determine the duration of the period (the "Restricted Period") during
which, and the conditions under which, the Restricted Shares shall vest and no
longer be subject to forfeiture to the Company. The Committee may, in its
discretion, at the time a grant of Restricted Shares is made, prescribe
restrictions in addition to or other than the expiration of the Restricted
Period, including the satisfaction of corporate or individual performance
objectives which may be applicable to all or any portion of the Restricted
Shares.
(b) The Restricted Shares granted under this Plan shall have the following
terms and conditions:
(i) Nontransferability of Restricted Shares. Restricted Shares may not be
assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred,
encumbered or disposed of during the applicable Restricted Period or prior to
the satisfaction of any other restrictions prescribed by the Committee with
respect to such Restricted Shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Restricted
Shares may be transferred pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, as
defined in Section 414(p) of the Code or any successor provision.
(ii) Termination of Service as Eligible Associate. Except as the Committee
may at any time provide, any Restricted Shares granted to a Participant pursuant
to this Plan shall be forfeited if the Participant terminates employment with
the Company and its subsidiaries for any reason other than death or total
disability prior to the expiration or termination of the applicable Restricted
Period and the satisfaction of any other conditions applicable to such
Restricted Shares. Upon such forfeiture, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief
Financial Officer or the Secretary of the Company shall cause the Restricted
Shares that are forfeited to the Company to be either cancelled or retained as
treasury Shares. If a Participant shall die while employed by the Company or any
of its subsidiaries or if a Participant's employment with the Company and its
subsidiaries ceases as a result of the Participant's becoming totally disabled,
all restrictions and conditions applicable to the Restricted Shares held by the
Participant shall immediately lapse. Upon the retirement of a Participant, the
Committee may, in its sole discretion, shorten or terminate the Restricted
Period or waive any other restrictions or conditions applicable to all or a
portion of the Restricted Shares granted to such Participant.
(iii) Change of Control. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, all
restrictions and conditions applicable to the Restricted Shares held by
Participants shall immediately lapse.
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(iv) Award Agreement. Each grant of Restricted Shares under this Plan shall
be evidenced by an agreement with the Company which shall contain the terms and
conditions of the Restricted Shares and shall otherwise be consistent with the
provisions of this Plan.
(c) If the Committee deems it necessary or appropriate, the Company may
issue, in the name of each Participant to whom Restricted Shares have been
granted, one or more stock certificates representing the total number of
Restricted Shares granted to the Participant; provided that such stock
certificates bear an appropriate legend or other restriction on transfer. The
Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or the Secretary of the
Company shall hold such stock certificates, properly endorsed for transfer, for
the Participant's benefit until such time as the Restricted Shares are forfeited
to the Company, or the applicable Restricted Period expires and any other
conditions applicable to the Restricted Shares are satisfied.
(d) Except as determined by the Committee either at the time Restricted
Shares are granted or at any time thereafter prior to the lapse of the
applicable restrictions, holders of Restricted Shares shall not have the right
to vote such Restricted Shares or the right to receive any dividends with
respect to such Restricted Shares. All distributions, if any, received by a
Participant with respect to Restricted Shares as a result of any split-up,
distribution, combination of shares, or other similar transaction affecting the
Shares, shall be subject to the restrictions of this Section 6.
(e) Upon the expiration or termination of the applicable Restricted Period
and the satisfaction of any other conditions prescribed by the Committee, the
restrictions applicable to the Restricted Shares shall lapse and a stock
certificate for or other appropriate documentation evidencing the number of
Restricted Shares with respect to which the restrictions have lapsed shall be
delivered, free of all such restrictions, to the Eligible Associate or the
Eligible Associate's beneficiary or estate, as the case may be.
7. GRANT, TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF STOCK UNITS
(a) The Committee, in its sole discretion, shall select from among the
Eligible Associates the individuals to whom Stock Units are to be granted under
this Plan. Each Stock Unit shall represent the right to receive one Share. At
the time a grant of a Stock Unit is made, the Committee shall determine the
conditions under which such Stock Unit shall vest and the Share covered thereby
delivered to the holder of the Stock Unit.
(b) The Stock Units granted under this Plan shall have the following terms
and conditions:
(i) Nontransferability of Stock Units. No Stock Units may be assigned,
alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred, encumbered or
disposed of by a Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Stock Units may be transferred
pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, as defined in Section 414(p)
of the Code or any successor provision.
(ii) Termination of Service as Eligible Associate. Except as the Committee
may at any time provide, upon termination of a Participant's service as an
associate of the Company and its subsidiaries for any reason other than death or
total disability, all outstanding Stock Units held by such Participant which
shall not have vested shall be forfeited by the Participant.
(iii) Death of Participant. If a Participant should die while employed by the
Company or one of its subsidiaries, all outstanding Stock Units held by such
Participant (whether or not then vested by their terms) shall become immediately
vested in full and the Shares subject thereto deliverable to the Participant's
estate or the person who acquires the right to receive such Shares upon the
Participant's death by bequest or inheritance.
(iv) Total Disability of Participant. If a Participant's employment with the
Company and its subsidiaries ceases as a result of the Participant's becoming
totally disabled, all outstanding Stock Units held by such Participant (whether
or not then vested by their terms) shall become immediately vested in full and
the Shares subject thereto deliverable to the Participant.
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(v) Change of Control. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, all
outstanding Stock Units held by Participants (whether or not then vested by
their terms) shall become immediately vested in full and the Shares subject
thereto deliverable to the Participants.
(vi) Award Agreement. Each Stock Unit granted under this Plan shall be
evidenced by an agreement with the Company which shall contain the terms and
conditions of the Stock Unit and shall otherwise be consistent with the
provisions of this Plan.
8. TAX WITHHOLDING
(a) The Company will withhold from other amounts owed to a Participant, or
require the Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy
any applicable federal, state and local withholding tax requirements on any
Award under the Plan, exercise or cancellation of an Award or purchase of
Shares. If any such amounts are not to be withheld from other payments due to
the Participant, the Company will defer the issuance of Shares until the earlier
of:
(i) Thirty days after the settlement date; or
(ii) The date the Participant remits the required amount.
(b) If the Company has been unable to satisfy any tax withholding
obligations which the Company may have pursuant to Section 8(a) above, in its
discretion, the Committee may allow a Participant to elect, subject to
conditions the Committee establishes, to reimburse the Company for this tax
withholding obligation through one or more of the following methods:
(i) By having Shares otherwise issuable under the Plan withheld by the
Company (but only to the extent of the minimum amount that must be withheld to
comply with applicable state, federal and local income, employment and wage tax
laws);
(ii) By delivering to the Company previously acquired Shares;
(iii) By remitting cash to the Company; or
(iv) By remitting a personal check immediately payable to the
Company.
9. ADJUSTMENT AND CHANGES IN SHARES
If, after the Effective Date, there is a Share dividend or Share split,
recapitalization (including payment of an extraordinary dividend), merger,
consolidation, combination, spin-off, distribution of assets to stockholders,
exchange of shares, or other similar corporate change affecting the Shares, the
Committee shall appropriately adjust (a) the aggregate number of Shares
available for Awards under the Plan or subject to outstanding Awards, (b) the
respective exercise price, number of Shares and other limitations applicable to
outstanding Awards, and (c) any other factors, limits or terms affecting any
outstanding Awards.
10. PLAN AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
The Board may suspend, terminate, modify or amend the Plan at any time, as it
shall deem advisable or to conform to any change in any law or regulation
applicable thereto; provided that no such action shall be taken without
stockholder approval to the extent stockholder approval is required to satisfy
applicable requirements imposed by (a) Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, or any
successor rule or regulation; (b) applicable requirements of the Code; or (c)
the rules of any exchange on or through which the Shares are then listed or
traded. If the Plan is terminated, the terms of the Plan shall, notwithstanding
such termination, continue to apply to Awards granted prior to such termination.
No suspension, termination, modification or amendment of the Plan may, without
the consent of the Participant to whom an Award shall theretofore have been
granted, adversely affect the rights of such Participant under such Award.
11. APPLICABLE LAW AND REGISTRATION
The grant of Awards and the issuance of Shares shall be subject to all
applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such approvals by any
governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may be required.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Shares shall be issued under the Plan unless
the Company is satisfied that such issuance will be in compliance with
applicable
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federal and state securities laws. Shares issued under the Plan may be subject
to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem
advisable under the rules, regulations and other requirements of the Securities
and Exchange Commission, any exchange on or through which the Shares are then
listed or traded, or any applicable federal or state securities law. The
Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on any certificates
evidencing the Shares to make appropriate reference to restrictions within the
scope of this Section 11 or other provisions of the Plan.
12. EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF PLAN
This Plan became effective on January 31, 2002 (the "Effective Date"). The Plan
shall terminate on the day preceding the tenth anniversary of the Effective
Date, unless the Plan is extended or terminated at an earlier date by the Board
or is terminated by exhaustion of the Shares available for issuance hereunder.
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