Exhibit 10.1
CTS CORPORATION
2009 OMNIBUS EQUITY AND
PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION
1. PURPOSE: The purpose of the CTS Corporation
2009 Omnibus Equity and Performance Incentive Plan is to provide
certain employees and consultants of CTS Corporation and its
Affiliates and members of the Board with the opportunity to receive
stock-based and other incentive grants in order to attract,
motivate and retain qualified individuals and to align their
interests with those of shareholders.
SECTION
2. EFFECTIVE DATE:
This Plan will become effective as
of May 27, 2009, subject to the approval of the shareholders in
accordance with the Company’s Bylaws and the laws of the
State of Indiana at the Annual Meeting to be held on May 27,
2009. Unless sooner terminated as provided herein, the
Plan shall terminate on May 26, 2019. After the Plan is
terminated, no future Awards may be granted under the Plan, but
Awards previously granted shall remain outstanding in accordance
with their applicable terms and conditions. Furthermore,
no grants will be made on or after May 27, 2009 under the Prior
Plans. Subject to shareholder approval of the Plan at
the Annual Meeting to be held on May 27, 2009, no grants will be
made on or after May 27, 2009 under the Existing Plan except (a)
for grants earned under the 2008-2009 Performance Restricted Stock
Unit Plan and the 2009-2010 Performance Restricted Stock Unit Plan
and (b) that outstanding awards granted under the Existing Plan
will continue unaffected following May 27, 2009.
SECTION
3. DEFINITIONS: As used in this Plan, unless the context
otherwise requires, each of the following terms shall have the
meaning set forth below.
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“Affiliate” shall mean any entity
that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is
under common control with, the Company.
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“Award” shall mean a grant of an
Option, SAR, Restricted Stock Award, Performance Award, or Other
Stock Award pursuant to the Plan, which may, as determined by the
Committee, be in lieu of other compensation owed to a
Participant.
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“Award
Agreement” shall mean an agreement, either in written or
electronic format, in such form and with such terms and conditions
as may be approved by the Committee, which evidences the terms and
conditions of an Award.
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“Board of
Directors” or “Board” shall mean the board of
directors of the Company.
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“Code” shall mean the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any
references to a particular section of the Code shall be deemed to
include any successor provision thereto.
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“Committee” shall mean the
Compensation Committee or such other committee of the Board of
Directors, which shall consist solely of two or more members of the
Board who are “outside directors” within the meaning of
Section 162(m) of the Code, “non-employee directors”
within the meaning of Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 16b-3
promulgated under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and independent directors as defined by any
applicable stock exchange rule or any such successor provision
thereto.
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“Company” shall mean CTS
Corporation, an Indiana corporation.
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“Consultant” shall mean any person
engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render services to such
entity as a consultant or advisor.
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“Covered
Employee” shall mean a Participant who is, or is determined
by the Committee to be likely to become, a “covered
employee” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code
(or any successor provision).
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“Date of
Grant” shall mean the date specified by the Committee on
which a grant of Options, SARs or Performance Awards, or a grant or
sale of Restricted Stock Awards or Other Stock Awards pursuant to
the Plan will become effective (which date will not be earlier than
the date on which the Committee takes action with respect
thereto).
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“Employee” shall mean an employee of
the Company or any Affiliate.
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“Exercise
Price” shall mean an amount, as determined by the Committee,
at which an Option or SAR can be exercised by a Participant, which
amount shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a Share on
the Date of Grant, unless such Option or SAR is granted pursuant to
an assumption or substitution of another Option in a manner that
satisfies the requirements of Section 424(a) of the
Code.
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“Existing
Plan” shall mean the CTS Corporation 2004 Omnibus Long-Term
Incentive Plan, as amended.
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“Fair
Market Value” shall mean, as of a given date, unless
otherwise determined by the Committee, the closing sale price for a
Share as reported on a national securities exchange on such date if
the Shares are then being traded on such an exchange. If
no closing sale price was reported for such date, the closing sale
price on the last preceding day on which such a price was reported
shall be used. If there is no regular public trading
market for the Shares, the Fair Market Value for a Share shall be
the fair market value of a Share as determined in good faith by the
Committee. The Committee is authorized to adopt another
fair market value pricing method, provided such method is stated in
the Award Agreement and is in compliance with the fair market value
pricing rules set forth in Section 409A of the Code.
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“Incentive Stock Option” shall mean
an Option which is intended to meet the requirements set forth in
Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision.
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“Nonqualified Stock Option” shall
mean an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock
Option.
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“Option” shall mean the right to
purchase Shares granted pursuant to Section 8, which may take the
form of either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock
Option and which shall not have a term of more than 10
years.
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“Other
Stock Award” shall mean an Award of Shares or Awards that are
valued in whole or in part, or that are otherwise based on, Shares,
including but not limited to dividend equivalents or amounts which
are equivalent to any federal, state, local, domestic, or foreign
taxes relating to an Award, which may be payable in Shares, cash,
other securities, or any other form of property as the Committee
shall determine, subject to the terms and conditions set forth by
the Committee and granted pursuant to Section 12.
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“Participant” shall mean an
Employee, Consultant, or member of the Board selected by the
Committee to receive Awards under the Plan.
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“Performance Awards” shall mean
Awards of Performance Shares or Performance Units.
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“Performance Measures” shall mean
any of the following performance criteria, either alone or in any
combination, and may be expressed with respect to the Company or
one or more operating units or groups, as the Committee may
determine: free cash flow; free cash flow from
operations; total earnings; earnings per share, diluted or basic;
earnings per share from continuing operations, diluted or basic;
earnings before interest and taxes; earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation, and amortization; earnings from continuing
operations; net asset turnover; inventory turnover; debt ratios;
operating expense; inventory turns; net earnings; operating
earnings; gross operating margin, gross margin percentage; return
on equity; capital expenditures; cost of quality; on-time delivery;
return on net assets; return on total assets; return on capital;
return on investment; return on sales; gross sales, net sales;
market share; net market share; economic value added; expense
reduction levels; stock price; working capital; controllable
working capital and total shareholder
return. Performance Measures applicable to any Qualified
Performance-Based Award to a Covered Employee must be based on
specified levels of or growth in one or more of the Performance
Measures listed in the immediately preceding
sentence. Performance Measures may be determined on an
absolute basis or relative to internal goals or relative to levels
attained in prior years or related to other companies or indices or
as ratios expressing relationships between two or more Performance
Measures.
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Additionally,
Performance Measures may be defined to exclude certain types or
categories of extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items;
changes in applicable laws, regulations or accounting principles;
currency fluctuations; discontinued operations; non-cash items,
such as amortization, depreciation or reserves; or any
recapitalization, restructuring, asset impairment, reorganization,
merger, acquisition, divestiture, consolidation, spin-off,
split-up, combination, liquidation, dissolution, sale of assets,
gain or loss on asset sales, or other similar corporate
transactions; provided , however , that such action
shall not be taken in the case of a Qualified Performance-Based
Award where such action would result in the loss of the otherwise
available exemption of the Award under Section 162(m) of the
Code. The Committee shall provide how any Performance
Measure shall be adjusted to the extent necessary to prevent
dilution or enlargement of any Award as a result of extraordinary
events or circumstances, as determined by the Committee, or to
exclude the effects of extraordinary, unusual, or non-recurring
items; changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting
principles; currency fluctuations; discontinued operations;
non-cash items, such as amortization, depreciation, or reserves; or
any recapitalization, restructuring, asset impairment,
reorganization, merger, acquisition, divestiture, consolidation,
spin-off, split-up, combination, liquidation, dissolution, sale of
assets, gain or loss on asset sales, or other similar corporate
transactions; provided , however , that such action
shall not be taken in the case of a Qualified Performance-Based
Award where such action would result in the loss of the otherwise
available exemption of the Award under Section 162(m) of the
Code.
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“Performance Share” shall mean an
Award denominated in Shares, which is earned during a Performance
Period subject to the terms and conditions as determined by the
Committee and granted pursuant to Section 11.
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“Performance Period” shall mean, in
respect of a Performance Award, a period of time established by the
Committee pursuant to Section 7 at the end of which the achievement
of one or more measurable performance objectives established for a
Performance Measure and relating to such Performance Award are to
be evaluated or measured.
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“Performance Unit” shall mean an
Award denominated in units having a value in dollars or such other
currency, as determined by the Committee, which is earned during a
Performance Period subject to the terms and conditions as
determined by the Committee and granted pursuant to Section
11.
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“Plan” shall mean the
Company’s 2009 Omnibus Equity and Performance Incentive Plan,
as may be amended, or amended and restated, from time to
time.
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“Prior
Plans” shall mean the Company’s 1988 Restricted Stock
and Cash Bonus Plan, the Company’s 1996 Stock Option Plan,
the Company’s 2001 Stock Option Plan and the Company’s
2001-2003 Incentive Unit Appreciation Rights Plan, as each may have
been amended from time to time.
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“Qualified Performance-Based Award”
shall mean any Award or portion of an Award that is intended to
satisfy the requirements for “qualified performance-based
compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code.
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“Restricted Stock” shall mean an
Award of Shares, subject to such terms and conditions as determined
by the Committee and granted pursuant to Section 10, as to which
neither the substantial risk of forfeiture nor any prohibition on
transfer has expired.
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“Restricted Stock Award” shall mean
an Award consisting of Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock
Units.
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“Restricted Stock Unit” shall mean
an Award consisting of a bookkeeping entry representing the right
to receive one Share or an amount equivalent to the Fair Market
Value of one Share, payable in cash or Shares, and representing an
unfunded and unsecured obligation of the Company, except as
otherwise provided by the Committee, subject to such terms and
conditions as determined by the Committee and granted pursuant to
Section 10.
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“Shares” shall mean shares of common
stock, without a par value, of the Company.
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“Stock
Appreciation Right” or “SAR” shall mean an Award
which represents the right to receive the difference between the
Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise and an
Exercise Price, payable in cash or Shares, subject to such terms
and conditions as determined by the Committee and granted pursuant
to Section 9 and which shall not have a term of more than 10
years.
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SECTION
4. ADMINISTRATION:
Subject to the express provisions of
this Plan, the Committee shall have authority to administer and
interpret the Plan, to interpret any Award Agreement, to prescribe,
amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan and
any Award Agreement, and to make all other determinations deemed
necessary or advisable for the administration of the
Plan. Any determination by the Committee pursuant to any
provision of the Plan or of any Award Agreement will be final and
conclusive. No member of the Committee will be liable
for any such action or determination made in good
faith. In exercising its discretion, the Committee may
use such objective or subjective factors as it determines to be
appropriate in its sole discretion. To the extent
permitted by law, the Committee may from time to time delegate all
or any part of its authority under this Plan to a
subcommittee. To the extent of any such delegation,
references in this Plan to the Committee will be deemed to be
references to such subcommittee. The Committee may
delegate to one or more of its members or one or more officers of
the Company the authority, subject to terms and conditions as the
Committee shall determine, to (a) designate Employees to be
recipients of Awards under the Plan and (b) determine the size of
any such Awards; provided , however, that: (x)
the Committee shall not delegate such responsibilities to any such
officer for Awards g
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