PBI » Topics » Participants Subject to Sections 162(m) and 409A.
This excerpt taken from the PBI 10-Q filed Aug 6, 2007.
Participants Subject to Sections 162(m) and 409A.
(a)
The provisions of this Section 14 shall be applicable to all Covered Awards. Covered Awards shall be made subject to the achievement of one or more preestablished Performance Goals, in accordance with
procedures to be established by the Committee from time to time. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Committee shall not have discretion to waive or amend such Performance Goals or to increase the number of Shares subject
to Covered Awards or the amount payable pursuant to Covered Awards after the Performance Goals have been established; provided, however, that the Committee may, in its sole discretion, reduce the number of Shares subject to Covered Awards or the
amount which would otherwise be payable pursuant to Covered Awards; and provided, further, that the provisions of Section 8 shall override any contrary provision of this Section 14.
(b)
No Shares shall be delivered and no payment shall be made pursuant to a Covered Award unless and until the Committee shall have certified in writing that the applicable Performance Goals have been
attained.
(c)
To the extent consistent with Section 162(m), the Committee (A) shall appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under a Performance Goal to eliminate the effects of charges for restructurings,
discontinued operations, extraordinary items and all items of gain, loss or expense determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or related to the disposal of a segment or a business or related to a change in accounting principle all as
determined in accordance with standards established by opinion No. 30 of the Accounting Principles Board (APB Opinion No. 30) or other applicable or successor accounting provisions, as well as the cumulative effect of accounting changes, in each
case as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles or identified in the Companys
financial statements, including the notes thereto, and (B) may appropriately adjust any evaluation of performance under a Performance Goal to exclude any of the following events that occurs during a
performance period: (i) asset write-downs, (ii) litigation, claims, judgments or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax law or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) accruals for reorganization and restructuring
programs and (v) accruals of any amounts for payment under this Plan or any other compensation arrangement maintained by the Company.
(d)
Section 409A Compliance. Awards under the Plan are intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and all Awards shall be interpreted in accordance with such section and Department of Treasury
regulations and other interpretive guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the effective date of the Plan. Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan or any Award
Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the Committee determines that any Award may or does not comply with Section 409A of the Code, the Company may adopt such amendments to the Plan and the affected Award (without Participant consent) or
adopt other policies and procedures (including amendments, policies and procedures with retroactive effect), or take any other actions, that the Committee determines are necessary or appropriate to (i) exempt any Award from the application of
Section 409A of the Code and/or preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided with respect to such Award, or (ii) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The Committee may from time to time establish procedures
pursuant to which Covered Employees will be permitted or required to defer receipt of amounts payable under Awards made under the Plan; provided, however, that any such deferral shall be implemented in a manner consistent with the requirements of
Section 409A of the Code, to the extent applicable.
(e)
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, for all purposes involving Covered Awards, the Committee shall consist of at least two members of the Board of Directors, each of whom is an outside
director within the meaning of Section 162(m).