UNH » Topics » Equity-Based Compensation - Stock Options, Restricted Stock Units and Conversion of Cash Compensation into Stock Options or Common Stock

This excerpt taken from the UNH DEF 14A filed Apr 23, 2009.

Equity-Based Compensation – Stock Options, Restricted Stock Units and Conversion of Cash Compensation into Stock Options or Common Stock

Non-employee directors receive grants of equity awards under our 2002 Stock Incentive Plan. Under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan and terms approved by the Board of Directors with respect to non-employee director grants, our non-employee directors receive:

 

   

a one-time grant of non-qualified stock options and/or restricted stock units for new directors;

 

   

quarterly grants of non-qualified stock options; and

 

   

grants of non-qualified stock options or shares of common stock to reflect a decision to convert certain cash compensation into equity.

The exercise price for all stock options granted under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan is the closing sale price of our common stock on the NYSE on the date the option is granted.

A new director receives an initial one-time grant of non-qualified stock options to purchase 25,000 shares of our common stock. The new director may elect to take all or a portion of the initial one-time stock option award in restricted stock units, using a four-to-one conversion ratio (which would result in an award of 6,250 restricted stock units if all options were elected to be received in the form of restricted stock units). These stock options or restricted stock units, as the case may be, are granted on the date of the director’s appointment to the Board of Directors. The options or restricted stock units vest at a rate of 25% per year for four years, subject to service on the Board of Directors on the vesting date. A director is required to retain the underlying shares of this equity award (net of any exercise price or taxes) until he or she completes his or her service on the Board of Directors.

Non-employee directors also receive quarterly grants of non-qualified stock options to purchase 5,000 shares of our common stock. The quarterly grants are made automatically on the first business day following the end of each fiscal quarter and are exercisable immediately upon grant. This grant is in consideration of general service and responsibilities and required meeting preparation.

Directors may also elect to convert certain retainers and fees into either non-qualified stock options or shares of common stock of the Company. These include cash Board retainers, cash retainers for service as Chair of the Audit Committee or Compensation Committee and cash meeting attendance fees for regularly scheduled quarterly Board and committee meetings. The cash retainer for service as Chairman of the Board and cash meeting attendance fees for special meetings are not eligible for conversion. The conversion grants are made on the day of each regularly scheduled quarterly Board meeting and become exercisable immediately upon grant. If a director elects to convert his or her eligible cash compensation into stock options, he or she will receive a non-qualified stock option to purchase the number of shares of our common stock equal to four times the amount of the cash compensation foregone, divided by the fair market value of one share of our common stock on the date of grant. If a director elects to convert his or her eligible cash compensation into shares of our common stock, he or she will receive the number of shares equal to the cash compensation foregone, divided by the fair market value of one share of our common stock on the date of grant.

This excerpt taken from the UNH DEF 14A filed Apr 28, 2008.

Equity-Based Compensation – Stock Options, Restricted Stock Units and Conversion of Cash Compensation into Stock Options or Common Stock

Non-employee directors receive grants of equity awards under our 2002 Stock Incentive Plan. Under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan and terms approved by the Board of Directors with respect to non-employee director grants, our non-employee directors receive:

 

   

a one-time grant of non-qualified stock options and/or restricted stock units for new directors;

 

   

quarterly grants of non-qualified stock options; and

 

   

grants of non-qualified stock options or shares of common stock to reflect a decision to convert certain cash compensation into equity.

The exercise price for all stock options granted under the 2002 Stock Incentive Plan is the closing sale price of our common stock on the NYSE on the date the option is granted.

A new director receives an initial one-time grant of non-qualified stock options to purchase 25,000 shares of our common stock. The new director may elect to take all or a portion of the initial one-time stock option award in restricted stock units, using a four-to-one conversion ratio (which would result in an award of 6,250 restricted stock units if all options were elected to be received in the form of restricted stock units). These stock options or restricted stock units, as the case may be, are granted on the date of the director’s appointment to the Board of Directors. The options or restricted stock units vest at a rate of 25% per year for four years, subject to service on the Board on the vesting date. A director is required to retain the underlying shares of this equity award (net of any exercise price or taxes) until he or she completes his or her service on the Board of Directors.

Non-employee directors also receive quarterly grants of non-qualified stock options to purchase 5,000 shares of our common stock. The quarterly grants are made automatically on the first business day following the end of each fiscal quarter and are exercisable immediately upon grant.

Directors may also elect to convert certain retainers and fees into either non-qualified stock options or shares of common stock of the Company. These include cash Board retainers, cash retainers for service as Chair of the Audit Committee or Compensation Committee and cash meeting attendance fees for regularly scheduled quarterly Board and committee meetings. The cash retainer for service as Chairman of the Board and cash meeting attendance fees for special meetings are not eligible for conversion. The conversion grants are made on the day of each regularly scheduled quarterly Board meeting and become exercisable immediately upon grant. If a director elects to convert his or her eligible cash compensation into stock options, he or she will receive a non-qualified stock option to purchase the number of shares of our common stock equal to four times the amount of the

 

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cash compensation foregone, divided by the fair market value of one share of our common stock on the date of grant. If a director elects to convert his or her eligible cash compensation into shares of our common stock, he or she will receive the number of shares equal to the cash compensation foregone, divided by the fair market value of one share of our common stock on the date of grant.

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