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SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14A-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the Commission
Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
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(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount Previously Paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:
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GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT
COMPANY LOGO
April 5, 2000
Dear Gaylord Entertainment Company Shareholder:
You are cordially invited to attend the 2000 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders of Gaylord Entertainment Company.
Details of the business that will be conducted at the Annual Meeting
are given in the attached Notice of Annual Meeting, Proxy Statement, and proxy
card.
It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the Annual
Meeting. If you do not plan to attend the Annual Meeting, please complete, sign,
and return the enclosed proxy card promptly in the accompanying reply envelope.
If you decide to attend the Annual Meeting and wish to change your proxy vote,
you may do so automatically by voting in person at the Annual Meeting.
We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting.
Sincerely,
/s/ E. K. Gaylord II
E. K. Gaylord II
Chairman of the Board
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GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
ONE GAYLORD DRIVE
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE 37214
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
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TIME .................................... 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 10, 2000
PLACE.................................... Ryman Auditorium
116 5th Avenue North
Nashville, Tennessee
ITEMS OF BUSINESS........................ (1) To elect three members of the Board
of Directors for three year terms.
(2) To adopt amendments to the Amended
and Restated 1997 Stock Option and
Incentive Plan.
(3) To approve Arthur Andersen LLP
as the independent accountants for
fiscal year 2000.
(4) To transact such other business as
may properly come before the Meeting
and any adjournment or postponement.
RECORD DATE ............................. You can vote if you were a shareholder
of record on March 13, 2000.
ANNUAL REPORT............................ Our 1999 Annual Report, which is not
part of the proxy soliciting material,
is also enclosed.
PROXY VOTING............................. It is important that your shares be
represented and voted at the Meeting.
Please MARK, SIGN, DATE, AND PROMPTLY
RETURN the enclosed proxy card in the
postage-paid envelope.
A proxy may be revoked at any time
prior to its exercise at the Meeting.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
/s/ Thomas J. Sherrard
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Nashville, Tennessee THOMAS J. SHERRARD
April 5, 2000 Secretary
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PROXY STATEMENT
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We have sent you this proxy statement and the accompanying proxy card because
the Board of Directors of Gaylord Entertainment Company ("Gaylord," the
"Company," "we," or "us") is soliciting your proxy to vote at the 2000 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders on May 10, 2000. This mailing commenced on or about
April 5, 2000.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Questions and Answers....................................................... 1
Item 1 - Election of Class III Directors.................................... 3
Nominees for Director................................................... 3
Continuing Directors.................................................... 4
Board and Committee Membership.......................................... 6
Director Compensation................................................... 7
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation............. 7
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.......................... 8
Item 2 - Amendment of the 1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan.............. 9
Item 3 - Ratification of Appointment of Independent Accountants............. 16
Beneficial Ownership........................................................ 16
Security Ownership of Directors, Executive Officers, and
5% Shareholders...................................................... 16
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance................. 20
Executive Compensation...................................................... 21
Summary Compensation Table.............................................. 21
Option Grants in 1999................................................... 22
Total Options Exercised in 1999 and Year-End Option Values.............. 22
Pension Plans........................................................... 23
Pension Plan Table...................................................... 24
Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation................. 25
Employment, Severance, and Change in Control Arrangements................... 28
Performance Graph........................................................... 29
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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WHO CAN VOTE?
You can vote if you were a shareholder of our Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share, at the close of business on the record date, March 13, 2000. On the
record date, there were 33,317,109 common shares outstanding.
WHAT MAY I VOTE ON?
You may vote on:
- - The election of three nominees as directors for terms that expire in 2003;
- - Amendments to the Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan;
and
- - The ratification of the appointment of independent accountants to audit our
financial statements for our fiscal year 2000.
HOW DOES THE BOARD RECOMMEND I VOTE ON THE PROPOSALS?
The Board recommends that you vote:
- - FOR each nominee to the Board;
- - FOR the amendments to the Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option and
Incentive Plan; and
- - FOR the appointment of the independent auditors.
HOW DO I CAST MY VOTE?
If you hold the shares directly in your own name, you can vote in person at the
meeting or by mailing in the accompanying proxy card. If you vote by proxy, the
proxies identified on the back of the proxy card will vote your shares in
accordance with your instructions. If you submit a proxy card without giving
specific instructions, the proxies will vote your shares as recommended by the
Board of Directors.
If you hold your shares indirectly in the name of a bank, broker, or other
nominee, you should receive instructions from that nominee describing the
procedure for how you can vote your shares.
HOW DO I CHANGE MY VOTE?
You can revoke your proxy card by:
- - Submitting a new proxy card;
- - Giving written notice to the Secretary of the Company stating that you are
revoking your proxy card; or
- - Attending the Annual Meeting and voting your shares in person.
WHO WILL COUNT THE VOTE?
Representatives of our transfer agent, SunTrust Bank, will count the vote and
act as the independent inspectors of the election.
IS MY VOTE CONFIDENTIAL?
Yes. All proxy cards and vote tabulations that identify an individual
shareholder are kept confidential. Except to meet legal requirements, your vote
will not be disclosed to the Company unless:
- - A proxy solicitation is contested;
- - You write comments on the proxy card; or
- - You authorize disclosure of your vote.
This policy does not prevent the Company from ascertaining which shareholders
have voted or from taking actions designed to encourage shareholder voting.
HOW WILL THE PROXIES VOTE ON ANY OTHER BUSINESS BROUGHT UP AT THE MEETING?
We are not aware of any other business to be considered at the Annual Meeting.
If any other business is proposed and we decide to permit it to be presented at
the meeting, your signed proxy card authorizes the proxies to use their judgment
to vote on these other matters.
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WHAT IS A QUORUM?
A quorum is the number of shares that must be present to hold the Annual
Meeting. A majority of the outstanding shares of the Company stock, present in
person or represented by proxy, makes a quorum. If you submit a valid proxy card
or attend the meeting, your shares will be counted to determine whether there is
a quorum.
Abstentions and "broker non-votes" count towards the quorum. Broker non-votes
occur when a nominee (such as a bank or a broker) that holds shares on behalf of
a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee
did not receive voting instructions from the beneficial owner and the nominee
does not have discretionary voting power to vote the shares on the proposal.
WHAT VOTE IS NECESSARY TO PASS THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS AT THE ANNUAL MEETING?
Directors must be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present (in
person or by proxy) and entitled to vote for the election of directors. All
other matters shall be determined based upon the vote of a majority of the
shares present (in person or by proxy) and entitled to vote on the matter.
Abstentions are, in effect, votes against proposals presented to shareholders
other than the election of directors. Broker non-votes have no effect on
proposals submitted to shareholders.
WHAT SHARES ARE INCLUDED ON MY PROXY CARD?
Your proxy card represents all shares registered in your name with the transfer
agent on the record date, including those shares owned pursuant to the Company's
Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
HOW ARE SHARES IN THE 401(K) SAVINGS PLAN VOTED?
Participants in the 401(k) Savings Plan are entitled to vote the shares held
under the Plan in their name. The proxy results for the shares held in the
401(k) Plan will be tabulated by our transfer agent and reported to the 401(k)
Plan trustee. The trustee will vote the shares at the meeting through the
custodian holding the shares.
WHEN ARE SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR THE 2001 ANNUAL MEETING DUE?
If you would like to submit a proposal for inclusion in our proxy statement for
the 2001 Annual Meeting, your proposal must be in writing and be received by us
by January 10, 2001.
If you want to bring business before the 2001 Annual Meeting which is not the
subject of a proposal submitted for inclusion in the proxy statement, our bylaws
require that you notify us in writing by March 11, 2001, but not before February
9, 2001. If a proposal is not received by March 11, 2001, management's proxies
may exercise their discretionary authority to vote against such proposal if it
is raised at the 2001 Annual Meeting, even though the proposal is not discussed
in the proxy statement.
HOW IS THIS PROXY SOLICITATION BEING CONDUCTED?
The Company will bear the cost of soliciting proxies for the Annual Meeting. In
addition to the use of mail, our officers may solicit proxies by telephone,
e-mail, or facsimile transmission. Upon request, we will reimburse brokers,
dealers, banks, and trustees, or their nominees, for reasonable expenses
incurred by them in forwarding proxy material to beneficial owners of shares of
our common stock.
CAN I GET A SPECIAL RATE ON ACCOMMODATIONS WHILE ATTENDING THE MEETING?
Yes. The Opryland Hotel has reserved a limited number of rooms at a special rate
of $169, single and double occupancy, per night. If you would like a room,
please make reservations by May 1, 2000, by calling Corporate Relations at (615)
316-6003.
WILL THERE BE ANY ARRANGEMENTS FOR PARKING NEAR THE RYMAN AUDITORIUM?
Limited complimentary parking will be available in the "Public Parking" lot
located on the corner of 4th Avenue and Commerce Street in downtown Nashville.
Please identify yourself to the parking attendant as a Gaylord Entertainment
shareholder.
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ITEM 1 - ELECTION OF CLASS III DIRECTORS
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Item 1 is the election of three directors to the Board of Directors. Our Board
currently has nine members and is divided into three classes. Directors hold
office for staggered terms of three years, and one of the classes is elected
each year to succeed the directors whose terms are expiring.
The Board expects all of the nominees below to be available for election. In
case any nominee is not available, the proxies can vote your shares for a
substitute if you have submitted a proxy card.
The Class III directors whose terms expire at the 2000 Annual Meeting are E. K.
Gaylord II, Terry E. London and Mary Agnes Wilderotter. They have each been
nominated to serve as Class III directors for another three-year term expiring
in 2003.
Directors will be elected by a plurality of the shares present (in person or by
proxy) and entitled to vote for the election of directors.
Information follows about the age and business experience, as of March 13, 2000
(the record date), of each Class III nominee and of each of the directors
continuing in Classes I and II.
THE BOARD RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF THE THREE NOMINEES.
NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR
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CLASS III: TO BE ELECTED TO A TERM EXPIRING AT THE 2003 ANNUAL MEETING
OF SHAREHOLDERS
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E. K. GAYLORD II
Mr. E. K. Gaylord II has served as the Company's Chairman of
the Board since May 1999. He served as Vice-Chairman of the
Board from May 1996 to May 1999. Mr. Gaylord has been the
president of The Oklahoma Publishing Company, also known as
OPUBCO, a newspaper publishing company and an affiliate of
the Company, since June 1994 and is also a director of
OPUBCO. Mr. Gaylord owns and operates the Lazy E Ranch in
Guthrie, Oklahoma, and is a director of the National Cowboy
Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Center. Mr. Gaylord is the
son of Mr. Edward L. Gaylord and the brother of Mrs.
Christine Gaylord Everest, both of whom are directors of the
Company.
Director since 1977. Age 42.
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TERRY E. LONDON
Mr. London has been the Company's President and Chief
Executive Officer since May 1997. Mr. London was also the
acting Chief Financial Officer of the Company from March 1997
until February 1998. From March to May 1997, he served as
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and,
from September 1993 until March 1997, he served as Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial and Administrative
Officer. Mr. London, a certified public accountant, has been
employed by the Company in various capacities since 1978. Mr.
London is a director of Johnson Worldwide Associates.
Director since 1997. Age 50.
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MARY AGNES WILDEROTTER
Ms. Wilderotter has been the president and chief executive
officer and a director of Wink Communications, Inc., an
interactive telecommunications and media concern, since
January 1997. Prior to January 1997, Ms. Wilderotter served
in varying capacities with AT&T Corporation, including
executive vice president of national operations for AT&T
Wireless Services Inc. and chief executive officer of AT&T's
aviation communication division from August 1995 until
January 1997. She also held senior management positions with
McCaw Cellular from 1991 until August 1995. Ms. Wilderotter
is a director of Airborne Freight Corporation, Electric
Lightwave Company, Allied Riser Communications Corporation,
American Tower Corporation, and the California Cable
Television Association.
Director since 1997. Age 45.
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CONTINUING DIRECTORS
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CLASS I: TERM EXPIRING AT THE 2001 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
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EDWARD L. GAYLORD
Mr. Edward L. Gaylord served as President and Chief Executive
Officer of the Company from 1974 until October 1991, and
served as Chairman of the Board until May 1999. Mr. Gaylord
is currently serving as Chairman Emeritus. Mr. Gaylord is
also the chairman and a director of OPUBCO. Mr. Gaylord is
active in numerous civic and charitable organizations, and is
(among others) chairman of the Oklahoma Industries Authority,
director and past president of the State Fair of Oklahoma,
chairman and director of The Oklahoma Medical Research
Foundation, and chairman and director of the National Cowboy
Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Center. Mr. Gaylord is the
father of Mr. E. K. Gaylord II and Mrs. Christine Gaylord
Everest, both of whom are directors of the Company.
Director since 1946. Age 80.
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JOE M. RODGERS
Mr. Rodgers is chairman of The JMR Group, a private
investment company specializing in merchant and investment
banking. Mr. Rodgers served as chairman of the board and
chief executive officer of Berlitz International, Inc., a
foreign language services company, from December 1991 until
February 1993. From 1985 to 1989, Mr. Rodgers served as
United States Ambassador to France. Mr. Rodgers is also a
director of AMR Corporation/American Airlines, Inc., Lafarge
Corporation, SunTrust Bank, Nashville, N.A., Thomas Nelson,
Inc., Towne Services, Inc., and Tractor Supply Company.
Director since 1991. Age 66.
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CRAIG L. LEIPOLD
Mr. Leipold is chairman and governor of the Nashville
Predators, a National Hockey League expansion team that began
its inaugural season in 1998. From 1989 until May 1999, he
served as chairman and chief executive officer of
LaCrosse-Rainfair Safety Company. Before his association with
LaCrosse-Rainfair, he was founder and president of Ameritel
Corporation of Neenah, Wisconsin. Mr. Leipold also serves as
a director of LaCrosse Footwear, Inc., and Levy Corporation,
and he is a member of the Board of Governors of the National
Hockey League. His civic activities include service as a
trustee of Hendrix College, a director of the Nashville Area
Chamber of Commerce, and a past chairman of the Wisconsin
Sports Authority.
Director since 1999. Age 47.
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CLASS II: TERM EXPIRING AT THE 2002 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
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MARTIN C. DICKINSON
Mr. Dickinson is a retired officer of Scripps Bank in La
Jolla, California, and has been a director of that bank since
1990. Mr. Dickinson is also a director of OPUBCO, CBS
Corporation, and the National Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western
Heritage Center. He is the chairman of The Scripps Foundation
for Medicines and Science.
Director since 1974. Age 64.
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CHRISTINE GAYLORD EVEREST
Mrs. Everest has served as vice president of OPUBCO since
June 1996 and as secretary of OPUBCO since June 1994. She
served as senior assistant secretary of OPUBCO from October
1991 until June 1994. Mrs. Everest is also a director of
OPUBCO, a member of the Board of Regents of the University of
Oklahoma, a Trustee of University Health Partners, and a
member of the Corporate Board of the Presbyterian Health
Foundation. Mrs. Everest is the daughter of Mr. Edward L.
Gaylord and the sister of Mr. E. K. Gaylord II, both of whom
are directors of the Company.
Director since 1976. Age 48.
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HOWARD L. WOOD
Mr. Wood is a co-founder and director of Charter
Communications, Inc., an operator of cable television
properties in the United States. From 1993 until December
1999, he served as vice chairman of Charter. Before the
formation of Charter in 1992, Mr. Wood was president and
chief executive officer of Cencom Cable Associates, Inc., an
operator of cable television properties that he joined in
1987. Prior to that time, Mr. Wood, a certified public
accountant, was with Arthur Andersen & Co., where he served
as partner-in-charge of the St. Louis tax division from 1973
until joining Cencom. Mr. Wood is a director of Data
Research. He currently serves as a commissioner of the
Missouri Department of Conservation.
Director since 1999. Age 60.
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BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
The Board of Directors held four regular and three special meetings during 1999.
No director attended fewer than 75% of the meetings of the Board and of the
committees of which the director was a member in 1999.
The Board has two principal standing committees, the Audit Committee and the
Compensation Committee. The following table identifies the membership of the
committees and states the number of committee meetings held in 1999.
AUDIT COMPENSATION
NAME COMMITTEE COMMITTEE
---- --------- ---------
Martin C. Dickinson X* X
Christine Gaylord Everest
Edward L. Gaylord
E. K. Gaylord II
Craig L. Leipold X X
Terry E. London
Joe M. Rodgers X X*
Mary Agnes Wilderotter X
Howard L. Wood X X
1999 Meetings 3 6
* Committee Chairman
THE AUDIT COMMITTEE
The Audit Committee is responsible for:
- - recommending the annual appointment of independent accountants;
- - reviewing our significant audit and accounting policies and practices;
- - meeting with our independent accountants and with our director of internal
audit concerning, among other things, the scope of audits and reports; and
- - reviewing the performance of our overall accounting and financial controls.
THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE
The Compensation Committee is responsible for:
- - reviewing and approving all compensation and benefits for executive officers;
- - advising on the setting of compensation for senior executives whose
compensation is not otherwise set by the Committee;
- - administering the Company's Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option and
Incentive Plan;
- - advising management regarding employee benefit plans;
- - reviewing and recommending compensation for directors; and
- - publishing an annual Report on Executive Compensation for the shareholders.
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NOMINATING PROCEDURES
The Board does not have a standing nominating committee, but the Compensation
Committee has recommended candidates to the Board in the past. Also, the Board
as a whole may function as a nominating committee to select management's
nominees for election to the Board. The Board will also consider nominees
recommended by the shareholders.
If shareholders wish to nominate candidates, they must comply with the advance
notice procedure contained in our bylaws. Our Secretary must receive written
notice of the nomination before the meeting at which the election will be held.
For an election to be held at an annual meeting, the Company must receive the
shareholder's notice of the nomination not less than 60 days and no more than 90
days before the anniversary date of the previous year's annual meeting.
If, however, (1) the election is to be held at an annual meeting that is called
for a date that is not within 30 days of the anniversary date of the previous
year's annual meeting or (2) the election is to be held at a special meeting of
shareholders called for the purpose of electing directors, then the
shareholder's notice must be received by the close of business on the tenth day
following either the day on which notice of the meeting date was mailed or the
day on which the meeting date was publicly disclosed, whichever occurred first.
In addition to including certain information about the shareholder proposing to
nominate a candidate for director, a shareholder's notice of nomination must
contain all the information about the nominee that is required to be included in
a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of directors (including
the nominee's written consent to serve as a director if so elected). A
shareholder's nomination will be disregarded if the presiding officer of the
meeting determines that a person was not nominated in accordance with this
nomination procedure.
DIRECTOR COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee sets the compensation for directors. During 1999,
Board members who were not employed by the Company received the following
compensation:
- - Annual Board retainer: $30,000
- - Annual committee retainer: $5,000 per committee ($6,000 for committee
chairmen)
- - Per-meeting fee (for special meetings of the Board or committees): $1,500
The Company has established a deferred compensation plan whereby non-employee
directors may defer their cash compensation until their retirement or
resignation from the Board. Currently, however, none of the directors are
participating in the deferred compensation plan.
Directors who are employed by the Company do not receive additional compensation
for their service as directors. All directors are reimbursed for their expenses
incurred in attending meetings. In addition, the Compensation Committee may
occasionally vote to grant stock options to directors.
On February 15, 1999, Mr. Dickinson, Mrs. Everest, Mr. Rodgers, and Ms.
Wilderotter were each awarded options to purchase 7,000 shares of common stock
at a price of $27.875 per share. In addition, on the same date, Mr. Leipold was
awarded options to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock at the same price. On
March 1, 1999, Mr. Wood was awarded options to purchase 25,000 shares of common
stock at a price of $24.9375 per share.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is composed of Mr.
Dickinson, Mr. Leipold, Mr. Rodgers, Ms. Wilderotter, and Mr. Wood. Mr.
Dickinson is also a director and shareholder of OPUBCO. Edward L. Gaylord, a
director of the Company, and E. K. Gaylord II, a director and executive officer
of the Company, are also directors, executive officers, and shareholders of
OPUBCO.
In February 1998, OKC Athletic Club, LP, the limited partnership that owns the
Oklahoma
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Redhawks, in which the Company owns an approximately 68% interest, borrowed
approximately $2.9 million from a wholly owned subsidiary of OPUBCO, bearing
interest at the prime rate plus 1% and payable in full on January 12, 2001. In
January 1999, the limited partnership prepaid the loan in full with borrowings
from the Company.
The Company believes that the above-mentioned transactions were on terms no less
favorable to the Company or its affiliates than could have been obtained from
unaffiliated third parties.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
In addition to the transactions between the Company and its affiliates and
OPUBCO described in the previous section, which are incorporated into this
section by reference, certain other relationships should be disclosed.
E. K. Gaylord II is an executive officer of the Company and of OPUBCO. E. K.
Gaylord II, Edward L. Gaylord, Christine Gaylord Everest, and Martin C.
Dickinson are directors of the Company and of OPUBCO.
Edward L. Gaylord, Edith Gaylord Harper, Christine Gaylord Everest, and E. K.
Gaylord II, as voting trustees of the Voting Trust (described in note 2 to the
Beneficial Ownership Table on page 16), control approximately 43.6% of the
Company's voting power and also beneficially own a majority of the voting stock
of OPUBCO.
Howard L. Wood has been a director of the Company since March 1999. Until
November 1998, Mr. Wood owned an interest in Charter Communications, Inc., an
operator of cable television properties in the United States. Mr. Wood served as
an executive officer of Charter until December 31, 1999. On January 1, 2000, he
became a director of Charter. In 1995, the Company sold its cable television
systems to CCT Holdings Corp. ("CCTH"), an affiliate of Charter, in exchange for
$198.8 million in cash, a note receivable in the face amount of $165.7 million,
and the right to receive a percentage of proceeds from Charter's future sales of
certain assets. During the fourth quarter of 1998, the Company received payment
of $238.4 million from CCTH representing prepayment of the note receivable and
accrued interest. In January 1999, the Company received a payment of
approximately $130.0 million in connection with the sale of the certain assets
by CCTH to a third party.
Craig L. Leipold has been a director of the Company since February 1999 and,
together with members of his immediate family, owns an 80.1% interest in
Nashville Hockey Club Limited Partnership, the limited partnership that owns the
Nashville Predators. The Company acquired a 19.9% interest in the limited
partnership in exchange for cash consideration of approximately $12.8 million,
which was paid in 1997 and 1998. In November 1999, the Company entered into a
Naming Rights Agreement with the limited partnership whereby the Company
purchased the right to name the Nashville Arena as the "Gaylord Entertainment
Center" and to place certain advertising within the arena. Under the agreement,
which has a 20-year term, the Company is required to make annual payments of
$2,050,000, subject to a 5% annual increase, and to purchase a minimum number of
event tickets each year.
David B. Jones, an executive officer of the Company, was granted an
interest-free secured loan of up to $1,500,000 by the Company in November 1999
to assist Mr. Jones in purchasing a residence in Nashville, Tennessee. The
largest aggregate amount of indebtedness outstanding under the loan agreement
during 1999 was $340,000, which is also the current balance on the loan. The
loan will be repaid in full upon the sale of Mr. Jones's former residence in
Springfield, Missouri.
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ITEM 2 - AMENDMENT OF THE 1997 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
In order to continue to attract, motivate, and retain outstanding officers,
directors, and key employees, the Board of Directors believes that it is
essential to provide compensation incentives that are competitive with those
provided by other companies. In addition, the Board believes that it is
important to continue to identify the interests of its officers, directors, key
employees, consultants, and advisors with those of the shareholders by
encouraging equity ownership of the Company.
To those ends, on March 20, 2000, the Board of Directors voted to adopt, subject
to shareholder approval, certain amendments to the Amended and Restated 1997
Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the "1997 Stock Plan") and to rename the 1997
Stock Plan as so amended the 1997 Omnibus Stock Option and Incentive Plan (the
"1997 Omnibus Plan"). The proposed amendments to the 1997 Stock Plan, reflected
in the 1997 Omnibus Plan, will afford the Compensation Committee greater
flexibility by increasing the types of awards that may be granted under the plan
and by increasing the number of shares authorized for grant and issuance. The
following summaries of the proposed amendments under the 1997 Omnibus Plan and
of the 1997 Stock Plan as currently in effect are qualified in all respects by
the specific provisions contained in the plans. The full texts of both the 1997
Omnibus Plan and the 1997 Stock Plan as currently in effect are annexed to this
proxy statement as Appendix A and Appendix B, respectively.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
The Board of Directors approved the amendments to the 1997 Stock Plan in order
to broaden the types of awards available, to increase the shares reserved for
grant and issuance, and to prohibit the repricing of options after they have
been granted. Under the proposed amendments, the Compensation Committee may
select from among six categories of incentive awards: stock options, stock
appreciation rights ("SARs"), restricted shares, deferred shares, performance
shares, and performance units. Currently, only stock options, SARs, and
restricted stock may be granted under the 1997 Stock Plan. All of the material
changes to the 1997 Stock Plan pursuant to the proposed amendments, with the
exception of the provisions that increase the number of available shares and
that prohibit the repricing of options, relate to the additional awards.
Currently, 4,250,000 shares of Common Stock are reserved for the grant of awards
and issuance under the 1997 Stock Plan. As March 13, 2000 (the record date), all
of the awards have been granted as non-qualified stock options or restricted
stock awards.
Pursuant to the proposed amendments, an additional 1,200,000 shares of common
stock will be made available and reserved for the grant of awards and issuance
under the 1997 Omnibus Plan.
SUMMARY OF TERMS OF THE 1997 STOCK PLAN AND 1997 OMNIBUS PLAN
ELIGIBILITY
Under the 1997 Stock Plan, directors, officers and other key employees,
consultants and advisors of the Company are eligible to receive awards of stock
options, stock appreciation rights, and restricted stock. Options granted under
the 1997 Stock Plan may be "incentive stock options," within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or "non-qualified
stock options." The Committee may grant freestanding stock appreciation rights
("SARs") or may grant SARs in tandem with the grant of an option. Pursuant to
the proposed amendments, the Company will also have the ability to grant
deferred shares, performance shares, and performance units.
ADMINISTRATION
Unless otherwise determined by our Board of Directors, the 1997 Stock Plan is
administered by the Compensation Committee as long as it is comprised solely of
"nonemployee directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. If the Compensation Committee members do not
qualify as non-employee directors, the Board of Directors as a whole will
administer the 1997 Stock Plan. For ease of reference in this summary, we will
refer to the Compensation Committee as the administrator, as it is currently
serving as the administrator.
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The current members of the Compensation Committee are all nonemployee directors
and also "outside directors" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the
Internal Revenue Code. Subject to the provisions of the 1997 Stock Plan, the
Committee determines the type of award, when and to whom awards will be granted,
and the number of shares covered by each award. The Committee also determines
the terms, provisions, and kind of consideration payable (if any) with respect
to awards.
The Committee has sole discretionary authority to interpret the 1997 Stock Plan
and to adopt and amend rules and regulations related thereto. In determining the
persons to whom awards will be granted and the number of shares covered by each
award, the Committee takes into account the person's contributions to the
management, growth, and profitability of the Company's business in addition to
any other factors that the Committee considers relevant.
PARTICIPATION
The persons eligible to participate in the 1997 Stock Plan are officers,
directors, key employees, consultants and advisors of the Company or any
"Subsidiary," as defined in the 1997 Stock Plan. Only consultants or advisors
who have rendered bona fide services to the Company or a Subsidiary in
connection with its business operations, and not in connection with the offer or
sale of securities in capital-raising transactions, are eligible to participate.
The Committee has sole discretion to select the eligible participants and
determine the grants to them under the 1997 Stock Plan.
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE 1997 STOCK PLAN
Currently, the 1997 Stock Plan provides that 4,250,000 shares of common stock
are reserved for the grant of awards and issuance pursuant to the Plan. As of
the Record Date, all of the shares that have been committed or granted have been
in the form of non-qualified stock options or restricted stock awards. The
Committee has not granted any incentive stock options or SARs. Shares of common
stock covered by an award that terminates before it is exercised will be
available for additional awards.
The 1997 Stock Plan also provides for an adjustment in the number of shares
subject to the plan, in the exercisability of certain awards to be based upon
the attainment of performance goals determined by the Committee, and in the
option price or applicable market value of outstanding awards in the event of a
stock split, combination of shares, recapitalization, or other change in the
Company's capitalization. The 1997 Stock Plan limits the number of shares with
respect to which awards (including options, SARs, and restricted stock, and,
under the proposed amendments, deferred shares, performance shares, and
performance units) may be granted to any individual to no more than 500,000
shares (subject to adjustment) in any given three year period.
Unless the 1997 Stock Plan is terminated earlier by the Board of Directors,
awards may be granted under the Plan until September 30, 2007. Previously
granted awards may continue in effect beyond that date.
Pursuant to the proposed amendments, an additional 1,200,000 shares of common
stock will be made available and reserved for the grant of awards and issuance
under the 1997 Omnibus Plan.
STOCK OPTIONS
The Committee has sole discretion to determine the purchase price of the shares
of stock covered by an option and the kind of consideration payable with respect
to awards at the time the option or award is granted. In the case of incentive
stock options, however, the option price must not be less than 100% of the "Fair
Market Value" (as that term is defined in the 1997 Stock Plan) of a share of
common stock on the date of grant of the option. In addition, if an incentive
stock option is granted to a "Ten Percent Stockholder" (as that term is defined
in the 1997 Stock Plan), the option price must be 110% of the Fair Market Value
of a share of common stock.
The Committee determines when and under what conditions options are exercisable.
In the case of incentive stock options, the exercise period may not exceed ten
years from the date of grant, but, if an incentive stock option is granted to a
Ten Percent Stockholder, the exercise period may not exceed five years from the
date of grant.
The aggregate Fair Market Value of the shares with respect to which incentive
stock options are granted under the 1997 Stock Plan and any other option plans
exercisable for the first time by each grantee during any calendar year may not
exceed $100,000.
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Stock options may be exercised by delivery of consideration to the Company equal
to the exercise price. The consideration may be in the form of cash, shares of
common stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the exercise price, cash
provided through a broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure, or a combination
of one or more of the foregoing, or it may be in any other form that the
Committee deems appropriate or that the related option agreement may provide.
The Committee determines when options expire.
The 1997 Stock Plan generally provides that options which are unexercisable upon
termination of an option holder's employment are canceled. Unless otherwise
provided, options which are exercisable on the date of termination of the option
holder's employment may be exercised for a period of 90 days after termination
of employment (or earlier in accordance with the option's terms). If employment
is terminated by the Company for cause, however, all of an employee's options,
even if exercisable, expire immediately unless the Committee extends them. If
the option holder's employment terminates due to retirement, the option holder's
then exercisable options remain exercisable for the remainder of the option
term. In addition, the 1997 Stock Plan generally provides that in the event of
the death or disability of the option holder while employed by of the Company,
or within 90 days after termination of employment, the option will become fully
exercisable and will remain exercisable until the expiration of the stated term
of the option.
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
The 1997 Stock Plan also permits the Committee to grant SARs with respect to all
or any portion of the shares of the common stock covered by options. Each SAR
will confer a right to receive an amount with respect to each share, upon
exercise, equal to the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one share of
common stock on the date of exercise over (ii) the grant price of the SAR. The
grant price of any SAR granted in tandem with an option will be equal to the
exercise price of the underlying option, and the grant price of any other SAR
will be determined by the Committee. The Committee may, in its sole discretion,
condition the exercise of any SAR upon the attainment of specified performance
goals (described below).
RESTRICTED STOCK
The 1997 Stock Plan further provides for the granting of restricted stock
awards, which are awards of common stock that may not be transferred or
otherwise disposed of for a period determined by the Committee. A grantee is
entitled to immediate voting, dividend, and other ownership rights in the
shares. The Committee may specify performance goals (described below) which, if
achieved, will result in termination or early termination of the restrictions
applicable to the shares.
DEFERRED SHARES
Pursuant to the proposed amendments, the Company will have the authority to
award deferred shares. An award of deferred shares granted under the 1997
Omnibus Plan represents the right to receive a specific number of shares at the
end of a specified deferral period. Any grant of deferred shares may be further
conditioned upon the attainment of performance goals (described below). The
grant may provide for the early termination of the deferral period in the event
of a change in control of the Company or similar event. During the deferral
period, the grantee is not entitled to vote or receive dividends on the shares
subject to the award, but the Committee may provide for the payment of dividend
equivalents on a current or deferred basis. The grant of deferred shares may be
made without any consideration from the grantee other than the performance of
future services.
PERFORMANCE SHARES AND PERFORMANCE UNITS
Pursuant to the proposed amendments, the Company will have the ability to award
performance shares and performance units. A performance share is the equivalent
of one share, and a performance unit is the equivalent of one dollar ($1.00).
Each grant of performance shares or performance units will specify one or more
performance goals to be met within a specified period (the "performance
period"). The specified performance period may be subject to earlier termination
in the event of a change in control of the Company or a similar event. If by the
end of the performance period the grantee has achieved the specified performance
goals, the grantee will be deemed to have fully earned the performance shares or
performance units. If the grantee has not achieved the performance goals but has
attained or exceeded the predetermined minimum level of acceptable achievement,
the grantee may be deemed to have
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partially earned the performance shares or performance units in accordance with
a predetermined formula. To the extent earned, the performance shares or
performance units will be paid to the grantee at the time and in the manner
determined by the Committee in cash, shares, or any combination thereof.
PERFORMANCE GOALS
The Committee may also impose other conditions and restrictions on SARs, shares
of restricted stock, shares of deferred stock, and shares of performance stock,
and on performance units, including the satisfaction of performance goals
relating to one or more of the following criteria:
- - pre-tax income or after-tax income;
- - operating cash flow (operating income plus depreciation and amortization);
- - operating profit;
- - return on equity, assets, capital, or investment;
- - earnings or book value per share;
- - sales or revenues;
- - operating expenses;
- - common stock price appreciation; and
- - implementation or completion of critical projects or processes.
The performance goals may include a threshold level of performance below which
no payment will be made (or no vesting will occur), a level of performance at
which specified payments will be made (or specified vesting will occur), or a
maximum level of performance above which no additional payment will be made (or
at which full vesting will occur). Each of the performance goals will be
determined, to the extent applicable, in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles and will be subject to certification by the Committee.
The Committee may make equitable adjustments to the performance goals in
recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Company. The
Committee may provide that restrictions on specified percentages of the awarded
shares or performance units will lapse on successive future dates. The Committee
may cancel all or any portion of a restriction on such terms and conditions as
it deems appropriate.
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION
To the extent permitted by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, the Board of Directors may suspend, terminate, modify, or amend the
1997 Stock Plan at any time without shareholder approval. No suspension,
termination, modification, or amendment of the 1997 Stock Plan may adversely
affect any award previously granted under the plan unless the written consent of
the grantee is obtained.
CHANGE IN CONTROL
In the event of a "Change in Control" of the Company, the awards granted under
the 1997 Stock Plan will become immediately exercisable or otherwise
nonforfeitable in full, notwithstanding terms of the awards providing otherwise.
"Change in Control" is defined in the 1997 Stock Plan to mean, among other
things:
- - the acquisition of securities representing a majority of the combined voting
power of the Company by any person (other than the Company and other related
entities);
- - the approval by the Company's shareholders of a merger or consolidation of
the Company into or with another entity (with certain exceptions), a sale or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets, or a
plan of liquidation; and
- - a change in the composition of the Board of Directors in any two-year period
so that individuals who were directors at the beginning no longer constitute
a majority of the Board (with certain exceptions).
REPRICING OF OPTIONS
Pursuant to the proposed amendments, the option price of an option may not be
amended or modified after the grant of the option, and an option may not be
surrendered in consideration of or exchanged for a grant of a new option having
an option price below that of the option which was surrendered or exchanged.
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TRANSFERABILITY
Incentive stock options (and any related SARs), deferred shares, performance
shares, and performance units can be transferred only by will or the laws of
descent and distribution. Only a grantee may exercise incentive stock options
during the grantee's lifetime.
Non-qualified stock options (and any related SARs) are not transferable without
the prior consent of the Committee, other than (i) by will or the laws of
descent and distribution, (ii) by a grantee to a member of the option holder's
"Immediate Family" (as that term is defined in the 1997 Stock Plan), or (iii) by
a grantee to a trust for the benefit of a member of the option holder's
Immediate Family.
Awards of restricted stock will be transferable only to the extent set forth in
the instruments evidencing such awards.
CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a brief summary of certain U.S. federal income tax aspects of
options awarded under the 1997 Stock Plan based upon the federal income tax laws
currently in effect. This summary is not intended to be exhaustive, and the
exact tax consequences to any grantee will depend upon various factors and the
grantee's particular circumstances. 1997 Stock Plan participants must consult
their tax advisors with respect to any state, local, and foreign tax
considerations or particular federal tax implications of options granted under
the 1997 Stock Plan.
INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS
Neither the grant nor the exercise of an incentive stock option will result in
taxable income to the employee. The tax treatment on the sale of shares of
common stock acquired upon exercise of an incentive stock option depends on
whether the holding period requirement is satisfied. The holding period
requirement is met if the disposition by the employee occurs (i) at least two
years after the date of grant of the option, (ii) at least one year after the
date the shares were transferred to the employee, and (iii) while the employee
remains employed by the Company or not more than three months after termination
of employment (or not more than one year in the case of a disabled employee).
If the holding period requirement is satisfied, the excess of the amount
realized upon sale of the shares of common stock acquired upon the exercise of
the incentive stock option over the price paid for these shares will be treated
as a long-term capital gain. If the employee disposes of the common stock
acquired upon the exercise of the incentive stock option before the holding
period requirement is met (a "disqualifying disposition"), the excess of the
fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise or, if less, the fair
market value on the date of disposition, over the exercise price will be taxable
as ordinary compensation income to the employee at the time of disposition, and
the Company will be entitled to a corresponding deduction. The balance of the
gain, if any, will be a capital gain for the employee.
Although the exercise of an incentive stock option will not result in taxable
income to the employee, the excess of the fair market value of the common stock
on the date of exercise over the exercise price will be included in the
employee's "alternative minimum taxable income" under the Internal Revenue Code.
NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS
There will be no federal income tax consequences to the Company or to the
grantee upon the grant of non-qualified stock options under the 1997 Stock Plan.
However, upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option under the 1997 Stock
Plan, the grantee will recognize ordinary compensation income for federal income
tax purposes in an amount equal to the excess of the fair market value of the
shares of common stock purchased over the exercise price. The Company will
generally be entitled to a tax deduction at such time and in the same amount
that the employee recognizes ordinary income. If the acquired shares of common
stock are later sold or exchanged, the difference between the amount realized
from the sale or exchange and the fair market value of the stock on the date of
exercise of the option is generally taxable as long-term or short-term capital
gain or loss depending upon how long the shares have been held.
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RESTRICTED STOCK
A grantee of restricted shares generally will be subject to tax at ordinary
income rates on the fair market value of the restricted shares (reduced by any
amount paid by the recipient) at such time as the shares are no longer subject
to a risk of forfeiture or restrictions on transfer for purposes of Section 83
of the Code. However, a grantee who so elects under Section 83(b) of the Code
within 30 days of the date of transfer of the restricted shares will recognize
ordinary income on the date of transfer of the shares equal to the excess of the
fair market value of the restricted shares (determined without regard to the
risk of forfeiture or restrictions on transfer) over any purchase price paid for
the shares. If a Section 83(b) election has not been made, any dividends
received with respect to restricted shares that are subject at that time to a
risk of forfeiture or restrictions on transfer generally will be treated as
compensation that is taxable as ordinary income to the grantee in the year of
receipt.
DEFERRED SHARES
A grantee of deferred shares generally will not recognize income until the
shares are transferred to the grantee at the end of the deferral period and are
no longer subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture or restrictions on
transfer for purposes of Section 83 of the Code. At that time, the grantee will
recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares, reduced
by any amount paid by the grantee.
PERFORMANCE SHARES AND PERFORMANCE UNITS
A grantee generally will not recognize income upon the grant of performance
shares or performance units. Upon payment in respect of performance shares or
performance units, the grantee generally will recognize as ordinary income an
amount equal to the amount of cash received and the fair market value of any
unrestricted shares received.
EXERCISES OTHER THAN FOR CASH
If the grantee is permitted to pay the exercise price upon exercise of an
option, in whole or in part, by delivering shares of common stock already owned
by the grantee, the grantee will recognize no gain or loss for federal income
tax purposes to the extent of the fair market value of the shares surrendered.
The number of shares of common stock acquired upon exercise which is equal to
the number of shares surrendered will have a tax basis equal to the tax basis of
the shares surrendered, and, except as noted below with respect to disqualifying
dispositions, the holding period of such shares will include the holding period
of the shares surrendered.
In the case of a non-qualified stock option, (i) the grantee will recognize
ordinary compensation income equal to the fair market value of the shares
received in excess of the number of shares surrendered to pay the exercise
price, (ii) the basis of additional shares received upon exercise of the option
will be equal to the fair market value of the shares on the date of exercise,
and (iii) the holding period for the additional shares will commence on the date
the option is exercised.
In the case of an incentive stock option, (i) the grantee will not recognize
ordinary compensation income as a result of the exercise in respect of the
shares received in excess of the number of shares surrendered to pay the
exercise price, (ii) the tax basis of the additional shares received will be
zero, and (iii) the holding period of the additional shares will commence on the
date of the exercise. If any of the shares received upon exercise of the
incentive stock option are disposed of within two years of the date of grant or
within one year after exercise, the shares with the lowest (i.e., zero) basis
will be deemed to be disposed of first, and such disposition will be a
disqualifying disposition giving rise to ordinary income as discussed above.
If the grantee is permitted to engage in a "cashless exercise" (i.e., an
exercise without the payment of cash or the surrender of shares already owned)
of a non-qualified stock option under the terms of the 1997 Stock Plan, then the
foregoing results do not change. On the other hand, if the grantee is permitted
to engage in a "cashless exercise" of an incentive stock option under the terms
of the 1997 Stock Plan, then there will be a deemed disqualifying disposition
with respect to the shares necessary to fund the exercise. The result of the
disqualifying disposition will be that the grantee will recognize ordinary
income to the extent of the difference between the fair market value and the
exercise price of the shares used to fund the exercise. Shares not used to fund
the exercise will retain their status as incentive stock options.
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NEW PLAN BENEFITS
Under the 1997 Stock Plan, the Compensation Committee has discretion to select
the eligible participants and to establish the amount of awards. Therefore,
future participants and the dollar value of awards can not be determined in
advance.
The table below provides information for 1999 regarding the dollar value and the
number of shares underlying awards granted under the 1997 Stock Plan:
DOLLAR VALUE NUMBER OF OPTION
OF 1999 SHARES AWARDED
NAME STOCK OPTIONS (1) IN 1999 (2)
---- ----------------- -----------
Terry E. London, CEO........................ 103,125 50,000
E. K. Gaylord II............................ 14,438 32,000
Jerry O. Bradley............................ 15,469 7,500
David B. Jones.............................. 51,563 40,000
Carl W. Kornmeyer........................... 41,250 20,000
Executive Group............................. 314,219 242,500
Non-Executive Director Group................ 248,750 85,000
Non-Executive Officer Employee Group........ 748,840 401,633 (3)
- --------------
(1) Based upon the closing sales price of our common stock of $29.9375 as
reported on the NYSE on December 31, 1999.
(2) Awards of non-qualified stock options only, except for awards of 8,286
shares of restricted stock to non-executive officer employee group. No incentive
stock options or SARs were awarded in 1999. Executive officers determined as of
March 13, 2000.
(3) Includes awards of 38,000 non-qualified stock options which were later
cancelled during 1999.
SECTION 16 LIABILITY
The 1997 Stock Plan has been designed to qualify for the exemption from the
short-swing profit restrictions on directors and executive officers provided by
Rule 16b-3.
APPROVAL OF PROPOSAL
Under Section 162(m) of the Code and the rules of the New York Stock Exchange,
the approval and adoption of this proposal requires the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the total votes cast on the proposal by the holders of
the outstanding shares of common stock, as long as the total number of votes
cast on the proposal represents over 50% of the number of votes entitled to be
cast.
Pursuant to the Company's by-laws, the affirmative vote of a majority of the
shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to
vote on this proposal is required for adoption of the proposal.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR ITEM 2.
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ITEM 3 - RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 3 is the ratification of the appointment by the Board of Directors, upon
the recommendation of the Audit Committee, of Arthur Andersen LLP as our
independent accountants for 2000. Arthur Andersen LLP has served as our
independent accountants since 1983.
A representative of Arthur Andersen LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting.
The representative will be available to respond to your questions and may make a
statement if he or she desires.
Although shareholder ratification of this appointment is not required, our
management believes that it is desirable. If this appointment is not ratified,
the Board will consider such fact as it deems appropriate.
The affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present (in person or by proxy)
and entitled to vote on this proposal is required for adoption.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR ITEM 3.
================================================================================
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AND 5% SHAREHOLDERS
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following table describes the beneficial ownership of each current director,
each of the executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table beginning
on page 21, and the executive officers and directors as a group. Unless
otherwise indicated in the notes, the information is given as of March 13, 2000
(the record date), and includes shares in which the director or executive
officer may be deemed to have a beneficial interest, including stock options
which are exercisable within 60 days of the record date.
Each director and executive officer has sole voting and investment power over
the shares listed on the table next to his or her name except as indicated in
the footnotes.
NAME NUMBER OF SHARES PERCENT
---- ---------------- -------
Edward L. Gaylord (1)* .............................. 8,579,329 (2)(3) 25.6%
Christine Gaylord Everest* .......................... 1,115,248 (2)(4) 3.3
E. K. Gaylord II* + ................................. 2,594,001 (2)(5) 7.8
Martin C. Dickinson* ................................ 1,363,706 (2)(6) 4.1
Craig L. Leipold* ................................... 33,766 (7) **
Joe M. Rodgers* ..................................... 105,420 (8) **
Mary Agnes Wilderotter* ............................. 46,500 (9) **
Howard L. Wood* ..................................... 39,385 (10) **
Terry E. London* + .................................. 150,715 (11) **
Jerry O. Bradley + .................................. 18,525 (12) **
David B. Jones + .................................... 294 **
Carl W. Kornmeyer + ................................. 17,233 (13) **
The Oklahoma Publishing Company Voting Trust (1)..... 14,518,640 (2) 43.6
All executive officers and directors as a group
(17 persons)...................................... 16,094,962 (14) 47.1
- ------------------
* Director
+ Named Executive Officer
**Less than 1%
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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF 5% SHAREHOLDERS
The following table describes all persons, other than those persons included in
the prior table, known to the Company who are the beneficial owners of more than
5% of our outstanding shares of common stock.
Beneficial ownership may under certain circumstances include both voting power
and investment power.
This information is provided for reporting purposes only and should not be
construed as an admission of actual beneficial ownership.
NAME NUMBER OF SHARES PERCENT
---- ---------------- -------
Gabelli Funds, Inc.
One Corporate Center
Rye, NY 10580-1434 .................................. 4,915,280 (15) 14.8
Richard C. Blum & Associates, L.P.
909 Montgomery Street, Suite 400
San Francisco, CA 94133 ............................. 2,114,898 (16) 6.3
The Oklahoma Publishing Company ("OPUBCO") (1).......... 1,978,666 5.9
Edith Gaylord Harper 1995 Revocable Trust (1)........... 2,133,371 (2)(17) 6.4
- ------------------
(1) Mailing address: 9000 N. Broadway, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73114.
(2) Includes:
(a) 12,539,974 shares held pursuant to a Voting Trust Agreement among Edward
L. Gaylord, Edith Gaylord Harper, Christine Gaylord Everest, E. K. Gaylord
II, Martin C. Dickinson and certain other shareholders; and
(b) 1,978,666 shares beneficially owned by OPUBCO, a corporation over
which the Voting Trust has voting control.
The Voting Trust terminates on October 3, 2000. Edward L. Gaylord, Edith
Gaylord Harper, Christine Gaylord Everest, and E. K. Gaylord II, as the
voting trustees under the Voting Trust, have the shared right to vote, by
the consent of at least 60% of the voting trustees, the shares of common
stock held in the trust. Although the voting trustees do not have the
right to make any investment decisions with respect to the shares, a
shareholder who has deposited shares in the trust needs the written consent
of at least 60% of the voting trustees to withdraw the shares from the
trust.
(3) Includes:
(a) 4,666,558 shares beneficially owned as trustee of the Edward L.
Gaylord Revocable Trust, 4,635,998 of which are deposited with the Voting
Trust;
(b) 352,586 shares beneficially owned as trustee of the Thelma Gaylord
Irrevocable Trust, 345,236 of which are deposited with the Voting Trust;
(c) 143,583 shares beneficially owned as trustee of the Edward L. Gaylord
and Thelma F. Gaylord Foundation;
(d) 828,646 shares beneficially owned as trustee for the Mary I. Gaylord
Revocable Living Trust of 1985, all of which are deposited with the Voting
Trust;
(e) 33,333 shares beneficially owned as co-trustee of the Mary Gaylord
Foundation;
(f) 262,395 shares beneficially owned by Gayno, Inc., a corporation
controlled by Mr. Gaylord;
(g) 128,625 shares beneficially owned as trustee of The Oklahoman
Foundation;
(h) 1,978,666 shares owned by OPUBCO, of which Mr. Gaylord is chairman; and
(i) 184,937 shares issuable upon the exercise of options.
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Mr. Gaylord has shared voting and sole investment power (subject to the
terms of the Voting Trust) with respect to the shares listed in (a) and (d)
that are deposited with the Voting Trust; shared voting and shared
investment power (subject to the terms of the Voting Trust) with respect to
the shares listed in (b) that are deposited with the Voting Trust; and
shared voting and shared investment power with respect to the 7,350 shares
listed in (b) above that are not deposited with the Voting Trust and with
respect to the shares listed in (c), (e), (g), and (h).
Does not include 6,730,094 shares beneficially owned by the Voting Trust
(other than those shares listed in (a), (b), (d), and (h) above that are
beneficially owned by the Voting Trust), as to which Edward L. Gaylord has
shared voting and shared investment power (under the terms of the Voting
Trust). See Note 2.
(4) Includes:
(a) 849,163 shares owned directly, all of which are deposited with the
Voting Trust;
(b) 691 shares owned or beneficially owned by Mrs. Everest's husband, James
H. Everest, 71 of which are deposited with the Voting Trust;
(c) 3,759 shares owned by each of Mrs. Everest's daughters, Mary C. Everest
and Tricia L. Everest, which are deposited with the Voting Trust.
(d) 3,675 shares owned by a foundation of which Mr. Everest is a trustee,
which are deposited with the Voting Trust;
(e) 128,625 shares beneficially owned as trustee of The Oklahoman
Foundation; and
(f) 125,576 shares issuable upon the exercise of options.
Mrs. Everest has shared voting and sole investment power (subject to the
terms of the Voting Trust) with respect to the shares listed in (a) above,
and shared voting and shared investment power (under the terms of the
Voting Trust) with respect to the shares listed in (b), (c), and (d) above
that are deposited with the Voting Trust. She has no voting or investment
power with respect to the 620 shares in (b) above that are not deposited
with the Voting Trust; and shared voting and shared investment power with
respect to the shares listed in (e).
Does not include 13,658,213 shares beneficially owned by the Voting Trust
(other than those shares listed in (a) - (d) above that are beneficially
owned by the Voting Trust), as to which Mrs. Everest has shared voting and
shared investment power (under the terms of the Voting Trust). See Note 2.
(5) Includes:
(a) 402,500 shares owned directly, all of which are deposited with the
Voting Trust;
(b) 1,978,666 shares owned by OPUBCO, of which E. K. Gaylord II, is
president and a director;
(c) 128,625 shares beneficially owned as trustee of The Oklahoman
Foundation; and
(d) 84,210 shares issuable upon the exercise of options.
E. K. Gaylord II has shared voting and sole investment power (subject to
the terms of the Voting Trust) with respect to the shares listed in (a)
above; and shared voting and shared investment power with respect to the
shares in (b) and (c) above.
Does not include 12,137,474 shares beneficially owned by the Voting Trust
(other than those shares listed in (a) and (b) above that are beneficially
owned by the Voting Trust), as to which E. K. Gaylord II has shared voting
and shared investment power (under the terms of the Voting Trust). See Note
2.
(6) Includes:
(a) 600,000 shares beneficially owned as co-trustee of the Elizabeth M.
Dickinson Trust, 598,871 of which are deposited with the Voting Trust;
(b) 600,000 shares beneficially owned as president and a director of the
Donald C. Dickinson and Elizabeth M. Dickinson Foundation, all of which are
deposited with the Voting Trust;
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23
(c) 77,382 shares beneficially owned as the trustee for the Martin C.
Dickinson Revocable Trust, 66,332 of which are deposited with the Voting
Trust;
(d) 1,060 shares beneficially owned by Mr. Dickinson's wife, Carol D.
Dickinson, 257 of which are deposited with the Voting Trust; and
(e) 85,264 shares issuable upon the exercise of options.
Mr. Dickinson has no voting and shared investment power (subject to the
terms of the Voting Trust) with respect to the shares listed in (a) above
that are deposited with the Voting Trust, and shared voting and shared
investment power with respect to the 1,129 shares listed in (a) above that
are not deposited with the Voting Trust. He has no voting and shared
investment power (subject to the terms of the Voting Trust) with respect to
the shares listed in (b) above; no voting and sole investment power
(subject to the terms of the Voting Trust) with respect to the shares
listed in (c) above that are deposited with the Voting Trust; and no voting
or investment power with respect to the shares listed in (d) above. See
Note 2.
(7) Includes:
(a) 1,766 shares owned directly; and
(b) 32,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of options.
(8) Shares issuable upon the exercise of options.
(9) Includes:
(a) 500 shares beneficially owned as trustee of the Wilderotter Family
Trust; and
(b) 46,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of options.
Ms. Wilderotter has shared voting and shared investment power with respect
to the shares listed in (a) above.
(10) Includes:
(a) 7,385 shares beneficially owned as trustee and lifetime beneficiary of
the Howard L. Wood Revocable Trust; and
(b) 32,000 shares issuable upon the exercise of options.
(11) Includes:
(a) 3,216 shares owned directly; and
(b) 147,499 shares issuable upon the exercise of options.
(12) Includes:
(a) 2,784 shares owned directly; and
(b) 15,741 shares issuable upon the exercise of options.
(13) Includes:
(a) 719 shares owned directly;
(b) 75 shares owned by Mr. Kornmeyer's wife, Claudia Kornmeyer; and
(c) 16,439 shares issuable upon the exercise of options.
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(14) Includes:
(a) 881,384 shares issuable upon the exercise of options; and
(b) 50,000 shares of restricted stock.
(15) Based on information set forth in Amendment No. 8 to Schedule 13D, filed
with the SEC on April 1, 1999, jointly by Gabelli Funds, Inc. ("GFI"),
GAMCO Investors, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of GFI, MJG Associates,
Inc., Gemini Capital Management Limited ("Gemini"), Mario J. Gabelli (the
majority shareholder of each of GFI and Gemini, Chairman of the Board of
Directors and Chief Executive Officer of GFI, and the Chief Investment
Officer for GFI and GAMCO Investors), and Marc J. Gabelli (the majority
shareholder, President, and Chief Investment Officer of Gemini). The joint
filers reported that GFI has sole voting and dispositive power with respect
to 1,044,301 shares; GAMCO Investors has sole voting power with respect to
3,406,739 shares and sole dispositive power with respect to 3,502,905
shares; and Gemini has sole voting and dispositive power with respect to
20,000 shares. Upon the occurrence of certain events, the voting committee
of each of GFI's investment fund subsidiaries may assume sole voting power
of the fund's shares that GFI has reported sole voting power. Mario J.
Gabelli, Marc J. Gabelli and GFI reported that none of them held any direct
voting or dispositive power with respect to shares beneficially owned
directly by other reporting persons among the joint filers.
(16) Based on information set forth in Amendment No. 1 to Schedule 13D, filed
with the SEC as of February 9, 1998, jointly by Richard C. Blum &
Associates, L.P., a California limited partnership whose principal business
is acting as general partner for investment partnerships and providing
investment advisory and financial consulting services ("RCBA L.P."),
Richard C. Blum & Associates, Inc., the sole general partner of RCBA L.P.
("RCBA Inc."), and Richard C. Blum, the Chairman and a substantial
shareholder of RCBA Inc. The reporting persons reported that the shares
were acquired on behalf of RCBA L.P.'s limited partnerships and investment
advisory clients. RCBA L.P. reported direct ownership of, and sole voting
and investment power over, 1,760,998 shares with respect to which RCBA L.P.
has sole voting and investment power, and indirect ownership of, and sole
voting and investment power over, 353,900 shares that are legally owned by
RCBA L.P.'s common fund for the account of its equity fund.
(17) Edith Gaylord Harper, William J. Ross, and David O. Hogan are the trustees
of the Edith Gaylord Harper 1995 Revocable Trust. 1,736,437 of the shares
are deposited with the Voting Trust. The trustees, including Mrs. Harper,
Edward L. Gaylord's sister, have shared voting and shared investment power
with respect to the 396,934 shares in the Edith Gaylord Harper 1995
Revocable Trust that are not deposited with the Voting Trust and shared
voting and shared investment power (subject to the terms of the Voting
Trust) with respect to the shares deposited in the Voting Trust.
Does not include 12,782,203 shares beneficially owned by the Voting Trust
(other than those shares deposited by the Edith Gaylord Harper 1995
Revocable Trust) as to which Mrs. Harper has shared voting and shared
investment power (under the terms of the Voting Trust). See Note 2.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our executive
officers and directors and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of the
Company's shares to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership with the
SEC and the New York Stock Exchange.
Based solely on our review of those forms and written representations from
certain reporting persons, we believe that in 1999, our officers, directors, and
greater than 10% beneficial owners were in compliance with all applicable filing
requirements.
================================================================================
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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following Summary Compensation Table shows the compensation information for
Mr. London, the Company's President and Chief Executive Officer, and the four
other executive officers who were most highly compensated in 1999 (the "Named
Executive Officers").
LONG TERM
COMPENSATION
AWARDS
ANNUAL -----------------------------
COMPENSATION RESTRICTED SECURITIES
NAME AND ---------------------- STOCK UNDERLYING ALL OTHER
PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS AWARDS OPTIONS COMPENSATION (1)
------------------ ---- ------ ----- ------ ------- ----------------
Terry E. London 1999 $447,917 $100,000 $ -0- 50,000 $27,066
President and Chief 1998 425,000 232,181 -0- -0- 23,491
Executive Officer 1997 391,493 328,827 -0- 300,000 17,919
E. K. Gaylord II 1999 290,083 75,000 -0- 32,000 10,417
Chairman of the Board 1998 156,000 71,177 -0- -0- 7,348
1997 156,000 93,600 -0- 50,000 -0-
Jerry O. Bradley 1999 207,333 257,882 -0- 7,500 18,192
President--Acuff-Rose 1998 194,924 287,330 -0- 25,000 18,476
Music Publishing 1997 169,541 294,127 -0- 25,000 10,782
David B. Jones 1999 287,083 147,050 -0- 40,000 16,254
President--Opryland 1998 (2) 166,827 84,635 -0- 65,000 3,504
Hospitality Group
Carl W. Kornmeyer 1999 279,900 334,946 -0- 20,000 18,181
Senior Vice President of 1998 270,000 163,620 -0- -0- 14,800
Corporate Development 1997 245,000 177,258 -0- 70,000 9,884
NOTES TO SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE:
(1) Includes contributions by the Company to the Supplemental Deferred
Compensation Plan (the "SUDCOMP Plan") and to the 401(k) Savings Plan and
premiums paid by the Company for group term life insurance. Such
compensation is reflected in the table below.
GROUP TERM LIFE
NAME YEAR SUDCOMP 401(K) INSURANCE PREMIUMS
---- ---- ------- ------ ------------------
Terry E. London .......... 1999 $13,331 $4,800 $8,935
1998 10,197 4,800 8,494
1997 6,062 4,750 7,107
E. K. Gaylord II.......... 1999 5,617 4,800 -0-
1998 6,486 862 -0-
1997 -0- -0- -0-
Jerry O. Bradley.......... 1999 9,061 4,800 4,331
1998 9,581 4,800 4,095
1997 2,307 4,750 3,725
David B. Jones............ 1999 7,077 3,684 5,493
1998 -0- -0- 3,504
Carl W. Kornmeyer......... 1999 7,531 4,800 5,850
1998 4,526 4,800 5,474
1997 1,987 4,750 3,147
(2) Employed by the Company on May 15, 1998.
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OPTION GRANTS IN 1999
The following table summarizes all stock options the Board granted to the Named
Executive Officers in 1999. Individual grants are listed separately for each
Named Executive Officer.
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS (1)
-------------------------------------------------------------
POTENTIAL REALIZABLE
VALUE AT ASSUMED
NUMBER OF PERCENT OF ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
SECURITIES TOTAL OPTIONS PRICE APPRECIATION
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO FOR OPTION TERM
OPTIONS EMPLOYEES EXERCISE EXPIRATION ----------------------------
NAME GRANTED IN 1999 PRICE DATE 5% 10%
---- ------- ------- ----- ---- -- ---
Terry E. London....... 50,000 (2) 7.9% $27.8750 2/15/09 $876,520 $2,221,280
E. K. Gaylord II...... 7,000 1.1 27.8750 2/15/09 122,713 310,979
25,000 (3) 3.9 31.9375 5/12/09 502,133 1,272,502
Jerry O. Bradley...... 7,500 (2) 1.2 27.8750 2/15/09 131,478 333,192
David B. Jones........ 25,000 (2) 3.9 27.8750 2/15/09 438,260 1,110,640
15,000 (3) 2.4 31.9375 5/12/09 301,280 763,502
Carl W. Kornmeyer..... 20,000 (2) 3.1 27.8750 2/15/09 350,608 888,512
NOTES TO OPTION GRANTS TABLE:
(1) All of the options are non-qualified stock options for common stock
granted pursuant to the 1997 Stock Plan, and were granted at the fair
market value on the date of grant. We have never granted any SARs.
(2) Options vest in 1/3 increments annually beginning on February 15,
2002.
(3) Options vest in 1/3 increments annually beginning on May 12, 2002.
TOTAL OPTIONS EXERCISED IN 1999 AND YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
The following table shows options that the Named Executive Officers exercised in
1999 and the value (stock price less exercise price) of the remaining options
held by those executive officers at year-end, using the closing price ($29.9375)
of our common stock on December 31, 1999.
NUMBER OF SECURITIES
SHARES UNDERLYING UNEXERCISED VALUE OF UNEXERCISED IN-THE-
ACQUIRED OPTIONS AT 12/31/99 MONEY OPTIONS AT 12/31/99
ON VALUE -------------------------- --------------------------
NAME EXERCISE REALIZED EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
---- -------- -------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
Terry E. London...... -- -- 147,499 350,000 $2,490,643 $612,375
E. K. Gaylord II..... -- -- 84,210 25,000 248,496 -0-
Jerry O. Bradley..... -- -- 15,741 57,500 59,272 57,906
David B. Jones....... -- -- -0- 105,000 -0- 51,563
Carl W. Kornmeyer.... -- -- 16,439 90,000 63,053 160,075
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PENSION PLANS
Employees of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries who have attained age
21 and completed at least one year of service with more than 1,000 hours of
service are eligible to participate in the Company's defined benefit pension
plan, referred to as the Retirement Plan. Accrued benefits are 100% vested after
five years of service. The normal retirement benefit payable to a vested
participant upon retirement at age 65 is equal to the sum of:
(A) 8.4% of the participant's average annual compensation multiplied by the
participant's years of benefit service, as defined in the Retirement Plan;
and
(B) 6.4% of the excess, if any, of the participant's average annual
compensation over the annual integration level, as defined in the
Retirement Plan, multiplied by his or her years of benefit service.
The normal form of benefit is calculated in the form of a lump sum. The
participant may elect or may be required to take, based on marital status,
alternative forms of payment under the Retirement Plan.
"Average monthly compensation" is defined as the average of monthly compensation
for the five consecutive years in which earnings were the highest within the
participant's last ten years of employment. The "integration level" is the
average of the Social Security taxable wage bases in effect for each calendar
year during the 35-year period ending with the calendar year in which the
participant retires or terminates employment.
"Compensation" is defined as a participant's wages, salaries, fees, and other
amounts received for personal services actually rendered in the course of
employment. It excludes severance pay, distributions from any plan of deferred
compensation, amounts realized from the exercise of a nonqualified stock option,
amounts realized when restricted stock (or property) held by the employee either
becomes freely transferable or is no longer subject to a substantial risk of
forfeiture, amounts realized from the sale, exchange or other disposition of
stock acquired under a qualified stock option, and other amounts which received
special tax benefits. Compensation also includes any amounts contributed by the
Company on behalf of an employee either to a nonqualified plan of deferred
compensation or which are not includable in the gross income of the employee due
to Internal Revenue Code Sections 125, 402(e)(3), or 402(h). Compensation in
excess of the statutory compensation limit, which is $170,000 for fiscal year
2000, will be disregarded.
The Company also maintains two non-qualified retirement plans to provide
benefits to certain employees: (i) the Retirement Benefit Restoration Plan (the
"Benefit Restoration Plan") and (ii) the Gaylord Entertainment Company
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the "Mid-Career SERP"). These plans are
not prefunded and the beneficiaries' rights to receive distributions under them
constitute unsecured claims to be paid from the Company's general assets.
The Benefit Restoration Plan provides a benefit to certain employees to
"replace" benefits lost due to Internal Revenue Code limitations imposed upon
qualified defined benefit pension plans. The benefit is determined by
calculating the Retirement Plan benefit without respect to any limitations
imposed by Section 415 and Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue Code and
subtracting the benefit payable to the employee from the Retirement Plan. The
total annual benefit is limited to 45% of average annual compensation (without
respect to Internal Revenue Code limitations), which limitation considers
benefits payable pursuant to (i) the Benefit Restoration Plan, (ii) the
Retirement Plan, (iii) employer matching contributions to the 401(k) Plan and
SUDCOMP Plan (assuming the maximum match), and (iv) one-half of the annual
Social Security benefit payable to the employee. To determine the maximum
benefit, all benefits are converted to an annuity benefit payable at age 65. The
Restoration Plan benefit is reduced (not below zero) if the total annual benefit
exceeds the 45% maximum limitation.
The Mid-Career SERP provides a monthly benefit to certain executives in an
amount equal to 3% of average monthly compensation multiplied by the
participant's years of service. This amount is offset by the monthly annuity
benefit values from the (i) Restoration Plan, (ii) Retirement Plan, (iii)
employer matching contributions to the 401(k) Plan and the SUDCOMP Plan
(assuming the maximum match), (iv) one-half of the annual projected Social
Security benefit payable to the employee, and (v) any pension,
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profit sharing, retirement, deferred compensation or similar plan maintained by
a previous employer. The Mid-Career SERP currently covers one employee.
The following table shows the combined estimated annual pension payable under
the Retirement Plan and the Benefit Restoration Plan to employees upon
retirement in specified remuneration and years-of-service classifications. The
amounts shown in the table do not include benefits payable from Social Security.
The amount of estimated annual pension is based upon a pension formula which
applies to all participants in the Retirement Plan and the Benefit Restoration
Plan. The estimated amounts are based on the assumptions that (i) payments under
the Retirement Plan and the Benefit Restoration plan will commence upon
retirement at age 65 in 2000 in the form of a joint and 100% survivor annuity,
(ii) the integration level is $35,100, and (iii) the Retirement Plan and the
Benefit Restoration Plan will continue in force in their present form.
PENSION PLAN TABLE
ESTIMATED
FIVE-YEAR ESTIMATED ANNUAL RETIREMENT AND RESTORATION BENEFITS
PAY AT FINAL AVERAGE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AGE 65 (1) COMPENSATION (2) YEARS OF SERVICE
---------- ---------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 15 20 25 30 35 40
------ ------- -------- -------- --------- -------- ---------
100,000 90,000 8,976 13,463 17,951 22,439 26,927 31,415 35,902
125,000 112,500 11,675 17,512 23,349 29,187 35,024 40,861 46,699
150,000 135,000 14,374 21,561 28,748 35,934 43,121 50,308 57,495
200,000 180,000 19,772 29,658 39,544 49,430 59,316 65,003 74,289
250,000 225,000 25,170 37,755 50,340 62,925 75,510 78,209 78,209
300,000 270,000 30,568 45,852 61,137 76,421 91,705 95,571 95,571
400,000 360,000 41,365 62,047 82,729 103,412 124,094 130,296 130,296
500,000 450,000 52,161 78,242 104,322 130,403 156,483 165,021 165,021
600,000 540,000 62,957 94,436 125,915 157,394 188,872 199,746 199,746
700,000 630,000 73,754 110,631 147,508 184,384 221,261 234,471 234,471
800,000 720,000 84,550 126,825 169,100 211,375 253,650 269,196 269,196
(1) The maximum annual compensation that can be recognized by a qualified
defined benefit pension retirement plan is $170,000 in 2000 (Internal
Revenue Code Section 401(a)(17)).
(2) Estimated five-year final average compensation is based on 90% of pay at
age 65.
Mr. E. K. Gaylord II, Mr. London, Mr. Bradley, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Kornmeyer had
4, 22, 14, 2, and 26 years of credited service, respectively, on December 31,
1999. As a result of the Code Section 401(a)(17) limitation on eligible
compensation, the 1999 includable compensation in determining benefits under the
Retirement Plan was limited to $160,000 for the Named Executive Officers.
401(K) SAVINGS PLAN
The Company maintains a 401(k) Savings Plan, a defined contribution plan with a
salary deferral arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Certain employees who have attained age 21 and completed at least one year of
service with more than 1,000 hours of service are eligible to participate in the
401(k) Plan.
401(k) Plan participants are permitted to make elective contributions of between
1% and 20% of their "compensation," as that term is defined in the 401(k) Plan.
Under the plan, the Company matches 50% of each participant's contribution up to
6% of compensation. The Company's maximum contribution is equal to the lesser of
(i) 3% of the participant's compensation or (ii) any lesser amount specified by
Section 401(k).
A participant's elective contributions vest immediately. Matching contributions
vest according to the following schedule:
YEARS OF SERVICE PERCENT
Less than 2................0
2 to 3.....................40
3 to 4.....................60
4 to 5.....................80
5 or more..................100
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29
Participants actively participating in the 401(k) Plan may apply for loans from
their 401(k) Plan accounts. Participants, however, may request no more than one
new loan each quarter and may have no more than three loans outstanding at any
time. They are also permitted to make in-service withdrawals and hardship
withdrawals in conformity with the terms of the 401(k) Plan.
Participating employees may invest both their own contributions and employer
contributions in one of eight funds, including a Company common stock fund.
Upon termination of employment, disability, death, or retirement, a participant
receives the value of his or her account. For any participant who first
performed an hour of service with the employer on or before December 31, 1991,
the benefit will be paid in the form of an annuity, unless a lump sum payment is
elected. The form of benefit for any other participant will be a lump sum
payment.
SUPPLEMENTAL DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
The Company maintains a Supplemental Deferred Compensation Plan, or SUDCOMP
Plan, which is a deferred compensation arrangement for a select group of
management or highly compensated employees, including all of the Company's Named
Executive Officers. The SUDCOMP Plan is intended to provide benefits like those
provided under the 401(k) Plan, notwithstanding the limitations under the 401(k)
Plan imposed by Section 401(k) and Section 401(a)(17) of the Internal Revenue
Code. The SUDCOMP Plan is administered by the Benefits Trust Committee, the
internal committee charged with oversight of the Company's benefit plans, which
has the exclusive authority to select the employees who are entitled to
participate in the SUDCOMP Plan and to interpret and administer the SUDCOMP
Plan.
The terms of the SUDCOMP Plan are generally the same as the terms of the 401(k)
Plan except that:
- - employer matching contributions (if any) are 50% vested after two years of
service and 100% vested after three years of service;
- - elective contributions are limited to the lesser of 20% of compensation or
$80,000;
- - upon termination of employment for any reason, distributions from the SUDCOMP
Plan must generally be distributed to participants within 90 days;
- - distributions from the SUDCOMP Plan may not be rolled into an Individual
Retirement Account or another employer's defined contribution plan; and
- - distributions from the SUDCOMP Plan are taxed in full upon distribution.
Subject to review by an administrative committee, SUDCOMP Plan participants are
permitted to invest both their own contributions and employer contributions in
the same or similar funds made available to 401(k) Plan participants, other than
the common stock fund.
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors reviews and approves the
annual compensation of the Company's executive officers and other key management
personnel. In addition, the Compensation Committee establishes policies and
guidelines for other benefits and administers compensation and certain other
benefit plans, including the awards of stock and stock options pursuant to the
Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan ("1997 Stock Plan").
The Compensation Committee is assisted in making compensation decisions by the
Company's management and the Company's independent professional compensation
consultants.
POLICIES
The principal objective of the Company is to maximize shareholder value and
provide "Entertainment with Integrity" through the development and enhancement
of the Company's primary business groups: hospitality and attractions, creative
content, and interactive media.
To further that objective, the Company's executive compensation program is
designed to:
- - attract, retain, and reward management personnel;
- - align executive and shareholder interests by rewarding performance that
enhances shareholder value; and
- - provide appropriate incentives for executives to achieve Company, business
unit, and individual performance goals.
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30
At its first regular meeting of the year, the Compensation Committee reviews
management's performance during the prior year, adopts compensation policies for
the current year, and establishes each executive's compensation. The Committee,
however, may adjust an executive's total compensation at any time during the
year in light of increased job responsibilities or particularly meritorious
performance.
An executive's total compensation is composed of three primary components: base
salary compensation, annual incentive compensation, and long-term incentive
compensation. Each component is based on individual and group performance
factors which are measured objectively and subjectively by the Compensation
Committee.
BASE SALARY COMPENSATION
The 1999 base salary compensation of the Company's executive officers (other
than the Chairman) was based on a number of factors, including:
- - prior year base salaries,
- - individual performance during the prior year, and
- - competitive peer group salary information of similarly situated executives of
comparable companies compiled by the Company's independent compensation
consultants.
The independent compensation consultants were requested to survey comparable
companies in each executive's area of responsibility within the Company. The
surveyed companies included several of the companies included in the Dow Jones
Lodging Index and Dow Jones Entertainment Index (two indices included in the
performance graph on page 29), as well as several other companies within the
lodging, entertainment, media, and music industries with whom the Company
believes it competes for executive talent. The Compensation Committee compared
each of our executive's compensation to the compensation of similarly situated
executives who worked in comparable companies and whose responsibilities were
similar to our executive's area of responsibility. For example, the compensation
of an executive in our hospitality and attractions group was compared to the
compensation of executives at comparable companies in the leisure and
hospitality industry.
Based on the historical compensation for the particular executive and the
consultant's survey data, the CEO recommended a base salary for each executive
officer targeted, in general, to the 50th percentile of total compensation for
similarly situated executives of comparable companies. The Compensation
Committee reviewed the recommendation and approved it with some modifications in
light of compensation policies.
The 1999 base salary for the current Chairman was established by the
Compensation Committee primarily on the basis of the Committee's evaluation of
the current Chairman's contributions (as Vice Chairman) to the Company's
performance in 1998 and in 1999 prior to his appointment as Chairman.
ANNUAL INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
In 1999, the Compensation Committee approved annual target incentives which were
designed to provide bonuses that would place the executive's total cash
compensation at the 75th percentile of peer group compensation upon the
achievement of specified Company, business-unit, and individual performance
goals. If the performance goals were exceeded, an executive's total cash
compensation could be increased beyond the 75th percentile.
The Compensation Committee believed that during 1999 operating cash flow
(operating income plus depreciation and amortization) was the stock market's
principal measurement of the Company's performance and, accordingly, made it the
primary basis for determining incentive compensation. Operating cash flow was
examined on a Company-wide basis to reflect the Company's "one company" culture,
and, where appropriate, on a business-unit basis in order to reflect an
executive's managerial effectiveness.
In general, for executives with Company-wide responsibilities, of their total
bonus payout,
- - 60% was based on achievement of the corporate operating cash flow target;
- - 5% to 20% was based on efficient utilization of capital budgets;
- - up to 15% was based on the achievement of departmental performance goals; and
- - 20% to 40% was based on the achievement of individual performance goals.
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31
For those executives who manage a particular operating group, of their total
bonus payout,
- - 9% to 20% was based on achievement of the corporate operating cash flow
target;
- - up to 15% was based on efficient utilization of capital budgets;
- - up to 60% was based on achievement of the business group operating cash flow
targets; and
- - up to 20% was based on the achievement of individual performance goals.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
The Compensation Committee believes that a powerful way of aligning the
long-term interests of executive officers with those of shareholders is to award
equity-based compensation in the form of stock options and restricted stock.
During 1999, the Compensation Committee granted stock options both to existing
and to newly hired executive employees. In addition, the Company awarded shares
of restricted stock to two executives in 1999 pursuant to the terms of their
employment agreements.
After consultation with the independent compensation consultants, Mr. London
proposed the size of the stock option award granted to each executive based on
the expected growth rate and the relative value of the business the executive
manages. Upon vesting, all granted stock options are exercisable at the market
price on the date of the award and most vest ratably over a three-year period
beginning three years after grant.
CEO COMPENSATION
In reviewing and approving Mr. London's compensation in 1999, the Compensation
Committee considered many of the same criteria relied upon with respect to the
other executive officers, including the compensation of peer group executives
within the entertainment, lodging and media industries, the performance of the
Company in 1998, and the scope of Mr. London's executive responsibilities.
Mr. London's base salary for 1999 was $447,917. In addition, Mr. London was
awarded an annual incentive bonus for 1999 performance of $100,000. No portion
of the bonus was based on the Company's achievement of Company-wide operating
cash flow targets; approximately 20% was based on Mr. London's utilization of
the capital budget; and approximately 80% was based on Mr. London's achievement
of individual performance goals.
During 1999, Mr. London was awarded options to purchase 50,000 shares of common
stock. The options are exercisable at the market price on the date of the grant
and vest ratably over a three year period beginning three years from the date of
grant.
POLICY WITH RESPECT TO DEDUCTIBILITY OF COMPENSATION
Federal tax law limits the tax deduction that the Company may take with respect
to the compensation of any executive officer that exceeds $1.0 million, unless
the compensation is "performance-based." The Company's stock incentive plans are
designed to provide "performance-based" compensation which should minimize the
impact of this tax limit.
The Compensation Committee believes that all incentive compensation of the
Company's current executive officers will qualify as a tax deductible expense
when paid. The Compensation Committee will continue to evaluate, however,
whether it will approve annual compensation arrangements exceeding $1.0 million
and whether it will attempt to qualify any such amounts for deductibility under
the federal tax laws.
CONCLUSION
The Compensation Committee believes that the Company's executive compensation
program aligns the interests of executives and shareholders by linking
performance to the creation of shareholder value. The program has been
successful in attracting and retaining quality executive officers, and is
integral to the future growth and success of the Company.
JOE M. RODGERS, CHAIRMAN
MARTIN C. DICKINSON
CRAIG L. LEIPOLD
MARY AGNES WILDEROTTER
HOWARD L. WOOD
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EMPLOYMENT, SEVERANCE, AND CHANGE IN CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All stock options granted under the 1997 Stock Plan become immediately
exercisable or otherwise non-forfeitable in full in the event of a change in
control of the Company. A change in control includes, among other things, the
following events:
- - any unaffiliated entity acquires a majority of our voting securities;
- - the Company's shareholders approve certain mergers, or a liquidation or sale
of the Company's assets; or
- - more than half of our directors are replaced during a two-year period, with
certain exceptions.
Mr. London, Mr. Bradley and Mr. Kornmeyer all entered into severance agreements
prior to the CBS merger (as described in Note 1 to the Performance Graph on Page
29). The Company assumed these agreements following the merger. These severance
agreements provide for a two-year employment period upon the occurrence of a
"change of control" (as defined in the agreements). In the event one of the
above Named Executive Officers is terminated or his compensation is reduced
prior to the expiration of the two year employment period, he is entitled to a
lump sum payment equal to 250% of the sum of his base salary and cash incentive
bonus.
Mr. Jones entered into a severance agreement with the Company in February 1999.
The severance agreement provides for a two-year employment agreement upon the
occurrence of a "change of control" (as defined in the agreement). In the event
that Mr. Jones is terminated, his compensation is reduced, or he is required to
relocate his residence more than 100 miles from his city of employment prior to
the expiration of the two year employment period, he is entitled to a lump sum
payment equal to 150% of the sum of his base salary and cash incentive bonus
received in the last 12 months of employment, subject to an additional payment
for purposes of tax reimbursement.
In March 1998, the Company entered into a five-year employment agreement with
Jerry O. Bradley, a Named Executive Officer of the Company. The employment
agreement provides for an annual base salary of $200,000, subject to such
increase as may be determined from time to time by the Company, an annual cash
bonus based on the "net publishers' share" of Acuff-Rose Music Publishing and an
additional annual cash bonus as determined in the Company's discretion, but not
to exceed 9% of his annual base salary. In addition, Mr. Bradley received an
option to purchase 25,000 shares of common stock. The option becomes exercisable
in one-third increments annually beginning on February 28, 2001.
In the event Mr. Bradley is terminated without cause, all options will become
immediately exercisable and he will continue to receive his annual salary and
bonus through February 28, 2003, with the bonus to be calculated by reference to
Acuff-Rose's "net publishers' share" earned in 1997. Any severance benefits
payable to Mr. Bradley under such circumstances would be offset against any
severance benefits Mr. Bradley may be entitled to under his severance agreement
described above.
================================================================================
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PERFORMANCE GRAPH
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following Performance Graph and accompanying table compare the cumulative
total shareholder return on our Common Stock from October 1, 1997 (see Note 1
below), through December 31, 1999, with the cumulative total return of the Dow
Jones Lodging Index, the Dow Jones Entertainment Index, and the Russell 2000
Index. The comparative data assumes $100.00 was invested on October 1, 1997, in
the common stock and in each of the indices and assumes that any dividends paid
were reinvested.
BASE PERIOD
COMPANY/INDEX NAME 10/1/97 (1) 12/31/97 12/31/98 12/31/99
------------------ ----------- -------- -------- --------
Gaylord Entertainment Company.......... $100.00 $113.64 $109.44 $111.78
Dow Jones Lodging Index................ 100.00 104.73 79.90 79.43
Dow Jones Entertainment Index.......... 100.00 119.56 228.25 290.01
Russell 2000 Index..................... 100.00 96.65 94.19 114.21
(1) Until September 30, 1997, the Company was a wholly owned subsidiary of a
corporation which was then known as Gaylord Entertainment Company, or "Old
Gaylord." On October 1, 1997, Old Gaylord consummated a transaction with
Westinghouse Electric Corporation (now CBS Corporation, and referred to as
"CBS") and G Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of CBS ("Sub"),
pursuant to which Sub was merged with and into Old Gaylord, with Old
Gaylord continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly owned
subsidiary of CBS. Prior to the merger, Old Gaylord was restructured by
transferring its assets and liabilities, other than the cable network TNN
and the U.S. and Canadian operations of the cable network CMT, as well as
certain other related assets and liabilities, to the Company and its
subsidiaries. Following the restructuring, on September 30, 1997, Old
Gaylord distributed pro rata to its shareholders all of the outstanding
capital stock of the Company. Immediately following the CBS merger, the
Company changed its name to Gaylord Entertainment Company.
April 5, 2000
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APPENDIX A
GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
1997 OMNIBUS STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN
1. PURPOSE; TYPES OF AWARDS; CONSTRUCTION.
The purpose of this 1997 Omnibus Stock Option and Incentive Plan
(formerly known as the Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option and Incentive
Plan) of Gaylord Entertainment Company (the "Plan") is to afford an incentive to
officers, directors, key employees, consultants and advisors of Gaylord
Entertainment Company (the "Company"), or any Subsidiary (as defined herein)
which now exists or hereafter is organized or acquired by the Company, to
acquire a proprietary interest in the Company, to continue as officers,
directors, employees, consultants and advisors, to increase their efforts on
behalf of the Company and to promote the success of the Company's business.
It is further intended that options granted by the Compensation or
other Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board") pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan shall constitute "incentive stock
options" ("Incentive Stock Options") within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and options granted by
the Committee pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan shall constitute "nonqualified
stock options" ("Nonqualified Stock Options"). The Committee may also grant
stock appreciation rights ("Stock Appreciation Rights" or "SARs") pursuant to
Section 9 of the Plan; shares of restricted stock ("Restricted Stock") pursuant
to Section 10 of the Plan; Deferred Shares of stock pursuant to Section 11 of
the Plan; and Performance Shares and Performance Units pursuant to Section 12 of
the Plan.
The provisions of the Plan are intended to satisfy the requirements of
Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and shall be interpreted
in a manner consistent with the requirements thereof, as now or hereafter
construed, interpreted, and applied by regulations, rulings, and cases. The Plan
is also designated so that awards granted hereunder intended to comply with the
requirements for "performance-based" compensation under Section 162(m) of the
Code may comply with such requirements. The creation and implementation of the
Plan shall not diminish or prejudice other compensation plans or programs
approved from time to time by the Board.
2. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the
meanings indicated:
(a) "Common Stock" shall mean shares of Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share, of the Company.
(b) "Deferral Period" means the period of time during which
Deferred Shares are subject to deferral limitations under Section 11 of this
Plan.
(c) "Deferred Shares" means an award pursuant to Section 11 of
this Plan of the right to receive shares of Common Stock at the end of a
specified Deferral Period.
(d) "Disability" shall mean a Grantee's (as defined in Section
3 hereof) inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of
any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to
result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous
period of not less than twelve (12) months.
(e) "Fair Market Value" per share of Common Stock as of a
particular date shall mean (i) the closing sales price per share of Common Stock
on the national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is principally
traded, for the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such Common
Stock on such exchange, or (ii) if the shares of Common Stock are then traded in
an over-the-counter market, the average of the closing bid and asked prices for
the shares of Common Stock in such over-the-counter market for the last
preceding date on
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which there was a sale of such Common Stock in such market, or (iii) if the
shares of Common Stock are not then listed on a national securities exchange or
traded in an over-the-counter market, such value as the Committee, in its sole
discretion, shall determine.
(f) "Immediate Family" shall mean any child, stepchild,
grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law,
father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law,
and shall include adoptive relationships.
(g) "Option" or "Options" shall mean a grant to a Grantee of
an option or options to purchase shares of Common Stock. Options granted by the
Committee pursuant to the Plan shall constitute either Incentive Stock Options
or Nonqualified Stock Options.
(h) "Parent" shall mean any company (other than the Company)
in an unbroken chain of companies ending with the Company if, at the time of
granting an Option, each of the companies other than the Company owns stock or
equity interests (including partnership interests) possessing fifty percent
(50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or
equity interests in one of the other companies in such chain.
(i) "Performance Goals" means performance goals based on one
or more of the following criteria: (i) pre-tax income or after-tax income; (ii)
operating cash flow; (iii) operating profit; (iv) return on equity, assets,
capital, or investment; (v) earnings or book value per share; (vi) sales or
revenues; (vii) operating expenses; (viii) cost of capital; (ix) Common Stock
price appreciation; and (x) implementation or completion of critical projects or
processes. Where applicable, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of
attaining a specified level of the particular criteria or the attainment of a
percentage increase or decrease in the particular criteria, and may be applied
to one or more of the Company or any Subsidiary, or a division or strategic
business unit of the Company, or may be applied to the performance of the
Company relative to a market index, a group of other companies, or a combination
thereof, all as determined by the Committee. The Performance Goals may include a
threshold level of performance below which no payment will be made (or no
vesting will occur), levels of performance at which specified payments will be
made (or specified vesting will occur), and a maximum level of performance above
which no additional payment will be made (or at which full vesting will occur).
Each of the foregoing Performance Goals shall be determined, to the extent
applicable, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and
shall be subject to certification by the Committee; provided, that the Committee
shall have the authority to make equitable adjustments to the Performance Goals
in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Company or any
Subsidiary or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary, in
response to changes in applicable laws or regulations, or to account for items
of gain, loss, or expense determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or
infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a segment of business or
related to a change in accounting principles.
(j) "Performance Period" means a period of time established
under Section 12 of this Plan within which the Performance Goals relating to a
Performance Share, Performance Unit, or Deferred Shares are to be achieved.
(k) "Performance Share" means a bookkeeping entry that records
the equivalent of one share of Common Stock awarded pursuant to Section 12 of
this Plan.
(l) "Performance Unit" means a bookkeeping entry that records
a unit equivalent to $1.00 awarded pursuant to Section 12 of this Plan.
(m) "Subsidiary" shall mean any company (other than the
Company) in an unbroken chain of companies beginning with the Company if, at the
time of granting an Option, each of the companies other than the last company in
the unbroken chain owns stock or equity interests (including partnership
interests) possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting
power of all classes of stock or equity interests in one of the other companies
in such chain.
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(n) "Ten Percent Stockholder" shall mean a Grantee who, at the
time an Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock possessing more than ten
percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary.
(o) "Retirement" means retirement by an employee from active
employment with the Company or any Subsidiary (i) on or after attaining age 65,
or (ii) with the express written consent of the Company on or after attaining
age 55.
(p) "Voting Trust" shall mean the trust created by that
certain Voting Trust Agreement, dated as of October 3, 1990, as amended October
7, 1991, and as may be amended hereafter from time to time, and "Voting
Trustees" shall mean the trustees of the Voting Trust.
3. ADMINISTRATION.
The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which will be
comprised solely of "Non-Employee Directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or
by the Board if for any reason the Committee is not so comprised, in which case
all references herein to the Committee shall refer to the Board.
The Committee shall have the authority in its discretion, subject to
and not inconsistent with the express provisions of the Plan, to administer the
Plan and to exercise all the powers and authorities either specifically granted
to it under the Plan or necessary or advisable in the administration of the
Plan, including, without limitation, the authority to grant Options, SARs,
Restricted Stock, Deferred Shares, Performance Shares, and Performance Units; to
determine which Options shall constitute Incentive Stock Options and which
Options shall constitute Nonqualified Stock Options and whether such Options
will be accompanied by Stock Appreciation Rights; to determine the purchase
price of the shares of Common Stock covered by each Option (the "Option Price")
and SARs, the kind of consideration payable (if any) with respect to awards, and
the various methods for payment; to determine the Deferral Period, the period
during which Options may be exercised and during which Restricted Stock shall be
subject to restrictions, and whether in whole or in installments; to determine
the persons to whom, and the time or times at which awards shall be granted
(such persons are referred to herein as "Grantees"); to determine the number of
shares to be covered by each award; to determine the terms, conditions, and
restrictions of any Performance Goals and the number of Options, SARs, shares of
Restricted Stock, Deferred Shares, Performance Shares or Performance Units
subject thereto; to interpret the Plan; to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules
and regulations relating to the Plan; to determine the terms and provisions of
the agreements (which need not be identical) entered into in connection with
awards granted under the Plan (the "Agreements"); to cancel or suspend awards,
as necessary; and to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable
for the administration of the Plan.
The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or
more agents such administrative duties as it may deem advisable, and the
Committee or any person to whom it has delegated duties as aforesaid may employ
one or more persons to render advice with respect to any responsibility the
Committee or such person may have under the Plan. All decisions, determinations,
and interpretations of the Committee shall be final and binding on all Grantees
of any awards under this Plan.
The Board shall fill all vacancies, however caused, in the Committee.
The Board may from time to time appoint additional members to the Committee, and
may at any time remove one or more Committee members and substitute others. One
member of the Committee shall be selected by the Board as chairman. The
Committee shall hold its meetings at such times and places as it shall deem
advisable. All determinations of the Committee shall be made by a majority of
its members either present in person or participating by conference telephone at
a meeting or by written consent. The Committee may appoint a secretary and make
such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it shall deem
advisable, and shall keep minutes of its meetings.
No members of the Board or Committee shall be liable for any action
taken or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any award
granted hereunder.
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4. ELIGIBILITY.
Directors, officers, key employees, consultants and advisors of the
Company or any Subsidiary shall be eligible to receive awards hereunder;
provided, however, that only consultants or advisors who have rendered bona fide
services to the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with its business
operations, and not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in
capital-raising transactions, shall be eligible to receive awards hereunder. In
determining the persons to whom awards shall be granted and the number of shares
or Performance Units to be covered by each award, the Committee, in its sole
discretion, shall take into account the contribution by the eligible
participants to the management, growth, and profitability of the business of the
Company and such other factors as the Committee shall deem relevant.
5. STOCK.
The maximum number of shares of Common Stock reserved for the grant of
awards under the Plan shall be 5,450,000 (including shares of Common Stock
reserved for the grant of awards issued in connection with the Distribution
Agreement (as defined below)), subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13
hereof. Such shares may, in whole or in part, be authorized but unissued shares
or shares that shall have been or may be reacquired by the Company.
If any outstanding award under the Plan should, for any reason, expire
or be canceled, forfeited, or terminated, without having been exercised in full,
the shares of Common Stock allocable to the unexercised, canceled, forfeited, or
terminated portion of such award shall (unless the Plan shall have been
terminated) become available for subsequent grants of awards under the Plan.
The maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which
awards (including Options, SARs, Restricted Stock, Deferred Shares, Performance
Shares, and Performance Units) may be granted under the Plan to any eligible
employee during any consecutive three-year period shall be 500,000, subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 13 hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to any person in connection with the
Agreement and Plan of Distribution, dated as of September 30, 1997, between the
Company and Gaylord Entertainment Company, a Delaware corporation (the
"Distribution Agreement") shall not be counted for purposes of the maximum
number of shares limitation in the preceding sentence.
6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
Each Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by a
written agreement between the Company and the Grantee (the "Option Agreement"),
in such form as the Committee shall from time to time approve, which Option
Agreement shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and
conditions:
(a) Number of Shares. Each Option Agreement shall state the
number of shares of Common Stock to which the Option relates.
(b) Type of Option. Each Option Agreement shall specifically
state that the Option constitutes an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified
Stock Option.
(c) Option Price. Each Option Agreement shall state the Option
Price, which, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, shall not be less than
one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common
Stock covered by the Option on the date of grant. The Option Price shall be
subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13 hereof. Unless otherwise stated
in the resolution, the date on which the Committee adopts a resolution expressly
granting an Option shall be considered the day on which such Option is granted.
(d) Medium and Time of Payment. The Option Price shall be paid
in full, at the time of exercise, in any manner that the Committee shall deem
appropriate or that the Option Agreement shall provide for, including, in cash,
in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to such Option Price,
in cash
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provided through a broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure, approved by the
Committee, in a combination of cash and Common Stock, or in such other manner as
the Committee shall determine.
(e) Term and Exercisability of Options. Each Option shall be
exercisable at such times and under such conditions as the Committee, in its
discretion, shall determine; provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive
Stock Option, such exercise period shall not exceed ten (10) years from the date
of grant of such Option. The exercise period shall be subject to earlier
termination as provided in Section 6(g) hereof. An Option may be exercised, as
to any or all full shares of Common Stock as to which the Option has become
exercisable, by giving written notice of such exercise to the Committee or its
designated agent.
(f) Termination of Employment.
(i) Generally. Except as otherwise provided herein or
as determined by the Committee, an Option may not be exercised unless the
Grantee is then in the service or employ of the Company or a Parent or
Subsidiary (or a company or a parent or subsidiary company of such company
issuing or assuming the Option in a transaction to which Section 424(a) of the
Code applies), and unless the Grantee has remained continuously in such service
or employ since the date of grant of the Option. Unless otherwise determined by
the Committee at or after the date of grant, in the event that the employment of
a Grantee or the service provided to the Company by the Grantee terminates
(other than by reason of death, Disability, Retirement, or for Cause) all
Options that are exercisable at the time of such termination may be exercised
for a period of 90 days from the date of such termination or until the
expiration of the stated term of the Option, whichever period is shorter. For
purposes of interpreting this Section 6(f) only, the service of a director as a
non-employee member of the Board shall be deemed to be employment by the
Company.
(ii) Death or Disability. If a Grantee's employment
with, or service to, the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary terminates by reason
of death, or if the Grantee's employment or service terminates by reason of
Disability, all Options theretofore granted to such Grantee will become fully
vested and exercisable (notwithstanding any terms of the Options providing for
delayed exercisability) and may be exercised by the Grantee, by the legal
representative of the Grantee's estate, or by the legatee under the Grantee's
will at any time until the expiration of the stated term of the Option. In the
event that an Option granted hereunder is exercised by the legal representative
of a deceased or disabled Grantee, written notice of such exercise must be
accompanied by a certified copy of letters testamentary or equivalent proof of
the right of such legal representative or legatee to exercise such Option.
(iii) Retirement. If a Grantee's employment with, or
service to, the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary terminates by reason of
Retirement, any Option held by the Grantee may thereafter be exercised, to the
extent it was exercisable at the time of such Retirement or on such accelerated
basis as the Committee may determine at or after the date of grant (but before
the date of such Retirement), at any time until the expiration of the stated
term of the Option.
(iv) Cause. If a Grantee's employment with, or
service to, the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary terminates for "Cause" (as
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) the Option, to the extent
not theretofore exercised, shall terminate on the date of termination of
employment.
(v) Committee Discretion. Notwithstanding the
provisions of subsections (i) through (iv) above, the Committee may, in its sole
discretion, at or after the date of grant (but before the date of termination),
establish different terms and conditions pertaining to the effect on any Option
of termination of a Grantee's employment with, or service to, the Company or a
Parent or Subsidiary, to the extent permitted by applicable federal and state
law.
(g) Other Provisions. The Option Agreements evidencing Options
under the Plan shall contain such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent
with the Plan, as the Committee may determine.
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7. NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS.
Options granted pursuant to this Section 7 are intended to constitute
Nonqualified Stock Options and shall be subject only to the general terms and
conditions specified in Section 6 hereof.
8. INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS.
Options granted pursuant to this Section 8 are intended to constitute
Incentive Stock Options and shall be subject to the following special terms and
conditions, in addition to the general terms and conditions specified in Section
6 hereof.
(a) Value of Shares. The aggregate Fair Market Value
(determined as of the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the shares
of equity securities of the Company with respect to which Incentive Stock
Options granted under this Plan and all other option plans of any Parent or
Subsidiary become exercisable for the first time by each Grantee during any
calendar year shall not exceed $100,000. To the extent such $100,000 limit has
been exceeded with respect to any Options first becoming exercisable, including
acceleration upon a Change in Control, and notwithstanding any statement in the
Option Agreement that it constitutes an Incentive Stock Option, the portion of
such Option(s) that exceeds such $100,000 limit shall be treated as a
Nonqualified Stock Option.
(b) Ten Percent Stockholder. In the case of an Incentive Stock
Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, (i) the Option Price shall not be
less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the shares
of Common Stock on the date of grant of such Incentive Stock Option, and (ii)
the exercise period shall not exceed five (5) years from the date of grant of
such Incentive Stock Option.
9. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.
The Committee is authorized to grant SARs to Grantees on the following
terms and conditions:
(a) In General. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, an
SAR (i) granted in tandem with a Nonqualified Stock Option may be granted at the
time of grant of the related Nonqualified Stock Option or at any time
thereafter, and (ii) granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option may only
be granted at the time of grant of the related Incentive Stock Option. An SAR
granted in tandem with an Option shall be exercisable only to the extent the
underlying Option is exercisable and shall terminate when the underlying Option
terminates.
(b) SARs. An SAR shall confer on the Grantee a right to
receive an amount with respect to each share subject thereto, upon exercise
thereof, equal to the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one share of Common
Stock on the date of exercise over (ii) the grant price of the SAR (which in the
case of an SAR granted in tandem with an Option shall be equal to the exercise
price of the underlying Option, and which in the case of any other SAR shall be
such price as the Committee may determine).
(c) Performance Goals. The Committee may condition the
exercise of any SAR upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals, in its
sole discretion.
10. RESTRICTED STOCK.
The Committee may award shares of Restricted Stock to any eligible
employee or director. Each award of Restricted Stock under the Plan shall be
evidenced by an instrument, in such form as the Committee shall from time to
time approve (the "Restricted Stock Agreement"), and shall comply with the
following terms and conditions (and with such other terms and conditions not
inconsistent with the terms of this Plan as the Committee, in its discretion,
shall establish including, without limitation, the requirement that a Grantee
provide consideration for Restricted Stock upon the lapse of restrictions):
(a) The Committee shall determine the number of shares of
Common Stock to be issued to the Grantee pursuant to the award.
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(b) Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned,
transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of, except by will or
the laws of descent and distribution, for such period as the Committee shall
determine from the date on which the award is granted (the "Restricted Period").
The Committee may impose such other restrictions and conditions on the shares as
it deems appropriate including the satisfaction of Performance Goals.
Certificates for shares of stock issued pursuant to Restricted Stock awards
shall bear an appropriate legend referring to such restrictions, and any attempt
to dispose of any such shares of stock in contravention of such restrictions
shall be null and void and without effect. During the Restricted Period, such
certificates shall be held in escrow by an escrow agent appointed by the
Committee. In determining the Restricted Period of an award, the Committee may
provide that the foregoing restrictions lapse at such times, under such
circumstances, and in such installments, as the Committee may determine.
(c) Subject to such exceptions as may be determined by the
Committee, if the Grantee's continuous employment with the Company or any Parent
or Subsidiary shall terminate for any reason prior to the expiration of the
Restricted Period of an award, any shares remaining subject to restrictions
(after taking into account the provisions of Subsection (f) of this Section 10)
shall thereupon be forfeited by the Grantee and transferred to, and reacquired
by, the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary at no cost to the Company or such
Parent or Subsidiary.
(d) During the Restricted Period the Grantee shall possess all
incidents of ownership of such shares, subject to Subsection (b) of this Section
10, including the right to receive cash dividends with respect to such shares
and to vote such shares; provided, that shares of Common Stock distributed in
connection with a stock split or stock dividend shall be subject to restriction
and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect
to which such shares are distributed.
(e) Upon the occurrence of any of the events described in
Section 13(c), all restrictions then outstanding with respect to shares of
Restricted Stock awarded hereunder shall automatically expire and be of no
further force or effect.
(f) The Committee shall have the authority (and the Restricted
Stock Agreement may so provide) to cancel all or any portion of any outstanding
restrictions prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to
any or all of the shares of Restricted Stock awarded on such terms and
conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.
11. DEFERRED SHARES.
The Committee may authorize grants of Deferred Shares to Grantees upon
such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine in accordance with the
following provisions:
(a) Each grant shall constitute the agreement by the Company
to issue or transfer shares of Common Stock to the Grantee in the future in
consideration of the performance of services, subject to the fulfillment during
the Deferral Period of such conditions as the Committee may specify.
(b) Each grant may be made without additional consideration
from the Grantee or in consideration of a payment by the Grantee that is less
than the Fair Market Value on the date of grant.
(c) Each grant shall provide that the Deferred Shares covered
thereby shall be subject to a Deferral Period, which shall be fixed by the
Committee on the date of grant, and any grant or sale may provide for the
earlier termination of such period in the event of a change in control of the
Company or other similar transaction or event.
(d) During the Deferral Period, the Grantee shall not have any
right to transfer any rights under the subject award, shall not have any rights
of ownership in the Deferred Shares and shall not have any right
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to vote such shares, but the Committee may on or after the date of grant
authorize the payment of dividend equivalents on such shares in cash or
additional shares of Common Stock on a current, deferred or contingent basis.
(e) Any grant or the vesting thereof may be further
conditioned upon the attainment of Performance Goals established by the
Committee in accordance with the applicable provisions of Section 12 of this
Plan regarding Performance Shares and Performance Units.
(f) Each grant shall be evidenced by an agreement delivered to
and accepted by the Grantee and containing such terms and provisions as the
Committee may determine consistent with this Plan.
12. PERFORMANCE SHARES AND PERFORMANCE UNITS.
The Committee may also authorize grants of Performance Shares and
Performance Units, which shall become payable to the Grantee upon the
achievement of specified Performance Goals, upon such terms and conditions as
the Committee may determine in accordance with the following provisions:
(a) Each grant shall specify the number of Performance Shares
or Performance Units to which it pertains, which may be subject to adjustment to
reflect changes in compensation or other factors.
(b) The Performance Period with respect to each Performance
Share or Performance Unit shall commence on the date of grant and may be subject
to earlier termination in the event of a Change in Control (as defined in
Section 13(c)) or other similar transaction or event.
(c) Each grant shall specify the Performance Goals that are to
be achieved by the Grantee.
(d) Each grant may specify in respect of the specified
Performance Goals a minimum acceptable level of achievement below which no
payment will be made and may set forth a formula for determining the amount of
any payment to be made if performance is at or above such minimum acceptable
level but falls short of the maximum achievement of the specified Performance
Goals.
(e) Each grant shall specify the time and manner of payment of
Performance Shares or Performance Units that shall have been earned, and any
grant may specify that any such amount may be paid by the Company in cash,
shares of Common Stock or any combination thereof and may either grant to the
Grantee or reserve to the Committee the right to elect among those alternatives.
(f) Any grant of Performance Shares may specify that the
amount payable with respect thereto may not exceed a maximum specified by the
Committee on the date of grant. Any grant of Performance Units may specify that
the amount payable, or the number of shares of Common Stock issued, with respect
thereto may not exceed maximums specified by the Committee on the Grant Date.
(g) Any grant of Performance Shares may provide for the
payment to the Grantee of dividend equivalents thereon in cash or additional
shares of Common Stock on a current, deferred or contingent basis.
(h) If provided in the terms of the grant, the Committee may
adjust Performance Goals and the related minimum acceptable level of achievement
if, in the sole judgment of the Committee, events or transactions have occurred
after the date of grant that are unrelated to the performance of the Grantee and
result in distortion of the Performance Goals or the related minimum acceptable
level of achievement.
(i) Each grant shall be evidenced by an agreement delivered to
and accepted by the Grantee, which shall state that the Performance Shares or
Performance Units are subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Plan
and such other terms and provisions as the Committee may determine consistent
with this Plan.
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13. EFFECT OF CERTAIN CHANGES.
(a) If there is any change in the shares of Common Stock
through the declaration of extraordinary cash dividends, stock dividends,
recapitalization, stock splits, or combinations or exchanges of such shares, or
other similar transactions, the number of shares of Common Stock available for
awards (both the maximum number of shares issuable under the Plan as a whole and
the maximum number of shares issuable on a per-employee basis, each as set forth
in Section 5 hereof), the number of such shares covered by outstanding awards,
the Performance Goals, and the price per share of Options or SARs shall be
proportionately adjusted by the Committee to reflect such change in the issued
shares of Common Stock; provided, that any fractional shares resulting from such
adjustment shall be eliminated; and provided, further, that, with respect to
Incentive Stock Options, such adjustment shall be made in accordance with
Section 424(h) of the Code.
(b) In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the
Company; in the event of any corporate separation or division, including but not
limited to, split-up, split-off or spin-off; or in the event of other similar
transactions, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide that either:
(i) the Grantee of any award hereunder shall have the
right to exercise an Option (at its then Option Price) and receive such
property, cash, securities, or any combination thereof upon such exercise as
would have been received with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock
for which such Option might have been exercised immediately prior to such
dissolution, liquidation, or corporate separation or division; or
(ii) each Option shall terminate as of a date to be
fixed by the Committee and that not less than thirty (30) days' written notice
of the date so fixed shall be given to each Grantee, who shall have the right,
during the period of thirty (30) days preceding such termination, to exercise
all or part of such Option.
In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company or the merger of the Company with or into another
corporation, any award then outstanding shall be assumed or an equivalent award
shall be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of
such successor corporation, unless such successor corporation does not agree to
assume the award or to substitute an equivalent award, in which case the
Committee shall, in lieu of such assumption or substitution, provide for the
realization of such outstanding awards in the manner set forth in Section
13(b)(i) or 13(b)(ii) above.
(c) If, while any awards remain outstanding under the Plan,
any of the following events shall occur (which events shall constitute a "Change
in Control" of the Company):
(i) the "beneficial ownership," as defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of securities representing more than a majority of
the combined voting power of the Company are acquired by any "person" as defined
in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than (A) the Company, (B)
any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan
of the Company, (C) the Voting Trust and the Voting Trustees, (D) Edward L.
Gaylord or any member of his Immediate Family, or any "person" controlled by,
controlling or under common control with Edward L. Gaylord or any member of his
Immediate Family; or (E) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the
shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of stock of the Company); or
(ii) the shareholders of the Company approve a
definitive agreement to merge or consolidate the Company with or into another
company (other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting
securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to
represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
securities of the surviving entity) a majority of the combined voting power of
the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation), or to sell or otherwise dispose
of all or substantially all of its assets, or adopt a plan of liquidation; or
(iii) during any period of two consecutive years,
individuals who at the beginning of such period were members of the Board cease
for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof (unless the
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election, or the nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, of each
new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then
still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period);
then from and after the date on which any such Change in Control shall have
occurred (the "Acceleration Date"), any Option, SAR, share of Restricted Stock,
Deferred Share, Performance Share, or Performance Unit awarded pursuant to this
Plan shall be exercisable or otherwise nonforfeitable in full, as applicable,
whether or not otherwise exercisable or forfeitable.
Following the Acceleration Date, the Committee shall, in the
case of a merger, consolidation, or sale or disposition of assets, promptly make
an appropriate adjustment to the number and class of shares of Common Stock
available for awards, and to the amount and kind of shares or other securities
or property receivable upon exercise or other realization of any outstanding
awards after the effective date of such transaction, and, if applicable, the
price thereof.
(d) In the event of a change in the Common Stock of the
Company as presently constituted that is limited to a change of all of its
authorized shares of Common Stock into the same number of shares with a
different par value or without par value, the shares resulting from any such
change shall be deemed to be the Common Stock within the meaning of the Plan.
(e) Except as herein before expressly provided in this Section
13, the Grantee of an award hereunder shall have no rights by reason of any
subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class or the payment of
any stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of
stock of any class or by reason of any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or
consolidation or spin-off of assets or stock of another company; and any issue
by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into
shares of stock of any class, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason
thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common
Stock subject to an award. The grant of an award pursuant to the Plan shall not
affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments,
reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business
structures or to merge or to consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate, or sell, or
transfer all or part of its business or assets or engage in any similar
transactions.
14. SURRENDER AND EXCHANGES OF AWARDS.
The Option Price of an Option may not be amended or modified after the
grant of the Option, and an Option may not be surrendered in consideration of or
exchanged for a grant of a new Option having an Option Price below that of the
Option which was surrendered or exchanged.
15. PERIOD DURING WHICH AWARDS MAY BE GRANTED.
Awards may be granted pursuant to the Plan from time to time within a
period of ten (10) years from the date of the Distribution (as defined in the
Distribution Agreement), provided that awards granted prior to such tenth
anniversary date may be extended beyond such date.
16. LIMITS ON TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS.
Awards of Incentive Stock Options (and any SAR related thereto),
Deferred Shares, Performance Shares, and Performance Units shall not be
transferable otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution,
and all Incentive Stock Options are exercisable during the Grantee's lifetime
only by the Grantee. Awards of Nonqualified Stock Options (and any SAR related
thereto) shall not be transferable, without the prior written consent of the
Committee, other than (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution,
(ii) by a Grantee to a member of his or her Immediate Family, or (iii) to a
trust for the benefit of the Grantee or a member of his or her Immediate Family.
Awards of Restricted Stock shall be transferable only to the extent set forth in
the Restricted Stock Agreement.
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17. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The Plan shall be deemed to have taken effect on October 1, 1997.
18. AGREEMENT BY GRANTEE REGARDING WITHHOLDING TAXES.
If the Committee shall so require, as a condition of exercise of an
Option or SAR or other realization of an award, each Grantee shall agree that no
later than the date of exercise or other realization of an award granted
hereunder, the Grantee will pay to the Company or make arrangements satisfactory
to the Committee regarding payment of any federal, state, or local taxes of any
kind required by law to be withheld upon the exercise of an Option or other
realization of an award. Alternatively, the Committee may provide that a Grantee
may elect, to the extent permitted or required by law, to have the Company
deduct federal, state, and local taxes of any kind required by law to be
withheld upon the exercise of an Option or realization of any award from any
payment of any kind due to the Grantee. The Committee may, in its sole
discretion, permit withholding obligations to be satisfied in shares of Common
Stock subject to the award.
19. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.
The Board at any time and from time to time may suspend, terminate,
modify, or amend the Plan without stockholder approval to the fullest extent
permitted by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;
provided, however, that no suspension, termination, modification, or amendment
of the Plan may adversely affect any award previously granted hereunder, unless
the written consent of the Grantee is obtained.
20. RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER.
Except as provided in Section 10(d) hereof, a Grantee or a transferee
of an award shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares
covered by the award until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate to
him or her for such shares. No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary
or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities, or other property) or
distribution of other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such
stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 13 hereof.
21. NO RIGHTS TO SERVICE OR EMPLOYMENT.
Nothing in the Plan or in any award granted or Agreement entered into
pursuant hereto shall confer upon any Grantee the right to continue in the
employ of the Company or any Subsidiary or to be entitled to any remuneration or
benefits not set forth in the Plan or such Agreement or to interfere with or
limit in any way the right of the Company or any such Subsidiary to terminate
such Grantee's service to or employment by the Company or such Subsidiary.
Awards granted under the Plan shall not be affected by any change in duties or
position of a Grantee as long as such Grantee continues to provide service to or
is in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary.
22. BENEFICIARY.
A Grantee may file with the Committee a written designation of a
beneficiary on such form as may be prescribed by the Committee and may, from
time to time, amend or revoke such designation. If no designated beneficiary
survives the Grantee, the executor or administrator of the Grantee's estate
shall be deemed to be the Grantee's beneficiary.
23. UNFUNDED STATUS OF PLAN.
The Plan is intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan for incentive and
deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Grantee by
the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Grantee any rights
that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company. In its sole
discretion, the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other
arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan
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to deliver Common Stock or payments in lieu of or with respect to awards
hereunder; provided, however, that, unless the Committee otherwise determines
with the consent of the affected participant, the existence of such trusts or
other arrangements is consistent with the "unfunded" status of the Plan.
24. GOVERNING LAW.
The Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
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APPENDIX B
GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
1997 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN
AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF MAY 13, 1999
1. PURPOSE; TYPES OF AWARDS; CONSTRUCTION.
The purpose of this Amended and Restated 1997 Stock Option and Incentive Plan of
Gaylord Entertainment Company (the "Plan") is to afford an incentive to
officers, directors, key employees, consultants and advisors of Gaylord
Entertainment Company (the "Company"), or any Subsidiary (as defined herein)
which now exists or hereafter is organized or acquired by the Company, to
acquire a proprietary interest in the Company, to continue as officers,
directors, employees, consultants and advisors, to increase their efforts on
behalf of the Company and to promote the success of the Company's business.
It is further intended that options granted by the Compensation or
other Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board") pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan shall constitute "incentive stock
options" ("Incentive Stock Options") within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and options granted by
the Committee pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan shall constitute "nonqualified
stock options" ("Nonqualified Stock Options"). The Committee may also grant
stock appreciation rights ("Stock Appreciation Rights" or "SARs") pursuant to
Section 9 of the Plan and shares of restricted stock ("Restricted Stock")
pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan.
The provisions of the Plan are intended to satisfy the requirements of
Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and shall be interpreted
in a manner consistent with the requirements thereof, as now or hereafter
construed, interpreted, and applied by regulations, rulings, and cases. The Plan
is also designated so that awards granted hereunder intended to comply with the
requirements for "performance-based" compensation under Section 162(m) of the
Code may comply with such requirements. The creation and implementation of the
Plan shall not diminish or prejudice other compensation plans or programs
approved from time to time by the Board.
2. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Plan, the following words and phrases shall have the
meanings indicated:
(a) "Common Stock" shall mean shares of Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share, of the Company.
(b) "Disability" shall mean a Grantee's (as defined in Section
3 hereof) inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of
any medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to
result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous
period of not less than twelve (12) months.
(c) "Fair Market Value" per share of Common Stock as of a
particular date shall mean (i) the closing sales price per share of Common Stock
on the national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is principally
traded, for the last preceding date on which there was a sale of such Common
Stock on such exchange, or (ii) if the shares of Common Stock are then traded in
an over-the-counter market, the average of the closing bid and asked prices for
the shares of Common Stock in such over-the-counter market for the last
preceding date on which there was a sale of such Common Stock in such market, or
(iii) if the shares of Common Stock are not then listed on a national securities
exchange or traded in an over-the-counter market, such value as the Committee,
in its sole discretion, shall determine.
(d) "Immediate Family" shall mean any child, stepchild,
grandchild, parent, stepparent, grandparent, spouse, sibling, mother-in-law,
father-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-
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law, and shall include adoptive relationships.
(e) "Option" or "Options" shall mean a grant to a Grantee of
an option or options to purchase shares of Common Stock. Options granted by the
Committee pursuant to the Plan shall constitute either Incentive Stock Options
or Nonqualified Stock Options.
(f) "Parent" shall mean any company (other than the Company)
in an unbroken chain of companies ending with the Company if, at the time of
granting an Option, each of the companies other than the Company owns stock or
equity interests (including partnership interests) possessing fifty percent
(50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or
equity interests in one of the other companies in such chain.
(g) "Performance Goals" means performance goals based on one
or more of the following criteria: (i) pre-tax income or after-tax income; (ii)
operating cash flow; (iii) operating profit; (iv) return on equity, assets,
capital, or investment; (v) earnings or book value per share; (vi) sales or
revenues; (vii) operating expenses; (viii) cost of capital; (ix) Common Stock
price appreciation; and (x) implementation or completion of critical projects or
processes. Where applicable, the Performance Goals may be expressed in terms of
attaining a specified level of the particular criteria or the attainment of a
percentage increase or decrease in the particular criteria, and may be applied
to one or more of the Company or any Subsidiary, or a division or strategic
business unit of the Company, or may be applied to the performance of the
Company relative to a market index, a group of other companies, or a combination
thereof, all as determined by the Committee. The Performance Goals may include a
threshold level of performance below which no payment will be made (or no
vesting will occur), levels of performance at which specified payments will be
made (or specified vesting will occur), and a maximum level of performance above
which no additional payment will be made (or at which full vesting will occur).
Each of the foregoing Performance Goals shall be determined, to the extent
applicable, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and
shall be subject to certification by the Committee; provided, that the Committee
shall have the authority to make equitable adjustments to the Performance Goals
in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Company or any
Subsidiary or the financial statements of the Company or any Subsidiary, in
response to changes in applicable laws or regulations, or to account for items
of gain, loss, or expense determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or
infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a segment of business or
related to a change in accounting principles.
(h) "Subsidiary" shall mean any company (other than the
Company) in an unbroken chain of companies beginning with the Company if, at the
time of granting an Option, each of the companies other than the last company in
the unbroken chain owns stock or equity interests (including partnership
interests) possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting
power of all classes of stock or equity interests in one of the other companies
in such chain.
(i) "Ten Percent Stockholder" shall mean a Grantee who, at the
time an Incentive Stock Option is granted, owns stock possessing more than ten
percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary.
(j) "Retirement" means retirement by an employee from active
employment with the Company or any Subsidiary (i) on or after attaining age 65,
or (ii) with the express written consent of the Company on or after attaining
age 55.
(k) "Voting Trust" shall mean the trust created by that
certain Voting Trust Agreement, dated as of October 3, 1990, as amended October
7, 1991, and as may be amended hereafter from time to time, and "Voting
Trustees" shall mean the trustees of the Voting Trust.
3. ADMINISTRATION.
The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which will be
comprised solely of "Non-Employee Directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
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"Exchange Act"), or by the Board if for any reason the Committee is not so
comprised, in which case all references herein to the Committee shall refer to
the Board.
The Committee shall have the authority in its discretion, subject to
and not inconsistent with the express provisions of the Plan, to administer the
Plan and to exercise all the powers and authorities either specifically granted
to it under the Plan or necessary or advisable in the administration of the
Plan, including, without limitation, the authority to grant Options, SARs, and
Restricted Stock; to determine which Options shall constitute Incentive Stock
Options and which Options shall constitute Nonqualified Stock Options and
whether such Options will be accompanied by Stock Appreciation Rights; to
determine the purchase price of the shares of Common Stock covered by each
Option (the "Option Price") and SARs, the kind of consideration payable (if any)
with respect to awards, and the various methods for payment; to determine the
period during which Options may be exercised and during which Restricted Stock
shall be subject to restrictions, and whether in whole or in installments; to
determine the persons to whom, and the time or times at which awards shall be
granted (such persons are referred to herein as "Grantees"); to determine the
number of shares to be covered by each award; to determine the terms,
conditions, and restrictions of any Performance Goals and the number of Options,
SARs, or shares of Restricted Stock subject thereto; to interpret the Plan; to
prescribe, amend, and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan; to
determine the terms and provisions of the agreements (which need not be
identical) entered into in connection with awards granted under the Plan (the
"Agreements"); to cancel or suspend awards, as necessary; and to make all other
determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.
The Committee may delegate to one or more of its members or to one or
more agents such administrative duties as it may deem advisable, and the
Committee or any person to whom it has delegated duties as aforesaid may employ
one or more persons to render advice with respect to any responsibility the
Committee or such person may have under the Plan. All decisions, determinations,
and interpretations of the Committee shall be final and binding on all Grantees
of any awards under this Plan.
The Board shall fill all vacancies, however caused, in the Committee.
The Board may from time to time appoint additional members to the Committee, and
may at any time remove one or more Committee members and substitute others. One
member of the Committee shall be selected by the Board as chairman. The
Committee shall hold its meetings at such times and places as it shall deem
advisable. All determinations of the Committee shall be made by a majority of
its members either present in person or participating by conference telephone at
a meeting or by written consent. The Committee may appoint a secretary and make
such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as it shall deem
advisable, and shall keep minutes of its meetings.
No members of the Board or Committee shall be liable for any action
taken or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any award
granted hereunder.
4. ELIGIBILITY.
Directors, officers, key employees, consultants and advisors of the
Company or any Subsidiary shall be eligible to receive awards hereunder;
provided, however, that only consultants or advisors who have rendered bona fide
services to the Company or any Subsidiary in connection with its business
operations, and not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in
capital-raising transactions, shall be eligible to receive awards hereunder. In
determining the persons to whom awards shall be granted and the number of shares
to be covered by each award, the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall take
into account the contribution by the eligible participants to the management,
growth, and profitability of the business of the Company and such other factors
as the Committee shall deem relevant.
5. STOCK.
The maximum number of shares of Common Stock reserved for the grant of
awards under the Plan shall be 4,250,000 (including shares of Common Stock
reserved for the grant of awards issued in connection with the Distribution
Agreement (as defined below)), subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11
hereof. Such shares may, in whole or in part, be authorized but unissued shares
or shares that shall have been or may be reacquired by
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the Company.
If any outstanding award under the Plan should, for any reason, expire
or be canceled, forfeited, or terminated, without having been exercised in full,
the shares of Common Stock allocable to the unexercised, canceled, forfeited, or
terminated portion of such award shall (unless the Plan shall have been
terminated) become available for subsequent grants of awards under the Plan.
The maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which
awards (including Options, SARs, and Restricted Stock) may be granted under the
Plan to any eligible employee during any consecutive three-year period shall be
500,000, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 hereof. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to any person in
connection with the Agreement and Plan of Distribution, dated as of September
30, 1997, between the Company and Gaylord Entertainment Company, a Delaware
corporation (the "Distribution Agreement") shall not be counted for purposes of
the maximum number of shares limitation in the preceding sentence.
6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
Each Option granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by a
written agreement between the Company and the Grantee (the "Option Agreement"),
in such form as the Committee shall from time to time approve, which Option
Agreement shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and
conditions:
(a) Number of Shares. Each Option Agreement shall state the
number of shares of Common Stock to which the Option relates.
(b) Type of Option. Each Option Agreement shall specifically
state that the Option constitutes an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified
Stock Option.
(c) Option Price. Each Option Agreement shall state the Option
Price, which, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, shall not be less than
one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common
Stock covered by the Option on the date of grant. The Option Price shall be
subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 hereof. Unless otherwise stated
in the resolution, the date on which the Committee adopts a resolution expressly
granting an Option shall be considered the day on which such Option is granted.
(d) Medium and Time of Payment. The Option Price shall be paid
in full, at the time of exercise, in any manner that the Committee shall deem
appropriate or that the Option Agreement shall provide for, including, in cash,
in shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to such Option Price,
in cash provided through a broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure, approved
by the Committee, in a combination of cash and Common Stock, or in such other
manner as the Committee shall determine.
(e) Term and Exercisability of Options. Each Option shall be
exercisable at such times and under such conditions as the Committee, in its
discretion, shall determine; provided, however, that in the case of an Incentive
Stock Option, such exercise period shall not exceed ten (10) years from the date
of grant of such Option. The exercise period shall be subject to earlier
termination as provided in Section 6(f) hereof. An Option may be exercised, as
to any or all full shares of Common Stock as to which the Option has become
exercisable, by giving written notice of such exercise to the Committee or its
designated agent.
(f) Termination of Employment.
(i) Generally. Except as otherwise provided herein or
as determined by the Committee, an Option may not be exercised unless the
Grantee is then in the service or employ of the Company or a Parent or
Subsidiary (or a company or a parent or subsidiary company of such company
issuing or assuming the Option in a transaction to which Section 424(a) of the
Code applies), and unless the Grantee has remained continuously in such service
or employ since the date of grant of the Option. Unless otherwise determined by
the Committee at or after the date of grant, in the event that the employment of
a Grantee or the service provided to the
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Company by the Grantee terminates (other than by reason of death, Disability,
Retirement, or for Cause) all Options that are exercisable at the time of such
termination may be exercised for a period of 90 days from the date of such
termination or until the expiration of the stated term of the Option, whichever
period is shorter. For purposes of interpreting this Section 6(f) only, the
service of a director as a non-employee member of the Board shall be deemed to
be employment by the Company.
(ii) Death or Disability. If a Grantee's employment
with, or service to, the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary terminates by reason
of death, or if the Grantee's employment or service terminates by reason of
Disability, all Options theretofore granted to such Grantee will become fully
vested and exercisable (notwithstanding any terms of the Options providing for
delayed exercisability) and may be exercised by the Grantee, by the legal
representative of the Grantee's estate, or by the legatee under the Grantee's
will at any time until the expiration of the stated term of the Option. In the
event that an Option granted hereunder is exercised by the legal representative
of a deceased or disabled Grantee, written notice of such exercise must be
accompanied by a certified copy of letters testamentary or equivalent proof of
the right of such legal representative or legatee to exercise such Option.
(iii) Retirement. If a Grantee's employment with, or
service to, the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary terminates by reason of
Retirement, any Option held by the Grantee may thereafter be exercised, to the
extent it was exercisable at the time of such Retirement or on such accelerated
basis as the Committee may determine at or after the date of grant (but before
the date of such Retirement), at any time until the expiration of the stated
term of the Option.
(iv) Cause. If a Grantee's employment with, or
service to, the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary terminates for "Cause" (as
determined by the Committee in its sole discretion) the Option, to the extent
not theretofore exercised, shall terminate on the date of termination of
employment.
(v) Committee Discretion. Notwithstanding the
provisions of subsections (i) through (iv) above, the Committee may, in its sole
discretion, at or after the date of grant (but before the date of termination),
establish different terms and conditions pertaining to the effect on any Option
of termination of a Grantee's employment with, or service to, the Company or a
Parent or Subsidiary, to the extent permitted by applicable federal and state
law.
(g) Other Provisions. The Option Agreements evidencing Options
under the Plan shall contain such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent
with the Plan, as the Committee may determine.
7. NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS.
Options granted pursuant to this Section 7 are intended to constitute
Nonqualified Stock Options and shall be subject only to the general terms and
conditions specified in Section 6 hereof.
8. INCENTIVE STOCK OPTIONS.
Options granted pursuant to this Section 8 are intended to constitute
Incentive Stock Options and shall be subject to the following special terms and
conditions, in addition to the general terms and conditions specified in Section
6 hereof.
(a) Value of Shares. The aggregate Fair Market Value
(determined as of the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the shares
of equity securities of the Company with respect to which Incentive Stock
Options granted under this Plan and all other option plans of any Parent or
Subsidiary become exercisable for the first time by each Grantee during any
calendar year shall not exceed $100,000. To the extent such $100,000 limit has
been exceeded with respect to any Options first becoming exercisable, including
acceleration upon a Change in Control, and notwithstanding any statement in the
Option Agreement that it constitutes an Incentive Stock Option, the portion of
such Option(s) that exceeds such $100,000 limit shall be treated as a
Nonqualified Stock Option.
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(b) Ten Percent Stockholder. In the case of an Incentive Stock
Option granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder, (i) the Option Price shall not be
less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the shares
of Common Stock on the date of grant of such Incentive Stock Option, and (ii)
the exercise period shall not exceed five (5) years from the date of grant of
such Incentive Stock Option.
9. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.
The Committee is authorized to grant SARs to Grantees on the following
terms and conditions:
(a) In General. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, an
SAR (i) granted in tandem with a Nonqualified Stock Option may be granted at the
time of grant of the related Nonqualified Stock Option or at any time
thereafter, and (ii) granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option may only
be granted at the time of grant of the related Incentive Stock Option. An SAR
granted in tandem with an Option shall be exercisable only to the extent the
underlying Option is exercisable and shall terminate when the underlying Option
terminates.
(b) SARs. An SAR shall confer on the Grantee a right to
receive an amount with respect to each share subject thereto, upon exercise
thereof, equal to the excess of (i) the Fair Market Value of one share of Common
Stock on the date of exercise over (ii) the grant price of the SAR (which in the
case of an SAR granted in tandem with an Option shall be equal to the exercise
price of the underlying Option, and which in the case of any other SAR shall be
such price as the Committee may determine).
(c) Performance Goals. The Committee may condition the
exercise of any SAR upon the attainment of specified Performance Goals, in its
sole discretion.
10. RESTRICTED STOCK.
The Committee may award shares of Restricted Stock to any eligible
employee or director. Each award of Restricted Stock under the Plan shall be
evidenced by an instrument, in such form as the Committee shall from time to
time approve (the "Restricted Stock Agreement"), and shall comply with the
following terms and conditions (and with such other terms and conditions not
inconsistent with the terms of this Plan as the Committee, in its discretion,
shall establish including, without limitation, the requirement that a Grantee
provide consideration for Restricted Stock upon the lapse of restrictions):
(a) The Committee shall determine the number of shares of
Common Stock to be issued to the Grantee pursuant to the award.
(b) Shares of Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned,
transferred, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of, except by will or
the laws of descent and distribution, for such period as the Committee shall
determine from the date on which the award is granted (the "Restricted Period").
The Committee may impose such other restrictions and conditions on the shares as
it deems appropriate including the satisfaction of Performance Goals.
Certificates for shares of stock issued pursuant to Restricted Stock awards
shall bear an appropriate legend referring to such restrictions, and any attempt
to dispose of any such shares of stock in contravention of such restrictions
shall be null and void and without effect. During the Restricted Period, such
certificates shall be held in escrow by an escrow agent appointed by the
Committee. In determining the Restricted Period of an award, the Committee may
provide that the foregoing restrictions lapse at such times, under such
circumstances, and in such installments, as the Committee may determine.
(c) Subject to such exceptions as may be determined by the
Committee, if the Grantee's continuous employment with the Company or any Parent
or Subsidiary shall terminate for any reason prior to the expiration of the
Restricted Period of an award, any shares remaining subject to restrictions
(after taking into account the provisions of Subsection (f) of this Section 10.)
shall thereupon be forfeited by the Grantee and transferred to, and reacquired
by, the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary at no cost to the Company or such
Parent or Subsidiary.
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(d) During the Restricted Period the Grantee shall possess all
incidents of ownership of such shares, subject to Subsection (b) of this Section
10, including the right to receive cash dividends with respect to such shares
and to vote such shares; provided, that shares of Common Stock distributed in
connection with a stock split or stock dividend shall be subject to restriction
and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect
to which such shares are distributed.
(e) Upon the occurrence of any of the events described in
Section 11(c), all restrictions then outstanding with respect to shares of
Restricted Stock awarded hereunder shall automatically expire and be of no
further force or effect.
(f) The Committee shall have the authority (and the Restricted
Stock Agreement may so provide) to cancel all or any portion of any outstanding
restrictions prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period with respect to
any or all of the shares of Restricted Stock awarded on such terms and
conditions as the Committee shall deem appropriate.
11. EFFECT OF CERTAIN CHANGES.
(a) If there is any change in the shares of Common Stock
through the declaration of extraordinary cash dividends, stock dividends,
recapitalization, stock splits, or combinations or exchanges of such shares, or
other similar transactions, the number of shares of Common Stock available for
awards (both the maximum number of shares issuable under the Plan as a whole and
the maximum number of shares issuable on a per-employee basis, each as set forth
in Section 5 hereof, the number of such shares covered by outstanding awards,
the Performance Goals, and the price per share of Options or SARs shall be
proportionately adjusted by the Committee to reflect such change in the issued
shares of Common Stock; provided, that any fractional shares resulting from such
adjustment shall be eliminated; and provided, further, that, with respect to
Incentive Stock Options, such adjustment shall be made in accordance with
Section 424(h) of the Code.
(b) In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the
Company; in the event of any corporate separation or division, including but not
limited to, split-up, split-off or spin-off; or in the event of other similar
transactions, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide that either:
(i) the Grantee of any award hereunder shall have the
right to exercise an Option (at its then Option Price) and receive such
property, cash, securities, or any combination thereof upon such exercise as
would have been received with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock
for which such Option might have been exercised immediately prior to such
dissolution, liquidation, or corporate separation or division; or
(ii) each Option shall terminate as of a date to be
fixed by the Committee and that not less than thirty (30) days' written notice
of the date so fixed shall be given to each Grantee, who shall have the right,
during the period of thirty (30) days preceding such termination, to exercise
all or part of such Option.
In the event of a proposed sale of all or substantially all of the
assets of the Company or the merger of the Company with or into another
corporation, any award then outstanding shall be assumed or an equivalent award
shall be substituted by such successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of
such successor corporation, unless such successor corporation does not agree to
assume the award or to substitute an equivalent award, in which case the
Committee shall, in lieu of such assumption or substitution, provide for the
realization of such outstanding awards in the manner set forth in Section
11(b)(i) or 11(b)(ii) above.
(c) If, while any awards remain outstanding under the Plan,
any of the following events shall occur (which events shall constitute a "Change
in Control" of the Company):
(i) the "beneficial ownership," as defined in Rule
13d-3 under the Exchange Act, of securities representing more than a majority of
the combined voting power of the Company are acquired by any "person" as defined
in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than (A) the Company, (B)
any trustee
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or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the
Company, (C) the Voting Trust and the Voting Trustees, (D) Edward L. Gaylord or
any member of his Immediate Family, or any "person" controlled by, controlling
or under common control with Edward L. Gaylord or any member of his Immediate
Family; or (E) any corporation owned, directly or indirectly, by the
shareholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their
ownership of stock of the Company); or
(ii) the shareholders of the Company approve a
definitive agreement to merge or consolidate the Company with or into another
company (other than a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting
securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto continuing to
represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting
securities of the surviving entity) a majority of the combined voting power of
the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding
immediately after such merger or consolidation), or to sell or otherwise dispose
of all or substantially all of its assets, or adopt a plan of liquidation; or
(iii) during any period of two consecutive years,
individuals who at the beginning of such period were members of the Board cease
for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof (unless the election,
or the nomination for election by the Company's shareholders, of each new
director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then
still in office who were directors at the beginning of such period);
then from and after the date on which any such Change in Control shall have
occurred (the "Acceleration Date"), any Option, SAR, and share of Restricted
Stock awarded pursuant to this Plan shall be exercisable or otherwise
nonforfeitable in full, as applicable, whether or not otherwise exercisable or
forfeitable.
Following the Acceleration Date, the Committee shall, in the
case of a merger, consolidation, or sale or disposition of assets, promptly make
an appropriate adjustment to the number and class of shares of Common Stock
available for awards, and to the amount and kind of shares or other securities
or property receivable upon exercise or other realization of any outstanding
awards after the effective date of such transaction, and, if applicable, the
price thereof.
(d) In the event of a change in the Common Stock of the
Company as presently constituted that is limited to a change of all of its
authorized shares of Common Stock into the same number of shares with a
different par value or without par value, the shares resulting from any such
change shall be deemed to be the Common Stock within the meaning of the Plan.
(e) Except as herein before expressly provided in this Section
11, the Grantee of an award hereunder shall have no rights by reason of any
subdivision or consolidation of shares of stock of any class or the payment of
any stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of
stock of any class or by reason of any dissolution, liquidation, merger, or
consolidation or spin-off of assets or stock of another company; and any issue
by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into
shares of stock of any class, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason
thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common
Stock subject to an award. The grant of an award pursuant to the Plan shall not
affect in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments,
reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business
structures or to merge or to consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate, or sell, or
transfer all or part of its business or assets or engage in any similar
transactions.
12. SURRENDER AND EXCHANGES OF AWARDS.
The Committee may permit the voluntary surrender of all or a portion of
any Option granted under the Plan or any option granted under any other plan,
program, or arrangement of the Company or any Subsidiary ("Surrendered Option"),
to be conditioned upon the granting to the Grantee of a new Option for the same
number of shares of Common Stock as the Surrendered Option, or may require such
voluntary surrender as a condition precedent to a grant of a new Option to such
Grantee. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, such new Option (1) may be an
Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option and (2) shall be
exercisable at the price, during such period, and on such other terms and
conditions as are specified by the Committee at the time the new Option is
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granted. The Committee may also grant Restricted Stock in exchange for
Surrendered Options to any holder of such Surrendered Option.
13. PERIOD DURING WHICH AWARDS MAY BE GRANTED.
Awards may be granted pursuant to the Plan from time to time within a
period of ten (10) years from the date of the Distribution (as defined in the
Distribution Agreement), provided that awards granted prior to such tenth
anniversary date may be extended beyond such date.
14. LIMITS ON TRANSFERABILITY OF AWARDS.
Awards of Incentive Stock Options (and any SAR related thereto) shall
not be transferable otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution, and all Incentive Stock Options are exercisable during the
Grantee's lifetime only by the Grantee. Awards of Nonqualified Stock Options
(and any SAR related thereto) shall not be transferable, without the prior
written consent of the Committee, other than (i) by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution, (ii) by a Grantee to a member of his or her Immediate
Family, or (iii) to a trust for the benefit of the Grantee or a member of his or
her Immediate Family. Awards of Restricted Stock shall be transferable only to
the extent set forth in the Restricted Stock Agreement.
15. EFFECTIVE DATE.
The Plan shall be deemed to have taken effect on October 1, 1997.
16. AGREEMENT BY GRANTEE REGARDING WITHHOLDING TAXES.
If the Committee shall so require, as a condition of exercise of an
Option or SAR or other realization of an award, each Grantee shall agree that no
later than the date of exercise or other realization of an award granted
hereunder, the Grantee will pay to the Company or make arrangements satisfactory
to the Committee regarding payment of any federal, state, or local taxes of any
kind required by law to be withheld upon the exercise of an Option or other
realization of an award. Alternatively, the Committee may provide that a Grantee
may elect, to the extent permitted or required by law, to have the Company
deduct federal, state, and local taxes of any kind required by law to be
withheld upon the exercise of an Option or realization of any award from any
payment of any kind due to the Grantee. The Committee may, in its sole
discretion, permit withholding obligations to be satisfied in shares of Common
Stock subject to the award.
17. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.
The Board at any time and from time to time may suspend, terminate,
modify, or amend the Plan without stockholder approval to the fullest extent
permitted by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;
provided, however, that no suspension, termination, modification, or amendment
of the Plan may adversely affect any award previously granted hereunder, unless
the written consent of the Grantee is obtained.
18. RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER.
Except as provided in Section 10(d) hereof, a Grantee or a transferee
of an award shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares
covered by the award until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate to
him or her for such shares. No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary
or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities, or other property) or
distribution of other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such
stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 11 hereof.
19. NO RIGHTS TO SERVICE OR EMPLOYMENT.
Nothing in the Plan or in any award granted or Agreement entered into
pursuant hereto shall confer upon any Grantee the right to continue in the
employ of the Company or any Subsidiary or to be entitled to any
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remuneration or benefits not set forth in the Plan or such Agreement or to
interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any such
Subsidiary to terminate such Grantee's service to or employment by the Company
or such Subsidiary. Awards granted under the Plan shall not be affected by any
change in duties or position of a Grantee as long as such Grantee continues to
provide service to or is in the employ of the Company or any Subsidiary.
20. BENEFICIARY.
A Grantee may file with the Committee a written designation of a
beneficiary on such form as may be prescribed by the Committee and may, from
time to time, amend or revoke such designation. If no designated beneficiary
survives the Grantee, the executor or administrator of the Grantee's estate
shall be deemed to be the Grantee's beneficiary.
21. UNFUNDED STATUS OF PLAN.
The Plan is intended to constitute an "unfunded" plan for incentive and
deferred compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a Grantee by
the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Grantee any rights
that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company. In its sole
discretion, the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other
arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to deliver Common
Stock or payments in lieu of or with respect to awards hereunder; provided,
however, that, unless the Committee otherwise determines with the consent of the
affected participant, the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is
consistent with the "unfunded" status of the Plan.
22. GOVERNING LAW.
The Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto
shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
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PROXY
GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
TO BE HELD ON MAY 10, 2000
SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
The undersigned hereby appoints E.K. Gaylord II and Terry E. London, and
each of them, as proxies, with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of
the undersigned as shown on the reverse side of this proxy at the Annual Meeting
of Stockholders of Gaylord Entertainment Company (the "Company") to be held at
the Ryman Auditorium, 116 5th Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee, on Wednesday,
May 10, 2000, at 10:00 a.m., local time, and any adjournment(s) thereof.
Your shares will be voted in accordance with your specifications on the
opposite side. IF NO CHOICE IS SPECIFIED, SHARES WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION
OF THE THREE (3) NOMINEES SET FORTH BELOW; FOR THE PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE
COMPANY'S AMENDED AND RESTATED 1997 STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN TO RENAME
THE PLAN, INCREASE THE TYPES OF AWARDS THAT MAY BE AWARDED UNDER THE PLAN,
PROHIBIT REPRICING OF OPTIONS, AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHARES AUTHORIZED FOR
GRANT AND ISSUANCE PURSUANT TO THE PLAN; FOR THE PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE
APPOINTMENT OF ACCOUNTANTS; AND, IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PERSONS ENTITLED TO
VOTE THE SHARES, FOR OR AGAINST ANY OTHER MATTER THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE
THE ANNUAL MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENT(S) THEREOF, IN EACH CASE AS MORE FULLY SET
FORTH IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY STATEMENT OF THE COMPANY.
VOTES MUST BE INDICATED [X] USING BLACK OR BLUE INK ONLY.
(Continued, and to be dated and signed on the other side.)
GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY
1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. Nominees for three-year term ending
2003: E.K. Gaylord II, Terry E. London and Mary Agnes
Wilderotter
[ ] FOR ALL NOMINEES (except as indicated below)
[ ] AUTHORITY WITHHELD TO VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee,
mark "FOR ALL NOMINEES" and write the excepted nominee's
name on the line below.
Exception:
------------------------------------------------------------
2. PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE COMPANY'S AMENDED AND RESTATED 1997
STOCK OPTION AND INCENTIVE PLAN TO RENAME THE PLAN, INCREASE
THE TYPES OF AWARDS THAT MAY BE AWARDED UNDER THE PLAN,
PROHIBIT REPRICING OF OPTIONS, AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF
SHARES AUTHORIZED FOR GRANT AND ISSUANCE PURSUANT TO THE
PLAN.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
3. PROPOSAL TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF ACCOUNTANTS.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
4. IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PERSON(S) ENTITLED TO VOTE THE
SHARES ON ANY OTHER MATTER THAT MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE
SAID MEETING OR ANY ADJOURNMENTS THEREOF.
Dated: 2000.
-------------------,
--------------------------------
Signature
--------------------------------
Signature(s), if held jointly
Please sign exactly as your name
appears on your stock
certificate. If registered in
the names of two or more
persons, each should sign.
Executors, administrators,
trustees, guardians, attorneys,
and corporate officers should
show their full title.
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE PROXY CARD
PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
