Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights Paid in Stock – CNA Financial Corp.
March 31, 2010
Private and Confidential
To: {Participant}
Re: Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights paid in Stock
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Number of Stock SARs Granted |
{No. of SARs} |
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Exercise Price |
{Price} |
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Grant Date |
March 3, 2010 |
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Expiration Date |
March 3, 2020 |
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The Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of CNA
Financial Corporation (“Company”), which administers the CNA Financial
Corporation Incentive Compensation Plan, as may be amended from time to time
(collectively, the “Plan”), has determined that you are eligible for a grant of
{No. of SARs} stock appreciation rights (the “Stock SARs”) paid in CNA Financial
Corporation common stock at {Price} per share (the “Exercise Price”). Each of
the Stock SARs entitles the eligible person to receive, at the time of exercise,
an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of a single
share of the Company153s common stock on the date of exercise and the Exercise
Price, which may not be less than the fair market value of a single share of the
Company153s common stock on the date the right was granted, paid in shares of the
Company153s common stock. This Stock SARs award was granted by the Committee under
the Plan on March 3, 2010.
As described more fully in the attached Award Terms, the Stock SARs will
become exercisable in four equal annual installments on March 3rd of 2011, 2012,
2013 and 2014 so long as you are employed by Continental Casualty Company
(“CCC”) or an affiliate of CCC on each such date. For example, one quarter of
the Stock SARs granted will be exercisable on March 3, 2011 if you are an
employee on that date. In most instances, after the Stock SARs become vested,
you may exercise them any time prior to the expiration date shown above provided
that you are employed by CCC or an affiliate of CCC at the time of exercise.
After exercising the Stock SARs, you can decide whether to hold or sell the
shares of Company common stock you have obtained. Please note that the exercise
of the Stock SARs and any decision to sell the shares of Company common stock
are subject to CNA153s Securities Compliance Policy, certain trading window
restrictions and applicable insider trading restrictions, each as in effect from
time to time.
Under the present tax laws, as a result of exercising the Stock SARs you will
potentially recognize taxable income at the time of exercise. When and if you
sell the shares of Company common stock acquired through the Stock SARs
exercise, any additional gain may be subject to further tax at capital gain
rates. The Company recommends that you consult with your own tax advisor to
determine the applicability of the tax rules to you in your individual
circumstances.
This Award Letter provides a summary of your Stock SARs, and the Award is
subject to the Award Terms enclosed with this Award Letter. (In the attached
Award Terms, you are referred to as the “Participant.”) This Award Letter shall
be subject to the Award Terms, and the Award Terms shall be subject to the
provisions of the Plan. If discrepancies arise between this Award Letter and the
Award Terms, the Award Terms will govern, and if discrepancies arise between the
Award Terms and the Plan, the terms of the Plan will govern.
Sincerely,
Stock Appreciation Rights Paid in Company Common Stock
Award Terms for Grant Under the CNA Financial Corporation
Incentive Compensation Plan
On March 3, 2010 (the “Grant Date”), CNA Financial Corporation (the
“Company”) granted to the Participant (as defined in Paragraph 1) certain stock
appreciation rights (individually, a “Stock SAR” and collectively, the “Stock
SARs”) paid in Company common stock. Each Stock SAR entitles the Participant to
receive, at the time of exercise, an amount equal to the difference between the
fair market value of a single share of the Company153s common stock on the date of
exercise and the Exercise Price (as defined in Paragraph 1), which may not be
less than the fair market value of a single share of the Company153s common stock
on the date the right was granted, paid in shares of Company common stock. All
Stock SARs grants shall be subject to the following terms and conditions (the
“Award Terms”):
1. Stock SARs Award. For purposes of these Award Terms, the
“Participant” shall be the eligible person identified in the award letter
included with these Award Terms (the “Award Letter”) and reflecting the date of
grant of the Stock SARs that is the same as the Grant Date specified in these
Award Terms. For purposes of these Award Terms, the “Exercise Price” is the
price per share for such Stock SARs as specified in the Award Letter. The Stock
SARs have been granted under the CNA Financial Corporation Incentive
Compensation Plan, as may be amended from time to time (collectively, the
“Plan”), which is incorporated into and forms a part of these Award Terms.
Certain words, terms and phrases used in these Award Terms are defined in the
Plan (rather than in these Award Terms or Award Letter), and except where the
context clearly implies or indicates the contrary, and except as otherwise
provided in these Award Terms, a word, term, or phrase used or defined in the
Plan is similarly used or defined in these Award Terms and the Award Letter.
Other words, terms or phrases used in these Award Terms or the Award Letter are
defined in Paragraph 10 of these Award Terms or elsewhere in these Award Terms
or the Award Letter.
2. Date of Exercise. Subject to the limitations of the Plan and these
Award Terms, each Stock SARs installment shall be exercisable on and after the
Date of Exercisability for such Installment as described in the following
schedule (but only if the Date of Termination has not occurred before the Date
of Exercisability):
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INSTALLMENT |
DATE OF EXERCISABILITY APPLICABLE |
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First quarter of Stock SARs |
First anniversary of March 3, 2010 |
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Second quarter of Stock SARs |
Second anniversary of March 3, 2010 |
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Third quarter of Stock SARs |
Third anniversary of March 3, 2010 |
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Fourth quarter of Stock SARs |
Fourth anniversary of March 3, 2010 |
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The Stock SARs may be exercised as provided for herein only as to that
portion of the Stock SARs that were exercisable (or became exercisable)
immediately prior to the Date of Termination, if any.
3. Expiration. The Stock SARs shall not be exercisable after the
Company153s close of business on the last business day that occurs prior to the
Expiration Date. The “Expiration Date” shall be earliest to occur of:
|
(a) |
Ten Years. The ten-year anniversary of the Grant Date. |
|
|
(b) |
Death or Disability. The one-year anniversary of such Date of |
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|
(c) |
Retirement. The three-year anniversary of such Date of Termination, if |
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(d) |
Cause. The Date of Termination, if the Participant153s termination |
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(e) |
Voluntary Resignation. The Date of Termination, if the Participant153s |
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(f) |
Termination without Cause. The Date of Termination, if the |
4. Method of Exercise. The Stock SARs may be exercised in whole or in
part by sending a written notice to the Secretary of the Company at its
corporate headquarters before the Company153s close of business on the last
business day that occurs prior to the Expiration Date, or, if offered by the
Company at the Company153s discretion, by electing to exercise the Stock SARs
through a Company-arranged broker-dealer. Each exercise of the Stock SARs shall
be subject to the Award Letter, these Award Terms and the Plan, and also to the
following provisions:
|
(a) |
Any notice of exercise shall specify the number of the Stock SARs which the |
|
|
(b) |
Any gains realized upon the exercise of the Stock SARs will be paid in shares |
|
(c) |
No Stock SARs shall be exercisable if and to the extent the Company |
5. Administration. The authority to manage and control the operation
and administration of these Award Terms shall be vested in the Committee, and
the Committee shall have all such powers with respect to these Award Terms as it
has with respect to the Plan. Any interpretation of these Award Terms by the
Committee and any decision made by it with respect to these Award Terms is final
and binding on the Company and the Participant. These Award Terms may be
subsequently modified at the discretion of the Company based on subsequent
regulatory, tax, or legal developments, as interpreted by the Company.
6. Fractional Shares. Any gains realized upon exercise of Stock SARs
will be paid in shares of Company common stock, in whole or fractional shares,
as determined by the Company to be appropriate and as approved by the Committee.
7. No Rights as Shareholder. The Participant shall not have any rights
of a shareholder with respect to the Stock SARs issued unless and until a
certificate for such shares has been duly issued by the Company following
exercise of the Stock SARs as provided in these Award Terms.
8. Governing Documents. The Award Letter shall be subject to these
Award Terms, and these Award Terms shall be subject to the provisions of the
Plan, a copy of which may be obtained by the Participant from the office of the
Secretary of the Company. If discrepancies arise between the Award Letter and
these Award Terms, on the one hand, and the Plan, on the other hand, the terms
of the Plan will govern. These Award Terms are subject to all interpretations,
amendments, rules, and regulations promulgated by the Committee from time to
time pursuant to the Plan.
9. Amendment. These Award Terms may be amended by written agreement of
the Participant and the Company, without the consent of any other person, except
that any such amendment shall be subject to the approval of the Committee.
10. Definitions. For purposes of these Award Terms, the following
definitions shall apply:
|
(a) |
Affiliate. The term “Affiliate” means any business or entity in which |
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(b) |
Cause. The Participant will have engaged in conduct that constitutes |
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deemed to have been terminated for Cause for purposes of this Paragraph |
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(c) |
Date of Exercisability. The Participant153s “Date of Exercisability” is |
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(d) |
Date of Termination. The Participant153s “Date of Termination” shall be |
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(e) |
Permanent Disability. The term “Permanent Disability” means a physical |
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(f) |
Retirement. Termination because of “Retirement” shall mean the |
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