AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORP /DE/ false 0000880807 0000880807 2024-08-02 2024-08-02

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

August 2, 2024

 

 

American Superconductor Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   000-19672   04-2959321

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

114 East Main Street

Ayer, Massachusetts

  01432
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (978) 842-3000

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share   AMSC   Nasdaq Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 


Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

(e) 2022 Stock Incentive Plan and Amended and Restated 2007 Director Stock Plan. On August 2, 2024, American Superconductor Corporation (the “Company”) held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) at which the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment and restatement of the Company’s 2022 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2022 Plan”), and an amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated 2007 Director Stock Plan (the “2007 Director Plan”).

2022 Plan

At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment and restatement of the Company’s 2022 Plan to increase the total number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2022 Plan from 1,150,000 shares to 4,400,000 shares.

The foregoing amendment and restatement of the 2022 Plan was approved by the Board on May 23, 2024, subject to and effective upon stockholder approval.

The foregoing description of the amendment and restatement of the 2022 Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2022 Plan, as amended and restated, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.1 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

2007 Director Plan

At the Annual Meeting, the Company’s stockholders approved an amendment to the 2007 Director Plan to increase the total number of shares of common stock authorized for issuance under the 2007 Director Plan from 430,000 shares to 580,000 shares.

The foregoing amendment to the 2007 Director Plan was approved by the Board on May 23, 2024, subject to and effective upon stockholder approval.

The foregoing description of the amendment to the 2007 Director Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the 2007 Director Plan, as amended by the amendment, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 10.2 hereto and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

On August 2, 2024, the Company held its Annual Meeting. A total of 27,963,530 shares of the Company’s common stock were present electronically or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting, representing approximately 75.6% of the Company’s outstanding common stock as of the June 6, 2024 record date. The following are the voting results for the proposals considered and voted upon at the Annual Meeting, each of which were described in the Company’s Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 20, 2024.

1. The Company’s stockholders elected the following directors to the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”):

 

DIRECTOR

   VOTES
FOR
     VOTES
WITHHELD
 

Laura A. Dambier

     20,571,775        296,596  

Arthur H. House

     18,851,686        2,016,685  

Margaret D. Klein

     20,494,878        373,493  

Barbara G. Littlefield

     20,496,366        372,005  

Daniel P. McGahn

     20,688,677        179,694  

David R. Oliver, Jr.

     20,111,683        756,688  

There were 7,095,159 broker non-votes for each director.

2. The Company’s stockholders voted to approve the amendment and restatement of the 2022 Plan to add 3,250,000 shares to the total number of shares available for issuance thereunder by a vote of 19,379,940 shares of common stock for, 1,220,790 shares of common stock against and 267,641 shares of common stock abstaining. There were 7,095,159 broker non-votes on this matter.

3. The Company’s stockholders voted to approve an amendment to the 2007 Director Plan to add 150,000 shares to the total number of shares available for issuance thereunder by a vote of 19,490,570 shares of common stock for, 1,126,586 shares of common stock against and 251,215 shares of common stock abstaining. There were 7,095,159 broker non-votes on this matter.

 


4. The amendment to the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to provide for exculpation of officers to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware did not receive the requisite majority of outstanding shares and was not approved. 17,273,502 shares of common stock voted for, 3,101,902 shares of common stock voted against and 492,967 shares of common stock abstained. There were 7,095,159 broker non-votes on this matter.

5. The Company’s stockholders voted to ratify the appointment by the Audit Committee of the Board of RSM US LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the current fiscal year by a vote of 27,044,748 shares of common stock for, 108,265 shares of common stock against and 810,517 shares of common stock abstaining. There were no broker non-votes on this matter.

6. The Company’s stockholders voted, on an advisory basis, to approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers by a vote of 19,132,979 shares of common stock for, 1,220,532 shares of common stock against and 514,860 shares of common stock abstaining. There were 7,095,159 broker non-votes on this matter.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits:

 

Exhibit

No.

   Description
10.1    2022 Stock Incentive Plan, as Amended and Restated.
10.2    Amended and Restated 2007 Director Stock Plan, as Amended.
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION
Date: August 5, 2024     By:  

/S/ JOHN W. KOSIBA, JR.

            John W. Kosiba, Jr.
      Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 10.1

AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION

2022 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN, AS AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

1.

Purpose

The purpose of this 2022 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) of American Superconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is to advance the interests of the Company’s stockholders by enhancing the Company’s ability to attract, retain and motivate persons who make or are expected to make important contributions to the Company and by providing such persons with equity ownership opportunities and performance-based incentives that are intended to align their interests with those of the Company’s stockholders. Except where the context otherwise requires, the term “Company” shall include any of the Company’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in Sections 424(e) or (f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Code”) and any other business venture (including, without limitation, joint venture or limited liability company) in which the Company has a controlling interest, as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”).

 

2.

Eligibility

All of the Company’s employees, officers, consultants and advisors are eligible to receive options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), restricted stock, restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and other stock-based awards (each, an “Award”) under the Plan. Each person who receives an Award under the Plan is deemed a “Participant”.

 

3.

Administration and Delegation

(a) Administration by Board of Directors. The Plan will be administered by the Board. The Board shall have authority to grant Awards and to adopt, amend and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Plan as it shall deem advisable. The Board may construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and any Award agreements entered into under the Plan. The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. All decisions by the Board shall be made in the Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or in any Award. No director or person acting pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board shall be liable for any action or determination relating to or under the Plan made in good faith.

(b) Appointment of Committees. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board (a “Committee”). All references in the Plan to the “Board” shall mean the Board or a Committee of the Board or the officers referred to in Section 3(c) to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such Committee or officers.

(c) Delegation to Officers. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate to one or more officers of the Company the power to grant Awards (subject to any limitations under the Plan) to employees or officers of the Company or any of its present or future parent or subsidiary corporations and to exercise such other powers under the Plan as the Board may determine, provided that the Board shall fix the terms of the Awards to be granted by such officers (including the exercise price of such Awards, which may include a formula by which the exercise price will be determined) and the maximum number of shares subject to Awards that the officers may grant; provided further, however, that no officer shall be authorized to grant

 

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Awards to any “executive officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 3b-7 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) or to any “officer” of the Company (as defined by Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act).

 

4.

Stock Available for Awards.

(a) Number of Shares.

(1) Authorized Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment under Section 9, Awards may be made under the Plan for the sum of (i) 4,400,000 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), plus (ii) any shares of Common Stock which are subject to 2007 Plan Awards (as defined below) which become available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to Section 4(a)(2). Shares issued under the Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.

(2) Share Counting and Reacquired Shares. For purposes of counting the number of shares available for the grant of Awards under the Plan, any Award shall be counted against the number of shares available for the future grant of Awards as one share for each share of Common Stock subject to such Award and all shares of Common Stock covered by SARs shall be counted against the number of shares available for the grant of Awards; provided, however, that SARs that may be settled in cash only shall not be so counted. If any Award or any award outstanding under the Company’s 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (as amended) as of the original effective date of the Plan (a “2007 Plan Award”) (i) expires or is terminated, surrendered or canceled without having been fully exercised or is forfeited in whole or in part (including as the result of shares of Common Stock subject to such Award or 2007 Plan Award being repurchased by the Company at the original issuance price pursuant to a contractual repurchase right), or (ii) results in any Common Stock not being issued (including as a result of an SAR that was settleable either in cash or in stock actually being settled in cash), the unused Common Stock covered by such Award or 2007 Plan Award shall become, or again be available, as applicable, for the grant of Awards; provided, however, in the case of Incentive Stock Options (as hereinafter defined), the foregoing shall be subject to any limitations under the Code; and provided, further, in the case of SARs, that the full number of shares subject to any such SAR (or portion thereof) settled in stock shall be counted against the number of shares available under the Plan regardless of the number of shares actually used to settle such SAR (or portion thereof) upon exercise. The following shares shall not be added back to the number of shares available for the future grant of Awards: (A) shares of Common Stock tendered to the Company by a Participant to (x) purchase shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an Award or 2007 Plan Award, or (y) satisfy tax withholding obligations (including shares retained from the Award or 2007 Plan Award creating the tax obligation); and (B) shares of Common Stock repurchased by the Company on the open market using the proceeds from the exercise of an Award or 2007 Plan Award.

(b) Per-Participant Award Limitation Under the Plan. Subject to adjustment under Section 9, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted to any Participant under the Plan shall be 250,000 per calendar year.

(c) Substitute Awards. In connection with a merger or consolidation of an entity with the Company or the acquisition by the Company of property or stock of an entity, the Board may grant Awards in substitution for any options or other stock or stock-based awards granted by such entity or an affiliate thereof. Substitute Awards may be granted on such terms as the Board deems appropriate in the circumstances, notwithstanding any limitations on Awards contained in the Plan. Substitute Awards shall not count against the overall share limit set forth in Section 4(a)(1) or any sub-limits contained in the Plan, except as may be required by reason of Section 422 and related provisions of the Code.

 

5.

Stock Options

(a) General. The Board may grant options to purchase Common Stock (each, an “Option”) and determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each Option, the exercise price of each Option and the

 

2


conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of each Option, including conditions relating to applicable federal or state securities laws, as it considers necessary or advisable. An Option which is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option (as hereinafter defined) shall be designated a “Nonstatutory Stock Option”.

(b) Incentive Stock Options. An Option that the Board intends to be an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Code (an “Incentive Stock Option”) shall only be granted to employees of the Company, any of the Company’s present or future parent or subsidiary corporations as defined in Section 424(e) or (f) of the Code, and any other entities the employees of which are eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options under the Code, and shall be subject to and shall be construed consistently with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. The Company shall have no liability to a Participant, or any other party, if an Option (or any part thereof) that is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option is not an Incentive Stock Option or for any action taken by the Board, including without limitation the conversion of an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

(c) Exercise Price. The Board shall establish the exercise price of each Option and specify such exercise price in the applicable option agreement. The exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value (as defined below) on the date the Option is granted; provided that if the Board approves the grant of an Option with an exercise price to be determined on a future date, the exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on such future date.

(d) Duration of Options. Each Option shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the applicable option agreement; provided, however, that no Option will be granted for a term in excess of 10 years.

(e) Exercise of Option. Options may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by the Board together with payment in full as specified in Section 5(f) for the number of shares for which the Option is exercised.

(f) Payment Upon Exercise. Common Stock purchased upon the exercise of an Option granted under the Plan shall be paid for as follows:

(1) in cash or by check, payable to the order of the Company;

(2) except as the Board may otherwise provide in an option agreement, by (i) delivery of an irrevocable and unconditional undertaking by a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding or (ii) delivery by the Participant to the Company of a copy of irrevocable and unconditional instructions to a creditworthy broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price and any required tax withholding;

(3) when the Common Stock is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), by delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant valued at their fair market value as determined by (or in a manner approved by) the Board (“Fair Market Value”), provided (i) such method of payment is then permitted under applicable law, (ii) such Common Stock, if acquired directly from the Company, was owned by the Participant at least six months prior to such delivery and (iii) such Common Stock is not subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements;

(4) to the extent permitted by applicable law and by the Board and provided for in the option agreement, by (i) delivery of a promissory note of the Participant to the Company on terms determined by the Board, or (ii) payment of such other lawful consideration as the Board may determine; or

(5) by any combination of the above permitted forms of payment.

 

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(g) Limitation on Repricing. Unless such action is approved by the Company’s stockholders: (1) no outstanding Option granted under the Plan may be amended to provide an exercise price per share that is lower than the then-current exercise price per share of such outstanding Option (other than adjustments pursuant to Section 9) and (2) the Board may not cancel any outstanding Option (whether or not granted under the Plan) and grant in substitution therefor new Awards under the Plan covering the same or a different number of shares of Common Stock and having an exercise price per share lower than the then-current exercise price per share of the cancelled Option.

 

6.

Stock Appreciation Rights.

(a) General. An SAR is an Award entitling the holder, upon exercise, to receive an amount in cash or Common Stock or a combination thereof (such form to be determined by the Board) determined in whole or in part by reference to appreciation, from and after the date of grant, in the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock. SARs may be based solely on appreciation in the fair market value of Common Stock or on a comparison of such appreciation with some other measure of market growth such as (but not limited to) appreciation in a recognized market index. The date as of which such appreciation or other measure is determined shall be the exercise date unless another date is specified by the Board in the SAR Award.

(b) Grants. SARs granted under the Plan will become exercisable at such time or times, and on such conditions, as the Board may specify in the SAR Award.

(c) Exercise Price. The Board shall establish the exercise price of each SAR and specify it in the applicable SAR agreement. The exercise price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date the SAR is granted; provided that if the Board approves the grant of a SAR with an exercise price to be determined on a future date, the exercise price shall be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on such future date.

(d) Duration of SARs. Each SAR shall be exercisable at such times and subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may specify in the applicable SAR agreement; provided, however, that no SAR will be granted with a term in excess of 10 years.

(e) Exercise of SARs. SARs may be exercised by delivery to the Company of a written notice of exercise signed by the proper person or by any other form of notice (including electronic notice) approved by the Board, together with any other documents required by the Board.

(f) Limitation on Repricing. Unless such action is approved by the Company’s stockholders: (1) no outstanding SAR granted under the Plan may be amended to provide an exercise price per share that is lower than the then-current exercise price per share of such outstanding SAR (other than adjustments pursuant to Section 9) and (2) the Board may not cancel any outstanding SAR (whether or not granted under the Plan) and grant in substitution therefor new Awards under the Plan covering the same or a different number of shares of Common Stock and having an exercise price per share lower than the then-current exercise price per share of the cancelled SAR.

 

7.

Restricted Stock; Restricted Stock Units.

(a) General. The Board may grant Awards entitling recipients to acquire shares of Common Stock (“Restricted Stock”), subject to the right of the Company to repurchase all or part of such shares at their issue price or other stated or formula price (or to require forfeiture of such shares if issued at no cost) from the recipient in the event that conditions specified by the Board in the applicable Award are not satisfied prior to the end of the applicable restriction period or periods established by the Board for such Award. The Board also may grant Awards entitling the recipient to receive shares of Common Stock or cash to be delivered at the time such Award vests or is otherwise settled pursuant to Section 7(c)(3)(i) (“Restricted Stock Units”) (Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units are each referred to herein as a “Restricted Stock Award”).

 

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(b) Terms and Conditions. The Board shall determine the terms and conditions of a Restricted Stock Award, including the conditions for repurchase (or forfeiture) and the issue price, if any.

(c) Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock.

(1) Dividends. If any dividends or distributions are paid in shares, or consist of a dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock, the shares, cash or other property will be held back until vesting of the shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were paid and will be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and forfeitability as such shares of Restricted Stock.

(2) Stock Certificates. Any stock certificates issued in respect of a Restricted Stock Award shall be registered in the name of the Participant and, unless otherwise determined by the Board, deposited by the Participant, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Company (or its designee). At the expiration of the applicable restriction periods, the Company (or such designee) shall deliver the certificates no longer subject to such restrictions to the Participant or if the Participant has died, to the beneficiary designated, in a manner determined by the Board, by a Participant to receive amounts due or exercise rights of the Participant in the event of the Participant’s death (the “Designated Beneficiary”). In the absence of an effective designation by a Participant, “Designated Beneficiary” shall mean the Participant’s estate.

(3) Additional Provisions Relating to Restricted Stock Units.

(i) Settlement. Upon the vesting of and/or lapsing of any other restrictions (i.e., settlement) with respect to each Restricted Stock Unit, the Participant shall be entitled to receive from the Company one share of Common Stock or an amount of cash equal to the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock, as provided in the applicable Award agreement. The Board may, in its discretion, provide that settlement of Restricted Stock Units shall be deferred, on a mandatory basis or at the election of the Participant.

(ii) Voting Rights. A Participant shall have no voting rights with respect to any Restricted Stock Units.

(iii) Dividend Equivalents. To the extent provided by the Board, in its sole discretion, a grant of Restricted Stock Units may provide Participants with the right to receive an amount equal to any dividends or other distributions declared and paid on an equal number of outstanding shares of Common Stock (“Dividend Equivalents”). Dividend Equivalents will be credited to an account for the Participants, may be settled in cash and/or shares of Common Stock and will be subject to the same restrictions on transfer and forfeitability as the Restricted Stock Units with respect to which paid, subject in each case to such terms and conditions as the Board shall establish and set forth in the applicable Award agreement.

 

8.

Other Stock-Based Awards.

Other Awards of shares of Common Stock, and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, shares of Common Stock or other property, may be granted hereunder (“Other Stock-Based Awards”). Such Other Stock-Based Awards shall also be available as a form of payment in the settlement of other Awards granted under the Plan or as payment in lieu of compensation to which a Participant is otherwise entitled. Other Stock-Based Awards may be paid in shares of Common Stock or cash, as the Board shall determine. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall determine the conditions of each Other Stock-Based Awards, including any purchase price applicable thereto.

 

9.

Adjustments for Changes in Common Stock and Certain Other Events.

(a) Changes in Capitalization. In the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, reclassification of shares, spin-off or other similar change in

 

5


capitalization or event, or any dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock other than an ordinary cash dividend, (i) the number and class of securities available under this Plan, (ii) the sub-limits and share counting rules set forth in Section 4(a) and Section 4(b), (iii) the number and class of securities and exercise price per share of each outstanding Option, (iv) the share- and per-share provisions and the exercise price of each SAR, (v) the number of shares subject to and the repurchase price per share subject to each outstanding Restricted Stock Award and (vi) the share- and per-share-related provisions and the purchase price, if any, of each outstanding Other Stock-Based Award, shall be equitably adjusted by the Company (or substituted Awards may be made, if applicable). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event the Company effects a split of the Common Stock by means of a stock dividend and the exercise price of and the number of shares subject to an outstanding Option are adjusted as of the date of the distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the record date for such dividend), then an optionee who exercises an Option between the record date and the distribution date for such stock dividend shall be entitled to receive, on the distribution date, the stock dividend with respect to the shares of Common Stock acquired upon such Option exercise, notwithstanding the fact that such shares were not outstanding as of the close of business on the record date for such stock dividend.

(b) Reorganization Events.

(1) Definition. A “Reorganization Event” shall mean: (i) any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity as a result of which all of the Common Stock of the Company is converted into or exchanged for the right to receive cash, securities or other property or is cancelled, (ii) any exchange of all of the Common Stock of the Company for cash, securities or other property pursuant to a share exchange transaction or (iii) any liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

(2) Consequences of a Reorganization Event on Awards. In connection with a Reorganization Event, the Board may take any one or more of the following actions as to all or any (or any portion of) outstanding Awards on such terms as the Board determines, unless expressly provided in the applicable Award agreement: (i) provide that Awards shall be assumed, continued or substantially equivalent Awards shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), (ii) provide that the Award will terminate and cannot vest, be exercised or become payable after the Reorganization Event; provided that, with respect to outstanding Options and SARS, the Participant will receive written notice and the opportunity to exercise such Option or SAR within a specified period following the date of such notice, (iii) provide that outstanding Awards shall become exercisable, realizable, or deliverable, or restrictions applicable to an Award shall lapse, in whole or in part, prior to or upon such Reorganization Event, (iv) in the event of a Reorganization Event under the terms of which holders of Common Stock will receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment for each share surrendered in the Reorganization Event, make or provide for a cash payment to a Participant equal to the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights under the vested portion of such Award, as applicable, in exchange for the termination of such Awards; provided that, if the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise or settlement of the vested portion of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, in any case, is equal to or less than zero, then the Award may be terminated without payment, (v) provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, Awards shall convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds (if applicable, net of the exercise price thereof and any applicable tax withholdings) and (vi) any combination of the foregoing. In taking any of the actions permitted under this Section 9(b), the Board shall not be obligated by the Plan to treat all Awards, all Awards held by a Participant, or all Awards of the same type, identically.

(3) General. Except as expressly provided in the Plan or the Board’s action under the Plan, no Participant will have any rights due to any subdivision or consolidation of shares of any class, dividend payment, increase or decrease in the number of shares of any class or dissolution, liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or other corporation. Except as expressly provided with respect to a change in capitalization under Section 9(a) above or the Board’s action under the Plan, no issuance by the Company of shares of any class, or securities convertible into shares of any class, will affect, and no adjustment will be made regarding, the number of shares subject to an Award or the Award’s grant or exercise price. The existence of the Plan and the Awards

 

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granted hereunder will not affect or restrict in any way the Company’s right or power to make or authorize (i) any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, (ii) any merger, consolidation dissolution or liquidation of the Company or sale of Company assets or (iii) any sale or issuance of securities, including securities with rights superior to those of the shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock.

 

10.

General Provisions Applicable to Awards

(a) Transferability of Awards. Awards shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution or, other than in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order, and, during the life of the Participant, shall be exercisable only by the Participant; provided, however, that the Board may permit or provide in an Award for the gratuitous transfer of the Award by the Participant to or for the benefit of any immediate family member, family trust or other entity established for the benefit of the Participant and/or an immediate family member thereof if, with respect to such proposed transferee, the Company would be eligible to use a Form S-8 for the registration of the sale of the Common Stock subject to such Award under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; provided, further, that the Company shall not be required to recognize any such transfer until such time as the Participant and such permitted transferee shall, as a condition to such transfer, deliver to the Company a written instrument in form and substance satisfactory to the Company confirming that such transferee shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the Award. References to a Participant, to the extent relevant in the context, shall include references to authorized transferees.

(b) Documentation. Each Award shall be evidenced in such form (written, electronic or otherwise) as the Board shall determine. Each Award may contain terms and conditions in addition to those set forth in the Plan.

(c) Board Discretion. Except as otherwise provided by the Plan, each Award may be made alone or in addition or in relation to any other Award. The terms of each Award need not be identical, and the Board need not treat Participants uniformly.

(d) Termination of Status. The Board shall determine the effect on an Award of the disability, death, termination or other cessation of employment, authorized leave of absence or other change in the employment or other status of a Participant and the extent to which, and the period during which, the Participant, or the Participant’s legal representative, conservator, guardian or Designated Beneficiary, may exercise rights under the Award.

(e) Withholding. The Participant must satisfy all applicable federal, state, and local or other income and employment tax withholding obligations before the Company will deliver stock certificates or otherwise recognize ownership of Common Stock under an Award. The Company may decide to satisfy the withholding obligations through additional withholding on salary or wages. If the Company elects not to or cannot withhold from other compensation, the Participant must pay the Company the full amount, if any, required for withholding or have a broker tender to the Company cash equal to the withholding obligations. Payment of withholding obligations is due before the Company will issue any shares on exercise or release from forfeiture of an Award or, if the Company so requires, at the same time as is payment of the exercise price unless the Company determines otherwise. If provided for in an Award or approved by the Board in its sole discretion, a Participant may satisfy such tax obligations in whole or in part by delivery of shares of Common Stock, including shares retained from the Award creating the tax obligation, valued at their Fair Market Value; provided, however, except as otherwise provided by the Board, that the total tax withholding where stock is being used to satisfy such tax obligations cannot exceed the Company’s maximum statutory withholding obligations for the applicable jurisdiction (or such other rate as may be determined by the Company after considering any accounting consequences or costs). Shares surrendered to satisfy tax withholding requirements cannot be subject to any repurchase, forfeiture, unfulfilled vesting or other similar requirements.

 

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(f) Amendment of Award. The Board may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding Award, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another Award of the same or a different type, changing the date of exercise or realization, and converting an Incentive Stock Option to a Nonstatutory Stock Option, provided that the Participant’s consent to such action shall be required unless (i) the Board determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Participant’s rights under the Plan or (ii) the change is permitted under Section 9 or Section 11(f) hereof.

(g) Conditions on Delivery of Stock. The Company will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan or to remove restrictions from shares previously delivered under the Plan until (i) all conditions of the Award have been met or removed to the satisfaction of the Company, (ii) in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, all other legal matters in connection with the issuance and delivery of such shares have been satisfied, including any applicable securities laws and any applicable stock exchange or stock market rules and regulations, and (iii) the Participant has executed and delivered to the Company such representations or agreements as the Company may consider appropriate to satisfy the requirements of any applicable laws, rules or regulations.

(h) Acceleration. The Board may at any time provide that any Award shall become immediately exercisable in full or in part, free of some or all restrictions or conditions, or otherwise realizable in full or in part, as the case may be.

(i) Performance Awards.

(1) Grants. Awards under the Plan may be made subject to the achievement of performance goals pursuant to this Section 10(i) (“Performance Awards”).

(2) Performance Measures. For any Performance Award, the Board shall specify that the degree of granting, vesting and/or payout shall be subject to the achievement of one or more performance measures established by the Board, which shall be based on the relative or absolute attainment of specified levels, and which may include, but are not limited to, the following: net income, earnings before or after discontinued operations, interest, taxes, depreciation and/or amortization, operating profit before or after discontinued operations and/or taxes, revenue, revenue growth, earnings growth, cash flow or cash position, gross margins, stock price, market share, return on sales, assets, equity or investment, improvement of financial ratings, achievement of balance sheet or income statement objectives or total stockholder return, and may be absolute in their terms or measured against or in relationship to other companies comparably, similarly or otherwise situated. The Board may specify that such performance measures shall be adjusted to exclude any one or more of (i) extraordinary items, (ii) gains or losses on the dispositions of discontinued operations, (iii) the cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, (iv) the writedown of any asset, and (v) charges for restructuring and rationalization programs. Such performance measures: (A) may vary by Participant and may be different for different Awards; and (B) may be particular to a Participant or the department, branch, line of business, subsidiary or other unit in which the Participant works and may cover such period as may be specified by the Board.

 

11.

Miscellaneous

(a) No Right To Employment or Other Status. No person shall have any claim or right to be granted an Award, and the grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to continued employment or any other relationship with the Company. The Company expressly reserves the right at any time to dismiss or otherwise terminate its relationship with a Participant free from any liability or claim under the Plan, except as expressly provided in the applicable Award.

(b) No Rights As Stockholder. Subject to the provisions of the applicable Award, no Participant or Designated Beneficiary shall have any rights as a stockholder with respect to any shares of Common Stock to be distributed with respect to an Award until becoming the record holder of such shares.

 

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(c) Effective Date and Term of Plan. The Plan (as amended and restated) shall become effective on the date the Plan is approved by the Company’s stockholders. Unless earlier terminated by the Board, the Plan will remain in effect until June 21, 2032, the tenth anniversary of the date the Board adopted the Plan, but Awards previously granted may extend beyond that date.

(d) Amendment of Plan. The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time provided that (i) no amendment that would require stockholder approval under applicable law or the rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) may be made effective unless and until such amendment shall have been approved by the Company’s stockholders; and (ii) if the Nasdaq amends its corporate governance rules so that such rules no longer require stockholder approval of “material amendments” to equity compensation plans, then, from and after the effective date of such amendment to the Nasdaq rules, no amendment to the Plan (A) materially increasing the number of shares authorized under the Plan (other than pursuant to Section 4(c) or 9), (B) expanding the types of Awards that may be granted under the Plan, or (C) materially expanding the class of participants eligible to participate in the Plan shall be effective unless stockholder approval is obtained. In addition, if at any time the approval of the Company’s stockholders is required as to any other modification or amendment under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision with respect to Incentive Stock Options, the Board may not effect such modification or amendment without such approval. Unless otherwise specified in the amendment, any amendment to the Plan adopted in accordance with this Section 11(d) shall apply to, and be binding on the holders of, all Awards outstanding under the Plan at the time the amendment is adopted, provided the Board determines that such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Participants under the Plan.

(e) Provisions for Foreign Participants. The Board may modify Awards granted to Participants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States or establish subplans or procedures under the Plan to recognize differences in laws, rules, regulations or customs of such foreign jurisdictions with respect to tax, securities, currency, employee benefit or other matters.

(f) Code Section 409A.

(1) General. The Company intends that all Awards be structured to comply with, or be exempt from, Section 409A of the Code (“Section 409A”), such that no adverse tax consequences, interest, or penalties under Section 409A apply. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan or any Award to the contrary, the Board may, without a Participant’s consent, amend the Plan or Awards, adopt policies and procedures, or take any other actions (including amendments, policies, procedures and retroactive actions) as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of Awards, including any such actions intended to (A) exempt the Plan or any Award from Section 409A, or (B) comply with Section 409A, including regulations, guidance, compliance programs and other interpretative authority that may be issued after an Award’s grant date. The Company makes no representations or warranties as to an Award’s tax treatment under Section 409A or otherwise. The Company will have no obligation under this Section 11(f) or otherwise to avoid the taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A with respect to any Award and will have no liability to any Participant or any other person if any Award, compensation or other benefits under the Plan are determined to constitute noncompliant “nonqualified deferred compensation” subject to taxes, penalties or interest under Section 409A.

(2) Separation from Service. If an Award constitutes “nonqualified deferred compensation” under Section 409A, any payment or settlement of such Award upon a termination of a Participant’s employment or service with the Company will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A, be made only upon the Participant’s “separation from service” (within the meaning of Section 409A), whether such “separation from service” occurs upon or after the termination of the Participant’s employment or service. For purposes of the Plan or any Award relating to any such payments or benefits, references to a “termination,” “termination of employment” or like terms means a “separation from service.”

(3) Payments to Specified Employees. Notwithstanding any contrary provision in the Plan or any Award, any payment(s) of “nonqualified deferred compensation” required to be made under an Award to a

 

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“specified employee” (as defined under Section 409A and as the Board determines) due to his or her “separation from service” will, to the extent necessary to avoid taxes under Section 409A(a)(2)(B)(i) of the Code, be delayed for the six-month period immediately following such “separation from service” (or, if earlier, until the specified employee’s death) and will instead be paid (as set forth in the Award) on the day immediately following such six-month period or as soon as administratively practicable thereafter (without interest). Any payments of “nonqualified deferred compensation” under such Award payable more than six months following the Participant’s “separation from service” will be paid at the time or times the payments are otherwise scheduled to be made.

(g) Governing Law. The provisions of the Plan and all Awards made hereunder shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to any applicable conflicts of law principles.

(h) Severability. If any portion of the Plan or any action taken under it is held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity will not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan will be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provisions had been excluded, and the illegal or invalid action will be null and void.

(i) Claw-back Provisions. All Awards (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit the Participant actually or constructively receives upon receipt or exercise of any Award or the receipt or resale of any shares underlying the Award) will be subject to any claw-back policy adopted by the Company (or any subsidiary) to comply with applicable laws (including, to the extent applicable, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder) as set forth in such claw-back policy or the Award.

(j) Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment under the Plan will be taken into account in determining any benefits under any pension, retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit plan of the Company or any subsidiary except as expressly provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.

First adopted by the Board of Directors on June 21, 2022 and approved by the stockholders on August 2, 2022.

Plan, as amended and restated, adopted by the Board of Directors on May 23, 2024, and approved by the stockholders on August 2, 2024.

 

10

Exhibit 10.2

AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORPORATION

AMENDED AND RESTATED

2007 DIRECTOR STOCK PLAN, AS AMENDED

 

1.

Purpose.

The purpose of this Amended and Restated 2007 Director Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) of American Superconductor Corporation (the “Company”) is to encourage stock ownership in the Company by outside directors of the Company whose continued services are considered essential to the Company’s future success and to provide them with a further incentive to remain as directors of the Company. This Plan constitutes an amendment and restatement of the 2007 Director Stock Plan, as last approved by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) on June 21, 2022, and approved by the Company’s stockholders on August 2, 2022 (the “Existing Plan”). In the event that the Company’s stockholders do not approve the Plan, the Existing Plan will continue in full force and effect on its terms and conditions as in effect immediately prior to the date the Plan is approved by the Board.

 

2.

Administration.

(a) Administration by Board. The Board shall supervise and administer the Plan. Except for grants permitted under Section 5(b), grants of stock options and stock awards under the Plan and the amount and nature of the options and awards to be granted shall be automatic in accordance with Section 5(a). The Board shall have authority to adopt, amend and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Plan as it shall deem advisable. The Board may construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and any options and awards granted under the Plan. The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any option or award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and it shall be the sole and final judge of such expediency. All decisions by the Board shall be made in the Board’s sole discretion and shall be final and binding on all persons having or claiming any interest in the Plan or in any option or award. No director or person acting pursuant to the authority delegated by the Board shall be liable for any action or determination relating to or under the Plan made in good faith.

(b) Delegation. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Board may delegate any or all of its powers under the Plan to one or more committees or subcommittees of the Board. All references in the Plan to the “Board” shall mean the Board or a committee of the Board to the extent that the Board’s powers or authority under the Plan have been delegated to such committee.

 

3.

Participation in the Plan.

Directors of the Company who are not full-time employees of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company (“Outside Directors”) shall be eligible to receive options and stock awards under the Plan, except that Directors of the Company who are representatives of an equity holder of the Company shall not be eligible to receive options or awards under the Plan.

 

4.

Stock Subject to the Plan.

(a) Shares Issuable. The maximum number of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $.01 per share (“Common Stock”), which may be issued under the Plan shall be 580,000 shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7.

(b) Reissuance of Shares. If any outstanding option under the Plan for any reason expires or is terminated, surrendered, or cancelled without having been exercised in full, the shares covered by the unexercised portion of such option shall again become available for issuance pursuant to the Plan.

 

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(c) Non-Statutory Options. All options granted under the Plan shall be non-statutory options and not entitled to special tax treatment under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

(d) Unissued and Treasury Shares. Shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan may consist in whole or in part of authorized but unissued shares or treasury shares.

 

5.

Director Option and Award Grants; Terms of Director Options.

(a) Automatic Director Equity Grants. The Company shall grant options or awards to Outside Directors under the Plan as follows:

(i) Initial Option Grants to Outside Directors. An option to purchase shares of Common Stock shall be granted automatically to an Outside Director on the date such Outside Director commences service on the Board. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to such option shall be determined by dividing (A) $40,000, by (B) the Black-Scholes value of an option to purchase one share of Common Stock, which Black-Scholes value shall be based on the last reported sale price per share of Common Stock on the business day immediately prior to the date an Outside Director commences service on the Board and the valuation assumptions for the most recent period set forth in the most recent Form 10-Q or 10-K (or any successor forms) of the Company (rounding the resulting number to the nearest whole share of Common Stock).

(ii) Stock Awards to Outside Directors. With respect to each fiscal year of the Company:

(A) With respect to each Outside Director providing services on the third business day following the last day of such fiscal year of the Company, an award of Common Stock shall be granted automatically, on the third business day following the last day of such fiscal year of the Company, to such Outside Director. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to such award shall equal the product of (x) $50,000 divided by the last reported sale price per share of Common Stock on the second business day following the last day of such fiscal year of the Company, and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in such fiscal year in which such Outside Director provided services to the Company and the denominator of which is the number of days in such fiscal year (rounding the resulting product to the nearest whole share of Common Stock).

(B) With respect to each Outside Director who provided services as of the commencement of such fiscal year, but ceased providing services prior to any grant pursuant to Section 5(a)(ii)(A) with respect to such fiscal year, an award of Common Stock shall be granted automatically, on the last business day of service of such Outside Director, to such Outside Director. The number of shares of Common Stock subject to such award shall equal the product of (x) $50,000 divided by the last reported sale price per share of Common Stock on the business day prior to the last business day of service of such Outside Director, and (y) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days in such fiscal year in which such Outside Director provided services to the Company and the denominator of which is the number of days in such fiscal year (rounding the resulting product to the nearest whole share of Common Stock).

The shares of Common Stock covered by awards described in this Section 5(a)(ii) shall be fully vested and not subject to any repurchase rights or other contractual restrictions.

(b) Discretionary Equity Awards to Outside Directors. Without limiting Section 5(a), but subject to Section 5(d), the Board is authorized to grant options and awards to Outside Directors, from time to time, in its sole discretion, on such terms and conditions as it may determine, which shall not be inconsistent with the Plan.

(c) Terms of Director Options. Each option granted pursuant to Section 5(a)(i) or 5(b) shall be evidenced by a written agreement in such form as the President, any Vice President or General Counsel shall from time to time approve, which agreements shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

(i) Option Exercise Price. The option exercise price per share for each option granted under the Plan shall be equal to the fair market value per share of Common Stock on the date of grant, which shall be

 

2


determined as follows: (i) if the Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market or another nationally recognized exchange or trading system as of the date on which a determination of fair market value is to be made, the fair market value per share shall be deemed to be the last reported sale price per share of Common Stock thereon on such date (or, if no such price is reported on such date, such price on the nearest preceding date on which such a price is reported); and (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on the Nasdaq Global Market or another nationally recognized exchange or trading system as of the date on which a determination of fair market value is to be made, the fair market value per share shall be as determined by the Board.

(ii) Transferability of Options. Subject to clause (vi) below, except as the Board may otherwise determine, options shall not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered by the person to whom they are granted, either voluntarily or by operation of law, except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and, during the life of the optionee, shall be exercisable only by the optionee; provided, however, that the Board may permit or provide in an option for the gratuitous transfer of such option by the applicable Outside Director to or for the benefit of any immediate family member, family trust or other entity established for the benefit of the Outside Director and/or an immediate family member thereof if, with respect to such proposed transferee, the Company would be eligible to use a Form S-8 for the registration of the sale of the Common Stock subject to such option under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; provided, further, that the Company shall not be required to recognize any such transfer until such time as the applicable Outside Director and such permitted transferee shall, as a condition to such transfer, deliver to the Company a written instrument in form and substance satisfactory to the Company confirming that such transferee shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions of the option.

(iii) Vesting Period.

(A) General. Each option granted pursuant to Section 5(a)(i) shall become exercisable in equal annual installments over a two year period following the date of grant.

(B) Acceleration Upon a Change in Control of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each outstanding option granted pursuant to Section 5(a)(i) shall immediately become exercisable in full in the event a Change in Control of the Company (as defined in this subsection) occurs. For purposes of the Plan, a “Change in Control of the Company” shall occur or be deemed to have occurred only if (i) any “person”, as such term is used in Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than the Company, any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company, or any corporation owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of stock of the Company), is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities; (ii) during any period of two consecutive years ending during the term of any option agreement issued under the Plan, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board, and any new director (other than a director designated by a person who has entered into an agreement with the Company to effect any transaction described in clause (i), (iii) or (iv) of this subsection (B)) whose election by the Board or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were either directors at the beginning of the period or whose election or whose nomination for election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board; (iii) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with any other corporation, 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) more than 50% of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or consolidation; or (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve a plan of complete liquidation of the Company or there occurs the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company assets.

 

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(iv) Termination. Each option shall terminate, and may no longer be exercised, on the earlier of (i) the date ten years after the date of grant or (ii) the date 60 days after the optionee ceases to serve as a director of the Company for any reason, whether by death, resignation, removal or otherwise.

(v) Exercise Procedure. Options may be exercised only by written notice to the Company at its principal office accompanied by (i) payment in cash or by certified or bank check of the full consideration for the shares as to which they are exercised or (ii) an irrevocable undertaking, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, by a broker to deliver promptly to the Company sufficient funds to pay the exercise price or (iii) delivery of irrevocable instructions, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company cash or a check sufficient to pay the exercise price.

(vi) Exercise by Representative Following Death of Director. An optionee, by written notice to the Company, may designate one or more persons (and from time to time change such designation), including his or her legal representative, who, by reason of the optionee’s death, shall acquire the right to exercise all or a portion of the option. If the person or persons so designated wish to exercise any portion of the option, they must do so within the term of the option as provided herein. Any exercise by a representative shall be subject to the provisions of the Plan.

(d) Award Limit. Notwithstanding any provision in the Plan to the contrary, no Outside Director shall be granted options or awards under the Plan in any one fiscal year with a grant date fair value, as determined in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, or any successor thereto, in excess of $500,000.

 

6.

Limitation of Rights.

(a) No Right to Continue as a Director. Neither the Plan, nor the granting of an award nor any other action taken pursuant to the Plan, shall constitute or be evidence of any agreement or understanding, express or implied, that the optionee shall be entitled to continue as a director for any period of time.

(b) No Stockholder Rights for Options. An optionee shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to the shares covered by his or her option until the date of the issuance to him or her of a stock certificate therefor, and no adjustment will be made for dividends or other rights (except as provided in Section 7) for which the record date is prior to the date such certificate is issued. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event the Company effects a split of the Common Stock by means of a stock dividend, and the distribution date (i.e., the date on which the closing market price of the Common Stock on a stock exchange or trading system is adjusted to reflect the split) is subsequent to the record date for such stock dividend, an optionee who exercises an option between the close of business on such record date and the close of business on such distribution date shall be entitled to receive the stock dividend with respect to the shares of Common Stock acquired upon such option exercise, notwithstanding the fact that such shares were not outstanding as of the close of business on such record date.

(c) Compliance with Securities Laws. Each option and stock award shall be subject to the requirement that if, at any time, counsel to the Company shall determine that the listing, registration or qualification of the shares subject to such option or stock award upon any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental or regulatory body, or the disclosure of non-public information or the satisfaction of any other condition is necessary as a condition to, or in connection with, the issuance or purchase of shares thereunder, such option may not be exercised, in whole or in part, and such stock award shall not be granted, unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval, or satisfaction of such condition shall have been effected or obtained on conditions acceptable to the Board.

 

7.

Adjustments for Changes in Capitalization and Reorganization Events.

(a) Changes in Capitalization. In the event of any stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, reclassification of shares, spin-off or other similar change in

 

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capitalization or event, or any dividend or distribution to holders of Common Stock other than an ordinary cash dividend, (i) the number and class of securities available under the Plan, and (ii) the number and class of securities and exercise price per share of each outstanding option and each option issuable under Section 5(a) shall be equitably adjusted by the Company. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in the event the Company effects a split of the Common Stock by means of a stock dividend and the exercise price of and the number of shares subject to an outstanding option are adjusted as of the date of the distribution of the dividend (rather than as of the record date for such dividend), then an optionee who exercises an option between the record date and the distribution date for such stock dividend shall be entitled to receive, on the distribution date, the stock dividend with respect to the shares of Common Stock acquired upon such option exercise, notwithstanding the fact that such shares were not outstanding as of the close of business on the record date for such stock dividend.

(b) Reorganization Events.

(i) Definition. A “Reorganization Event” shall mean: (a) any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity as a result of which all of the Common Stock of the Company is converted into or exchanged for the right to receive cash, securities or other property or is cancelled, (b) any exchange of all of the Common Stock of the Company for cash, securities or other property pursuant to a share exchange transaction or (c) any liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

(ii) Consequences of a Reorganization Event on Options. In connection with a Reorganization Event, the Board may take any one or more of the following actions as to all or any (or any portion of) outstanding options on such terms as the Board determines: (i) provide that the options shall be assumed, or substantially equivalent options shall be substituted, by the acquiring or succeeding corporation (or an affiliate thereof), (ii) upon written notice to an optionee, provide that the optionees’ unexercised options will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such Reorganization Event unless exercised by the optionee within a specified period following the date of such notice, (iii) provide that outstanding options shall become exercisable, in whole or in part, prior to or upon such Reorganization Event, (iv) in the event of a Reorganization Event under the terms of which holders of Common Stock will receive upon consummation thereof a cash payment for each share surrendered in the Reorganization Event (the “Acquisition Price”), make or provide for a cash payment to a participant equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the Acquisition Price times the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the optionees’ options (to the extent the exercise price does not exceed the Acquisition Price) over (B) the aggregate exercise price of such outstanding options and any applicable tax withholdings, in exchange for the termination of such options, (v) provide that, in connection with a liquidation or dissolution of the Company, awards shall convert into the right to receive liquidation proceeds (if applicable, net of the exercise price thereof and any applicable tax withholdings) and (vi) any combination of the foregoing.

 

8.

Amendment, Modification or Termination of Options.

(a) Amendment, Modification or Termination. Subject to Section 8(b), the Board may amend, modify or terminate any outstanding option, including but not limited to, substituting therefor another option of the same or a different type and changing the date of exercise or realization. A Outside Director’s consent to such action shall be required unless (i) the Board determines that the action, taking into account any related action, would not materially and adversely affect the Outside Director’s rights under the Plan or (ii) the change is permitted under Section 7 hereof.

(b) Required Stockholder Approval. Unless such action is approved by the Company’s stockholders: (1) no outstanding option granted under the Plan may be amended to provide an exercise price per share that is lower than the then-current exercise price per share of such outstanding option (other than adjustments pursuant to Section 7) and (2) the Board may not cancel any outstanding option (whether or not granted under the Plan) and grant in substitution therefor new options under the Plan covering the same or a different number of shares of Common Stock and having an exercise price per share lower than the then-current exercise price per share of the cancelled option.

 

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9.

Termination and Amendment of the Plan.

The Board may suspend, terminate or discontinue the Plan or amend it in any respect whatsoever; provided, however, that without approval of the stockholders of the Company, no amendment may (i) increase the number of shares subject to the Plan (except as provided in Section 7), or (ii) effect any action which requires approval of the stockholders pursuant to the rules or requirements of the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) or any other exchange on which the Common Stock of the Company is listed. No amendment that would require stockholder approval under Nasdaq rules may be made effective unless and until such amendment shall have been approved by the Company’s stockholders. If Nasdaq amends its corporate governance rules so that such rules no longer require stockholder approval of “material amendments” to equity compensation plans, then, from and after the effective date of such amendment to the Nasdaq rules, no amendment to the Plan (A) materially increasing the number of shares authorized under the Plan, (B) expanding the types of options or stock awards that may be granted under the Plan, or (C) materially expanding the class of participants eligible to participate in the Plan shall be effective unless stockholder approval is obtained. Unless otherwise specified in the amendment, any amendment to the Plan adopted in accordance with this Section 9 shall apply to, and be binding on the holders of, all options and awards outstanding under the Plan at the time the amendment is adopted, provided the Board determines that such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of participants under the Plan.

 

10.

Notice.

Any written notice to the Company required by any of the provisions of the Plan shall be addressed to the Treasurer of the Company and shall become effective when it is received.

 

11.

Governing Law.

The Plan and all determinations made and actions taken pursuant hereto shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to conflicts of law principles of any jurisdiction).

 

12.

Stockholder Approval; Effective Date.

The Plan (as amended and restated hereby) shall become effective on the date the Plan (as amended and restated hereby) is approved by the Company’s stockholders. Unless earlier terminated by the Board, the Plan will remain in effect until August 2, 2032, the tenth anniversary of the date the Company’s stockholders approved the Existing Plan, but awards previously granted may extend beyond that date.

 

First adopted by the Board of Directors on May 15, 2007 and approved by the stockholders on August 3, 2007

Plan, as amended, approved by the Board of Directors on October 30, 2008

 

Plan, as amended, approved by the Board of Directors on May 12, 2009

 

Plan, as amended, approved by the Board of Directors on March 31, 2014

 

Plan, as amended, approved by the Board of Directors on May 8, 2014 and approved by the stockholders on August 1, 2014

 

6


 

Plan, as amended, approved by the Board of Directors on June 14, 2016 and approved by the stockholders on July 29, 2016

 

Plan, as amended, approved by the Board of Directors on June 13, 2019 and approved by the stockholders on August 1, 2019

 

Plan, as amended, approved by the Board of Directors on May 20, 2021

 

Plan, as amended, approved by the Board of Directors on June 21, 2022 and approved by the stockholders on August 2, 2022

 

Plan, as amended, approved by the Board of Directors on May 23, 2024 and approved by the stockholders on August 2, 2024

 

7

v3.24.2.u1
Document and Entity Information
Aug. 02, 2024
Cover [Abstract]  
Entity Registrant Name AMERICAN SUPERCONDUCTOR CORP /DE/
Amendment Flag false
Entity Central Index Key 0000880807
Document Type 8-K
Document Period End Date Aug. 02, 2024
Entity Incorporation State Country Code DE
Entity File Number 000-19672
Entity Tax Identification Number 04-2959321
Entity Address, Address Line One 114 East Main Street
Entity Address, City or Town Ayer
Entity Address, State or Province MA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code 01432
City Area Code (978)
Local Phone Number 842-3000
Written Communications false
Soliciting Material false
Pre Commencement Tender Offer false
Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer false
Security 12b Title Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
Trading Symbol AMSC
Security Exchange Name NASDAQ
Entity Emerging Growth Company false

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