8-KMaterial Agreements

SCHWAB CHARLES CORP 8-K Report, Material Agreement (Nov 2, 2006)

Filed November 2, 2006For Securities:SCHWSCHW-PDSCHW-PJ

Summary

This Form 8-K filing by The Charles Schwab Corporation (CSC) reports on material definitive agreements, specifically detailing executive compensation through restricted stock and stock option awards granted on October 30, 2006. These awards were issued under the company's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan to several key named executive officers, including Charles R. Schwab, Walter W. Bettinger II, Christopher V. Dodds, Deborah D. McWhinney, and Peter K. Scaturro. Investors should note that the restricted stock awards have performance-based vesting tied to return on equity targets, with vesting occurring in 25% increments annually from November 1, 2007, through 2010. The stock options have time-based vesting over four years and were granted with an exercise price of $19.186, which was 106% of the stock's closing price on the grant date. This indicates a premium exercise price, suggesting an alignment with shareholder value creation.

Key Highlights

  • 1The Charles Schwab Corporation (CSC) granted restricted stock and stock options to key executive officers on October 30, 2006.
  • 2Awards were made under the company's 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.
  • 3Restricted stock awards are subject to performance-based vesting, contingent on achieving return on equity targets.
  • 4Vesting of restricted stock occurs in 25% increments on November 1st of 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.
  • 5Stock options vest over four years in 25% increments annually from the grant date.
  • 6Stock options have a seven-year term.
  • 7The exercise price for the stock options was set at $19.186, which was 106% of the closing stock price on the grant date.

Frequently Asked Questions

This 8-K filing primarily serves to disclose material definitive agreements, specifically the granting of restricted stock and stock options to key executive officers of The Charles Schwab Corporation as part of their compensation.

The restricted stock awards will vest in increments of 25% on November 1 of each year from 2007 through 2010. However, vesting is contingent upon CSC achieving a performance target related to its return on equity for the respective performance periods.

The stock options vest 25% on each of the first four anniversaries of the grant date and have a term of seven years. The exercise price was set at $19.186 per share, which was a premium to the stock's closing price on the grant date.

The awards were granted to several named executive officers, including Charles R. Schwab (Chairman and CEO), Walter W. Bettinger II (EVP and President, Schwab Investor Services), Christopher V. Dodds (EVP and CFO), Deborah D. McWhinney (EVP and President, Schwab Institutional), and Peter K. Scaturro (EVP and CEO, U.S. Trust).