in a manner calculated to prevent the removal of management and make more difficult or discourage a change in control of the Company. The Company has no present intention of soliciting the vote of shareholders on any other proposal, or series of proposals, to deter changes in control of the Company.
If the proposed amendment to increase the authorized shares of capital stock is approved, common or preferred stock may, as noted, be issued without further action by the shareholders and without first offering such shares to the Company's shareholders for subscription. Issuance of common or preferred stock otherwise than on a pro rata basis to all current shareholders would reduce current shareholders' proportionate interests. Based upon the prevailing per-share stock price of our common stock, and subject to the approval of the proposed amendment, the Board may consider authorizing a three-for-one stock split of our shares of common stock.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company is required for approval of the proposed amendment to the Articles. Both abstentions and broker non-votes will have the effect of a negative vote. Unless otherwise directed by a shareholder's proxy, the persons named as proxy voters in the accompanying proxy will vote FOR the amendment. The approval of the proposal is not a condition to the approval of any other proposals submitted to our shareholders.
The Board of Directors has determined that the proposed amendment is desirable, in the best interest of our shareholders, and recommends a vote FOR its approval.
PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE COMPANY’S
LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Our Board of Directors originally adopted, and our shareholders approved, the Company’s Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan (the “LTSIP” or the “Plan”) in 1997, and it has been amended and extended periodically since then. The LTSIP provides for the grant of a variety of equity-based awards, described in more detail below, such as stock options, including incentive stock options as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the “Code”), stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, performance shares, and other stock-based awards.
Terms of Proposed Amendment. If approved, the proposed amendment would authorize 2,700,000 additional shares for issuance under the LTSIP.
Description of Plan. The following paragraphs summarize the material features of the Plan. The full text of the Plan is included as Appendix A to this Proxy Statement.
Administration. The Plan is administered by the Personnel and Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Committee”), which is required to consist of no fewer than three non-employee directors, as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Committee determines who may participate in the Plan; the types of awards (or combinations thereof) to be granted; the number of shares of common stock to be covered by each award; the terms and conditions of any award, such as conditions of forfeiture, transfer restrictions; and vesting requirements.
Eligibility. The Plan authorizes awards to employees of the Company or its subsidiaries.
Shares Available for Issuance. As of February 23, 2022, under the LTSIP, there were 85,079 shares of common stock available for the grant of future awards. On February 24,