AFFIRMATIVE INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC. 2004 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
Exhibit 10.2
AFFIRMATIVE INSURANCE HOLDINGS, INC.
2004 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Purpose; Eligibility.
1.1. Eligible Stock Award Recipients. The persons eligible to receive Stock Awards are the Employees, Directors and Consultants of the Company and its Affiliates.
1.2. Available Stock Awards. The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by which eligible recipients of Stock Awards may be given an opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock through the granting of the following Stock Awards: (a) Incentive Stock Options, (b) Nonstatutory Stock Options, (c) stock bonuses and (d) rights to acquire restricted stock.
1.3. General Purpose. The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of the group of persons eligible to receive Stock Awards, to secure and retain the services of new members of this group and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and its Affiliates.
2. Definitions.
2.1. “Administrator” means the Board or the Committee appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 3.3.
2.2. “Affiliate” means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, whether now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code.
2.3. “Annual Retainer” means the annual fee paid to Directors in January of each year as compensation for services as a Director.
2.4. “Award” means an award or sale of shares of Common Stock under the Plan.
2.5. “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.6. “Cause” means if the Participant is a party to an employment or service agreement with the Company or its Affiliates and such agreement provides for a definition of Cause, the definition therein contained, or, if no such agreement exists, it shall mean (a) the commission of, or plea of guilty or no contest to, a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude or the commission of any other act involving willful malfeasance with respect to the Company or an Affiliate, (b) conduct tending to bring the Company into substantial public disgrace, or disrepute, or (c) gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to the Company or an Affiliate. The Administrator, in its absolute discretion, shall determine the effect of all matters and questions relating to whether a Participant has been discharged for Cause.
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2.7. “Change in Control” shall mean:
(a) The consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization or the sale of stock of the Company, if more than 30% of the combined voting power (which voting power shall be calculated by assuming the conversion of all equity securities convertible (immediately or at some future time) into shares entitled to vote, but not assuming the exercise of any warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase those shares) of the continuing or Surviving Entity’s securities outstanding immediately after such merger, consolidation, reorganization or sale of stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by persons who were not shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such merger, consolidation, reorganization or sale of stock; provided, however, that in making the determination of ownership by the shareholders of the Company, immediately after the reorganization, equity securities which persons own immediately before the reorganization as shareholders of another party to the transaction shall be disregarded; or
(b) The sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets.
(c) A transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if its sole purpose is to change the state of the Company’s incorporation or to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same proportions by the persons who held the Company’s securities immediately before such transaction.
(d) A transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if it constitutes an initial public offering or a secondary public offering that results in any security of the Company being listed (or approved for listing) on any securities exchange or designated (or approved for designation) as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system.
2.8. “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2.9. “Committee” means a committee of one or more members of the Board appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 3.3.
2.10. “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.
2.11. “Company” means Affirmative Insurance Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
2.12. “Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, (a) engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and who is compensated for such services or who provides bona fide services to the Company or an Affiliate pursuant to a written agreement or (b) who is a member of the Board of Directors of an Affiliate.
2.13. “Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. The Participant’s Continuous Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the
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Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service. For example, a change in status from an Employee of the Company to a Consultant of an Affiliate or a Director will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. The Administrator or the chief executive officer of the Company, in that party’s sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered interrupted in the case of any leave of absence approved by that party, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal leave.
2.14. “Covered Employee” means the chief executive officer and the four (4) other highest compensated officers of the Company for whom total compensation is required to be reported to stockholders under the Exchange Act, as determined for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.
2.15. “Director” means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.16. “Disability” means the permanent and total disability of a person within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
2.17. “Dividend Equivalent Right” means a Stock Award granted pursuant to Section 7.6.
2.18. “Effective Date” shall mean May 25, 2004.
2.19. “Employee” means any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate. Mere service as a Director or payment of a director’s fee by the Company or an Affiliate shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company or an Affiliate.
2.20. “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
2.21. “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined in good faith by the Administrator; provided, however, that the Fair Market Value on the date of the Company’s initial public offering of its Common Stock shall be the initial price to public of the Common Stock, and thereafter (i) if the Common Stock is admitted to quotation on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“Nasdaq”), the Fair Market Value on any given date shall not be less than the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices of the Common Stock reported for such date or, if no bid and asked prices were reported for such date, for the last day preceding such date for which such prices were reported or (ii) if the Common Stock is admitted to trading on a national securities exchange or the Nasdaq National Market or Nasdaq Small Cap Market, the Fair Market Value on any date shall not be less than the closing price reported for the Common Stock on such exchange or system for such date or, if no sales were reported for such date, for the last date preceding the date for such a sale was reported.
2.22. “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
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2.23. “Listing Date” means the first date upon which any security of the Company is listed (or approved for listing) upon notice of issuance on any securities exchange or designated (or approved for designation) upon notice of issuance as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system.
2.24. “Non-Employee Director” means a Director who is a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 and who is also an “outside director” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
2.25. “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
2.26. “Officer” means (a) before the Listing Date, any person designated by the Company as an officer and (b) on and after the Listing Date, a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
2.27. “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.
2.28. “Option Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and an Optionholder evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan and need not be identical.
2.29. “Optionholder” means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Option.
2.30. “Participant” means a person to whom a Stock Award is granted pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Stock Award.
2.31. “Performance Stock Award” means Awards granted pursuant to Section 7.4.
2.32. “Plan” means this Affirmative Insurance Holdings, Inc. 2004 Stock Incentive Plan.
2.33. “Rule 16b-3” means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.
2.34. “SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
2.35. “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
2.36. “Stock Appreciation Right” means the right pursuant to an award granted under Section 7.5 to receive an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the Fair Market Value, as of the date such Stock Appreciation Right or portion thereof is surrendered, of the shares of
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Stock covered by such right or such portion thereof, over (B) the aggregate exercise price of such right or such portion thereof.
2.37. “Stock Award” means any right granted under the Plan, including an Option, a Stock Bonus Award, a Restricted Stock Award, an Unrestricted Stock Award, a Performance Stock Award, a Stock Appreciation Right and a Dividend Equivalent Right.
2.38. “Stock Award Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
2.39. “Ten Percent Stockholder” means a person who owns (or is deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its Affiliates.
2.40. “Unrestricted Stock Award” means any Award granted pursuant to Section 7.3.
3. Administration.
3.1. Administration by Board. The Board shall administer the Plan unless and until the Board delegates administration to a Committee, as provided in Section 3.3.
3.2. Powers of Board. The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:
(a) To determine from time to time which of the persons eligible under the Plan shall be granted Stock Awards; when and how each Stock Award shall be granted; what type or combination of types of Stock Award shall be granted; the provisions of each Stock Award granted (which need not be identical), including the time or times when a person shall be permitted to receive Common Stock pursuant to a Stock Award; and the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which a Stock Award shall be granted to each such person.
(b) To construe and interpret the Plan and Stock Awards granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock Award Agreement, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan fully effective.
(c) To amend the Plan or a Stock Award as provided in Section 12.
(d) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company which are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan.
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3.3. Delegation to Committee.
(a) General. The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees of one (1) or more members of the Board, and the term “Committee” shall apply to any person or persons to whom such authority has been delegated. If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan.
(b) Committee Composition when Common Stock is Publicly Traded. At such time as the Common Stock is publicly traded, in the discretion of the Board, a Committee may consist solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors. Within the scope of such authority, the Board or the Committee may (i) delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code the authority to grant Stock Awards to eligible persons who are either (A) not then Covered Employees and are not expected to be Covered Employees at the time of recognition of income resulting from such Stock Award or (B) not persons with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code or (ii) delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not “non-employee directors” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 the authority to grant Stock Awards to eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
3.4. Effect of Board’s Decision. All determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Administrator in good faith shall not be subject to review by any person and shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons. Members of the Board and Committee and any officer or employee of the Company or any Affiliate acting at the direction of, or on behalf of, the Board or Committee shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.
4. Shares Subject to the Plan.
4.1. Share Reserve. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 relating to adjustments upon changes in Common Stock, the Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards shall not exceed in the aggregate One Million Five Hundred Thousand (1,500,000) shares of Common Stock.
4.2. Reversion of Shares to the Share Reserve. If any Stock Award shall for any reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part, without having been exercised in full, the shares of Common Stock not acquired under such Stock Award shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. If shares issued under the Plan are reacquired by
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the Company pursuant to the terms of any forfeiture provision, right of repurchase or right of first refusal, such shares shall again be available for the purposes of the Plan.
4.3. Source of Shares. The shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares or reacquired shares, bought on the market or otherwise.
5. Eligibility.
5.1. Eligibility for Specific Stock Awards. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants.
5.2. Ten Percent Stockholders. A Ten Percent Stockholder shall not be granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the exercise price of such Option is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant.
5.3. Section 162(m) Limitation. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 relating to adjustments upon changes in the shares of Common Stock, no Employee shall be eligible to be granted Options or Stock Appreciation Rights covering more than Fifty Thousand (50,000) shares of Common Stock during any calendar year. This Section 5.3 shall not apply prior to the Listing Date and, following the Listing Date, this Section 5.3 shall not apply until (a) the earliest of: (i) the first material modification of the Plan (including any increase in the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan in accordance with Section 4.1); (ii) the issuance of all of the shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan; (iii) the expiration of the Plan; or (iv) the first meeting of stockholders at which Directors are to be elected that occurs after the close of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which occurred the first registration of an equity security under Section 12 of the Exchange Act; or (b) such other date required by Section 162(m) of the Code and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
5.4. Consultants.
(a) Prior to the Listing Date, a Consultant shall not be eligible for the grant of a Stock Award if, at the time of grant, either the offer or the sale of the Company’s securities to such Consultant is not exempt under Rule 701 of the Securities Act (“Rule 701”) because of the nature of the services that the Consultant is providing to the Company, or because the Consultant is not a natural person, or as otherwise provided by Rule 701, unless the Company determines that such grant need not comply with the requirements of Rule 701 and will satisfy another exemption under the Securities Act as well as comply with the securities laws of all other relevant jurisdictions.
(b) From and after the Listing Date, a Consultant shall not be eligible for the grant of a Stock Award if, at the time of grant, a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act (“Form S-8”) is not available to register either the offer or the sale of the Company’s securities to such Consultant because of the nature of the services that the Consultant is providing to the Company, or because the Consultant is not a natural person, or as otherwise provided by the rules governing the use of Form S-8, unless the Company determines both (i)
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that such grant (1) shall be registered in another manner under the Securities Act (e.g., on a Form S-3 Registration Statement) or (2) does not require registration under the Securities Act in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act, if applicable, and (ii) that such grant complies with the securities laws of all other relevant jurisdictions.
5.5. Directors.
(a) Eligibility. Each Director of the Company shall be eligible to receive an automatic Option grant under the Plan in accordance with this Section 5.5 only if such director (i) is not then an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates, (ii) has not, within two (2) years immediately preceding such time, received any stock option, stock bonus, stock appreciation right, or other similar stock award from the Company or any of its Affiliates, other than options granted to such director under this Section 5.5, and (iii) does not then beneficially own more than ten percent (10%) of the outstanding stock of the Company (an “Eligible Director”). Only Eligible Directors may receive automatic options under the Plan. A Director of the Company shall not be deemed to be an employee of the Company or any of its Affiliates solely by reason of the existence of an agreement between such Director and the Company or any Affiliate thereof pursuant to which the Director provides services as a consultant to the Company or its Affiliates on a regular or occasional basis for compensation.
(b) Automatic Option Grants. Nonstatutory Stock Options to purchase shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be granted automatically to each Eligible Director as follows:
(1) An option to purchase Five Thousand (5,000) shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “Initial Inducement Option”) shall be granted automatically to each Eligible Director on the later of the date on which this Plan is approved by the stockholders of the Company (provided such person is still an Eligible Director on such date) or the date on which such Director first becomes an Eligible Director (the “Initial Option Date”). Initial Inducement Options will become exercisable Twelve (12) months after the date of grant.
(2) Thereafter, an option to purchase an additional Five Thousand (5,000) shares of common stock of the Company (an “Annual Incentive Option”) shall be granted automatically to each Eligible Director who receives an Initial Inducement Option on the last trading date in January of each subsequent year if such director is still an Eligible Director on such anniversary. Annual Incentive Options will become exercisable Twelve (12) months after the date of grant.
(3) Anything set forth in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no Option or Options shall be granted at any time to purchase an aggregate number of shares of Common Stock of the Company which exceeds the total number of shares of such Common Stock which are then available for issuance under the Plan minus the total number of shares of such Common Stock subject to Options which have been granted previously and are then outstanding under the Plan; and Options which are granted as of the same date to purchase less shares than otherwise provided in this Section 5.5(b)(1) or Section 5.5(b)(2) because of the foregoing limitation shall cover equal numbers of shares; provided, however, if there are insufficient shares available for issuance under the Plan at a time when an Option under
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subparagraph 5.5(b)(1) or (2) is to be granted, the portion of the option not granted shall be automatically granted at the time shares become available for issuance under the Plan (with the Options which were deferred the longest being granted first and if there is more than one Option which was deferred on the same date, then any available shares shall be allocated pro rata among such Options).
(c) Exercise Price and Term. The exercise price per share of the shares subject to any Option shall be 100% of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock of the Company on the date the Option is granted. The Director Options shall be exercisable for up to ten (10) years from the date they are granted. In the event a Director’s Continuous Service terminates (other than upon death or Disability), the Director may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Director was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (a) the date three (3) months following the termination of the Director’s Continuous Service, or (b) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. In the event a Director’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of death or Disability, the respective provisions of Section 6.10 or Section 6.11 shall apply.
(d) Election to Receive Restricted Stock in Lieu of Annual Retainer. An Eligible Director may elect to receive Restricted Stock in lieu of his or her Annual Retainer by making an election on or before June 30 of the calendar year preceding the calendar year for which the Director’s services attributable to such Annual Retainer are performed. The number of shares of Restricted Stock will be determined by dividing the amount of the Annual Retainer by a per share price equal to 75% of the Fair Market Value of a share of the Company Common Stock on the last trading date in January or such later date as of which the Annual Retainer otherwise would be paid. Such Restricted Stock will be subject to forfeiture if the Director’s Continuous Service ceases within six months following the Award date.
(e) Discretionary Grants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 5.5, the Administrator in it’s discretion may grant additional Stock Awards under the Plan to Eligible Directors.
6. Option Provisions. Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall deem appropriate. All Options shall be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options at the time of grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall have no liability to any Participant or any other person if an Option designated as an Incentive Stock Option fails to qualify as such at any time. The provisions of separate Options need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
6.1. Term. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.2 regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it was granted.
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6.2. Exercise Price of an Incentive Stock Option. Subject to the provisions of Section 5.2 regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, the exercise price of each Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option may be granted with an exercise price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.
6.3. Exercise Price of a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The exercise price of each Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be not less than twenty percent (20%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Nonstatutory Stock Option may be granted with an exercise price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.
6.4. Consideration.
(a) The purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and regulations, either (i) in cash or check at the time the Option is exercised or (ii) at the discretion of the Administrator at the time of the grant of the Option (or subsequently in the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option) (1) by delivery to the Company of other Common Stock, (2) according to a deferred payment or other similar arrangement with the Optionholder, or (3) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Administrator, including, without limitation, a “cashless” exercise program established with a broker following a Listing Date; provided, however, a cashless exercise by a Director or executive officer that involves or may involve a direct or indirect extension of credit or arrangement of an extension of credit by the Company or an Affiliate in violation of Section 402(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (codified as Section 13(k) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, 15 U.S.C. § 78m(k)) shall be prohibited. Unless otherwise specifically provided in the Option, the purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an Option that is paid by delivery to the Company of other Common Stock acquired, directly or indirectly from the Company, shall be paid only by shares of the Common Stock of the Company that have been held for more than six (6) months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes).
(b) In the case of any deferred payment arrangement, interest shall be compounded at least annually and shall be charged at the minimum rate of interest necessary to avoid the treatment as interest, under any applicable provisions of the Code, of any amounts other than amounts stated to be interest under the deferred payment arrangement and payment of the Common Stock’s “par value” shall not be made by deferred payment.
6.5. Transferability of an Incentive Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form
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satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.
6.6. Transferability of a Nonstatutory Stock Option. A Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be transferable to the extent provided in the Option Agreement. If the Nonstatutory Stock Option does not provide for transferability, then the Nonstatutory Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.
6.7. Vesting Generally. The Option may, but need not, vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may, but need not, be equal. The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised (which may be based on performance or other criteria) as the Administrator may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary. No Option may be exercised for a fraction of a share of Common Stock. The Administrator in its discretion may provide for an acceleration of vesting and exercisability in the terms of any Option Agreement in the event a Change in Control occurs.
6.8. Termination of Continuous Service. Unless otherwise provided in an Option Agreement or in an employment agreement the terms of which have been approved by the Administrator, in the event an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Optionholder’s death or Disability), the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (a) the date three (3) months following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service, or (b) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified in the Option Agreement, the Option shall terminate.
6.9. Extension of Termination Date. An Optionholder’s Option Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service (other than upon the Optionholder’s death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of shares of Common Stock would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (a) the expiration of the term of the Option set forth in Section 6.1 or (b) the expiration of a period of three (3) months after the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration requirements.
6.10. Disability of Optionholder. Unless otherwise provided in an Option Agreement, in the event that an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder’s Disability, the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of termination), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (a) the date twelve (12) months following such
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termination or (b) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.
6.11. Death of Optionholder. Unless otherwise provided in an Option Agreement, in the event an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder’s death, then the Option may be exercised (to the extent the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option as of the date of death) by the Optionholder’s estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the Option upon the Optionholder’s death, but only within the period ending on the earlier of (a) the date twelve (12) months following the date of death or (b) the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after death, the Option is not exercised within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.
6.12. Early Exercise. The Option may, but need not, include a provision whereby the Optionholder may elect at any time before the Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates to exercise the Option as to any part or all of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option prior to the full vesting of the Option. Any unvested shares of Common Stock so purchased may be subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company or to any other restriction the Administrator determines to be appropriate. The Company will not exercise its repurchase option until at least six (6) months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes) have elapsed following exercise of the Option unless the Administrator otherwise specifically provides in the Option.
6.13. Reload Options. At the discretion of the Administrator, the Option may include a “reload” feature pursuant to which an Optionholder exercising an option by the delivery of a number of shares of Common Stock in accordance with Section 6.4 hereof would automatically be granted an additional Option (with an exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the additional Option is granted and with the same expiration date as the original Option being exercised, and with such other terms as the Administrator may provide) to purchase that number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number delivered to exercise the original Option.
7. Provisions of Stock Awards Other Than Options.
7.1. Stock Bonus Awards. Each stock bonus agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of stock bonus agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate stock bonus agreements need not be identical, but each stock bonus agreement shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
(a) Consideration. A stock bonus may be awarded in consideration for past services actually rendered to the Company or an Affiliate for its benefit.
(b) Vesting. Shares of Common Stock awarded under the stock bonus agreement may, but need not, be subject to a share repurchase option in favor of the Company in
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accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Administrator. The Administrator in its discretion may provide for an acceleration of vesting in the terms of any stock bonus agreement in the event a Change in Control occurs.
(c) Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. In the event a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Company may reacquire any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant which have not vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the stock bonus agreement.
(d) Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of Common Stock under the stock bonus agreement shall be transferable by the Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the stock bonus agreement, as the Administrator shall determine in its discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the stock bonus agreement remains subject to the terms of the stock bonus agreement.
7.2. Restricted Stock Awards. Each restricted stock purchase agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of the restricted stock purchase agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate restricted stock purchase agreements need not be identical, but each restricted stock purchase agreement shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
(a) Purchase Price. The purchase price of restricted stock awards shall be determined by the Administrator, and may be stated as cash, property or prior services.
(b) Consideration. The consideration for Common Stock acquired pursuant to the restricted stock purchase agreement shall be paid either: (i) in cash at the time of purchase; (ii) at the discretion of the Administrator, according to a deferred payment or other similar arrangement with the Participant; or (iii) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Administrator in its discretion including, without limitation, prior services that the Administrator determines have a value at least equal to the Fair Market Value of such Common Stock; provided, however, that payment of the Common Stock’s “par value,” shall not be made by deferred payment.
(c) Vesting. Shares of Common Stock acquired under the restricted stock purchase agreement may, but need not, be subject to a share repurchase option in favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Administrator, or forfeiture in the event the consideration was in the form of prior services. The Administrator in its discretion may provide for an acceleration of vesting in the terms of any restricted stock purchase agreement in the event a Change in Control occurs.
(d) Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service. Unless otherwise provided in an Option Agreement or in an employment agreement the terms of which have been approved by the Administrator, in the event a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates for any reason, the Company may repurchase or otherwise reacquire, or the Participant shall forfeit unvested shares acquired in consideration of prior services, any or all of
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the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant which have not vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the restricted stock purchase agreement.
(e) Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of Common Stock under the restricted stock purchase agreement shall be transferable by the Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the restricted stock purchase agreement, as the Administrator shall determine in its discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the restricted stock purchase agreement remains subject to the terms of the restricted stock purchase agreement.
(f) Concurrent Tax Payment. The Administrator, in its sole discretion, may (but shall not be required to) provide for payment of a concurrent cash award in an amount equal, in whole or in part, to the estimated after tax amount required to satisfy applicable federal, state or local tax withholding obligations arising from the receipt and deemed vesting of restricted stock for which an election under Section 83(b) of the Code may be required.
7.3. Unrestricted Stock Awards.
(a) Grant or Sale of Unrestricted Stock. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, grant (or sell at a purchase price determined by the Administrator) an Unrestricted Stock Award to any Participant, pursuant to which such individual may receive shares of Common Stock free of any vesting restriction (“Unrestricted Stock”) under the Plan. Unrestricted Stock Awards may be granted or sold as described in the preceding sentence in respect of past services or other valid consideration, or in lieu of any cash compensation due to such individual.
(b) Deferral of Awards. Each Participant who has made an election to receive shares of Unrestricted Stock under this Section 7.3 will have the right to defer receipt of up to 100% of such shares of Unrestricted Stock payable to such Participant in accordance with such rules and procedures as may from time to time be established by the Company for that purpose, and such election shall be effective on the later of the date six months and one day from the date of such election or the beginning of the next calendar year. The deferred Unrestricted Stock shall be entitled to receive Dividend Equivalent Rights settled in shares of Common Stock.
(c) Restrictions on Transfers. The right to receive Unrestricted Stock on a deferred basis may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledge or otherwise encumbered, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
7.4. Performance Stock Awards.
(a) Nature of Performance Stock Awards. A Performance Stock Award is a Stock Award entitling the recipient to acquire shares of Common Stock upon the attainment of specified performance goals. The Administrator may make Performance Stock Awards independent of or in connection with the granting of any other Stock Award under the Plan. Performance Stock Awards may be granted under the Plan to any Participant, including those who qualify for awards under other performance plans of the Company. The Administrator in its sole discretion shall determine whether and to whom Performance Stock
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Awards shall be made, the performance goals applicable under each Stock Award, the periods during which performance is to be measured, and all other limitation and conditions applicable to the awarded shares; provided, however, that the Administrator may rely on the performance goals and other standards applicable to other performance unit plans of the Company in setting the standards for Performance Stock Awards under the Plan. Performance goals shall be based on a pre-established objective formula or standard that specifies the manner of determining the number of Performance Stock Award shares that will be granted or will vest if the performance goal is attained. Performance goals will be determined by the Administrator prior to the time 25 percent of the service period has elapsed and may be based on one or more business criteria that apply to a Participant, a business unit or the Company and its Affiliates. Such business criteria may include, by way of example and without limitation, loss ratio, expense ratio, combined ratio, gross premiums written, growth in total revenues or any component thereof, profits, EBITDA, return on equity, stock price, market share, sales, earnings per share or costs. Such objective performance goals do not have to be based on increases in a specific business criteria, but may be based on maintaining the status quo or limiting economic losses.
(b) Restrictions on Transfer. Performance Stock Awards and all rights with respect to such Performance Stock Awards may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered.
(c) Rights as a Stockholder. A Participant receiving a Performance Stock Award shall have the rights of a stockholder only as to shares actually received by the Participant under the Plan and not with respect to shares subject to the Stock Award but not actually received by the Participant. A Participant shall be entitled to receive a stock certificate evidencing the acquisition of shares of Common Stock under a Performance Stock Award only upon satisfaction of all conditions specified in the written instrument evidencing the Performance Stock Award (or in a performance plan adopted by the Administrator).
(d) Termination. Except as my otherwise be provided by the Administrator at any time, a Participant’s rights in all Performance Stock Awards shall automatically terminate upon the Participant’s termination of employment (or business relationship) with the Company and its Affiliates for any reason.
(e) Acceleration, Waiver, Etc. At any time prior to the Participant’s termination of employment (or other business relationship) by the Company and its Affiliates, the Administrator may in its sole discretion accelerate, waive or, subject to Section 12, amend any or all of the goals, restrictions or conditions imposed under any Performance Stock Award. The Administrator in its discretion may provide for an acceleration of vesting in the terms of any Performance Stock Award in the event a Change in Control occurs.
7.5. Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) General. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted either alone (“Free Standing Rights”) or in conjunction with all or part of any Option granted under the Plan (“Related Rights”). In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option, Related Rights may be granted either at or after the time of the grant of such Stock Option. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, Related Rights may be granted only at the time of the grant of the Incentive Stock
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Option. Upon exercise thereof, the holder of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be entitled to receive from the Company, upon a written request filed with the Secretary of the Company at its principal offices, a number of shares of Common Stock (with or without restrictions as to substantial risk of forfeiture and transferability, as determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion), an amount of cash, or any combination of Common Stock and cash, as specified in the written request (but subject to the approval of the Administrator in its sole discretion, at any time up to and including the time of payment, as to the making of any cash payment), having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the product of (i) the excess of the Fair Market Value, on the date of such written request, of one share of Common Stock over the exercise price per share specified in such Stock Appreciation Right or its related Option, multiplied by (ii) the number of shares for which such Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercised.
(b) Exercise Price. The exercise price of a Free Standing Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Administrator, but shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of grant of such Stock Appreciation Right. A Related Stock Appreciation Right granted simultaneously with or subsequent to the grant of an Option and in conjunction therewith or in the alternative thereto shall have the same exercise price as the related Option, shall be transferable only upon the same terms and conditions as the related Option, and shall be exercisable only to the same extent as the related Option; provided, however, that a Stock Appreciation Right, by its terms, shall be exercisable only when the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock subject to the Stock Appreciation Right and related Option exceeds the exercise price per share thereof.
(c) Reduction in the Underlying Option Shares. Upon any exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the number of shares of Common Stock for which any related Option shall be exercisable shall be reduced by the number of shares for which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised. The number of shares of Common Stock for which a Stock Appreciation Right shall be exercisable shall be reduced upon any exercise of any related Option by the number of shares of Common Stock for which such Option shall have been exercised.
(d) Written Request. Any election by an Optionholder to receive cash in full or partial settlement of a Stock Appreciation Right, and any exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right for cash, may be made only by a written request filed with the Corporate Secretary of the Company during the period beginning on the third business day following the date of release for publication by the Company of quarterly or annual summary statements of earnings and ending on the twelfth business day following such date. Within thirty (30) days of the receipt by the Company of a written request to receive cash in full or partial settlement of a Stock Appreciation Right or to exercise such Stock Appreciation Right for cash, the Administrator shall, in its sole discretion, either consent to or disapprove, in whole or in part, such written request. A written request to receive a cash in full or partial settlement of a Stock Appreciation Right or to exercise a Stock Appreciation Right for cash may provide that, in the event the Administrator shall disapprove such written request, such written request shall be deemed to be an exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right for shares of Common Stock.
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(e) Disapproval by Administrator. If the Administrator disapproves in whole or in part any election by an Optionholder to receive cash in full or partial settlement of a Stock Appreciation Right or to exercise such Stock Appreciation Right for cash, such disapproval shall not affect such Optionholder’s right to exercise such Stock Appreciation Right at a later date, to the extent that such Stock Appreciation Right shall be otherwise exercisable, or to elect the form of payment at a later date, provided that an election to receive cash upon such later exercise shall be subject to the approval of the Administrator. Additionally, such disapproval shall not affect such Optionholder’s right to exercise any related Option.
7.6. Dividend Equivalent Rights. A Dividend Equivalent Right is a Stock Award entitling the recipient to receive credits based on cash dividends that would be paid on the shares of Common Stock specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other award to which it relates) if such shares were held by the recipient. A Dividend Equivalent Right may be granted hereunder to any Participant as a component of another Stock Award or as a freestanding award. The terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be specified in the grant. Dividend equivalents credited to the holder of a Dividend Equivalent Right may be paid currently or may be deemed to be reinvested in additional shares of Common Stock as of the dividend payment date, which may thereafter accrue additional equivalents. Any such reinvestment shall be at Fair Market Value on the date of reinvestment or such other price as may then apply under a dividend reinvestment plan sponsored by the Company, if any. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash or shares of Common Stock or a combination thereof, in a single installment or installments. A Dividend Equivalent Right shall be settled upon exercise, settlement, or payment of, or lapse of restrictions on, such other award, and that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall expire or be forfeited or annulled under the same conditions as such other award. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Stock Award may also contain terms and conditions different from such other award.
7.7. Interest Equivalents. Any Stock Award under this Plan that is settled in whole or in part in cash on a deferred basis my provide in the grant for interest equivalents to be credited with respect to such cash payment. Interest equivalents may be compounded and shall be paid upon such terms and conditions as may be specified by the grant.
8. Covenants of the Company.
8.1. Availability of Shares. During the terms of the Stock Awards, the Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock required to satisfy such Stock Awards.
8.2. Securities Law Compliance. The Company shall seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to grant Stock Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Stock Awards; provided, however, that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan, any Stock Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Stock Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of Common Stock under the Plan, the
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Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise of such Stock Awards unless and until such authority is obtained.
9. Use of Proceeds from Stock. Proceeds from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Stock Awards shall constitute general funds of the Company.
10. Miscellaneous.
10.1. Acceleration of Exercisability and Vesting. The Administrator shall have the power to accelerate the time at which a Stock Award may first be exercised or the time during which a Stock Award or any part thereof will vest in accordance with the Plan, notwithstanding the provisions in the Stock Award stating the time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it will vest.
10.2. Stockholder Rights. No Participant shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Common Stock subject to such Stock Award unless and until such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Stock Award pursuant to its terms.
10.3. No Employment or other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Stock Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in the capacity in effect at the time the Stock Award was granted or shall affect the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (a) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without Cause, (b) the service of a Consultant pursuant to the terms of such Consultant’s agreement with the Company or an Affiliate or (c) the service of a Director pursuant to the Bylaws of the Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state in which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may be.
10.4. Transfer, Approved Leave of Absence. For purposes of the Plan, no termination of employment by an Employment shall be deemed to result from either (a) a transfer to the employment of the Company from an Affiliate or from the Company to an Affiliate, or from one Affiliate to another; or (b) an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the employee’s right to re-employment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Administrator otherwise so provides in writing.
10.5. Incentive Stock Option $100,000 Limitation. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionholder during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its Affiliates) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the Options or portions thereof which exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options.
10.6. Investment Assurances. The Company may require a Participant, as a condition of exercising or acquiring Common Stock under any Stock Award, (a) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Participant’s knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and/or to employ a purchaser representative reasonably
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satisfactory to the Company who is knowledgeable and experienced in financial and business matters and that he or she is capable of evaluating, alone or together with the purchaser representative, the merits and risks of exercising the Stock Award; and (b) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that the Participant is acquiring Common Stock subject to the Stock Award for the Participant’s own account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the Common Stock. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, shall be inoperative if (i) the issuance of the shares of Common Stock upon the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Stock Award has been registered under a then currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (ii) as to any particular requirement, a determination is made by counsel for the Company that such requirement need not be met in the circumstances under the then applicable securities laws. The Company may, upon advice of counsel to the Company, place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan as such counsel deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, legends restricting the transfer of the Common Stock.
10.7. Withholding Obligations. To the extent provided by the terms of a Stock Award Agreement, the Participant may satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under a Stock Award by any of the following means (in addition to the Company’s right to withhold from any compensation paid to the Participant by the Company) or by a combination of such means: (a) tendering a cash payment; (b) authorizing the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Stock Award, provided, however, that no shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld by law; or (c) delivering to the Company owned and unencumbered shares of Common Stock not acquired from the Company.
11. Adjustments Upon Changes in Stock.
11.1. Capitalization Adjustments. If any change is made in the Common Stock subject to the Plan, or subject to any Stock Award, without the receipt of consideration by the Company (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or other transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the Company), the Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to Section 4.1 and the maximum number of securities subject to award to any person pursuant to Section 5.3, and the outstanding Stock Awards will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and number of securities and price per share of Common Stock subject to such outstanding Stock Awards. The Administrator shall make such adjustments, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. (The conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as a transaction “without receipt of consideration” by the Company).
11.2. Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, then all outstanding Stock Awards shall terminate immediately prior to such event.
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11.3. Change in Control – Asset Sale, Merger, Consolidation or Reverse Merger. If a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any corporate separation or division, including, but not limited to, a split-up, a split-off or a spin-off, or a sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company; a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the Surviving Entity; or a reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity, but the shares of Company stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise, then, the Company, to the extent permitted by applicable law, but otherwise in its sole discretion may provide for: (i) the continuation of outstanding Stock Awards by the Company (if the Company is the Surviving Entity); (ii) the assumption of the Plan and such outstanding Stock Awards by the Surviving Entity or its parent; (iii) the substitution by the surviving entity or its parent of stock awards with substantially the same terms (including an award to acquire the same consideration paid to the stockholders in the transaction described in this Section 11.3) for such outstanding Stock Awards; or (iv) the cancellation of such outstanding Stock Awards without payment of any consideration, provided that if such Stock Awards would be canceled in accordance with the foregoing, the Participant shall have the right, exercisable during the later of the ten-day period ending on the fifth day prior to such merger or consolidation or ten days after the Administrator provides the Stock Awards holder a notice of cancellation, to exercise such Stock Awards in whole or in part without regard to any installment exercise provisions in the Stock Awards agreement.
12. Amendment of the Plan and Stock Awards.
12.1. Amendment of Plan. The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the Plan. However, except as provided in Section 11 relating to adjustments upon changes in Common Stock, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the stockholders of the Company to the extent stockholder approval is necessary to satisfy any applicable law or any Nasdaq or securities exchange listing requirements.
12.2. Stockholder Approval. The Board may, in its sole discretion, submit any other amendment to the Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder regarding the exclusion of performance-based compensation from the limit on corporate deductibility of compensation paid to certain executive officers.
12.3. Contemplated Amendments. It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible Employees with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options and/or to bring the Plan and/or Incentive Stock Options granted under it into compliance therewith.
12.4. No Impairment of Rights. Rights under any Stock Award granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless (a) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (b) the Participant consents in writing.
12.5. Amendment of Stock Awards. The Administrator at any time, and from time to time, may amend the terms of any one or more Stock Awards; provided, however, that
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the rights under any Stock Award shall not be impaired by any such amendment unless (a) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (b) the Participant consents in writing.
13. Disqualifying Dispositions. Any Participant who shall make a “disposition” (as defined in Section 424 of the Code) of all or any portion of shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option within two (2) years from the date of grant of such Incentive Stock Option or within one (1) year after the issuance of the shares of Common Stock acquired upon exercise of such Incentive Stock Option shall be required to immediately advise the Company in writing as to the occurrence of the sale and the price realized upon the sale of such shares of Common Stock.
14. Termination or Suspension of the Plan. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on the day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or approved by the stockholders of the Company, whichever is earlier. No Stock Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.
15. Effective Date of Plan. The Plan shall become effective as of the Effective Date, but no Stock Award shall be exercised (or, in the case of a stock bonus, shall be granted) unless and until the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company, which approval shall be within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.
16. Choice of Law. The law of the State of Delaware shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to such state’s conflict of law rules.
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