CONCEPTUS, INC. FIFTH AMENDED ANDRESTATED 2001 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN 2001 Equity Incentive Plan Adopted by the Board: March 21, 2001 Approved by Stockholders: May 16, 2001 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan Adopted by the Board: March 2002 Approved by Stockholders: May 30, 2002 Second Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan Adopted by the Board: April 2003 Approved by Stockholders: June 10, 2003 Third Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan Adopted by the Board: March 2004 Approved by Stockholders: April 19, 2004 Amendment to Third Amended and Restated EquityIncentive Plan Adopted by the Board: March 2004 Approved by Stockholders: April 19, 2004 Fourth Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan Adopted by the Executive Committee: November 30,2004 Fifth Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan Adopted by the Executive Committee: January 5,2005

EX-10.1 2 a05-1311_1ex10d1.htm EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

 

CONCEPTUS, INC.

 

FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED
2001 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

2001 Equity Incentive Plan

Adopted by the Board: March 21, 2001

Approved by Stockholders: May 16, 2001

 

Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan
Adopted by the Board: March 2002

Approved by Stockholders: May 30, 2002

 

Second Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan

Adopted by the Board: April 2003

Approved by Stockholders: June 10, 2003

 

Third Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan

Adopted by the Board: March 2004

Approved by Stockholders: April 19, 2004

 

Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan

Adopted by the Board: March 2004

Approved by Stockholders: April 19, 2004

 

Fourth Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan

Adopted by the Executive Committee: November 30, 2004

 

Fifth Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan

Adopted by the Executive Committee: January 5, 2005

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

1.

 

PURPOSES OF THE PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

2.

 

DEFINITIONS

 

 

 

 

 

3.

 

STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

4.

 

ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

5.

 

ELIGIBILITY

 

 

 

 

 

6.

 

LIMITATIONS.

 

 

 

 

 

7.

 

TERM OF PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

8.

 

TERM OF AWARDS

 

 

 

 

 

9.

 

OPTION EXERCISE PRICE AND CONSIDERATION

 

 

 

 

 

10.

 

EXERCISE OF OPTION;

 

 

 

 

 

11.

 

NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS AND STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS

 

 

 

 

 

12.

 

GRANTING OF AWARDS TO INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

 

 

 

 

13.

 

TERMS OF AWARDS GRANTED TO INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS

 

 

 

 

 

14.

 

STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS

 

 

 

 

 

15.

 

RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

 

 

 

 

16.

 

STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

 

 

 

 

17.

 

OTHER AWARDS.

 

 

 

 

 

18.

 

ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION, MERGER OR ASSET SALE

 

 

 

 

 

19.

 

TIME OF GRANTING AWARDS

 

 

 

 

 

20.

 

AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

 

 

 

 

 

21.

 

STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL

 

 

 

 

 

22.

 

INABILITY TO OBTAIN AUTHORITY

 

 

 

 

 

23.

 

RESERVATION OF SHARES

 

 

 

 

 

24.

 

INVESTMENT INTENT

 

 

 

 

 

25.

 

GOVERNING LAW

 

 



 

CONCEPTUS, INC.

 

FIFTH AMENDED AND RESTATED 2001 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

1.                                       Purposes of the Plan.  The purposes of the Conceptus, Inc. Fifth Amended and Restated 2001 Equity Incentive Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentive to Employees, Directors and Consultants and to promote the success of the Company’s business.  Options granted under the Plan may be Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options, as determined by the Administrator at the time of grant.  Other Awards may also be granted under the Plan.

 

2.                                       Definitions.  As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

 

(a)                                  “Acquisition” means (i) any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other corporation or other entity or person in which the stockholders of the Company prior to such consolidation or merger own less than fifty percent (50%) of the Company’s voting power immediately after such consolidation or merger, excluding any consolidation or merger effected exclusively to change the domicile of the Company; or (ii) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

 

(b)                                 “Administrator” means the Board or the Committee responsible for conducting the general administration of the Plan, as applicable, in accordance with Section 4 hereof.

 

(c)                                  “Applicable Laws” means the requirements relating to the administration of stock option plans under U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and state securities laws, the Code, any stock exchange or quotation system on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and the applicable laws of any foreign country or jurisdiction where Options or Stock Purchase Rights are granted under the Plan.

 

(d)                                 “Audit Committee” shall mean the Audit Committee of the Board.

 

(e)                                  “Award” shall mean an Option, a Restricted Stock award, a Stock Appreciation Right award, a Performance Share award, a Dividend Equivalents award, a Stock Payment award, a Stock Purchase Right or a Restricted Stock Unit award granted to an eligible individual under the Plan.

 

(f)                                    “Award Agreement” means any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing an Award.

 

(g)                                 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(h)                                 “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute or statutes thereto.  Reference to any particular Code section shall include any successor section.

 

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(i)                                     “Committee” means a committee appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 4 hereof.

 

(j)                                     “Common Stock” means the Common Stock of the Company, par value $0.003 per share.

 

(k)                                  “Company” means Conceptus, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

(l)                                     “Compensation Committee” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board.

 

(m)                               “Consultant” means any consultant or adviser if: (i) the consultant or adviser renders bona fide services to the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company; (ii) the services rendered by the consultant or adviser are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the Company’s securities; and (iii) the consultant or adviser is a natural person who has contracted directly with the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company to render such services.

 

(n)                                 “Director” means a member of the Board.

 

(o)                                 “Employee” means any person, including an Officer or Director, who is an employee (as defined in accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code) of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.  A Service Provider shall not cease to be an Employee in the case of (i) any leave of absence approved by the Company or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its Parent, any Subsidiary, or any successor.  For purposes of Incentive Stock Options, no such leave may exceed ninety (90) days, unless reemployment upon expiration of such leave is guaranteed by statute or contract.  Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director’s fee by the Company shall be sufficient, by itself, to constitute “employment” by the Company.

 

(p)                                 “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor statute or statutes thereto.  Reference to any particular Exchange Act section shall include any successor section.

 

(q)                                 “Executive Committee” shall mean the Executive Committee of the Board.

 

(r)                                    “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date, the value of a share of Common Stock determined as follows:

 

(i)                                     If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system, including, without limitation, the Nasdaq National Market or The Nasdaq SmallCap Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for a share of such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system for the last market trading day prior to the time of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

 

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(ii)                                  If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for a share of the Common Stock on the last market trading day prior to the day of determination; or

 

(iii)                               In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Administrator.

 

(s)                                  “Holder” means a person who has been granted or awarded an Award or who holds Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Award.

 

(t)                                    “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option by the Administrator.

 

(u)                                 “Independent Director” means a Director who is not an Employee of the Company.

 

(v)                                 “Lead Director” shall mean the Lead Independent Director appointed by the Board.

 

(w)                               “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means an Option (or portion thereof) that is not designated as an Incentive Stock Option by the Administrator, or which is designated as an Incentive Stock Option by the Administrator but fails to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(x)                                   “Officer” means 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.

 

(y)                                 “Option” means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

(z)                                   “Option Agreement” means a written agreement between the Company and a Holder evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option grant.  The Option Agreement is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.

 

(aa)                            “Parent” means any corporation, whether now or hereafter existing (other than the Company), in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing more than fifty percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

 

(bb)                          “Performance Share” means a right granted to a Holder pursuant to Section 17, to receive cash, Stock, or other Awards, the payment of which is contingent upon achieving certain performance goals established by the Committee.

 

(cc)                            “Plan” means the Conceptus, Inc. Fifth Amended and Restated 2001 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

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(dd)                          “Restricted Stock” means Shares (i) acquired pursuant to the exercise of an unvested Option in accordance with Section 10(h) below or pursuant to a Stock Purchase Right granted under Section 14 below or (ii) issued to Independent Directors pursuant to Section 12 below.

 

(ee)                            “Restricted Stock Unit” means a right to receive a specified number of shares of Common Stock during specified time periods pursuant to Section 15.

 

(ff)                                “Rule 16b-3” means that certain Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act, as such Rule may be amended from time to time.

 

(gg)                          “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor statute or statutes thereto.  Reference to any particular Securities Act section shall include any successor section.

 

(hh)                          “Service Provider” means an Employee, Director or Consultant.

 

(ii)                                  “Share” means a share of Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 18 below.

 

(jj)                                  “Stock Appreciation Right” or “SAR” means a right granted pursuant to Section 16 to receive a payment equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of a specified number of shares of Common Stock on the date the SAR is exercised over the Fair Market Value on the date the SAR was granted as set forth in the applicable Award Agreement.

 

(kk)                            “Stock Payment” means (a) a payment in the form of Shares, or (b) an option or other right to purchase Shares, as part of any bonus, deferred compensation or other arrangement, made in lieu of all or any portion of the compensation, granted pursuant to Section 17.

 

(ll)                                  “Stock Purchase Right” means a right to purchase Common Stock pursuant to Section 14 below.

 

(mm)                      “Subsidiary” means any corporation, whether now or hereafter existing (other than the Company), in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing more than fifty percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

 

3.                                       Stock Subject to the Plan.  Subject to the provisions of Section 15 of the Plan, the shares of stock subject to Awards shall be Common Stock, initially shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.003 per share.  Subject to the provisions of Section 15 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be issued upon exercise of Options or Stock Purchase Rights or issued in the form of Restricted Stock is 2,500,000 Shares.  Shares issued pursuant to an Award may be authorized but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.  If an Option or Stock Purchase Right expires or becomes unexercisable without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares which were subject thereto shall become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has terminated).  Shares which are delivered

 

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by the Holder or withheld by the Company upon the exercise of an Option or Stock Purchase Rights under the Plan, in payment of the exercise price thereof or tax withholding thereon, may again be optioned, granted or awarded hereunder, subject to the limitations of this Section 3.  If Shares of Restricted Stock are repurchased by the Company at their original purchase price, if any, such Shares shall become available for future grant under the Plan.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3, no Shares may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an Incentive Stock Option to fail to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code.

 

4.                                       Administration of the Plan.

 

(a)                                  Administrator.  Either the Board or a Committee of the Board delegated administrative authority hereunder shall administer the Plan and, in the case of a Committee, the Committee shall consist solely of two or more Independent Directors each of whom is both an “outside director,” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, and a “non-employee director” within the meaning of Rule 16b-3.  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 Independent Directors the authority to grant awards under the Plan to eligible persons who are either (1) not then “covered employees,” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and are not expected to be “covered employees” at the time of recognition of income resulting from such award or (2) not persons with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code and/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 awards under the Plan to eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.  The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan.  Appointment of Committee members shall be effective upon acceptance of appointment. Committee members may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the Board.  Vacancies in the Committee may be filled only by the Board.

 

(b)                                 Powers of the Administrator.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan and the specific duties delegated by the Board to such Committee, and subject to the approval of any relevant authorities, the Administrator shall have the authority in its sole discretion:

 

(i)                                     to determine the Fair Market Value;

 

(ii)                                  to select the Service Providers to whom Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder;

 

(iii)                               to determine the number of Shares to be covered by each such Award granted hereunder;

 

(iv)                              to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;

 

(v)                                 to determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted hereunder (such terms and conditions include, but are not limited to, the exercise price, the time or times when Awards may vest or be exercised (which may be based on performance criteria), any vesting acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions, and any restriction or limitation

 

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regarding any Award or the Common Stock relating thereto, based in each case on such factors as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, shall determine);

 

(vi)                              to determine whether to offer to buyout a previously granted Option as provided in subsection 10(i) and to determine the terms and conditions of such offer and buyout (including whether payment is to be made in cash or Shares);

 

(vii)                           to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, including rules and regulations relating to sub-plans established for the purpose of qualifying for preferred tax treatment under foreign tax laws;

 

(viii)                        to allow Holders to satisfy withholding tax obligations by electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued pursuant to an Award that number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld based on the statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes that apply to supplemental taxable income.  The Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld shall be determined on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined.  All elections by Holders to have Shares withheld for this purpose shall be made in such form and under such conditions as the Administrator may deem necessary or advisable;

 

(ix)                                to amend the Plan or any Award granted under the Plan as provided in Section 21; and

 

(x)                                   to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and Awards granted pursuant to the Plan and to exercise such powers and perform such acts as the Administrator deems necessary or desirable to promote the best interests of the Company which are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan.

 

(c)                                  Effect of Administrator’s Decision.  All decisions, determinations and interpretations of the Administrator shall be final and binding on all Holders.

 

5.                                       Eligibility.  Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Service Providers.  Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.  If otherwise eligible, an Employee or Consultant who has been granted an Award may be granted additional Awards.  Each Independent Director shall be eligible to be granted Restricted Stock and Options at the times and in the manner set forth in Section 12.

 

6.                                       Limitations.

 

(a)                                  Each Option shall be designated by the Administrator in the Option Agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.  However, notwithstanding such designations, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of Shares subject to a Holder’s Incentive Stock Options and other incentive stock options granted by the Company, any Parent or Subsidiary, which become exercisable for the first time during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds $100,000, such excess Options or other options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Stock Options.

 

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For purposes of this Section 6(a), Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of the Shares shall be determined as of the time of grant.

 

(b)                                 Neither the Plan nor any Award shall confer upon a Holder any right with respect to continuing the Holder’s employment or consulting relationship with the Company, nor shall they interfere in any way with the Holder’s right or the Company’s right to terminate such employment or consulting relationship at any time, with or without cause.

 

(c)                                  The maximum number of shares of Common Stock with respect to one or more Awards that may be granted to any one Service Provider during a calendar year shall be 800,000. The foregoing limitation shall be adjusted proportionately in connection with any change in the Company’s capitalization as described in Section 18.  For purposes of this Section 6(c), if an Option is canceled in the same calendar year it was granted (other than in connection with a transaction described in Section 18), the canceled Option will be counted against the limit set forth in this Section 6(c).  For this purpose, if the exercise price of an Option is reduced, the transaction shall be treated as a cancellation of the Option and the grant of a new Option.

 

7.                                       Term of Plan.  The Plan became effective upon its initial adoption by the Board on March 21, 2001 and shall continue in effect until it is terminated under Section 21 of the Plan.  No Awards may be issued under the Plan after March 21, 2011, the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date upon which the Plan was initially adopted by the Board.

 

8.                                       Term of Awards.  The term of each Award shall be stated in the Award Agreement; provided, however, that the term shall be no more than ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof.  In the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Holder who, at the time the Option is granted, owns (or is treated as owning under Code Section 424) stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant or such shorter term as may be provided in the Option Agreement.

 

9.                                       Option Exercise Price and Consideration.

 

(a)                                  Except as provided in Section 13, the per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the Administrator, but shall be subject to the following:

 

(i)                                     In the case of an Incentive Stock Option

 

(A)                              granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant of such Option, owns (or is treated as owning under Code Section 424) stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

 

(B)                                granted to any other Employee, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.

 

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(b)                                 The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option, including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator.  Such consideration may consist of (1) cash, (2) check, (3) with the consent of the Administrator, a full recourse promissory note bearing interest (at a market rate of interest determined as of the date of exercise) and payable upon such terms as may be prescribed by the Administrator, (4) with the consent of the Administrator, other Shares which (x) in the case of Shares acquired from the Company, have been owned by the Holder for more than six (6) months on the date of surrender, and (y) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which such Option shall be exercised, (5) with the consent of the Administrator, surrendered Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Option having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised portion thereof, (6) property of any kind which constitutes good and valuable consideration, (7) with the consent of the Administrator, delivery of a notice that the Holder has placed a market sell order with a broker with respect to Shares then issuable upon exercise of the Options and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the Option exercise price, provided, that payment of such proceeds is then made to the Company upon settlement of such sale, or (8) with the consent of the Administrator, any combination of the foregoing methods of payment.

 

10.                                 Exercise of Option; Vesting; Fractional Exercises.  Except as provided in Section 13, Options granted hereunder shall be vested and exercisable according to the terms hereof at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator and set forth in the Option Agreement.  An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

 

(a)                                  All Options shall be subject to such additional terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator and shall be evidenced by a written Option Agreement.  In the event that the exercise price of an Option is intended to be below the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant, such Option Agreement may also include limitations regarding the exercise of such Option and may provide that such exercise is subject to certain terms and restrictions, including but not limited to, an election, by specified date, of the Holder, regarding such Option, to the extent such terms and restrictions are required so as not cause the Option or the shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of such Option to be includable in the gross income of the Holder under Section 409A of the Code prior to such times or occurrence of such events, as permitted by the Code and the regulations and other guidance thereunder (including, without limitation, Section 409A of the Code, and the regulations and other guidance issued by the Secretary of the Treasury thereunder).

 

(b)                                 Deliveries upon Exercise.  All or a portion of an exercisable Option shall be deemed exercised upon delivery of all of the following to the Secretary of the Company or his or her office:

 

(i)                                     A written or electronic notice complying with the applicable rules established by the Administrator stating that the Option, or a portion thereof, is exercised.  The notice shall be signed by the Holder or other person then entitled to exercise the Option or such portion of the Option;

 

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(ii)                                  Such representations and documents as the Administrator, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable to effect compliance with Applicable Laws.  The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, also take whatever additional actions it deems appropriate to effect such compliance, including, without limitation, placing legends on share certificates and issuing stop transfer notices to agents and registrars;

 

(iii)                               Upon the exercise of all or a portion of an unvested Option pursuant to Section 10(h), a Restricted Stock purchase agreement in a form determined by the Administrator and signed by the Holder or other person then entitled to exercise the Option or such portion of the Option; and

 

(iv)                              In the event that the Option shall be exercised pursuant to Section 10(f) by any person or persons other than the Holder, appropriate proof of the right of such person or persons to exercise the Option.

 

(c)                                  Conditions to Delivery of Share Certificates.  The Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificate or certificates for Shares purchased upon the exercise of any Option or portion thereof prior to fulfillment of all of the following conditions:

 

(i)                                     The admission of such Shares to listing on all stock exchanges on which such class of stock is then listed;

 

(ii)                                  The completion of any registration or other qualification of such Shares under any state or federal law, or under the rulings or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other governmental regulatory body which the Administrator shall, in its sole discretion, deem necessary or advisable;

 

(iii)                               The obtaining of any approval or other clearance from any state or federal governmental agency which the Administrator shall, in its sole discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable;

 

(iv)                              The lapse of such reasonable period of time following the exercise of the Option as the Administrator may establish from time to time for reasons of administrative convenience; and

 

(v)                                 The receipt by the Company of full payment for such Shares, including payment of any applicable withholding tax, which in the sole discretion of the Administrator may be in the form of consideration used by the Holder to pay for such Shares under Section 9(b).

 

(d)                                 Termination of Relationship as a Service Provider.  If a Holder ceases to be a Service Provider other than by reason of the Holder’s disability or death, such Holder may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Option Agreement to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of termination.  In the absence of a specified time in the Option Agreement, the Option shall remain exercisable for three (3) months following the Holder’s termination.  If, on the date of termination, the Holder is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option immediately cease to be issuable under the Option and shall again become available for issuance under the Plan.  If, after

 

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termination, the Holder does not exercise his or her Option within the time period specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option shall again become available for issuance under the Plan.

 

(e)                                  Disability of Holder.  If a Holder ceases to be a Service Provider as a result of the Holder’s disability, the Holder may exercise his or her Option within such period of time as is specified in the Option Agreement to the extent the Option is vested on the date of termination.  In the absence of a specified time in the Option Agreement, the Option shall remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Holder’s termination.  If such disability is not a “disability” as such term is defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option such Incentive Stock Option shall automatically cease to be treated as an Incentive Stock Option and shall be treated for tax purposes as a Non-Qualified Stock Option from and after the day which is three (3) months and one (1) day following such termination.  If, on the date of termination, the Holder is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option shall immediately cease to be issuable under the Option and shall again become available for issuance under the Plan.  If, after termination, the Holder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option shall again become available for issuance under the Plan.

 

(f)                                    Death of Holder.  If a Holder dies while a Service Provider, the Option may be exercised within such period of time as is specified in the Option Agreement, by the Holder’s estate or by a person who acquires the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent that the Option is vested on the date of death.  In the absence of a specified time in the Option Agreement, the Option shall remain exercisable for twelve (12) months following the Holder’s termination.  If, at the time of death, the Holder is not vested as to his or her entire Option, the Shares covered by the unvested portion of the Option shall immediately cease to be issuable under the Option and shall again become available for issuance under the Plan.  The Option may be exercised by the executor or administrator of the Holder’s estate or, if none, by the person(s) entitled to exercise the Option under the Holder’s will or the laws of descent or distribution.  If the Option is not so exercised within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the Shares covered by such Option shall again become available for issuance under the Plan.

 

(g)                                 Regulatory Extension.  A Holder’s Option Agreement may provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Holder’s status as a Service Provider (other than upon the Holder’s death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of shares would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the term of the Option set forth in Section 8 or (ii) the expiration of a period of three (3) months after the termination of the Holder’s status as a Service Provider during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration requirements.

 

(h)                                 Early Exercisability.  The Administrator may provide in the terms of a Holder’s Option Agreement that the Holder may, at any time before the Holder’s status as a Service Provider terminates, exercise the Option in whole or in part prior to the full vesting of the Option; provided, however, that Shares acquired upon exercise of an Option which has not

 

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fully vested may be subject to any forfeiture, transfer or other restrictions as the Administrator may determine in its sole discretion.

 

(i)                                     Buyout Provisions.  Subject to the provisions of Section 18(d), the Administrator may at any time offer to buyout for a payment in cash or Shares, an Option previously granted, based on such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and communicate to the Holder at the time that such offer is made.

 

11.                                 Non-Transferability of Options and Stock Purchase Rights.  Options and Stock Purchase Rights may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Holder, only by the Holder.

 

12.                                 Granting of Awards to Independent Directors.

 

(a)                                  Initial and Subsequent Grants.  During the term of the Plan, (i) a person who is initially elected to the Board as an Independent Director automatically shall be granted on the date of such initial election (A) an Option to purchase twenty thousand (20,000) shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 18) (“Initial Option”) and (B) six thousand six hundred seventy (6,670) shares of Restricted Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 18) (“Initial Restricted Stock Grant”) and (ii) each person who is an Independent Director immediately following an annual meeting of stockholders (provided that, on such date, he or she shall have served on the Board for at least six (6) months prior to the date of such annual meeting) automatically shall be granted on the date of such annual meeting (A) an Option to purchase seven thousand five hundred (7,500) shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 18) (“Subsequent Option”) and (B) two thousand (2,000) shares of Restricted Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 18) (“Subsequent Restricted Stock Grant”).    Members of the Board who are employees of the Company who subsequently retire from the Company and remain on the Board will not receive an Initial Option grant or Initial Restricted Stock Grant pursuant to clause (i) of the preceding sentence, but to the extent that they are otherwise eligible, will receive, after retirement from employment with the Company, Subsequent Options and Subsequent Restricted Stock Grants as described in clause (ii) of the preceding sentence (with the date of retirement being deemed to be his or her date of initial election to the Board).

 

(b)                                 Committee Grants.  In addition to the grants in Section 12(a), during the term of the Plan:

 

(i)                                     the Independent Director who is serving as the Lead Director immediately following an annual meeting of stockholders automatically shall be granted on the date of such annual meeting five hundred (500) shares of Restricted Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 18);

 

(ii)                                  the Independent Director who is serving as the Chair of the Audit Committee immediately following an annual meeting of stockholders automatically shall be granted on the date of such annual meeting (A) an Option to purchase five thousand (5,000)

 

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shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 18) and (B) five hundred (500) shares of Restricted Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 18);

 

(iii)                               each Independent Director who is serving as a member of the Audit Committee (other than the Chair of the Audit Committee) immediately following an annual meeting of stockholders automatically shall be granted on the date of such annual meeting an Option to purchase two thousand (2,000) shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 18);

 

(iv)                              the Independent Director who is serving as the Chair of the Compensation Committee immediately following an annual meeting of stockholders automatically shall be granted on the date of such annual meeting (A) an Option to purchase two thousand (2,000) shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 18) and (B) five hundred (500) shares of Restricted Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 18); and

 

(v)                                 each Independent Director who is serving as a member of the Compensation Committee (other than the Chair of the Compensation Committee) immediately following an annual meeting of stockholders automatically shall be granted on the date of such annual meeting an Option to purchase one thousand (1,000) shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 18).

 

The Options granted pursuant to this Section 12(b) shall each be referred to as an “Additional Option” and the shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to this Section 12(b) shall each be referred to as an “Additional Restricted Stock Grant.”

 

13.                                 Terms of Awards Granted to Independent Directors.

 

(a)                                  Options.  The per Share price of each Option granted to an Independent Director shall equal one-hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Option is granted.  Initial Options (as defined in Section 12) granted to Independent Directors shall vest and become exercisable as follows:  twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares subject to each Initial Option shall vest on the one year anniversary of the date of the Initial Option grant and one forty-eighth (1/48th) of the shares subject to each Initial Option (rounded down to the next whole number of shares) shall vest on the first day of each full month thereafter, such that each Initial Option shall be one-hundred percent (100%) vested on the on the first day of the forty-eighth (48th) month following its date of grant.  Subsequent Options and Additional Options (both as defined in Section 12) granted to Independent Directors shall vest and become exercisable as follows:  one twelfth (1/12th) of the shares subject to each Subsequent Option and each Additional Option (rounded down to the next whole number of shares) shall vest on each monthly anniversary of the date of the Subsequent Option and Additional Option grants, such that each Subsequent Option and each Additional Option shall be one-hundred percent (100%) vested on the one year anniversary of its date of grant.  Subject to Section 10, the term of each Option granted to an Independent Director shall be ten (10) years from the date the Option is granted.  No portion of an Option which is unexercisable at the time of an Independent Director’s termination of membership on the Board shall thereafter become exercisable.

 

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(b)                                 Restricted Stock.  The Initial Restricted Stock Grant, Subsequent Restricted Stock Grant, and Additional Restricted Stock Grant shall be pursuant to the terms of a restricted stock agreement, which shall grant the Company the right to repurchase Shares issued pursuant to the Initial Restricted Stock Grant, Subsequent Restricted Stock Grant and Additional Restricted Stock Grant upon the termination of the director’s status as a Director for any reason (including death or disability).  The purchase price for Shares repurchased by the Company pursuant to such repurchase right shall be at par value of the Shares, and the repurchase right shall lapse as to 1/3 of the Shares subject to the Initial Restricted Stock Grant, Subsequent Restricted Stock Grant, or Additional Restricted Stock Grant, as applicable, on each annual anniversary of the date of grant, until such time as the repurchase right shall lapse on the third anniversary of the date of grant.  The Restricted Stock agreement shall contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.  The Director shall have rights equivalent to those of a shareholder and shall be a shareholder when his or her Initial Restricted Stock Grant, Subsequent Restricted Stock Grant, or Additional Restricted Stock Grant, as applicable, is entered upon the records of the duly authorized transfer agent of the Company.

 

14.                                 Stock Purchase Rights

 

(a)                                  Rights to Purchase.  Stock Purchase Rights may be issued either alone, in addition to, or in tandem with Options granted under the Plan and/or cash awards made outside of the Plan.  After the Administrator determines that it will offer Stock Purchase Rights under the Plan, it shall advise the offeree in writing of the terms, conditions and restrictions related to the offer, including the number of Shares that such person shall be entitled to purchase, the price to be paid, if any, and the time within which such person must accept such offer.  The offer shall be accepted by execution of a Restricted Stock purchase agreement in the form determined by the Administrator.

 

(b)                                 Repurchase Right.  Unless the Administrator determines otherwise, the Restricted Stock purchase agreement shall grant the Company the right to repurchase Shares acquired upon exercise of a Stock Purchase Right upon the termination of the purchaser’s status as a Service Provider for any reason.  The purchase price for Shares repurchased by the Company pursuant to such repurchase right, if any, and the rate at which such repurchase right shall lapse shall be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion, and shall be set forth in the Restricted Stock purchase agreement.

 

(c)                                  Other Provisions.  The Restricted Stock purchase agreement shall contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as may be determined by the Administrator in its sole discretion.

 

(d)                                 Rights as a Shareholder.  Once the Stock Purchase Right is exercised, the purchaser shall have rights equivalent to those of a shareholder and shall be a shareholder when his or her purchase is entered upon the records of the duly authorized transfer agent of the Company.  No adjustment shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Stock Purchase Right is exercised, except as provided in Section 18 of the Plan.

 

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15.                                 Restricted Stock Units

 

Any Holder selected by the Administrator may be granted an award of Restricted Stock Units in the manner determined from time to time by the Administrator.

 

(a)                                  The vesting of Restricted Stock Units shall be determined by the Administrator and may be linked to specific performance criteria determined to be appropriate by the Administrator, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Administrator.  Common Stock underlying a Restricted Stock Unit award will not be issued until the Restricted Stock Unit award has vested, pursuant to a vesting schedule or performance criteria set by the Administrator.

 

(b)                                 Unless otherwise provided by the Administrator, a Holder awarded Restricted Stock Units shall have no rights as a Company stockholder with respect to such Restricted Stock Units until such time as the Restricted Stock Units have vested and the Common Stock underlying the Restricted Stock Units has been issued.

 

(c)                                  All Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such additional terms and conditions as determined by the Administrator and shall be evidenced by a written Award Agreement.  Such Award Agreement may also include limitations regarding the distribution of payments due pursuant to such Restricted Stock Units and may provide that such payments are subject to an election, by a certain date, of the Holder to whom such payment is to be awarded, to the extent such limitations and elections are required so as not cause any Restricted Stock Unit Award or the shares of Common Stock or cash issuable pursuant to any Restricted Stock Unit Award (or other amounts issuable or distributable) to be includable in the gross income of the Holder under Section 409A of the Code prior to such times or occurrence of such events, as permitted by the Code and the regulations and other guidance thereunder (including, without limitation, Section 409A of the Code, and the regulations and other guidance issued by the Secretary of the Treasury thereunder).

 

16.                                 Stock Appreciation Rights

 

A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted to any Holder selected by the Administrator.  A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted (a) in connection and simultaneously with the grant of an Option, (b) with respect to a previously granted Option, or (c) independent of an Option.  A Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to such terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as the Administrator shall impose and shall be evidenced by an Award Agreement.

 

(a)                                  Coupled Stock Appreciation Rights.  A Coupled Stock Appreciation Right (“CSAR”) shall be related to a particular Option and shall be exercisable only when and to the extent the related Option is exercisable.

 

(i)                                     A CSAR may be granted to a Holder for no more than the number of shares subject to the simultaneously or previously granted Option to which it is coupled.

 

(ii)                                  A CSAR shall entitle the Holder (or other person entitled to exercise the Option pursuant to the Plan) to surrender to the Company unexercised a portion of

 

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the Option to which the CSAR relates (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company in exchange therefor an amount determined by multiplying the difference obtained by subtracting the Option exercise price from the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise of the CSAR by the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the CSAR shall have been exercised, subject to any limitations the Administrator may impose.

 

(b)                                 Independent Stock Appreciation Rights.  An Independent Stock Appreciation Right (“ISAR”) shall be unrelated to any Option and shall have a term set by the Administrator.  An ISAR shall be exercisable in such installments as the Administrator may determine.  An ISAR shall cover such number of shares of Common Stock as the Administrator may determine.  The exercise price per share of Common Stock subject to each ISAR shall be set by the Administrator; provided, however, that, the Administrator in its sole and absolute discretion may provide that the ISAR may be exercised subsequent to a termination of employment or service, as applicable, or following an Acquisition of the Company, or because of the Holder’s retirement, death or disability, or otherwise.  An ISAR shall entitle the Holder (or other person entitled to exercise the ISAR pursuant to the Plan) to exercise all or a specified portion of the ISAR (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company an amount determined by multiplying the difference obtained by subtracting the exercise price per share of the ISAR from the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise of the ISAR by the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the ISAR shall have been exercised, subject to any limitations the Administrator may impose.

 

(c)                                  Payment and Limitations on Exercise, Distribution.  Payment of the amounts determined under Section 16(a) and 16(b) above shall be in cash, in Common Stock (based on its Fair Market Value as of the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised) or a combination of both, as determined by the Administrator.

 

(i)                                     The Administrator shall determine the terms and procedures regarding the payment of amounts determined under Section 16(a) and 16(b) above, and may provide that such payments are subject to an election by the Holder to whom such payment is to be awarded, in accordance with this Section 16(c).  Specifically, the Committee may provide for the deferral of the payment issuable pursuant to a Stock Appreciation Right at the election of the Holder to whom such award is to be awarded in accordance with the terms of this Section 16(c).

 

(A)                              Subject to the paragraph (B) below, any election of a Holder to defer the issuance of payment pursuant to Stock Appreciation Right shall be made not later than the close of the taxable year preceding the first taxable year in which such Holder performs services for such Stock Appreciation Right or related Option, in the case of a CSAR.

 

(B)                                In the case of the first year in which a Holder becomes eligible to participate in the Plan, any election of such Holder to defer the payment pursuant to a Stock Appreciation Right may be made with respect to services to be performed subsequent to the election within thirty (30) days after the date such Holder becomes eligible to participate in the Plan.

 

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(C)                                A Holder, under such terms as the Administrator shall determine in its sole discretion, may elect to receive the shares of Common Stock or cash issuable pursuant to a Stock Appreciation Right upon one or more of the following events:

(i)                                     a date specified in such election,

 

(ii)                                  the termination of Holder,

 

(iii)                               an Unforeseeable Emergency of such Holder;

 

(iv)                              a Change in Control;

 

(v)                                 death; or

 

(vi)                              Qualified Disability;

 

provided, however, in the case of a Holder who is a “key employee” as defined in Code Section 416(i) (determined without regard to paragraph (5) thereof) of the Company, the payment issuable pursuant to Holder’s termination shall not be made before the date which is six (6) months after the date of such termination.

 

(D)                               A deferral election made by a Holder shall be irrevocable and shall not be amended, modified or terminated by such Holder.

 

(E)                                 Prohibition on Acceleration of Distributions.  The terms regarding the issuance of payments pursuant to a Stock Appreciation Right shall not be amended, modified or terminated in any manner which permits the acceleration of the time or schedule of such issuance of shares of Common Stock or cash.

 

(F)                                 Limitation of Distributions.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, shares of Common Stock or cash shall be issuable pursuant to a Stock Appreciation Right at such times or upon such events as are specified in Section 16(c)(i)(C) above and the terms of the Award Agreement only to the extent the issuance or distribution at such times or upon such events under such terms will not cause the Award or the shares of Common Stock or cash issuable pursuant to the Award (or other amounts issuable or distributable) to be includable in the gross income of the Holder under Section 409A of the Code prior to such times or occurrence of such events, as permitted by the Code and the regulations and other guidance thereunder (including, without limitation, Section 409A of the Code, and the regulations and other guidance issued by the Secretary of the Treasury thereunder).

 

(G)                                For purposes of this Section 16, the “Unforeseeable Emergency” of a Holder shall mean a severe financial hardship to such Holder resulting from:  (i) an illness or accident of such Holder, or the spouse or a dependent (as defined in Code Section 152(a)) of such Holder, (ii) the loss of such Holder property due to casualty, or (iii) other similar extraordinary and unforeseeable circumstances arising as a result of events beyond the control of such Holder.  For purposes of this Section 16, “Qualified Disability” shall mean the Holder is “disabled,” as such term is defined in Section 409A of the Code, and the regulations and other guidance issued by the Secretary of the Treasury thereunder.  For purposes of this

 

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Section 16, “Change in Control” shall mean a change in control as defined as in Section 409A of the Code, and the regulations and other guidance issued by the Secretary of the Treasury thereunder.

 

17.                                 Other Awards.

 

(a)                                  Performance Share Awards.  Any Holder selected by the Committee may be granted one or more Performance Share awards which may be denominated in a number of Shares or in a dollar value of Shares and which may be linked to any one or more specific performance criteria determined appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee.  In making such determinations, the Committee shall consider (among such other factors as it deems relevant in light of the specific type of award) the contributions, responsibilities and other compensation of the particular Holder.

 

(b)                                 Dividend Equivalents.  Any Holder selected by the Committee may be granted Dividend Equivalents based on the dividends declared on the shares of Stock that are subject to any Award, to be credited as of dividend payment dates, during the period between the date the Award is granted and the date the Award is exercised, vests or expires, as determined by the Committee.  Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional Shares by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations as may be determined by the Committee.

 

(c)                                  Stock Payments.

 

Any Holder selected by the Committee may receive Stock Payments in the manner determined from time to time by the Committee.  The number of shares shall be determined by the Committee and may be based upon specific performance criteria determined appropriate by the Committee, determined on the date such Stock Payment is made or on any date thereafter.

 

18.                                 Adjustments upon Changes in Capitalization, Merger or Asset Sale.

 

(a)                                  In the event that the Administrator determines that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Common Stock, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, reclassification, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, liquidation, dissolution, or sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, or exchange of Common Stock or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Common Stock or other securities of the Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event, in the Administrator’s sole discretion, affects the Common Stock such that an adjustment is determined by the Administrator to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended by the Company to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award, then the Administrator shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of:

 

(i)                                     the number and kind of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted or awarded (including, but

 

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not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Section 3 on the maximum number and kind of shares which may be issued and adjustments of the maximum number of Shares that may be purchased by any Holder in any calendar year pursuant to Section 6(c));

 

(ii)                                  the number and kind of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards; and

 

(iii)                               the grant or exercise price with respect to any Award.

 

(b)                                 In the event of any transaction or event described in Section 18(a), the Administrator, in its sole discretion, and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, and to the extent allowed by Section 409A of the Code and any applicable regulations thereunder, to the extent applicable, either by the terms of the Award or by action taken prior to the occurrence of such transaction or event and either automatically or upon the Holder’s request, is hereby authorized to take any one or more of the following actions whenever the Administrator determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended by the Company to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Award granted or issued under the Plan or to facilitate such transaction or event:

 

(i)                                     To provide for either the purchase of any such Award for an amount of cash equal to the amount that could have been obtained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Holder’s rights had such Award been currently exercisable or payable or fully vested or the replacement of such Award with other rights or property selected by the Administrator in its sole discretion;

 

(ii)                                  To provide that such Award shall be exercisable as to all shares covered thereby, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the provisions of such Award;

 

(iii)                               To provide that such Award be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices;

 

(iv)                              To make adjustments in the number and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and/or in the terms and conditions of (including the grant or exercise price), and the criteria included in, outstanding Awards or Awards which may be granted in the future; and

 

(v)                                 To provide that immediately upon the consummation of such event, such Award shall not be exercisable and shall terminate; provided, that for a specified period of time prior to such event, such Award shall be exercisable as to all Shares covered thereby, and the restrictions imposed under an Award Agreement upon some or all Shares may be terminated and, in the case of Restricted Stock, some or all shares of such Restricted Stock may cease to be subject to repurchase, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or the provisions of such Award Agreement.

 

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(c)                                  Subject to Section 3, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, include such further provisions and limitations in any Award Agreement or Common Stock certificate, as it may deem equitable and in the best interests of the Company.

 

(d)                                 If the Company undergoes an Acquisition, then any surviving corporation or entity or acquiring corporation or entity, or affiliate of such corporation or entity, may assume any Awards outstanding under the Plan or may substitute similar stock awards (including an award to acquire the same consideration paid to the stockholders in the transaction described in this subsection 18(d)) for those outstanding under the Plan.  In the event any surviving corporation or entity or acquiring corporation or entity in an Acquisition, or affiliate of such corporation or entity, does not assume such Awards or does not substitute similar stock awards for those outstanding under the Plan, then with respect to (i) Awards held by Holders in the Plan whose status as a Service Provider has not terminated prior to such event, the vesting of such Awards (and, if applicable, the time during which such awards may be exercised) shall be accelerated and made fully exercisable and all restrictions thereon shall lapse at least ten (10) days prior to the closing of the Acquisition (and the Awards terminated if not exercised prior to the closing of such Acquisition), and (ii) any other Awards outstanding under the Plan, such rights shall be terminated if not exercised prior to the closing of the Acquisition.  Notwithstanding the assumption or substitution of Options granted to Service Providers other than Independent Directors pursuant to the foregoing provisions, any Options or shares of Restricted Stock granted to Independent Directors pursuant to Section 12 which are outstanding immediately prior to the closing of the Acquisition shall not be assumed or substituted for, shall be accelerated and made fully vested and/or exercisable, as applicable, at least ten (10) days prior to the closing of the Acquisition and shall terminate if not exercised prior to the closing of such Acquisition.

 

(e)                                  The existence of the Plan or any Award Agreement and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect or restrict in any way the right or power of the Company or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of stock or of options, warrants or rights to purchase stock or of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stocks whose rights are superior to or affect the Common Stock or the rights thereof or which are convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.

 

19.                                 Time of Granting Awards.  The date of grant of an Award shall, for all purposes, be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Award, or such other date as is determined by the Administrator.  Notice of the determination shall be given to each Employee or Consultant to whom an Award is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.

 

20.                                 Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

 

(a)                                  Amendment and Termination.  The Board may at any time wholly or partially amend, alter, suspend or terminate the Plan.  However, without approval of the

 

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Company’s stockholders given within twelve (12) months before or after the action by the Board, no action of the Board may, except as provided in Section 18, increase the limits imposed in Section 3 on the maximum number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan or extend the term of the Plan under Section 7.

 

(b)                                 Savings Clause.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or any Award Agreement relating to an outstanding Award, if and to the extent the Administrator shall determine that the terms of any Award may result in the failure of the such Award to comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code, or any applicable regulations or guidance promulgated by the Secretary of the Treasury in connection therewith, the Administrator shall have authority to take such action to amend, modify, cancel or terminate the Plan or any Award as it deems necessary or advisable, including without limitation:

 

(i)                                     Any amendment or modification of the Plan or any Award to conform the Plan or such Award to the requirements of Section 409A of the Code or any regulations or other guidance thereunder (including, without limitation, any amendment or modification of the terms of any Award regarding vesting, exercise, or the timing or form of payment).

 

(ii)                                  Any cancellation or termination of any unvested Award, or portion thereof, without any payment to the Holder holding such Award.

 

(iii)                               Any cancellation or termination of any vested Award, or portion thereof, with immediate payment to the Holder holding such Award of the amount otherwise payable upon the immediate exercise of any such Award, or vested portion thereof, by such Holder.

 

(iv)                              Any such amendment, modification, cancellation, or termination of the Plan or any Award may adversely affect the rights of a Holder with respect to such Award without the Holder’s consent.

 

(c)                                  Stockholder Approval.  The Board shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Applicable Laws.

 

(d)                                 Effect of Amendment or Termination.  Except as provided in Section 18(b), above, no amendment, alteration, suspension or termination of the Plan shall impair the rights of any Holder, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Holder and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Holder and the Company.  Termination of the Plan shall not affect the Administrator’s ability to exercise the powers granted to it hereunder with respect to Options, Stock Purchase Rights or Restricted Stock granted or awarded under the Plan prior to the date of such termination.

 

(e)                                  Repricing Prohibited.  Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan to the contrary, absent approval of the stockholders of the Company no Award may be amended to reduce the per Share exercise price of the Shares subject to such Award below the per Share exercise price as of the date the Award is granted.  In addition, absent approval of the stockholders of the Company no Award may be granted in exchange for, or in connection with, the cancellation or surrender of an Award having a higher per Share exercise price.

 

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21.                                 Stockholder Approval.  The Plan will be submitted for the approval of the Company’s stockholders within twelve (12) months after the date of the Board’s adoption of the Plan.  Options, Stock Purchase Rights or Restricted Stock may be granted or awarded prior to such stockholder approval, provided that Options, Stock Purchase Rights and Restricted Stock not previously authorized under the Plan shall not be exercisable, shall not vest and the restrictions thereon shall not lapse prior to the time when the Plan is approved by the stockholders, and provided further that if such approval has not been obtained at the end of said twelve-month period, any Options, Stock Purchase Rights and Restricted Stock previously granted or awarded but not previously authorized under the Plan shall thereupon be canceled and become null and void.

 

22.                                 Inability to Obtain Authority.  The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

 

23.                                 Reservation of Shares.  The Company, during the term of this Plan, shall at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

 

24.                                 Investment Intent.  The Company may require a Plan Holder, as a condition of exercising or acquiring stock under any Award, (i) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Holder’s knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and/or to employ a purchaser representative reasonably 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 rights under any Award; and (ii) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that the Holder is acquiring the stock subject to the Award for the Holder’s own account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the stock.  The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, shall be inoperative if (A) the issuance of the shares upon the exercise or acquisition of stock under the applicable Award has been registered under a then currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (B) 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 stock.

 

25.                                 Governing Law.  The validity and enforceability of this Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to otherwise governing principles of conflicts of law.

 

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