Dionex Corporation
EX-10.4 3 f33346exv10w4.htm EXHIBIT 10.4 exv10w4
Exhibit 10.4
Dionex Corporation
2004 Equity Incentive Plan
ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: SEPTEMBER 7, 2004
APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS: OCTOBER 22, 2004
AS AMENDED AND RESTATED ON OCTOBER 27, 2006
AS AMENDED AND RESTATED AUGUST 7, 2007
TERMINATION DATE: SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS: OCTOBER 22, 2004
AS AMENDED AND RESTATED ON OCTOBER 27, 2006
AS AMENDED AND RESTATED AUGUST 7, 2007
TERMINATION DATE: SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
1. Purposes.
(a) Successor and Continuation of Prior Plans. The Plan is intended as the successor and continuation of the Dionex Corporation Stock Option Plan and the Dionex Corporation 1988 Directors Stock Option Plan (the Prior Plans). Following the effective date of this Plan, no additional options shall be granted under the Prior Plans. Any shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to the exercise of options under the Prior Plans shall become incorporated into this Plan and available for issuance pursuant to Stock Awards granted hereunder. All outstanding options granted under the Prior Plans shall remain subject to the terms of the Prior Plans. Any shares subject to outstanding options granted under the Prior Plans that expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise shall become available for issuance pursuant to Stock Awards granted hereunder. All Stock Awards granted subsequent to the effective date of this Plan shall be subject to the terms of this Plan.
(b) Eligible Stock Award Recipients. The persons eligible to receive Stock Awards are Employees, Directors and Consultants.
(c) Available Stock Awards. The Plan provides for the grant of the following Stock Awards: (i) Incentive Stock Options; (ii) Nonstatutory Stock Options; (iii) Stock Purchase Awards; (iv) Stock Bonus Awards; (v) Stock Appreciation Rights; (vi) Stock Unit Awards; and (vii) Other Stock Awards.
(d) General Purpose. The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to secure and retain the services of the group of persons eligible to receive Stock Awards, to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and its Affiliates and to provide a means by which such eligible recipients may be given an opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock through the granting of Stock Awards.
2. Definitions.
(a) Accountant means the independent public accountants of the Company.
(b) 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.
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(c) Annual Grant means an Option granted annually to all Eligible Directors who meet the specified criteria pursuant to Section 7(b)(ii).
(d) Annual Meeting means the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company.
(e) Automatic Option Grant Program means the automatic option grant program in effect under Section 7 of the Plan.
(f) Board means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(g) Capitalization Adjustment has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 12(a).
(h) Cause means, with respect to a Participant, the occurrence of any of the following: (i) such Participants commission of any felony or any crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude under the laws of the United States or any state thereof; (ii) such Participants attempted commission of, or participation in, a fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company; (iii) such Participants intentional, material violation of any material contract or agreement between the Participant and the Company or any statutory duty owed to the Company; (iv) such Participants unauthorized use or disclosure of the Companys confidential information or trade secrets; or (v) such Participants gross misconduct. The determination that a termination is for Cause shall be made by the Company in its sole discretion. Any determination by the Company that the Continuous Service of a Participant was terminated by reason of dismissal without Cause for the purposes of outstanding Stock Awards held by such Participant shall have no effect upon any determination of the rights or obligations of the Company or such Participant for any other purpose.
(i) Change in Control means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:
(i) any Exchange Act Person becomes the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities other than by virtue of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur (A) on account of the acquisition of securities of the Company by an investor, any affiliate thereof or any other Exchange Act Person from the Company in a transaction or series of related transactions the primary purpose of which is to obtain financing for the Company through the issuance of equity securities or (B) solely because the level of Ownership held by any Exchange Act Person (the Subject Person) exceeds the designated percentage threshold of the outstanding voting securities as a result of a repurchase or other acquisition of voting securities by the Company reducing the number of shares outstanding, provided that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of voting securities by the Company, and after such share acquisition, the Subject Person becomes the Owner of any additional voting securities that, assuming the repurchase or other acquisition had not occurred, increases the percentage of the then outstanding
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voting securities Owned by the Subject Person over the designated percentage threshold, then a Change in Control shall be deemed to occur;
(ii) there is consummated a merger, consolidation or similar transaction involving (directly or indirectly) the Company and, immediately after the consummation of such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, the stockholders of the Company immediately prior thereto do not Own, directly or indirectly, either (A) outstanding voting securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined outstanding voting power of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction or (B) more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined outstanding voting power of the parent of the surviving Entity in such merger, consolidation or similar transaction, in each case in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such transaction;
(iii) the stockholders of the Company approve or the Board approves a plan of complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or a complete dissolution or liquidation of the Company shall otherwise occur;
(iv) there is consummated a sale, lease, license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, other than a sale, lease, license or other disposition of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to an Entity, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the voting securities of which are Owned by stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to such sale, lease, license or other disposition; or
(v) individuals who, on the date this Plan is adopted by the Board, are members of the Board (the Incumbent Board) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board; provided, however, that if the appointment or election (or nomination for election) of any new Board member was approved or recommended by a majority vote of the members of the Incumbent Board then still in office, such new member shall, for purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board.
The term Change in Control shall not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Plan, the definition of Change in Control (or any analogous term) in an individual written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant shall supersede the foregoing definition with respect to Stock Awards subject to such agreement (it being understood, however, that if no definition of Change in Control or any analogous term is set forth in such an individual written agreement, the foregoing definition shall apply).
(j) Code means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(k) Committee means a committee of one (1) or more members of the Board appointed by the Board in accordance with Section 3(d).
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(l) Common Stock means the common stock of the Company.
(m) Company means Dionex Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
(n) Consultant means any person, including an advisor, who (i) is engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and is compensated for such services or (ii) is serving as a member of the Board of Directors of an Affiliate and is compensated for such services. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such service, shall not cause a Director to be considered a Consultant for purposes of the Plan.
(o) Continuous Service means that the Participants service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. 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 Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participants service with the Company or an Affiliate, shall not terminate a Participants Continuous Service. For example, a change in status from an employee of the Company to a consultant to an Affiliate or to a Director shall not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. The Board or the chief executive officer of the Company, in that partys 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a leave of absence shall be treated as Continuous Service for purposes of vesting in a Stock Award only to such extent as may be provided in the Companys leave of absence policy or in the written terms of the Participants leave of absence.
(p) Corporate Transaction means the occurrence, in a single transaction or in a series of related transactions, of any one or more of the following events:
(i) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion, of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries;
(ii) a sale or other disposition of at least ninety percent (90%) of the outstanding securities of the Company;
(iii) a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is not the surviving corporation; or
(iv) a merger, consolidation or similar transaction following which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger, consolidation or similar transaction are converted or exchanged by virtue of the merger, consolidation or similar transaction into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise.
(q) 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.
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(r) Director means a member of the Board.
(s) Disability means the permanent and total disability of a person within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
(t) Eligible Director means a Director who is not an Employee and eligible to participate in the Automatic Option Grant Program.
(u) Employee means any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate. However, service solely as a Director, or payment of a fee for such service, shall not cause a Director to be considered an Employee for purposes of the Plan.
(v) Entity means a corporation, partnership or other entity.
(w) Exchange Act means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(x) Exchange Act Person means any natural person, Entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act), except that Exchange Act Person shall not include (i) the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) any employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under an employee benefit plan of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, (iii) an underwriter temporarily holding securities pursuant to an offering of such securities, or (iv) an Entity Owned, directly or indirectly, by the stockholders of the Company in substantially the same proportions as their Ownership of stock of the Company; or (v) any natural person, Entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act) that, as of the effective date of the Plan as set forth in Section 15, is the Owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the Companys then outstanding securities.
(y) Fair Market Value means, as of any date, the value of the Common Stock determined as follows:
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Nasdaq Global Market, or the Nasdaq Capital Market, the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock, unless otherwise determined by the Board, shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or market (or the exchange or market with the greatest volume of trading in the Common Stock) on the date in question, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable.
(ii) In the absence of such markets for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Board in good faith.
(z) 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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(aa) Initial Grant means an Option granted to an Eligible Director who meets the specified criteria pursuant to Section 7(b)(i).
(bb) Non-Employee Director means a Director who either (i) is not a current employee or officer of the Company or an Affiliate, does not receive compensation, either directly or indirectly, from the Company or an Affiliate for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other than as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act (Regulation S-K)), does not possess an interest in any other transaction for which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is not engaged in a business relationship for which disclosure would be required pursuant to Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise considered a non-employee director for purposes of Rule 16b-3.
(cc) Nonstatutory Stock Option means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
(dd) 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.
(ee) Option means a stock option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to the Plan.
(ff) Option Agreement means a written agreement between the Company and an Optionholder evidencing the terms and conditions of an Option grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(gg) 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.
(hh) Other Stock Award means an award based in whole or in part by reference to the Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 8(e).
(ii) Other Stock Award Agreement means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of an Other Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an Other Stock Award grant. Each Other Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(jj) Outside Director means a Director who either (i) is not a current employee of the Company or an affiliated corporation (within the meaning of Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Code), is not a former employee of the Company or an affiliated corporation who receives compensation for prior services (other than benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan) during the taxable year, has not been an officer of the Company or an affiliated corporation, and does not receive remuneration from the Company or an affiliated corporation, either directly or indirectly, in any capacity other than as a Director or (ii) is otherwise considered an outside director for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(kk) Own, Owned, Owner, Ownership A person or Entity shall be deemed to Own, to have Owned, to be the Owner of, or to have acquired Ownership of
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securities if such person or Entity, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has or shares voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting, with respect to such securities.
(ll) 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.
(mm) Plan means this Dionex Corporation 2004 Equity Incentive Plan.
(nn) Prior Plans means the Dionex Corporation Stock Option Plan and the Dionex Corporation 1988 Directors Stock Option Plan.
(oo) 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.
(pp) Securities Act means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(qq) Stock Appreciation Right means a right to receive the appreciation on Common Stock that is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 8(d).
(rr) Stock Appreciation Right Agreement means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Stock Appreciation Right evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Appreciation Right grant. Each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(ss) Stock Award means any right granted under the Plan, including an Option, a Stock Purchase Award, Stock Bonus Award, a Stock Appreciation Right, a Stock Unit Award or any Other Stock Award.
(tt) Stock Award Agreement means a written agreement between the Company and a Participant evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(uu) Stock Bonus Award means an award of shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 8(b).
(vv) Stock Bonus Award Agreement means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Stock Bonus Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Bonus Award grant. Each Stock Bonus Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(ww) Stock Purchase Award means an award of shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 8(a).
(xx) Stock Purchase Award Agreement means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Stock Purchase Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Purchase Award grant. Each Stock Purchase Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
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(yy) Stock Unit Award means a right to receive shares of Common Stock which is granted pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 8(c).
(zz) Stock Unit Award Agreement means a written agreement between the Company and a holder of a Stock Unit Award evidencing the terms and conditions of a Stock Unit Award grant. Each Stock Unit Award Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(aaa) Subsidiary means, with respect to the Company, (i) any corporation of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding capital stock having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (irrespective of whether, at the time, stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time, directly or indirectly, Owned by the Company, and (ii) any partnership in which the Company has a direct or indirect interest (whether in the form of voting or participation in profits or capital contribution) of more than fifty percent (50%).
(bbb) 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.
3. Administration.
(a) Administration by Board. The Board shall administer the Plan unless and until the Board delegates administration of the Plan to a Committee, as provided in Section 3(d). However, the Board may not delegate administration of the Automatic Option Grant Program.
(b) Powers of Board. Except with respect to the Automatic Option Grant Program, the Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:
(i) 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.
(ii) 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.
(iii) To amend the Plan or a Stock Award as provided in Section 13.
(iv) To terminate or suspend the Plan as provided in Section 14.
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(v) 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 and that are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan.
(vi) To adopt such procedures and sub-plans as are necessary or appropriate to permit participation in the Plan by Employees who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States.
(c) Administration of Automatic Option Grant Program. The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Automatic Option Grant Program:
(i) To determine the provisions of each Option to the extent not specified in the Plan.
(ii) To construe and interpret the Automatic Option Grant Program and Options 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 Automatic Option Grant Program or in any Option Agreement, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Automatic Option Grant Program fully effective.
(iii) To amend the Automatic Option Grant Program or an Option as provided in Section 13.
(iv) 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 and that are not in conflict with the provisions of the Automatic Option Grant Program.
(d) Delegation to Committee.
(i) General. The Board may delegate some or all of the administration of the Plan (except the Automatic Option Grant Program) 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 that have been delegated to the Committee, 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 retain the authority to concurrently administer the Plan with the Committee and may, at any time, revest in the Board some or all of the powers previously delegated.
(ii) Section 162(m) and Rule 16b-3 Compliance. In the sole discretion of the Board, the Committee may consist solely of two or more Outside Directors, in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code, and/or solely of two or more Non-Employee Directors, in accordance with Rule 16b-3. In addition, the Board or the Committee, in its sole discretion, may
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(1) delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who need not be Outside Directors 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, and/or (2) delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who need not be Non-Employee Directors the authority to grant Stock Awards to eligible persons who are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(e) Delegation to an Officer. The Board may delegate to one or more Officers of the Company the authority to do one or both of the following (i) designate Officers and Employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to be recipients of Stock Awards and (ii) determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be subject to such Stock Awards granted to such Officers and Employees of the Company; provided, however, that the Board resolutions regarding such delegation shall specify the total number of shares of Common Stock that may be subject to the Stock Awards granted by such Officer and that such Officer may not grant a Stock Award to himself or herself. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may not delegate authority to an Officer to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock.
(f) Effect of Boards Decision. All determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Board in good faith shall not be subject to review by any person and shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons.
(g) Cancellation and Re-Grant of Stock Awards. Neither the Board nor the Committee shall not have the authority to: (i) reprice any outstanding Stock Awards under the Plan, or (ii) cancel and re-grant any outstanding Stock Awards under the Plan, unless the stockholders of the Company have approved such an action within twelve (12) months prior to such event.
4. Shares Subject to the Plan.
(a) Share Reserve. Subject to the provisions of Section 12(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, the Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards shall not exceed in the aggregate Five Million Twenty Thousand One Hundred Nineteen (5,020,119) shares of Common Stock. Such number of shares reserved for issuance consists of the number of shares remaining available for issuance under the Prior Plans, including shares subject to outstanding options under the Prior Plans.
(b) 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.
(c) 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.
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5. Eligibility.
(a) 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.
(b) 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 on the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant.
(c) Section 162(m) Limitation on Annual Grants. Subject to the provisions of Section 12(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, at such time as the Company may be subject to the applicable provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code, no Employee shall be eligible to be granted Options or Stock Appreciation Rights covering more than Four Hundred Thousand (400,000) shares of Common Stock during any calendar year.
(d) Consultants. 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 Companys securities to such Consultant because of the nature of the services that the Consultant is providing to the Company, because the Consultant is not a natural person, or because of any other rule governing the use of Form S-8.
6. Option Provisions.
Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board 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 shall be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of Option. The provisions of separate Options need not be identical; provided, however, that each Option Agreement shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
(a) Term. The Board shall determine the term of an Option; provided, however, that subject to the provisions of Section 5(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date on which it was granted.
(b) Exercise Price of an Incentive Stock Option. Subject to the provisions of Section 5(b) 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.
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(c) Exercise Price of a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The exercise price of each Nonstatutory 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, 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 consistent with the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.
(d) Consideration. 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 at the time the Option is exercised or (ii) at the sole discretion of the Board 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 (either by actual delivery or attestation) of other Common Stock at the time the Option is exercised, (2) by a net exercise of the Option (as further described below), (3) pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the issuance of Common Stock, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds or (4) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board. 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). At any time that the Company is incorporated in Delaware, payment of the Common Stocks par value, as defined in the Delaware General Corporation Law, shall not be made by deferred payment.
In the case of a net exercise of an Option, the Company will not require a payment of the exercise price of the Option from the Participant but will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon the exercise by the largest number of whole shares that has a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price. With respect to any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price, the Company shall accept a cash payment from the Participant. Shares of Common Stock will no longer be outstanding under an Option (and will therefore not thereafter be exercisable) following the exercise of such Option to the extent of (i) shares used to pay the exercise price of an Option under the net exercise, (ii) shares actually delivered to the Participant as a result of such exercise, and (iii) shares withheld for purposes of tax withholding.
(e) 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 provided by or otherwise 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.
(f) Transferability of a Nonstatutory Stock Option. A Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be transferable pursuant to a domestic relations order and to such further extent provided in
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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 provided by or otherwise 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.
(g) Vesting Generally. The total number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option may vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments that may 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 Board may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary. The provisions of this Section 6(g) are subject to any Option provisions governing the minimum number of shares of Common Stock as to which an Option may be exercised.
(h) Termination of Continuous Service. In the event that an Optionholders Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Optionholders 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 of Continuous Service) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement or (ii) the date ninety (90) days following the termination of the Optionholders Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement). If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein or in the Option Agreement (as applicable), the Option shall terminate.
(i) Extension of Termination Date. An Optionholders Option Agreement may provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Optionholders Continuous Service (other than upon the Optionholders 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 (i) the expiration of the term of the Option set forth in the Option Agreement or (ii) the expiration of a period of ninety (90) days after the termination of the Optionholders Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration requirements.
(j) Disability of Optionholder. In the event that an Optionholders Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholders 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 of Continuous Service), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement or (ii) the date twelve (12) months following such termination of Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement). If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein or in the Option Agreement (as applicable), the Option shall terminate.
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(k) Death of Optionholder. In the event that (i) an Optionholders Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholders death or (ii) the Optionholder dies within the period (if any) specified in the Option Agreement after the termination of the Optionholders Continuous Service, 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 Optionholders 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 Optionholders death pursuant to Section 6(e) or 6(f), but only within the period ending on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement or (ii) the date eighteen (18) months following the date of death (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement). If, after the Optionholders death, the Option is not exercised within the time specified herein or in the Option Agreement (as applicable), the Option shall terminate.
(l) Early Exercise. The Option may include a provision whereby the Optionholder may elect at any time before the Optionholders 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 Board determines to be appropriate. The Company shall not be required to 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 Board otherwise specifically provides in the Option.
7. Automatic Option Grants to Eligible Directors.
The Automatic Option Grant Program allows Eligible Directors to receive option grants automatically at designated intervals over their period of service on the Board. The Automatic Option Grant Program is intended as a successor and continuation of the Companys 1988 Directors Stock Option Plan.
(a) Eligibility. Options under the Automatic Option Grant Program shall be granted automatically to all Eligible Directors.
(b) Non-Discretionary Grants.
(i) Initial Grants. Without any further action of the Board, each person who after October 22, 2004 is elected or appointed for the first time to be an Eligible Director automatically shall, upon the date of his or her initial election or appointment as an Eligible Director, be granted a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase Sixteen Thousand (16,000) shares of Common Stock on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the Initial Grant).
(ii) Annual Grants. Without any further action of the Board, on the date of each Annual Meeting, commencing with the Annual Meeting in 2004, each person who is then an Eligible Director automatically shall be granted a Nonstatutory Stock Option to purchase Four Thousand (4,000) shares of Common Stock on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the Annual Grant); provided, however, that if the person has not been serving as an Eligible Director for the entire period since the preceding Annual Meeting, then the number of shares
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subject to such Annual Grant shall be reduced pro rata for each full quarter prior to the date of grant during which such person did not serve as an Eligible Director.
(c) Option Provisions.
Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as required by the Automatic Option Grant Program. Each Option shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with that program, as the Board shall deem appropriate. Each Option shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
(i) Option Type. Each Option granted hereunder shall be a Nonstatutory Stock Option.
(ii) Term. No Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it was granted.
(iii) Exercise Price. The exercise price of each Option shall be one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted.
(iv) Consideration. The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to an Option granted under the Automatic Option Grant Program may be paid with the same consideration permitted for Options granted under the Plan.
(v) Transferability. Except as otherwise provided for in this Section 7(c)(v), an Option is transferable only by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and exercisable only by the Optionholder during the life of the Optionholder. However, an Option may be transferred for no consideration upon written consent of the Board if (i) at the time of transfer, a Form S-8 registration statement under the Securities Act is available for the issuance of shares by the Company upon the exercise of such transferred Option or (ii) the transfer is to the Optionholders employer at the time of transfer or an affiliate of the Optionholders employer at the time of transfer. Any such transfer is subject to such limits as the Board may establish, and subject to the transferee agreeing to remain subject to all the terms and conditions applicable to the Option prior to such transfer. The forgoing right to transfer the Option shall apply to the right to consent to amendments to the Stock Option Agreement for such Option. In addition, until the Optionholder transfers the Option, an Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form provided by or otherwise 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.
(vi) Vesting. The Initial Grant and the Annual Grant shall vest and become exercisable as determined by the Board at the time of grant.
(vii) Early Exercise. The Option may, but need not, include a provision whereby the Optionholder may elect at any time before the Optionholders 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
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purchased may be subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company or to any other restriction the Board 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 Board otherwise specifically provides in the Option.
(viii) Termination of Continuous Service. In the event that an Optionholders Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Optionholders 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 of Continuous Service) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement or (ii) the date ninety (90) days following the termination of the Optionholders Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement). If, after termination of Continuous Service, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein or in the Option Agreement (as applicable), the Option shall terminate.
(ix) Extension of Termination Date. If the exercise of the Option following the termination of the Optionholders Continuous Service (other than upon the Optionholders 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 as set forth in the Option Agreement or (ii) the expiration of a period of ninety (90) days after the termination of the Optionholders Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such registration requirements.
(x) Disability of Optionholder. In the event an Optionholders Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholders Disability, the Option shall immediately vest so that the Option shall be exercised for any or all shares subject to the Option as fully vested shares of Common Stock. In such an event, the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date twelve (12) months following such termination, or (ii) 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.
(xi) Death of Optionholder. In the event (i) an Optionholders Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholders death or (ii) the Optionholder dies within the limited exercise period after the termination of the Optionholders Continuous Service for a reason other than death, the Option shall immediately vest so that the Option shall be exercised for any or all shares subject to the Option as fully vested shares of Common Stock. In such an event, the Option may be exercised by the Optionholders 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 Optionholders death, but only within the period ending on the earlier of (1) the date twelve (12) months following the date of death, or (2) 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.
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8. Provisions of Stock Awards other than Options.
(a) Stock Purchase Awards. Each Stock Purchase Award Agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. At the Boards election, shares of Common Stock may be (i) held in book entry form subject to the Companys instructions until any restrictions relating to the Stock Purchase Award lapse; or (ii) evidenced by a certificate, which certificate shall be held in such form and manner as determined by the Board. The terms and conditions of Stock Purchase Award Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Stock Purchase Award Agreements need not be identical; provided, however, that each Stock Purchase Award Agreement shall include (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
(i) Purchase Price. At the time of the grant of a Stock Purchase Award, the Board will determine the price to be paid by the Participant for each share subject to the Stock Purchase Award. To the extent required by applicable law, the price to be paid by the Participant for each share of the Stock Purchase Award will not be less than the par value of a share of Common Stock.
(ii) Consideration. At the time of the grant of a Stock Purchase Award, the Board will determine the consideration permissible for the payment of the purchase price of the Stock Purchase Award. The purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to the Stock Purchase Award shall be paid either: (i) in cash at the time of purchase or (ii) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board in its sole discretion and permissible under applicable law.
(iii) Vesting. Shares of Common Stock acquired under a Stock Purchase Award may be subject to a share repurchase right or option in favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board.
(iv) Termination of Participants Continuous Service. In the event that a Participants Continuous Service terminates, the Company shall have the right, but not the obligation, to repurchase or otherwise reacquire any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant that have not vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the Stock Purchase Award Agreement. At the Boards election, the repurchase price may be at the lesser of: (i) the Fair Market Value on the relevant date or (ii) the Participants original cost. The Company shall not be required to 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 the purchase of the restricted stock unless otherwise determined by the Board or provided in the Stock Purchase Award Agreement.
(v) Transferability. Rights to purchase or receive shares of Common Stock granted under a Stock Purchase Award shall be transferable by the Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Stock Purchase Award Agreement, as the Board shall determine in its sole discretion, and so long as Common Stock awarded under the Stock Purchase Award remains subject to the terms of the Stock Purchase Award Agreement.
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(b) Stock Bonus Awards. Each Stock Bonus Award Agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. At the Boards election, shares of Common Stock may be (i) held in book entry form subject to the Companys instructions until any restrictions relating to the Stock Bonus Award lapse; or (ii) evidenced by a certificate, which certificate shall be held in such form and manner as determined by the Board. The terms and conditions of Stock Bonus Award Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Stock Bonus Award Agreements need not be identical; provided, however, that each Stock Bonus Award Agreement shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
(i) Consideration. A Stock Bonus Award may be awarded in consideration for (i) past services actually rendered to the Company or an Affiliate or (ii) any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board in its sole discretion and permissible under applicable law.
(ii) Vesting. Shares of Common Stock awarded under the Stock Bonus Award Agreement may be subject to forfeiture to the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board.
(iii) Termination of Participants Continuous Service. In the event a Participants Continuous Service terminates, the Company may receive via a forfeiture condition, any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant which have not vested as of the date of termination of Continuous Service under the terms of the Stock Bonus Award Agreement.
(iv) Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of Common Stock under the Stock Bonus Award Agreement shall be transferable by the Participant only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the Stock Bonus Award Agreement, as the Board shall determine in its sole discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under the Stock Bonus Award Agreement remains subject to the terms of the Stock Bonus Award Agreement.
(c) Stock Unit Awards. Each Stock Unit Award Agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of Stock Unit Award Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Stock Unit Award Agreements need not be identical; provided, however, that each Stock Unit Award Agreement shall include (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
(i) Consideration. At the time of grant of a Stock Unit Award, the Board will determine the consideration, if any, to be paid by the Participant upon delivery of each share of Common Stock subject to the Stock Unit Award. The consideration to be paid (if any) by the Participant for each share of Common Stock subject to a Stock Unit Award may be paid in any form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board in its sole discretion and permissible under applicable law.
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(ii) Vesting. At the time of the grant of a Stock Unit Award, the Board may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of the Stock Unit Award as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
(iii) Payment. A Stock Unit Award may be settled by the delivery of shares of Common Stock, their cash equivalent, any combination thereof or in any other form of consideration as determined by the Board and contained in the Stock Unit Award Agreement.
(iv) Additional Restrictions. At the time of the grant of a Stock Unit Award, the Board, as it deems appropriate, may impose such restrictions or conditions that delay the delivery of the shares of Common Stock (or their cash equivalent) subject to a Stock Unit Award after the vesting of such Stock Unit Award.
(v) Dividend Equivalents. Dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares of Common Stock covered by a Stock Unit Award, as determined by the Board and contained in the Stock Unit Award Agreement. At the sole discretion of the Board, such dividend equivalents may be converted into additional shares of Common Stock covered by the Stock Unit Award in such manner as determined by the Board. Any additional shares covered by the Stock Unit Award credited by reason of such dividend equivalents will be subject to all the terms and conditions of the underlying Stock Unit Award Agreement to which they relate.
(vi) Termination of Participants Continuous Service. Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Stock Unit Award Agreement, such portion of the Stock Unit Award that has not vested will be forfeited upon the Participants termination of Continuous Service.
(d) Stock Appreciation Rights. Each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of Stock Appreciation Right Agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate Stock Appreciation Right Agreements need not be identical; provided, however, that each Stock Appreciation Right Agreement shall include (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
(i) Strike Price and Calculation of Appreciation. Each Stock Appreciation Right will be denominated in share of Common Stock equivalents. The appreciation distribution payable on the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right will be not greater than an amount equal to the excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right) of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of share of Common Stock equivalents in which the Participant is vested under such Stock Appreciation Right, and with respect to which the Participant is exercising the Stock Appreciation Right on such date, over (B) an amount (the strike price) that will be determined by the Board at the time of grant of the Stock Appreciation Right.
(ii) Vesting. At the time of the grant of a Stock Appreciation Right, the Board may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of such Stock Appreciation Right as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.
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(iii) Exercise. To exercise any outstanding Stock Appreciation Right, the Participant must provide written notice of exercise to the Company in compliance with the provisions of the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement evidencing such Stock Appreciation Right.
(iv) Payment. The appreciation distribution in respect to a Stock Appreciation Right may be paid in Common Stock, in cash, in any combination of the two or in any other form of consideration as determined by the Board and contained in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement evidencing such Stock Appreciation Right.
(v) Termination of Continuous Service. In the event that a Participants Continuous Service terminates, the Participant may exercise his or her Stock Appreciation Right (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such Stock Appreciation Right as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date ninety (90) days following the termination of the Participants Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement) or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Stock Appreciation Right as set forth in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement. If, after termination, the Participant does not exercise his or her Stock Appreciation Right within the time specified herein or in the Stock Appreciation Right Agreement (as applicable), the Stock Appreciation Right shall terminate.
(e) Other Stock Awards. Other forms of Stock Awards valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, Common Stock may be granted either alone or in addition to Stock Awards provided for under Section 6 and the preceding provisions of this Section 8. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall have sole and complete authority to determine the persons to whom and the time or times at which such Other Stock Awards will be granted, the number of shares of Common Stock (or the cash equivalent thereof) to be granted pursuant to such Other Stock Awards and all other terms and conditions of such Other Stock Awards.
9. Covenants of the Company.
(a) 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.
(b) 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 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.
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10. Use of Proceeds from Stock.
Proceeds from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Stock Awards shall constitute general funds of the Company.
11. Miscellaneous.
(a) Acceleration of Exercisability and Vesting. The Board 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.
(b) 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.
(c) No Employment or other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan, any Stock Award Agreement or other instrument executed thereunder or any 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 (i) the employment of an Employee with or without notice and with or without cause, (ii) the service of a Consultant pursuant to the terms of such Consultants agreement with the Company or an Affiliate or (iii) 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.
(d) 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 that exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options, notwithstanding any contrary provision of the applicable Option Agreement(s).
(e) Investment Assurances. The Company may require a Participant, as a condition of exercising or acquiring Common Stock under any Stock Award, (i) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Participants 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 the Stock Award; and (ii) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that the Participant is acquiring Common Stock subject to the Stock Award for the Participants own account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the Common Stock. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant
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to such requirements, shall be inoperative if (1) 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 (2) 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.
(f) Withholding Obligations. To the extent provided by the terms of a Stock Award Agreement, the Company may in its sole discretion, satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to a Stock Award by any of the following means (in addition to the Companys right to withhold from any compensation paid to the Participant by the Company) or by a combination of such means: (i) causing the Participant to tender a cash payment; (ii) withholding shares of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock issued or otherwise issuable to the Participant in connection with the Stock Award; or (iii) by such other method as may be set forth in the Stock Award Agreement.
(g) Electronic Delivery. Any reference herein to a written agreement or document shall include any agreement or document delivered electronically or posted on the Companys intranet.
12. Adjustments upon Changes in Stock.
(a) Capitalization Adjustments. If any change is made in, or other event occurs with respect to, 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) (each a Capitalization Adjustment), the Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan pursuant to Sections 4(a) and 4(b), the maximum number of securities subject to award to any person pursuant to Section 5(c), the shares subject to each subsequent Initial Grant and Annual Grant under the Automatic Option Grant Program, 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 Board shall make such adjustments, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as a transaction without receipt of consideration by the Company.
(b) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, all outstanding Stock Awards (other than Stock Awards consisting of vested and outstanding shares of Common Stock not subject to the Companys right of repurchase) shall terminate immediately prior to the completion of such dissolution or liquidation, and the shares of Common Stock subject to the Companys repurchase option may be repurchased by the
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Company notwithstanding the fact that the holder of such Stock Award is providing Continuous Service; provided, however, that the Board may, in its sole discretion, cause some or all Stock Awards to become fully vested, exercisable and/or no longer subject to repurchase or forfeiture (to the extent such Stock Awards have not previously expired or terminated) before the dissolution or liquidation is completed but contingent on its completion.
(c) Corporate Transaction. In the event of a Corporate Transaction, any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation may assume or continue any or all Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan or may substitute similar stock awards for Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan (including but not limited to, awards to acquire the same consideration paid to the stockholders of the Company, as the case may be, pursuant to the Corporate Transaction), and any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company in respect of Common Stock issued pursuant to Stock Awards may be assigned by the Company to the successor of the Company (or the successors parent company), if any, in connection with such Corporate Transaction. A surviving corporation or acquiring corporation may not choose to assume or continue only a portion of a Stock Award or substitute a similar stock award for only a portion of a Stock Award. The terms of any assumption, continuation or substitution shall be set by the Board in accordance with the provisions of Section 3. In the event that any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation does not assume or continue all such outstanding Stock Awards or substitute similar stock awards for all such outstanding Stock Awards, then with respect to Stock Awards that have been not assumed, continued or substituted and that are held by Participants whose Continuous Service has not terminated prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction, the vesting of such Stock Awards (and, if applicable, the time at which such Stock Awards may be exercised) shall (contingent upon the effectiveness of the Corporate Transaction) be accelerated in full to a date prior to the effective time of such Corporate Transaction as the Board shall determine (or, if the Board shall not determine such a date, to the date that is five (5) days prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction), and such Stock Awards shall terminate if not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to such effective time, and any reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to such Stock Awards shall (contingent upon the effectiveness of the Corporate Transaction) lapse. With respect to any other Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan that have not been assumed, continued or substituted, the vesting of such Stock Awards (and, if applicable, the time at which such Stock Award may be exercised) shall not be accelerated, unless otherwise provided in a written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the holder of such Stock Award, and such Stock Awards (other than Stock Awards consisting of vested and outstanding shares of Common Stock not subject to the Companys right of repurchase) shall terminate if not exercised (if applicable) prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction.
(d) Change in Control. A Stock Award may be subject to additional acceleration of vesting and exercisability upon or after a Change in Control as may be provided in the Stock Award Agreement for such Stock Award or as may be provided in any other written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Participant, but in the absence of such provision, no such acceleration shall occur.
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13. Amendment of the Plan and Stock Awards.
(a) Amendment of Plan. Subject to the limitations, if any, of applicable law, the Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the Plan. However, except as provided in Section 12(a) relating to Capitalization Adjustments, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the stockholders of the Company to the extent stockholder approval is necessary to satisfy applicable law.
(b) Stockholder Approval. The Board, in its sole discretion, may 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 Covered Employees.
(c) 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.
(d) 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 (i) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (ii) the Participant consents in writing.
(e) Amendment of Stock Awards. The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the terms of any one or more Stock Awards, including, but not limited to, amendments to provide terms more favorable than previously provided in the agreement evidencing a Stock Award, subject to any specified limits in the Plan that are not subject to Board discretion; provided, however, that the rights under any Stock Award shall not be impaired by any such amendment unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (ii) the Participant consents in writing.
14. Termination or Suspension of the Plan.
(a) Plan Term. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on September 6, 2014, the date prior to the tenth (10th) anniversary of the earlier of (i) the date the Plan was adopted by the Board, or (ii) the date the Plan was approved by the stockholders of the Company. No Stock Awards may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.
(b) No Impairment of Rights. Suspension or termination of the Plan shall not impair rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted while the Plan is in effect except with the written consent of the Participant.
15. Effective Date of Plan.
The Plan shall become effective as determined by the Board, 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
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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 states conflict of laws rules.
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