CAPE COASTAL TRADING CORPORATION 2005 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS

 

As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Plan has been established to promote the interests of the Company, its Affiliates and its stockholders by (i) attracting and retaining exceptional employees, consultants and directors; (ii) motivating such employees, consultants and directors by means of performance-related incentives to achieve long-range performance goals; and (iii) enabling such employees, consultants and directors to participate in the long-term growth and financial success of the Company.

 

It is the intention of the Company to carry out the Plan through the granting of Options which will qualify as “incentive stock options” under the provisions of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code, or any successor provision, pursuant to Section 9 of this Plan, through the granting of Options that are nonqualified stock options pursuant to Section 10 of this Plan, and through the granting of Restricted Stock Awards pursuant to Section 11 of this Plan. With respect to incentive stock option options, adoption of this Plan shall be and is expressly subject to the condition of approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors. Any incentive stock options granted after adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors shall be treated as nonqualified stock options if shareholder approval is not obtained within such 12-month period.

 

 

The Plan shall be effective as of the date of adoption by the Board of Directors, subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company as required in Section 2.

 

 

The Plan shall be administered by the Board, by a Committee which may be appointed by the Board from time to time or by one or more officers designated by the Board or Committee (collectively referred to as the “Administrator”). Except as otherwise provided herein, the Administrator shall have all of the powers vested in it under the provisions of the Plan, including but not limited to exclusive authority (where applicable and within the limitations described in the Plan) to determine, in its sole discretion, whether an Award shall be granted; the individuals to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards shall be granted; the number of shares subject to each such Award; the option price; and any other terms and conditions of each Award. The Administrator shall have full power and authority to administer and interpret the Plan, to make and amend rules, regulations and guidelines for administering the Plan, to prescribe the form and condi-tions of the respective agreements evidencing each Award (which may vary from Participant to Participant) and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. The Administrator’s interpretation of the Plan, and all actions taken and determinations made by the Administrator pursuant to the power vested in it hereunder, shall be conclusive and binding on all parties concerned.

 

No member of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any action taken or determination made in good faith in connection with the administration of the Plan. In the event the Board appoints a Committee as provided hereunder, any action of the Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan shall be taken pursuant to a majority vote of the Committee members or pursuant to the written resolution of all Committee members.

 

 

The Administrator shall from time to time, at its discretion and without approval of the shareholders, designate those employees of the Company or any Affiliate to whom incentive stock options shall be granted pursuant to Section 9 of the Plan; those employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors of the Company or of any Affiliate to whom nonqualified stock options shall be granted pursuant to Section 10 of the Plan; and those employees, officers, directors, consultants and advisors of the Company or any Affiliate to whom Restricted Stock Awards shall be granted pursuant to Section 11 of the Plan; provided, however, that consultants or advisors shall not be eligible to receive Awards hereunder unless such consultant or advisor renders bona fide services to the Company or Affiliate and such services 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. The Administrator may grant additional Awards under this Plan to some or all Participants then holding Awards or may grant Awards solely or partially to new Participants. In designating Participants, the Administrator shall also determine the number of shares of Common Stock subject to each Award. The Administrator from time to time designate individuals as being ineligible to participate in the Plan.

 

 

The Common Stock to be issued under this Plan shall consist of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock. Two million five hundred thousand (2,500,000) shares of Common Stock shall be reserved and available for Awards under the Plan; provided, however, that the total number of shares of Common Stock reserved for Awards under this Plan shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 12 of the Plan; and provided, further, that all shares of Common Stock reserved and available under the Plan shall constitute the maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued through incentive stock options. In the event that (i) any outstanding Option or Restricted Stock Award under the Plan expires for any reason, (ii) any portion of an outstanding Option is terminated prior to exercise, or (iii) any portion of a Restricted Stock Award expires is terminated prior to the lapsing of any risks of forfeiture on such Award, the shares of Stock allocable to the unexercised portion of such Option or to the forfeited portion of such Restricted Stock Award shall continue to be reserved for Options and Restricted Stock Awards under the Plan and may be optioned or awarded hereunder.

 

 

Incentive stock options may be granted pursuant to the Plan from time to time during a period of ten (10) years from the effective date as defined in Section 3. Nonqualified stock options and Restricted Stock Awards may be granted pursuant to the Plan from time to time after the effective date of the Plan and until the Plan is discontinued or terminated by the Board. Any incentive stock option granted during such ten-year period and any nonqualified stock option or Restricted Stock Award granted prior to the termination of the Plan by the Board shall remain in full force and effect until the expiration of the option or award as specified in the written stock option or restricted stock award agreement and shall remain subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.

 

 

Participants may pay for shares of Common Stock upon exercise of Options granted pursuant to this Plan with (i) cash, (ii) personal check, (iii) certified check, (iv) mature, previously-owned shares of the Common Stock valued at such Common Stock’s then Fair Market Value, (v) broker-assisted exercise, or (vi) such other form of payment as may be authorized by the Administrator; provided, however, that Optionee shall not be permitted to pay the option price in the form of a broker-assisted exercise or in the form of mature, previously-acquired shares of Common Stock until after the effective date of an initial public offering of the Common Stock; and provided, further, that Optionee shall not be permitted to pay the option price in the form of a broker-assisted exercise or in the form of mature, previously-acquired shares of Common Stock if payment in such form will cause the Company to recognize a compensation expense under generally accepted accounting principles. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, limit the forms of payment available to the Participant and may exercise such discretion any time prior to the termination of the option granted to the Participant or upon any exercise of the option by the Participant.

 

For purposes of this Section 8, “mature, previously-acquired shares of Common Stock” shall include shares of Common Stock that were acquired by the Participant through an open-market purchase, or have been owned by the Participant for a minimum of six months at the time of exercise or for such other period of time as may be required by generally accepted accounting principles. “Broker-assisted exercise” means a written notice pursuant to which the Participant, upon exercise of a stock option, irrevocably instructs a broker or dealer to sell a sufficient number of shares or loan a sufficient amount of money to pay all or a portion of the exercise price of such option and/or any related withholding tax obligations and to remit such sums to the Company, and directs the Company to deliver stock certificates to be issued upon such exercise directly to such broker or dealer.

 

With respect to payment in the form of Common Stock of the Company, the Administrator may require advance approval or adopt such rules as it deems necessary to assure compliance with Rule 16b-3, or any successor provision, as then in effect, of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if applicable.

 

 SECTION 9.

 

Each incentive stock option granted pursuant to this Section 9 shall be evidenced by a written incentive stock option agreement (the “Option Agreement”). The Option Agreement shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Administrator and may vary from Participant to Participant; provided, however, that each Participant and each Option Agreement shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and con-ditions:

 

(a) Number of Shares and Option Price. The Option Agreement shall state the total number of shares covered by the incentive stock option. Except as permitted by Code Section 424(d), or any successor provision, the option price per share shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the per share Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the Administrator grants the option; provided, however, that if a Participant owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its Parent or any Subsidiary, the option price per share of an incentive stock option granted to such Participant shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the per share Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date of the grant of the option. The Administrator shall have full authority and discretion in establishing the option price and shall be fully protected in so doing.

 

(b) Term and Exercisability of Incentive Stock Option. The term during which any incentive stock option granted under the Plan may be exercised shall be established in each case by the Administrator. Except as permitted by Code Section 424(d), or any successor provision, in no event shall any incentive stock option be exercisable during a term of more than ten (10) years after the date on which it is granted; provided, however, that if a Participant owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of its Parent or any Subsidiary, the incentive stock option granted to such Participant shall be exercisable during a term of not more than five (5) years after the date on which it is granted.

 

The Option Agreement shall state when the incentive stock option becomes exercisable and shall also state the maximum term during which the option may be exercised. In the event an incentive stock option is exercisable immediately, the manner of exercise of the option in the event it is not exercised in full immediately shall be specified in the Option Agreement. The Administrator may acceler-ate the exercisability of any incentive stock option granted hereunder which is not immediately exercisable as of the date of grant.

 

(c) Nontransferability. No incentive stock option shall be transferable, in whole or in part, by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. During the Participant’s lifetime, the incentive stock option may be exercised only by the Participant. If the Participant shall attempt any transfer of any incentive stock option granted under the Plan during the Participant’s lifetime, such transfer shall be void and the incentive stock option, to the extent not fully exercised, shall terminate.

 

(d) No Rights as Shareholder. A Participant (or the Participant’s successor or successors) shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by an Option until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate evidencing such shares. No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property), distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate is actually issued (except as otherwise provided in Section 12 of the Plan).

 

(e) Withholding. The Company or its Affiliate shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from future wages of the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the Participant’s exercise of an incentive stock option or a “disqualifying disposition” of shares acquired through the exercise of an incentive stock option as defined in Code Section 421(b). In the event the Participant is required under the Option Agreement to pay the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company respecting payment of, such withholding and employment-related taxes, the Administrator may, in its discretion and pursuant to such rules as it may adopt, permit the Participant to satisfy such obligation, in whole or in part, by electing to have the Company withhold shares of Option Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise of the incentive stock option having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum required tax withholding, based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to the supplemental income resulting from such exercise. In no event may the Company or any Affiliate withhold shares having a Fair Market Value in excess of such statutory minimum required tax withholding. The Participant’s election to have shares withheld for this purpose shall be made on or before the date the incentive stock option is exercised or, if later, the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law. Such election shall be approved by the Board and otherwise comply with such rules as the Board may adopt to assure compliance with Rule 16b-3, or any successor provision, as then in effect, of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if applicable.

 

(f) Other Provisions. The Option Agreement authorized under this Section 9 shall contain such other provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable. Any such Option Agreement shall contain such limitations and restrictions upon the exercise of the Option as shall be necessary to ensure that such Option will be considered an “incentive stock option” as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code or to conform to any change therein.

 

 

Each nonqualified stock option granted pursuant to this Section 10 shall be evidenced by a written nonqualified stock option agreement (the “Option Agreement”). The Option Agreement shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Administrator and may vary from Participant to Participant; provided, however, that each Participant and each Option Agreement shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a) Number of Shares and Option Price. The Option Agreement shall state the total number of shares covered by the nonqualified stock option. Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the option price per share shall be one hundred percent (100%) of the per share Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the Administrator grants the option.

 

(b) Term and Exercisability of Nonqualified Stock Option. The term during which any nonqualified stock option granted under the Plan may be exercised shall be established in each case by the Administrator. The Option Agreement shall state when the nonqualified stock option becomes exercisable and shall also state the maximum term during which the option may be exercised. In the event a nonqualified stock option is exercisable immediately, the manner of exercise of the option in the event it is not exercised in full immediately shall be specified in the Option Agreement. The Administrator may acceler-ate the exercisability of any nonqualified stock option granted hereunder which is not immediately exercisable as of the date of grant.

 

(c) Withholding. The Company or its Affiliate shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from future wages of the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the Participant’s exercise of a nonqualified stock option. In the event the Participant is required under the Option Agreement to pay the Company or Affiliate, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company or Affiliate respecting payment of, such withholding and employment-related taxes, the Administrator may, in its discretion and pursuant to such rules as it may adopt, permit the Participant to satisfy such obligation, in whole or in part, by delivering shares of the Common Stock or by electing to have the Company or Affiliate withhold shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise of the nonqualified stock option having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum required tax withholding, based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to the supplemental income resulting from such exercise. In no event may the Company or any Affiliate withhold shares having a Fair Market Value in excess of such statutory minimum required tax withholding. The Participant’s election to have shares withheld for this purpose shall be made on or before the date the nonqualified stock option is exercised or, if later, the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law. Such election shall be approved by the Administrator and otherwise comply with such rules as the Administrator may adopt to assure compliance with Rule 16b-3, or any successor provision, as then in effect, of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if applicable.

 

(d) Transferability. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, permit the Participant to transfer any or all nonqualified stock options to any member of the Participant’s “immediate family” as such term is defined in Rule 16a-1(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any successor provision, or to one or more trusts whose beneficiaries are members of such Participant’s “immediate family” or partnerships in which such family members are the only partners; provided, however, that the Participant cannot receive any consideration for the transfer and such transferred nonqualified stock option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to such nonqualified stock option immediately prior to its transfer.

 

(e) No Rights as Shareholder. A Participant (or the Participant’s successor or successors) shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by a nonqualified stock option until the date of the issuance of a stock certificate evidencing such shares. No adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property), distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate is actually issued (except as otherwise provided in Section 11 of the Plan).

 

(f) Other Provisions. The Option Agreement authorized under this Section 10 shall contain such other provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable.

 

 

Each Restricted Stock Award granted pursuant to this Section 11 shall be evidenced by a written restricted stock agreement (the “Restricted Stock Agreement”). The Restricted Stock Agreement shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Administrator and may vary from Participant to Participant; provided, however, that each Participant and each Restricted Stock Agreement shall comply with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(a) Number of Shares. The Restricted Stock Agreement shall state the total number of shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Award.

 

(b) Risks of Forfeiture. The Restricted Stock Agreement shall set forth the risks of forfeiture, if any, which shall apply to the shares of Common Stock covered by the Restricted Stock Award, and shall specify the manner in which such risks of forfeiture shall lapse. The Administrator may, in its sole discretion, modify the manner in which such risks of forfeiture shall lapse but only with respect to those shares of Common Stock which are restricted as of the effective date of the modification.

 

(c) Issuance of Restricted Shares. The Company shall cause to be issued a stock certificate representing such shares of Common Stock in the Participant’s name, and shall deliver such certificate to the Participant; provided, however, that the Company shall place a legend on such certificate describing the risks of forfeiture and other transfer restrictions set forth in the Participant’s Restricted Stock Agreement and providing for the cancellation and return of such certificate if the shares of Common Stock subject to the Restricted Stock Award are forfeited.

 

(d) Rights as Shareholder. Until the risks of forfeiture have lapsed or the shares subject to such Restricted Stock Award have been forfeited, the Participant shall be entitled to vote the shares of Common Stock represented by such stock certificates and shall receive all dividends attributable to such shares, but the Participant shall not have any other rights as a shareholder with respect to such shares.

 

(e) Withholding Taxes. The Company or its Affiliate shall be entitled to withhold and deduct from future wages of the Participant all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all withholding and employment-related taxes attributable to the Participant’s Restricted Stock Award. In the event the Participant is required under the Restricted Stock Agreement to pay the Company or its Affiliate, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Company or its Affiliate respecting payment of, such withholding and employment-related taxes, the Administrator may, in its discretion and pursuant to such rules as it may adopt, permit the Participant to satisfy such obligations, in whole or in part, by delivering shares of Common Stock, including shares of Common Stock received pursuant to a Restricted Stock Award on which the risks of forfeiture have lapsed. Such shares shall have a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum required tax withholding, based on the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes, that are applicable to the supplemental income resulting from the lapsing of the risks of forfeiture on such Restricted Stock. In no event may the Participant deliver shares having a Fair Market Value in excess of such statutory minimum required tax withholding. The Participant’s election to deliver shares of Common Stock for this purpose shall be made on or before the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable tax law. Such election shall be approved by the Administrator and otherwise comply with such rules as the Administrator may adopt to assure compliance with Rule 16b-3, or any successor provision, as then in effect, of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if applicable.

 

(f) Nontransferability. No Restricted Stock Award shall be transferable, in whole or in part, by the Participant, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, prior to the date the risks of forfeiture described in the Restricted Stock Agreement have lapsed. If the Participant shall attempt any transfer of any Restricted Stock Award granted under the Plan prior to such date, such transfer shall be void and the Restricted Stock Award shall terminate.

 

(g) Other Provisions. The Restricted Stock Agreement authorized under this Section 11 shall contain such other provisions as the Administrator shall deem advisable.

 

 

In the event of an increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, the Board may, in its sole discretion, adjust the number of shares of Common Stock reserved under Section 6 hereof, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Award, and, if applicable, the price per share thereof to reflect such change. Additional shares which may become covered by the Award pursuant to such adjustment shall be subject to the same restrictions as are applicable to the shares with respect to which the adjustment relates.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the Option or Restricted Stock Agreement, in the event of an acquisition of the Company through the sale of substantially all of the Company’s assets and the consequent discontinuance of its business or through a merger, consolidation, exchange, reorganization, reclassification, extraordinary dividend, divestiture or liquidation of the Company (collectively referred to as a “transaction”), the Board may provide for one or more of the following:

 

(a) the equitable acceleration of the exercisability of any outstanding Options and the lapsing of the risks of forfeiture on any Restricted Stock Awards;

 

(b) the complete termination of this Plan, the cancellation of outstanding Options not exercised prior to a date specified by the Board (which date shall give Participants a reasonable period of time in which to exercise the Options prior to the effectiveness of such transaction), and the cancellation of any Restricted Stock Awards for which the risks of forfeiture have not lapsed;

 

(c)  that Participants holding outstanding Options shall receive, with respect to each share of Common Stock subject to such Options, as of the effective date of any such transaction, cash in an amount equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of such Common Stock on the date immediately preceding the effective date of such transaction over the option price per share of such Options; provided that the Board may, in lieu of such cash payment, distribute to such Participants shares of Common Stock of the Company or shares of stock of any corporation succeeding the Company by reason of such transaction, such shares having a value equal to the cash payment herein;

 

(d)  that Participants holding outstanding Restricted Stock Awards shall receive, with respect to each share of Common Stock subject to such Awards, as of the effective date of any such transaction, cash in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value of such Common Stock on the date immediately preceding the effective date of such transaction; provided that the Board may, in lieu of such cash payment, distribute to such Participants shares of Common Stock of the Company or shares of stock of any corporation succeeding the Company by reason of such transaction, such shares having a value equal to the cash payment herein;

 

(e) the continuance of the Plan with respect to the exercise of Options which were outstanding as of the date of adoption by the Board of such plan for such transaction and provide to Participants holding such Options the right to exercise their respective Options as to an economically equivalent number of shares of stock of the corporation succeeding the Company by reason of such transaction; and

 

(f) the continuance of the Plan with respect to Restricted Stock Awards for which the risks of forfeiture have not lapsed as of the date of adoption by the Board of such plan for such transaction and provide to Participants holding such Awards the right to receive an economically equivalent number of shares of stock of the corporation succeeding the Company by reason of such transaction.

 

The Board may restrict the rights of or the applicability of this Section 12 to the extent necessary to comply with Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Internal Revenue Code or any other applicable law or regulation. The grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan shall not limit in any way the right or power of the Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or business structure or to merge, exchange or consolidate or to dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.

 

 

No shares of Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to the Plan unless and until there has been compliance, in the opinion of Company’s counsel, with all applicable legal requirements, including without limitation, those relating to securities laws and stock exchange listing requirements. As a condition to the issuance of Common Stock to Participant, the Administrator may require Participant to (i) represent that the shares of Common Stock are being acquired for investment and not resale and to make such other representations as the Administrator shall deem necessary or appropriate to qualify the issuance of the shares of Common Stock as exempt from the Securities Act of 1933 and any other applicable securities laws, and (ii) represent that Participant shall not dispose of the shares of Common Stock in violation of the Securities Act of 1933 or any other applicable securities laws or any company policies then in effect.

 

As a further condition to the grant of any stock option or the issuance of Common Stock to Participant, Participant agrees to the following:

 

(a) In the event the Company advises Participant that it plans an underwritten public offering of its Common Stock in compliance with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the underwriter(s) seek to impose restrictions under which certain shareholders may not sell or contract to sell or grant any option to buy or otherwise dispose of part or all of their stock purchase rights of the Common Stock underlying Awards, Participant will not, for a period not to exceed 180 days from the prospectus, sell or contract to sell or grant an option to buy or otherwise dispose of any Award granted to Participant pursuant to the Plan or any of the underlying shares of Common Stock without the prior written consent of the underwriter(s) or its representative(s).

 

(b) In the event the Company makes any public offering of its securities and determines in its sole discretion that it is necessary to reduce the number of issued but unexercised stock purchase rights so as to comply with any state’s securities or Blue Sky law limitations with respect thereto, the Board of Directors of the Company shall have the right (i) to accelerate the exercisability of any Option and the date on which such Option must be exercised, provided that the Company gives Participant prior written notice of such acceleration, and (ii) to cancel any Options or portions thereof which Participant does not exercise prior to or contemporaneously with such public offering.

 

(c) In the event of a transaction (as defined in Section 12 of the Plan), Participant will comply with Rule 145 of the Securities Act of 1933 and any other restrictions imposed under other applicable legal or accounting principles if Participant is an “affiliate” (as defined in such applicable legal and accounting principles) at the time of the transaction, and Participant will execute any documents necessary to ensure compliance with such rules.

 

The Company reserves the right to place a legend on any stock certificate issued upon the exercise of an Option or upon the grant of a Restricted Stock Award pursuant to the Plan to assure compliance with this Section 13.

 

 

The Board may from time to time, insofar as permitted by law, suspend or discontinue the Plan or revise or amend it in any respect; provided, however, that no such revision or amendment, except as is authorized in Section 12, shall impair the terms and conditions of any Award which is outstanding on the date of such revision or amendment to the material detriment of the Participant without the consent of the Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such revision or amendment shall (i) materially increase the number of shares subject to the Plan except as provided in Section 12 hereof, (ii) change the desig-nation of the class of employees eligible to receive Awards, (iii) decrease the price at which Options may be granted, or (iv) materially increase the benefits accruing to Participants under the Plan, without the approval of the shareholders of the Company if such approval is required for compliance with the requirements of any applicable law or regulation. Furthermore, the Plan may not, without the approval of the shareholders, be amended in any manner that will cause incentive stock options to fail to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code.

 

 

The granting of an Option shall impose no obligation upon the Participant to exercise such Option. Further, the granting of any Award hereunder shall not impose upon the Company or any Affiliate any obligation to retain the Participant in its employ for any period.