Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan (As Amended and Restated Through November 8, 2001)

Summary

This agreement establishes the 1997 Stock Plan for Integrated Electrical Services, Inc., outlining how the company may grant stock-based awards to its officers, employees, directors, and consultants. The plan is designed to encourage these individuals to acquire or increase their ownership in the company, incentivize their continued service, and attract new talent. The plan details the types of awards available, eligibility, and the administrative process for granting and managing these awards. The Compensation Committee oversees the plan, with certain powers potentially delegated to company executives.

EX-10.3 3 h92673ex10-3.txt 1997 STOCK PLAN, AS AMENDED EXHIBIT 10.3 INTEGRATED ELECTRICAL SERVICES, INC. 1997 STOCK PLAN (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED THROUGH NOVEMBER 8, 2001) SECTION 1. Purpose of the Plan. The Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. 1997 Stock Plan (the "Plan") is intended to promote the interests of Integrated Electrical Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), by encouraging officers, employees, directors and consultants of the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliated entities to acquire or increase their equity interest in the Company and to provide a means whereby employees may develop a sense of proprietorship and personal involvement in the development and financial success of the Company, and to encourage them to remain with and devote their best efforts to the business of the Company thereby advancing the interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Plan is also contemplated to enhance the ability of the Company, its subsidiaries and affiliated entities to attract and retain the services of individuals who are essential for the growth and profitability of the Company. SECTION 2. Definitions. As used in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below: "Affiliate" shall mean (i) any entity that, directly or through one or more intermediaries, is controlled by the Company and (ii) any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, as determined by the Committee. "Award" shall mean any Option, Stock Appreciation Right, Restricted Stock, Performance Award, Phantom Shares, Bonus Shares, Other Stock-Based Award or Cash Award. All Awards, other than ISOs, shall be granted solely under the Incentive Plan. Options and ISOs may be granted only under the ISO Plan. "Award Agreement" shall mean any written agreement, contract, or other instrument or document evidencing any Award, which may, but need not, be executed or acknowledged by a Participant. "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company. "Bonus Shares" shall mean an award of Shares granted pursuant to Section 6(e) of the Plan. "Cash Award" shall mean an award payable in cash granted pursuant to Section 6(g) of the Plan. "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations thereunder. "Committee" shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board. "Consultant" shall mean any individual who renders consulting services or advice to the Company or an Affiliate for a fee, including any individual who is a member of the Board or the Board of Directors of an Affiliate. "Employee" shall mean any employee of the Company or an Affiliate or any person who has been extended an offer of employment by the Company or an Affiliate. "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. "Fair Market Value" shall mean, with respect to Shares, the closing price of a Share quoted on the Composite Tape, or if the Shares are not listed on the New York Stock Exchange, on the principal United States securities exchange registered under the Exchange Act on which such stock is listed, or if the Shares are not listed on 1 any such stock exchange, the last sale price, or if none is reported, the highest closing bid quotation on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., Automated Quotations System or any successor system then in use on the Date of Grant, or if none are available on such day, on the next preceding day for which are available, or if no such quotations are available, the fair market value on the date of grant of a Share as determined in good faith by the Board. In the event the Shares are not publicly traded at the time a determination of its fair market value is required to be made hereunder, the determination of fair market value shall be made in good faith by the Committee. "Incentive Plan" shall mean the 1997 Incentive Stock Plan set forth herein, which shall constitute a separate and distinct plan from the ISO Plan also set forth herein. "Incentive Stock Option" or "ISO" shall mean an option granted under the ISO Plan that is intended to qualify as an "incentive stock option" under Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto. "ISO Plan" shall mean the 1997 Incentive Stock Option Plan set forth herein, which shall constitute a separate and distinct plan from the Incentive Plan also set forth herein. "1997 Stock Plan" shall mean the ISO Plan and the Incentive Plan. "Non-Qualified Stock Option" or "NQO" shall mean an option granted under the Incentive Plan that is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option. "Option" shall mean an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option. "Other Stock-Based Award" shall mean an award granted pursuant to Section 6(h) of the Plan that is not otherwise specifically provided for, the value of which is based in whole or in part upon the value of a Share. "Participant" shall mean any Employee or Consultant granted an Award under the Plan. "Performance Award" shall mean any right granted under Section 6(d) of the Plan. "Person" shall mean individual, corporation, partnership, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or political subdivision thereof or other entity. "Phantom Shares" shall mean an Award of the right to receive Shares issued at the end of a Restricted Period which is granted pursuant to Section 6(f) of the Plan. "Restricted Period" shall mean the period established by the Committee with respect to an Award during which the Award either remains subject to forfeiture or is not exercisable by the Participant. "Restricted Stock" shall mean any Share, prior to the lapse of restrictions thereon, granted under Sections 6(c) of the Plan. "Rule 16b-3" shall mean Rule 16b-3 promulgated by the SEC under the Exchange Act, or any successor rule or regulation thereto as in effect from time to time. "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any successor thereto. "Shares" or "Common Shares" or "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock of the Company, $0.01 par value, and such other securities or property as may become the subject of Awards under the Plan. "Stock Appreciation Right" or "Right" shall mean any right to receive the appreciation of Shares granted under Section 6(b) of the Plan. 2 "Substitute Award" shall mean Awards granted in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by (i) a company acquired by the Company or one or more of its Affiliates, or (ii) a company with which the Company or one or more of its Affiliates combines. SECTION 3. Administration. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of the members of the Committee who are present at any meeting thereof at which a quorum is present, or acts unanimously approved by the members of the Committee in writing, shall be the acts of the Committee. Subject to the following, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may delegate any or all of its powers and duties under the Plan, including the power to grant Awards under the Plan, to the Chief Executive Officer and the President of the Company, or either of them, subject to such limitations on such delegated powers and duties as the Committee may impose; including, without limitation, that to the extent any powers and duties of the Committee are delegated to the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company, such powers shall not include the authority to make grants to any Employee who is subject to Section 16(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Upon any such delegation all references in the Plan to the "Committee," other than in Section 7, shall be deemed to include the Chief Executive Officer and the President, or either of them. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board shall have the full powers of the Committee under the Plan and all references to the Committee shall refer to the Board, or either of them. Subject to the terms of the Plan and applicable law, and in addition to other express powers and authorizations conferred on the Committee by the Plan, the Committee shall have full power and authority to: (i) designate Participants; (ii) determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to a Participant; (iii) determine the number of Shares to be covered by, or with respect to which payments, rights, or other matters are to be calculated in connection with, Awards; (iv) determine the terms and conditions of any Award; (v) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Awards may be settled or exercised in cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or canceled, forfeited, or suspended and the method or methods by which Awards may be settled, exercised canceled, forfeited, or suspended; (vi) determine whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards, other property, and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the holder thereof or of the Committee; (vii) interpret and administer the Plan and any instrument or agreement relating to an Award made under the Plan; (viii) establish, amend, suspend, or waive such rules and regulations and appoint such agents as it shall deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan; and (ix) make any other determination and take any other action that the Committee deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, all designations, determinations, interpretations, and other decisions under or with respect to the Plan or any Award shall be within the sole discretion of the Committee, may be made at any time and shall be final, conclusive, and binding upon all Persons, including the Company, any Affiliate, any Participant, any holder or beneficiary of any Award, any stockholder and any Employee. SECTION 4. Shares Available for Awards. (a) Shares Available. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4(c), (1) the number of Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under the Incentive Plan shall be the greater of (i) 2,500,000 or (ii) 15% of the aggregate number of Shares and shares of Restricted Voting Common Stock outstanding determined immediately after the grant of such Award less 1,000,000 and (2) the number of Shares with respect to which Options may be granted under the ISO Plan shall be 1,000,000 Shares. If any Award under either plan is forfeited or otherwise terminates or is canceled without the delivery of Shares or other consideration, then the Shares covered by such Award, to the extent of such forfeiture, termination or cancellation, shall again be Shares with respect to which Awards may be granted under such plan. (b) Sources of Shares Deliverable Under Awards. Any Shares delivered pursuant to an Award may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Shares or of treasury Shares. (c) Adjustments. In the event that the Committee determines that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Shares, other securities, or other property), recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase, or exchange of Shares or other securities of the Company, issuance of warrants or other rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the 3 Company, or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Shares such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee to be appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (i) the number and type of Shares (or other securities or property) with respect to which Awards may be granted, (ii) the number and type of Shares (or other securities or property) subject to outstanding Awards, and (iii) the grant or exercise price with respect to any Award or, if deemed appropriate, make provision for a cash payment to the holder of an outstanding Award; provided, in each case, that with respect to Awards of Incentive Stock Options and Awards intended to qualify as performance based compensation under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, no such adjustment shall be authorized to the extent that such authority would cause the Plan to violate Section 422(b)(1) of the Code or would cause such Award to fail to so qualify under Section 162(m) of the Code, as the case may be, or any successor provisions thereto; and provided, further, that the number of Shares subject to any Award denominated in Shares shall always be a whole number. SECTION 5. Eligibility. Any Employee or Consultant shall be eligible to be designated a Participant. However, no Employee or Consultant may receive Options and/or Stock Appreciation Rights under the Plan with respect to more than 250,000 Shares during any calendar year. The maximum amount of compensation that may be paid to any Participant with respect to any single Award that is not an Option or Stock Appreciation and which is intended to qualify as "performance based" compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code in any calendar year shall not exceed $4.0 million, determined as of the date of grant of such Award. SECTION 6. Awards. (a) Options. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to determine the Participants to whom Options shall be granted, the number of Shares to be covered by each Option, the purchase price therefor and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise of the Option, including the following terms and conditions and such additional terms and conditions, as the Committee shall determine, that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan. (i) Exercise Price. The purchase price per Share purchasable under an Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time the Option is granted. (ii) Time and Method of Exercise. The Committee shall determine the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part, and the method or methods by which, and the form or forms (which may include, without limitation, cash, check acceptable to the Company, Shares already-owned for more than six months, outstanding Awards, Shares that would otherwise be acquired upon exercise of the Option, a "cashless-broker" exercise (through procedures approved by the Company), other securities or other property, or any combination thereof, having a Fair Market Value on the exercise date equal to the relevant exercise price) in which payment of the exercise price with respect thereto may be made or deemed to have been made. (iii) Incentive Stock Options. The terms of any Incentive Stock Option, which may be granted only under the ISO Plan, shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code, or any successor provision, and any regulations promulgated thereunder. Notwithstanding anything in Section 5 or elsewhere in the Plan to the contrary, Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company and its parent corporation and subsidiary corporations, within the meaning of Section 424 of the Code. (b) Stock Appreciation Rights. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to determine the Participants to whom Stock Appreciation Rights shall be granted, the number of Shares to be covered by each Stock Appreciation Right Award, the grant price thereof and the conditions and limitations applicable to the exercise thereof. A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted in tandem with another Award, in addition to another Award, or freestanding and unrelated to another Award. A Stock Appreciation Right granted in 4 tandem with or in addition to another Award may be granted either at the same time as such other Award or at a later time. (i) Grant Price. The grant price of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be determined by the Committee on the date of grant. (ii) Other Terms and Conditions. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall determine, at or after the grant of a Stock Appreciation Right, the term, methods of exercise, methods of settlement, and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right. Any such determination by the Committee may be changed by the Committee from time to time and may govern the exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights granted or exercised prior to such determination as well as Stock Appreciation Rights granted or exercised thereafter. The Committee may impose such conditions or restrictions on the exercise of any Stock Appreciation Right as it shall deem appropriate. (c) Restricted Stock. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to determine the Participants to whom Restricted Stock shall be granted, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock to be granted to each such Participant, the duration of the Restricted Period during which, and the conditions, including performance criteria, if any, under which, the Restricted Stock may be forfeited to the Company, and the other terms and conditions of such Awards. (i) Dividends. Dividends paid on Restricted Stock may be paid directly to the Participant, may be subject to risk of forfeiture and/or transfer restrictions during any period established by the Committee or sequestered and held in a bookkeeping cash account (with or without interest) or reinvested on an immediate or deferred basis in additional shares of Common Stock, which credit or shares may be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying Award or such other restrictions, all as determined by the Committee in its discretion. (ii) Registration. Any Restricted Stock may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall deem appropriate, including, without limitation, book-entry registration or issuance of a stock certificate or certificates. In the event any stock certificate is issued in respect of Restricted Stock granted under the Plan, such certificate shall be registered in the name of the Participant and shall bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock. (iii) Forfeiture and Restrictions Lapse. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee or the terms of the Award that granted the Restricted Stock, upon termination of a Participant's employment (as determined under criteria established by the Committee) for any reason during the applicable Restricted Period, all Restricted Stock shall be forfeited by the Participant and re-acquired by the Company. The Committee may, when it finds that a waiver would be in the best interests of the Company and not cause such Award, if it is intended to qualify as performance based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, to fail to so qualify under Section 162(m) of the Code, waive in whole or in part any or all remaining restrictions with respect to such Participant's Restricted Stock. Unrestricted Shares, evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall deem appropriate, shall be issued to the holder of Restricted Stock promptly after the applicable restrictions have lapsed or otherwise been satisfied. (iv) Transfer Restrictions. During the Restricted Period, Restricted Stock will be subject to the limitations on transfer as provided in Section 6(j)(iii). (d) Performance Awards. The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Participants who shall receive a Performance Award, which shall be denominated as a cash amount at the time of grant and confer on the Participant the right to receive payment of such Award, in whole or in part, upon the achievement of such performance goals during such performance periods as the Committee shall establish with respect to the Award. (i) Terms and Conditions. Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award Agreement, the Committee shall determine the performance goals to be achieved during any performance 5 period, the length of any performance period, the amount of any Performance Award and the amount of any payment or transfer to be made pursuant to any Performance Award. (ii) Payment of Performance Awards. Performance Awards may be paid (in cash and/or in Shares, in the sole discretion of the Committee) in a lump sum or in installments following the close of the performance period, in accordance with procedures established by the Committee with respect to such Award. (e) Bonus Shares. The Committee shall have the authority, in its discretion, to grant Bonus Shares to Participants. Each Bonus Share shall constitute a transfer of an unrestricted Share to the Participant, without other payment therefor, as additional compensation for the Participant's services to the Company. (f) Phantom Shares. The Committee shall have the authority to grant Awards of Phantom Shares to Participants upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine. (i) Terms and Conditions. Each Phantom Share Award shall constitute an agreement by the Company to issue or transfer a specified number of Shares or pay an amount of cash equal to a specified number of Shares, or a combination thereof to the Participant in the future, subject to the fulfillment during the Restricted Period of such conditions, including performance objectives, if any, as the Committee may specify at the date of grant. During the Restricted Period, the Participant shall not have any right to transfer any rights under the subject Award, shall not have any rights of ownership in the Phantom Shares and shall not have any right to vote such shares. (ii) Dividends. Any Phantom Share award may provide that any or all dividends or other distributions paid on Shares during the Restricted Period be credited in a cash bookkeeping account (without interest) or that equivalent additional Phantom Shares be awarded, which account or shares may be subject to the same restrictions as the underlying Award or such other restrictions as the Committee may determine. (g) Cash Awards. The Committee shall have the authority to determine the Participants to whom Cash Awards shall be granted, the amount, and the terms or conditions, if any, as additional compensation for the Participant's services to the Company or its Affiliates. A Cash Award may be granted (simultaneously or subsequently) separately or in tandem with another Award and may entitle a Participant to receive a specified amount of cash from the Company upon such other Award becoming taxable to the Participant, which cash amount may be based on a formula relating to the anticipated taxable income associated with such other Award and the payment of the Cash Award. (h) Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee may also grant to Participants an Other Stock-Based Award, which shall consist of a right which is an Award denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on or related to, Shares as is deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall determine the terms and conditions of any such Other Stock-Based Award. (i) Replacement Grants. Awards may be granted from time to time in substitution for similar awards held by employees of other corporations who become Participants as the result of a merger or consolidation of the employing corporation with the Company or any subsidiary, or the acquisition by the Company or any subsidiary of the assets of the employing corporation, or the acquisition by the Company or any subsidiary or an affiliate of stock of the employing corporation. The terms and conditions of substitute Awards granted may vary from the terms and conditions set forth in the Plan, to the extent the Committee, at the time of grant, deems it appropriate to conform, in whole or in part, to the provisions of awards in substitution for which they are granted. 6 (j) General. (i) Awards May Be Granted Separately or Together. Awards may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution for any other Award granted under the Plan or any award granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate. Awards granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards or awards granted under any other plan of the Company or any Affiliate may be granted either at the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards or awards. (ii) Forms of Payment by Company Under Awards. Subject to the terms of the Plan and of any applicable Award Agreement, payments or transfers to be made by the Company or an Affiliate upon the grant, exercise or payment of an Award may be made in such form or forms as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, or any combination thereof, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis, in each case in accordance with rules and procedures established by the Committee. Such rules and procedures may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of reasonable interest on installment or deferred payments. (iii) Limits on Transfer of Awards. (A) Except as provided in (C) below, each Award, and each right under any Award, shall be exercisable only by the Participant during the Participant's lifetime, or, if permissible under applicable law, by the Participant's guardian or legal representative as determined by the Committee. (B) Except as provided in (C) below, no Award and no right under any such Award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution (or, in the case of Restricted Stock, to the Company) and any such purported assignment, alienation, pledge, attachment, sale, transfer or encumbrance shall be void and unenforceable against the Company or any Affiliate. (C) Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, to the extent specifically provided by the Committee with respect to a grant, a Nonqualified Stock Option may be transferred to immediate family members or related family trusts, limited partnerships or similar entities or on such terms and conditions as the Committee may establish. (iv) Term of Awards. The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Committee; provided, that in no event shall the term of any Award exceed a period of 10 years from the date of its grant. (v) Share Certificates. All certificates for Shares or other securities of the Company or any Affiliate delivered under the Plan pursuant to any Award or the exercise thereof shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as the Committee may deem advisable under the Plan or the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the SEC, any stock exchange upon which such Shares or other securities are then listed, and any applicable Federal or state laws, and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions. (vi) Consideration for Grants. Awards may be granted for no cash consideration or for such consideration as the Committee determines including, without limitation, such minimal cash consideration as may be required by applicable law. (vii) Delivery of Shares or other Securities and Payment by Participant of Consideration. No Shares or other securities shall be delivered pursuant to any Award until payment in full of any amount required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement (including, without limitation, 7 any exercise price, tax payment or tax withholding) is received by the Company. Such payment may be made by such method or methods and in such form or forms as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, Shares, other securities, other Awards or other property, withholding of Shares, cashless exercise with simultaneous sale, or any combination thereof; provided that the combined value, as determined by the Committee, of all cash and cash equivalents and the Fair Market Value of any such Shares or other property so tendered to the Company, as of the date of such tender, is at least equal to the full amount required to be paid pursuant to the Plan or the applicable Award Agreement to the Company. (viii) Performance Criteria and Payment Limits. The Committee shall establish performance goals applicable to those Awards (other than Options and Rights) the payment of which is intended by the Committee to qualify as "performance-based compensation" as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code. Until changed by the Committee, the performance goals shall be based upon the attainment of such target levels of net income, cash flows, return on equity, profit margin or sales, stock price, and/or earnings per share as may be specified by the Committee. Which factor or factors to be used with respect to any grant, and the weight to be accorded thereto if more than one factor is used, shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant. With respect to any Restricted Stock Award, Phantom Stock Award, or Cash Award granted in tandem with, and expressed as a percentage of, a Share-denominated Award, which is intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation", the maximum payment to any Participant with respect to such Award in any calendar year shall be an amount (in cash and/or in Shares) equal to the Fair Market Value of the number of Shares subject to such Award. SECTION 7. Amendment and Termination. Except to the extent prohibited by applicable law and unless otherwise expressly provided in an Award Agreement or in the Plan: (i) Amendments to the Plan. The Board or the Committee may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue, or terminate the Plan without the consent of any stockholder, Participant, other holder or beneficiary of an Award, or other Person; provided, however, notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any Award Agreement, without the approval of the stockholders of the Company no such amendment, alteration, suspension, discontinuation, or termination shall be made that would increase the total number of Shares available for Awards under the Plan, except as provided in Section 4(c) of the Plan. (ii) Amendments to Awards. The Committee may waive any conditions or rights under, amend any terms of, or alter any Award theretofore granted, provided no change, other than pursuant to Section 7(iii), in any Award shall reduce the benefit to Participant without the consent of such Participant. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, no adjustment shall be authorized to the extent such adjustment would cause the Award to fail to so qualify. (iii) Adjustment of Awards Upon the Occurrence of Certain Unusual or Nonrecurring Events. The Committee is hereby authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, the events described in Section 4(c) of the Plan) affecting the Company, any Affiliate, or the financial statements of the Company or any Affiliate, or of changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles, whenever the Committee determines that such adjustments are appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Award intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, no adjustment shall be authorized to the extent such adjustment would cause the Award to fail to so qualify. 8 SECTION 8. Change in Control. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Plan to the contrary, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company all outstanding Awards automatically shall become fully vested immediately prior to such Change in Control (or such earlier time as set by the Committee), all restrictions, if any, with respect to such Awards shall lapse, and all performance criteria, if any, with respect to such Awards shall be deemed to have been met in full. For purposes of this Plan, a "Change in Control" shall be deemed to occur: (i) if any person, entity or group (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), other than the Company or its subsidiaries or an employee benefit plan of the Company or its subsidiaries, acquires, directly or indirectly, the beneficial ownership (as defined in Section 13(d) of the Act) of any voting security of the Company and immediately after such acquisition such person is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of voting securities representing 20% or more of the total voting power of all of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; (ii) upon the first purchase of the Company's common stock pursuant to a tender or exchange offer (other than a tender or exchange offer made by the Company); (iii) if the stockholders of the Company shall approve a merger, consolidation, recapitalization or reorganization of the Company, or a reverse stock split of outstanding voting securities, or consummation of any such transaction if stockholder approval is not obtained, other than any such transaction which would result in at least 75% of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the surviving entity outstanding immediately after such transaction being beneficially owned by the holders of all of the outstanding voting securities of the Company immediately prior to the transactions with the voting power of each such continuing holder relative to other such continuing holders not substantially altered in the transaction; (iv) if the stockholders of the Company shall approve a plan of complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or an agreement for the sale or disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's assets; or (v) if, at any time during any period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, unless the election or nomination for the election by the Company's stockholders of each new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period. SECTION 9. General Provisions. (a) No Rights to Awards. No Employee, Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Employees, Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards need not be the same with respect to each recipient. (b) Withholding. The Company or any Affiliate is authorized to withhold from any Award, from any payment due or transfer made under any Award or under the Plan or from any compensation or other amount owing to a Participant the amount (in cash, Shares, other securities, Shares that would otherwise be issued pursuant to such Award, other Awards or other property) of any applicable taxes payable in respect of an Award, its exercise, the lapse of restrictions thereon, or any payment or transfer under an Award or under the Plan and to take such other action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such taxes. In addition, the Committee may provide, in an Award Agreement, that the Participant may direct the Company to satisfy such Participant's tax obligation through the withholding of Shares otherwise to be acquired upon the exercise or payment of such Award. 9 (c) No Right to Employment. The grant of an Award shall not be construed as giving a Participant the right to be retained in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate. Further, the Company or an Affiliate may at any time dismiss a Participant from employment, free from any liability or any claim under the Plan, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in any Award Agreement. (d) Governing Law. The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and applicable Federal law. (e) Severability. If any provision of the Plan or any Award is or becomes or is deemed to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any jurisdiction or as to any Person or Award, or would disqualify the Plan or any Award under any law deemed applicable by the Committee, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to conform to the applicable laws, or if it cannot be construed or deemed amended without, in the determination of the Committee, materially altering the intent of the Plan or the Award, such provision shall be stricken as to such jurisdiction, Person or Award and the remainder of the Plan and any such Award shall remain in full force and effect. (f) Other Laws. The Committee may refuse to issue or transfer any Shares or other consideration under an Award if, acting in its sole discretion, it determines that the issuance of transfer or such Shares or such other consideration might violate any applicable law or regulation or entitle the Company to recover the same under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and any payment tendered to the Company by a Participant, other holder or beneficiary in connection with the exercise of such Award shall be promptly refunded to the relevant Participant, holder or beneficiary. (g) No Trust or Fund Created. Neither the Plan nor the Award shall create or be construed to create a trust or separate fund of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Company or any Affiliate and a Participant or any other Person. To the extent that any Person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company or any Affiliate pursuant to an Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any general unsecured creditor of the Company or any Affiliate. (h) No Fractional Shares. No fractional Shares shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award, and the Committee shall determine whether cash, other securities, or other property shall be paid or transferred in lieu of any fractional Shares or whether such fractional Shares or any rights thereto shall be canceled, terminated, or otherwise eliminated. (i) Headings. Headings are given to the Sections and subsections of the Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of the Plan or any provision thereof. (j) Parachute Tax Gross-Up. To the extent that the grant, payment, or acceleration of vesting or payment, whether in cash or stock, of any Award made to a Participant under the Plan (a "Benefit") is subject to a golden parachute excise tax under Section 4999(a) of the Code (a "Parachute Tax"), the Company shall pay such person an amount of cash (the "Gross-up Amount") such that the "net" Benefit received by the person under this Plan, after paying all applicable Parachute Taxes (including those on the Gross-up Amount) and any federal or state taxes on the Gross-up Amount, shall be equal to the Benefit that such person would have received if such Parachute Tax had not been applicable. (k) Separate Plans. The Company intends to establish herein two separate and distinct plans: (i) the ISO Plan and (ii) the Incentive Plan; however, except where expressly provided otherwise, the provisions of this document shall apply equally to each such plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provisions of this document shall be administered and construed in the manner necessary for the ISO Plan set forth herein to comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. SECTION 10. Effective Date of the Plan. 10 The Incentive Plan shall be effective as of the date of its original approval by the Board; the ISO Plan shall be effective as of the date it is separately approved by the Board. SECTION 11. Term of the Plan. No Award shall be granted under the Plan after the 10th anniversary of the original approval date of the Incentive Plan. However, unless otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an applicable Award Agreement, any Award granted prior to such termination, and the authority of the Board or the Committee to amend, alter, adjust, suspend, discontinue, or terminate any such Award or to waive any conditions or rights under such Award, shall extend beyond such termination date. 11