Egami Media, Inc. 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan

EX-10.14 2 a05-10904_1ex10d14.htm EX-10.14

EXHIBIT 10.14

 

Egami Media, Inc.

2005 Incentive Compensation Plan

 

1.             Purpose.  The purpose of this 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) is to assist Egami Media, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and its Related Entities in attracting, motivating, retaining and rewarding high-quality executives and other Employees, officers, Directors and Consultants by enabling such persons to acquire or increase a proprietary interest in the Company in order to strengthen the mutuality of interests between such persons and the Company’s shareholders, and providing such persons with annual and long term performance incentives to expend their maximum efforts in the creation of shareholder value.  The Plan is intended to qualify certain compensation awarded under the Plan for tax deductibility under Section 162(m) of the Code (as hereafter defined) to the extent deemed appropriate by the Committee (or any successor committee) of the Board.

 

2.             Definitions.  For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set forth below, in addition to such terms defined in Section 1 hereof.

 

(a)           “Annual Incentive Award” means a conditional right granted to a Participant under Section 8(c) hereof to receive a cash payment, Stock or other Award, as determined by the Committee, after the end of a specified fiscal year.

 

(b)           “Award” means any Option, Stock Appreciation Right (including Limited Stock Appreciation Right), Restricted Stock, Stock Units, Stock granted as a bonus or in lieu of another award, Dividend Equivalent, Other Stock-Based Award, Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award, together with any other right or interest, granted to a Participant under the Plan.

 

(c)           “Beneficiary” means the person, persons, trust or trusts which have been designated by a Participant in his or her most recent written beneficiary designation filed with the Committee to receive the benefits specified under the Plan upon such Participant’s death or to which Awards or other rights are transferred if and to the extent permitted under Section 10(b) hereof.  If, upon a Participant’s death, there is no designated Beneficiary or surviving designated Beneficiary, then the term Beneficiary means the person, persons, trust or trusts entitled by will or the laws of descent and distribution to receive such benefits.

 

(d)           “Beneficial Owner”, “Beneficially Owning” and “Beneficial Ownership” shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 13d3 under the Exchange Act and any successor to such Rule.

 

(e)           “Board” means the Company’s Board of Directors.

 

(f)            “Cause” shall, with respect to any Participant, have the equivalent meaning (or the same meaning as “cause” or “for cause”) set forth in any employment agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Entity or, in the absence of any such agreement, such term shall mean (i) the failure by the Participant to perform his or her duties as assigned by the Company (or a Related Entity) in a

 



 

reasonable manner, (ii) any violation or breach by the Participant of his or her employment agreement with the Company (or a Related Entity), if any, (iii) any violation or breach by the Participant of his or her confidential information and invention assignment agreement with the Company (or a Related Entity), if any, (iv) any act by the Participant of dishonesty or bad faith with respect to the Company (or a Related Entity), (v) chronic addiction to alcohol, drugs or other similar substances affecting the Participant’s work performance, or (vi) the commission by the Participant of any act, misdemeanor, or crime reflecting unfavorably upon the Participant or the Company.  The good faith determination by the Committee of whether the Participant’s Continuous Service was terminated by the Company for “Cause” shall be final and binding for all purposes hereunder.

 

(g)           “Change in Control” means a Change in Control as defined with related terms in Section 9 of the Plan.

 

(h)           “Change in Control Price” shall be defined as it is defined, if at all, (1) in an employment, compensation, or severance agreement, if any, between the Company or any Related Entity and the Participant, relating to the Participant’s employment, compensation, or severance with or from the Company or such Related Entity, or (2) in the agreement evidencing the Award to such Participant.

 

(i)            “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and regulations thereto.

 

(j)            “Committee” means a committee designated by the Board to administer the Plan with respect to at least a group of Employees, Directors or Consultants.

 

(k)           “Consultant” means any person (other than an Employee or a Director, solely with respect to rendering services in such person’s capacity as a director) who is engaged by the Company or any Related Entity to render consulting or advisory services to the Company or such Related Entity.

 

(l)            “Continuous Service” means uninterrupted provision of services to the Company as an Employee, a Director, or a Consultant.  Continuous Service shall not be considered to be interrupted in the case of (i) any approved leave of absence, (ii) transfers among the Company, any Related Entities, or any successor entities, as either an Employee, a Director, or a Consultant, or (iii) any change in status as long as the individual remains in the service of the Company or a Related Entity as either an Employee, a Director, or a Consultant (except as otherwise provided in the Option Agreement).  An approved leave of absence shall include sick leave, military leave, or any other authorized personal leave.

 

(m)          “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:

 

2



 

(i)            a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all, as determined by the Board in its discretion, of the consolidated assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries;

 

(ii)           a sale or other disposition of more than fifty percent (50%) 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.

 

(n)           “Covered Employee” means an Eligible Person who is a Covered Employee as specified in Section 7(e) of the Plan.

 

(o)           “Director” means a member of the Board or the board of directors of any Related Entity.

 

(p)           “Disability” means a permanent and total disability (within the meaning of Section 22(e) of the Code), as determined by a medical doctor satisfactory to the Committee.

 

(q)           “Dividend Equivalent” means a right, granted to a Participant under Section 6(g) hereof, to receive cash, Stock, other Awards or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock, or other periodic payments.

 

(r)            “Effective Date” means the effective date of the Plan, which shall be January 1, 2005.

 

(s)           “Eligible Person” means all Employees (including officers), Directors and Consultants of the Company or of any Related Entity.  The foregoing notwithstanding, only employees of the Company, the Parent, or any Subsidiary shall be Eligible Persons for purposes of receiving any Incentive Stock Options.  An Employee on leave of absence may be considered as still in the employ of the Company or a Related Entity for purposes of eligibility for participation in the Plan.

 

(t)            “Employee” means any person, including an officer or Director, who is an employee of the Company or any Related Entity.  The Payment of a director’s fee by the Company or a Related Entity shall not be sufficient to constitute “employment” by the Company.

 

(u)           “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, including rules thereunder and successor provisions and rules thereto.

 

3



 

(v)           “Executive Officer” means an executive officer of the Company as defined under the Exchange Act.

 

(w)          “Fair Market Value” means the fair market value of Stock, Awards or other property as determined by the Plan Administrator, or under procedures established by the Plan Administrator.  Unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator, the Fair Market Value of Stock as of any given date, after which the Stock is publicly traded on a stock exchange or market, shall be the closing sale price per share reported on a consolidated basis for stock listed on the principal stock exchange or market on which Stock is traded on the date as of which such value is being determined or, if there is no sale on that date, then on the last previous day on which a sale was reported.

 

(x)            “Good Reason” shall, with respect to any Participant, have the equivalent meaning (or the same meaning as “good reason” or “for good reason”) set forth in any employment agreement between the Participant and the Company or a Related Entity or, in the absence of any such agreement, such term shall mean (i) the assignment to the Participant of any duties inconsistent in any respect with the Participant’s position (including status, offices, titles and reporting requirements), authority, duties or responsibilities as assigned by the Company (or a Related Entity), or any other action by the Company (or a Related Entity) which results in a diminution in such position, authority, duties or responsibilities, excluding for this purpose an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent action not taken in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company (or a Related Entity) promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Participant; (ii) any failure by the Company (or a Related Entity) to comply with its obligations to the Participant as agreed upon, other than an isolated, insubstantial and inadvertent failure not occurring in bad faith and which is remedied by the Company (or a Related Entity) promptly after receipt of notice thereof given by the Participant;  (iii) the Company’s (or Related Entity’s) requiring the Participant to be based at any office or location outside of fifty miles from the location of employment as of the date of Award, except for travel reasonably required in the performance of the Participant’s responsibilities; (iv) any purported termination by the Company (or a Related Entity) of the Participant’s Continuous Service otherwise than for Cause as defined in Section 2(f), or by reason of the Participant’s Disability as defined in Section 2(o), prior to the Expiration Date.  For purposes of this Section 2(v), any good faith determination of “Good Reason” made by the Company shall be conclusive.

 

(y)           “Incentive Stock Option” means any Option intended to be designated as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision thereto.

 

(z)            “Limited Stock Appreciation Right” means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(c) hereof.

 

(aa)         “Option” means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(b) hereof, to purchase Stock or other Awards at a specified price during specified time periods.

 

4



 

(bb)         “Optionee” means a person to whom an Option or Incentive Stock Option is granted under this Plan or any person who succeeds to the rights of such person under this Plan.

 

(cc)         “Other Stock-Based Awards” means Awards granted to a Participant under Section 6(h) hereof.

 

(dd)         “Parent” means any corporation (other than the Company), whether now or hereafter existing, in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company, if each of the corporations in the chain (other than the Company) owns stock possessing 50 percent or more of the combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in the chain.

 

(ee)         “Participant” means a person who has been granted an Award under the Plan which remains outstanding, including a person who is no longer an Eligible Person.

 

(ff)           “Performance Award” means a right, granted to an Eligible Person under Section 8 hereof, to receive Awards based upon performance criteria specified by the Plan Administrator.

 

(gg)         “Person” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a)(9) of the Exchange Act and used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) thereof, and shall include a “group” as defined in Section 13(d) thereof.

 

(hh)         “Plan Administrator” means the Board or any Committee delegated by the Board to administer the Plan.

 

(ii)           “Related Entity” means any Parent, Subsidiary and any business, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, holds a substantial ownership interest.

 

(jj)           “Restricted Stock” means Stock granted to a Participant under Section 6(d) hereof, that is subject to certain restrictions and to a risk of forfeiture.

 

(kk)         “Rule 16b-3” and “Rule 16a-1(c)(3)” means Rule 16b-3 and Rule 16a-1(c)(3), as from time to time in effect and applicable to the Plan and Participants, promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

(ll)           “Stock” means the Company’s Common Stock, and such other securities as may be substituted (or resubstituted) for Stock pursuant to Section 10(c) hereof.

 

(mm)       “Stock Appreciation Right” means a right granted to a Participant under Section 6(c) hereof.

 

5



 

(nn)         “Stock Unit” means a right, granted to a Participant under Section 6(e) hereof, to receive Stock, cash or a combination thereof at the end of a specified period of time.

 

(oo)         “Subsidiary” means any corporation (other than the Company), whether now or hereafter existing, in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50 percent or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

 

3.             Administration.

 

(a)           Administration by Board.  The Board shall administer the Plan unless and until the Board delegates administration to a Committee, as provided in Section 3(c).

 

(b)           Powers of Board.  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 Awards; when and how each Award shall be granted; what type or combination of types of Award shall be granted; the provisions of each Award granted (which need not be identical), including the time or times when a person shall be permitted to receive Stock pursuant to an Award; and the number of shares of Stock with respect to which an Award shall be granted to each such person.

 

(ii)           To construe and interpret the Plan and 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 effect, at any time and from time to time, with the consent of any adversely affected Participant, (1) the reduction of the exercise price of any outstanding Award under the Plan, if any, (2) the cancellation of any outstanding Award and the grant in substitution therefor of (A) a new Award under the Plan or another equity plan of the Company covering the same or a different number of shares of Stock, (B) cash and/or (C) other valuable consideration (as determined by the Board, in its sole discretion), or (3) any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles.

 

(iv)          To amend the Plan or an Award as provided in Section 10(e).

 

(v)           To terminate or suspend the Plan as provided in Section 10(e).

 

6



 

(vi)          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.

 

(c)           Delegation to Committee.

 

(i)            General.  The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees of two (2) or more members of the Board, and the term “Committee” shall apply to any person or persons to whom such authority has been delegated.  If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee or subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board.  The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan.

 

(ii)           Section 162(m) and Rule 16b-3 Compliance.  In the 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 may delegate to a committee of two or more members of the Board the authority to grant 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 Award, (b) not persons with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code, or (c) not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

(d)           Effect of Board’s 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.

 

(e)           Arbitration.  Any dispute or claim concerning any Award granted (or not granted) pursuant to the Plan or any disputes or claims relating to or arising out of the Plan shall be fully, finally and exclusively resolved by binding and confidential arbitration conducted before a retired judge pursuant to the rules of JAMS in Los Angeles, California.  The Company shall pay all arbitration fees.  In addition to any other relief, the arbitrator may award to the prevailing party recovery of its attorneys’ fees and costs.  By accepting an Award, the Participant and the Company waive their respective rights to have any such disputes or claims tried by a judge or jury.

 

(f)            Limitation of Liability.  The Committee and the Board, and each member thereof, shall be entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other information furnished to him or her by any officer or Employee, the Company’s independent auditors, Consultants or any other agents assisting in the administration of the Plan.  Members of the Committee and the Board, and any officer or Employee acting

 

7



 

at the direction or on behalf of the Plan Administrator, shall not be personally liable for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to the Plan, and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such action or determination.

 

4.             Stock Subject to Plan.

 

(a)           Limitation on Overall Number of Shares Subject to Awards.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10(c) hereof, the total number of shares of Stock reserved and available for delivery in connection with Awards under the Plan shall be ten million (10,000,000).  Any shares of Stock delivered under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares.

 

(b)           Application of Limitations.  The limitation contained in this Section 4 shall apply not only to Awards that are settled by the delivery of shares of Stock but also to Awards relating to shares of Stock but settled only in cash (such as cash-only Stock Appreciation Rights).  The Plan Administrator may adopt reasonable counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting (as, for example, in the case of tandem or substitute awards) and make adjustments if the number of shares of Stock actually delivered differs from the number of shares previously counted in connection with an Award.

 

5.             Eligibility; Per-Person Award Limitations.  Awards may be granted under the Plan only to Eligible Persons.  In each fiscal year during any part of which the Plan is in effect, an Eligible Person may not be granted Awards under which more than one million (1,000,000) shares of Stock could be received by the Participant, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 10(c).  In addition, the maximum amount that may be earned as an Annual Incentive Award or other cash Award in any fiscal year by any one Participant shall be $500,000, and the maximum amount that may be earned as a Performance Award or other cash Award in respect of a performance period by any one Participant shall be $1,000,000.

 

6.             Specific Terms of Awards.

 

(a)           General.  Awards may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 6.  In addition, the Plan Administrator may impose on any Award or the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or thereafter (subject to Section 10(e)), such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Plan Administrator shall determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Awards in the event of termination of Continuous Service by the Participant and terms permitting a Participant to make elections relating to his or her Award.  The Plan Administrator shall retain full power and discretion to accelerate, waive or modify, at any time, any term or condition of an Award that is not mandatory under the Plan.  Except in cases in which the Plan Administrator is authorized to require other forms of consideration under the Plan, or to the extent other forms of consideration must be paid to satisfy the requirements of California law, no consideration other than services may be required for the grant (but not the exercise) of any Award.

 

8



 

(b)           Options.  The Plan Administrator is authorized to grant Options to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)            Stock Option Agreement.  Each grant of an Option shall be evidenced by a Stock Option Agreement.  Such Stock Option Agreement shall be subject to all applicable terms and conditions of the Plan and may be subject to any other terms and conditions which are not inconsistent with the Plan and which the Plan Administrator deems appropriate for inclusion in a Stock Option Agreement.  The provisions of the various Stock Option Agreements entered into under the Plan need not be identical.

 

(ii)           Number of Shares.  Each Stock Option Agreement shall specify the number of shares of Stock that are subject to the Option and shall provide for the adjustment of such number in accordance with Section 10(c) hereof.  The Stock Option Agreement shall also specify whether the Stock Option is an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

(iii)          Exercise Price.

 

(A)          In General.  Each Stock Option Agreement shall state the price at which shares of Stock subject to the Option may be purchased (the “Exercise Price”), which shall be, with respect to Incentive Stock Options, not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of grant.  In the case of Non-Qualified Stock Options, the Exercise Price shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that the Exercise Price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the shares of Stock on the date of grant of the Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

(B)           Ten Percent Shareholder.  If a Participant owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules applicable under Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Related Entity, any Incentive Stock Option granted to such Participant must have an Exercise Price per share of at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant.

 

(iv)          Time and Method of Exercise.  The Plan Administrator shall determine the time or times at which or the circumstances under which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements).  The Plan Administrator may also determine the time or times at which Options shall cease to be or become exercisable following termination of Continuous Service or upon other conditions.  The Board or the Committee may determine the methods by which such exercise price may be paid or deemed to be paid (including in the discretion of the Plan Administrator a cashless exercise procedure), the form of such payment, including, without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards or awards granted under other plans of the Company or a Related Entity, or other property (including notes or other contractual obligations of Participants to make payment on a deferred basis), and the methods by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants.

 

9



 

(v)           Incentive Stock Options.  The terms of any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan shall comply in all respects with the provisions of Section 422 of the Code.  Anything in the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, no term of the Plan relating to Incentive Stock Options (including any Stock Appreciation Rights in tandem therewith) shall be interpreted, amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan be exercised, so as to disqualify either the Plan or any Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code, unless the Participant has consented in writing to the change that will result in such disqualification.  If and to the extent required to comply with Section 422 of the Code, Options granted as Incentive Stock Options shall be subject to the following special terms and conditions:

 

(A)          the Option shall not be exercisable more than ten years after the date such Incentive Stock Option is granted; provided, however, that if a Participant owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent Corporation and the Incentive Stock Option is granted to such Participant, the term of the Incentive Stock Option shall be (to the extent required by the Code at the time of the grant) for no more than five years from the date of grant; and

 

(B)           The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the shares of stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan and all other option plans of the Company or its Parent Corporation during any calendar year exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year shall not (to the extent required by the Code at the time of the grant) exceed $100,000.  To the extent an Option exceeds such limit, unless otherwise provided for in the Stock Option Agreement, the amount of the Option in excess of $100,000 shall be treated as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.

 

(vi)          Repurchase Rights.  The Committee and the Board shall have the discretion to grant Options which are exercisable for unvested shares of Common Stock.  Should the Optionee’s Continuous Service cease while holding such unvested shares, the Company shall have the right to repurchase, at the exercise price paid per share, any or all of those unvested shares.  The terms upon which such repurchase right shall be exercisable (including the period and procedure for exercise and the appropriate vesting schedule for the purchased shares) shall be established by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the document evidencing such repurchase right.

 

(c)           Stock Appreciation Rights.  The Plan Administrator is authorized to grant Stock Appreciation Rights to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)            Right to Payment.  A Stock Appreciation Right shall confer on the Participant to whom it is granted a right to receive, upon exercise thereof, the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value of one share of stock on the date of exercise (or, in the case of a “Limited Stock Appreciation Right” that may be exercised only in the event of a Change in Control, the Fair Market Value determined by reference to the Change in Control Price over (B) the grant price of the Stock Appreciation Right as determined by the Plan Administrator.  The grant price of a Stock Appreciation Right shall not be less

 

10



 

than the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of grant except as provided under Section 8(a) hereof.

 

(ii)           Other Terms.  The Plan Administrator shall determine at the date of grant or thereafter, the time or times at which and the circumstances under which a Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised in whole or in part (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), the time or times at which Stock Appreciation Rights shall cease to be or become exercisable following termination of Continuous Service or upon other conditions, the method of exercise, method of settlement, form of consideration payable in settlement, method by or forms in which Stock will be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants, whether or not a Stock Appreciation Right shall be in tandem or in combination with any other Award, and any other terms and conditions of any Stock Appreciation Right.  Limited Stock Appreciation Rights that may only be exercised in connection with a Change in Control or other event as specified by the Plan Administrator, may be granted on such terms, not inconsistent with this Section 6(c), as the Plan Administrator may determine.  Stock Appreciation Rights and Limited Stock Appreciation Rights may be either freestanding or in tandem with other Awards.

 

(d)           Restricted Stock.  The Plan Administrator is authorized to grant Restricted Stock to Participants on the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)            Grant and Restrictions.  Restricted Stock shall be subject to such restrictions on transferability, risk of forfeiture and other restrictions, if any, as the Plan Administrator may impose, or as otherwise provided in this Plan.  The restrictions may lapse separately or in combination at such times, under such circumstances (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), in such installments or otherwise, as the Plan Administrator may determine at the date of grant or thereafter. Except to the extent restricted under the terms of the Plan and any Award agreement relating to the Restricted Stock, a Participant granted Restricted Stock shall have all of the rights of a shareholder, including the right to vote the Restricted Stock and the right to receive dividends thereon (subject to any mandatory reinvestment or other requirement imposed by the Plan Administrator).  During the restricted period applicable to the Restricted Stock, subject to Section 10(b) below, the Restricted Stock may not be sold, transferred, pledged, hypothecated, margined or otherwise encumbered by the Participant.

 

(ii)           Forfeiture.  Except as otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator at the time of the Award, upon termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service during the applicable restriction period, the Participant’s Restricted Stock that is at that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited and reacquired by the Company; provided that the Plan Administrator may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Plan Administrator may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Restricted Stock.

 

11



 

(iii)          Certificates for Stock.  Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Plan Administrator shall determine.  If certificates representing Restricted Stock are registered in the name of the Participant, the Plan Administrator may require that such certificates bear an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, that the Company retain physical possession of the certificates, and that the Participant deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the Restricted Stock.

 

(iv)          Dividends and Splits.  As a condition to the grant of an Award of Restricted Stock, the Plan Administrator may require that any cash dividends paid on a share of Restricted Stock be automatically reinvested in additional shares of Restricted Stock or applied to the purchase of additional Awards under the Plan.  Unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator, Stock distributed in connection with a Stock split or Stock dividend, and other property distributed as a dividend, shall be subject to restrictions and a risk of forfeiture to the same extent as the Restricted Stock with respect to which such Stock or other property has been distributed.

 

(e)           Stock Units.  The Plan Administrator is authorized to grant Stock Units to Participants, which are rights to receive Stock, cash, or a combination thereof at the end of a specified time period, subject to the following terms and conditions:

 

(i)            Award and Restrictions.  Satisfaction of an Award of Stock Units shall occur upon expiration of the time period specified for such Stock Units by the Plan Administrator (or, if permitted by the Plan Administrator, as elected by the Participant).  In addition, Stock Units shall be subject to such restrictions (which may include a risk of forfeiture) as the Plan Administrator may impose, if any, which restrictions may lapse at the expiration of the time period or at earlier specified times (including based on achievement of performance goals and/or future service requirements), separately or in combination, in installments or otherwise, as the Plan Administrator may determine.  Stock Units may be satisfied by delivery of Stock, cash equal to the Fair Market Value of the specified number of shares of Stock covered by the Stock Units, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Plan Administrator at the date of grant or thereafter.  Prior to satisfaction of an Award of Stock Units, an Award of Stock Units carries no voting or dividend or other rights associated with share ownership.

 

(ii)           Forfeiture.  Except as otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator, upon termination of a Participant’s Continuous Service during the applicable time period thereof to which forfeiture conditions apply (as provided in the Award agreement evidencing the Stock Units), the Participant’s Stock Units (other than those Stock Units subject to deferral at the election of the Participant) shall be forfeited; provided that the Plan Administrator may provide, by rule or regulation or in any Award agreement, or may determine in any individual case, that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Stock Units shall be waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified causes, and the Plan Administrator may in other cases waive in whole or in part the forfeiture of Stock Units.

 

12



 

(iii)          Dividend Equivalents.  Unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator at date of grant, any Dividend Equivalents that are granted with respect to any Award of Stock Units shall be either (A) paid with respect to such Stock Units at the dividend payment date in cash or in shares of unrestricted Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount of such dividends, or (B) deferred with respect to such Stock Units and the amount or value thereof automatically deemed reinvested in additional Stock Units, other Awards or other investment vehicles, as the Plan Administrator shall determine or permit the Participant to elect.

 

(f)            Bonus Stock and Awards in Lieu of Obligations.  The Plan Administrator is authorized to grant Stock as a bonus, or to grant Stock or other Awards in lieu of Company obligations to pay cash or deliver other property under the Plan or under other plans or compensatory arrangements, provided that, in the case of Participants subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the amount of such grants remains within the discretion of the Committee to the extent necessary to ensure that acquisitions of Stock or other Awards are exempt from liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.  Stock or Awards granted hereunder shall be subject to such other terms as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator.

 

(g)           Dividend Equivalents.  The Plan Administrator is authorized to grant Dividend Equivalents to a Participant entitling the Participant to receive cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property equal in value to dividends paid with respect to a specified number of shares of Stock, or other periodic payments.  Dividend Equivalents may be awarded on a free-standing basis or in connection with another Award.  The Plan Administrator may provide that Dividend Equivalents shall be paid or distributed when accrued or shall be deemed to have been reinvested in additional Stock, Awards, or other investment vehicles, and subject to such restrictions on transferability and risks of forfeiture, as the Plan Administrator may specify.

 

(h)           Other Stock-Based Awards.  The Plan Administrator is authorized, subject to limitations under applicable law, to grant to Participants such other Awards that may be denominated or payable in, valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to, Stock, as deemed by the Plan Administrator to be consistent with the purposes of the Plan, including, without limitation, convertible or exchangeable debt securities, other rights convertible or exchangeable into Stock, purchase rights for Stock, Awards with value and payment contingent upon performance of the Company or any other factors designated by the Plan Administrator, and Awards valued by reference to the book value of Stock or the value of securities of or the performance of specified Related Entities or business units.  The Plan Administrator shall determine the terms and conditions of such Awards.  Stock delivered pursuant to an Award in the nature of a purchase right granted under this Section 6(h) shall be purchased for such consideration (including without limitation loans from the Company or a Related Entity), paid for at such times, by such methods, and in such forms, including, without limitation, cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, as the Plan Administrator shall determine.  The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion to grant such other Awards which are exercisable for unvested shares of Common Stock.  Should the Optionee’s Continuous Service cease while holding such unvested shares, the Company shall have

 

13



 

the right to repurchase, at the exercise price paid per share, any or all of those unvested shares.  The terms upon which such repurchase right shall be exercisable (including the period and procedure for exercise and the appropriate vesting schedule for the purchased shares) shall be established by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the document evidencing such repurchase right.  Cash awards, as an element of or supplement to any other Award under the Plan, may also be granted pursuant to this Section 6(h).

 

7.             Performance and Annual Incentive Awards.

 

(a)           Performance Conditions.  The right of a Participant to exercise or receive a grant or settlement of any Award, and the timing thereof, may be subject to such performance conditions as may be specified by the Plan Administrator.  The Plan Administrator may use such business criteria and other measures of performance as it may deem appropriate in establishing any performance conditions, and may exercise its discretion to reduce the amounts payable under any Award subject to performance conditions, except as limited under Sections 7(b) and 7(c) hereof in the case of a Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m).  If and to the extent required under Code Section 162(m), any power or authority relating to a Performance Award or Annual Incentive Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m), shall be exercised by the Committee as the Plan Administrator and not the Board.

 

(b)           Performance Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees.  If and to the extent that the Committee determines that a Performance Award to be granted to an Eligible Person who is designated by the Committee as likely to be a Covered Employee should qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Code Section 162(m), the grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Award shall be contingent upon achievement of pre-established performance goals and other terms set forth in this Section 7(b).

 

(i)            Performance Goals Generally.  The performance goals for such Performance Awards shall consist of one or more business criteria and a targeted level or levels of performance with respect to each of such criteria, as specified by the Committee consistent with this Section 7(b).  Performance goals shall be objective and shall otherwise meet the requirements of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder including the requirement that the level or levels of performance targeted by the Committee result in the achievement of performance goals being “substantially uncertain.”  The Committee may determine that such Performance Awards shall be granted, exercised and/or settled upon achievement of any one performance goal or that two or more of the performance goals must be achieved as a condition to grant, exercise and/or settlement of such Performance Awards.  Performance goals may differ for Performance Awards granted to any one Participant or to different Participants.

 

(ii)           Business Criteria.  One or more of the following business criteria for the Company, on a consolidated basis, and/or specified Related Entities or business units of the Company (except with respect to the total shareholder return and earnings per share criteria), shall be used exclusively by the Committee in establishing

 

14



 

performance goals for such Performance Awards: (1) total shareholder return; (2) such total shareholder return as compared to total return (on a comparable basis) of a publicly available index such as, but not limited to, the Russell 2000 Small Cap Index; (3) net income; (4) pretax earnings; (5) pretax operating earnings after interest expense and before bonuses, service fees, and extraordinary or special items; (6) earnings per share; (7) operating earnings; and (8) ratio of debt to shareholders’ equity.  One or more of the foregoing business criteria shall also be exclusively used in establishing performance goals for Annual Incentive Awards granted to a Covered Employee under Section 7(c) hereof that are intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m).

 

(iii)          Performance Period; Timing For Establishing Performance Goals.  Achievement of performance goals in respect of such Performance Awards shall be measured over a performance period of up to ten years, as specified by the Committee.  Performance goals shall be established not later than ninety (90) days after the beginning of any performance period applicable to such Performance Awards, or at such other date as may be required or permitted for “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m).

 

(iv)          Performance Award Pool.  The Committee may establish a Performance Award pool, which shall be an unfunded pool, for purposes of measuring Company performance in connection with Performance Awards.  The amount of such Performance Award pool shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set forth in Section 7(b)(ii) hereof during the given performance period, as specified by the Committee in accordance with Section 7(b)(iii) hereof.  The Committee may specify the amount of the Performance Award pool as a percentage of any of such business criteria, a percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount, or as another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to such business criteria.

 

(v)           Settlement of Performance Awards; Other Terms.  Settlement of such Performance Awards shall be in cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, in the discretion of the Committee.  The Committee may, in its discretion, reduce the amount of a settlement otherwise to be made in connection with such Performance Awards.  The Committee shall specify the circumstances in which such Performance Awards shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of Continuous Service by the Participant prior to the end of a performance period or settlement of Performance Awards.

 

(c)           Annual Incentive Awards Granted to Designated Covered Employees.  The Committee may, within its discretion, grant one or more Annual Incentive Awards to any Eligible Person, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 7(c).

 

(i)            Annual Incentive Award Pool.  The Plan Administrator may establish an Annual Incentive Award pool, which shall be an unfunded pool, for purposes of measuring Company performance in connection with Annual Incentive

 

15



 

Awards.  In the case of Annual Incentive Awards intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” for purposes of Code Section 162(m), the amount of such Annual Incentive Award pool shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set forth in Section 7(b)(ii) hereof during the given performance period, as specified by the Committee in accordance with Section 7(b)(iii) hereof.  The Committee may specify the amount of the Annual Incentive Award pool as a percentage of any such business criteria, a percentage thereof in excess of a threshold amount, or as another amount which need not bear a strictly mathematical relationship to such business criteria.

 

(ii)           Potential Annual Incentive Awards.  Not later than the end of the ninetieth (90th) day of each fiscal year, or at such other date as may be required or permitted in the case of Awards intended to be “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m), the Committee shall determine the Eligible Persons who will potentially receive Annual Incentive Awards, and the amounts potentially payable thereunder, for that fiscal year, either out of an Annual Incentive Award pool established by such date under Section 7(c)(i) hereof or as individual Annual Incentive Awards.  In the case of individual Annual Incentive Awards intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m), the amount potentially payable shall be based upon the achievement of a performance goal or goals based on one or more of the business criteria set forth in Section 7(b)(ii) hereof in the given performance year, as specified by the Committee; in other cases, such amount shall be based on such criteria as shall be established by the Committee.  In all cases, the maximum Annual Incentive Award of any Participant shall be subject to the limitation set forth in Section 5 hereof.

 

(iii)          Payout of Annual Incentive Awards.  After the end of each fiscal year, the Plan Administrator (who shall be the Committee with respect to Annual Incentive Awards for Covered Persons) shall determine the amount, if any, of (A) the Annual Incentive Award pool, and the maximum amount of potential Annual Incentive Award payable to each Participant in the Annual Incentive Award pool, or (B) the amount of potential Annual Incentive Award otherwise payable to each Participant.  The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, determine that the amount payable to any Participant as an Annual Incentive Award shall be reduced from the amount of his or her potential Annual Incentive Award, including a determination to make no Award whatsoever.  The Plan Administrator shall specify the circumstances in which an Annual Incentive Award shall be paid or forfeited in the event of termination of Continuous Service by the Participant prior to the end of a fiscal year or settlement of such Annual Incentive Award.

 

(d)           Written Determinations.  All determinations by the Committee as to the establishment of performance goals, the amount of any Performance Award pool or potential individual Performance Awards and as to the achievement of performance goals relating to Performance Awards under Section 7(b), and the amount of any Annual Incentive Award pool or potential individual Annual Incentive Awards and the amount of final Annual Incentive Awards under Section 7(c), shall be made in writing in the case of any Award intended to qualify under Code Section 162(m).  The Committee may not

 

16



 

delegate any responsibility relating to such Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards if and to the extent required to comply with Code Section 162(m).

 

(e)           Status of Section 7(b) and Section 7(c) Awards Under Code Section 162(m).  It is the intent of the Company that Performance Awards and Annual Incentive Awards under Section 7(b) and 7(c) hereof granted to persons who are designated by the Committee as likely to be Covered Employees within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder shall, if so designated by the Committee, constitute “qualified performance-based compensation” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder.  Accordingly, the terms of Sections 7(b), (c), (d) and (e), including the definitions of Covered Employee and other terms used therein, shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder.  The foregoing notwithstanding, because the Committee cannot determine with certainty whether a given Participant will be a Covered Employee with respect to a fiscal year that has not yet been completed, the term Covered Employee as used herein shall mean only a person designated by the Committee, at the time of grant of Performance Awards or an Annual Incentive Award, as likely to be a Covered Employee with respect to that fiscal year.  If any provision of the Plan or any agreement relating to such Performance Awards or Annual Incentive Awards does not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of Code Section 162(m) or regulations thereunder, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such requirements.

 

8.             Certain Provisions Applicable to Awards or Sales.

 

(a)           Stand-Alone, Additional, Tandem, and Substitute Awards.  Awards granted under the Plan may, in the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be granted either alone or in addition to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any other Award or any award granted under another plan of the Company, any Related Entity, or any business entity to be acquired by the Company or a Related Entity, or any other right of a Participant to receive payment from the Company or any Related Entity.  Such additional, tandem, and substitute or exchange Awards may be granted at any time.  If an Award is granted in substitution or exchange for another Award or award, the Plan Administrator shall require the surrender of such other Award or award in consideration for the grant of the new Award.  In addition, Awards may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company or any Related Entity, in which the value of Stock subject to the Award is equivalent in value to the cash compensation (for example, Stock Units or Restricted Stock), or in which the exercise price, grant price or purchase price of the Award in the nature of a right that may be exercised is equal to the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock minus the value of the cash compensation surrendered (for example, Options granted with an exercise price “discounted” by the amount of the cash compensation surrendered).

 

(b)           Term of Awards.  The term of each Award shall be for such period as may be determined by the Plan Administrator; provided that in no event shall the term of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right exceed a period of ten years (or such shorter

 

17



 

term as may be required in respect of an Incentive Stock Option under Section 422 of the Code).

 

(c)           Purchase Prices.  In the case of an Award under this Plan, other than an Option, which grants an Employee, Director, or Consultant of the Company the right to purchase Stock, the Board or the Committee shall have discretion to set the purchase price, provided that in no event shall the purchase price per share of Stock be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such share on the date of the Award or the date of the purchase.

 

(d)           Form and Timing of Payment Under Awards; Deferrals.  Subject to the terms of the Plan and any applicable Award agreement, payments to be made by the Company or a Related Entity upon the exercise of an Option or other Award or settlement of an Award may be made in such forms as the Plan Administrator shall determine, including, without limitation, cash, other Awards or other property, and may be made in a single payment or transfer, in installments, or on a deferred basis.  The settlement of any Award may be accelerated, and cash paid in lieu of Stock in connection with such settlement, in the discretion of the Plan Administrator or upon occurrence of one or more specified events (in addition to a Change in Control).  Installment or deferred payments may be required by the Plan Administrator (subject to Section 10(e) of the Plan) or permitted at the election of the Participant on terms and conditions established by the Plan Administrator.  Payments may include, without limitation, provisions for the payment or crediting of a reasonable interest rate on installment or deferred payments or the grant or crediting of Dividend Equivalents or other amounts in respect of installment or deferred payments denominated in Stock.

 

(e)           Exemptions from Section 16(b) Liability.  It is the intent of the Company that this Plan comply in all respects with applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 or Rule 16a-1(c)(3) to the extent necessary to ensure that neither the grant of any Awards to nor other transaction by a Participant who is subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act is subject to liability under Section 16(b) thereof (except for transactions acknowledged in writing to be non-exempt by such Participant).  Accordingly, if any provision of this Plan or any Award agreement does not comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or Rule 16a-1(c)(3) as then applicable to any such transaction, such provision will be construed or deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to the applicable requirements of Rule 16b-3 or Rule 16a-1(c)(3) so that such Participant shall avoid liability under Section 16(b).

 

9.             Change in Control; Corporate Transaction.

 

(a)           Change of Control

 

(i)            Effect of “Change in Control.”  The effect of a “Change in Control,” as defined in Section 9(a)(ii) below, shall be as provided, if at all, (1) in an employment, compensation, or severance agreement, if any, between the Company or any Related Entity and the Participant, relating to the Participant’s employment,

 

18



 

compensation, or severance with or from the Company or such Related Entity, or (2) in the agreement evidencing the Award.

 

(ii)           Definition of “Change in Control.”  “Change in Control” shall mean and be deemed to have occurred on the earliest of the following dates:

 

(1)           the date of an acquisition by any “person” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) of “beneficial ownership” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) or a pecuniary interest in more than 45% of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities (“Voting Stock”), other than an acquisition by one or more of Company, Image Entertainment, Inc., Image Investors Co. or Messrs. John Kluge, Stuart Subotnick or Martin Greenwald (each, an “Excluded Person”) in connection with a new issuance of Voting Stock (or rights to acquire Voting Stock) after the effective date of the Plan by Company to the Excluded Person in a transaction that the Committee determines (in advance of the issuance) does not constitute a Change in Control event, or in the event that one or more Excluded Persons take Company from a public company to a privately held company;

 

(2)           approval by the shareholders of Company of a Corporate Transaction other than a Corporate Transaction: (1) (a) in which substantially all of the holders of Company’s Voting Stock hold or receive directly or indirectly 50% or more of the voting stock of the resulting entity or a parent company thereof, and (b) after which no “person” as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act (other than any one or more of the Excluded Persons, as defined above) owns more than 50% of the voting stock of the resulting entity (or a parent company) who did not own directly or indirectly at least that amount of Voting Stock immediately before the Corporate Transaction; or (2) in which the holders of Company’s capital stock immediately before such Corporate Transaction will, immediately after such Corporate Transaction, hold as a group on a fully diluted basis the ability to elect at least a majority of the directors of the surviving corporation (or a parent company);

 

(3)           the date the persons who were members of the Board at the beginning of any 24-month period shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board, unless the election, or the nomination for election by Company’s shareholders, of each new director was approved by two-thirds of the members of the Board then in office who were in office at the beginning of the 24-month period.

 

For purposes of determining whether a Change in Control has occurred, a transaction includes all transactions in a series of related transactions, and terms used in this definition but not defined are used as defined in the Plan.  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 and the Participant shall supersede the foregoing definition with respect to Awards subject to such agreement (it being understood,

 

19



 

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).

 

(b)           Corporate Transactions.  In the event of a Corporate Transaction, any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation may assume or continue any or all Awards outstanding under the Plan or may substitute similar stock awards for outstanding Awards (it being understood that similar stock awards include, but are not limited to, awards to acquire the same consideration paid to the shareholders or 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 Stock issued pursuant to Awards may be assigned by the Company to the successor of the Company (or the successor’s parent company), if any, in connection with such Corporate Transaction.  In the event that any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation does not assume or continue any or all such outstanding Awards or substitute similar stock awards for such outstanding Awards, then with respect to 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 Awards (and, if applicable, the time at which such 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), the 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 Awards held by Participants whose Continuous Service has not terminated shall (contingent upon the effectiveness of the Corporate Transaction) lapse.  With respect to any other 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 Award, and such Awards shall terminate if not exercised (if applicable) prior to the effective time of the Corporate Transaction.

 

(c)           Dissolution or Liquidation.  In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, then all outstanding Awards shall terminate immediately prior to the completion of such dissolution or liquidation, and shares of Common Stock subject to the Company’s repurchase option may be repurchased by the Company notwithstanding the fact that the holder of such stock is still in Continuous Service.

 

10.           General Provisions.

 

(a)           Compliance With Legal and Other Requirements.  The Company may, to the extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Plan Administrator, postpone the issuance or delivery of Stock or payment of other benefits under any Award until completion of such registration or qualification of such Stock or other required action under any federal or state law, rule or regulation, listing or other required action with respect to any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Stock or other Company securities are listed or quoted, or compliance with any other obligation of

 

20



 

the Company, as the Plan Administrator, may consider appropriate, and may require any Participant to make such representations, furnish such information and comply with or be subject to such other conditions as it may consider appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of Stock or payment of other benefits in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, listing requirements, or other obligations.  The foregoing notwithstanding, in connection with a Change in Control, the Company shall take or cause to be taken no action, and shall undertake or permit to arise no legal or contractual obligation, that results or would result in any postponement of the issuance or delivery of Stock or payment of benefits under any Award or the imposition of any other conditions on such issuance, delivery or payment, to the extent that such postponement or other condition would represent a greater burden on a Participant than existed on the 90th day preceding the Change in Control.

 

(b)           Limits on Transferability; Beneficiaries.

 

(i)            General.  Except as provided in the Award agreement, a Participant may not assign, sell, transfer, or otherwise encumber or subject to any lien any Award or other right or interest granted under this Plan, in whole or in part, including any Award or right which constitutes a derivative security as generally defined in Rule 16a1(c) under the Exchange Act, other than by will or by operation of the laws of descent and distribution, and such Awards or rights that may be exercisable shall be exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant or his or her guardian or legal representative.

 

(ii)           Permitted Transfer of Option.  The Committee or Board, in its sole discretion, may permit the transfer of an Option (but not an Incentive Stock Option, or any other right to purchase Stock other than an Option) as follows:  (A) by gift to a member of the Participant’s Immediate Family or (B) by transfer by instrument to a trust providing that the Option is to be passed to beneficiaries upon death of the Optionee.  For purposes of this Section 10(b)(ii), “Immediate Family” shall mean the Optionee’s spouse (including a former spouse subject to terms of a domestic relations order); child, stepchild, grandchild, child-in-law; parent, stepparent, grandparent, parent-in-law; sibling and sibling-in-law, and shall include adoptive relationships.  If a determination is made by counsel for the Company that the restrictions contained in this Section 10(b)(ii) are not required by applicable federal or state securities laws under the circumstances, then the Committee or Board, in its sole discretion, may permit the transfer of Awards (other than Incentive Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights in tandem therewith) to one or more Beneficiaries or other transferees during the lifetime of the Participant, which may be exercised by such transferees in accordance with the terms of such Award, but only if and to the extent permitted by the Plan Administrator pursuant to the express terms of an Award agreement (subject to any terms and conditions which the Plan Administrator may impose thereon, and further subject to any prohibitions and restrictions on such transfers pursuant to Rule 16b-3).  A Beneficiary, transferee, or other person claiming any rights under the Plan from or through any Participant shall be subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award agreement applicable to such Participant, except as otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator, and to any additional terms and conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Plan Administrator.

 

21



 

(c)           Adjustments.

 

(i)            Adjustments to Awards.  In the event that any dividend or other distribution (whether in the form of cash, Stock, or other property), recapitalization, forward or reverse split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, share exchange, liquidation, dissolution or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the Stock and/or such other securities of the Company or any other issuer such that a substitution, exchange, or adjustment is determined by the Plan Administrator to be appropriate, then the Plan Administrator shall, in such manner as it may deem equitable, substitute, exchange, or adjust any or all of (A) the number and kind of shares of Stock which may be delivered in connection with Awards granted thereafter, (B) the number and kind of shares of Stock by which annual per-person Award limitations are measured under Section 5 hereof, (C) the number and kind of shares of Stock subject to or deliverable in respect of outstanding Awards, (D) the exercise price, grant price or purchase price relating to any Award and/or make provision for payment of cash or other property in respect of any outstanding Award, and (E) any other aspect of any Award that the Plan Administrator determines to be appropriate.

 

(ii)           Other Adjustments.  The Committee (and the Board if and only to the extent such authority is not required to be exercised by the Committee to comply with Code Section 162(m)) is authorized to make adjustments in the terms and conditions of, and the criteria included in, Awards (including Performance Awards and performance goals, and Annual Incentive Awards and any Annual Incentive Award pool or performance goals relating thereto) in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events (including, without limitation, acquisitions and dispositions of businesses and assets) affecting the Company, any Related Entity or any business unit, or the financial statements of the Company or any Related Entity, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, tax rates and regulations or business conditions or in view of the Committee’s assessment of the business strategy of the Company, any Related Entity or business unit thereof, performance of comparable organizations, economic and business conditions, personal performance of a Participant, and any other circumstances deemed relevant; provided that no such adjustment shall be authorized or made if and to the extent that such authority or the making of such adjustment would cause Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Awards granted under Section 8(b) hereof or Annual Incentive Awards granted under Section 8(c) hereof to Participants designated by the Committee as Covered Employees and intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m) and the regulations thereunder to otherwise fail to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Code Section 162(m) and regulations thereunder.

 

(d)           Taxes.  The Company and any Related Entity are authorized to withhold from any Award granted, any payment relating to an Award under the Plan, including from a distribution of Stock, or any payroll or other payment to a Participant, amounts of withholding and other taxes due or potentially payable in connection with any transaction involving an Award, and to take such other action as the Plan Administrator may deem advisable to enable the Company and Participants to satisfy obligations for the payment of withholding taxes and other tax obligations relating to any Award.  This

 

22



 

authority shall include authority to withhold or receive Stock or other property and to make cash payments in respect thereof in satisfaction of a Participant’s tax obligations, either on a mandatory or elective basis in the discretion of the Committee.

 

(e)           Changes to the Plan and Awards.  The Board may amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan, or the Committee’s authority to grant Awards under the Plan, without the consent of shareholders or Participants, except that any amendment or alteration to the Plan shall be subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders not later than the annual meeting next following such Board action if such shareholder approval is required by any federal or state law or regulation (including, without limitation, Rule 16b-3 or Code Section 162(m)) or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which the Stock may then be listed or quoted, and the Board may otherwise, in its discretion, determine to submit other such changes to the Plan to shareholders for approval; provided that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Board action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under any previously granted and outstanding Award.  The Plan Administrator may waive any conditions or rights under, or amend, alter, suspend, discontinue or terminate any Award theretofore granted and any Award agreement relating thereto, except as otherwise provided in the Plan; provided that, without the consent of an affected Participant, no such Plan Administrator action may materially and adversely affect the rights of such Participant under such Award.  Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, if any right under this Plan would cause a transaction to be ineligible for pooling of interest accounting that would, but for the right hereunder, be eligible for such accounting treatment, the Plan Administrator may modify or adjust the right so that pooling of interest accounting shall be available, including the substitution of Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to the cash otherwise payable hereunder for the right which caused the transaction to be ineligible for pooling of interest accounting.

 

(f)            Reporting of Financial Information.  The Company shall provide to the recipient of any Award under this Plan, no less frequently than annually, the financial statements of the Company, until such time as a determination is made by counsel for the Company that such reports are not required by applicable federal or state securities laws under the circumstances.

 

(g)           Limitation on Rights Conferred Under Plan.  Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible Person or Participant the right to continue as an Eligible Person or Participant or in the employ of the Company or a Related Entity; (ii) interfering in any way with the right of the Company or a Related Entity to terminate any Eligible Person’s or Participant’s Continuous Service at any time, (iii) giving an Eligible Person or Participant any claim to be granted any Award under the Plan or to be treated uniformly with other Participants and Employees, or (iv) conferring on a Participant any of the rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and until the Participant is duly issued or transferred shares of Stock in accordance with the terms of an Award.

 

23



 

(h)           Unfunded Status of Awards; Creation of Trusts.  The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation.  With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant or obligation to deliver Stock pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company; provided that the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts and deposit therein cash, Stock, other Awards or other property, or make other arrangements to meet the Company’s obligations under the Plan.  Such trusts or other arrangements shall be consistent with the “unfunded” status of the Plan unless the Committee otherwise determines with the consent of each affected Participant.  The trustee of such trusts may be authorized to dispose of trust assets and reinvest the proceeds in alternative investments, subject to such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may specify and in accordance with applicable law.

 

(i)            Nonexclusivity of the Plan.  Neither the adoption of the Plan by the Board nor its submission to the shareholders of the Company for approval shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable including incentive arrangements and awards which do not qualify under Code Section 162(m).

 

(j)            Payments in the Event of Forfeitures; Fractional Shares.  Unless otherwise determined by the Plan Administrator, in the event of a forfeiture of an Award with respect to which a Participant paid cash or other consideration, the Participant shall be repaid the amount of such cash or other consideration.  No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or delivered pursuant to the Plan or any Award.  The Plan Administrator shall determine whether cash, other Awards or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be forfeited or otherwise eliminated.

 

(k)           Governing Law.  The validity, construction and effect of the Plan, any rules and regulations under the Plan, and any Award agreement shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws, and applicable federal law.

 

(l)            Plan Effective Date and Shareholder Approval; Termination of Plan.  The Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date, subject to subsequent approval within 12 months of its adoption by the Board by shareholders of the Company eligible to vote in the election of directors, by a vote sufficient to meet the requirements of Code Sections 162(m) (if applicable) and 422, Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act (if applicable), applicable Nasdaq requirements, and other laws, regulations, and obligations of the Company applicable to the Plan.  Awards may be granted subject to shareholder approval, but may not be exercised or otherwise settled in the event shareholder approval is not obtained.  The Plan shall terminate no later than 10 years from the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or 10 years from the date the Plan is approved by the Shareholders, whichever is earlier.

 

24



 

(m)          State Securities Laws.  The sale of the securities which are the subject of the Plan has not been qualified with the commissioner of Corporations of the State of California and the issuance of the securities or the payment or receipt of any part of the consideration therefor prior to the qualification is unlawful, unless the sale of securities is exempt from the qualification by sections 25102 or 25102.1 of the California Corporations Code.  The rights of all parties to the Plan are expressly conditioned upon the qualification being obtained unless the sale is so exempt.

 

25



 

EGAMI MEDIA, INC.

2005 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

 

EMPLOYEE (INCENTIVE)/DIRECTOR (NONQUALIFIED)

STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE

 

THIS EMPLOYEE (INCENTIVE)/DIRECTOR (NONQUALIFIED) STOCK OPTION GRANT NOTICE (the “Grant Notice”) is between the Company and the Optionee named below and evidences the Company’s grant to the Optionee of a Incentive Stock Option to purchase authorized but unissued shares of the Company’s Common Stock.  The Option is granted pursuant to and subject to the Company’s 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Plan”) and standard Stock Option Agreement (“Option Agreement”), incorporated herein by this reference.

 

Optionee:

 

Vesting Schedule (1),(2),(3):

 

 

 

Exercise Price Per Share:(1)

 

 

 

 

 

Number of Shares:(1)

 

 

 

 

 

Grant Date:

 

 

 

 

 

Expiration Date:(2)

 

 

 

 

 

Other:

 

 

 

 

 

 


(1)   Subject to adjustment under Section 10(c) of the Plan.

(2)   Subject to early termination of the Optionee’s employment terminates or in certain other circumstances.  See Sections 8(b), 9 and 10(c) of the Plan and Section 3 of the Option Agreement for exceptions and additional details regarding possible early termination of the Option.

(3)   Options may not be exercised prior to their vesting date.  Please see the Option Agreement for all requirements, terms and conditions of exercise.

 

Optionee accepts the Option in accordance with the terms set forth in this Grant Notice, and agrees to and acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Option Agreement and Plan.

 

AGREED AND ACKNOWLEDGED:

 

EGAMI MEDIA, INC.

(a Delaware Corporation)

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

(Authorized Officer)

 

(Optionee’s Signature)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Street Address)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(City, State, Zip Code)

 

26



 

EGAMI MEDIA, INC.

 

2005 STOCK AWARD PLAN

 

STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, the terms defined in the 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan shall have the same defined meanings in this Stock Option Agreement.

 

1.             Grant of Option.  The Plan Administrator of the Company hereby grants to the Optionee named in the Stock Option Grant Notice (the “Optionee”), an option (the “Option”) to purchase the number of Shares set forth in the Grant Notice, at the exercise price per Share set forth in the Stock Option Grant Notice (the “Exercise Price”), and subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, which is incorporated herein by reference.  Subject to Section 10(e) of the Plan, in the event of a conflict between the terms and conditions of the Plan and this Option Agreement, the terms and conditions of the Plan shall prevail. If designated in the Stock Option Grant Notice as an Incentive Stock Option (“ISO”), this Option is intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option as defined in Section 422 of the Code.  Nevertheless, to the extent that it exceeds the $100,000 rule of Code Section 422(d), this Option shall be treated as a Nonstatutory Stock Option (“NSO”).

 

2.             Exercise of Option.

 

(a)           Right to Exercise.  This Option shall be exercisable during its term in accordance with the Vesting Schedule set out in the Stock Option Grant Notice and with the applicable provisions of the Plan and this Option Agreement.

 

Method of Exercise.  This Option shall be exercisable by delivery of an exercise notice in the form attached as Exhibit A (the “Exercise Notice”) which shall state the election to exercise the Option, the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is being exercised, and such other representations and agreements as may be required by the Company. No Shares shall be issued pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless such issuance and such exercise complies with Applicable Laws.  Assuming such compliance, for income tax purposes the Shares shall be considered transferred to the Optionee on the date on which the Option is exercised with respect to such Shares.

 

The Option shall be deemed exercised when the Company receives (i) written or electronic notice of exercise (in accordance with this Option Agreement) from the Optionee (or other person entitled to exercise the Option), and (ii) full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised, and (iii) any other documents required by this Option Agreement or the Exercise Notice.  Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment permitted by this Option Agreement.  Shares issued upon exercise of an Option shall be issued in the name of the Optionee or, if requested by the Optionee, in the name of the Optionee and his or her spouse.  Until the Shares are issued (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Shares, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option.  The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such Shares promptly after the Option is exercised.  No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the Shares are issued, except as provided in Section 10(c) of the Plan.

 

Exercise of this Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the number of Shares thereafter available for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

 

3.             Term.  Optionee may not exercise the Option before the commencement of its term or after its term expires.  During the term of the Option, Optionee may only exercise the Option to the extent vested.  The term of the Option commences on the Grant Date and expires upon the earliest of the following:

 

(a)           With respect to the unvested portion of the Option, upon termination of your continuous service;

 

27



 

(b)           With respect to the vested portion of the Option, thirty (30) days after the termination of your continuous service as a Service Provider for any reason other than your Disability, death or termination for Cause;

 

(c)           With respect to the vested portion of the Option, immediately upon the termination of your continuous service as a Service Provider for Cause;

 

(d)           With respect to the vested portion of the Option, twelve (12) months after the termination of your continuous service as a Service Provider due to your Disability or death;

 

(e)           Immediately prior to the close of certain Corporate Transactions, pursuant to Section 10(c) of the Plan; or

 

(f)            The day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Grant Date.

 

4.             Method of Payment.  Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be by any of the following, or a combination thereof, at the election of the Optionee:

 

(a)           cash or check;

 

(b)           consideration received by the Company under a formal cashless exercise program adopted by the Company in connection with the Plan; or

 

(c)           surrender of other Shares which, (i) in the case of Shares acquired from the Company, either directly or indirectly, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six (6) months on the date of surrender, and (ii) have a Fair Market Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate Exercise Price of the Exercised Shares.

 

5.             Optionee’s Representations.  In the event the Shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, at the time this Option is exercised, the Optionee shall, if required by the Company, concurrently with the exercise of all or any portion of this Option, deliver to the Company an investment representation statement in a form satisfactory to the Company.

 

6.             Lock-Up Period.  Optionee hereby agrees that Optionee shall not offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company or enter into any swap, hedging or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of any Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company held by Optionee (other than those included in the registration) for a period specified by the representative of the underwriters of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days following the effective date of any registration statement of the Company filed under the Securities Act.

 

Optionee agrees to execute and deliver such other agreements as may be reasonably requested by the Company or the underwriter which are consistent with the foregoing or which are necessary to give further effect thereto.  In addition, if requested by the Company or the representative of the underwriters of Common Stock (or other securities) of the Company, Optionee shall provide, within ten (10) days of such request, such information as may be required by the Company or such representative in connection with the completion of any public offering of the Company’s securities pursuant to a registration statement filed under the Securities Act.  The obligations described in this Section shall not apply to a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans on Form S-1 or Form S-8 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future, or a registration relating solely to a Commission Rule 145 transaction on Form S-4 or similar forms that may be promulgated in the future.  The Company may impose stop-transfer instructions with respect to the shares of Common Stock (or other securities) subject to the foregoing restriction until the end of said one hundred eighty (180) day period.  Optionee agrees that any transferee of the Option or shares acquired pursuant to the Option shall be bound by this Section.

 

28



 

7.             Restrictions on Exercise.  This Option may not be exercised until such time as the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the Company, or if the issuance of such Shares upon such exercise or the method of payment of consideration for such shares would constitute a violation of any Applicable Law.

 

8.             Non-Transferability of Option.  This Option may not be transferred in any manner otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised during the lifetime of Optionee only by Optionee.  The terms of the Plan and this Option Agreement shall be binding upon the executors, administrators, heirs, successors and assigns of the Optionee.

 

9.             Tax Obligations.

 

(a)           Withholding Taxes.  Optionee agrees to make appropriate arrangements with the Company (or the Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining Optionee) for the satisfaction of all Federal, state, local and foreign income and employment tax withholding requirements applicable to the Option exercise.  Optionee acknowledges and agrees that the Company may refuse to honor the exercise and refuse to deliver Shares if such withholding amounts are not delivered at the time of exercise.

 

(b)           Notice of Disqualifying Disposition of ISO Shares.  If the Option granted to Optionee herein is an ISO, and if Optionee sells or otherwise disposes of any of the Shares acquired pursuant to the ISO on or before the later of (1) the date two years after the Grant Date, or (2) the date one year after the date of exercise, the Optionee shall immediately notify the Company in writing of such disposition.  Optionee agrees that Optionee may be subject to income tax withholding by the Company on the compensation income recognized by the Optionee.

 

10.           Entire Agreement; Governing Law.  The Plan is incorporated herein by reference.  The Plan and this Option Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Optionee’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Optionee.  This agreement is governed by the internal substantive laws but not the choice of law rules of California.

 

11.           No Guarantee of Continued Service.  OPTIONEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE VESTING OF SHARES PURSUANT TO THE VESTING SCHEDULE HEREOF IS EARNED ONLY BY CONTINUING AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT THE WILL OF THE COMPANY (NOT THROUGH THE ACT OF BEING HIRED OR APPOINTED, BEING GRANTED THIS OPTION OR ACQUIRING SHARES HEREUNDER).  OPTIONEE FURTHER ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THIS AGREEMENT, THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREUNDER AND THE VESTING SCHEDULE SET FORTH HEREIN DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE OF CONTINUED ENGAGEMENT AS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE VESTING PERIOD, FOR ANY PERIOD, OR AT ALL, AND SHALL NOT INTERFERE IN ANY WAY WITH OPTIONEE’S RIGHT OR THE COMPANY’S RIGHT TO TERMINATE OPTIONEE’S RELATIONSHIP AS A SERVICE PROVIDER AT ANY TIME, WITH OR WITHOUT CAUSE.

 

Optionee acknowledges receipt of a copy of the Plan and represents that he or she is familiar with the terms and provisions thereof, and hereby accepts this Option subject to all of the terms and provisions thereof.  Optionee has reviewed the Plan and this Option in their entirety, has had an opportunity to obtain the advice of counsel prior to executing this Option and fully understands all provisions of the Option.  Optionee hereby agrees to accept as binding, conclusive and final all decisions or interpretations of the Administrator upon any questions arising under the Plan or this Option.  Optionee further agrees to notify the Company upon any change in the residence address indicated below.

 

29



 

EXHIBIT A

 

2005 STOCK AWARD PLAN

 

EXERCISE NOTICE

 

Egami Media, Inc.
20525 Nordhoff Street, Suite 200

Chatsworth, CA 91311

 

Attention:

 

1.             Exercise of Option.  Effective as of today,                           ,           , the undersigned (“Optionee”) hereby elects to exercise Optionee’s option to purchase                    shares of the Common Stock (the “Shares”) of Image Entertainment, Inc. (the “Company”) under and pursuant to the 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan(the “Plan”) and the Stock Option Agreement dated                         ,          (the “Option Agreement”).

 

2.             Delivery of Payment.  Optionee herewith delivers to the Company the full purchase price of the Shares, as set forth in the Option Agreement, and any and all withholding taxes due in connection with the exercise of the Option.

 

3.             Representations of Optionee.  Optionee acknowledges that Optionee has received, read and understood the Plan and the Option Agreement and agrees to abide by and be bound by their terms and conditions.

 

4.             Rights as Stockholder.  Until the issuance of the Shares (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company), no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option.  The Shares shall be issued to the Optionee as soon as practicable after the Option is exercised in accordance with the Option Agreement.  No adjustment shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date of issuance except as provided in Section 10(c) of the Plan.

 

5.             Tax Consultation.  Optionee understands that Optionee may suffer adverse tax consequences as a result of Optionee’s purchase or disposition of the Shares.  Optionee represents that Optionee has consulted with any tax consultants Optionee deems advisable in connection with the purchase or disposition of the Shares and that Optionee is not relying on the Company for any tax advice.

 

6.             Restrictive Legends and Stop-Transfer Orders.

 

(a)           Legends.  Optionee understands and agrees that the Company shall cause the legends set forth below or legends substantially equivalent thereto, to be placed upon any certificate(s) evidencing ownership of the Shares together with any other legends that may be required by the Company or by state or federal securities laws:

 

THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER FOR A PERIOD NOT TO EXCEED 180 DAYS FOLLOWING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE UNDERWRITTEN PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE COMPANY’S SECURITIES AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF BY THE HOLDER WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE COMPANY OR THE MANAGING UNDERWRITER.

 

(b)           Stop-Transfer Notices.  Optionee agrees that, in order to ensure compliance with the restrictions referred to herein, the Company may issue appropriate “stop transfer” instructions to its transfer agent, if any, and that, if the Company transfers its own securities, it may make appropriate notations to the same effect in its own records.

 

30



 

(c)           Refusal to Transfer.  The Company shall not be required (i) to transfer on its books any Shares that have been sold or otherwise transferred in violation of any of the provisions of this Exercise Notice or (ii) to treat as owner of such Shares or to accord the right to vote or pay dividends to any purchaser or other transferee to whom such Shares shall have been so transferred.

 

7.             Successors and Assigns.  The Company may assign any of its rights under this Exercise Notice to single or multiple assignees, and this Exercise Notice shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Company.  Subject to the restrictions on transfer herein set forth, this Exercise Notice shall be binding upon Optionee and his or her heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns.

 

8.             Interpretation.  Any dispute regarding the interpretation of this Exercise Notice shall be submitted by Optionee or by the Company forthwith to the Administrator which shall review such dispute at its next regular meeting.  The resolution of such a dispute by the Administrator shall be final and binding on all parties.

 

9.             Governing Law; Severability.  This Exercise Notice is governed by the internal substantive laws but not the choice of law rules, of California.  In the event that any provision hereof becomes or is declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, unenforceable or void, this Option Agreement will continue in full force and effect.

 

10.           Entire Agreement.  The Plan and Option Agreement are incorporated herein by reference.  This Exercise Notice, the Plan, the Option Agreement and the Investment Representation Statement constitute the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede in their entirety all prior undertakings and agreements of the Company and Optionee with respect to the subject matter hereof, and may not be modified adversely to the Optionee’s interest except by means of a writing signed by the Company and Optionee.

 

OPTIONEE

 

EGAMI MEDIA, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Signature

 

By

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Print Name

 

Title

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Residence Address

 

 

 

 

 

SIGNATURE PAGE OF STOCK OPTION EXERCISE NOTICE

 

31