absence returns to regular full time or part time employment with the Company at the earlier of: (a) the termination of such leave of absence, or (b) three months after the 90th day of such leave of absence, such Participant’s participation in the Plan shall terminate on whichever of such dates first occurs.
ARTICLE IX
INTEREST
9.1Payment of Interest.No interest will be paid or allowed on any money paid into the Plan or credited to the account of any Participant, including any interest paid on any and all money which is distributed to a Participant or such Participant’s beneficiary pursuant to the provisions of Sections 7.2, 8.1, 8.3, 8.4 and 10.1 hereof.
ARTICLE X
STOCK
10.1Maximum Shares.The maximum number of shares of Stock that shall be issued under the Plan, subject to adjustment upon changes in capitalization of the Company as provided in Section 12.4 hereof, shall be 1,500,000 shares plus the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Company’s 1998 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “1998 Plan”) that are not purchased as of the expiration date of the 1998 Plan. If the total number of shares for which Options are exercised on any Offering Termination Date in accordance with Article 6 exceeds the maximum number of shares for the applicable Offering, the Company shall make a pro rata allocation of the shares available for delivery and distribution in as nearly a uniform manner as shall be practicable and as the Committee shall determine to be equitable, and the balance of payroll deductions credited to the account of each Participant under the Plan shall be returned to such Participant as promptly as possible.
10.2Participant’s Interest in Option Stock.A Participant will have no interest in Stock covered by such Participant’s Option until such Option has been exercised.
10.3Issuance of Shares.The shares issued upon the exercise of any such Option may be, as the Committee may from time to time determine: (i) unissued shares of Stock, (ii) shares of Stock now held as treasury shares; or (iii) shares of Stock subsequently acquired by the Company, including, without limitation, shares of Stock purchased in the open market by the Company.
10.4Registration of Stock.Stock to be delivered to a Participant under the Plan will be registered in the name of the Participant, or, if the Participant so directs by written notice to the designated office of the Company prior to the Offering Termination Date applicable thereto, in the names of the Participant and the Participant’s spouse, in the form and manner permitted by applicable law.
10.5Restrictions on Exercise.The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, require as conditions to the exercise of any Option that the shares of Stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of the Option shall have been duly listed, upon official notice of issuance, upon the New York Stock Exchange or other principal exchange or market on which the Common Stock is authorized or listed for trading, and that either:
(a) a Registration Statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to said shares shall be effective; or
(b) the Participant shall have represented at the time of purchase, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, that it is such Participant’s intention to purchase the shares for investment and not for resale or distribution.
ARTICLE XI
ADMINISTRATION
11.1Appointment of Committee.The Board of Directors shall appoint a committee (“Committee”) to administer the Plan, which shall consist of no fewer than two (2) members of the Board of Directors. Members of the Committee who are Employees shall be eligible to purchase Stock under the Plan.
11.2Authority of Committee.Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have plenary authority in its discretion to interpret and construe any and all provisions of the Plan, to adopt rules and regulations for administering the Plan, and to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for administering the Plan. The Committee’s determination regarding the foregoing matters shall be conclusive. The Committee may delegate its authority as it deems necessary or appropriate.