Exhibit 10.1
PLURISTEMLIFE SYSTEMS, THERAPEUTICS INC.
AMENDEDAND RESTATED 2005 STOCK OPTION PLAN *
ThisaAmendedand Restated 2005 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) provides for the grant ofRestricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units andoptions to acquirecommonshares(the “ofCommonShares”)Stock in the capital of PluristemLife Systems,Therapeutics Inc., a corporation formed under the laws of the State of Nevada (the “Corporation”).Stock optionsAwards granted under this Plan will include:
(a) | stock options |
(b) | stock options, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units, that qualify under Section 102 of the Israeli Tax Ordinance (New Version) 1961, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Ordinance”), which will be referred to in this Plan as “ |
(c) | stock options, Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units, that do not qualify under Section 422 of the Code , which will be referred to in this Plan as “Non-Qualified |
(d) |
Incentive Stock Options,Section102OptionsAwards, Non-QualifiedStock OptionsAwards and Section 3(i)OptionsAwards, granted under this Plan are collectively referred to as “OptionsAwards”.
1. | PURPOSE |
1.1 The purpose of this Plan is to retain the services of valued key employees and consultants of the Corporation and such other persons as the Plan Administrator (as hereinafter defined) shall select in accordance with Section 3 below, and to encourage such persons to acquire a greater proprietary interest in the Corporation, thereby strengthening their incentive to achieve the objectives of the shareholders of the Corporation, and to serve as an aid and inducement in the hiring of new employees and to provide an equity incentive to consultants and other persons selected by the Plan Administrator.
1.2 This Plan shall at all times be subject to all legal requirements relating to the administration ofstock option plansAwards, if any, under applicable corporate laws, applicable United States federal and state securities laws, the Code, applicable Israeli tax laws, Israeli securities laws, Israeli corporate laws, Israeli foreign exchange control laws the rules of any applicable stock exchange or stock quotation system, and the rules of any other foreign jurisdiction applicable toOptionsAwards granted to residents therein (collectively, the “Applicable Laws”).
* This version reflects the changes to the Company’s 2005 Stock Option Plan in the form filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 24, 2007 as exhibit 99.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K.
2. | ADMINISTRATION |
2.1 This Plan shall be administered initially by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board”), except that the Board may, in its discretion, establish a committee composed of two (2) or more members of the Board or two (2) or more other persons to administer the Plan, which committee (the “Committee”) may be an executive, compensation or other committee, including a separate committee especially created for this purpose. The Board or, if applicable, the Committee is referred to herein as the “Plan Administrator”.
2.2 If and so long as theshares ofCommonShares isStock are registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the Corporation wishes to grant Incentive Stock Options, then the Board shall consider in selecting the Plan Administrator and the membership of any Committee, with respect to any persons subject or likely to become subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, the provisions regarding (a) “outside directors” as contemplated by Section 162(m) of the Code, and (b) “Non-Employee Directors” as contemplated by Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.
2.3 The Committee shall have the powers and authority vested in the Board hereunder (including the power and authority to interpret any provision of the Plan or of any Option). The members of any such Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum, and all actions of the Committee shall be taken by a majority of the members present. Any action may be taken by a written instrument signed by all of the members of the Committee and any action so taken shall be fully effective as if it had been taken at a meeting.
2.4 Subject to the provisions of this Plan and any Applicable Laws, and with a view to accomplishing the purpose of the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall have sole authority, in its absolute discretion, to:
(a) | construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and any |
(b) | define the terms used in the Plan; |
(c) | prescribe, amend and rescind the rules and regulations relating to this Plan; |
(d) | correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Plan; |
(e) | grant |
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(f) | determine the individuals to whom |
(g) | make an election under Section 102(b)(1) or (2) of the Ordinance; |
(h) | determine the time or times at which |
(i) | determine the number ofshares ofCommon |
(j) | determine all other terms and conditions of the |
(k) | make all other determinations and interpretations necessary and advisable for the administration of the Plan. |
2.5 All decisions, determinations and interpretations made by the Plan Administrator shall be binding and conclusive on all participants in the Plan and on their legal representatives, heirs and beneficiaries.
3. | ELIGIBILITY |
3.1 | Definitions. In this agreement: |
“Affiliate” means any “employing company” within the meaning of Section 102(a) of the Ordinance.
“Controlling Shareholder” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 32(9) of the Ordinance.”
“Israeli Employee” means a person who is employed by the Corporation or its Affiliates in Israel, including an individual who is serving as a director or an office holder, but excluding a Controlling Shareholder.
“Related Corporation” means any corporation (other than the Corporation) that is a “Parent Corporation” of the Corporation or “Subsidiary Corporation” of the Corporation, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and 424(f), respectively, of the Code (or any successor provisions) and the regulations thereunder (as amended from time to time).
3.2 Incentive Stock Options may be granted to any individual who, at the time such Option is granted, is an employee of the Corporation or any Related Corporation (as hereinafter defined) (an “Employee”).
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3.3 Non-QualifiedStock OptionsAwards, may be granted to Employees, and to such other persons who are not Employees as the Plan Administrator shall select, subject to any Applicable Laws.
3.4 Section102Options Awards may be granted to Israeli Employees in accordance with Section 4 herein.
3.5 Section 3(i)Options Awards may be granted to consultants and Controlling Shareholders that do not qualify as Israeli Employees.
3.6 OptionsAwards may be granted in substitution for outstandingOptionsAwards of another corporation in connection with the merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock or other reorganization between such other corporation and the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation.OptionsAwards also may be granted in exchange for outstandingOptionsAwards.
3.7 Any person to whom anOptionoption is granted under this Plan is referred to asan “Optioneea “Participant”. Any person who is the owner of anOptionAward is referred to as a “Holder”.
4. | DESIGNATION OF |
4.1 The Corporation may designateSection102OptionsAwards granted to Israeli Employees pursuant to Section 102 of the Ordinance as Unapproved 102OptionsAwards (means an Option granted pursuant to Section 102(c) of the Ordinance and not held in trust by a Trustee) or Approved 102OptionsAwards (means anOptionAward granted pursuant to Section 102(b) of the Ordinance and held in trust by a Trustee for the benefit of the OptioneeParticipant).
4.2 �� The grant of Approved 102OptionsAwards shall be made under this Plan adopted by the Board, and shall be conditioned upon the approval of this Plan by the Israeli Tax Authorities (the “ITA”).
4.3 Approved 102OptionAward may either be classified as Capital GainOption “CGOAward (“CGA”) or Ordinary IncomeOptionAward(“OIOOIA”).
4.4 Approved 102OptionAward elected and designated by the Corporation to qualify under the capital gain tax treatment in accordance with the provisions of Section 102(b)(2) shall be referred to herein asCGOCGA.
4.5 Approved 102OptionAward elected and designated by the Corporation to qualify under the ordinary income tax treatment in accordance with the provisions of Section 102(b)(1) shall be referred to herein asOIOOIA.
4.6 The Corporation’s election of the type of Approved 102OptionsAwards asCGOCGA orOIOOIAgranted to Employees (the “Election”), shall be appropriately filed with the ITA before the Date of Grant of an Approved 102OptionAward. Such Election shall become effective beginning the first Date of Grant of an Approved 102 OptionAward under this Plan and shall remain in effect at least until the end of the year following the year during which the Corporation first granted Approved 102OptionsAwards. The Election shall obligate the Corporation to grantonly the type of Approved 102OptionAward it has elected, and shall apply to all OptioneesParticipants who were granted Approved 102OptionsAwards during the period indicated herein, all in accordance with the provisions of Section 102(g) of the Ordinance. For the avoidance of doubt, such Election shall not prevent the Corporation from granting Unapproved 102OptionsAwards simultaneously.
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4.7 All Approved 102OptionsAwards must be held in trust by a Trustee (means any entity appointed by the Corporation to serve as a trustee and approved by the ITA, all in accordance with the provisions of Section 102(a) of the Ordinance, as described in Section 5 below (the “Trustee”)).
4.8 For the avoidance of doubt, the designation of Unapproved 102OptionsAwards and Approved 102 OptionsAwards shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 102 of the Ordinance and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
4.9 With regards to Approved 102OptionsAwards, the provisions of the Plan and/or theOptionAward Agreement shall be subject to the provisions of Section 102 and the Tax Assessing Officer’s permit, and the said provisions and permit shall be deemed an integral part of the Plan and of theOptionAward Agreement. Any provision of Section 102 and/or the said permit which is necessary in order to receive and/or to keep any tax benefit pursuant to Section 102, which is not expressly specified in the Plan or theOptionAward Agreement, shall be considered binding upon the Corporation and the OptioneesParticipants.
5. | TRUSTEE |
5.1 Approved 102OptionsAwards which shall be granted under the Plan and/or anySharesshares allocated or issued upon exercise of such Approved 102OptionsAwards and/or other shares received subsequently following any realization of rights, including, without limitation, bonus shares, shall be allocated or issued to the Trustee and held for the benefit of theOptioneesParticipants for such period of time as required by Section 102 or any regulations, rules or orders or procedures promulgated thereunder (the “Holding Period”). In the case the requirements for Approved 102OptionsAwards are not met, then the Approved 102OptionsAwards may be treated as Unapproved 102OptionsAwards, all in accordance with the provisions of Section 102 and regulations promulgated thereunder.
5.2 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Trustee shall not release anySharesshares allocated or issued upon exercise of Approved 102OptionsAwards prior to the full payment of theOptioneeParticipant’s tax liabilities arising from Approved 102OptionsAwards which were granted to him and/or anySharesshares allocated or issued upon exerciseor vestingof suchOptionsAwards as the case my be.
5.3 Upon receipt of Approved 102OptionAwards, the Optionee will sign an undertaking to release the Trustee from any liability in respect of any action or decision duly taken and bona fide executed in relation with the Plan, or any Approved 102OptionAwards or Share granted to him thereunder.
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5.4 With respect to any Approved 102OptionAwards, subject to the provisions of Section 102 and any rules or regulation or orders or procedures promulgated thereunder,an Optioneea Participant shall not sell or release from trust anyShareAward and any share received upon the exerciseor vestingof an Approved 102OptionAwardand/or any share received subsequently following any realization of rights, including without limitation, bonus shares, until the lapse of the Holding Period required under Section 102 of the Ordinance. Notwithstanding the above, if any such sale or release occurs during the Holding Period, the sanctions under Section 102 of the Ordinance and under any rules or regulation or orders or procedures promulgated thereunder shall apply to and shall be borne by suchOptioneeParticipant.
5.5 With respect to allSharesAwards, (but excluding, for avoidance of any doubt, any unexercised Optionsoptions and any unvested Restricted Stock Units) allocated or issued upon the exercise of Options purchased by theOptioneeParticipant, or issued to the Participant pursuant to the Vesting of Restricted Stock Units, and held by theOptioneeParticipant or by the Trustee, as the case may be, theOptioneeParticipant shall be entitled to receive dividends in accordance with the quantity of suchSharesshares, subject to the provisions of the Corporation’s incorporation documents (and all amendments thereto) and subject to any applicable taxation on distribution of dividends, and when applicable subject to the provisions of Section 102.
6. | STOCK |
6.1 The Plan Administrator is authorized to grantOptions to acquire up to a total of 280,000,000 Common Shares. The number of Common Shares with respect to which OptionsAwards to acquire shares of Common Stock, shares of Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units in a number not exceeding 16% of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding immediately prior to the grant of such Awards on a Fully Diluted Basis. For purposes of this Section 6.1, the term “Fully Diluted Basis” means all issued and outstanding share capital (where options shall be deemed outstanding share capital until exercised) and all rights to acquire share capital including, without limitation, all securities convertible or exercisable into shares of Common Stock being deemed so converted and exercised, the conversion of any convertible stockholder loans into share capital, with all outstanding warrants, options or any other right granted by the Corporation to receive shares of the Corporation’s share capital being deemed exercised in full. The foregoing notwithstanding, the maximum number of shares that may be subject to Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be 450,000, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 7.1(m). Shares of Common Stock with respect to which Awards may be granted hereunderisare subject to adjustment as set forth in Section 7.1(m) hereof. In the event that any outstandingOptionAward expires or is terminated for any reason, thesharesCommon Shares allocable to the unexercised portion of suchOptionAward may again be subject to anOptionAward granted to the sameOptioneeParticipant or Holder or to a different person eligible under Section 3 of this Plan; provided however, that any cancelled Options will be counted against the maximum number of Common Shares with respect to which Options may be granted to any particular person as set forth in Section 3 hereof.
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6.2 The maximum number of shares of Common Stock for which Options may be granted to any person in any calendar year shall be 1,000,000.
7. | TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF |
7.1 EachOptionAward granted under this Plan shall be evidenced by a written agreement approved by the Plan Administrator (each, an “Agreement”). Agreements may contain such provisions, not inconsistent with this Plan or any Applicable Laws, as the Plan Administrator in its discretion may deem advisable. AllOptionsAwards also shall comply with the following requirements:
(a) | Number of |
Each Agreement shall state the number ofshares ofCommon |
(i) | the number of Common Shares that may be reserved pursuant to the exercise of |
(ii) | in the absence of action to the contrary by the Plan Administrator in connection with the grant of an |
(iii) | the aggregate fair market value (determined at the Date of Grant, as defined below) of theshares of Common |
(iv) | any portion of an |
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(b) | Date of Grant |
Each Agreement shall state the date the Plan Administrator has deemed to be the effective date ofgrant ofthe |
(c) | Exercise Price |
Each Agreement shall state the price pershares ofCommon |
(i) | the per share exercise price for an Incentive Stock Option or any Option granted to a “covered employee” as such term is defined for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code shall not be less than the fair market value per Common Share at the Date of Grant as determined by the Plan Administrator in good faith; |
(ii) | with respect to Incentive Stock Options granted to greater-than-ten percent (>10%) shareholders of the Corporation (as determined with reference to Section 424(d) of the Code), the exercise price per share shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the fair market value per Common |
(iii) | Options granted in substitution for outstanding options of another corporation in connection with the merger, consolidation, acquisition of property or stock or other reorganization involving such other corporation and the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation may be granted with an exercise price equal to the exercise price for the substituted option of the other corporation, subject to any adjustment consistent with the terms of the transaction pursuant to which the substitution is to occur. |
(iv) | solely for the purpose of determining the tax liability pursuant to Section 102(b)(3) of the Ordinance, if at the date of grant the Corporation’s shares are listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system or if the Corporation’s shares will be registered for trading within ninety (90) days following the date of grant of the |
(d) | Duration of |
At the time of the grant of the |
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(e) | Vesting Schedule |
No |
(i) | on the six month anniversary of the Date of Grant, the |
(ii) | on the seven month and each successive month anniversary to and including the twenty |
The Plan Administrator may specify a vesting schedule for all or any portion of an |
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(f) | Acceleration of Vesting |
The vesting of one or more outstanding |
(g) | Term of |
(i) | Vested Options shall terminate, to the extent not previously exercised, upon the occurrence of the first of the following events: |
A. | the expiration of the Option, as designated by the Plan Administrator in accordance with Section 7.1(d) above; |
B. | the date |
C. | the expiration of |
(ii) | Notwithstanding Section 7.1(g)(i) above, any vested |
A. | the event specified in Section 7.1(g)(i)A above; |
B. | the expiration of |
(iii) | Upon the death of |
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(iv) | For purposes of the Plan, unless otherwise defined in the Agreement, termination for “Cause” shall mean such termination is for ‘cause’ as such term is expressly defined in a then-effective written agreement between the |
(v) | For purposes of this Plan, transfer of employment between or among the Corporation and/or any Related Corporation shall not be deemed to constitute a termination of employment with the Corporation or any Related Corporation. Employment shall be deemed to continue while the |
(h) | Exercise of Options |
(i) | Options shall be exercisable, in full or in part, at any time after vesting, until termination of rightto exercise. If less than all of theshares ofCommon |
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(ii) | Options or portions thereof may be exercised by giving written notice to the Corporation, in such form and method as may be determined by the Corporation and when applicable, by the Trustee in accordance with the requirements of Section 102 of the Ordinance, which notice shall specify the number ofshares ofCommon |
(iii) | For Israeli Employees the above mentioned in section h(ii) is subject to section 102 and the trust mechanism as defined in section 5 of this Plan. |
With respect to Unapproved 102 |
(i) | Payment upon Exercise of Option |
Upon the exercise of any |
(i) | by delivering to the Corporationshares ofCommon |
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(ii) | by delivering a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker promptly to sell or margin a sufficient portion of theshares ofCommon |
(iii) | by complying with any other payment mechanism approved by the Plan Administrator at the time of exercise. |
(i1) | Restricted Stock |
An Award of Restricted Stock, whether as 102 Award, Non-Qualified Award or Section 3(i) Award,may be granted by the Corporation in a specified number of shares of Common Stock ofCorporation to the Participant, which shares may or may no be subject to forfeiture or otherrestrictions upon the happening of specified events (the term in which such restrictions applyshall be referred to as the “Restriction Period”). Such an Award shall be subject to thefollowing terms and conditions: |
(i) | Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by Award agreements. Such agreements shall conform to therequirements of the Plan and may contain such other provisions as the Committee shalldeem advisable. |
(ii) | Upon determination of the number of shares of Restricted Stock to be granted to a Holder, the Committeeshall direct that a certificate or certificates representing the number of shares ofCommon Stock of Corporation be issued to the Holder with the Holder designated as theregistered owner. If any restrictions apply to such shares of Restricted Stock, thecertificate(s) representing such shares shall be legended as to sale, transfer,assignment, pledge or other encumbrances during the Restriction Period and depositedby the Holder, together with a stock power endorsed in blank, with the Corporation, tobe held in escrow during the Restriction Period. |
(iii) | Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of an Award, during the Restriction Period theHolder shall have the right to receive dividends from and to vote the shares ofRestricted Stock. |
(iv) | The Award Agreement shall specify the duration of the Restriction Period, if any, and the employment orother conditions (including termination of employment on account of death, disability,retirement or other cause) under which shares of Restricted Stock may be forfeited bythe Corporation. At the end of the Restriction Period, if any, the restrictionsimposed shall lapse with respect to the number of shares of Restricted Stock asdetermined by the Committee, and the legend shall be removed and such number of sharesdelivered to the Holder (or, where appropriate, the Holder’s legal representative).The Committee may, in its sole discretion, modify or accelerate the vesting anddelivery of shares of Restricted Stock, if those are subject to vesting. |
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(i2) | Restricted Stock Unit. |
The Plan Administrator is authorized to make awards of Restricted Stock Units, whether as 102 Award,Non-Qualified Award or Section 3(i) Award, to any Employee or Consultant in such amounts and subject tosuch terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate. On the vesting date of aRestricted Stock Unit, unless otherwise noted in the Award Agreement, the Corporation shall transfer tothe Participant one unrestricted, fully transferable, fully paid and non-assessable share of CommonStock for each Restricted Stock Unit scheduled to be paid out on such date and not previously forfeited. |
(i) | All Awards of restricted stock units made pursuant to this Plan will be evidenced by an Award Agreementand will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan. |
(ii) | Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of an Award, during the Restriction Period theHolder shall not have the right to receive dividends from and to vote the sharesunderlying the Restricted Stock Units. |
(iii) | Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the Plan Administrator may impose. These terms and conditions may include restrictions based upon completion of a specified period of service with the Corporation or an Affiliate as set out in advance in the Participant’s individual Award Agreement. |
(j) | No Rights as a Shareholder |
A Holder shall have no rights as a shareholder of the Corporation with respect to anyshares of Common |
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(k) | Non-transferability |
Options and unvested Restricted Stocks and Restricted Stock Units granted under this Plan and the rights and privileges conferred by this Plan may not be transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated in any manner (whether by operation of law or otherwise) other than by will, by applicable laws of descent and distribution, and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. Upon any attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of any |
As long as |
(l) | Securities Regulation and Tax Withholding |
(i) | Shares ofCommon |
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(ii) | As a condition to the exercise of an Option or issuance of other Awards, the Plan Administrator may require the Holder to represent and warrant in writing at the time of such exercise that theshares ofCommon |
(iii) | The Holder shall pay to the Corporation by certified or cashier’s check, promptly upon exercise of an |
A. | by delivering to the Corporationshares ofCommon |
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B. | by complying with any other payment mechanism approved by the Plan Administrator from time to time. |
(iv) | The issuance, transfer or delivery of certificates representingshares ofCommon |
(m) | Adjustments Upon Changes In Capitalization |
(i) | The aggregate number(in the case of Incentive Stock Options and for purposes of the limit in Section6.2 above)and class of shares for which |
A. | a subdivision or consolidation of Common Shares or any like capital adjustment, or |
B. | the issuance of anyshares ofCommon |
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(ii) | Except as provided in Section 7.1(m)(iii) hereof, upon a merger (other than a merger of the Corporation in which the holders of Common Shares immediately prior to the merger have the same proportionate ownership of common shares in the surviving corporation immediately after the merger), consolidation, acquisition of property or stock, separation, reorganization (other than a mere re-incorporation or the creation of a holding Corporation) or liquidation of the Corporation, as a result of which the shareholders of the Corporation, receive cash, shares or other property in exchange for or in connection with theirshares ofCommon |
(iii) | If the shareholders of the Corporation receive shares in the capital of another corporation (“Exchange Shares”) in exchange for theirshares ofCommon |
(iv) | In the event of any adjustment in the number ofshares ofCommon |
(v) | All adjustments pursuant to Section 7.1(m) shall be made by the Plan Administrator, and its determination as to what adjustments shall be made, and the extent thereof, shall be final, binding and conclusive. |
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(vi) | The grant of an |
8. | EFFECTIVE DATE; AMENDMENT; SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL |
8.1 Options may be granted by the Plan Administrator from time to time on or after the date on which this Plan is adopted by the Board (the “Effective Date”). In case of the Israeli Optionees, Approved 102 Options will be granted only after the lapse of at least 30 days following the date in which the Plan and the relevant forms will be submitted to the tax authorities as detailed in Section 4.6 above.
8.1 8.2Unless sooner terminated by the Board, this Plan shall terminate onthe tenth anniversary of the Effective Date.December 31, 2018. No Option may be granted after such termination or during any suspension of this Plan.
8.2 8.3Any Incentive Stock Options granted by the Plan Administrator prior to the ratification of this Plan by the shareholders of the Corporation shall be granted subject to approval of this Plan by theholders of a majorityshareholders of the Corporation’s outstanding voting shares, voting either in person or by proxy at a duly held shareholders’meeting within twelve (12) months before or after theEffective Datedate this Amended and Restated 2005 Stock Option Plan is approved by the Board. If such shareholder approval is sought and not obtained, all Incentive Stock Options granted prior thereto and thereafter shall be considered Non-QualifiedStock OptionsAwards and anyOptionsAwards granted to Covered Employees will not be eligible for the exclusion set forth in Section 162(m) of the Code with respect to the deductibility by the Corporation of certain compensation.
9. NO OBLIGATIONS TO EXERCISE OPTION
The grant of anOptionoption shall impose no obligation upon theOptioneeParticipant to exercise suchOptionoption.
10. NO RIGHT TOOPTIONSAWARD OR TO EMPLOYMENT
Whether or not anyOptionsAwards are to be granted under this Plan shall be exclusively within the discretion of the Plan Administrator,andnothing contained in this Plan shall be construed as giving any person any right to participate under this Plan. The grant of anOptionAward shall in no way constitute any form of agreement or understanding binding on the Corporation or any Related Corporation, express or implied, that the Corporation or any Related Corporation will employ or contract with anOptioneeParticipant for any length of time, nor shall it interfere in any way with the Corporation’s or, where applicable, a Related Corporation’s right to terminateOptioneeParticipant’s employment at any time, which right is hereby reserved.
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11. APPLICATION OF FUNDS
The proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of Common Shares issued upon the exercise ofOptionsAwards shall be used for general corporate purposes, unless otherwise directed by the Board.
12. INDEMNIFICATION OF PLAN ADMINISTRATOR
In addition to all other rights of indemnification they may have as members of the Board, members of the Plan Administrator shall be indemnified by the Corporation for all reasonable expenses and liabilities of any type or nature, including attorneys’ fees, incurred in connection with any action, suit or proceeding to which they or any of them are a party by reason of, or in connection with, this Plan or anyOptionAward granted under this Plan, and against all amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided that such settlement is approved by independent legal counsel selected by the Corporation), except to the extent that such expenses relate to matters for which it is adjudged that such Plan Administrator member is liable for wilful misconduct; provided, that within fifteen (15) days after the institution of any such action, suit or proceeding, the Plan Administrator member involved therein shall, in writing, notify the Corporation of such action, suit or proceeding, so that the Corporation may have the opportunity to make appropriate arrangements to prosecute or defend the same.
13. AMENDMENT OF PLAN
TheSubject to additional consents and approvals required under Applicable Law, the Plan Administrator may, at any time, modify, amend or terminate this Plan or modify or amendOptionsAwards granted under this Plan, including, without limitation, such modifications or amendments as are necessary to maintain compliance with the Applicable Laws.The Plan Administrator may condition the effectiveness of any such amendment on the receipt of shareholder approval at such time and in such manner as the Plan Administrator may consider necessary for the Corporation to comply with or to avail the Corporation and/or the Optionees of the benefits of any securities, tax, market listing or other administrative or regulatory requirements.
Effective Date: September 18, 2006
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