CARBIZ INC.
2007 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN
ARTICLE I
Establishment, Purpose, and Duration
1.1 Establishment of the Plan. Carbiz Inc., an Ontario, Canada corporation (the “Company”), hereby establishes an incentive stock plan for the Company and its Subsidiaries to be known as the “Carbiz, Inc. 2007 Incentive Stock Plan,” as set forth in this document. Unless otherwise defined herein, all capitalized terms shall have the meanings set forth in Section 2.1 herein. The Plan permits the grant of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, and Restricted Stock to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and consultants of the Company.
The Plan was adopted on January 18, 2007, by the Board. The Plan shall become effective on January 19, 2007 (the “Effective Date”), subject to the approval by vote of shareholders of the Company in accordance with applicable laws. Awards of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options and Restricted Stock may be granted under the Plan on or after the Effective Date of the Plan and prior to the date of shareholder approval of the Plan, provided, however, that if granted prior to the date of shareholder approval of the Plan, each such Award shall be expressly subject to the approval of the Plan by vote of shareholders of the Company in accordance with applicable laws on or before January 19, 2008, and if such shareholder approval is not obtained, the Plan and all such Awards previously granted under the Plan shall terminate and become null and void.
1.2 Purpose of the Plan. The purpose of the Plan is to promote the success of the Company and its Subsidiaries by providing incentives to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and consultants of the Company that will promote the identification of their personal interest with the long-term financial success of the Company and with growth in shareholder value. The Plan is designed to provide flexibility to the Company and its Subsidiaries, in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of Employees, Non-Employee Directors and consultants of the Company upon whose judgment, interest, and effort the successful conduct of its operation is largely dependent.
1.3 Duration of the Plan. The Plan shall commence on the Effective Date, as described in Section 1.1 herein, and, if shareholder approval is obtained as provided in Section 1.1 herein, shall remain in effect, subject to the right of the Board of Directors to terminate the Plan at any time pursuant to Article X herein, through January 18, 2017 (the “Term”), at which time it shall terminate except with respect to Awards made prior to, and outstanding on, that date which shall remain valid in accordance with their terms.
ARTICLE II
Definitions
2.1 Definitions. Except as otherwise defined in the Plan, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
(a) “Agreement” means a written agreement implementing the grant of each Award signed by an authorized officer of the Company and by the Participant.
(b) “Award” or “Grant” means, individually or collectively, a grant under the Plan of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options or Restricted Stock.
(c) “Award Date” or “Grant Date” means the date on which an Award is made by the Committee under the Plan.
(d) “Board” or “Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company, unless such term is used with respect to a Subsidiary, in which event it shall mean the Board of Directors of that Subsidiary.
(e) “Change in Control” means the occurrence, on or after the Effective Date, of any of the following:
(i) the closing of a corporate reorganization in which the Company (or its successor) becomes a subsidiary of a holding company, the merger of the Company (or its successor) with or into another person, or the closing of the sale, conveyance, or other transfer of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company (or its successor) to another person, where the majority of the common stock of the acquiring or surviving entity is beneficially owned by persons who did not own the majority of the common shares of the Company (or its successor) immediately prior to the reorganization, merger, sale, conveyance or other transfer; or
(ii) individuals who constitute the Board on the Effective Date (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof; provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose nomination for election was approved by a vote of at least three-quarters (3/4) of the directors comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered as though such person were a member of the Incumbent Board for purposes of this paragraph.
For purposes hereof, the term “person” shall include any individual, corporation, partnership, group, association, or other “person,” as such term is used in Section 14(d) of the Exchange Act, other than the Company (or its successor), any entity in which the Company (or its successor) owns a majority of the voting interest, or any employee benefit plan(s) sponsored by the Company (or its successor).
(f) “Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
(g) “Committee” means the committee(s) of the Board appointed or otherwise serving, as provided below, to administer the Plan pursuant to Article III herein.
(i) With respect to Awards to Employees and consultants of the Company, the Committee shall consist of at least two persons, each of whom shall be “non-employee directors” as defined in Rule 16b-3, as amended, under the Exchange Act, or any similar or successor rule, and “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m)(4)(C)(i) of the Code. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, with respect to Awards to Employees and consultants of the Company, the Committee shall consist of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company so long as it consists of at least two persons, each of whom is both a non-employee director and an outside director (as hereinbefore defined).
(ii) Unless otherwise determined by the Board, with respect to Awards to Non-Employee Directors, the Committee shall consist of the entire Board of Directors of the Company.
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(h) “Company” means Carbiz, Inc., or any successor thereto as provided in Article XII herein.
(i) “Employee” means a current or prospective officer or other employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (including any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or joint venture, which becomes a Subsidiary after the adoption of the Plan by the Board).
(j) “Exchange Act” means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(k) “Fair Market Value” of a Share means the closing market price (that is, the price at which last sold on the applicable principal U.S. market) of the Shares on the relevant date if it is a trading date or, if not, on the most recent date on which the Shares were traded prior to such date, as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board or, if applicable, by the NASDAQ Global Market or Capital Market Systems; or if, in the opinion of the Committee, this method is inapplicable or inappropriate for any reason, the fair market value as determined pursuant to a reasonable method adopted by the Committee in good faith for such purpose.
(l) “Incentive Stock Option” or “ISO” means an option to purchase Shares, granted under Article VI herein, which is designated as an incentive stock option and is intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.
(m) “Non-Employee Director” means an individual who is a member of the Board of the Company or a Subsidiary and who is not an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary (including any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, or joint venture, which becomes a Subsidiary after the adoption of the Plan by the Board).
(n) “Non-Qualified Stock Option” or “NQSO” means an option to purchase Shares, granted under Article VI, which is not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
(o) “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
(p) “Participant” means an Employee, Non-Employee Director or consultant of the Company who is granted or receives an Award under the Plan.
(q) “Performance Goal” means one or more performance measures or goals set by the Committee in its discretion for each grant of a performance-based compensation Award. The extent to which such performance measures or goals are met will determine the amount or value of the performance-based compensation Award that a Participant is entitled to exercise, receive, or retain. Performance Goals may be particular to a Participant; may relate to the performance of the Subsidiary, operating segment, division, branch, strategic business unit, or line of business, which employs him or her; or may be based on the performance of the Company generally. Performance Goals may be based on Share value or increases therein; earnings per share or earnings per share growth; net earnings, earnings, or earnings growth (before or after one or more of taxes, interest, depreciation, and/or amortization); operating profit; operating cash flow; operating or other expenses; operating efficiency; return on equity, assets, capital, or investment; sales or revenues or growth thereof; working capital targets or cost control measures; regulatory compliance; gross, operating, or other margins; credit ratings; productivity; customer satisfaction; satisfactory internal or external audits; improvement of financial ratings; achievement of balance sheet or income statement objectives; quality measures; and any
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component or components of the foregoing (including, without limitation, determination thereof with or without the effect of discontinued operations and dispositions of business segments, non-recurring items, material extraordinary items that are both unusual and infrequent, special charges, and/or accounting changes), or implementation, management, or completion of critical projects or processes or other measurement determined by the Committee. Performance Goals may include a threshold level of performance below which no payment or vesting may occur, levels of performance at which specified payments or specified vesting will occur, and a maximum level of performance above which no additional payment or vesting will occur. Performance Goals may be absolute in their terms or measured against or in relationship to a market index; a group of other companies comparably, similarly, or otherwise situated; or a combination thereof. Each of the Performance Goals shall be determined, where applicable and except as provided herein or in the applicable Agreement, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied in the United States of America.
The Committee, in its sole discretion and at any time but subject to any limitations under Section 162(m) of the Code in the case of an Award intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, may adjust any Performance Goal and any evaluation of performance under a Performance Goal to take into account any of the following events that occurs during a performance period: (i) asset write-downs, (ii) litigation or claim judgments or settlements, (iii) the effect of changes in tax law, accounting principles or other such laws or provisions affecting reported results, (iv) accruals for reorganization and restructuring programs, and (v) any extraordinary non-recurring items as described in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30 (or in any replacement thereof) and/or in management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations appearing in the Company’s annual report to shareholders for the applicable year.
In addition, in the case of an Award not intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee, in its sole discretion and at any time, may adjust any Performance Goal and any evaluation of performance under a Performance Goal on such basis and for such reason as it may determine.
Prior to the payment of any compensation under an Award intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee shall determine and certify the extent to which any Performance Goal and any other material terms under such Award have been satisfied (other than in cases where such relate solely to the increase in the value of Shares).
(r) “Period of Restriction” means the period during which Restricted Stock is restricted, pursuant to Article VII herein.
(s) “Plan” means the Carbiz, Inc. 2007 Incentive Stock Plan, as described and as hereafter from time to time amended.
(t) “Restricted Stock” means an Award of Shares granted to a Participant pursuant to Article VII herein.
(u) “Stock” or “Shares” means the Common Shares, no par value per share, of the Company.
(v) “Subsidiary” means any subsidiary corporation of the Company within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code (“Section 424(f) Corporation”) and any partnership,
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limited liability company or joint venture in which either the Company or a Section 424(f) Corporation is at least a fifty percent (50%) equity participant.
ARTICLE III
Administration
3.1 The Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall have all powers necessary or desirable for such administration. The express grant in the Plan of any specific power to the Committee shall not be construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. In addition to any other powers and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have the following specific powers: (i) to determine the terms and conditions upon which the Awards may be made, exercised and paid; (ii) to determine all terms and provisions of each Agreement, which need not be identical; (iii) to construe and interpret the Agreements and the Plan; (iv) to establish, amend, or waive rules or regulations for the Plan’s administration; (v) to accelerate the exercisability of any Award or the termination of any Period of Restriction or other restrictions imposed under the Plan; (vi) to change Performance Goals (subject to limitations under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code for Awards that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation thereunder); and (vii) to make all other determinations and take all other actions necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan in its sole and absolute discretion. Any determination by the Committee shall be in the Committee’s sole and absolute discretion, and its determination shall be final and binding on all parties. Any exercise of discretion by the Committee shall be deemed to mean an exercise of discretion in its sole and absolute discretion, and its exercise shall be final and binding on all parties.
For purposes of determining the applicability of Section 422 of the Code (relating to Incentive Stock Options), or in the event that the terms of any Award provide that it may become earned, exercised or vested only during employment or service or within a specified period of time after termination of employment or service, the Committee may decide to what extent leaves of absence for governmental or military service, illness, temporary disability, or other reasons shall not be deemed interruptions of employment or service or continuous employment or service.
Subject to limitations under applicable law, the Committee is authorized in its discretion to issue Awards and/or accept notices, elections, consents, and/or other forms or communications by Participants by electronic or similar means, including, without limitation, transmissions through e-mail, voice mail, recorded messages on electronic telephone systems, and other permissible methods, on such basis and for such purposes as it determines from time to time.
Except in connection with the approval, modification or amendment of Awards to Non-Employee Directors, a majority of the entire Committee shall constitute a quorum and the action of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present (in person or as otherwise permitted by applicable law), or acts approved in writing by a majority of the Committee without a meeting, shall be deemed the action of the Committee. In connection with the approval, modification or amendment of Awards to Non-Employee Directors, the entire Committee shall constitute a quorum and the unanimous action of all of the members (in person or as otherwise permitted by applicable law), or acts approved in writing by unanimous consent of the Committee without a meeting, shall be deemed the action of the Committee.
3.2 Selection of Participants. The Committee shall have the authority to grant Awards under the Plan, from time to time, to such Employees, Non-Employee Directors and/or consultants of the Company as may be selected by it to be Participants. Each Award shall be evidenced by an Agreement.
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3.3 Decisions Binding. All determinations and decisions made by the Board or the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be made in its sole and absolute discretion and shall be final, conclusive, and binding.
3.4 Requirements of Rule 16b-3 and Section 162(m) of the Code. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the Board or the Committee may impose such conditions on any Award, and amend the Plan in any such respects, as may be required to satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b-3, as amended (or any successor or similar rule), under the Exchange Act, if and when applicable.
Any provision of the Plan to the contrary notwithstanding, and except to the extent that the Committee determines otherwise: (i) transactions by and with respect to officers and directors of the Company who are subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act (hereafter, “Section 16 Persons”) shall comply with any applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3; (ii) transactions with respect to persons whose remuneration is subject to the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code shall conform to the requirements of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code; and (iii) every provision of the Plan shall be administered, interpreted, and construed to carry out the foregoing provisions of this sentence.
Notwithstanding any provision of the Plan to the contrary, the Plan is intended to give the Committee the authority to grant Awards that qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code as well as Awards that do not so qualify. Every provision of the Plan shall be administered, interpreted, and construed to carry out such intention, and any provision that cannot be so administered, interpreted, and construed shall to that extent be disregarded; and any provision of the Plan that would prevent an Award that the Committee intends to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code from so qualifying shall be administered, interpreted, and construed to carry out such intention, and any provision that cannot be so administered, interpreted, and construed shall to that extent be disregarded.
3.5 Indemnification of the Committee. In addition to such other rights of indemnification as they may have as directors or as members of the Committee, the members of the Committee shall be indemnified by the Company against reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit, or proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in connection with the Plan or any Award granted or made hereunder, and against all amounts reasonably paid by them in settlement thereof or paid by them in satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit, or proceeding, if such members acted in good faith and in a manner which they believed to be in, and not opposed to, the best interests of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
ARTICLE IV
Shares Subject to the Plan
4.1 Number of Shares. Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.3 herein, the maximum aggregate number of Shares that may be issued pursuant to Awards made under the Plan shall not exceed fifteen million (15,000,000) Shares. Except as provided in Section 4.2 herein, only Shares actually issued in connection with the exercise of, or as other payment for, Awards under the Plan shall reduce the number of Shares available for future Awards under the Plan.
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4.2 Lapsed Awards or Forfeited Shares; Shares Used as Payment of Exercise Price or forTaxes.
(a) If any Award granted under the Plan terminates, expires, or lapses for any reason other than by virtue of exercise of the Award, or if Shares issued pursuant to Awards are forfeited, any Shares subject to such Award again shall be available for the grant of an Award under the Plan.
(b) In the event a Participant pays the Option Price for Shares pursuant to the exercise of an Option with previously acquired Shares, the number of Shares available for future Awards under the Plan shall be reduced only by the net number of new Shares issued upon the exercise of the Option. In addition, in determining the number of shares of Shares available for Awards, if Shares have been delivered or exchanged by, or withheld from, a Participant as full or partial payment to the Company for payment of withholding taxes, or if the number of Shares otherwise deliverable by the Company has been reduced for payment of withholding taxes, the number of Shares exchanged by or withheld from a Participant as payment in connection with the withholding tax or so reduced by the Company shall again be available for the grant of an Award under the Plan.
4.3 Capital Adjustments. The number and class of Shares subject to each outstanding Award, the Option Price (as defined in Section 6.3 herein), and the annual limits on and the aggregate number and class of Shares for which Awards thereafter may be made shall be proportionately, equitably and appropriately adjusted in such manner as the Committee shall determine in order to retain the economic value or opportunity to reflect any share dividend, share split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization, reclassification, combination, exchange of shares or similar event in which the number or class of Shares is changed without the receipt or payment of consideration by the Company. Where an Award being adjusted is an ISO or is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the adjustment shall also be effected so as to comply with Section 424(a) of the Code and not to constitute a modification within the meaning of Section 424(h) or 409A, as applicable, of the Code.
ARTICLE V
Eligibility
Persons eligible to participate in the Plan and receive Awards are all Employees, Non-Employee Directors and consultants of the Company who, in the opinion of the Committee, merit becoming Participants.
ARTICLE
VI Stock Options
6.1 Grant of Options. Subject to the terms and provisions of the Plan, Options may be granted to Employees, Non-Employee Directors and consultants of the Company at any time and from time to time as shall be determined by the Committee. The Committee shall have complete discretion in determining the number of Shares subject to Options granted to each Participant, provided, however, that (i) no Participant may be granted Options in any calendar year for more than five million (5,000,000) Shares, (ii) the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time the Award is made) of Shares with respect to which any Participant may first exercise ISOs granted under the Plan during any calendar year may not exceed $100,000 or such amount as shall be specified in Section 422 of the Code and rules and regulations thereunder, (iii) no ISO may be granted on or following the tenth anniversary of the earlier of the Effective Date of the Plan or the date of shareholder approval of the Plan, and (iv) no ISO may be granted to a Non-Employee Director or consultant of the Company.
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6.2 Option Agreement. Each Option grant shall be evidenced by an Agreement that shall specify the type of Option granted; the Option Price; the duration of the Option; the number of Shares to which the Option pertains; any conditions imposed upon the exercisability of Options in the event of retirement, death, disability, or other termination of employment or service; and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. The Agreement shall specify whether the Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, or a Non-Qualified Stock Option not intended to be an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, provided, however, that if an Option is intended to be an Incentive Stock Option but fails to be such for any reason, it shall continue in full force and effect as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
6.3 Option Price. The exercise price per Share covered by an Option (“Option Price”) shall be determined by the Committee subject to the following limitations. The Option Price shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such Share on the date of grant. In addition, in order for an Option to be an ISO where an Option is granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) shares possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company, the Option must have an Option Price which is at least equal to 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant.
6.4 Duration of Options. Each Option shall expire at such time as the Committee shall determine at the time of grant, provided, however, that no ISO shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from its Award Date (unless on that day the exchange on which the Shares then trade is closed, in which case those Options shall expire on the next day on which such exchange is open). In addition, in order for an Option to be an ISO where an Option is granted to an Employee who, at the time of grant, owns (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) shares possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares of the Company, the Option must not be exercisable after the expiration of five years from its Award Date.
6.5 Exercisability. Options granted under the Plan shall be exercisable at such times and be subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee shall determine, which need not be the same for all Participants.
6.6 Method of Exercise. Options shall be exercised by the delivery of a written notice to the Company in the form prescribed by the Committee setting forth the number of Shares with respect to which the Option is to be exercised, accompanied by full payment for the Shares. The Option Price shall be payable to the Company in full either in cash or certified check or wire transfer or by a combination of the foregoing.
As soon as practicable, after receipt of written notice and payment of the Option Price and completion of payment of (or an arrangement satisfactory to the Company for the Participant to pay) any tax withholding required in connection with the Option exercise, the Company shall cause the appropriate number of Shares to be issued in the Participant’s name, which issuance shall be effected in book entry or electronic form, provided that issuance and delivery in certificated form shall occur if the Participant so requests or the Committee so directs.
6.7 Restrictions on Share Transferability.The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option under the Plan as it may deem advisable in its sole and absolute discretion, including, without limitation, (i) restrictions under applicable United States federal securities laws, under the rules of any stock exchange upon which such Shares are then listed, and under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such Shares and (ii) a right of first refusal running to the Company, a buyback right by the Company or other restriction on transferability. In the event the Committee so provides in an Agreement pertaining to an Option, Shares delivered on exercise of the
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Option may be designated as Restricted Stock or Shares subject to a buyback right by the Company in the amount of, or based on, the Option Price therefore or otherwise in the event the Participant does not complete a specified service period after exercise.
ARTICLE VII
Restricted Stock
7.1 Grant of Restricted Stock. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan, the Committee, at any time and from time to time, may grant Shares of Restricted Stock under the Plan to such Participant and in such amounts as it shall determine, provided, however, that no Participant may be granted more than five million (5,000,000) Shares of Restricted Stock in any calendar year. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Agreement, Participants receiving Restricted Stock Awards are not required to pay the Company therefore (except for applicable tax withholding) other than the rendering of services. As determined by the Committee, Shares of Restricted Stock shall be issued in certificated form. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, custody of Shares of Restricted Stock in certificated form shall be retained by the Company or held in escrow by an escrow agent selected, and subject to change from time to time, by the Committee until the termination of the Period of Restriction pertaining thereto.
7.2 Restricted Stock Agreement. Each Restricted Stock Award shall be evidenced by an Agreement that shall specify the Period of Restriction, the number of Shares of Restricted Stock granted, and the applicable restrictions (whether service-based restrictions, with or without performance acceleration, and/or performance-based restrictions) and such other provisions as the Committee shall determine. If an Award of Restricted Stock is intended to be a performance-based compensation Award, the terms and conditions of such Award, including the Performance Goal(s) and Period of Restriction and, if different, performance period, shall be set forth in an Agreement or in a sub-plan of the Plan, which is incorporated by reference into an Agreement, and the requirements to satisfy or achieve the Performance Goal(s) as so provided therein shall be considered to be restrictions under the Plan.
7.3 Other Restrictions. The Committee may impose such other restrictions under applicable United States federal or state securities laws as it may deem advisable, and may legend the certificates representing Restricted Stock to give appropriate notice of such restrictions.
7.4 Certificate Legend. In addition to any legends placed on certificates pursuant to Section 7.3 herein, each certificate representing Shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to the Plan shall bear the following legend:
“The sale, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or other disposition of the shares represented by this certificate, whether voluntary, involuntary, or by operation of law, is subject to certain restrictions on transfer set forth in the Carbiz, Inc. 2007 Incentive Stock Plan, in the rules and administrative procedures adopted pursuant to such Plan, and in an associated Restricted Stock Agreement. A copy of the Plan, such rules and procedures, and the applicable Restricted Stock Agreement may be obtained from the Secretary of Carbiz, Inc.”
7.5 Removal of Restrictions. Except as otherwise provided in this Article, Shares of Restricted Stock covered by each Restricted Stock Award made under the Plan shall become freely transferable by the Participant after the last day of the Period of Restriction and, where applicable, after a determination of the satisfaction or achievement on any applicable Performance Goal(s) by the Committee. Once the Shares are released from the restrictions, the legend required by Section 7.4 herein shall be removed.
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7.6 Voting Rights. Unless otherwise provided in the Agreement, during the Period of Restriction, Participants holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder may exercise voting rights with respect to those Shares.
7.7 Dividends and Other Distributions. Unless otherwise provided in the Agreement (which may or may not provide for the accumulation and payment of dividends and other distributions made in cash or property other than Shares until the Shares of Restricted Stock to which the dividends and other distributions relate vest), during the Period of Restriction, Participants entitled to or holding Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder shall be entitled to receive all dividends and other distributions made in cash or property other than Shares with respect to those Shares of Restricted Stock. If any dividends or distributions are paid in Shares, such Shares shall be subject to the same restrictions on transferability and the same rules for vesting, forfeiture, and custody as the Shares of Restricted Stock with respect to which they were distributed.
7.8 Failure to Satisfy Performance Goal(s). In the event that the specified Performance Goal(s) are not satisfied within the time period established by the Committee, the Shares of Restricted Stock which were awarded subject to the satisfaction of such Performance Goal(s) shall be automatically forfeited and returned to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Award not intended to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may waive all or any part of the such Performance Goal(s) and provide for vesting of the Award on such basis as it deems appropriate.
7.9 Restrictions on Share Transferability.The Committee may impose such restrictions on any Shares delivered to a Participant pursuant to this Article as it may deem advisable in its sole and absolute discretion, including, without limitation, (i) restrictions under applicable United States federal securities laws, under the rules of any stock exchange upon which such Shares are then listed, and under any blue sky or state securities laws applicable to such Shares and (ii) a right of first refusal running to the Company, a buyback right by the Company or other restriction on transferability. In the event the Committee so provides in an Agreement, Shares delivered pursuant to the Plan in connection with Awards of Restricted Stock may be subject to a buyback right by the Company in the amount of, or based on, a specific or formula price therefore or otherwise in the event the Participant does not complete a specified service, consulting or non-competition period after issuance or delivery of the Share to the Participant.
ARTICLE VIII
Change in Control
In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, the Committee, as constituted before such Change in Control, in its sole discretion may, as to any outstanding Award, either at the time the Award is made or any time thereafter, take any one or more of the following actions: (i) provide for the acceleration of any time periods relating to the exercise or realization of any such Award so that such Award may be exercised or realized in full on or before a date initially fixed by the Committee; (ii) provide for the purchase or settlement of any such Award by the Company, with or without a Participant’s request, for an amount of cash equal to the amount which could have been obtained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of such Participant’s rights had such Award been currently exercisable or payable; (iii) make such adjustment to any such Award then outstanding as the Committee deems appropriate to reflect such Change in Control; or (iv) cause any such Award then outstanding to be assumed, or new rights substituted therefore, by the acquiring or surviving corporation in such Change in Control.
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ARTICLE IX
Modification, Extension, and Renewals of Awards
Subject to the terms and conditions and within the limitations of the Plan, the Committee may modify, extend, or renew outstanding Awards and may modify the terms of an outstanding Agreement, provided that the exercise price of any Award may not be lowered other than pursuant to Section 4.3 herein. In addition, the Committee may accept the surrender of outstanding Awards granted under the Plan or outstanding awards granted under any other equity compensation plan of the Company and authorize the granting of new Awards pursuant to the Plan in substitution therefore, so long as the new or substituted awards do not specify a lower exercise price than the surrendered Awards or awards and are not of a different type (with Options being one type and all other Awards being a different type), and otherwise, the new Awards may specify different performance goals from the surrendered Awards or awards, may provide for more rapid or slower exercisability or vesting than the surrendered Awards or awards, and may contain any other provisions that are authorized by the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, no modification of an Award shall, without the consent of the Participant, adversely affect the rights or obligations of the Participant.
ARTICLE X
Amendment, Modification, and Termination of the Plan
10.1 Amendment, Modification and Termination. At any time and from time to time, the Board may terminate, amend, or modify the Plan. Such amendment or modification may be without shareholder approval except to the extent that such approval is required by the Code, pursuant to the rules under Section 16 of the Exchange Act, if applicable, by any national securities exchange or system on which the Shares are then listed or reported, by any regulatory body having jurisdiction with respect thereto, or under any other applicable laws, rules, or regulations.
10.2 Awards Previously Granted. No termination, amendment, or modification of the Plan, other than pursuant to Section 4.3 or 13.10 herein, shall in any manner adversely affect any Award theretofore granted under the Plan, without the written consent of the Participant.
ARTICLE XI
Withholding
11.1 Tax Withholding. The Company shall have the power and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy United States federal, state, and local taxes (including the Participant’s FICA obligation, if any) required by law to be withheld with respect to any grant, exercise or payment made under or as a result of the Plan.
11.2 Share Withholding. With respect to withholding required upon the exercise of Non-Qualified Stock Options, upon the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Stock or upon the occurrence of any other taxable event with respect to any Award, Participants may elect, subject to the approval of the Committee, or the Committee may require Participants to satisfy the withholding requirement, in whole or in part, by having the Company withhold Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the amount required to be withheld. The value of the Shares to be withheld shall be based on the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined. All elections by Participants shall be irrevocable and be made in writing and in such manner as determined by the Committee in advance of the day that the transaction becomes taxable.
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ARTICLE XII
Successors
All obligations of the Company under the Plan, with respect to Awards granted hereunder, shall be binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company.
ARTICLE XIII
General
13.1 Requirements of Law. The granting of Awards and the issuance of Shares under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies or self-regulatory organizations (i.e., exchanges) as may be required.
13.2 Effect of Plan. The establishment of the Plan shall not confer upon any Participant any legal or equitable right against the Company, a Subsidiary, or the Committee, except as expressly provided in the Plan. The Plan does not constitute an inducement or consideration for the employment or service of any Participant, nor is it a contract between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any Participant. Participation in the Plan shall not give any Participant any right to be retained in the employment or service of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Except as may be otherwise expressly provided in the Plan or in an Agreement, no Participant who receives an Award shall have rights as a shareholder of the Company prior to the date Shares are issued to the Participant pursuant to the Plan.
13.3 Creditors. The interests of any Participant under the Plan or any Agreement are not subject to the claims of creditors and may not, in any way, be assigned, alienated, or encumbered.
13.4 Governing Law. The Plan, and all Agreements hereunder, shall be governed, construed, and administered in accordance with the laws of Florida.
13.5 Severability. In the event any provision of the Plan shall be held illegal or invalid for any reason, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the remaining parts of the Plan, and the Plan shall be construed and enforced as if the illegal or invalid provision had not been included.
13.6 Unfunded Status of Plan. The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any payments as to which a Participant has a fixed and vested interest but which are not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein shall give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general unsecured creditor of the Company.
13.7 Transferability. Unless the Agreement evidencing an Award (or an amendment thereto authorized by the Committee) expressly states that it is transferable as provided in this section, no Award granted under the Plan, nor any interest in such Award, may be sold, assigned, conveyed, gifted, pledged, hypothecated, or otherwise transferred in any manner, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, prior to the vesting or lapse of any and all restrictions applicable to any Shares issued under an Award. The Committee may in its sole discretion grant an Award (other than an ISO) or amend an outstanding Award (other than an ISO) to provide that the Award is transferable or assignable to a member or members of the Participant’s “immediate family,” as such term is defined under Exchange Act Rule 16a-l(e), or to a trust for the benefit solely of a member or members of the Participant’s immediate family, or to a partnership or other entity whose only owners are members of the Participant’s family, provided that, following any such transfer or assignment, the Award will remain subject to substantially
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the same terms applicable to the Award while held by the Participant, as modified as the Committee in its sole discretion shall determine appropriate, and the Participant shall execute an agreement agreeing to be bound by such terms.
13.8 Termination of Employment or Service. Unless otherwise provided in the Agreement pertaining to an Award, in the event that a Participant terminates his or her employment or service with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason, then the unvested portion of such Award shall automatically be forfeited to the Company. Unless otherwise provided in the Agreement pertaining to an Award, in determining cessation of employment or service, transfers between the Company and/or any Subsidiary shall be disregarded, and changes in status between that of an Employee, a Non-Employee Director and a consultant of the Company shall be disregarded. The Committee may provide in an Agreement made under the Plan for vesting of Awards in connection with the termination of a Participant’s employment or service on such basis as it deems appropriate, including, without limitation, any provisions for vesting at death, disability, retirement, or in connection with a Change in Control, with or without the further consent of the Committee. The Agreements evidencing Awards may contain such provisions as the Committee may approve with reference to the effect of approved leaves of absence.
13.9 Registration and Other Laws and Regulations. The Plan, the grant and exercise of Awards hereunder, and the obligation of the Company to sell, issue, or deliver Shares under such Awards, shall be subject to all applicable United States federal, state, and foreign laws, rules, and regulations and to such approvals by any governmental or regulatory agency as may be required. The Company shall not be required to register in a Participant’s name or deliver any Shares prior to the completion of any registration or qualification of such Shares under any federal, state, or foreign law or any ruling or regulation of any government body which the Committee shall, in its sole discretion, determine to be necessary or advisable.
13.10 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan Omnibus Provision. It is intended that any compensation, benefits, or other remuneration, which is provided pursuant to or in connection with the Plan, which is considered to be nonqualified deferred compensation subject to Section 409A of the Code, shall be provided and paid in a manner, and at such time and in such form, as complies with the applicable requirements of Section 409A of the Code to avoid the unfavorable tax consequences provided therein for non-compliance. The Committee is authorized to amend any Agreement and to amend or declare void any election by a Participant as may be determined by it to be necessary or appropriate to evidence or further evidence required compliance with Section 409A of the Code.
ARTICLE XIV
Substitution of Awards under Other Plans or Agreements
The Committee is hereby authorized to grant Awards on such basis as it deems appropriate, and to effect the issuance of Shares under this Plan in substitution for options, share appreciation rights, or other forms of equity compensation awarded and outstanding under any equity compensation plan of, or agreement entered into with, a business entity which is acquired by the Company or otherwise becomes a Subsidiary on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate. The Committee is expressly authorized to provide that the exercise price of an assumed option or share appreciation right may be higher or lower than the Fair Market Value of the Shares to which a substitute Option relates in order to approximate the inherent economic value of the assumed option or share appreciation right.
Approved on January 18, 2007, by the Board of Directors
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