AKEENA SOLAR, INC.
2006 INCENTIVE STOCK PLAN
1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN.
This 2006 Incentive Stock Plan (the "Plan") is intended as an incentive, to
retain in the employ of and as directors, officers, consultants, advisors and
employees to Akeena Solar , Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and
any Subsidiary of the Company, within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the
United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), persons of
training, experience and ability, to attract new directors, officers,
consultants, advisors and employees whose services are considered valuable, to
encourage the sense of proprietorship and to stimulate the active interest of
such persons in the development and financial success of the Company and its
Subsidiaries.
It is further intended that certain options granted pursuant to the Plan
shall constitute incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of
the Code (the "Incentive Options") while certain other options granted pursuant
to the Plan shall be nonqualified stock options (the "Nonqualified Options").
Incentive Options and Nonqualified Options are hereinafter referred to
collectively as "Options."
The Company intends that the Plan meet the requirements of Rule 16b-3
("Rule 16b-3") promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act") and that transactions of the type specified in
subparagraphs (c) to (f) inclusive of Rule 16b-3 by officers and directors of
the Company pursuant to the Plan will be exempt from the operation of Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act. Further, the Plan is intended to satisfy the
performance-based compensation exception to the limitation on the Company's tax
deductions imposed by Section 162(m) of the Code with respect to those Options
for which qualification for such exception is intended. In all cases, the terms,
provisions, conditions and limitations of the Plan shall be construed and
interpreted consistent with the Company's intent as stated in this Section 1.
2. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.
The Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") shall appoint and
maintain as administrator of the Plan a Committee (the "Committee") consisting
of two or more directors who are "Non-Employee Directors" (as such term is
defined in Rule 16b-3) and "Outside Directors" (as such term is defined in
Section 162(m) of the Code), which shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. The
Committee, subject to Sections 3, 5 and 6 hereof, shall have full power and
authority to designate recipients of Options and restricted stock ("Restricted
Stock") and to determine the terms and conditions of the respective Option and
Restricted Stock agreements (which need not be identical) and to interpret the
provisions and supervise the administration of the Plan. The Committee shall
have the authority, without limitation, to designate which Options granted under
the Plan shall be Incentive Options and which shall be Nonqualified Options. To
the extent any Option does not qualify as an Incentive Option, it shall
constitute a separate Nonqualified Option.
Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall interpret the
Plan and all Options and Restricted Stock granted under the Plan, shall make
such rules as it deems necessary for the proper administration of the Plan,
shall make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the
administration of the Plan and shall correct any defects or supply any omission
or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Options or Restricted Stock
granted under the Plan in the manner and to the extent that the Committee deems
desirable to carry into effect the Plan or any Options or Restricted Stock. The
act or determination of a majority of the Committee shall be the act or
determination of the Committee and any decision reduced to writing and signed by
all of the members of the Committee shall be fully effective as if it had been
made by a majority of the Committee at a meeting duly held for such purpose.
Subject to the provisions of the Plan, any action taken or determination made by
the Committee pursuant to this and the other Sections of the Plan shall be
conclusive on all parties.
In the event that for any reason the Committee is unable to act or if the
Committee at the time of any grant, award or other acquisition under the Plan
does not consist of two or more Non-Employee Directors, or if there shall be no
such Committee, then the Plan shall be administered by the Board, and references
herein to the Committee (except in the proviso to this sentence) shall be deemed
to be references to the Board, and any such grant, award or other acquisition
may be approved or ratified in any other manner contemplated by subparagraph (d)
of Rule 16b-3; provided, however, that grants to the Company's Chief Executive
Officer or to any of the Company's other four most highly compensated officers
that are intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section
162(m) of the Code may only be granted by the Committee.
3. DESIGNATION OF OPTIONEES AND GRANTEES.
The persons eligible for participation in the Plan as recipients of Options
(the "Optionees") or Restricted Stock (the "Grantees" and together with
Optionees, the "Participants") shall include directors, officers and employees
of the Company and consultants, subject to their meeting the eligibility
requirements of Rule 701 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), provided that Incentive Options may only be
granted to employees of the Company and any Subsidiary. In selecting
Participants, and in determining the number of shares to be covered by each
Option or shares of Restricted Stock granted to Participants, the Committee may
consider any factors it deems relevant, including, without limitation, the
office or position held by the Participant or the Participant's relationship to
the Company, the Participant's degree of responsibility for and contribution to
the growth and success of the Company or any Subsidiary, the Participant's
length of service, promotions and potential. A Participant who has been granted
an Option or Restricted Stock hereunder may be granted an additional Option or
Options, or Restricted Stock if the Committee shall so determine.
4. STOCK RESERVED FOR THE PLAN.
Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8 hereof, a total of 450,000
shares of the Company's Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Stock"),
shall be subject to the Plan. The maximum number of shares of Stock that may be
subject to Options granted under the Plan to any individual in any calendar year
shall not exceed 150,000 shares and the method of counting such shares shall
conform to any requirements applicable to performance-based
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compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, if qualification as
performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code is intended. The
shares of Stock subject to the Plan shall consist of unissued shares, treasury
shares or previously issued shares held by any Subsidiary of the Company, and
such amount of shares of Stock shall be and is hereby reserved for such purpose.
Any of such shares of Stock that may remain unissued and that are not subject to
outstanding Options at the termination of the Plan shall cease to be reserved
for the purposes of the Plan, but until termination of the Plan the Company
shall at all times reserve a sufficient number of shares of Stock to meet the
requirements of the Plan. Should any Option or share of Restricted Stock expire
or be canceled prior to its exercise or vesting in full or should the number of
shares of Stock to be delivered upon the exercise or vesting in full of an
Option or share of Restricted Stock be reduced for any reason, the shares of
Stock theretofore subject to such Option or share of Restricted Stock may be
subject to future Options or shares of Restricted Stock under the Plan, except
where such reissuance is inconsistent with the provisions of Section 162(m) of
the Code where qualification as performance-based compensation under Section
162(m) of the Code is intended.
5. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following conditions
and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with
the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable:
(a) Option Price. The purchase price of each share of Stock
purchasable under an Incentive Option shall be determined by the Committee at
the time of grant, but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value (as
defined below) of such share of Stock on the date the Option is granted;
provided, however, that with respect to an Optionee who, at the time such
Incentive Option is granted, owns (within the meaning of Section 424(d) of the
Code) more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
of the Company or of any Subsidiary, the purchase price per share of Stock shall
be at least 110% of the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on the date of
grant. The purchase price of each share of Stock purchasable under a
Nonqualified Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of such
share of Stock on the date the Option is granted. The exercise price for each
Option shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8 below. "Fair
Market Value" means the closing price on the date of grant on the principal
securities exchange on which shares of Stock are listed (if the shares of Stock
are so listed), or on the NASDAQ Stock Market or OTC Bulletin Board (if the
shares of Stock are regularly quoted on the NASDAQ Stock Market or OTC Bulletin
Board, as the case may be), or, if not so listed or regularly quoted, the mean
between the closing bid and asked prices of publicly traded shares of Stock in
the over the counter market, or, if such bid and asked prices shall not be
available, as reported by any nationally recognized quotation service selected
by the Company, or as determined by the Committee in a manner consistent with
the provisions of the Code.
(b) Option Term. The term of each Option shall be fixed by the
Committee, but no Option shall be exercisable more than five years after the
date such Option is granted and in the case of an Incentive Option granted to an
Optionee who, at the time such Incentive Option is granted, owns (within the
meaning of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the total combined
voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Subsidiary, no
such
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Incentive Option shall be exercisable more than five years after the date such
Incentive Option is granted.
(c) Exercisability. Subject to Section 5(j) hereof, Options shall be
exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as
shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant; provided, however,
that in the absence of any Option vesting periods designated by the Committee at
the time of grant, Options shall vest and become exercisable as to one-third of
the total amount of shares subject to the Option on each of the first, second
and third anniversaries of the date of grant; and provided further that no
Options shall be exercisable until such time as any vesting limitation required
by Section 16 of the Exchange Act, and related rules, shall be satisfied if such
limitation shall be required for continued validity of the exemption provided
under Rule 16b-3(d)(3).
Notwithstanding any provision in this Plan, in the event there is a Change
of Control (as defined below), the Company shall, at no cost to the Participant,
replace any and all stock options granted by the Company and held by the
Participant at the time of the Change of Control, whether or not vested, with an
equal number of unrestricted and fully vested stock options to purchase shares
of the Company's Common Stock (the "Option Replacement"). With respect to the
Option Replacement, all options will become fully vested. Alternatively, in the
event of a Change of Control, in lieu of the Option Replacement, a Participant
may, subject to Board approval at the time, elect to surrender the Participant's
rights to such options, and upon such surrender, the Company shall pay to the
Participant an amount in cash per stock option (whether vested or unvested) then
held, which is the difference between the full exercise price of each option
surrendered and the greater of (i) the average price per share paid in
connection with the acquisition of control of the Company if such control was
acquired by the payment of cash or the then fair market value of the
consideration paid for such shares if such control was acquired for
consideration other than cash, (ii) the price per share paid in connection with
any tender offer for shares of the Company's Common Stock leading to control, or
(iii) the mean between the high and low selling price of such stock on the
NASDAQ Stock Market, OTC Bulletin Board or other market on which the Company's
Common Stock is then traded or listed for quotation on the date of the Change of
Control.
For purposes of the Plan, a "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have
occurred if any of the following occurs:
(i) An acquisition (other than directly from the Company) of any
voting securities of the Company (the "Voting Securities") by any "Person" (as
the term "person" is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")), immediately
after which such Person has "Beneficial Ownership" (within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of more than fifty percent (50%) of
(1) the then-outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (or any other
securities into which such shares of common stock are changed or for which such
shares of common stock are exchanged) (the "Shares") or (2) the combined voting
power of the Company's then-outstanding Voting Securities; provided, however,
that in determining whether a Change in Control has occurred pursuant to this
paragraph (a), the acquisition of Shares or Voting Securities in a "Non-Control
Acquisition" (as hereinafter defined) shall not constitute a Change in Control.
A "Non-Control Acquisition" shall mean an acquisition by (i) an employee
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benefit plan (or a trust forming a part thereof) maintained by (A) the Company
or (B) any corporation or other Person the majority of the voting power, voting
equity securities or equity interest of which is owned, directly or indirectly,
by the Company (for purposes of this definition, a "Related Entity"), (ii) the
Company or any Related Entity, or (iii) any Person in connection with a
"Non-Control Transaction" (as hereinafter defined);
(ii) The consummation of:
(a) A merger, consolidation or reorganization (1) with or
into the Company or (2) in which securities of the Company are issued (a
"Merger"), unless such Merger is a "Non-Control Transaction." A "Non-Control
Transaction" shall mean a Merger in which:
(i) the stockholders of the Company immediately before
such Merger own directly or indirectly immediately following such
Merger at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power
of the outstanding voting securities of (x) the Surviving
Corporation, if there is no Parent Corporation or (y) if there is
one or more than one Parent Corporation, the ultimate Parent
Corporation; and
(ii) no Person other than (1) the Company, (2) any
Related Entity, or (3) any employee benefit plan (or any trust
forming a part thereof) that, immediately prior to the Merger,
was maintained by the Company or any Related Entity, or (4) any
Person who, immediately prior to the Merger had Beneficial
Ownership of twenty percent (20%) or more of the then outstanding
Shares or Voting Securities, has Beneficial Ownership, directly
or indirectly, of twenty percent (20%) or more of the combined
voting power of the outstanding voting securities or common stock
of (x) the Surviving Corporation, if fifty percent (50%) or more
of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting
securities of the Surviving Corporation is not Beneficially
Owned, directly or indirectly by a Parent Corporation, or (y) if
there is one or more than one Parent Corporation, the ultimate
Parent Corporation;
(b) A complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or
(c) The sale or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any
Person (other than (x) a transfer to a Related Entity, (y) a transfer under
conditions that would constitute a Non-Control Transaction, with the disposition
of assets being regarded as a Merger for this purpose or (z) the distribution to
the Company's stockholders of the stock of a Related Entity or any other
assets).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur
solely because any Person (the "Subject Person") acquired Beneficial Ownership
of more than the permitted amount of the then outstanding Shares or Voting
Securities as a result of the acquisition of Shares or Voting Securities by the
Company which, by reducing the number of Shares or Voting Securities then
outstanding, increases the proportional number of shares Beneficially Owned by
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the Subject Persons; provided, that if a Change in Control would occur (but for
the operation of this sentence) as a result of the acquisition of Shares or
Voting Securities by the Company and, after such share acquisition by the
Company, the Subject Person becomes the Beneficial Owner of any additional
Shares or Voting Securities and such Beneficial Ownership increases the
percentage of the then outstanding Shares or Voting Securities Beneficially
Owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in Control shall occur.
(d) Method of Exercise. Options to the extent then exercisable may be
exercised in whole or in part at any time during the option period, by giving
written notice to the Company specifying the number of shares of Stock to be
purchased, accompanied by payment in full of the purchase price, in cash, or by
check or such other instrument as may be acceptable to the Committee. As
determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, at or after grant, payment
in full or in part may be made at the election of the Optionee (i) in the form
of Stock owned by the Optionee (based on the Fair Market Value of the Stock
which is not the subject of any pledge or security interest, (ii) in the form of
shares of Stock withheld by the Company from the shares of Stock otherwise to be
received with such withheld shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value equal to
the exercise price of the Option, or (iii) by a combination of the foregoing,
such Fair Market Value determined by applying the principles set forth in
Section 5(a), provided that the combined value of all cash and cash equivalents
and the Fair Market Value of any shares surrendered to the Company is at least
equal to such exercise price and except with respect to (ii) above, such method
of payment will not cause a disqualifying disposition of all or a portion of the
Stock received upon exercise of an Incentive Option. Notwithstanding the
forgoing, an Optionee may not take any actions that are prohibited by the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission or any agency thereunder. An Optionee shall
have the right to dividends and other rights of a stockholder with respect to
shares of Stock purchased upon exercise of an Option at such time as the
Optionee (i) has given written notice of exercise and has paid in full for such
shares, and (ii) has satisfied such conditions that may be imposed by the
Company with respect to the withholding of taxes.
(e) Non-transferability of Options. Options are not transferable and
may be exercised solely by the Optionee during his lifetime or after his death
by the person or persons entitled thereto under his will or the laws of descent
and distribution. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may permit a transfer
of a Nonqualified Option to (i) a trust for the benefit of the Optionee, (ii) a
member of the Optionee's immediate family (or a trust for his or her benefit) or
(iii) pursuant to a domestic relations order. Any attempt to transfer, assign,
pledge or otherwise dispose of, or to subject to execution, attachment or
similar process, any Option contrary to the provisions hereof shall be void and
ineffective and shall give no right to the purported transferee.
(f) Termination by Death. Unless otherwise determined by the
Committee, if any Optionee's employment with or service to the Company or any
Subsidiary terminates by reason of death, the Option may thereafter be
exercised, to the extent then exercisable (or on such accelerated basis as the
Committee shall determine at or after grant), by the legal representative of the
estate or by the legatee of the Optionee under the will of the Optionee, for a
period of one year after the date of such death (or, if later, such time as the
Option may be exercised pursuant to Section 14(d) hereof) or until the
expiration of the stated term of such Option as provided under the Plan,
whichever period is shorter.
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(g) Termination by Reason of Disability. Unless otherwise determined
by the Committee, if any Optionee's employment with or service to the Company or
any Subsidiary terminates by reason of total and permanent disability, any
Option held by such Optionee may thereafter be exercised, to the extent it was
exercisable at the time of termination due to disability (or on such accelerated
basis as the Committee shall determine at or after grant), but may not be
exercised after three (3) months after the date of such termination of
employment or service (or, if later, such time as the Option may be exercised
pursuant to Section 14(d) hereof) or the expiration of the stated term of such
Option, whichever period is shorter; provided, however, that, if the Optionee
dies within such three (3) month period, any unexercised Option held by such
Optionee shall thereafter be exercisable to the extent to which it was
exercisable at the time of death for a period of one (1) year after the date of
such death (or, if later, such time as the Option may be exercised pursuant to
Section 14(d) hereof) or for the stated term of such Option, whichever period is
shorter.
(h) Termination by Reason of Retirement. Unless otherwise determined
by the Committee, if any Optionee's employment with or service to the Company or
any Subsidiary terminates by reason of Normal or Early Retirement (as such terms
are defined below), any Option held by such Optionee may thereafter be exercised
to the extent it was exercisable at the time of such Retirement (or on such
accelerated basis as the Committee shall determine at or after grant), but may
not be exercised after three (3) months after the date of such termination of
employment or service (or, if later, such time as the Option may be exercised
pursuant to Section 14(d) hereof) or the expiration of the stated term of such
Option, whichever date is earlier; provided, however, that, if the Optionee dies
within such three (3) month period, any unexercised Option held by such Optionee
shall thereafter be exercisable, to the extent to which it was exercisable at
the time of death, for a period of one (1) year after the date of such death
(or, if later, such time as the Option may be exercised pursuant to Section
14(d) hereof) or for the stated term of such Option, whichever period is
shorter.
For purposes of this paragraph (h), "Normal Retirement" shall mean
retirement from active employment with the Company or any Subsidiary on or after
the normal retirement date specified in the applicable Company or Subsidiary
pension plan or if no such pension plan, age 65, and "Early Retirement" shall
mean retirement from active employment with the Company or any Subsidiary
pursuant to the early retirement provisions of the applicable Company or
Subsidiary pension plan or if no such pension plan, age 55.
(i) Other Termination. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee
upon grant, if any Optionee's employment with or service to the Company or any
Subsidiary terminates for any reason other than death, disability or Normal or
Early Retirement, the Option shall thereupon terminate, except that the portion
of any Option that was exercisable on the date of such termination of employment
or service may be exercised for the lesser of thirty (30) days after the date of
termination or the balance of such Option's term if the Optionee's employment or
service with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate is terminated by the
Company or such Subsidiary without cause (the determination as to whether
termination was for cause to be made by the Committee). The transfer of an
Optionee from the employ of or service to the Company to the employ of or
service to a Subsidiary, or vice versa, or from one Subsidiary to another, shall
not be deemed to constitute a termination of employment or service for purposes
of the Plan.
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(j) Limit on Value of Incentive Option. The aggregate Fair Market
Value, determined as of the date the Incentive Option is granted, of Stock for
which Incentive Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionee
during any calendar year under the Plan (and/or any other stock option plans of
the Company or any Subsidiary) shall not exceed $100,000.
(k) Grants to Foreign Employees. The terms of grants to foreign
employees may vary from the terms of this Section 5 provided that the terms
shall only be more restrictive than any term in this Section 5.
6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK.
Restricted Stock may be granted under this Plan aside from, or in
association with, any other award and shall be subject to the following
conditions and shall contain such additional terms and conditions (including
provisions relating to the acceleration of vesting of Restricted Stock upon a
Change of Control), not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the
Committee shall deem desirable:
(a) Grantee rights. A Grantee shall have no rights to an award of
Restricted Stock unless and until Grantee accepts the award within the period
prescribed by the Committee. After acceptance and issuance of a certificate or
certificates, as provided for below, the Grantee shall have the rights of a
stockholder with respect to Restricted Stock subject to the non-transferability
and forfeiture restrictions described in Section 6(d) below.
(b) Issuance of Certificates. The Company shall issue in the Grantee's
name a certificate or certificates for the shares of Common Stock associated
with the award promptly after the Grantee accepts such award.
(c) Delivery of Certificates. Unless otherwise provided, any
certificate or certificates issued evidencing shares of Restricted Stock shall
not be delivered to the Grantee until such shares are free of any restrictions
specified by the Committee at the time of grant.
(d) Forfeitability, Non-transferability of Restricted Stock. Shares of
Restricted Stock are forfeitable until the terms of the Restricted Stock grant
have been satisfied. Shares of Restricted Stock are not transferable until the
date on which the Committee has specified such restrictions have lapsed. Unless
otherwise provided by the Committee at or after grant, distributions in the form
of dividends or otherwise of additional shares or property in respect of shares
of Restricted Stock shall be subject to the same restrictions as such shares of
Restricted Stock.
(e) Change of Control. Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control as
defined in Section 5(c), the Committee may accelerate the vesting of outstanding
Restricted Stock, in whole or in part, as determined by the Committee, in its
sole discretion.
(f) Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise determined by the
Committee at or after grant, in the event the Grantee ceases to be an employee
or otherwise associated with the Company for any other reason, all shares of
Restricted Stock theretofore awarded to him which are still subject to
restrictions shall be forfeited and the Company shall have the right to complete
the blank stock power. The Committee may provide (on or after
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grant) that restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to shares of
Restricted Stock will be waived in whole or in part in the event of termination
resulting from specified causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in
whole or in part restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted
Stock.
7. TERM OF PLAN.
No Option or shares of Restricted Stock shall be granted pursuant to the
Plan on or after the date that is ten years from the effective date of the Plan,
but Options or shares of Restricted Stock theretofore granted may extend beyond
that date.
8. CAPITAL CHANGE OF THE COMPANY.
In the event of any merger, reorganization, consolidation,
recapitalization, stock dividend, or other change in corporate structure
affecting the Stock, the Committee shall make an appropriate and equitable
adjustment in the number and kind of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan
and in the number and option price of shares subject to outstanding Options
granted under the Plan, to the end that after such event each Optionee's
proportionate interest shall be maintained (to the extent possible) as
immediately before the occurrence of such event. The Committee shall, to the
extent feasible, make such other adjustments as may be required under the tax
laws so that any Incentive Options previously granted shall not be deemed
modified within the meaning of Section 424(h) of the Code. Appropriate
adjustments shall also be made in the case of outstanding Restricted Stock
granted under the Plan.
The adjustments described above will be made only to the extent consistent
with continued qualification of the Option under Section 422 of the Code (in the
case of an Incentive Option) and Section 409A of the Code.
9. PURCHASE FOR INVESTMENT/CONDITIONS.
Unless the Options and shares covered by the Plan have been registered
under the Securities Act, or the Company has determined that such registration
is unnecessary, each person exercising or receiving Options or Restricted Stock
under the Plan may be required by the Company to give a representation in
writing that he is acquiring the securities for his own account for investment
and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, the distribution of any
part thereof. The Committee may impose any additional or further restrictions on
awards of Options or Restricted Stock as shall be determined by the Committee at
the time of award.
10. TAXES.
(a) The Company may make such provisions as it may deem appropriate,
consistent with applicable law, in connection with any Options or Restricted
Stock granted under the Plan with respect to the withholding of any taxes
(including income or employment taxes) or any other tax matters.
(b) If any Grantee, in connection with the acquisition of Restricted
Stock, makes the election permitted under Section 83(b) of the Code (that is, an
election to include in gross income in the year of transfer the amounts
specified in Section 83(b)), such Grantee shall
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notify the Company of the election with the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to
regulations issued under the authority of Code Section 83(b).
(c) If any Grantee shall make any disposition of shares of Stock
issued pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Option under the circumstances
described in Section 421(b) of the Code (relating to certain disqualifying
dispositions), such Grantee shall notify the Company of such disposition within
ten (10) days hereof.
11. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.
The Plan shall be effective on August 7, 2006; provided, however, that if,
and only if, certain options are intended to qualify as Incentive Stock Options,
the Plan must subsequently be approved by majority vote of the Company's
stockholders no later than August 7, 2007, and further, that in the event
certain Option grants hereunder are intended to qualify as performance-based
compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the requirements
as to shareholder approval set forth in Section 162(m) of the Code are
satisfied.
12. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION.
The Board may amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan, except that no
amendment shall be made that would impair the rights of any Participant under
any Option or Restricted Stock theretofore granted without the Participant's
consent, and except that no amendment shall be made which, without the approval
of the stockholders of the Company would:
(a) materially increase the number of shares that may be issued under
the Plan, except as is provided in Section 8;
(b) materially increase the benefits accruing to the Participants
under the Plan;
(c) materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for
participation in the Plan;
(d) decrease the exercise price of an Incentive Option to less than
100% of the Fair Market Value per share of Stock on the date of grant thereof or
the exercise price of a Nonqualified Option to less than 100% of the Fair Market
Value per share of Stock on the date of grant thereof;
(e) extend the term of any Option beyond that provided for in Section
5(b); or
(f) except as otherwise provided in Sections 5(c), 5(l) and 8 hereof,
reduce the exercise price of outstanding Options or effect repricing through
cancellations and re-grants of new Options.
Subject to the forgoing, the Committee may amend the terms of any Option
theretofore granted, prospectively or retrospectively, but no such amendment
shall impair the rights of any Optionee without the Optionee's consent.
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It is the intention of the Board that the Plan comply strictly with the
provisions of Section 409A of the Code and Treasury Regulations and other
Internal Revenue Service guidance promulgated thereunder (the "Section 409A
Rules") and the Committee shall exercise its discretion in granting awards
hereunder (and the terms of such awards), accordingly. The Plan and any grant of
an award hereunder may be amended from time to time (without, in the case of an
award, the consent of the Participant) as may be necessary or appropriate to
comply with the Section 409A Rules.
13. GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS.
The Plan, and the grant and exercise of Options or Restricted Stock
hereunder, and the obligation of the Company to sell and deliver shares under
such Options and Restricted Stock shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules
and regulations, and to such approvals by any governmental agencies, national
securities exchanges and interdealer quotation systems as may be required.
14. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) Certificates. All certificates for shares of Stock delivered under
the Plan shall be subject to such stop transfer orders and other restrictions as
the Committee may deem advisable under the rules, regulations and other
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or other securities
commission having jurisdiction, any applicable Federal or state securities law,
any stock exchange or interdealer quotation system upon which the Stock is then
listed or traded and the Committee may cause a legend or legends to be placed on
any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
(b) Employment Matters. Neither the adoption of the Plan nor any grant
or award under the Plan shall confer upon any Participant who is an employee of
the Company or any Subsidiary any right to continued employment or, in the case
of a Participant who is a director, continued service as a director, with the
Company or a Subsidiary, as the case may be, nor shall it interfere in any way
with the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of
any of its employees, the service of any of its directors or the retention of
any of its consultants or advisors at any time.
(c) Limitation of Liability. No member of the Committee, or any
officer or employee of the Company acting on behalf of the Committee, shall be
personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation taken or made
in good faith with respect to the Plan, and all members of the Committee and
each and any officer or employee of the Company acting on their behalf shall, to
the extent permitted by law, be fully indemnified and protected by the Company
in respect of any such action, determination or interpretation.
(d) Registration of Stock. Notwithstanding any other provision in the
Plan, no Option may be exercised unless and until the Stock to be issued upon
the exercise thereof has been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, and applicable state securities laws, or are, in the opinion of counsel
to the Company, exempt from such registration in the United States. The Company
shall not be under any obligation to register under applicable federal or state
securities laws any Stock to be issued upon the exercise of an Option granted
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hereunder in order to permit the exercise of an Option and the issuance and sale
of the Stock subject to such Option, although the Company may in its sole
discretion register such Stock at such time as the Company shall determine. If
the Company chooses to comply with such an exemption from registration, the
Stock issued under the Plan may, at the direction of the Committee, bear an
appropriate restrictive legend restricting the transfer or pledge of the Stock
represented thereby, and the Committee may also give appropriate stop transfer
instructions with respect to such Stock to the Company's transfer agent.
15. NON-UNIFORM DETERMINATIONS.
The Committee's determinations under the Plan, including, without
limitation, (i) the determination of the Participants to receive awards, (ii)
the form, amount and timing of such awards, (iii) the terms and provisions of
such awards and (ii) the agreements evidencing the same, need not be uniform and
may be made by it selectively among Participants who receive, or who are
eligible to receive, awards under the Plan, whether or not such Participants are
similarly situated.
16. GOVERNING LAW.
The validity, construction, and effect of the Plan and any rules and
regulations relating to the Plan shall be determined in accordance with the
internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of
conflicts of laws, and applicable federal law.
Akeena Solar, Inc.
August 8, 2006
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