Any member of the Board who is not an employee of the Company or an Affiliate (including a corporation that becomes an Affiliate after the adoption of this Plan), is eligible to participate in this Plan if the Committee, with the approval of the Board, determines that such person has contributed significantly or can be expected to contribute significantly to the profits or growth of the Company.
Upon the award of shares of Common Stock pursuant to a Stock Award the Company may issue shares of Common Stock from its authorized but unissued Common Stock. Upon the exercise of any Option the Company may deliver to the Participant (or the Participant's broker if the Participant so directs), shares of Common Stock from its authorized but unissued Common Stock.
The maximum aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under this Plan pursuant to the exercise of Options and the grant of Stock Awards is 15,000 shares. The maximum aggregate number of shares that may be issued under this Plan shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Article VIII.
5.03. | Reallocation of Shares. |
If an Option is terminated, in whole or in part, for any reason other than its exercise, the number of shares of Common Stock allocated to the Option or portion thereof may be reallocated to other Options and Stock Awards to be granted under this Plan. If a Stock Award is forfeited, in whole or in part, the number of shares of Common Stock allocated to the Stock Award or portion thereof may be reallocated to other Options and Stock Awards to be granted under this Plan.
ARTICLE VI
OPTIONS
In accordance with the provisions of Article IV, the Committee, subject to the approval of the Board, will designate each individual to whom an Option is to be granted.
The price per share for Common Stock purchased on the exercise of an Option shall be determined by the Committee on the date of grant, subject to the approval of the Board, but shall not be less than the Fair Market Value on the date the Option is granted.
6.03. | Maximum Option Period |
The maximum period in which an Option may be exercised shall be determined by the Committee on the date of grant, subject to the approval of the Board, except that no Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten years from the date such Option was granted.
Except as provided in Section 6.05, each Option granted under this Plan shall be nontransferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. Except as provided in Section 6.05, during the lifetime of the Participant to whom the Option is granted, the Option may be exercised only by the Participant. No right or interest of a Participant in any Option shall be liable for, or subject to, any lien, obligation, or liability of such Participant.
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6.05. | Transferable Options. |
Section 6.04 to the contrary notwithstanding, if the Agreement provides, an Option may be transferred by a Participant to the Participant's children, grandchildren, spouse, one or more trusts for the benefit of such family members or a partnership in which such family members are the only partners, on such terms and conditions as may be permitted under Securities Exchange Commission Rule 16b-3 as in effect from time to time. The holder of an Option transferred pursuant to this section shall be bound by the same terms and conditions that governed the Option during the period that it was held by the Participant; provided, however, that such transferee may not transfer the Option except by will or the laws of descent and distribution.
In the event that the terms of any Option provide that it may be exercised only during a Participant’s service on the Board or within a specified period of time thereafter, 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 continuous service.
Subject to the provisions of this Plan and the applicable Agreement, an Option may be exercised in whole at any time or in part from time to time at such times and in compliance with such requirements as the Committee, with the approval of the Board, shall determine. An Option granted under this Plan may be exercised with respect to any number of whole shares less than the full number for which the Option could be exercised. A partial exercise of an Option shall not affect the right to exercise the Option from time to time in accordance with this Plan and the applicable Agreement with respect to the remaining shares subject to the Option.
Unless otherwise provided by the Agreement, payment of the Option price shall be made in cash or a cash equivalent. If the Agreement provides, payment of all or part of the Option price may be made by surrendering shares of Common Stock to the Company. If Common Stock is used to pay all or part of the Option price, the sum of the cash and cash equivalent and the Fair Market Value (determined as of the day preceding the date of exercise) of the shares surrendered must not be less than the Option price of the shares for which the Option is being exercised.
No Participant shall have any rights as a shareholder with respect to shares subject to his Option until the date of exercise of such Option.
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ARTICLE VII
STOCK AWARDS
In accordance with the provisions of Article IV, the Committee, subject to the approval of the Board, will designate each individual to whom a Stock Award is to be made and the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Stock Award.
The Committee on the date of the award, subject to the approval of the Board, may prescribe that a Participant’s rights in a Stock Award shall be forfeitable or otherwise restricted for a period of time or subject to such conditions as may be set forth in the Agreement.
In the event that the terms of any Stock Award provide that shares may become transferable and nonforfeitable thereunder only after completion of a specified period of service on the Board, the Committee may decide in each case to what extent leaves of absence for governmental or military service, illness, temporary disability, or other reasons shall not be deemed interruptions of continuous service.
Prior to their forfeiture (in accordance with the applicable Agreement and while the shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to the Stock Award may be forfeited or are nontransferable), a Participant will have all rights of a shareholder with respect to a Stock Award, including the right to receive dividends and vote the shares; provided, however, that during such period (i) a Participant may not sell, transfer, pledge, exchange, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to a Stock Award, and (ii) the Company shall retain custody of the certificates evidencing shares of Common Stock granted pursuant to a Stock Award, and (iii) the Participant will deliver to the Company a stock power, endorsed in blank, with respect to each Stock Award. The limitations set forth in the preceding sentence shall not apply after the shares of Common Stock granted under the Stock Award are transferable and are no longer forfeitable.
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ARTICLE VIII
ADJUSTMENT UPON CHANGE IN COMMON STOCK
The maximum number of shares as to which Options and Stock Awards may be granted under this Plan and the terms of outstanding Options and Stock Awards shall be adjusted as the Board shall determine to be equitably required in the event that (a) the Company (i) effects one or more stock dividends, stock split-ups, subdivisions or consolidations of shares or (ii) engages in a transaction to which Section 424 of the Code applies or (b) there occurs any other event which, in the judgment of the Board necessitates such action. Any determination made under this Article VIII by the Board shall be final and conclusive.
The issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash or property, or for labor or services, either upon direct sale or upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the maximum number of shares as to which Options and Stock Awards may be granted or the terms of outstanding Options and Stock Awards.
ARTICLE IX
COMPLIANCE WITH LAW ANDAPPROVAL OF REGULATORY BODIES
No Option shall be exercisable, no Common Stock shall be issued, no certificates for shares of Common Stock shall be delivered, and no payment shall be made under this Plan except in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations (including, without limitation, withholding tax requirements), any listing agreement to which the Company is a party, and the rules of all domestic stock exchanges on which the Company's shares may be listed. The Company shall have the right to rely on an opinion of its counsel as to such compliance. Any share certificate issued to evidence Common Stock when an Option is exercised or a Stock Award is granted may bear such legends and statements as the Committee may deem advisable to assure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. No Option shall be exercisable, no Common Stock shall be issued, no certificate for shares shall be delivered, and no payment shall be made under this Plan until the Company has obtained such consent or approval as the Committee may deem advisable from regulatory bodies having jurisdiction over such matters.
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ARTICLE X
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Neither the adoption of this Plan, its operation, nor any documents describing or referring to this Plan (or any part thereof), shall confer upon any individual any right to continue in the service of the Company or in any way affect any right and power of the Company to terminate the service of any individual at any time with or without assigning a reason therefor.
The Plan, insofar as it provides for grants, shall be unfunded, and the Company shall not be required to segregate any assets that may at any time be represented by grants under this Plan. Any liability of the Company to any person with respect to any grant under this Plan shall be based solely upon any contractual obligations that may be created pursuant to this Plan. No such obligation of the Company shall be deemed to be secured by any pledge of, or other encumbrance on, any property of the Company.
10.03. | Rules of Construction. |
Headings are given to the articles and sections of this Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. The reference to any statute, regulation, or other provision of law shall be construed to refer to any amendment to or successor of such provision of law.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENT
The Board may amend or terminate this Plan from time to time; provided, however, that no amendment may become effective until shareholder approval is obtained if (i) the amendment increases the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan (other than an adjustment pursuant to Article VIII) or (ii) the amendment changes the class of individuals eligible to become Participants. No amendment shall, without a Participant's consent, adversely affect any rights of such Participant under any Option or Stock Award outstanding at the time such amendment is made.
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ARTICLE XII
DURATION OF PLAN
No Option or Stock Award may be granted under this Plan after February 24, 2008. Options and Stock Awards granted before that date shall remain valid in accordance with their terms.
ARTICLE XIII
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN
Options may be granted under this Plan upon its adoption by the Board, provided that no Option shall be effective or exercisable unless this Plan is approved by a majority of the votes cast by the Company's shareholders, voting either in person or by proxy, at a duly held shareholders' meeting at which a quorum is present. Stock Awards may be granted under this Plan upon its approval by the company’s shareholders in accordance with the preceding sentence.
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