Exhibit 99.2
ISCO INTERNATIONAL, INC.
2003 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
SECTION 1.Purpose; Definitions. The purposes of the ISCO International, Inc. 2003 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) are to: (a) enable ISCO International, Inc. (the “Company”) and its affiliated companies to recruit and retain highly qualified employees, directors and consultants; (b) provide those employees, directors and consultants with an incentive for productivity; and (c) provide those employees, directors and consultants with an opportunity to share in the growth and value of the Company.
For purposes of the Plan, the following initially capitalized words and phrases will be defined as set forth below, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning:
(a) “Affiliate” means, with respect to a Person, a Person that directly or indirectly controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with such Person.
(b) “Award” means a grant of Options, SARs or Restricted Shares pursuant to the provisions of the Plan.
(c) “Award Agreement” means, with respect to any particular Award, the written document that sets forth the terms of that particular Award.
(d) “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company, as constituted from time to time;provided, however, that if the Board appoints a Committee to perform some or all of the Board’s administrative functions hereunder pursuant toSection 2, references in the Plan to the “Board” will be deemed to also refer to that Committee in connection with administrative matters to be performed by that Committee.
(e) “Cause” means (i) alcohol abuse or use of controlled drugs (other than in accordance with a physician’s prescription); (ii) refusal, failure or inability to perform any material obligation or fulfill any duty (other than any duty or obligation of the type described in clause (iv) below) to the Company (other than due to a Disability), which failure, refusal or inability is not cured within 10 days after delivery of notice thereof; (iii) gross negligence or willful misconduct in the course of employment; (iv) any breach of any obligation to or duty to the Company or any of its Affiliates (whether arising by statute, common law, contract or otherwise) relating to confidentiality, noncompetition, nonsolicitation or proprietary rights; (v) other conduct involving any type of disloyalty to the Company or any of its Affiliates, including, without limitation, fraud, embezzlement, theft or proven dishonesty; or (vi) conviction of (or the entry of a plea of guilty ornolo contendereto) a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or a felony. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Participant and the Company (or any of its Affiliates have entered into an employment agreement, consulting agreement or other similar agreement that specifically defines “cause,” then with respect to such Participant, “Cause” shall have the meaning defined in that employment agreement, consulting agreement or other agreement.
(f) “Change in Control” means, with respect to any entity: (i) the sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition (including by merger or consolidation, but excluding any sales by stockholders made as part of an underwritten public offering of the common stock of the entity) by stockholders of the entity, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, of more than 50% of the voting power represented by the then outstanding capital stock of the entity to one or more Persons, (ii) the sale of substantially all the assets of the entity (other than a transfer of financial assets made in the ordinary course of business for the purpose of securitization), or (iii) the liquidation or dissolution of the entity.
(g) “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and any successor thereto.
(h) “Committee” means a committee appointed by the Board in accordance withSection 2 of the Plan.
(i) “Director” means a member of the Board.
(j) “Disability” means a condition rendering a Grantee Disabled.
(k) “Disabled” will have the same meaning as set forth in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
(l) “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(m) “Fair Market Value” means, as of any date: (i) the closing price of the Shares as reported on the American Stock Exchange or the principal nationally recognized stock exchange on which the Shares are traded on such date, or if no Share prices are reported on such date, the closing price of the Shares on the last preceding date on which there were reported Share prices; or (ii) if the Shares are not listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on a nationally recognized stock exchange, the closing price of the Shares as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market on such date, or if no Share prices are reported on such date, the closing price of the Shares on the last preceding date on which there were reported Share prices; or (iii) if the Shares are not listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on a nationally recognized stock exchange or traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market, the Fair Market Value will be determined by the Board acting in its discretion, which determination will be conclusive.
(n) “Incentive Stock Option” means any Option intended to be and designated as an “Incentive Stock Option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
(o) “Non-Employee Director” will have the meaning set forth in Rule 16b-3(b)(3)(i) promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Exchange Act, or any successor definition adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission;provided, however, that the Board or the Committee may, to the extent that it deems necessary to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code or regulations thereunder, require that each “Non-Employee Director” also be an “outside director” as that term is defined in regulations under Section 162(m) of the Code.
(p) “Non-Qualified Stock Option” means any Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option.
(q) “Option” means any option to purchase Shares (including Restricted Shares, if the Committee so determines) granted pursuant toSection 5 hereof.
(r) “Participant” means an employee, consultant or Director of the Company or any of its Affiliates to whom an Award is granted.
(s) “Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust, joint venture, unincorporated association, or other entity or association.
(t) “Restricted Shares” means Shares that are subject to restrictions pursuant toSection 8 hereof.
(u) “SAR” means a share appreciation right granted under the Plan and described inSection 6 hereof.
(v) “Share” means a share of the Company’s common stock,par value $.001, subject to substitution or adjustment as provided inSection 3(c) hereof.
(w) “Subsidiary” means, in respect of the Company, a subsidiary company, whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Sections 424(f) and (g) of the Code.
SECTION 2.Administration. The Plan will be administered by the Board;provided, however, that the Board may at any time appoint a Committee to perform some or all of the Board’s administrative functions hereunder; and provided further, that the authority of any Committee appointed pursuant to thisSection 2 will be subject to such terms and conditions as the Board may prescribe and will be coextensive with, and not in lieu of, the authority of the Board hereunder.
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Any Committee established under thisSection 2 will be composed of not fewer than two members, each of whom will serve for such period of time as the Board determines;provided, however, that if the Company has a class of securities required to be registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, all members of any Committee established pursuant to thisSection 2 will be Non-Employee Directors. From time to time the Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional members thereto, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies however caused, or remove all members of the Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan.
The Board will have full authority to grant Awards under this Plan. In particular, subject to the terms of the Plan, the Board will have the authority:
(a) to select the persons to whom Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder (consistent with the eligibility conditions set forth inSection 4);
(b) to determine the type of Award to be granted to any person hereunder;
(c) to determine the number of Shares, if any, to be covered by each such Award;
(d) to establish the terms and conditions of each Award Agreement;
(e) to determine whether and under what circumstances an Option may be exercised without a payment of cash underSection 5(d); and
(f) to determine whether, to what extent and under what circumstances Shares and other amounts payable with respect to an Award may be deferred either automatically or at the election of the Participant.
The Board will have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it, from time to time, deems advisable; to establish the terms of each Award Agreement; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award issued under the Plan (and any Award Agreement); and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan. The Board may correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Award in the manner and to the extent it deems necessary to carry out the intent of the Plan.
All decisions made by the Board pursuant to the provisions of the Plan will be final and binding on all persons, including the Company and Participants. No Director will be liable for any good faith determination, act or omission in connection with the Plan or any Award.
SECTION 3.Shares Subject to the Plan.
(a)Shares Subject to the Plan. The Shares to be subject to or related to Awards under the Plan will be authorized and unissued Shares of the Company, whether or not previously issued and subsequently acquired by the Company. The maximum number of Shares that may be subject to Options or Restricted Shares under the Plan is 23,038,994, plus an additional number of Shares not to exceed 5,000,000, which additional number will be equal to the number of Shares subject to options granted under the ISCO International, Inc. Amended and Restated 1993 Stock Option Plan that expire, are forfeited, or are cancelled after the date of the Company’s 2005 Annual Meeting. The Company shall reserve for purposes of the Plan out of its authorized and unissued Shares that total number of Shares. No Participant may receive an award of Options or SARs under the Plan with respect to more than 2,000,000 Shares in any calendar year.
(b)Effect of the Expiration or Termination of Awards. If and to the extent that an Option expires, terminates or is canceled or forfeited for any reason without having been exercised in full, the Shares associated with that Option will again become available for grant under the Plan. Similarly, if and to the extent any Restricted Share is canceled, forfeited or repurchased for any reason, or if any Share is withheld pursuant toSection 11(d) in settlement of a tax withholding obligation associated with an Award, that Share will again become available for grant under the Plan. Finally, if any Share is received in satisfaction of the exercise price payable upon exercise of an Option, that Share will become available for grant under the Plan.
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(c)Other Adjustment. In the event of any recapitalization, stock split or combination, stock dividend or other similar event or transaction affecting the Shares, equitable substitutions or adjustments may be made by the Board, in its sole and absolute discretion, to the aggregate number, type and issuer of the securities reserved for issuance under the Plan, to the number, type and issuer of Shares subject to outstanding Options or SARs, to the exercise price of outstanding Options or SARs, and to the number, type and issuer of Restricted Shares.
(d)Change in Control. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Plan, upon or in anticipation of any Change in Control of the Company or any of its Affiliates, the Board may, in its sole and absolute discretion and without the need for the consent of any Participant, take one or more of the following actions contingent upon the occurrence of that Change in Control: (i) cause any or all outstanding Options and SARs held by Participants affected by the Change in Control to become vested and immediately exercisable, in whole or in part; (ii) cause any or all outstanding Restricted Shares held by Participants affected by the Change in Control to become non-forfeitable, in whole or in part; (iii) cancel any Option held by a Participant affected by the Change in Control in exchange for an option to purchase common stock of any successor corporation, which new option satisfies the requirements of Treas. Reg. § 1.425-1(a)(4)(i) (notwithstanding the fact that the original Option may never have been intended to satisfy the requirements for treatment as an Incentive Stock Option), (iv) cancel any Restricted Shares held by a Participant affected by the Change in Control in exchange for restricted shares of the common stock of any successor corporation, (v) redeem any Restricted Shares held by a Participant affected by the Change in Control for cash and/or other substitute consideration with a value equal to the Fair Market Value of an unrestricted Share on the date of the Change in Control; or (vi) cancel any Option or SAR held by a Participant affected by the Change in Control in exchange for cash and/or other substitute consideration with a value equal to (A) the number of Shares subject to that Option or SAR, multiplied by (B) the difference, if any, between the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of the Change in Control and the exercise price of that Option or SAR;provided,that if the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of the Change in Control does not exceed the exercise price of any such Option, the Board may cancel that Option without any payment of consideration therefor.
SECTION 4.Eligibility. Employees, Directors, consultants, and other individuals who provide services to the Company or its Affiliates are eligible to be granted Awards under the Plan. Persons who are not employees of the Company or a Subsidiary are not eligible to be granted Incentive Stock Options but are eligible to be granted other types of Awards.
SECTION 5.Options.Options granted under the Plan may be of two types: (i) Incentive Stock Options or (ii) Non-Qualified Stock Options. Any Option granted under the Plan will be in such form as the Board may at the time of such grant approve.
The Award Agreement evidencing any Option will incorporate the following terms and conditions and will contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Board deems appropriate in its sole and absolute discretion:
(a)Option Price. The exercise price per Share purchasable under a Non-Qualified Stock Option will be determined by the Board. The exercise price per Share purchasable under an Incentive Stock Option will be not less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Share on the date of the grant. However, any Incentive Stock Option granted to any Participant who, at the time the Option is granted, owns more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or of a Subsidiary will have an exercise price per Share of not less than 110% of Fair Market Value per Share on the date of the grant.
(b)Option Term. The term of each Option will be fixed by the Board, but no Incentive Stock Option will be exercisable more than 10 years after the date the Option is granted. However, any Incentive Stock Option granted to any Participant who, at the time such Option is granted, owns more than 10% of the voting power of all classes of shares of the Company or of a Subsidiary may not have a term of more than five years. No Option may be exercised by any person after expiration of the term of the Option.
(c)Exercisability. Options will vest and be exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Board at the time of grant. If the Board provides, in its discretion, that any Option is exercisable only in installments, the Board may waive such installment exercise provisions at any time at or after grant, in whole or in part, based on such factors as the Board determines, in its sole and absolute discretion.
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(d)Method of Exercise. Subject to the exercisability provisions ofSection 5(c), the termination provisions set forth inSection 7 and the applicable Award Agreement, Options may be exercised in whole or in part at any time and from time to time during the term of the Option, by the delivery of written notice of exercise by the Participant to the Company specifying the number of Shares to be purchased. Such notice will be accompanied by payment in full of the purchase price, either by certified or bank check, or such other means as the Board may accept. As determined by the Board, in its sole discretion, at or after grant, payment in full or in part of the exercise price of an Option may be made in the form of previously acquired Shares based on the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date the Option is exercised;provided, however, that, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the right to make a payment in the form of previously acquired Shares may be authorized only at the time the Option is granted.
No Shares will be issued upon exercise of an Option until full payment therefor has been made. A Participant will not have the right to distributions or dividends or any other rights of a stockholder with respect to Shares subject to the Option until the Participant has given written notice of exercise, has paid in full for such Shares, and, if requested, has given the representation described inSection 11(a) hereof.
(e)Incentive Stock Option Limitations. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the Shares with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year under the Plan and/or any other plan of the Company or any Subsidiary will not exceed $100,000. For purposes of applying the foregoing limitation, Incentive Stock Options will be taken into account in the order granted. To the extent any Option does not meet such limitation, that Option will be treated for all purposes as a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
(f)Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Award Agreement, Options will be subject to the terms ofSection 7 with respect to exercise upon or following termination of employment.
(g)Transferability of Options. Except as may otherwise be specifically determined by the Board with respect to a particular Option, no Option will be transferable by the Participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and all Options will be exercisable, during the Participant’s lifetime, only by the Participant or, in the event of his Disability, by his personal representative.
SECTION 6.Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a)Grant. The grant of an SAR provides the holder the right to receive the appreciation in value of Shares between the date of grant and the date of exercise. SARs may be granted alone (“Stand-Alone SARs”) or in conjunction with all or part of any Option (“Tandem SARs”). In the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option, a Tandem SAR may be granted either at or after the time of the grant of such Option. In the case of an Incentive Stock Option, a Tandem SAR may be granted only at the time of the grant of such Option.
(b)Exercise.
(i)Tandem SARs. A Tandem SAR or applicable portion thereof will terminate and will no longer be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the related Option or portion thereof, except that, unless otherwise determined by the Board, in its sole discretion at the time of grant, a Tandem SAR granted with respect to less than the full number of Shares covered by a related Option will be reduced only after such related Option is exercised or otherwise terminated with respect to the number of Shares not covered by the Tandem SAR.
A Tandem SAR may be exercised by a Participant by surrendering the applicable portion of the related Option, only at such time or times and to the extent that the Option to which such Tandem SAR relates will be exercisable in accordance with the provisions ofSection 5 and thisSection 6. Options which have been so surrendered, in whole or in part, will no longer be exercisable to the extent the related Tandem SARs have been exercised.
Upon the exercise of a Tandem SAR, a Participant will be entitled to receive, upon surrender to the Company of all (or a portion) of an Option in exchange for cash and/or Shares, an amount equal to the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value, as of the date such Option (or such portion thereof) is surrendered, of the Shares covered by such Option (or such portion thereof) over (B) the aggregate exercise price of such Option (or such portion thereof).
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Upon the exercise of a Tandem SAR, the Option or part thereof to which such Tandem SAR is related, will be deemed to have been exercised for the purpose of the limitation set forth inSection 3 of the Plan on the number of Shares to be issued under the Plan, but only to the extent of the number of Shares issued under the Tandem SAR at the time of exercise based on the value of the Tandem SAR at such time.
A Tandem SAR may be exercised only if and when the Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Option exceeds the exercise price of such Option.
(ii)Stand-Alone SARs. A Stand-Alone SAR may be exercised by a Participant giving notice of intent to exercise to the Company, provided that all or a portion of such Stand-Alone SAR will have become vested and exercisable as of the date of exercise.
Upon the exercise of a Stand-Alone SAR, a Participant will be entitled to receive, in either cash and/or Shares, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (A) the Fair Market Value, as of the date such SAR (or portion of such SAR) is exercised, of the Shares covered by such SAR (or portion of such SAR) over (B) the Fair Market Value of the Shares covered by such SAR (or a portion of such SAR) as of the date such SAR (or a portion of such SAR) was granted.
(c)Terms and Conditions. The Award Agreement evidencing any SAR will incorporate the following terms and conditions and will contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Board deems appropriate in its sole and absolute discretion:
(i)Term of SAR. Unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement, the term of a Tandem SAR will be identical to the term of the associated Option, and the term of a Stand-Alone SAR will be ten years.
(ii)Exercisability. SARs will vest and become exercisable at such time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as will be determined by the Board at the time of grant; provided that, unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement, a Tandem SAR will vest and become exercisable in the same manner and at the same time as the associated Option.
(iii)Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise specified in the Award Agreement, SARs will be subject to the terms ofSection 7 with respect to exercise upon termination of employment.
SECTION 7.Termination of Service.Unless otherwise specified with respect to a particular Award, Options or SARs granted hereunder will remain exercisable after termination of employment only to the extent specified in thisSection 7.
(a)Termination by Reason of Death. If a Participant’s service with the Company or any Affiliate terminates by reason of death, any Option or SAR held by such Participant may thereafter be exercised, to the extent then exercisable or on such accelerated basis as the Board may determine, at or after grant, by the legal representative of the estate or by the legatee of the Participant under the will of the Participant, for a period expiring (i) at such time as may be specified by the Board at or after the time of grant, or (ii) if not specified by the Board, then 12 months from the date of death, or (iii) if sooner than the applicable period specified under (i) or (ii) above, then upon the expiration of the stated term of such Option.
(b)Termination by Reason of Disability. If a Participant’s service with the Company or any Affiliate terminates by reason of Disability, any Option or SAR held by such Participant may thereafter be exercised by the Participant or his personal representative, to the extent it was exercisable at the time of termination, or on such accelerated basis as the Board may determine at or after grant, for a period expiring (i) at such time as may be specified by the Board at or after the time of grant, or (ii) if not specified by the Board, then 12 months from the date of termination of service, or (iii) if sooner than the applicable period specified under (i) or (ii) above, then upon the expiration of the stated term of such Option or SAR.
(c)Cause. If a Participant’s service with the Company or any Affiliate is terminated for Cause: (i) any Option or SAR not already exercised will be immediately and automatically forfeited as of the date of such termination, and (ii) any Shares for which the Company has not yet delivered share certificates will be immediately and
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automatically forfeited and the Company will refund to the Participant the Option exercise price paid for such Shares, if any.
(d)Other Termination. If a Participant’s service with the Company or any Affiliate terminates for any reason other than death, Disability or Cause, any Option or SAR held by such Participant may thereafter be exercised by the Participant, to the extent it was exercisable at the time of such termination, or on such accelerated basis as the Board may determine at or after grant, for a period expiring (i) at such time as may be specified by the Board at or after the time of grant, or (ii) if not specified by the Board, then 60 days from the date of termination of service, or (iii) if sooner than the applicable period specified under (i) or (ii) above, then upon the expiration of the stated term of such Option or SAR.
SECTION 8.Restricted Shares.
(a)Issuance. Restricted Shares may be issued either alone or in conjunction with other Awards. The Board will determine the time or times within which Restricted Shares may be subject to forfeiture, and all other conditions of such Awards.
(b)Awards and Certificates. The Award Agreement evidencing the grant of any Restricted Shares will contain such terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Board deems appropriate in its sole and absolute discretion. The prospective recipient of an Award of Restricted Shares will not have any rights with respect to such Award, unless and until such recipient has executed an Award Agreement and has delivered a fully executed copy thereof to the Company, and has otherwise complied with the applicable terms and conditions of such Award. The purchase price for Restricted Shares may, but need not, be zero.
A share certificate will be issued in connection with each Award of Restricted Shares. Such certificate will be registered in the name of the Participant receiving the Award, and will bear the following legend and/or any other legend required by this Plan, the Award Agreement, the Company’s stockholders’ agreement, if any, or by applicable law:
THE TRANSFERABILITY OF THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE SHARES REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE ISCO INTERNATIONAL, INC. 2003 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN AND AN AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO BETWEEN [THE PARTICIPANT] AND ISCO INTERNATIONAL, INC. (WHICH TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY INCLUDE, WITHOUT LIMITATION, CERTAIN TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS, REPURCHASE RIGHTS AND FORFEITURE CONDITIONS). COPIES OF THAT PLAN AND AGREEMENT ARE ON FILE IN THE PRINCIPAL OFFICES OF ISCO INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE WITHOUT CHARGE UPON REQUEST TO THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY.
Share certificates evidencing Restricted Shares will be held in custody by the Company or in escrow by an escrow agent until the restrictions thereon have lapsed. As a condition to any Restricted Shares award, the Participant may be required to deliver to the Company a share power, endorsed in blank, relating to the Shares covered by such Award.
(c)Restrictions and Conditions. The Restricted Shares awarded pursuant to thisSection 8 will be subject to the following restrictions and conditions:
(i) During a period commencing with the date of an Award of Restricted Shares and ending at such time or times as specified by the Board (the “Restriction Period”), the Participant will not be permitted to sell, transfer, pledge, assign or otherwise encumber Restricted Shares awarded under the Plan. The Board may condition the lapse of restrictions on Restricted Shares upon the continued employment or service of the recipient, the attainment of specified individual or corporate performance goals, or such other factors as the Board may determine, in its sole and absolute discretion.
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(ii) Except as provided in this Paragraph (ii) orSection 8(c)(i), once the Participant has been issued a certificate or certificates for Restricted Shares, the Participant will have, with respect to the Restricted Shares, all of the rights of a stockholder of the Company, including the right to vote the Shares, and the right to receive any cash distributions or dividends. The Board, in its sole discretion, as determined at the time of award, may permit or require the payment of cash distributions or dividends to be deferred and, if the Board so determines, reinvested in additional Restricted Shares to the extent Shares are available underSection 3 of the Plan. Any distributions or dividends paid in the form of securities with respect to Restricted Shares will be subject to the same terms and conditions as the Restricted Shares with respect to which they were paid, including, without limitation, the same Restriction Period.
(iii) Subject to the applicable provisions of the Award Agreement, if a Participant’s service with the Company terminates prior to the expiration of the Restriction Period, all of that Participant’s Restricted Shares which then remain subject to forfeiture will then be forfeited automatically.
(iv) If and when the Restriction Period expires without a prior forfeiture of the Restricted Shares subject to such Restriction Period (or if and when the restrictions applicable to Restricted Shares lapse pursuant toSections 3(d)), the certificates for such Shares will be replaced with new certificates, without the restrictive legends described inSection 8(b) applicable to such lapsed restrictions, and such new certificates will be promptly delivered to the Participant, the Participant’s representative (if the Participant has suffered a Disability), or the Participant’s estate or heir (if the Participant has died).
SECTION 9.Amendments and Termination. The Board may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan at any time, but, except as otherwise provided inSection 3(d) of the Plan, no amendment, alteration or discontinuation will be made which would impair the rights of a Participant with respect to an Award, without that Participant’s consent, or which, without the approval of such amendment within one year (365 days) of its adoption by the Board, by a majority of the votes cast at a duly held stockholder meeting at which a quorum representing a majority of the Company’s outstanding voting shares is present (either in person or by proxy), would: (i) increase the total number of Shares reserved for the purposes of the Plan (except as otherwise provided inSection 3(c)), or (ii) change the persons or class of persons eligible to receive Awards.
SECTION 10.Unfunded Status of Plan.The Plan is intended to be “unfunded.” With respect to any payments not yet made to a Participant by the Company, nothing contained herein will give any such Participant any rights that are greater than those of a general creditor of the Company. In its sole discretion, the Board may authorize the creation of grantor trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to deliver Shares or payments in lieu of Shares or with respect to Awards.
SECTION 11.General Provisions.
(a) The Board may require each Participant to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that the Participant is acquiring securities of the Company for investment purposes and without a view to distribution thereof and as to such other matters as the Board believes are appropriate. The certificate evidencing any Award and any securities issued pursuant thereto may include any legend which the Board deems appropriate to reflect any restrictions on transfer and compliance with securities laws.
All certificates for Shares or other securities delivered under the Plan will be subject to such share-transfer orders and other restrictions as the Board may deem advisable under the rules, regulations, and other requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, any stock exchange upon which the Shares are then listed, and any other applicable federal or state securities laws, and the Board may cause a legend or legends to be put on any such certificates to make appropriate reference to such restrictions.
(b) Nothing contained in the Plan will prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, subject to stockholder approval if such approval is required; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases.
(c) Neither the adoption of the Plan nor the execution of any document in connection with the Plan will (i) confer upon any person any right to continued employment or engagement with the Company or such
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Affiliate, or (ii) interfere in any way with the right of the Company or such Affiliate to terminate the employment of any of its employees at any time.
(d) No later than the date as of which an amount first becomes includible in the gross income of the Participant for federal income tax purposes with respect to any Award under the Plan, the Participant will pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Board regarding the payment of any federal, state or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such amount. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the minimum required withholding obligations may be settled with Shares, including Shares that are part of the Award that gives rise to the withholding requirement. The obligations of the Company under the Plan will be conditioned on such payment or arrangements and the Company will, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the Participant.
SECTION 12.Effective Date of Plan. The Plan will become effective on the date that it is adopted by the Board;provided, however, that all Options intended to be Incentive Stock Options will automatically be converted into Non-Qualified Stock Options if the Plan is not approved by the Company’s stockholders within one year (365 days) of its adoption by the Board in a manner consistent with Treas. Reg. § 1.422-5.
SECTION 13.Term of Plan.The Plan will continue in effect until terminated in accordance withSection 9;provided, however, that no Incentive Stock Option will be granted hereunder on or after the 10th anniversary of the date of stockholder approval of the Plan (or, if the stockholders approve an amendment that increases the number of shares subject to the Plan, the 10th anniversary of the date of such approval);but provided further, that Incentive Stock Options granted prior to such 10th anniversary may extend beyond that date.
SECTION 14.Invalid Provisions. In the event that any provision of this Plan is found to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable under any applicable law, such invalidity or unenforceability will not be construed as rendering any other provisions contained herein as invalid or unenforceable, and all such other provisions will be given full force and effect to the same extent as though the invalid or unenforceable provision was not contained herein.
SECTION 15.Governing Law. The Plan and all Awards granted hereunder will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws and judicial decisions of the State of Delaware, without regard to the application of the principles of conflicts of laws.
SECTION 16.Board Action. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in the Plan, any and all actions of the Board or Committee, as the case may be, taken under or in connection with the Plan and any agreements, instruments, documents, certificates or other writings entered into, executed, granted, issued and/or delivered pursuant to the terms hereof, will be subject to and limited by any and all votes, consents, approvals, waivers or other actions of all or certain stockholders of the Company or other persons required by:
(a) the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time);
(b) the Company’s Bylaws (as the same may be amended and/or restated from time to time); and
(c) any other agreement, instrument, document or writing now or hereafter existing, between or among the Company and its stockholders or other persons (as the same may be amended from time to time).
SECTION 17.Notices. Any notice to be given to the Company pursuant to the provisions of the Plan will be addressed to the Company in care of its Secretary (or such other person as the Company may designate from time to time) at its principal executive office, and any notice to be given to a Participant will be delivered personally or addressed to him or her at the address given beneath his or her signature on his or her Award Agreement, or at such other address as such Participant may hereafter designate in writing to the Company. Any such notice will be deemed duly given on the date and at the time delivered via personal, courier or recognized overnight delivery service or, if sent via telecopier, on the date and at the time telecopied with confirmation of delivery or, if mailed, on the date five (5) days after the date of the mailing (which will be by regular, registered or certified mail). Delivery of a notice by telecopy (with confirmation) will be permitted and will be considered delivery of a notice notwithstanding that it is not an original that is received.
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ADOPTION AND APPROVAL OF PLAN
Date Plan adopted by Board: April 14, 2006
Date Plan approved by Stockholders: June 16, 2006
Effective Date of Plan: April 14, 2006
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