Exhibit 10.1
INSIGHT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, INC.
1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. Purpose of the Plan.
The purpose of the Insight Communications Company, Inc. 1999 Stock
Option Plan (the "Plan") is to promote the interests of Insight Communications
Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and its stockholders by
strengthening the Company's ability to attract and retain competent employees,
to make service on the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board") more
attractive to present and prospective non-employee directors of the Company and
to provide a means to encourage stock ownership and proprietary interest in the
Company by officers, non-employee directors and valued employees and other
individuals upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the financial success
and growth of the Company largely depend. The Plan became effective on June 24,
1999, by resolution of the Board, subject to ratification of the Plan by a
majority vote of the stockholders of the Company.
2. Stock Subject to the Plan.
(a) The total number of shares of the authorized but unissued or
treasury shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company
("Common Stock") for which options and stock appreciation rights ("SARs") may
be granted under the Plan shall be 5,000,000 subject to adjustment as provided
in Section 14 hereof, which shares may be of any class of Common Stock;
provided, however, that such number of shares may from time to time be reduced
to the extent that a corresponding number of issued and outstanding shares of
Common Stock are purchased by the Company and set aside for issue upon the
exercise of options.
(b) If an option granted or assumed hereunder shall expire or
terminate for any reason without having been exercised in full, the unpurchased
shares subject thereto shall again be available for subsequent option grants
under the Plan; provided, however, that shares as to which an option has been
surrendered in connection with the exercise of a related SAR will not again be
available for subsequent option or SAR grants under the Plan.
(c) Stock issuable upon exercise of an option or SAR granted under the
Plan may be subject to such restrictions on transfer, repurchase rights or
other restrictions as shall be determined by the Board.
3. Administration of the Plan.
The Plan shall be administered by the Board. No member of the Board
shall act upon any matter exclusively affecting an option or SAR granted or to
be granted to himself or herself under the Plan. A majority of the members of
the Board shall constitute a quorum, and any action may be taken by a majority
of those present and voting at any meeting. The decision of the Board as to all
questions of interpretation and application of the Plan shall be final, binding
and conclusive on all persons. The Board may, in its sole discretion, grant
options to purchase shares of Common Stock, grant SARs and issue shares upon
exercise of such options and SARs, as provided in the Plan. The
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Board shall have authority, subject to the express provisions of the Plan, to
construe the respective option and SAR agreements and the Plan, to prescribe,
amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, to determine the
terms and provisions of the respective option and SAR agreements, which may but
need not be identical, and to make all other determinations in the judgment of
the Board necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. The Board
may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in
the Plan or in any option or SAR agreement in the manner and to the extent it
shall deem expedient to carry the Plan into effect and shall be the sole and
final judge of such expediency. No director shall be liable for any action or
determination made in good faith. The Board may, in its discretion, delegate
its power, duties and responsibilities to a committee, consisting of two or
more members of the Board, all of whom are "Non-Employee Directors" (as
hereinafter defined). If a committee is so appointed, all references to the
Board herein shall mean and relate to such committee, unless the context
otherwise requires. For the purposes of the Plan, a director or member of such
committee shall be deemed to be a "Non-Employee Director" only if such person
qualified as a "Non-Employee Director" within the meaning of paragraph
(b)(3)(i) of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as such term is interpreted from time to time.
4. Type of Options.
Options granted pursuant to the Plan shall be authorized by action of
the Board (or a committee designated by the Board) and may be designated as
either incentive stock options meeting the requirements of Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or non-qualified
options which are not intended to meet the requirements of Section 422 of the
Code, the designation to be in the sole discretion of the Board. Options
designated as incentive stock options that fail to continue to meet the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code shall be redesignated as non-qualified
options automatically on the date of such failure to continue to meet the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code without further action by the Board.
5. Eligibility.
Options designated as incentive stock options may be granted only to
officers and key employees of the Company or of any subsidiary corporation
(herein called "subsidiary" or "subsidiaries"), as defined in Section 424 of
the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder (the
"Regulations"). Directors who are not otherwise employees of the Company or a
subsidiary shall not be eligible to be granted incentive stock options pursuant
to the Plan. SARs and options designated as non-qualified options may be
granted to (i) officers and key employees of the Company or of any of its
subsidiaries, or (ii) agents and directors of and consultants to the Company,
whether or not otherwise employees of the Company.
In determining the eligibility of an individual to be granted an
option or SAR, as well as in determining the number of shares to be optioned to
any individual, the Board shall take into account the recommendation of the
Company's Chairman of the Board, the position and responsibilities of the
individual being considered, the nature and value to the Company or its
subsidiaries of his or her service and accomplishments, his or her present and
potential contribution to the success of the
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Company or its subsidiaries, and such other factors as the Board may deem
relevant.
6. Restrictions on Incentive Stock Options.
Incentive stock options (but not non-qualified options) granted under
this Plan shall be subject to the following restrictions:
(a) Limitation on Number of Shares. The aggregate fair market value of
the shares of Common Stock with respect to which incentive stock options are
granted, determined as of the date the incentive stock options are granted,
exercisable for the first time by an individual during any calendar year shall
not exceed $100,000. If an incentive stock option is granted pursuant to which
the aggregate fair market value of shares with respect to which it first
becomes exercisable in any calendar year by an individual exceeds such $100,000
limitation, the portion of such option which is in excess of the $100,000
limitation, and any such options issued subsequently in the same calendar year,
shall be treated as a non-qualified option pursuant to section 422(d)(1) of the
Code. In the event that an individual is eligible to participate in any other
stock option plan of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company
which is also intended to comply with the provisions of Section 422 of the
Code, such $100,000 limitation shall apply to the aggregate number of shares
for which incentive stock options may be granted under this Plan and all such
other plans.
(b) Ten Percent (10%) Stockholder. If any employee to whom an
incentive stock option is granted pursuant to the provisions of this Plan is on
the date of grant the owner of stock (as determined under Section 424(d) of the
Code) possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary of the Company,
then the following special provisions shall be applicable to the incentive
stock options granted to such individual:
(i) The option price per share subject to such incentive
stock options shall be not less than 110% of the fair market value of the stock
determined at the time such option was granted. In determining the fair market
value under this clause (i), the provisions of Section 8 hereof shall apply.
(ii) The incentive stock option shall have a term expiring
not more than five (5) years from the date of the granting thereof.
7. Option Agreement.
Each option and SAR shall be evidenced by an agreement (the
"Agreement") duly executed on behalf of the Company and by the grantee to whom
such option or SAR is granted, which Agreement shall comply with and be subject
to the terms and conditions of the Plan. The Agreement may contain such other
terms, provisions and conditions which are not inconsistent with the Plan as
may be determined by the Board, provided that options designated as incentive
stock options shall meet all of the conditions for incentive stock options as
defined in Section 422 of the Code. No option or SAR shall be granted within
the meaning of the Plan and no purported grant of any option
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or SAR shall be effective until the Agreement shall have been duly executed on
behalf of the Company and the optionee. More than one option and SAR may be
granted to an individual.
8. Option Price.
(a) The option price or prices of shares of Common Stock for options
designated as non-qualified stock options shall be as determined by the Board.
(b) Subject to the conditions set forth in Section 6(b) hereof, the
option price or prices of shares of Common Stock for options designated as
incentive stock options shall be at least the fair market value of such Common
Stock at the time the option is granted as determined by the Board in
accordance with clause (c) below.
(c) If the Common Stock is then listed on any national securities
exchange, the fair market value shall be the mean between the high and low
sales prices, if any, on the largest such exchange on the date of the grant of
the option or, if none, shall be determined by taking a weighted average of the
means between the highest and lowest sales on the nearest date before and the
nearest date after the date of grant in accordance with Regulations Section
25.2512-2. If the Common Stock is not then listed on any such exchange, the
fair market value shall be the mean between the closing "Bid" and the closing
"Ask" prices, if any, as reported in the National Association of Securities
Dealers Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ") for the date of the grant of the
option, or, if none, shall be determined by taking a weighted average of the
means between the highest and lowest sales on the nearest date before and the
nearest date after the date of grant in accordance with Regulations Section
25.2512-2. If the Common Stock is not then either listed on any such exchange
or quoted in NASDAQ, the fair market value shall be the mean between the
average of the "Bid" prices, if any, as reported in the National Daily
Quotation Service for the date of the grant of the option, or, if none, shall
be determined by taking a weighted average of the means between the highest and
lowest sales on the nearest date before and the nearest date after the date of
grant in accordance with Regulations Section 25.2512-2. If the fair market
value of the Common Stock cannot be determined under the preceding three
sentences, it shall be determined in good faith by the Board in accordance with
the Regulations promulgated under Section 422 of the Code.
9. Manner of Payment; Manner of Exercise.
(a) Options granted under the Plan may provide for the payment of the
exercise price by delivery of (i) cash or a check payable to the order of the
Company in an amount equal to the exercise price of such options, (ii) shares
of Common Stock owned by the optionee having a fair market value equal in
amount to the exercise price of such options, or (iii) any combination of (i)
and (ii); provided, however, that payment of the exercise price by delivery of
shares of Common Stock owned by such optionee may be made only upon the
condition that such payment does not result in a charge to earnings for
financial accounting purposes as determined by the Board, unless such condition
is waived by the Board. The fair market value of any shares of Common Stock
which may be delivered upon exercise of an option shall be determined by the
Board in accordance with Section 8 hereof.
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(b) To the extent that the right to purchase shares under an option
has accrued and is in effect, options may be exercised in full at one time or
in part from time to time, by giving written notice, signed by the person or
persons exercising the option, to the Company, stating the number of shares
with respect to which the option is being exercised, accompanied by payment in
full for such shares as provided in subparagraph (a) above. Upon such exercise,
delivery of a certificate for paid-up non-assessable shares shall be made at
the principal office of the Company to the person or persons exercising the
option at such time, during ordinary business hours, after three (3) days but
not more than ninety (90) days from the date of receipt of the notice by the
Company, as shall be designated in such notice, or at such time, place and
manner as may be agreed upon by the Company and the person or persons
exercising the option.
10. Exercise of Options and SARs.
Each option and SAR granted under the Plan shall, subject to Section
11(b) and Section 13 hereof, be exercisable at such time or times and during
such period as shall be set forth in the Agreement; provided, however, that no
option or SAR granted under the Plan shall have a term in excess of ten (10)
years from the date of grant. To the extent that an option or SAR is not
exercised when it becomes initially exercisable, it shall not expire but shall
be carried forward and shall be exercisable, on a cumulative basis, until the
expiration of the exercise period. No partial exercise may be made for less
than one hundred (100) full shares of Common Stock. The exercise of an option
shall result in the cancellation of the SAR to which it relates with respect to
the same number of shares of Common Stock as to which the option was exercised.
11. Term of Options and SARs; Exercisability.
(a) Term.
(i) Each option shall expire not more than ten (10) years
from the date of the granting thereof, except as (a) otherwise provided
pursuant to the provisions of Section 6(b) hereof, and (b) earlier termination
as herein provided.
(ii) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 11, an
option or SAR granted to any grantee who ceases to perform services for the
Company or one of its subsidiaries shall terminate three months after the date
such grantee ceases to perform services for the Company or one of its
subsidiaries, or on the date on which the option or SAR expires by its terms,
whichever occurs first.
(iii) If the grantee ceases to perform services for the
Company because of dismissal for cause or because the grantee is in breach of
any employment agreement, such option or SAR will terminate on the date the
grantee ceases to perform services for the Company or one of its subsidiaries.
(iv) If the grantee ceases to perform services for the
Company because the grantee has become permanently disabled (within the meaning
of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), such option or SAR shall terminate twelve
months after the date such grantee ceases to perform services for the
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Company, or on the date on which the option or SAR expires by its terms,
whichever occurs first.
(v) In the event of the death of any grantee, any option or
SAR granted to such grantee shall terminate twelve months after the date of
death, or on the date on which the option or SAR expires by its terms,
whichever occurs first.
(b) Exercisability.
(i) Except as provided below, an option or SAR granted to a
grantee who ceases to perform services for the Company or one of its
subsidiaries shall be exercisable only to the extent that such option or SAR
has accrued and is in effect on the date such grantee ceases to perform
services for the Company or one of its subsidiaries.
(ii) An option or SAR granted to a grantee who ceases to
perform services for the Company or one of its subsidiaries because he or she
has become permanently disabled (as defined above) shall be exercisable with
respect to the full number of shares covered thereby, whether or not under the
provisions of Section 10 hereof the grantee was entitled to do so at the date
he or she became permanently disabled, and may be exercised by a legal
representative on behalf of the grantee.
(iii) In the event of the death of any grantee, the option or
SAR granted to such grantee may be exercised with respect to the full number of
shares covered thereby, whether or not under the provisions of Section 10
hereof the grantee was entitled to do so at the date of his or her death, by
the estate of such grantee, or by any person or persons who acquired the right
to exercise such option or SAR by bequest or inheritance or by reason of the
death of such grantee.
12. Options Not Transferable.
The right of any grantee to exercise any option or SAR granted to him
or her shall not be assignable or transferable by such grantee other than by
will or the laws of descent, and any such option or SAR shall be exercisable
during the lifetime of such grantee only by him; provided, that the Board may
permit a grantee, by expressly so providing in the related Agreement, to assign
or transfer, without consideration (and only without consideration), the right
to exercise any option or SAR granted to him or her to his or her children,
grandchildren or spouse, to trusts for the benefit of such family members and
to partnerships in which such family members are the only partners. Any option
or SAR granted under the Plan shall be null and void and without effect upon
the bankruptcy of the grantee to whom the option is granted, or upon any
attempted assignment or transfer except as herein provided, including without
limitation, any purported assignment, whether voluntary or by operation of law,
pledge, hypothecation or other disposition, attachment, trustee process or
similar process, whether legal or equitable, upon such option or SAR.
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13. Terms and Conditions of SARs.
(a) An SAR may be granted separately or in connection with an option
(either at the time of grant or at any time during the term of the option).
(b) The exercise of an SAR granted in connection with an option shall
result in the cancellation of the option to which it relates with respect to
the same number of shares of Common Stock as to which the SAR was exercised.
(c) An SAR granted in connection with an option shall be exercisable
or transferable only to the extent that such related option is exercisable or
transferable.
(d) Upon the exercise of an SAR related to an option, the holder will
be entitled to receive payment of an amount determined by multiplying:
(i) the difference obtained by subtracting the purchase price
of a share of Common Stock specified in the related option from the fair market
value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise of such SAR (as
determined by the Board in accordance with Section 8 hereof), by
(ii) the number of shares as to which such SAR is exercised.
(e) An SAR granted without relationship to an option shall be
exercisable as determined by the Board, but in no event after ten years from
the date of grant.
(f) An SAR granted without relationship to an option will entitle the
holder, upon exercise of the SAR, to receive payment of an amount determined by
multiplying:
(i) the difference obtained by subtracting the fair market
value of a share of Common Stock on the date the SAR was granted from the fair
market value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise of such SAR (as
determined by the Board in accordance with Section 8 hereof), by
(ii) the number of shares as to which such SAR is exercised.
(g) Notwithstanding subsections (d) and (f) above, the Board may limit
the amount payable upon exercise of an SAR. Any such limitation shall be
determined as of the date of grant and noted on the instrument evidencing the
SAR granted.
(h) At the discretion of the Board, payment of the amount determined
under subsections (d) and (f) above may be made either in whole shares of
Common Stock valued at their fair market value on the date of exercise of the
SAR (as determined by the Board in accordance with Section 8 hereof), or solely
in cash, or in a combination of cash and shares. If the Board decides to make
full payment in shares of Common Stock and the amount payable results in a
fractional share, payment for the fractional share shall be made in cash.
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(i) Neither an SAR nor an option granted in connection with an SAR
granted to a person subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act may be
exercised before six months after the date of grant.
14. Recapitalization, Reorganization and the Like.
In the event that the outstanding shares of Common Stock are changed
into or exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities
of the Company or of another corporation by reason of any reorganization,
merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock split-up,
combination of shares, or dividends payable in capital stock, appropriate
adjustment shall be made in accordance with Section 424(a) of the Code in the
number and kind of shares as to which options and SARs may be granted under the
Plan and as to which outstanding options and SARs or portions thereof then
unexercised shall be exercisable, to the end that the proportionate interest of
the grantee shall be maintained as before the occurrence of such event; such
adjustment in outstanding options and SARs shall be made without change in the
total price applicable to the unexercised portion of such options and SARs and
with a corresponding adjustment in the exercise price per share.
In addition, unless otherwise determined by the Board in its sole
discretion, in the case of any (i) sale or conveyance to another entity of all
or substantially all of the property and assets of the Company or (ii) Change
in Control (as hereinafter defined) of the Company, the purchaser(s) of the
Company's assets or stock may, in his, her or its discretion, deliver to the
optionee the same kind of consideration that is delivered to the stockholders
of the Company as a result of such sale, conveyance or Change in Control, or
the Board may cancel all outstanding options and SARs in exchange for
consideration in cash or in kind which consideration in both cases shall be
equal in value to the value of those shares of stock or other securities the
optionee would have received had the option been exercised (to the extent then
exercisable) and no disposition of the shares acquired upon such exercise been
made prior to such sale, conveyance or Change in Control, less the exercise
price therefor. Upon receipt of such consideration, the options and SARs shall
immediately terminate and be of no further force and effect. The value of the
stock or other securities the grantee would have received if the option had
been exercised shall be determined in good faith by the Board, and in the case
of shares of Common Stock, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8
hereof.
The Board shall also have the power and right to accelerate the
exercisability of any options or SARs, notwithstanding any limitations in this
Plan or in the Agreement upon such a sale, conveyance or Change in Control.
Upon such acceleration, any options or portion thereof originally designated as
incentive stock options that no longer qualify as incentive stock options under
Section 422 of the Code as a result of such acceleration shall be redesignated
as non-qualified stock options.
A "Change in Control" shall be deemed to have occurred if any person,
or any two or more persons acting as a group, and all affiliates of such person
or persons, who prior to such time owned less than fifty percent (50%) of the
then outstanding Common Stock, shall acquire such additional shares of Common
Stock in one or more transactions, or series of transactions, such that
following such transaction or transactions, such person or group and affiliates
beneficially own fifty percent
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(50%) or more of the Common Stock outstanding.
If by reason of a corporate merger, consolidation, acquisition of
property or stock, separation, reorganization, or liquidation, the Board shall
authorize the issuance or assumption of a stock option or stock options in a
transaction to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies, then, notwithstanding
any other provision of the Plan, the Board may grant an option or options upon
such terms and conditions as it may deem appropriate for the purpose of
assumption of the old option, or substitution of a new option for the old
option, in conformity with the provisions of such Section 424(a) of the Code
and the Regulations thereunder, and any such option shall not reduce the number
of shares otherwise available for issuance under the Plan.
No fraction of a share shall be purchasable or deliverable upon the
exercise of any option or SAR, but in the event any adjustment hereunder in the
number of shares covered by the option or SAR shall cause such number to
include a fraction of a share, such fraction shall be adjusted to the nearest
smaller whole number of shares.
15. No Special Employment Rights.
Nothing contained in the Plan or in any option or SAR granted under
the Plan shall confer upon any grantee any right with respect to the
continuation of his or her employment by the Company (or any subsidiary) or
interfere in any way with the right of the Company (or any subsidiary), subject
to the terms of any separate employment agreement to the contrary, at any time
to terminate such employment or to increase or decrease the compensation of the
grantee from the rate in existence at the time of the grant of an option or
SAR. Whether an authorized leave of absence, or absence in military or
government service, shall constitute termination of employment shall be
determined in accordance with Regulations Section 1.421-7(h)(2).
16. Withholding.
The Company's obligation to deliver shares upon the exercise of any
non-qualified option or SAR granted under the Plan shall be subject to the
option holder's satisfaction of all applicable Federal, state and local income
and employment tax withholding requirements. The Company and optionee may agree
to withhold shares of Common Stock purchased upon exercise of an option or SAR
to satisfy the above-mentioned withholding requirements; provided, however,
that no such agreement may be made by a grantee who is an "officer" or
"director" within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, except
pursuant to a standing election to so withhold shares of Common Stock purchased
upon exercise of an option, such election to be made not less than six months
prior to such exercise and which election may be revoked only upon six months
prior written notice.
17. Restrictions on Issuance of Shares.
(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9 hereof, the Company
may delay the issuance of shares covered by the exercise of an option or SAR
and the delivery of a certificate for such
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shares until one of the following conditions shall be satisfied:
(i) The shares with respect to which such option or SAR has
been exercised are at the time of the issue of such shares effectively
registered or qualified under applicable Federal and state securities acts now
in force or as hereafter amended; or
(ii) Counsel for the Company shall have given an opinion,
which opinion shall not be unreasonably conditioned or withheld, that such
shares are exempt from registration and qualification under applicable Federal
and state securities acts now in force or as hereafter amended.
(b) It is intended that all exercises of options and SARs shall be
effective, and the Company shall use its best efforts to bring about compliance
with the above conditions, within a reasonable time, except that the Company
shall be under no obligation to qualify shares or to cause a registration
statement or a post-effective amendment to any registration statement to be
prepared for the purpose of covering the issue of shares in respect of which
any option may be exercised, except as otherwise agreed to by the Company in
writing.
18. Purchase for Investment; Rights of Holder on Subsequent Registration.
Unless the shares to be issued upon exercise of an option or SAR
granted under the Plan have been effectively registered under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), the Company shall be under no
obligation to issue any shares covered by any option or SAR unless the person
who exercises such option, in whole or in part, shall give a written
representation and undertaking to the Company which is satisfactory in form and
scope to counsel for the Company and upon which, in the opinion of such
counsel, the Company may reasonably rely, that he or she is acquiring the
shares issued pursuant to such exercise of the option or SAR for his or her own
account as an investment and not with a view to, or for sale in connection
with, the distribution of any such shares, and that he or she will make no
transfer of the same except in compliance with any rules and regulations in
force at the time of such transfer under the 1933 Act, or any other applicable
law, and that if shares are issued without such registration, a legend to this
effect may be endorsed upon the securities so issued.
In the event that the Company shall, nevertheless, deem it necessary
or desirable to register under the 1933 Act or other applicable statutes any
shares with respect to which an option or SAR shall have been exercised, or to
qualify any such shares for exemption from the 1933 Act or other applicable
statutes, then the Company may take such action and may require from each
grantee such information in writing for use in any registration statement,
supplementary registration statement, prospectus, preliminary prospectus or
offering circular as is reasonably necessary for such purpose and may require
reasonable indemnity to the Company and its officers and directors from such
holder against all losses, claims, damages and liabilities arising from such
use of the information so furnished and caused by any untrue statement of any
material fact therein or caused by the omission to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in the light of the circumstances under which they were made.
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19. Loans.
At the discretion of the Board, the Company may loan to the optionee
some or all of the purchase price of the shares acquired upon exercise of an
option granted under the Plan.
20. Modification of Outstanding Options and SARs.
Subject to limitations contained herein, the Board may authorize the
amendment of any outstanding option or SAR with the consent of the grantee when
and subject to such conditions as are deemed to be in the best interests of the
Company and in accordance with the purposes of the Plan.
21. Approval of Stockholders.
The Plan shall be subject to approval by a majority vote of the
stockholders of the Company voting in person or by proxy. The Plan became
effective on June 24, 1999 by resolution of the Board. The Board may grant
options and SARs under the Plan prior to such stockholder approval, but any
such option shall become effective as of the date of grant only upon such
approval and, accordingly, no such option may be exercisable prior to such
approval.
22. Termination and Amendment of Plan.
Unless sooner terminated as herein provided, the Plan shall terminate
on June 23, 2009. The Board may at any time terminate the Plan or make such
modification or amendment thereof as it deems advisable; provided, however,
that (i) the Board may not, without approval by a majority vote of the
stockholders of the Company, increase the maximum number of shares for which
options and SARs may be granted or change the designation of the class of
persons eligible to receive options and SARs under the Plan, and (ii) any such
modification or amendment of the Plan shall be approved by a majority vote of
the stockholders of the Company to the extent that such stockholder approval is
necessary to comply with applicable provisions of the Code, rules promulgated
pursuant to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, applicable state law, or applicable
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or exchange listing
requirements. Termination or any modification or amendment of the Plan shall
not, without the consent of an optionee, affect his or her rights under an
option or SAR theretofore granted to him or her.
23. Limitation of Rights in the Underlying Shares.
A holder of an option or SAR shall not be deemed for any purpose to be
a stockholder of the Company with respect to such option or SAR except to the
extent that such option or SAR shall have been exercised with respect thereto
and, in addition, a stock certificate shall have been issued theretofore and
delivered to the holder.
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24. Notices.
Any communication or notice required or permitted to be given under
the Plan shall be in writing, and mailed by registered or certified mail or
delivered by hand, if to the Company, to its principal place of business,
attention: Chairman, and, if to the holder of an option or SAR, to the address
as appearing on the records of the Company.
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