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EXHIBIT 10.13
CAERE CORPORATION
2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
ADOPTED BY BOARD OF DIRECTORS MARCH 10, 1999
APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS _______________ , 1999
1. PURPOSE.
(a) The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by which Employees of
the Company and certain designated Affiliates may be given an opportunity to
purchase Shares of the Company.
(b) The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of
such Employees, to secure and retain the services of new Employees and to
provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of
the Company and its Affiliates.
(c) The Company intends that the Rights to purchase Shares granted under
the Plan be considered options issued under an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
2. DEFINITIONS.
(a) "AFFILIATE" means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation,
whether now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e)
and (f), respectively, of the Code.
(b) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) "CODE" means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
(d) "COMMITTEE" means a Committee appointed by the Board in accordance
with subparagraph 3(c) of the Plan.
(e) "COMPANY" means Caere Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
(f) "DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board.
(g) "ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE" means an Employee who meets the requirements set
forth in the Offering for eligibility to participate in the Offering.
(h) "EMPLOYEE" means any person, including Officers and Directors,
employed by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company. Neither service as a
Director nor payment of a director's fee shall be sufficient to constitute
"employment" by the Company or the Affiliate.
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(i) "EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN" means a plan that grants rights
intended to be options issued under an "employee stock purchase plan," as that
term is defined in Section 423(b) of the Code.
(j) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the United States Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
(k) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means the value of a security, as determined in
good faith by the Board. If the security is listed on any established stock
exchange or traded on the Nasdaq National Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market,
the Fair Market Value of the security shall be the closing sales price (rounded
up where necessary to the nearest whole cent) for such security (or the closing
bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or market (or the
exchange or market with the greatest volume of trading in the relevant security
of the Company) on the trading day prior to the relevant determination date, as
reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems
reliable.
(l) "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" means a Director who either (i) is not a
current Employee or Officer of the Company or its parent or subsidiary, does not
receive compensation (directly or indirectly) from the Company or its parent or
subsidiary for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other than
as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be required
under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the Securities Act
("Regulation S-K")), does not possess an interest in any other transaction as to
which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is
not engaged in a business relationship as to which disclosure would be required
under Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is otherwise considered a
"non-employee director" for purposes of Rule 16b-3.
(m) "OFFERING" means the grant of Rights to purchase Shares under the
Plan to Eligible Employees.
(n) "OFFERING DATE" means a date selected by the Board for an Offering
to commence.
(o) "OUTSIDE DIRECTOR" means a Director who either (i) is not a current
employee of the Company or an "affiliated corporation" (within the meaning of
the Treasury regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Code), is not a
former employee of the Company or an "affiliated corporation" receiving
compensation for prior services (other than benefits under a tax qualified
pension plan), was not an officer of the Company or an "affiliated corporation"
at any time, and is not currently receiving direct or indirect remuneration from
the Company or an "affiliated corporation" for services in any capacity other
than as a Director, or (ii) is otherwise considered an "outside director" for
purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(p) "PARTICIPANT" means an Eligible Employee who holds an outstanding
Right granted pursuant to the Plan.
(q) "PLAN" means this Caere Corporation 2000 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan.
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(r) "PURCHASE DATE" means one or more dates established by the Board
during an Offering on which Rights granted under the Plan shall be exercised and
as of which purchases of Shares shall be carried out in accordance with such
Offering.
(s) "RIGHT" means an option to purchase Shares granted pursuant to the
Plan.
(t) "RULE 16B-3" means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or
any successor to Rule 16b-3 as in effect with respect to the Company at the time
discretion is being exercised regarding the Plan.
(u) "SECURITIES ACT" means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
(v) "SHARE" means a share of the common stock of the Company.
3. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) The Board shall administer the Plan unless and until the Board
delegates administration to a Committee, as provided in subparagraph 3(c).
Whether or not the Board has delegated administration, the Board shall have the
final power to determine all questions of policy and expediency that may arise
in the administration of the Plan.
(b) The Board (or the Committee) shall have the power, subject to, and
within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:
(i) To determine when and how Rights to purchase Shares shall be
granted and the provisions of each Offering of such Rights (which need not be
identical).
(ii) To designate from time to time which Affiliates of the Company
shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.
(iii) To impose vesting restrictions, restrictions on
transferability or other similar conditions on Shares purchased under the Plan,
including without limitation a repurchase option in favor of the Company,
pursuant to which a Participant's right to realize the value of all or a portion
of any appreciation in Shares purchased is conditioned on continued employment
with the Company or an Affiliate, the holding of such Shares for a specified
period or other events the Board determines to be appropriate.
(iv) To construe and interpret the Plan and Rights granted under it,
and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its administration.
The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or
inconsistency in the Plan, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary
or expedient to make the Plan fully effective.
(v) To amend the Plan as provided in paragraph 14.
(vi) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as
it deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the Company and
its Affiliates and to carry out the intent that the Plan be treated as an
Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
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(c) The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee of
the Board composed of one (1) or more members, all of the members of which
Committee may be, in the discretion of the Board, Non-Employee Directors and/or
Outside Directors. If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee
shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers
theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power to delegate to a
subcommittee of one (1) or more Directors any of the administrative powers the
Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to the Board
shall thereafter be to the Committee or such a subcommittee), subject, however,
to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be
adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at
any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan.
4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
(a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 13 relating to adjustments
upon changes in securities, the Shares that may be sold pursuant to Rights
granted under the Plan shall not exceed in the aggregate two hundred thousand
(200,000) Shares. If any Right granted under the Plan shall for any reason
terminate without having been exercised, the Shares not purchased under such
Right shall again become available for the Plan.
(b) The Shares subject to the Plan may be unissued Shares or Shares that
have been bought on the open market at prevailing market prices or otherwise.
5. GRANT OF RIGHTS; OFFERING.
(a) The Board may from time to time grant or provide for the grant of
Rights to purchase Shares of the Company under the Plan to Eligible Employees in
an Offering on an Offering Date or Offering Dates selected by the Board. Each
Offering shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as
the Board shall deem appropriate, which shall comply with the requirements of
Section 423(b)(5) of the Code that all Employees granted Rights to purchase
Shares under the Plan shall have the same rights and privileges. The terms and
conditions of an Offering shall be incorporated by reference into the Plan and
treated as part of the Plan. The provisions of separate Offerings need not be
identical, but each Offering shall include (through incorporation of the
provisions of this Plan by reference in the document comprising the Offering or
otherwise) the period during which the Offering shall be effective, which period
shall not exceed twenty-seven (27) months beginning with the Offering Date, and
the substance of the provisions contained in paragraphs 6 through 9, inclusive.
(b) If a Participant has more than one Right outstanding under the Plan,
unless he or she otherwise indicates in agreements or notices delivered
hereunder: (i) each agreement or notice delivered by that Participant will be
deemed to apply to all of his or her Rights under the Plan, and (ii) an
earlier-granted Right (or a Right with a lower exercise price, if two Rights
have identical grant dates) will be exercised to the fullest possible extent
before a later-granted Right (or a Right with a higher exercise price if two
Rights have identical grant dates) will be exercised.
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(c) In addition to or in conjunction with Rights granted under the Plan
as provided herein, the Board may provide, in the terms of an Offering or
otherwise, for additional benefits to be provided to Participants, in the form
of additional vested or unvested Shares awarded outside of the Plan, cash or
other property, the receipt of which may be conditioned on continued employment
with the Company or an Affiliate, the holding of Shares purchased under the Plan
for a specified period or other events the Board determines to be appropriate;
provided, however, that (i) no such additional benefits shall be provided in any
manner that would cause Rights under the Plan to fail to qualify as options
granted under an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, and (ii) any such additional
benefits are not intended to qualify in any way for the treatment provided in
Section 423 of the Code and shall be fully taxable to Participants at such time
and in such manner as applies under the Code without regard to such Section 423.
6. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) Rights may be granted only to Employees of the Company or, as the
Board may designate as provided in subparagraph 3(b), to Employees of an
Affiliate. Except as provided in subparagraph 6(b), an Employee shall not be
eligible to be granted Rights under the Plan unless, on the Offering Date, such
Employee has been in the employ of the Company or the Affiliate, as the case may
be, for such continuous period preceding such Offering Date as the Board may
require, but in no event shall the required period of continuous employment be
greater than two (2) years. In addition, the Board may provide that no Employee
shall be eligible to be granted Rights under the Plan unless, on the Offering
Date, such Employee's customary employment with the Company or an Affiliate is
more than twenty (20) hours per week and more than five (5) months per calendar
year.
(b) The Board may provide that each person who, during the course of an
Offering, first becomes an Eligible Employee will, on a date or dates specified
in the Offering which coincides with the day on which such person becomes an
Eligible Employee or which occurs thereafter, receive a Right under that
Offering, which Right shall thereafter be deemed to be a part of that Offering.
Such Right shall have the same characteristics as any Rights originally granted
under that Offering, as described herein, except that:
(i) the date on which such Right is granted shall be the "Offering
Date" of such Right for all purposes, including determination of the exercise
price of such Right;
(ii) the period of the Offering with respect to such Right shall
begin on its Offering Date and end coincident with the end of such Offering; and
(iii) the Board may provide that if such person first becomes an
Eligible Employee within a specified period of time before the end of the
Offering, he or she will not receive any Right under that Offering.
(c) No Employee shall be eligible for the grant of any Rights under the
Plan if, immediately after any such Rights are granted, such Employee owns stock
possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting power or value
of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Affiliate. For purposes of this
subparagraph 6(c), the rules of Section 424(d)
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of the Code shall apply in determining the stock ownership of any Employee, and
stock which such Employee may purchase under all outstanding rights and options
shall be treated as stock owned by such Employee.
(d) An Eligible Employee may be granted Rights under the Plan only if
such Rights, together with any other Rights granted under all Employee Stock
Purchase Plans of the Company and any Affiliates, as specified by Section
423(b)(8) of the Code, do not permit such Eligible Employee's rights to purchase
Shares of the Company or any Affiliate to accrue at a rate which exceeds twenty
five thousand dollars ($25,000) of fair market value of Shares (determined at
the time such Rights are granted) for each calendar year in which such Rights
are outstanding at any time.
(e) The Board may provide in an Offering that Employees who are highly
compensated Employees within the meaning of Section 423(b)(4)(D) of the Code
shall not be eligible to participate.
7. RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE.
(a) On each Offering Date, each Eligible Employee, pursuant to an
Offering made under the Plan, shall be granted the Right to purchase up to the
number of Shares purchasable either:
(i) with a percentage, as designated by the Board, but not exceeding
fifteen percent (15%), of such Employee's Earnings (as defined by the Board in
each Offering) during the period which begins on the Offering Date (or such
later date as the Board determines for a particular Offering) and ends on the
date stated in the Offering, which date shall be no later than the end of the
Offering; or
(ii) with a maximum dollar amount designated by the Board that, as
the Board determines for a particular Offering, (1) shall be withheld, in whole
or in part, from such Employee's Earnings (as defined by the Board in each
Offering) during the period which begins on the Offering Date (or such later
date as the Board determines for a particular Offering) and ends on the date
stated in the Offering, which date shall be no later than the end of the
Offering and/or (2) shall be contributed, in whole or in part, by such Employee
during such period.
(b) The Board shall establish one or more Purchase Dates during an
Offering as of which Rights granted under the Plan shall be exercised and
purchases of Shares carried out in accordance with such Offering.
(c) In connection with each Offering made under the Plan, the Board may
specify a maximum amount of Shares that may be purchased by any Participant as
well as a maximum aggregate amount of Shares that may be purchased by all
Participants pursuant to such Offering. In addition, in connection with each
Offering that contains more than one Purchase Date, the Board may specify a
maximum aggregate amount of Shares which may be purchased by all Participants on
any given Purchase Date under the Offering. If the aggregate purchase of Shares
upon exercise of Rights granted under the Offering would exceed any such maximum
aggregate
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amount, the Board shall make a pro rata allocation of the Shares available in as
nearly a uniform manner as shall be practicable and as it shall deem to be
equitable.
(d) The purchase price of Shares acquired pursuant to Rights granted
under the Plan shall be not less than the lesser of:
(i) an amount equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair market
value of the Shares on the Offering Date; or
(ii) an amount equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the fair market
value of the Shares on the Purchase Date.
8. PARTICIPATION; WITHDRAWAL; TERMINATION.
(a) An Eligible Employee may become a Participant in the Plan pursuant
to an Offering by delivering a participation agreement to the Company within the
time specified in the Offering, in such form as the Company provides. Each such
agreement shall authorize payroll deductions of up to the maximum percentage
specified by the Board of such Employee's Earnings during the Offering (as
defined in each Offering). The payroll deductions made for each Participant
shall be credited to a bookkeeping account for such Participant under the Plan
and shall be deposited with the general funds of the Company. To the extent
provided in the Offering, a Participant may reduce (including to zero) or
increase such payroll deductions. To the extent provided in the Offering, a
Participant may begin such payroll deductions after the beginning of the
Offering. A Participant may make additional payments into his or her account
only if specifically provided for in the Offering and only if the Participant
has not already had the maximum permitted amount withheld during the Offering.
(b) At any time during an Offering, a Participant may terminate his or
her payroll deductions under the Plan and withdraw from the Offering by
delivering to the Company a notice of withdrawal in such form as the Company
provides. Such withdrawal may be elected at any time prior to the end of the
Offering, except as provided by the Board in the Offering. Upon such withdrawal
from the Offering by a Participant, the Company shall distribute to such
Participant all of his or her accumulated payroll deductions (reduced to the
extent, if any, such deductions have been used to acquire Shares for the
Participant) under the Offering, without interest (unless otherwise specified in
the Offering), and such Participant's interest in that Offering shall be
automatically terminated. A Participant's withdrawal from an Offering will have
no effect upon such Participant's eligibility to participate in any other
Offerings under the Plan but such Participant will be required to deliver a new
participation agreement in order to participate in subsequent Offerings under
the Plan.
(c) Rights granted pursuant to any Offering under the Plan shall
terminate immediately upon cessation of any participating Employee's employment
with the Company or a designated Affiliate for any reason (subject to any
post-employment participation period required by law) or other lack of
eligibility. The Company shall distribute to such terminated Employee all of his
or her accumulated payroll deductions (reduced to the extent, if any, such
deductions
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have been used to acquire Shares for the terminated Employee) under the
Offering, without interest (unless otherwise specified in the Offering).
(d) Rights granted under the Plan shall not be transferable by a
Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or
by a beneficiary designation as provided in paragraph 15 and, otherwise during
his or her lifetime, shall be exercisable only by the person to whom such Rights
are granted.
9. EXERCISE.
(a) On each Purchase Date specified therefor in the relevant Offering,
each Participant's accumulated payroll deductions and other additional payments
specifically provided for in the Offering (without any increase for interest)
will be applied to the purchase of Shares up to the maximum amount of Shares
permitted pursuant to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Offering, at the
purchase price specified in the Offering. No fractional Shares shall be issued
upon the exercise of Rights granted under the Plan unless specifically provided
for in the Offering.
(b) The amount, if any, of accumulated payroll deductions remaining in
each Participant's account after the purchase of Shares which is less than the
amount required to purchase one share on the final Purchase Date of an Offering
shall be held in each such Participant's account for the purchase of Shares
under the next Offering under the Plan, unless such Participant withdraws from
such next Offering, as provided in subparagraph 8(b), or is not eligible to
participate in such Offering, as provided in paragraph 5, in which case such
amount shall be distributed to the Participant after said final Purchase Date,
without interest (unless otherwise specified in the Offering). The amount, if
any, of accumulated payroll deductions remaining in any Participant's account
after the purchase of Shares that is equal to the amount required to purchase
one or more whole Shares on the final Purchase Date of the Offering shall be
distributed in full to the Participant at the end of the Offering without
interest (unless otherwise specified in the Offering).
(c) No Rights granted under the Plan may be exercised to any extent
unless the Shares to be issued upon such exercise under the Plan (including
Rights granted thereunder) are covered by an effective registration statement
pursuant to the Securities Act and the Plan is in material compliance with all
applicable state, foreign and other securities and other laws applicable to the
Plan. If on a Purchase Date in any Offering hereunder the Plan is not so
registered or in such compliance, no Rights granted under the Plan or any
Offering shall be exercised on such Purchase Date, and the Purchase Date shall
be delayed until the Plan is subject to such an effective registration statement
and such compliance, except that the Purchase Date shall not be delayed more
than twelve (12) months and the Purchase Date shall in no event be more than
twenty-seven (27) months from the Offering Date. If, on the Purchase Date under
any Offering hereunder, as delayed to the maximum extent permissible, the Plan
is not registered and in such compliance, no Rights granted under the Plan or
any Offering shall be exercised and all payroll deductions accumulated during
the Offering (reduced to the extent, if any, such deductions have been used to
acquire Shares) shall be distributed to the Participants, without interest
(unless otherwise specified in the Offering).
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10. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.
(a) During the terms of the Rights granted under the Plan, the Company
shall ensure that the amount of Shares required to satisfy such Rights are
available.
(b) The Company shall seek to obtain from each federal, state, foreign
or other regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such
authority as may be required to issue and sell Shares upon exercise of the
Rights granted under the Plan. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is
unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority
which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale
of Shares under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for
failure to issue and sell Shares upon exercise of such Rights unless and until
such authority is obtained.
11. USE OF PROCEEDS FROM SHARES.
Proceeds from the sale of Shares pursuant to Rights granted under the
Plan shall constitute general funds of the Company.
12. RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER.
A Participant shall not be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of
the rights of a holder with respect to, Shares subject to Rights granted under
the Plan unless and until the Participant's Shares acquired upon exercise of
Rights under the Plan are recorded in the books of the Company.
13. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN SECURITIES.
(a) If any change is made in the Shares subject to the Plan, or subject
to any Right, without the receipt of consideration by the Company (through
merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporation, stock
dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating
dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate
structure or other transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the
Company), the Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and maximum
number of Shares subject to the Plan pursuant to subparagraph 4(a), and the
outstanding Rights will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es), number of
Shares and purchase limits of such outstanding Rights. The Board shall make such
adjustments, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive. (The
conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as
a transaction that does not involve the receipt of consideration by the
Company.)
(b) In the event of: (i) a dissolution, liquidation, or sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company; (ii) a merger or consolidation
in which the Company is not the surviving corporation; or (iii) a reverse merger
in which the Company is the surviving corporation but the Shares outstanding
immediately preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into
other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise; or (iv)
any other capital reorganization (including related sales of Shares by
Stockholders of the Company) in which more than fifty (50%) of the shares of the
Company entitled to vote are exchanged (or
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sold), then, as determined by the Board in its sole discretion: (1) any
surviving or acquiring corporation shall assume Rights outstanding under the
Plan or shall substitute similar rights (including a right to acquire the same
consideration paid to Stockholders in the transaction described in this
subparagraph 13(b)) for those outstanding under the Plan, or (2) in the event
any surviving or acquiring corporation refuses to assume such Rights or to
substitute similar rights for those outstanding under the Plan, then, as
determined by the Board in its sole discretion such Rights may continue in full
force and effect or the Participants' accumulated payroll deductions (exclusive
of any accumulated interest which cannot be applied toward the purchase of
Shares under the terms of the Offering) may be used to purchase Shares
immediately prior to the transaction described above under the ongoing Offering
and the Participants' Rights under the ongoing Offering thereafter terminated.
14. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN.
(a) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the Plan.
However, except as provided in paragraph 13 relating to adjustments upon changes
in securities and except as to amendments solely to benefit the administration
of the Plan, to take account of a change in legislation or to obtain or maintain
favorable tax, exchange control or regulatory treatment for Participants or the
Company or any Affiliate, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the
stockholders of the Company to the extent stockholder approval is necessary for
the Plan to satisfy the requirements of Section 423 of the Code, Rule 16b-3
under the Exchange Act and any Nasdaq or other securities exchange listing
requirements. Currently under the Code, stockholder approval within twelve (12)
months before or after the adoption of the amendment is required where the
amendment will increase the amount of Shares reserved for issuance pursuant to
Rights under the Plan or make certain modifications to the provisions as to
eligibility for participation in the Plan.
(b) It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in
any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide Employees with the
maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the Code and
the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to Employee Stock Purchase Plans
and/or to bring the Plan and/or Rights granted under it into compliance
therewith.
(c) Rights and obligations under any Rights granted before amendment of
the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan, except with the
consent of the person to whom such Rights were granted, or except as necessary
to comply with any laws or governmental regulations, or except as necessary to
ensure that the Plan and/or Rights granted under the Plan comply with the
requirements of Section 423 of the Code.
15. DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY.
(a) A Participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary who is
to receive any Shares and/or cash, if any, from the Participant's account under
the Plan in the event of such Participant's death subsequent to the end of an
Offering but prior to delivery to the Participant of such Shares or cash. In
addition, a Participant may file a written designation of a beneficiary
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who is to receive any cash from the Participant's account under the Plan in the
event of such Participant's death during an Offering.
(b) The Participant may change such designation of beneficiary at any
time by written notice. In the event of the death of a Participant and in the
absence of a beneficiary validly designated under the Plan who is living at the
time of such Participant's death, the Company shall deliver such Shares and/or
cash to the executor or administrator of the estate of the Participant, or if no
such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the knowledge of the
Company), the Company, in its sole discretion, may deliver such Shares and/or
cash to the spouse or to any one or more dependents or relatives of the
Participant, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to the Company,
then to such other person as the Company may designate.
16. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.
(a) The Board in its discretion may suspend or terminate the Plan at any
time. Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate at the time that all of
the Shares subject to the Plan's reserve, as increased and/or adjusted from time
to time, have been issued under the terms of the Plan. No Rights may be granted
under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.
(b) Rights and obligations under any Rights granted while the Plan is in
effect shall not be impaired by suspension or termination of the Plan, except as
expressly provided in the Plan or with the consent of the person to whom such
Rights were granted, or except as necessary to comply with any laws or
governmental regulation, or except as necessary to ensure that the Plan and/or
Rights granted under the Plan comply with the requirements of Section 423 of the
Code.
17. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.
The Plan shall become effective as determined by the Board, but no
Rights granted under the Plan shall be exercised unless and until the Plan has
been approved by the stockholders of the Company within twelve (12) months
before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board, which date may be
prior to the effective date set by the Board.
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