SCOTT'S LIQUID GOLD-INC.
1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN
AS AMENDED THROUGH DECEMBER 4, 2000
SECTION 1: PURPOSE
The purpose of the Scott's Liquid Gold-Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan (the
"Plan") is to further the growth and development of Scott's Liquid Gold-Inc.
(the "Company") by affording an opportunity for stock ownership to selected
employees and Directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries who are responsible
for the performance of various duties for the Company or its Subsidiaries and/or
who are involved in endeavors significant to the success of the Company or its
Subsidiaries.
SECTION 2: DEFINITIONS
Unless otherwise indicated, the following words when used herein shall have
the following meanings:
(a) "Board of Directors" shall mean the Board of Directors of the
Company.
(b) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time.
(c) "Common Stock" shall mean the Company's common stock (par value
$0.10 per share) and any share or shares of the Company's capital stock
hereafter issued or issuable in substitution for such shares.
(d) "Director" shall mean a member of the Board of Directors.
(e) "Incentive Stock Option" shall mean any option granted to an
eligible employee under the Plan, which the Company intends at the time the
option is granted to be an Incentive Stock Option within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Code.
(f) "Nonqualified Stock Option" shall mean any option granted to an
eligible employee or Director under the Plan which is not an Incentive
Stock Option.
(g) "Option" shall mean and refer collectively to Incentive Stock
Options and Nonqualified Stock Options.
(h) "Option Agreement" shall mean the agreement specified in Section
7.2.
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(i) "Optionee" shall mean any employee or Director who is granted an
Option under the Plan. "Optionee" shall also mean the personal
representative of an Optionee and any other person who acquires the right
to exercise an Option by bequest or inheritance.
(j) "Parent" shall mean a parent corporation of the Company as defined
in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(k) "Subsidiary" shall mean a subsidiary corporation of the Company as
defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.
(l) "Termination for Cause" shall mean an involuntary severance of
employment on account of: (1) refusal to obey written or verbal directions
of a lawful and/or moral nature issued by a supervisor or corporate officer
or by the Board of Directors; (2) fraud or dishonesty directed against the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (3) breach of any material obligation
of nondisclosure or confidentiality owed to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, including any such breach pertaining to rules and regulations
of the Securities and Exchange Commission; (4) commission of any criminal
offense which constitutes a felony in the jurisdiction in which the offense
is committed; or (5) violation of any Company rules or regulations, such as
those pertaining to attendance, which constitutes grounds for dismissal.
SECTION 3: EFFECTIVE DATE
The effective date of the Plan is November 9, 1998; provided, however, that
the adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors is subject to approval and
ratification by the shareholders of the Company within twelve months of the
effective date. Options granted under the Plan prior to approval of the Plan by
the shareholders of the Company shall be subject to approval of the Plan by the
shareholders of the Company.
SECTION 4: ADMINISTRATION
4.1 ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered by a Committee
appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, consisting
of not fewer than two Directors (the "Committee"). The Committee may, but need
not, be the existing Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. The Board
of Directors may from time to time remove members from or add members to the
Committee, and vacancies on the Committee, howsoever caused, shall be filled by
the Board of Directors.
4.2 COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND ACTIONS. The Committee shall hold meetings at
such times and places as it may determine. A majority of the members of the
Committee shall constitute a quorum, and the acts of the majority of the members
present at a meeting or a consent in writing signed by all members of the
Committee shall be the acts of the Committee.
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4.3 POWERS OF COMMITTEE AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The Committee shall
recommend to the Board of Directors specific Option grants and the terms and
conditions of Options granted under the Plan. The Committee shall recommend to
the Board of Directors rules and regulations for administration of the Plan. In
recommending Option grants, the Committee shall take into consideration the
contribution the Optionee has made or may make to the success of the Company or
its Subsidiaries and such other factors as the Committee shall determine. The
Board of Directors, after considering recommendations by the Committee, shall
have the full and exclusive right to grant and determine terms and conditions of
all Options granted under the Plan and to prescribe, amend, and rescind rules
and regulations for administration of the Plan. The actions of the Board of
Directors with respect to the Plan shall be final, binding and conclusive upon
all persons, including the Company, its Subsidiaries, its shareholders, and all
persons having any interest in Options which may be or have been granted
pursuant to the Plan.
4.4 INTERPRETATION OF PLAN. The determination of the Board of Directors as
to any disputed question arising under the Plan, including questions of
construction and interpretation, shall be final, binding and conclusive upon all
persons, including the Company, its Subsidiaries, its shareholders, and all
persons having any interest in Options which may be or have been granted
pursuant to the Plan.
4.5 INDEMNIFICATION. Each person who is or shall have been a member of the
Committee or of the Board of Directors shall be indemnified and held harmless by
the Company against and from any loss, cost, liability or expense that may be
imposed upon or reasonably incurred in connection with or resulting from any
claim, action, suit or proceeding to which such person may be a party or in
which such person may be involved by reason of any action taken or failure to
act under the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid in settlement
thereof, with the Company's approval, or paid in satisfaction of a judgment in
any such action, suit or proceeding against him, provided such person shall give
the Company an opportunity, at its own expense, to handle and defend the same
before undertaking to handle and defend it on such person's own behalf. The
foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of, and is in addition
to, any other rights of indemnification to which any person may be entitled
under the Company's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws, as a matter of law, or
otherwise, or any power that the Company may have to indemnify them or hold them
harmless.
SECTION 5: STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
5.1 NUMBER. The aggregate number of shares of Common Stock which may be
issued under Options granted pursuant to the Plan shall not exceed 1,100,000
shares. Shares which may be issued under Options may consist, in whole or in
part, of authorized but unissued stock or treasury stock of the Company not
reserved for any other purpose.
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5.2 UNUSED STOCK. If any outstanding Option under the Plan expires or for
any other reason ceases to be exercisable, in whole or in part, other than upon
exercise of the Option, the shares which were subject to such Option and as to
which the Option had not been exercised shall continue to be available under the
Plan.
5.3 ADJUSTMENT FOR CHANGE IN OUTSTANDING SHARES. If there is any change,
increase or decrease, in the outstanding shares of Common Stock which is
effected without receipt of additional consideration by the Company, by reason
of a stock dividend, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, stock split,
combination or exchange of stock, or other similar circumstances, then in each
such event, the Board of Directors shall make an appropriate adjustment in the
aggregate number of shares of stock available under the Plan, the number of
shares of stock subject to each outstanding Option and the Option prices in
order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of any Optionee's rights. In making
such adjustments, fractional shares shall be rounded to the nearest whole share.
The determinations of the Board of Directors in making adjustments shall be
final and conclusive.
5.4 REORGANIZATION OR SALE OF ASSETS. If the Company is merged or
consolidated with another corporation and the Company is not the surviving
corporation, or if all or substantially all of the assets of the Company are
acquired by another entity, or if the Company is liquidated or reorganized (each
of such events being referred to hereinafter as a "Reorganization Event"), the
Board of Directors shall, as to outstanding Options, either: (1) make
appropriate provision for the protection of any such outstanding Options by the
substitution on an equitable basis of appropriate stock of the Company, or of
the merged, consolidated or otherwise reorganized corporation, which will be
issuable in respect of the Common Stock, provided that no additional benefits
shall be conferred upon Optionees as a result of such substitution, and provided
further that the excess of the aggregate fair market value of the shares subject
to the Options immediately after such substitution over the purchase price
thereof is not more than the excess of the aggregate fair market value of the
shares subject to such Options immediately before such substitution over the
purchase price thereof; or (2) upon written notice to all Optionees, which
notice shall be given not less than twenty days prior to the effective date of
the Reorganization Event, provide that all unexercised Options must be exercised
within a specified number of days (which shall not be less than ten) of the date
of such notice or such Options will terminate. In response to a notice provided
pursuant to clause (2) of the preceding sentence, an Optionee may make an
irrevocable election to exercise the Optionee's Option contingent upon and
effective as of the effective date of the Reorganization Event. The Board of
Directors may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the exercise dates of
outstanding Options in connection with any Reorganization Event.
SECTION 6: ELIGIBILITY
All full-time employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall be
eligible to receive both Incentive Stock Options and Nonqualified Stock Options
under the Plan. For purposes of this Section 6, a full-time employee shall be
any employee of the
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Company or any of its Subsidiaries who is regularly scheduled to work at least
forty hours per week. Directors who are not employees of the Company or its
Subsidiaries shall be eligible to receive Nonqualified Stock Options, but not
Incentive Stock Options, under the Plan. Any Director who is otherwise eligible
to participate, who makes an election in writing not to receive any grants under
the Plan, shall not be eligible to receive any such grants during the period set
forth in such election.
SECTION 7: GRANT OF OPTIONS
7.1 GRANT OF OPTIONS. The Board of Directors may from time to time in its
discretion determine which of the eligible employees and Directors of the
Company or its Subsidiaries should receive Options, the type of Options to be
granted (whether Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options), the
number of shares subject to such Options, and the dates on which such Options
are to be granted. No employee may be granted Incentive Stock Options to the
extent that the aggregate fair market value (determined as of the time each
Option is granted) of the Common Stock with respect to which any such Incentive
Stock Options are exercisable for the first time during a calendar year (under
all incentive stock option plans of the Company and its Parent and Subsidiaries)
would exceed $100,000.
7.2 OPTION AGREEMENT. Each Option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced
by a written Option Agreement setting forth the terms upon which the Option is
granted. Each Option Agreement shall designate the type of Options being granted
(whether Incentive Stock Options or Nonqualified Stock Options), and shall state
the number of shares of Common Stock, as designated by the Board of Directors,
to which that Option pertains. More than one Option may be granted to an
eligible person.
7.3 OPTION PRICE. The option price per share of Common Stock under each
Option shall be determined by the Board of Directors and stated in the Option
Agreement. The option price for Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan
shall not be less than 100% of the fair market value (determined as of the day
the Option is granted) of the shares subject to the Option. The option price for
Nonqualified Stock Options granted under the Plan shall not be less than 85% of
the fair market value (determined as of the day the Option is granted) of the
shares subject to the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall
the option price per share be less than the par value of the Common Stock.
7.4 DETERMINATION OF FAIR MARKET VALUE. If the Common Stock (which is
currently listed on the New York Stock Exchange) is listed upon an
established stock exchange, then the fair market value per share shall be
deemed to be the quoted closing price of the Common Stock on such stock
exchange on the day for which the determination is made, or if no sales of
the Common Stock shall have been made on the stock exchange on that day, on
the next preceding day on which there was such a sale. If the Common Stock is
listed upon more than one established stock exchange, the fair market value
per share shall be deemed to be the average of the quoted closing prices of
the Common Stock on all such stock exchanges on the day for which the
determination
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is made, determined for each such stock exchange in accordance with the
preceding sentence. If the Common Stock is not listed upon any established
stock exchange but is traded in the NASDAQ National Market System, the fair
market value per share shall be deemed to be the closing price of the Common
Stock in the National Market System on the day for which the determination is
made, or if there shall have been no trading of the Common Stock on that day,
on the next preceding day on which there was such trading. If the Common
Stock is not listed upon any established stock exchange and is not traded in
the National Market System, the fair market value per share shall be deemed
to be the mean between the dealer "bid" and "ask" closing prices of the
Common Stock on the NASDAQ System on the day for which the determination is
made, or if there shall have been no trading of the Common Stock on that day,
on the next preceding day on which there was such trading. If none of these
conditions apply, the fair market value per share shall be deemed to be an
amount as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors by applying any
reasonable valuation method.
7.5 DURATION OF OPTIONS. Each Option shall be of a duration as specified in
the Option Agreement; provided, however, that the term of each Option shall be
no more than ten years from the date on which the Option is granted and shall be
subject to early termination as provided herein.
7.6 ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS ON GRANT. No Incentive Stock Option shall be
granted to an employee who, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted,
owns stock (as determined in accordance with Section 424(d) of the Code)
representing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company or of any Parent or Subsidiary, unless the option price of
such Incentive Stock Option is at least 110% of the fair market value
(determined as of the day the Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the stock
subject to the Incentive Stock Option and the Incentive Stock Option by its
terms is not exercisable more than five years from the date it is granted.
7.7 OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS. The Option Agreement may contain such other
provisions, which shall not be inconsistent with the Plan, as the Board of
Directors shall deem appropriate, including, without limitation, provisions that
relate the Optionee's ability to exercise an Option to the passage of time or
the achievement of specific goals established by the Board of Directors or the
occurrence of certain events specified by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 8: EXERCISE OF OPTIONS
8.1 MANNER OF EXERCISE. Subject to the limitations and conditions of the
Plan or the Option Agreement, an Option shall be exercisable, in whole or in
part, from time to time, by giving written notice of exercise to the Secretary
of the Company, which notice shall specify the number of shares of Common Stock
to be purchased and shall be accompanied by: (1) payment in full to the Company
of the purchase price of the shares to be purchased; plus (2) payment in full of
such amount as the Company shall determine to be sufficient to satisfy any
liability it may have for any withholding of federal, state or local income or
other taxes incurred by reason of the exercise of the
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Option; and (3) a representation meeting the requirements of Section 11.2 if
requested by the Company.
8.2 PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE. Payment for shares and withholding taxes
shall be in the form of either: (1) cash; or (2) a personal check to the order
of the Company; or (3) in any combination thereof.
SECTION 9: EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT
9.1 TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OTHER THAN UPON DEATH OR DISABILITY AND OTHER
THAN TERMINATION FOR CAUSE. Upon termination of an Optionee's employment with
the Company or a Subsidiary other than upon death or disability (within the
meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) and other than a Termination for Cause,
an Optionee may, at any time within three months after the date of termination
but not later than the date of expiration of the Option, exercise the Option to
the extent the Optionee was entitled to do so on the date of termination. Any
Options not exercisable as of the date of termination and any Options or
portions of Options of terminated Optionees not exercised within the period
specified herein shall terminate.
9.2 TERMINATION BY DEATH OF OPTIONEE. If an Optionee shall die while in the
employ of the Company or a Subsidiary or within a period of three months after
the termination of employment with the Company or a Subsidiary under
circumstances to which Section 9.1 applies, the personal representatives of the
Optionee's estate or the person or persons who shall have acquired the Option
from the Optionee by bequest or inheritance may exercise the Option at any time
within the year after the date of death but not later than the expiration date
of the Option, to the extent the Optionee was entitled to do so on the date of
death. Any Options not exercisable as of the date of death and any Options or
portions of Options of deceased Optionees not exercised within the period
specified herein shall terminate.
9.3 TERMINATION BY DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE. Upon termination of an
Optionee's employment with the Company or a Subsidiary by reason of the
Optionee's disability (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), the
Optionee may exercise the Option at any time within one year after the date of
termination but not later than the expiration date of the Option, to the extent
the Optionee was entitled to do so on the date of termination. Any Options not
exercisable as of the date of termination and any Options or portions of Options
of disabled Optionees not exercised within the period specified herein shall
terminate.
9.4 TERMINATION OF DIRECTORS. For purposes of this Section 9, a termination
of employment shall be deemed to include the termination of a Director's service
as a member of the Board of Directors.
9.5 OTHER TERMINATIONS. Upon termination of an Optionee's employment with
the Company or a Subsidiary under circumstances other than those set forth in
Sections
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9.1, 9.2 or 9.3, including without limitation a Termination for Cause, Options
granted to the Optionee shall terminate immediately.
9.6 EXTENSION OF OPTION TERMINATION DATE. No Option granted under this Plan
may be extended by either the Committee or the Board of Directors.
SECTION 10: NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTION
Options granted pursuant to the Plan are not transferable by the Optionee
other than by Will or the laws of descent and distribution and shall be
exercisable during the Optionee's lifetime only by the Optionee. Upon any
attempt to transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of the
Option contrary to the provisions hereof, or upon the levy of any attachment or
similar process upon the Option, the Option shall immediately become null and
void.
SECTION 11: ISSUANCE OF SHARES
11.1 TRANSFER OF SHARES TO OPTIONEE. As soon as practicable after the
Optionee has given the Company written notice of exercise of an Option and has
otherwise met the requirements of Section 8.1, the Company shall issue or
transfer to the Optionee the number of shares of Common Stock as to which the
Option has been exercised and shall deliver to the Optionee a certificate or
certificates therefor, registered in the Optionee's name. In no event shall the
Company be required to transfer fractional shares to the Optionee, and in lieu
thereof, the Company may pay an amount in cash equal to the fair market value
(as determined in accordance with Section 7.4) of such fractional shares on the
date of exercise. If the issuance or transfer of shares by the Company would for
any reason, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, violate any applicable
federal or state laws or regulations, the Company may delay issuance or transfer
of such shares to the Optionee until compliance with such laws can reasonably be
obtained. In no event shall the Company be obligated to effect or obtain any
listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval under any applicable
federal or state laws or regulations or any contract or agreement to which the
Company is a party with respect to the issuance of any such shares.
11.2 INVESTMENT REPRESENTATION. Upon demand by the Company, the Optionee
shall deliver to the Company a representation in writing that the purchase of
all shares with respect to which notice of exercise of the Option has been given
by the Optionee is being made for investment only and not for resale or with a
view to distribution, and containing such other representations and provisions
with respect thereto as the Company may require. Upon such demand, delivery of
such representation promptly and prior to the transfer or delivery of any such
shares and prior to the expiration of the option period shall be a condition
precedent to the right to purchase such shares.
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SECTION 12: AMENDMENTS
The Board of Directors may at any time and from time to time alter, amend,
suspend or terminate the Plan or any part thereof as it may deem proper, except
that no such action shall diminish or impair the rights under an Option
previously granted. Unless the shareholders of the Company shall have given
their approval, the total number of shares for which Options may be issued under
the Plan shall not be increased, except as provided in Section 5.3, and no
amendment shall be made which reduces the price at which the Common Stock may be
offered under the Plan below the minimum required by Section 7.3, except as
provided in Section 5.3, or which materially modifies the requirements as to
eligibility for participation in the Plan. Subject to the terms and conditions
of the Plan, the Board of Directors may modify outstanding Options granted under
the Plan, or accept the surrender of outstanding Options to the extent not
theretofore exercised and authorize the granting of new Options in substitution
therefor, except that no such action shall diminish or impair the rights under
an Option previously granted without the consent of the Optionee.
SECTION 13: TERM OF PLAN
This Plan shall terminate on November 8, 2008; provided, however, that the
Board of Directors may at any time prior thereto suspend or terminate the Plan.
SECTION 14: RIGHTS AS STOCKHOLDER
An Optionee shall have no rights as a stockholder of the Company with
respect to any shares of Common Stock covered by an Option until the date of the
issuance of the stock certificate for such shares.
SECTION 15: NO EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS
Nothing contained in this Plan or in any Option granted under the Plan
shall confer upon any Optionee any right with respect to the continuation of
such Optionee's 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 Optionee from the
rate in existence at the time of the grant of the Option.
SECTION 16: GOVERNING LAW
This Plan, and all Options granted under this Plan, shall be construed and
shall take effect in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado, without
regard to the conflicts of laws rules of such State.
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