EXHIBIT 10.24
ENCORE MEDICAL CORPORATION
2000 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS OPTION PLAN
ARTICLE 1. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
The Plan is intended to promote the interests of the Corporation by
providing the non-employee members of the Board with the opportunity to acquire
a proprietary interest, or otherwise increase their proprietary interest, in the
Corporation as an incentive for them to remain in the service of the
Corporation.
ARTICLE 2. ADMINISTRATION
The terms and conditions of each automatic option grant (including the
timing and pricing of the option grant) shall be determined by the express terms
and conditions of the Plan, and neither the Board nor any committee of the Board
shall exercise any discretionary functions with respect to option grants made
pursuant to the Plan.
ARTICLE 3. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
A. Shares of Common Stock shall be available for issuance under the Plan
and shall be drawn from either the Corporation's authorized but unissued shares
of Common Stock or from reacquired shares of Common Stock, including shares
repurchased by the Corporation on the open market. The number of shares of
Common Stock reserved for issuance over the term of the Plan shall be fixed at
three hundred thousand (300,000) shares.
B. Should one or more outstanding options under this Plan expire or
terminate for any reason prior to exercise in full, then the shares subject to
the portion of each option not so exercised shall be available for subsequent
option grant under the Plan. In addition, should the exercise price of an
outstanding option under the Plan be paid with shares of Common Stock, then the
number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be
reduced by the net number of shares of Common Stock actually issued to the
holder of such option.
C. Should any change be made to the Common Stock issuable under the Plan
by reason of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of
shares, exchange of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common
Stock as a class without the Corporation's receipt of consideration, then
appropriate adjustments shall be made to (i) the maximum number and/or class of
securities issuable under the Plan, (ii) the number and/or class of securities
for which automatic option grants are to be subsequently made to each newly-
elected or continuing non-employee Board member under the Plan, and (iii) the
number and/or class of securities and price per share in effect under each
option outstanding under the Plan. The adjustments to the outstanding options
shall be made by the Board in a manner which shall preclude the enlargement or
dilution of rights and benefits under such options and shall be final, binding
and conclusive.
ARTICLE 4. ELIGIBILITY
The individuals eligible to receive automatic option grants pursuant to the
provisions of this Plan shall be limited to (i) those individuals serving as
non-employee Board members on the
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Effective Date and (ii) those individuals who are first elected or appointed as
non-employee Board members after the Effective Date, whether through appointment
by the Board or election by the Corporation's stockholders. A non-employee Board
member shall not be eligible to receive the initial automatic option grant if
such individual has previously been in the employ of the Corporation (or any
parent or subsidiary). However, a non-employee Board member shall be eligible to
receive one or more annual option grants, whether or not he or she has
previously been in the employ of the Corporation (or any parent or subsidiary).
Each non-employee Board member eligible to participate in the Plan pursuant to
the foregoing criteria is hereby designated an Eligible Director.
ARTICLE 5. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANTS
A. Grant Date. Option grants shall be made on the date of each Annual
Meeting, beginning with the 2000 Annual Meeting. Each Eligible Director who
serves on the Board at the time of that Annual Meeting, whether or not standing
for re-election, shall automatically be granted a non-statutory option to
purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock. An Eligible Director who resigns
effective at an Annual Meeting shall not be eligible to be granted a non-
statutory option at that time. There shall be no limit on the number of such
annual 10,000-share option grants any one Eligible Director may receive over his
or her period of continued Board service.
B. Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Common Stock subject
to each automatic option grant shall be equal to one hundred percent (100%) of
the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the automatic grant date.
C. Payment. The exercise price shall become immediately due upon exercise
of the option and shall be payable in one of the alternative forms specified
below: (i) full payment in cash or check made payable to the Corporation's
order; or (ii) full payment in shares of Common Stock held for the requisite
period necessary to avoid a charge to the Corporation's earnings for financial-
reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date (as such
term is defined below); or (iii) full payment in a combination of shares of
Common Stock held for the requisite period necessary to avoid a charge to the
Corporation's earnings for financial-reporting purposes and valued at Fair
Market Value on the Exercise Date and cash or check payable to the Corporation's
order; or (iv) full payment through a broker-dealer sale and remittance
procedure pursuant to which the non-employee Board member (a) shall provide
irrevocable written instructions to a Corporation-designated brokerage firm to
effect the immediate sale of the purchased shares and remit to the Corporation,
out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to
cover the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased shares and (b)
shall concurrently provide written directives to the Corporation to deliver the
certificates for the purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm in order
to complete the sale transaction. For purposes of this Section 5.C, the
Exercise Date shall be the date on which written notice of the option exercise
is delivered to the Corporation. Except to the extent the sale and remittance
procedure specified above is used, payment of the exercise price for the
purchased shares must accompany the exercise notice.
D. Exercisability/Vesting. Each automatic grant shall become exercisable
for one hundred percent (100%) of the option shares upon the optionee's
completion of one year of Board service. Exercisability of the option shall be
subject to acceleration as provided in Article
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6. In no event, however, shall the option become exercisable for any additional
option shares after the Optionee's cessation of Board service.
E. Option Term. Each automatic grant under the Plan shall have a maximum
term of ten (10) years measured from the automatic grant date.
F. Non-Transferability. During the lifetime of the Optionee, each
automatic option grant shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and shall not
be assignable or transferable by the Optionee other than a transfer of the
option effected by will or by the laws of descent and distribution following
Optionee's death.
G. Effect of Termination of Board Service.
1. Should the Optionee cease to serve as a Board member for any
reason (other than death) while holding one or more automatic option grants
under the Plan, then such individual shall have a twelve (12)-month period
following the date of such cessation of Board service in which to exercise
each such option for any or all of the option shares for which the option
is exercisable at the time of his or her cessation of Board service. Each
such option shall immediately terminate and cease to be outstanding, at the
time of such cessation of Board service, with respect to any option shares
for which the option is not otherwise at that time exercisable.
2. Should the Optionee die while serving as a Board member or within
twelve (12) months after cessation of Board service, then any automatic
option grant held by the Optionee at the time of death may subsequently be
exercised, for the option shares for which the option is exercisable at the
time of his or her cessation of Board service (less any option shares
purchased by the Optionee prior to death), by the personal representative
of the Optionee's estate or by the person or persons to whom the option is
transferred pursuant to the Optionee's will or in accordance with the laws
of descent and distribution. The right to exercise each such option shall
lapse upon the expiration of the twelve (12)-month period measured from the
date of the Optionee's cessation of service.
3. In no event shall any automatic grant under this Plan remain
exercisable after the expiration date of the maximum ten (10)-year option
term. Upon the expiration of the applicable post-service exercise period
under subparagraphs 1 through 2 above or (if earlier) upon the expiration
of the maximum ten (10)-year option term, the automatic grant shall
terminate and cease to be outstanding for any option shares for which the
option was not exercisable at the time of the Optionee's cessation of Board
service.
H. Stockholder Rights. The holder of an automatic option grant shall have
none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any shares subject to such
option until such individual shall have exercised the option and paid the
exercise price for the purchased shares.
I. Remaining Terms. The remaining terms and conditions of each automatic
option grant shall be as set forth in the form Stock Option Agreement approved
for use under the Plan.
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ARTICLE 6. SPECIAL ACCELERATION EVENTS
A. In the event of any Change in Control, the shares of Common Stock at
the time subject to each outstanding option but not otherwise fully exercisable
shall automatically accelerate in full so that each such option shall,
immediately prior to the specified effective date for the Change in Control,
become fully exercisable for all of the shares of Common Stock at the time
subject to that option. Immediately following the consummation of the Change in
Control, each automatic option grant under the Plan shall terminate and cease to
be outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation or its
parent company.
B. The automatic option grants outstanding under the Plan shall in no way
affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or
otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate,
dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or
assets.
ARTICLE 7. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND AWARDS
The Board has complete and exclusive power and authority to amend or modify
the Plan (or any component thereof) in any or all respects whatsoever. However,
no such amendment or modification shall adversely affect rights and obligations
with respect to options at the time outstanding under the Plan, unless the
affected Optionees consent to such amendment. Stockholder approval shall be
obtained to the extent required by applicable law.
ARTICLE 8. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN
A. The Plan shall become effective on the Effective Date. One or more
automatic option grants may be made under the Plan at any time on or after the
Effective Date.
B. The Plan shall terminate upon the earlier of (i) April 30, 2010 or
(ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Plan shall
have been issued pursuant to the exercise of the options granted under the Plan.
If the date of termination is determined under clause (i) above, then all option
grants outstanding on such date shall thereafter continue to have force and
effect in accordance with the provisions of the agreements evidencing those
option grants.
ARTICLE 9. USE OF PROCEEDS
Any cash proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of shares
pursuant to option grants under the Plan shall be used for general corporate
purposes.
ARTICLE 10. REGULATORY APPROVALS
A. The implementation of the Plan, the granting of any option under the
Plan and the issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise of the option grants
made hereunder shall be subject to the Corporation's procurement of all
approvals and permits required by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction
over the Plan, the options granted under it, and the Common Stock issued
pursuant to it.
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B. No shares of Common Stock or other assets shall be issued or delivered
under this Plan unless and until there shall have been compliance with all
applicable requirements of Federal and state securities laws, including the
filing and effectiveness of the Form S-8 registration statement for the shares
of Common Stock issuable under the Plan, and all applicable listing requirements
of the Nasdaq National Market or any Stock Exchange on which the Common Stock is
then listed for trading.
ARTICLE 11. NO IMPAIRMENT OF RIGHTS
Neither the action of the Corporation in establishing the Plan nor any
provision of the Plan shall be construed or interpreted so as to affect
adversely or otherwise impair the right of the Corporation or the stockholders
to remove any individual from the Board at any time in accordance with the
provisions of applicable law.
ARTICLE 12. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
A. The right to acquire Common Stock or other assets under the Plan may
not be assigned, encumbered or otherwise transferred by any Optionee.
B. The provisions of the Plan relating to the exercise of options shall
be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, as such laws are applied to
contracts entered into and performed in such State.
C. The provisions of the Plan shall inure to the benefit of, and be
binding upon, the Corporation and its successors or assigns, whether by Change
in Control or otherwise, and the Optionees, the legal representatives of their
respective estates, their respective heirs or legatees and their permitted
assignees.
ARTICLE 13. DEFINITIONS
A. Annual Meeting: the annual meeting of the Corporation's stockholders.
B. Board: the Corporation's Board of Directors.
C. Code: the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
D. Common Stock: shares of the Corporation's common stock.
E. Corporation: Encore Medical Corporation, a Delaware corporation.
F. Change in Control: a change in ownership or control of the Corporation
effected through either of the following transactions:
(a) the consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Corporation
with or into another entity or any other corporate reorganization, if more
than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the continuing or
surviving entity's securities outstanding immediately after such merger,
consolidation or other reorganization is owned by persons who were not
stockholders of the Corporation immediately prior to such merger,
consolidation or other reorganization;
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(b) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the Corporation's assets;
(c) a change in the composition of the Board, as a result of which
fewer than one-third of the incumbent directors are directors who either
(i) had been directors of the Corporation on the date twenty-four (24)
months prior to the date of the event that may constitute a Change in
Control (the "original directors") or (ii) were elected, or nominated for
election, to the Board with the affirmative votes of at least a majority of
the aggregate of the original directors who were still in office at the
time of the election or nomination and the directors whose election or
nomination was previously so approved;
(d) any transaction as a result of which any person is the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the 1934 Act), directly
or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing at least 50%
of the total voting power represented by the Corporation's then outstanding
voting securities. For purposes of this Paragraph (d), the term "person"
shall have the same meaning as when used in sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the
1934 Act but shall exclude (i) a trustee or other fiduciary holding
securities under an employee benefit plan of the Corporation or of a parent
or subsidiary and (ii) a corporation owned directly or indirectly by the
stockholders of the Corporation in substantially the same proportions as
their ownership of the Common Stock of the Corporation; or
(e) a transaction shall not constitute a Change in Control if its
sole purpose is to change the state of the Corporation's incorporation or
to create a holding company that will be owned in substantially the same
proportions by the persons who held the Corporation's securities
immediately before such transaction.
G. Effective Date: May 25, 2000.
H. Fair Market Value: the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock
determined in accordance with the following provisions:
1. If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the Nasdaq National
Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share
of Common Stock on the date in question, as such price is reported by the
National Association of Securities Dealers on the Nasdaq National Market or any
successor system. If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on
the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling
price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
2. If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any Stock Exchange,
then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share of
Common Stock on the date in question on the Stock Exchange determined by the
Plan Administrator to be the primary market for the Common Stock, as such price
is officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on such exchange. If
there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question,
then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last
preceding date for which such quotation exists.
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I. 1934 Act: the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
J. Optionee: any person to whom an option is granted under the Plan.
K. Plan: this Encore Medical Corporation 2000 Non-Employee Directors
Option Plan.
L. Stock Exchange: either the American Stock Exchange or the New York
Stock Exchange.
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