EXHIBIT 10.66
SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
1990 LONG-TERM EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
(Last amended effective as of August 15, 1996)
1. Purpose of the Plan. The purpose of the Sun Microsystems, Inc. 1990
Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan is to enable Sun Microsystems, Inc. to provide
an incentive to eligible employees, consultants and Officers whose present and
potential contributions are important to the continued success of the Company,
to afford them an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company,
and to enable the Company to enlist and retain in its employ the best available
talent for the successful conduct of its business. It is intended that this
purpose will be effected through the granting of (a) stock options, (b) stock
purchase rights, (c) stock appreciation rights, and (d) long-term performance
awards.
2. Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(b) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(c) "Committee" means the Committee or Committees referred to in
Section 5 of the Plan. If at any time no Committee shall be in office, then the
functions of the Committee specified in the Plan shall be exercised by the
Board.
(d) "Common Stock" means the Common Stock, $0.00067 par value (as
adjusted from time to time), of the Company.
(e) "Company" means Sun Microsystems, Inc., a corporation organized
under the laws of the state of Delaware, or any successor corporation.
(f) "Director" means a member of the Board.
(g) "Disability" means a disability, whether temporary or permanent,
partial or total, as determined by the Committee.
(h) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(i) "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of Common
Stock determined as follows:
(i) the last reported sale price of the Common Stock of the
Company on the NASDAQ National Market System or, if no such reported sale takes
place on any such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices, or
(ii) if such Common Stock shall then be listed on a national
securities exchange, the last reported sale price or, if no such reported sale
takes place on any such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on
the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed
or admitted to trading, or
(iii) if such Common Stock shall not be quoted on such National
Market System nor listed or admitted to trading on a national securities
exchange, then the average of the closing bid and asked prices, as reported by
The Wall Street Journal for the over-the-counter market, or
(iv) if none of the foregoing is applicable, then the Fair Market
Value of a share of Common Stock shall be determined by the Board in its
discretion.
(j) "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option intended to be and
designated as an "Incentive Stock Option" within the meaning of Section 422 of
the Code.
(k) "Long-Term Performance Award" means an award under Section 10
below. A Long-Term Performance Award shall permit the recipient to receive a
cash or stock bonus (as determined by the Committee) upon satisfaction of such
performance factors as are set out in the recipient's individual grant.
Long-Term Performance Awards will be based upon the achievement of Company,
Subsidiary and/or individual performance factors or upon such other criteria as
the Committee may deem appropriate.
(l) "Nonstatutory Stock Option" means any Option that is not an
Incentive Stock Option.
(m) "Officer" means an officer of the Company within the meaning of
Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
(n) "Option" means any option to purchase shares of Common Stock
granted pursuant to Section 7 below.
(o) "Plan" means this 1990 Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan, as
hereinafter amended from time to time.
(p) "Restricted Stock" means shares of Common Stock acquired pursuant
to a grant of Stock Purchase Rights under Section 9 below.
(q) "Right" means and includes Stock Appreciation Rights and Stock
Purchase Rights granted pursuant to the Plan.
(r) "Stock Appreciation Right" means an award made pursuant to Section
8 below, which right permits the recipient to receive an amount of Common Stock
or cash equal in value to the difference between the Fair Market Value of Common
Stock on the date of grant of the Option and the Fair Market Value of Common
Stock on the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right.
(s) "Stock Purchase Right" means the right to purchase Common Stock
pursuant to a restricted stock purchase agreement entered into between the
Company and the purchaser under Section 9 below.
(t) "Subsidiary" means a corporation, domestic or foreign, of which not
less than 50% of the voting shares are held by the Company or by a Subsidiary,
whether or not such corporation now exists or is hereafter organized or acquired
by the Company or by a Subsidiary.
In addition, the term "Rule 16b-3", the term "Performance Period" shall
have the meanings set forth in Section 5(a) and Section 10 respectively.
3. Eligible Participants. Any Officer, consultant, or other employee of the
Company or of a Subsidiary whom the Committee deems to have the potential to
contribute to the future success of the Company shall be eligible to receive
awards under the Plan; provided, however, that any Options intended to qualify
as Incentive Stock Options shall be granted only to employees of the Company or
its Subsidiaries.
4. Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to Sections 11 and 12, the total
number of shares of Common Stock reserved and available for distribution
pursuant to the Plan shall be 13,250,000 shares. The shares may be authorized,
but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock. Subject to Sections 11 and 12 below,
if any shares of Common Stock that have been optioned under an Option cease to
be subject to such Option (other than through exercise of the Option), or if any
Right, Option or
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Long-Term Performance Award granted hereunder is forfeited or any such award
otherwise terminates prior to the issuance to the participant of Common Stock,
the shares (if any) that were reserved for issuance pursuant to such Right,
Option or Long-Term Performance Award shall again be available for distribution
in connection with future awards or Option grants under the Plan; provided,
however, that shares of Common Stock that have actually been issued under the
Plan, whether upon exercise of an Option or Right or in satisfaction of a
Long-Term Performance Award, shall not in any event be returned to the Plan and
shall not become available for future distribution under the Plan.
5. Administration.
(a) Procedure.
(i) Multiple Administrative Bodies. The Plan may be administered
by different Committees with respect to different groups of service providers.
(ii) Section 162(m). To the extent that a Committee determines it
to be desirable to qualify awards granted hereunder as "performance-based
compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Plan shall
be administered by a committee consisting solely of two or more "outside
directors" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(iii) Rule 16b-3. To the extent desirable to qualify transactions
hereunder as exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act ("Rule
16b-3"), the transactions contemplated hereunder shall be structured to satisfy
the requirements for exemption under Rule 16b-3.
(iv) Other Administration. Other than as provided above, the Plan
shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee, which committee shall
be constituted to satisfy Applicable Laws.
(b) Authority. A Committee, if there be one, shall have full power to
implement and carry out the Plan, subject to the general purposes, terms, and
conditions of the Plan and to the direction of the Board (including the specific
duties delegated by the Board to such Committee), which power shall include, but
not be limited to, the following:
(i) to select the Officers, consultants and other employees of
the Company and/or its Subsidiaries to whom Options, Rights and/or Long-Term
Performance Awards may from time to time be granted hereunder;
(ii) to determine whether and to what extent Options, Rights
and/or Long-Term Performance Awards, or any combination thereof, are granted
hereunder;
(iii) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be
covered by each such award granted hereunder;
(iv) to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;
(v) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with
the terms of the Plan, of any award granted hereunder (including, but not
limited to, the share price and any restriction or limitation, or any vesting
acceleration or waiver of forfeiture restrictions regarding any Option or other
award and/or the shares of Common Stock relating thereto, based in each case on
such factors as the Committee shall determine, in its sole discretion);
(vi) to determine whether and under what circumstances an Option
may be settled in cash or Restricted Stock under Section 7(j) instead of Common
Stock;
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(vii) to determine the form of payment that will be acceptable
consideration for exercise of an Option or Right granted under the Plan;
(viii) to determine whether, to what extent and under what
circumstances Common Stock and other amounts payable with respect to an award
under this Plan shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the
participant (including providing for and determining the amount (if any) of any
deemed earnings on any deferred amount during any deferral period);
(ix) to reduce the exercise price of any Option or Right;
(x) to determine the terms and restrictions applicable to Stock
Purchase Rights and the Restricted Stock purchased by exercising such Rights;
and
(xi) to allow participants to satisfy withholding tax obligations
by electing to have the Company withhold from the shares of Common Stock to be
issued upon exercise of an award that number of shares having a Fair Market
Value equal to the amount required to be withheld. The Fair Market Value of the
Shares to be withheld shall be determined on the date that the amount of tax to
be withheld is to be determined. All elections by a participant to have shares
withheld for this purpose shall be made in such form and under such conditions
as the Committee may deem necessary of advisable and shall be subject to the
consent or disapproval of the Committee.
The Committee shall have the authority to construe and interpret the
Plan, to prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to the
Plan, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the
administration of the Plan.
6. Duration of the Plan. The Plan shall remain in effect until terminated
by the Board under the terms of the Plan, provided that in no event may
Incentive Stock Options be granted under the Plan later than October 15, 2000,
10 years from the date the Plan was adopted by the Board.
7. Stock Options. The Committee, in its discretion, may grant Options to
eligible participants and shall determine whether such Options shall be
Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options. Each Option shall be
evidenced by a written Option agreement which shall expressly identify the
Option as an Incentive Stock Option or as a Nonstatutory Stock Option, and be in
such form and contain such provisions as the Committee shall from time to time
deem appropriate. Without limiting the foregoing, the Committee may, at any
time, or from time to time, authorize the Company, with the consent of the
respective recipients, to issue new Options including Options in exchange for
the surrender and cancellation of any or all outstanding Options or Rights.
Option agreements shall contain the following terms and conditions:
(a) Exercise Price; Number of Shares. The exercise price of the Option,
which shall be approved by the Committee, may be less than the Fair Market Value
of the Common Stock at the time the Option is granted; provided, however, that
in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the price shall be no less than 100%
of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the date the Option is granted,
subject to any additional conditions set out in Section 7(g) below, and further
provided that, in the case of an individual subject to Section 16 of the
Exchange Act, the price shall be no less than 50% of the Fair Market Value of
the Common Stock on the date the Option is granted.
The Option agreement shall specify the exercise price and the number of
shares of Common Stock to which it pertains.
(b) Waiting Period; Exercise Dates; Term. At the time an Option is
granted, the Committee will determine the terms and conditions to be satisfied
before shares may be purchased, including the dates on which shares subject to
the Option may first be purchased. The Committee may
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specify that an Option may not be exercised until the completion of the waiting
period specified at the time of grant. (Any such period is referred to herein as
the "waiting period.") At the time an Option is granted, the Committee shall fix
the period within which such Option may be exercised, which shall not be less
than the waiting period, if any, nor, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option,
more than 10 years from the date of grant.
(c) Form of Payment. The consideration to be paid for the shares of
Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of an Option, including the method of
payment, shall be determined by the Committee (and, in the case of an Incentive
Stock Option, shall be determined at the time of grant) and may consist entirely
of (i) cash, (ii) certified or cashier's check, (iii) promissory note, (iv)
other shares of Common Stock (including, in the discretion of the Committee,
Restricted Stock) which (x) either have been owned by the optionee for more than
six months on the date of surrender or were not acquired, directly or
indirectly, from the Company, and (y) have a Fair Market Value on the date of
surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the shares as to which said
Option shall be exercised, (v) delivery of a properly executed exercise notice
together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the
Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds required to pay the exercise price,
(vi) delivery of an irrevocable subscription agreement for the shares which
obligates the option holder to take and pay for the shares not more than 12
months after the date of delivery of the subscription agreement or (vii) any
combination of the foregoing methods of payment.
(d) Effect of Termination of Employment or Death of Employee
Participants. In the event that an optionee during his or her lifetime ceases to
be an employee of the Company or of any Subsidiary for any reason, including
retirement, any Option, including any unexercised portion thereof, which was
otherwise exercisable on the date of termination of employment, shall expire
within such time period as is determined by the Committee; provided, however,
that in the case of an Incentive Stock Option the Option shall expire unless
exercised within a period of 90 days from the date on which the optionee ceased
to be an employee, but in no event after the expiration of the term of such
Option as set forth in the Option agreement. If in any case the Committee shall
determine that an employee shall have been discharged for Just Cause (as defined
below) such employee shall not thereafter have any rights under the Plan or any
Option that shall have been granted to him or her under the Plan. For purposes
of this Section, "Just Cause" means the termination of employment of an employee
shall have taken place as a result of (i) willful breach or neglect of duty;
(ii) failure or refusal to work or to comply with the Company's rules, policies,
and practices; (iii) dishonesty; (iv) insubordination; (v) being under the
influence of drugs (except to the extent medically prescribed) or alcohol while
on duty or on Company premises; (vi) conduct endangering, or likely to endanger,
the health or safety of another employee; or (vii) conviction of a felony. In
the event of the death of an employee optionee, that portion of the Option which
had become exercisable on the date of death shall be exercisable by his or her
personal representatives, heirs, or legatees within six months or such time
period as is determined by the Committee (but in the case of an Incentive Stock
Option, in no event after the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth
in the Option agreement.) In the event of the death of an optionee within one
month after termination of employment or service, that portion of the Option
which had become exercisable on the date of termination shall be exercisable by
his or her personal representatives, heirs, or legatees within six months or
such time period as is determined by the Committee (but in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option, in no event after the expiration of the term of such
Option as set forth in the Option agreement.) In the event that an optionee
ceases to be an employee of the Company or of any Subsidiary for any reason,
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including death or retirement, prior to the lapse of the waiting period, if any,
his or her Option shall terminate and be null and void to the extent unvested.
(e) Leave of Absence. The employment relationship shall not be
considered interrupted in the case of: (i) sick leave; (ii) military leave;
(iii) any other leave of absence approved by the Committee, provided that such
leave is for a period of not more than 90 days (or not more than 30 days for
unpaid leave), unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is
guaranteed by contract or statute, or unless provided otherwise pursuant to
formal policy adopted from time to time by the Company and issued and
promulgated to employees in writing; or (iv) in the case of transfer between
locations of the Company or between the Company, its Subsidiaries or its
successor. In the case of any employee on an approved leave of absence, the
Committee may make such provisions respecting suspension of vesting of the
Option while on leave from the employ of the Company or a Subsidiary as it may
deem appropriate, except that in no event shall an Option be exercised after the
expiration of the term set forth in the Option agreement.
(f) Acceleration of Exercisability or Waiting Period. The Committee may
accelerate the earliest date on which outstanding Options (or any installments
thereof) are exercisable.
(g) Special Incentive Stock Option Provisions. In addition to the
foregoing, Options granted under the Plan which are intended to be Incentive
Stock Options under Section 422 of the Code shall be subject to the following
terms and conditions:
(i) Dollar Limitation. To the extent that the aggregate Fair
Market Value of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which Options
designated as Incentive Stock Options become exercisable for the first time by
any individual during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company) exceeds
$100,000, such Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. For
purposes of the preceding sentence, (i) Options shall be taken into account in
the order in which they were granted and (ii) the Fair Market Value of the
shares shall be determined as of the time the Option with respect to such shares
is granted.
(ii) Stockholder. If any person to whom an Incentive Stock Option
is to be granted pursuant to the provisions of the Plan is, on the date of
grant, the owner of Common 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 of any Subsidiary, then the following special
provisions shall be applicable to the Incentive Stock Option granted to such
individual:
(A) The exercise price per share of the Common Stock subject
to such Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market
Value of the Common Stock on the date of grant; and
(B) The Option shall not have a term in excess of five years
from the date of grant.
Except as modified by the preceding provisions of this Subsection 7(g) and
except as otherwise required by Section 422 of the Code, all of the provisions
of the Plan shall be applicable to the Incentive Stock Options granted
hereunder.
(h) Other Provisions. Each Option granted under the Plan may contain
such other terms, provisions, and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan as
may be determined by the Committee.
(i) Options to Consultants. Options granted to consultants shall not be
subject to Sections 7(b) and 7(d) of the Plan, but shall have such terms and
conditions pertaining to waiting period
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(if any), exercise date, and effect of termination of the consulting
relationship as the Committee shall determine in each case.
(j) Buyout Provisions. The Committee may at any time offer to buy out,
for a payment in cash or Common Stock (including Restricted Stock), an Option
previously granted, based on such terms and conditions as the Committee shall
establish and communicate to the optionee at the time that such offer is made.
Any such offer made to an Officer or Director shall comply with the applicable
provisions of Rule 16b-3. This provision is intended only to clarify the powers
of the Committee and shall not in any way be deemed to create any rights on the
part of optionees to receive buyout offers or payments.
Limitations on Grants to Employees. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary herein, the following limitations shall apply to grants of Options:
(i) No eligible participant shall be granted, in any fiscal year
of the Company, Options to purchase more than 150,000 shares.
(ii) In connection with his or her initial employment, an
eligible participant may be granted Options to purchase up to an additional
200,000 shares which shall not count against the limit set forth in subsection
(i) above.
(iii) The foregoing limitations shall be adjusted proportionately
in connection with any change in the Company's capitalization as described in
Section 11.
(iv) If an Option is cancelled (other than in connection with a
transaction described in Section 12), the cancelled Option will be counted
against the limit set forth in this paragraph (k). For this purpose, if the
exercise price of an Option is reduced, the transaction will be treated as a
cancellation of the Option and the grant of a new Option.
8. Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted only
in connection with an Option, either concurrently with the grant of the Option
or at any time thereafter during the term of the Option. The following
provisions apply to such Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) Exercise of Right. The Stock Appreciation Right shall entitle the
optionee to exercise the Right by surrendering to the Company unexercised a
portion of the underlying Option as to which Optionee has a right to exercise.
The Optionee shall receive in exchange from the Company an amount in cash or
Common Stock equal in value to the excess of (x) the Fair Market Value on the
date of exercise of the Right of the Common Stock covered by the surrendered
portion of the underlying Option over (y) the exercise price of the Common Stock
covered by the surrendered portion of the underlying Option, as determined in
accordance with Section 7(a) above. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee
may place limits on the amount that may be paid upon exercise of a Stock
Appreciation Right; provided, however, that such limit shall not restrict the
exercisability of the underlying Option.
(b) Option Cancelled. When a Stock Appreciation Right is exercised, the
underlying Option, to the extent surrendered, shall no longer be exercisable.
(c) Exercisability Requirement. A Stock Appreciation Right shall be
exercisable only when and to the extent that the underlying Option is
exercisable and shall expire no later than the date on which the underlying
Option expires.
(d) In-the-Money Requirement. A Stock Appreciation Right may only be
exercised at a time when the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock covered by
the underlying Option exceeds the exercise price of the Common Stock covered by
the underlying Option.
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(e) Incentive Stock Option Requirements. In the event that a Stock
Appreciation Right is granted that relates to an Incentive Stock Option, such
Right shall contain such additional or different terms as may be necessary under
applicable regulations to preserve treatment of the Incentive Stock Option as
such under Section 422 of the Code.
(f) Form of Payment. The Company's obligation arising upon the exercise
of a Stock Appreciation Right may be paid currently or on a deferred basis (with
such interest or earnings equivalent as may be determined by the Committee), and
may be paid in Common Stock or in cash, or in any combination of Common Stock
and cash, as the Committee in its sole discretion may determine. Shares of
Common Stock issued upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be
valued at the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock as of the date of exercise.
9. Stock Purchase Rights.
(a) Rights to Purchase. Stock Purchase Rights may be issued either
alone, in addition to, or in tandem with other awards granted under the Plan
and/or cash awards made outside of the Plan. After the Committee determines that
it will offer Stock Purchase Rights under the Plan, it shall advise the offeree
in writing of the terms, conditions and restrictions related to the offer,
including the number of shares of Common Stock that such person shall be
entitled to purchase, the price to be paid, which price in the case of
individuals subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act shall not be more than
$0.00067 per share (the par value of the Company's Common Stock, as adjusted
from time to time, and the minimum price permitted by the Delaware General
Corporation Law), and the time within which such person must accept such offer,
which shall in no event exceed 60 days from the date the Stock Purchase Right
was granted. The offer shall be accepted by execution of a Restricted Stock
purchase agreement in the form determined by the Committee. Shares purchased
pursuant to the grant of a Stock Purchase Right shall be referred to herein as
"Restricted Stock."
(b) Repurchase Option. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, the
Restricted Stock purchase agreement shall grant the Company a repurchase option
exercisable upon the voluntary or involuntary termination of the purchaser's
employment with the Company for any reason (including death or Disability). The
purchase price for shares repurchased pursuant to the Restricted Stock purchase
agreement shall be the original price paid by the purchaser and may be paid by
cancellation of any indebtedness of the purchaser to the Company. The repurchase
option shall lapse at such rate as the Committee may determine.
(c) Other Provisions. The Restricted Stock purchase agreement shall
contain such other terms, provisions and conditions not inconsistent with the
Plan as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. In addition,
the provisions of Restricted Stock purchase agreements need not be the same with
respect to each purchaser.
10. Long-Term Performance Awards.
(a) Awards. Long-Term Performance Awards are cash or stock bonus awards
that may be granted either alone, in addition to or in tandem with other awards
granted under the Plan and/or awards made outside of the Plan. Long-Term
Performance Awards shall not require payment by the recipient of any
consideration for the Long-Term Performance Award or for the shares of Common
Stock covered by such award. The Committee shall determine the nature, length
and starting date of any performance period (the "Performance Period") for each
Long-Term Performance Award and shall determine the performance and/or
employment factors to be used in the determination of the value of Long-Term
Performance Awards and the extent to which such Long-Term Performance Awards
have been earned. Shares issued pursuant to a Long-Term Performance Award
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may be made subject to various conditions, including vesting or forfeiture
provisions. Long-Term Performance Awards may vary from participant to
participant and between groups of participants and shall be based upon the
achievement of Company, Subsidiary and/or individual performance factors or upon
such other criteria as the Committee may deem appropriate. Performance Periods
may overlap and participants may participate simultaneously with respect to
Long-Term Perforance Awards that are subject to different Performance Periods
and different performance factors and criteria. Long-Term Performance Awards
shall be confirmed by, and be subject to the terms of, a written Long-Term
Performance Award agreement.
(b) Value of Awards. At the beginning of each Performance Period, the
Committee may determine for each Long-Term Performance Award subject to such
Performance Period the range of dollar values and/or numbers of shares of Common
Stock to be issued to the participant at the end of the Performance Period if
and to the extent that the relevant measures of performance for such Long-Term
Performance Award are met. Such dollar value or numbers of shares of Common
Stock may be fixed or may vary in accordance with such performance or other
criteria as may be determined by the Committee.
(c) Adjustment of Awards. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 19
hereof, the Committee may, after the grant of Long-Term Performance Awards,
adjust the performance factors applicable to such Long-Term Performance Awards
to take into account changes in the law or in accounting or tax rules and to
make such adjustments as the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to reflect
the inclusion or exclusion of the impact of extraordinary or unusual items,
events or circumstances in order to avoid windfalls or hardships.
(d) Termination. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Long-Term
Performance Award agreement, if a participant terminates his or her employment
or his or her consultancy during a Performance Period because of death or
Disability, the Committee may in its discretion provide for an earlier payment
in settlement of such award, which payment may be in such amount and under such
terms and conditions as the Committee deems appropriate.
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Long-Term Performance
Award agreement, if a participant terminates employment or his or her
consultancy during a Performance Period for any reason other than death or
Disability, then such a participant shall not be entitled to any payment with
respect to the Long-Term Performance Award subject to such Performance Period,
unless the Committee shall otherwise determine in its discretion.
(e) Form of Payment. The earned portion of a Long-Term Performance
Award may be paid currently or on a deferred basis (with such interest or
earnings equivalent as may be determined by the Committee). Payment shall be
made in the form of cash or whole shares of Common Stock, including Restricted
Stock, or a combination thereof, either in a lump sum payment or in
installments, all as the Committee shall determine.
(f) Reservation of Shares. In the event that the Committee grants a
Long-Term Performance Award that is payable in cash or Common Stock, the
Committee may (but need not) reserve an appropriate number of shares of Common
Stock under the Plan at the time of grant of the Long-Term Performance Award. If
and to the extent that the full amount reserved is not actually paid in Common
Stock, the shares of Common Stock representing the portion of the reserve for
that Long-Term Performance Award that is not actually issued in satisfaction of
such Long-Term Performance Award shall again become available for award under
the Plan. If shares of Common Stock are not reserved by the Committee at the
time of grant, then (i) no shares shall be deducted from the number of shares
available for grant under the Plan at that time and (ii) at the time of payment
of
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the Long-Term Performance Award, only the number of shares actually issued to
the participant shall be so deducted. If there are not a sufficient number of
shares available under the Plan for issuance to a participant at the time of
payment of a Long-Term Performance Award, any shortfall shall be paid by the
Company in cash.
11. Recapitalization. In the event that dividends are payable in Common
Stock or in the event there are splits, subdivisions, or combinations of shares
of Common Stock, the number of shares available under the Plan shall be
increased or decreased proportionately, as the case may be, and the number of
shares of Common Stock deliverable in connection with any Option, Right or
Long-Term Performance Award theretofore granted shall be increased or decreased
proportionately, as the case may be, without change in the aggregate purchase
price (where applicable).
12. Reorganization. In case the Company is merged or consolidated with
another corporation and the Company is not the surviving corporation, or in case
the property or stock of the Company is acquired by another corporation, or in
case of separation, reorganization, or liquidation of the Company, the
Committee, or the board of directors of any corporation assuming the obligations
of the Company hereunder, shall, as to outstanding Options, Rights or Long-Term
Performance Awards either (a) make appropriate provision for the protection of
any such outstanding Options, Rights or Long-Term Performance Awards by the
assumption or 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 to the shares of Common Stock, provided that
in the case of Incentive Stock Options, such assumption or substitution comply
with Section 424(a) of the Code, or (b) upon written notice to the participant,
provide that the Option or Right must be exercised within 30 days of the date of
such notice or it will be terminated. In any such case, the Committee may, in
its discretion, advance the lapse of vesting periods, waiting periods, and
exercise dates.
13. Employment or Consulting Relationship. Nothing in the Plan or any award
made hereunder shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company
or of any Subsidiary to terminate any recipient's employment or consulting
relationship at any time, with or without cause, nor confer upon any recipient
any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary.
14. General Restriction. Each award shall be subject to the requirement
that, if, at any time, the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, that
the listing, quotation, registration, or qualification of the shares subject to
such award upon any securities exchange or quotation system or under any state
or federal law, or the consent or approval of any government regulatory body, is
necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, such award or
the issue or purchase of shares thereunder, such award may not be exercised in
whole or in part unless such listing, quotation, registration, qualification,
consent, or approval shall have been effected or obtained free of any conditions
not acceptable to the Committee.
15. Rights as a Stockholder. The holder of an Option, Right or Long-Term
Performance Award shall have no rights as a stockholder with respect to any
shares covered by such Option, Right or Long-Term Performance Award until the
date of exercise. Once an Option, Right or Long-Term Performance Award is
exercised by the holder thereof, the participant shall have the rights
equivalent to those of a stockholder, and shall be a stockholder when his or her
holding is entered upon the records of the duly authorized transfer agent of the
Company. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Plan, no adjustment shall
be made for dividends or other rights for which the record date is prior to the
date such stock certificate is issued.
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16. Nonassignability of Awards. No awards made hereunder, including
Options, Rights and Long-Term Performance Awards, shall be assignable or
transferable by the recipient other than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined by
the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or the rules
thereunder, and in no event shall such awards be assigned or transferred in a
manner that is inconsistent with the specific Plan provisions relating thereto.
The designation of a beneficiary by a participant does not constitute a
transfer. During the life of the recipient, an Option, Right or Long-Term
Performance Award shall be exercisable only by him or her or by a transferee
permitted by this Section 16.
17. Withholding Taxes. Whenever, under the Plan, shares are to be issued in
satisfaction of Options, Rights or Long-Term Performance Awards granted
hereunder, the Company shall have the right to require the recipient to remit to
the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local
withholding tax requirements prior to the delivery of any certificate or
certificates for such shares. Whenever, under the Plan, payments are to be made
to participants in cash, such payments shall be net of an amount sufficient to
satisfy federal, state, and local withholding tax requirements.
18. Nonexclusivity of the Plan. Neither the adoption or amendment of the
Plan by the Board, the submission of the Plan or any amendments thereto to the
stockholders of the Company for approval, nor any provision of the Plan shall be
construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board or the Committee
to adopt and implement such additional compensation arrangements as it may deem
desirable, including, without limitation, the awarding of cash or the granting
of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock purchase rights or Long-Term
performance awards outside of the Plan, and such arrangements may be either
generally applicable to a class of employees or consultants or applicable only
in specified cases.
19. Amendment, Suspension, or Termination of the Plan. The Board may at any
time amend, alter, suspend, or terminate the Plan, but no amendment, alteration,
suspension, or termination shall be made which would impair the rights of any
grantee under any grant theretofore made, without his or her consent. In
addition, to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Rule 16b-3 under
the Exchange Act or under Section 422 of the Code (or any other Applicable Law),
the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a
manner and to such a degree as is required by such Applicable Law.
20. Effective Date of the Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon
approval of the Board and shall be subject to stockholder approval within 12
months of adoption by the Board. Options, Rights and Long-Term Performance
Awards may be granted and exercised under the Plan only after there has been
compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws.