EXHIBIT 4 (b)
RED OAK HEREFORD FARMS, INC.
1997 Stock Option Plan
Section 1. Purpose; Definitions.
1.1 Purpose. The purpose of Red Oak Hereford Farms, Inc. (the
"Company") 1997 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") is to enable the Company to offer
to its key employees, officers, directors, consultants and sales representatives
whose past, present and/or potential contributions to the Company and its
Subsidiaries have been, are or will be important to the success of the Company,
an opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company. The various
types of long-term incentive awards which may be provided under the Plan will
enable the Company to respond to changes in compensation practices, tax laws,
accounting regulations and the size and diversity of its business.
1.2 Definitions. For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be
defined as set forth below:
(a) "Agreement" means the agreement between the Company and
the Holder setting forth the terms and conditions of an award under the Plan.
(b) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
from time to time, and any successor thereto and the regulations promulgated
thereunder.
(d) "Committee" means the Stock Option Committee of the Board
or any other committee of the Board, which the Board may designate to administer
the Plan or any portion thereof. If no Committee is so designated, then all
references in this Plan to "Committee" shall mean the Board.
(e) "Common Stock" means the Common Stock of the Company, par
value $.001 per share.
(f) "Company" means Red Oak Hereford Farms, Inc., a
corporation organized under the laws of the State of Nevada.
(g) "Deferred Stock" means Stock to be received, under an
award made pursuant to Section 9, below, at the end of a specified deferral
period.
(h) "Disability" means disability as determined under
procedures established by the Committee for purposes of the Plan.
(i) "Effective Date" means the date set forth in Section 13.1,
below.
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(j) "Fair Market Value", unless otherwise required by any
applicable provision of the Code or any regulations issued thereunder, means, as
of any given date: (i) if the Common Stock is listed on a national securities
exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market or Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the
last sale price of the Common Stock in the principal trading market for the
Common Stock on the last trading day preceding the date of grant of an award
hereunder, as reported by the exchange or Nasdaq, as the case may be; (ii) if
the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on
the Nasdaq National Market or Nasdaq SmallCap Market, but is traded in the
over-the-counter market, the closing bid price for the Common Stock on the last
trading day preceding the date of grant of an award hereunder for which such
quotations are reported by the OTC Bulletin Board or the National Quotation
Bureau, Incorporated or similar publisher of such quotations; and (iii) if the
fair market value of the Common Stock cannot be determined pursuant to clause
(i) or (ii) above, such price as the Committee shall determine, in good faith.
(k) "Holder" means a person who has received an award under
the Plan.
(l) "Incentive Stock Option" means any Stock Option intended
to be and designated as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of
Section 422 of the Code.
(m) "Nonqualified Stock Option" means any Stock Option that is
not an Incentive Stock Option.
(n) "Normal Retirement" means retirement from active
employment with the Company or any Subsidiary on or after age 65.
(o) "Other Stock-Based Award" means an award under Section 10,
below, that is valued in whole or in part be reference to, or is otherwise based
upon, Stock.
(p) "Parent" means any present or future parent corporation of
the Company, as such term is defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(q) "Plan" means Red Oak Hereford Farms, Inc. 1997 Stock
Option Plan, as hereinafter amended from time to time.
(r) "Restricted Stock" means Stock, received under an award
made pursuant to Section 8, below, that is subject to restrictions under said
Section 8.
(s) "SAR Value" means the excess of the Fair Market Value (on
the exercise date) of the number of shares for which the Stock Appreciation
Right is exercised over the exercise price that the participant would have
otherwise had to pay to exercise the related Stock Option and purchase the
relevant shares.
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(t) "Stock" means the Common Stock of the Company, par value
$.001 per share.
(u) "Stock Appreciation Right" means the right to receive from
the Company, on surrender of all or part of the related Stock Option, without a
cash payment to the Company, a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the SAR
Value divided by the exercise price of the Stock Option.
(v) "Stock Option" or "Option" means any option to purchase
shares of Stock which is granted pursuant to the Plan.
(w) "Stock Reload Option" means any option granted under
Section 6.3, below, as a result of the payment of the exercise price of a Stock
Option and/or the withholding tax related thereto in the form of Stock owned by
the Holder or the withholding of Stock by the Company.
(x) "Subsidiary" means any present or future subsidiary
corporation of the Company, as such term is defined in Section 424(f) of the
Code.
Section 2. Administration.
2.1 Committee Membership. The Plan shall be administered by the Board
or a Committee. Committee members shall serve for such terms as the Board may in
each case determine, and shall be subject to removal at any time by the Board.
2.2 Powers of Committee. The Committee shall have full authority,
subject to Section 4, below, to award, pursuant to the terms of the Plan: (i)
Stock Options, (ii) Stock Appreciation Rights, (iii) Restricted Stock, (iv)
Deferred Stock, (v) Stock Reload Options and/or (vi) Other Stock-Based Awards.
For purposes of illustration and not of limitation, the Committee shall have the
authority (subject to the express provisions of this Plan):
(a) to select the officers, key employees, directors,
consultants and sales representatives of the Company or any Subsidiary to whom
Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock, Deferred Stock,
Reload Stock Options and/or Other Stock-Based Awards may from time to time be
awarded hereunder.
(b) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent
with the terms of the Plan, of any award granted hereunder (including, but not
limited to, number of shares, share price, any restrictions or limitations, and
any vesting, exchange, surrender, cancellation, acceleration, termination,
exercise or forfeiture provisions, as the Committee shall determine);
(c) to determine any specified performance goals or such other
factors or criteria which need to be attained for the vesting of an award
granted hereunder;
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(d) to determine the terms and conditions under which awards
granted hereunder are to operate on a tandem basis and/or in conjunction with or
apart from other equity awarded under this Plan and cash awards made by the
Company or any Subsidiary outside of this Plan;
(e) to permit a Holder to elect to defer a payment under the
Plan under such rules and procedures as the Committee may establish, including
the crediting of interest on deferred amounts denominated is cash and of
dividend equivalents on deferred amounts denominated in Stock;
(f) to determine the extent and circumstances under which
Stock and other amounts payable with respect to an award hereunder shall be
deferred which may be either automatic or at the election of the Holder; and
(g) to substitute (i) new Stock Options for previously granted
Stock Options, which previously granted Stock Options have higher option
exercise prices and/or contain other less favorable terms, and (ii) new awards
of any other type for previously granted awards of the same type, which
previously granted awards are upon less favorable terms.
2.3 Interpretation of Plan.
(a) Committee Authority. Subject to Section 4 and 12, below,
the Committee shall have the authority to adopt, alter and repeal such
administrative rules, guidelines and practices governing the Plan as it shall,
from time to time, deem advisable, to interpret the terms and provisions of the
Plan and any award issued under the Plan (and to determine the form and
substance of all Agreements relating thereto), to the otherwise supervise the
administration of the Plan. Subject to Section 12, below, all decisions made by
the Committee pursuant to the provisions of the Plan shall be made in the
Committee's sole discretion and shall be final and binding upon all persons,
including the Company, its Subsidiaries and Holders.
(b) Incentive Stock Options. Anything in the Plan to the
contrary notwithstanding, no term or provision of the Plan relating to Incentive
Stock Options (including but limited to Stock Reload Options or Stock
Appreciation rights granted in conjunction with an Incentive Stock Option) or
any Agreement providing for Incentive Stock Options shall be interpreted,
amended or altered, nor shall any discretion or authority granted under the Plan
be so exercised, so as to disqualify the Plan under Section 422 of the Code, or,
without the consent of the Holder(s) affected, to disqualify any Incentive Stock
Option under such Section 422.
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Section 3. Stock Subject to Plan.
3.1 Number of Shares. The total number of shares of Common Stock
reserved and available for distribution under the Plan shall be 1,000,000
shares. Share of Stock under the Plan may consist, in whole or in part, of
authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares. If any shares of Stock that
have been granted pursuant to a Stock Option cease to be subject to a Stock
Option, or if any shares of Stock that are subject to any Stock Appreciation
Right, Restricted Stock, Deferred Stock award, Reload Stock Option or Other
Stock-Based Award granted hereunder are forfeited or any such award otherwise
terminates without a payment being made to the Holder in the form of Stock, such
shares shall again be available for distribution in connection with future
grants and awards under the Plan. Only net shares issued upon a stock-for-stock
exercise (including stock used for withholding taxes) shall be counted against
the number of shares available under the Plan.
3.2 Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization, Etc. In the event of any
merger, reorganization, consolidation, recapitalization, dividend (other than a
cash dividend), stock split, reverse stock split, or other change in corporate
structure affecting the Stock, such substitution or adjustment shall be made in
the aggregate number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, in the
number and exercise price of shares subject to outstanding Options, in the
number of shares and Stock Appreciation Right price relating to Stock
Appreciation Rights, and in the number of shares and Stock Appreciation Right
price relating to Stock Appreciation Rights, and in the number of shares subject
to, and in the related terms of, other outstanding awards (including but not
limited to awards of Restricted Stock, Deferred Stock, Reload Stock Options and
Other Stock-Based Awards) granted under the Plan as may be determined to be
appropriate by the Committee in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of
rights, provided that the number of shares subject to any award shall always be
a whole number.
Section 4. Eligibility.
Awards may be made or granted to key employees, officers, directors,
consultants and sales representatives who are deemed to have rendered or to be
able to render significant services to the Company or its Subsidiaries and who
are deemed to have contributed or to have the potential to contribute to the
success of the Company. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to any person
who is not an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary at the time of grant.
Section 5. Required Six-Month Holding Period.
Any equity security issued under this Plan may not be sold prior to six
months from the date of the grant of the related award without the approval of
the Company.
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Section 6. Stock Options.
6.1 Grant and Exercise. Stock Options granted under the Plan may be of
two types: (i) Incentive Stock Options and (ii) Nonqualified Stock Options. Any
Stock Option granted under the Plan shall contain such terms, not inconsistent
with this Plan, or with respect to Incentive Stock Options, not inconsistent
with the Code, as the Committee may from time to time approve. The Committee
shall have the authority to grant Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock
Options, or both types of Stock Options and which may be granted alone or in
addition to other awards granted under the Plan. To the extent that any Stock
Option intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option does not so qualify, it
shall constitute a separate Nonqualified Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option
may be granted only within the ten-year period commencing from the Effective
Date and may only be exercised within ten years of the date of grant or five
years in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to an optionee ("10%
Stockholder") who, at the time of grant, owns Stock possessing more than 10% of
the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company.
6.2 Terms and Conditions. Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be
subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Stock
purchasable under a Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee at the
time of grant and may not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the
Stock as defined above; provided, however, that the exercise price of an
Incentive Stock Option granted to a 10% Stockholder shall not be less than 110%
of the Fair Market Value of the Stock.
(b) Option Term. Subject to the limitations in Section 6.1,
above, the term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Committee.
(c) Exercisability. Stock Options shall be exercisable at such
time or times and subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined by
the Committee and as set forth in Section 11, below. If the Committee provides,
in its discretion, that any Stock Option is exercisable only in installments,
i.e., that it vests over time, the Committee may waive such installment exercise
provisions at any time at or after the time of grant in whole or in part, based
upon such factors as the Committee shall determine.
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(d) Method of Exercise. Subject to whatever installment,
exercise and waiting period provisions are applicable in a particular case,
Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part at any time during the term
of the Option, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company specifying
the number of shares of Stock to be purchased. Such notice shall be accompanied
by payment in full of the purchase price, which shall be in cash or, unless
otherwise provided in the Agreement, in shares of Stock (including Restricted
Stock and other contingent awards under this Plan) or, partly in cash and partly
in such Stock, or such other means which the Committee determines are consistent
with the Plan's purpose and applicable law. Cash payments shall be made by wire
transfer, certified or bank check or personal check, in each case payable to the
order of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required
to deliver certificates for shares of Stock with respect to which an Option is
exercised until the Company has confirmed the receipt of good and available
funds in payment of the purchase price thereof. Payments in the form of Stock
shall be valued at the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the date prior
to the date of exercise. Such payments shall be made by delivery of stock
certificates in negotiable form which are effective to transfer good and valid
title thereto to the Company, free of any liens or encumbrances. Subject to the
terms of the Agreement, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, at the
request of the Holder, deliver upon the exercise of a Nonqualified Stock Option
a combination of shares of Deferred Stock and Common Stock; provided that,
notwithstanding the provision of Section 9 of the Plan, such Deferred Stock
shall be fully vested and not subject to forfeiture. A Holder shall have none of
the rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares subject to the Option
until such shares shall be transferred to the Holder upon the exercise of the
Option.
(e) Transferability. No Stock Option shall be transferable by
the Holder other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and
all Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the Holder's lifetime, only by
the Holder.
(f) Termination by Reason of Death. If a Holders' employment
by the Company or a Subsidiary terminates by reason of death, any Stock Option
held by such Holder, unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of
grant and set forth in the Agreement, shall be fully vested and may thereafter
be exercised by the legal representative of the estate or by the legatee of the
Holder under the will of the Holder, for a period of one year (or such other
greater or lesser period as the Committee may specify at grant) from the date of
such death or until the expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option,
which ever period is the shorter.
(g) Termination by Reason of Disability. If a Holder's
employment by the Company or any Subsidiary terminates by reason of Disability,
any Stock Option held by such Holder, unless otherwise determined by the
Committee at the time of grant and set forth in the Agreement, shall be fully
vested and may thereafter be exercised by the Holder for a period of one year
(or such other greater or lesser period as the Committee may specify at the time
of grant) from the date of such termination of employment or until the
expiration of the stated term of such Stock Option, whichever period is the
shorter.
(h) Other Termination. Subject to the provisions of Section
14.3, below, and unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time of
grant and set forth in the Agreement, if a Holder is an employee of the Company
or a Subsidiary at the time of grant and if such Holder's employment by the
Company or any Subsidiary terminates for any reason other than death or
Disability, the Stock Option shall thereupon automatically terminate, except
that if the Holder's employment is terminated by the Company or a Subsidiary
without cause or due to Normal Retirement, then the portion of such Stock Option
which has vested on the date of termination of employment may be exercised for
the lesser of three months after termination of employment or the balance of
such Stock Option's term.
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(i) Additional Incentive Stock Option Limitation. In the case
of an Incentive Stock Option, the aggregate Fair Market Value of Stock
(determined at the time of grant of the Option) with respect to which Incentive
Stock Options become exercisable by a Holder during any calendar year (under all
such plans of the Company and its Parent and Subsidiary) shall not exceed
$100,000.
(j) Buyout and Settlement Provisions. The Committee may at any
time, in its sole discretion, offer to buy out a Stock Option previously
granted, based upon such terms and conditions as the Committee shall establish
and communicate to the Holder at the time that such offer is made.
(k) Stock Option Agreement. Each grant of a Stock Option shall
be confirmed by and shall be subject to the terms of, the Agreement executed by
the Company and the Holder.
6.3 Stock Reload Option. The Committee may also grant to the Holder
(concurrently with the grant of an Incentive Stock Option and at or after the
time of grant in the case of a Nonqualified Stock Option) a Stock Reload Option
up to the amount of shares of Stock held by the Holder for at least six months
and used to pay all or part of the exercise price of an Option and, if any,
withheld by the Company as payment for withholding taxes. Such Stock Reload
Option shall have an exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value as of the
date of the Stock Reload Option grant. Unless the Committee determines
otherwise, a Stock Reload Option may be exercised commencing one year after it
is granted and shall expire on the date of expiration of the Option to which the
Reload Option is related.
Section 7. Stock Appreciation Rights.
7.1 Grant and Exercise. The Committee may grant Stock Appreciation
Rights to participants who have been, or are being granted, Options under the
Plan as a means of allowing such participants to exercise their Options without
the need to pay the exercise price in cash. In the case of a Nonqualified Stock
Option, a Stock Appreciation Right may be granted either at or after the time of
the grant of such Nonqualified Stock Option. In the case of an Incentive Stock
Option, a Stock Appreciation Right may be granted only at the time of the grant
of such Incentive Stock Option.
7.2 Terms and Conditions. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to
the following terms and conditions:
(a) Exercisability. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be
exercisable as determined by the Committee and set forth in the Agreement,
subject to the limitations, if any, imposed by the Code, with respect to related
Incentive Stock Options.
(b) Termination. A Stock Appreciation Right shall terminate
and shall no longer be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the
related Stock Option.
(c) Method of Exercise. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be
exercisable upon such terms and conditions as shall be determined by the
Committee and set forth in the Agreement and by surrendering the applicable
portion of the related Stock Option. Upon such exercise and surrender, the
Holder shall be entitled to receive a number of Option Shares equal to the SAR
Value divided by the exercise price of the Option.
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(d) Shares Affected Upon Plan. The granting of a Stock
Appreciation Rights shall not affect the number of shares of Stock available
under for awards under the Plan. The number of shares available for awards under
the Plan will, however, be reduced by the number of shares of Stock acquirable
upon exercise of the Stock Option to which such Stock Appreciation right
relates.
Section 8. Restricted Stock.
8.1 Grant. Shares of Restricted Stock may be awarded either alone or in
addition to other awards granted under the Plan. The Committee shall determine
the eligible persons to whom, and the time or times at which, grants of
Restricted Stock will be awarded, the number of shares to be awarded, the price
(if any) to be paid by the Holder, the time or times within which such awards
may be subject to forfeiture (the "Restriction Period"), the vesting schedule
and rights to acceleration thereof, and all other terms and conditions of the
awards.
8.2 Terms and Conditions. Each Restricted Stock award shall be subject
to the following terms and conditions:
(a) Certificates. Restricted Stock, when issued, will be
represented by a stock certificate or certificates registered in the name of the
Holder to whom such Restricted Stock shall have been awarded. During the
Restriction Period, certificates representing the Restricted Stock and any
securities constituting Retained Distributions (as defined below) shall bear a
legend to the effect that ownership of the Restricted Stock (and such Retained
Distributions), and the enjoyment of all rights appurtenant thereto, are subject
to the restrictions, terms and conditions provided in the Plan and the
Agreement. Such certificates shall be deposited by the Holder with the Company,
together with stock powers or other instruments of assignment, each endorsed in
blank, which will permit transfer to the Company of all or any portion of the
Restricted Stock and any securities constituting Retained Distributions that
shall be forfeited or that shall not become vested in accordance with the Plan
and the Agreement.
(b) Rights of Holder. Restricted Stock shall constitute issued
and outstanding shares of Common Stock for all corporate purposes. The Holder
will have the right to vote such Restricted Stock, to receive and retain all
regular cash dividends and other cash equivalent distributions as the Board may
in its sole discretion designate, pay or distribute on such Restricted Stock and
to exercise all other rights, powers and privileges of a holder of Common Stock
with respect to such Restricted Stock, with the exceptions that (i) the Holder
will not be entitled to delivery of the stock certificate or certificates
representing such Restricted Stock until the Restriction Period shall have
expired and unless all other vest requirements with respect thereto shall have
been fulfilled; (ii) the Company will retain custody of the stock certificate or
certificates representing the Restricted Stock during the Restriction Period;
(iii) other than regular cash dividends and other cash equivalent distributions
as the Board may in its sole discretion designate, pay or distribute, the
Company will retain custody of all distributions ("Retained Distributions") made
or declared with respect to the Restricted Stock (and such Retained
Distributions will be subject to the same restrictions, terms and conditions as
are applicable to the restricted Stock) until such time, if ever, as the
Restricted Stock with respect to which such Retained Distributions shall have
been made, paid or declared shall have become vested and with respect to which
the Restriction Period shall have expired; (iv) a breach of any of the
restrictions, terms or conditions contained in this Plan or the Agreement or
otherwise established by the Committee with respect to any Restricted Stock or
Retained Distributions will cause a forfeiture of such Restricted Stock and any
Retained Distributions with respect thereto.
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(c) Vesting; Forfeiture. Upon the expiration of the
Restriction Period with respect to each award of Restricted Stock and the
satisfaction of any other applicable restrictions, terms and conditions (i) all
or part of such Restricted Stock shall become vested in accordance with the
terms of the Agreement, subject to Section 11, below, and (ii) any Retained
Distributions with respect to such Restricted Stock shall become vested to the
extent that the Restricted Stock related thereto shall have become vested,
subject to Section 11, below. Any such Restricted Stock and Retained
Distributions that do not vest shall be forfeited to the Company and the Holder
shall not thereafter have any rights with respect to such Restricted Stock and
Retained Distributions that shall have been so forfeited.
Section 9. Deferred Stock.
9.1 Grant. Shares of Deferred Stock may be awarded either alone or in
addition to other awards granted under the Plan. The Committee shall determine
the eligible persons to whom and the time or times at which grants of Deferred
Stock shall be awarded, the number of shares of Deferred Stock to be awarded to
any person, the duration of the period (the "Deferral Period") during which, and
the conditions under which, receipt of the shares will be deferred, and all the
other terms and conditions of the awards.
9.2 Terms and Conditions. Each Deferred Stock award shall be subject to
the following terms and conditions:
(a) Certificates. At the expiration of the Deferral Period (or
the Additional Deferral Period referred to in Section 9.2 (d) below, where
applicable), shares certificates shall be issued and delivered to the Holder, or
his legal representative, representing the number equal to the shares covered by
the Deferred Stock award.
(b) Rights of Holder. A person entitled to receive Deferred
stock shall not have any rights of a stockholder by virtue of such award until
the expiration of the applicable Deferral Period and the issuance and delivery
of the certificates representing such Stock. The shares of Stock issuable upon
expiration of the Deferral Period shall not be deemed outstanding by the Company
until the expiration of such Deferral period and the issuance and delivery of
such Stock to the Holder.
(c) Vesting; Forfeiture. Upon the expiration of the Deferral
Period with respect to each award of Deferred Stock and the satisfaction of any
other applicable restrictions, terms and conditions all or part of such Deferred
Stock shall become vested in accordance with the terms of the Agreement, subject
to Section 11, below. Any such Deferred Stock that does not vest shall be
forfeited to the Company and the Holder shall not thereafter have any rights
with respect to such Deferred Stock.
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(d) Additional Deferral Period. A Holder may request to, and
the Committee may at any time, defer the receipt of an award (or an installment
of an award) for an additional specified period or until a specified event (the
"Additional Deferral Period"). Subject to any exceptions adopted by the
Committee, such request must generally be made at least one year prior to
expiration of the Deferral Period for such Deferred Stock awards (or such
installment).
Section 10. Other Stock-Based Awards.
10.1 Grant and Exercise. Other Stock-Based Awards may be awarded,
subject to limitations under applicable law, that are denominated or payable, in
value in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, or related to,
shares of Common Stock, as deemed by the Committee to be consistent with the
purposes of the Plan, including, without limitation, purchase rights, shares of
Common Stock awarded which are not subject to any restrictions or conditions,
convertible or exchangeable debentures, or other rights convertible into shares
of Common Stock and awards valued by reference to the value of securities of or
the performance of specified subsidiaries. Other Stock-Based Awards may be
awarded either alone or in addition to or in tandem with any other awards under
this Plan or any other plan of the Company.
10.2 Eligibility for Other Stock-Based Awards. The Committee shall
determine the eligible persons to whom and the time or times at which grants of
such other stock-based awards shall be made, the number of shares of Common
Stock to be awarded pursuant to such awards, and all other terms and conditions
of the awards.
10.3 Terms and Conditions. Each Other Stock-Based Award shall be
subject to such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee and
to Section 11, below.
Section 11. Accelerated Vesting and Exercisability.
If (i) any person or entity other than the Company and/or any
stockholders of the Company as of the Effective Date acquire securities of the
Company (in one or more transactions) having 25% or more of the total voting
power of all the Company's securities then outstanding and (ii) the Board of
Directors of the Company does not authorize or otherwise approve such
acquisition, then, the vesting periods of any and all Options and other awards
granted and outstanding under the Plan shall be accelerated and all such Options
and awards will immediately and entirely vest, and the respective holders
thereof will have the immediate right to purchase and/or receive any and all
Stock subject to such Options and awards on the terms set forth in this Plan and
the respective agreements respecting such Options and awards.
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Section 12. Amendment and Termination.
Subject to Section 4 hereof, the Board may at any time, and from time
to time, amend, alter, suspend or discontinue any of the provisions of the Plan,
but no amendment, alteration, suspension or discontinuance shall be made which
would impair the rights of a Holder under any Agreement theretofore entered into
hereunder, without the Holder's consent.
Section 13. Term of Plan.
13.1 Effective Date. The Plan shall be effective as of the date on
which the Company's stockholders approved the Plan ("Effective Date").
13.2 Termination Date. Unless terminated by the Board, this Plan shall
continue to remain effective until such time no further awards may be granted
and all awards granted under the Plan are no longer outstanding. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, grants of Incentive Stock Options may only be made during the
ten-year period following the Effective Date.
Section 14. General Provisions.
14.1 Written Agreements. Each award granted under the Plan shall be
confirmed by, and shall be subject to the terms of the Agreement executed by the
Company and the Holder. The Committee may terminate any award made under the
Plan if the Agreement relating thereto is not executed and returned to the
Company within 10 days after the Agreement has been delivered to the Holder for
his or her execution.
14.2 Unfunded Status of Plan. The Plan is intended to constitute an
"unfunded" plan for incentive and deferred compensation. With respect to any
payments not yet made to a Holder by the Company, nothing contained herein shall
give any such Holder any rights that are greater than those of a general
creditor of the Company.
14.3 Employees.
(a) Engaging in Competition With the Company. In the event a
Holder's employment with the Company or a Subsidiary is terminated for any
reason whatsoever, and within one year after the date thereof such Holder
accepts employment with any competitor of, or otherwise engages in competition
with, the Company, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may require such
Holder to return to the Company the economic value of any award which was
realized or obtained by such Holder at any time during the period beginning on
that date which is six months prior to the date of such Holder's termination of
employment with the Company.
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(b) Termination for Cause. The Committee may, in the event a
Holder's employment with the company or a Subsidiary is terminated for cause,
annul any award granted under this Plan to return to the Company the economic
value of any award which was realized or obtained by such Holder at any time
during the period beginning on that date which is six months prior to the date
of such Holder's termination of employment with the Company.
(c) No Right of Employment. Nothing contained in the Plan or
in any award hereunder shall be deemed to confer upon any Holder who is an
employee of the Company or any Subsidiary any right to continued employment with
the Company or any Subsidiary, nor shall it interfere in any way with the right
of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment of any Holder who
is an employee at any time.
14.4 Investment Representations. The Committee may require each person
acquiring shares of Stock pursuant to a Stock Option or other award under the
Plan to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that the Holder is
acquiring the shares for investment without a view to distribution thereof.
14.5 Additional Incentive Arrangements. Nothing contained in the Plan
shall prevent the Board from adopting such other or additional incentive
arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, but not limited to, the
granting of Stock Options and the awarding of stock and cash otherwise than
under the Plan; and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or
applicable only in specific cases.
14.6 Withholding Taxes. Not later than the date as of which an amount
must first be included in the gross income of the Holder for Federal income tax
purposes with respect to any option or other award under the Plan, the Holder
shall pay to the Company, or made arrangements satisfactory to the Committee
regarding the payment of, any Federal, state and local taxes of any kind
required by law to be withheld or paid with respect to such amount. If permitted
by the Committee, tax withholding or payment obligations may be settled with
Common Stock, including Common Stock that is part of the award that gives rise
to the withholding requirement. The obligations of the Company under the Plan
shall be conditioned upon such payment or arrangements and the Company or the
Holder's employer (if not the Company) shall, to the extent permitted by law,
have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise
due to the Holder from the Company or any Subsidiary.
14.7 Governing Law. The Plan and all awards made and actions taken
thereunder shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Nevada (without regard to choice of law provisions).
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14.8 Other Benefit Plans. Any award granted under the Plan shall not be
deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits under any retirement plan
of the Company or any Subsidiary and shall not affect any benefits under any
other benefit plan now or subsequently in effect under which the availability or
amount of benefits is related to the level of compensation (unless required by
specific reference in any such other plan to awards under this Plan).
14.9 Non-Transferability. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the
Plan, no right or benefit under the Plan may be alienated, sold, assigned,
hypothecated, pledged, exchanged, transferred, encumbranced or charged, and any
attempt to alienate, sell, assign, hypothecate, pledge, exchange, transfer,
encumber or charge the same shall be void.
14.10 Applicable Laws. The obligations of the Company with respect to
all Stock Options and awards under the Plan shall be subject to (i) all
applicable laws, rules and regulations and such approvals by any governmental
agencies as may be required, including, without limitation, the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and (ii) the rules and regulations of any securities
exchange on which the Stock may be listed.
14.11 Conflicts. If any of the terms or provisions of the Plan or an
Agreement (with respect to Incentive Stock Options) conflict with the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code, then such terms or provisions shall be
deemed inoperative to the extent they so conflict with the requirements of said
Section 422 of the Code. Additionally, if this Plan or any Agreement does not
contain any provision required to be included herein under Section 422 of the
Code, such provision shall be deemed to be incorporated herein and therein with
the same force and effect as if such provision had been set out at length herein
and therein. If any of the terms or provision of any Agreement conflict with any
terms or provision of the Plan, then such terms or provision shall be deemed
inoperative to the extent they so conflict with the requirements of the Plan.
Additionally, if any Agreement does not contain any provision required to be
included therein under the Plan, such provision shall be deemed to be
incorporated therein with the same force and effect as if such provision had
been set out at length therein.
14.12 Non-Registered Stock. The shares of Stock to be distributed under
this Plan have not been, as of the Effective Date, registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any applicable state or foreign
securities laws and the Company has no obligation to any Holder to register the
Stock or to assist the Holder in obtaining an exemption from the various
registration requirements, or to list the Stock on a national securities
exchange.
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