EXHIBIT 10.5
Noosh, Inc.
2000 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan
Adopted by the Board of Directors January 13, 2000
Approved By Stockholders ________, 2000
Effective Date: Date of the Initial Public Offering
Termination Date: None
1. Purposes.
(a) Eligible Option Recipients. The persons eligible to receive Options
are the Non-Employee Directors of the Company.
(b) Available Options. The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by
which Non-Employee Directors may be given an opportunity to benefit from
increases in value of the Common Stock through the granting of Nonstatutory
Stock Options.
(c) General Purpose. The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain
the services of its Non-Employee Directors, to secure and retain the services of
new Non-Employee Directors and to provide incentives for such persons to exert
maximum efforts for the success of the Company and its Affiliates.
2. Definitions.
(a) "Affiliate" means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of
the Company, whether now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in
Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code.
(b) "Annual Grant" means an Option granted annually to all Non-Employee
Directors who meet the specified criteria pursuant to subsection 6(b) of the
Plan.
(c) "Annual Meeting" means the annual meeting of the stockholders of the
Company.
(d) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(e) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(f) "Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company.
(g) "Company" means Noosh, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
(h) "Consultant" means any person, including an advisor, (i) engaged by
the Company or an Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and who is
compensated for such services or (ii) who is a member of the Board of Directors
of an Affiliate. However, the
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term "Consultant" shall not include either Directors of the Company who are not
compensated by the Company for their services as Directors or Directors of the
Company who are merely paid a director's fee by the Company for their services
as Directors.
(i) "Continuous Service" means that the Optionholder's service with the
Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not
interrupted or terminated. The Optionholder's Continuous Service shall not be
deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which
the Optionholder renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee,
Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Optionholder
renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of
the Optionholder's Continuous Service. For example, a change in status from a
Non-Employee Director of the Company to a Consultant of an Affiliate or an
Employee of the Company will not constitute an interruption of Continuous
Service. The Board or the chief executive officer of the Company, in that
party's sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service shall be
considered interrupted in the case of any leave of absence approved by that
party, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal leave.
(j) "Director" means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.
(k) "Disability" means the permanent and total disability of a person
within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
(l) "Employee" means any person employed by the Company or an Affiliate.
Mere service as a Director or payment of a director's fee by the Company or an
Affiliate shall not be sufficient to constitute "employment" by the Company or
an Affiliate.
(m) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(n) "Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of the Common
Stock determined as follows:
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange
or traded on the Nasdaq National Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market, the Fair
Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the closing sales price for
such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such
exchange or market (or the exchange or market with the greatest volume of
trading in the Common Stock) on the last market trading day prior to the day of
determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as
the Board deems reliable.
(ii) In the absence of such markets for the Common Stock, the Fair
Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Board.
(o) "Initial Grant" means an Option granted to a Non-Employee Director who
meets the specified criteria pursuant to subsection 6(a) of the Plan.
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(p) "IPO Date" means the effective date of the initial public offering of
the Common Stock.
(q) "Non-Employee Director" means a Director who at the time of grant is
not an Employee.
(r) "Nonstatutory Stock Option" means an Option not intended to qualify as
an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.
(s) "Officer" means a person who is an officer of the Company within the
meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
(t) "Option" means a Nonstatutory Stock Option granted pursuant to the
Plan.
(u) "Option Agreement" means a written agreement between the Company and
an Optionholder evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option
grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the
Plan.
(v) "Optionholder" means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant to
the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Option.
(w) "Plan" means this Noosh, Inc. 2000 Non-Employee Directors' Stock
Option Plan.
(x) "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or
any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.
(y) "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
3. Administration.
(a) Administration by Board. The Board shall administer the Plan. The
Board may not delegate administration of the Plan to a committee.
(b) Powers of Board. The Board shall have the power, subject to, and
within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:
(i) To determine the provisions of each Option to the extent not
specified in the Plan.
(ii) To construe and interpret the Plan and Options granted under it,
and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its administration.
The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or
inconsistency in the Plan or in any Option Agreement, in a manner and to the
extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan fully effective.
(iii) To amend the Plan or an Option as provided in Section 12.
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(iv) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as
the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of the
Company which are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan.
4. Shares Subject to the Plan.
(a) Share Reserve. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 relating to
adjustments upon changes in stock, the stock that may be issued pursuant to
Options shall not exceed in the aggregate three hundred fifty thousand (350,000)
shares of Common Stock.
(b) Reversion of Shares to the Share Reserve. If any Option shall for any
reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part, without having been
exercised in full, the stock not acquired under such Option shall revert to and
again become available for issuance under the Plan.
(c) Source of Shares. The stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares
or reacquired shares, bought on the market or otherwise.
5. Eligibility.
Nondiscretionary Options as set forth in section 6 shall be granted under
the Plan to all Non-Employee Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
Options shall be granted under the Plan to any Non-Employee Director who is a
representative of a stockholder or stockholders of the Company and who in such
capacity and/or by virtue of any agreement with or policy of such stockholder or
stockholders is unable to receive Options.
6. Non-Discretionary Grants.
(a) Initial Grants. Without any further action of the Board, each Non-
Employee Director shall be granted the following Options:
(i) On the IPO Date, each person who is then a Non-Employee Director
automatically shall be granted an Initial Grant to purchase twenty-five thousand
(25,000) shares of Common Stock on the terms and conditions set forth herein.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Non-Employee Director who received a stock
option grant from the Company prior to the IPO Date shall not be eligible for an
Initial Grant pursuant to this Section 6(a)(i).
(ii) After the IPO Date, each person who is elected or appointed for
the first time to be a Non-Employee Director automatically shall, upon the date
of his or her initial election or appointment to be a Non-Employee Director by
the Board or stockholders of the Company, be granted an Initial Grant to
purchase twenty-five thousand (25,000) shares of Common Stock on the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
(b) Annual Grants. Commencing with the Annual Meeting in 2001, each person
who is then a Non-Employee Director automatically shall be granted an Annual
Grant to
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purchase ten thousand (10,000) shares of Common Stock on the terms and
conditions set forth herein.
7. Option Provisions.
Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and
conditions as required by the Plan. Each Option shall contain such additional
terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Board shall deem
appropriate. Each Option shall include (through incorporation of provisions
hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the substance of each of the
following provisions:
(a) Term. No Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10)
years from the date it was granted.
(b) Exercise Price. The exercise price of each Option shall be one hundred
percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the Option on
the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may be
granted with an exercise price lower than that set forth in the preceding
sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for
another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the
Code.
(c) Consideration. The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to an
Option may be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and
regulations, in any combination of (i) cash or check or (ii) delivery to the
Company of other Common Stock.
(d) Transferability. An Option shall not be transferable except by will or
by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be exercisable during the
lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in
a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of
the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the
Option.
(e) Vesting Generally. Options shall vest and become exercisable as
follows:
(i) Initial Grants shall provide for vesting of 1/3rd of the shares
12 months after the date of the grant and 1/36/th/ of the shares monthly
thereafter.
(ii) Annual Grants shall provide for vesting of 1/3rd of the shares 12
months after the date of the grant and 1/36/th/ of the shares monthly
thereafter.
(f) Termination of Continuous Service. In the event an Optionholder's
Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Optionholder's death or
Disability), the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that
the Optionholder was entitled to exercise it as of the date of termination) but
only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date three (3)
months following the termination of the Optionholder's Continuous Service, or
(ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option
Agreement. If, after
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termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the
time specified in the Option Agreement, the Option shall terminate.
(g) Extension of Termination Date. If the exercise of the Option following
the termination of the Optionholder's Continuous Service (other than upon the
Optionholder's death or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely
because the issuance of shares would violate the registration requirements under
the Securities Act, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the
expiration of the term of the Option set forth in subsection 7(a) or (ii) the
expiration of a period of three (3) months after the termination of the
Optionholder's Continuous Service during which the exercise of the Option would
not be in violation of such registration requirements.
(h) Disability of Optionholder. In the event an Optionholder's Continuous
Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder's Disability, the
Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder
was entitled to exercise it as of the date of termination), but only within such
period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date twelve (12) months
following such termination or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as
set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after termination, the Optionholder does
not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option
shall terminate.
(i) Death of Optionholder. In the event (i) an Optionholder's Continuous
Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder's death or (ii) the
Optionholder dies within the three-month period after the termination of the
Optionholder's Continuous Service for a reason other than death, then the Option
may be exercised (to the extent the Optionholder was entitled to exercise the
Option as of the date of death) by the Optionholder's estate, by a person who
acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a
person designated to exercise the Option upon the Optionholder's death, but only
within the period ending on the earlier of (1) the date eighteen (18) months
following the date of death or (2) the expiration of the term of such Option as
set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after death, the Option is not exercised
within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.
8. Covenants of the Company.
(a) Availability of Shares. During the terms of the Options, the Company
shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock required
to satisfy such Options.
(b) Securities Law Compliance. The Company shall seek to obtain from each
regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority
as may be required to grant Options and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock
upon exercise of the Options; provided, however, that this undertaking shall not
require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan, any Option or
any stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Option. If, after reasonable
efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or
agency the authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the
lawful issuance and sale of stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved
from any liability for failure to issue and sell stock upon exercise of such
Options unless and until such authority is obtained.
6.
9. Use of Proceeds from Stock.
Proceeds from the sale of stock pursuant to Options shall constitute
general funds of the Company.
10. Miscellaneous.
(a) Stockholder Rights. No Optionholder shall be deemed to be the holder
of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares subject
to such Option unless and until such Optionholder has satisfied all requirements
for exercise of the Option pursuant to its terms.
(b) No Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or
Option granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Optionholder any right to
continue to serve the Company as a Non-Employee Director or shall affect the
right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (i) the employment of an
Employee with or without notice and with or without cause, (ii) the service of a
Consultant pursuant to the terms of such Consultant's agreement with the Company
or an Affiliate or (iii) the service of a Director pursuant to the Bylaws of the
Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of
the state in which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may
be.
(c) Investment Assurances. The Company may require an Optionholder, as a
condition of exercising or acquiring stock under any Option, (i) to give written
assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Optionholder's knowledge and
experience in financial and business matters and/or to employ a purchaser
representative reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is knowledgeable and
experienced in financial and business matters and that he or she is capable of
evaluating, alone or together with the purchaser representative, the merits and
risks of exercising the Option; and (ii) to give written assurances satisfactory
to the Company stating that the Optionholder is acquiring the stock subject to
the Option for the Optionholder's own account and not with any present intention
of selling or otherwise distributing the stock. The foregoing requirements, and
any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, shall be inoperative if
(iii) the issuance of the shares upon the exercise or acquisition of stock under
the Option has been registered under a then currently effective registration
statement under the Securities Act or (iv) as to any particular requirement, a
determination is made by counsel for the Company that such requirement need not
be met in the circumstances under the then applicable securities laws. The
Company may, upon advice of counsel to the Company, place legends on stock
certificates issued under the Plan as such counsel deems necessary or
appropriate in order to comply with applicable securities laws, including, but
not limited to, legends restricting the transfer of the stock.
(d) Withholding Obligations. The Optionholder may satisfy any federal,
state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or
acquisition of stock under an Option by any of the following means (in addition
to the Company's right to withhold from any compensation paid to the
Optionholder by the Company) or by a combination of such means: (i) tendering a
cash payment; (ii) authorizing the Company to withhold shares from the shares of
the Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Optionholder as a result of the
exercise or acquisition
7.
of stock under the Option; or (iii) delivering to the Company owned and
unencumbered shares of the Common Stock.
11. Adjustments upon Changes in Stock.
(a) Capitalization Adjustments. If any change is made in the stock subject
to the Plan, or subject to any Option, without the receipt of consideration by
the Company (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization,
reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock
split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change
in corporate structure or other transaction not involving the receipt of
consideration by the Company), the Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the
class(es) and maximum number of securities subject both to the Plan pursuant to
subsection 4(a) and to the nondiscretionary Options specified in Section 5, and
the outstanding Options will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and
number of securities and price per share of stock subject to such outstanding
Options. The Board shall make such adjustments, and its determination shall be
final, binding and conclusive. (The conversion of any convertible securities of
the Company shall not be treated as a transaction "without receipt of
consideration" by the Company.)
(b) Change in Control--Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of a
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, then all outstanding Options shall
terminate immediately prior to such event.
(c) Change in Control--Asset Sale, Merger, Consolidation or Reverse
Merger. In the event of (i) a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company, (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the
surviving corporation or (iii) a reverse merger in which the Company is the
surviving corporation but the shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately
preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into other property,
whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise, then the vesting of all
outstanding Options under the Plan shall be accelerated in full, and the Options
shall terminate if not exercised at or prior to such event.
(d) Change in Control--Securities Acquisition. In the event of an
acquisition by any person, entity or group within the meaning of Section 13(d)
or 14(d) of the Exchange Act, or any comparable successor provisions (excluding
any employee benefit plan, or related trust, sponsored or maintained by the
Company or an Affiliate) of the beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, or comparable successor rule) of
securities of the Company representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the
combined voting power entitled to vote in the election of Directors, then the
vesting of all outstanding Options under the Plan shall be accelerated in full,
and the Options shall terminate if not exercised at or prior to such event.
(e) Change in Control--Change in Incumbent Board. In the event that the
individuals who, as of the date of the adoption of this Plan, are members of the
Board (the "Incumbent Board"), cease for any reason to constitute at least fifty
percent (50%) of the Board, then the vesting of all outstanding Options under
the Plan shall be accelerated in full. If the
8.
election, or nomination for election, by the Company's stockholders of any new
Director was approved by a vote of at least fifty percent (50%) of the Incumbent
Board, such new Director shall be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board.
12. Amendment of the Plan and Options.
(a) Amendment of Plan. The Board at any time, and from time to time, may
amend the Plan. However, except as provided in Section 11 relating to
adjustments upon changes in stock, no amendment shall be effective unless
approved by the stockholders of the Company to the extent stockholder approval
is necessary to satisfy the requirements of Rule 16b-3 or any Nasdaq or
securities exchange listing requirements.
(b) Stockholder Approval. The Board may, in its sole discretion, submit
any other amendment to the Plan for stockholder approval.
(c) No Impairment of Rights. Rights under any Option granted before
amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless
(i) the Company requests the consent of the Optionholder and (ii) the
Optionholder consents in writing.
(d) Amendment of Options. The Board at any time, and from time to time,
may amend the terms of any one or more Options; provided, however, that the
rights under any Option shall not be impaired by any such amendment unless (i)
the Company requests the consent of the Optionholder and (ii) the Optionholder
consents in writing.
13. Termination or Suspension of the Plan.
(a) Plan Term. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. No
Options may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is
terminated.
(b) No Impairment of Rights. Suspension or termination of the Plan shall
not impair rights and obligations under any Option granted while the Plan is in
effect except with the written consent of the Optionholder.
14. Effective Date of Plan.
The Plan shall become effective on the IPO Date, but no Option shall be
granted unless and until the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of the
Company, which approval shall be within twelve (12) months before or after the
date the Plan is adopted by the Board.
15. Choice of Law.
All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of
this Plan shall be governed by the law of the State of California, without
regard to such state's conflict of laws rules.
9.
EXHIBIT 10.5
Noosh, Inc.
2000 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan
Stock Option Agreement
(Nonstatutory Stock Options)
Pursuant to your Stock Option Grant Notice ("Grant Notice") and this Stock
Option Agreement, Noosh, Inc. (the "Company") has granted you an option under
its 2000 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") to purchase the
number of shares of the Company's Common Stock indicated in your Grant Notice at
the exercise price indicated in your Grant Notice. Defined terms not explicitly
defined in this Stock Option Agreement but defined in the Plan shall have the
same definitions as in the Plan.
The details of your option are as follows:
1. Vesting. Subject to the limitations contained herein, your option will
vest as provided in your Grant Notice, provided that vesting will cease upon the
termination of your Continuous Service.
2. Number of Shares and Exercise Price. The number of shares of Common
Stock subject to your option and your exercise price per share referenced in
your Grant Notice may be adjusted from time to time for Capitalization
Adjustments, as provided in the Plan.
3. Method of Payment. Payment of the exercise price is due in full upon
exercise of all or any part of your option. You may elect to make payment of the
exercise price in cash or by check or in any other manner permitted by your
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Grant Notice, which may include one or more of the following:
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(a) In the Company's sole discretion at the time your option is
exercised and provided that at the time of exercise the Common Stock is publicly
traded and quoted regularly in The Wall Street Journal, pursuant to a program
developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that,
prior to the issuance of Common Stock, results in either the receipt of cash (or
check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the
aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds.
(b) Provided that at the time of exercise the Common Stock is
publicly traded and quoted regularly in The Wall Street Journal, by delivery of
already-owned shares of Common Stock either that you have held for the period
required to avoid a charge to the Company's reported earnings (generally six
months) or that you did not acquire, directly or indirectly from the Company,
that are owned free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances or security
interests, and that are valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise.
"Delivery" for these purposes, in the sole discretion of the Company at the time
you exercise your option, shall include delivery to the Company of your
attestation of ownership of such shares of Common Stock in a form approved by
the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, you may not exercise your option by
tender to the Company of Common Stock to the extent such tender
would violate the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the
redemption of the Company's stock.
4. Whole Shares. You may exercise your option only for whole shares of
Common Stock.
5. Securities Law Compliance. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, you may not exercise your option unless the shares of Common
Stock issuable upon such exercise are then registered under the Securities Act
or, if such shares of Common Stock are not then so registered, the Company has
determined that such exercise and issuance would be exempt from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act. The exercise of your option must also comply
with other applicable laws and regulations governing your option, and you may
not exercise your option if the Company determines that such exercise would not
be in material compliance with such laws and regulations.
6. Term. The term of your option commences on the Date of Grant and
expires upon the earliest of the following:
(a) three (3) months after the termination of your Continuous Service
for any reason other than your Disability or death, provided that if during any
part of such three (3) month period your option is not exercisable solely
because of the condition set forth in the preceding paragraph relating to
"Securities Law Compliance," your option shall not expire until the earlier of
the Expiration Date or until it shall have been exercisable for an aggregate
period of three (3) months after the termination of your Continuous Service;
(b) twelve (12) months after the termination of your Continuous
Service due to your Disability;
(c) eighteen (18) months after your death if you die either during
your Continuous Service or within three (3) months after your Continuous Service
terminates;
(d) the Expiration Date indicated in your Grant Notice; or
(e) the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Date of Grant.
7. Exercise.
(a) You may exercise the vested portion of your option (and the
unvested portion of your option if your Grant Notice so permits) during its term
by delivering a Notice of Exercise (in a form designated by the Company)
together with the exercise price to the Secretary of the Company, or to such
other person as the Company may designate, during regular business hours,
together with such additional documents as the Company may then require.
(b) By exercising your option you agree that, as a condition to any
exercise of your option, the Company may require you to enter into an
arrangement providing for the payment by you to the Company of any tax
withholding obligation of the Company arising by
reason of (1) the exercise of your option, (2) the lapse of any substantial risk
of forfeiture to which the shares of Common Stock are subject at the time of
exercise, or (3) the disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired upon such
exercise.
8. Transferability. Your option is not transferable, except by will or by
the laws of descent and distribution, and is exercisable during your life only
by you. Notwithstanding the foregoing, by delivering written notice to the
Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, you may designate a third party
who, in the event of your death, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise your
option.
9. Option not a Service Contract. Your option is not an employment or
service contract, and nothing in your option shall be deemed to create in any
way whatsoever any obligation on your part to continue in the employ of the
Company or an Affiliate, or of the Company or an Affiliate to continue your
employment. In addition, nothing in your option shall obligate the Company or an
Affiliate, their respective shareholders, Boards of Directors, Officers or
Employees to continue any relationship that you might have as a Director or
Consultant for the Company or an Affiliate.
10. Withholding Obligations.
(a) At the time you exercise your option, in whole or in part, or at
any time thereafter as requested by the Company, you hereby authorize
withholding from payroll and any other amounts payable to you, and otherwise
agree to make adequate provision for (including by means of a "cashless
exercise" pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by
the Federal Reserve Board to the extent permitted by the Company), any sums
required to satisfy the federal, state, local and foreign tax withholding
obligations of the Company or an Affiliate, if any, which arise in connection
with your option.
(b) Upon your request and subject to approval by the Company, in its
sole discretion, and compliance with any applicable conditions or restrictions
of law, the Company may withhold from fully vested shares of Common Stock
otherwise issuable to you upon the exercise of your option a number of whole
shares of Common Stock having a Fair Market Value, determined by the Company as
of the date of exercise, not in excess of the minimum amount of tax required to
be withheld by law. If the date of determination of any tax withholding
obligation is deferred to a date later than the date of exercise of your option,
share withholding pursuant to the preceding sentence shall not be permitted
unless you make a proper and timely election under Section 83(b) of the Code,
covering the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock acquired upon such
exercise with respect to which such determination is otherwise deferred, to
accelerate the determination of such tax withholding obligation to the date of
exercise of your option. Notwithstanding the filing of such election, shares of
Common Stock shall be withheld solely from fully vested shares of Common Stock
determined as of the date of exercise of your option that are otherwise issuable
to you upon such exercise. Any adverse consequences to you arising in connection
with such share withholding procedure shall be your sole responsibility.
(c) You may not exercise your option unless the tax withholding
obligations of the Company and/or any Affiliate are satisfied. Accordingly, you
may not be able to exercise your option when desired even though your option is
vested, and the Company shall have no obligation to issue a certificate for such
shares of Common Stock or release such shares of Common Stock from any escrow
provided for herein.
11. Notices. Any notices provided for in your option or the Plan shall be
given in writing and shall be deemed effectively given upon receipt or, in the
case of notices delivered by mail by the Company to you, five (5) days after
deposit in the United States mail, postage prepaid, addressed to you at the last
address you provided to the Company.
12. Governing Plan Document. Your option is subject to all the provisions
of the Plan, the provisions of which are hereby made a part of your option, and
is further subject to all interpretations, amendments, rules and regulations
which may from time to time be promulgated and adopted pursuant to the Plan. In
the event of any conflict between the provisions of your option and those of the
Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall control.