EXHIBIT 10.3
Noosh, Inc.
2000 Equity Incentive Plan
Adopted January 13, 2000
Approved By Shareholders _______________, 2000
Termination Date: January 12, 2010
1. Purposes.
(a) Eligible Stock Award Recipients. The persons eligible to receive Stock
Awards are the Employees, Directors and Consultants of the Company and its
Affiliates.
(b) Available Stock Awards. The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means
by which eligible recipients of Stock Awards may be given an opportunity to
benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock through the granting of the
following Stock Awards: (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Nonstatutory Stock
Options, (iii) stock bonuses and (iv) rights to acquire restricted stock.
(c) General Purpose. The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the
services of the group of persons eligible to receive Stock Awards, to secure and
retain the services of new members of this group and to provide incentives for
such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and its
Affiliates.
2. Definitions.
(a) "Accountants" means the independent public accountants of the Company.
(b) "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.
(c) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) "Cause" means the occurrence of any of the following (and only the
following): (i) conviction of the terminated Participant of any felony
involving fraud or act of dishonesty against the Company or its Affiliates; (ii)
conduct by the terminated Participant which, based upon good faith and
reasonable factual investigation and determination of the Company (or, if the
terminated Participant is an Officer, of the Board), demonstrates gross
unfitness to serve; or (iii) intentional, material violation by the terminated
Participant of any statutory or fiduciary duty of the terminated Participant to
the Company or its Affiliates. In addition, if the terminated Participant is
not an Officer, Cause also shall include poor performance of the terminated
Participant's services for the Company or its Affiliates as determined by the
Company following (A) written notice to the Participant describing the nature of
such deficiency and (b) the
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Participant's failure to cure such deficiency within thirty (30) days following
receipt of the such written notice.
(e) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(f) "Committee" means a committee of one or more members of the Board
appointed by the Board in accordance with subsection 3(c).
(g) "Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company.
(h) "Company" means Noosh, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
(i) "Constructive Termination" means the occurrence of any of the following
events or conditions: (i) (A) a change in the Participant's status, title,
position or responsibilities (including reporting responsibilities) which
represents an adverse change from the Participant's status, title, position or
responsibilities as in effect at any time within ninety (90) days preceding the
date of a Change in Control (as defined in subsection 11(f)) or at any time
thereafter; (B) the assignment to the Participant of any duties or
responsibilities which are inconsistent with the Participant's status, title,
position or responsibilities as in effect at any time within ninety (90) days
preceding the date of a Change in Control or at any time thereafter; or (C) any
removal of the Participant from or failure to reappoint or reelect the
Participant to any of such offices or positions, except in connection with the
termination of the Participant's Continuous Service for Cause, as a result of
the Participant's Disability or death or by the Participant other than as a
result of Constructive Termination; (ii) a reduction in the Participant's annual
base compensation or any failure to pay the Participant any compensation or
benefits to which the Participant is entitled within five (5) days of the date
due; (iii) the Company's requiring the Participant to relocate to any place
outside a twenty-five (25) mile radius of the Participant's current work site,
except for reasonably required travel on the business of the Company or its
Affiliates which is not materially greater than such travel requirements prior
to the Change in Control; (iv) the failure by the Company to (A) continue in
effect (without reduction in benefit level and/or reward opportunities) any
material compensation or employee benefit plan in which the Participant was
participating at any time within ninety (90) days preceding the date of a Change
in Control or at any time thereafter, unless such plan is replaced with a plan
that provides substantially equivalent compensation or benefits to the
Participant, or (B) provide the Participant with compensation and benefits, in
the aggregate, at least equal (in terms of benefit levels and/or reward
opportunities) to those provided for under each other employee benefit plan,
program and practice in which the Participant was participating at any time
within ninety (90) days preceding the date of a Change in Control or at any time
thereafter; (v) any material breach by the Company of any provision of an
agreement between the Company and the Participant, whether pursuant to this Plan
or otherwise, other than a breach which is cured by the Company within fifteen
(15) days following notice by the Participant of such breach; or (vi) the
failure of the Company to obtain an agreement, satisfactory to the Participant,
from any successors and assigns to assume and agree to perform the obligations
created under this Plan.
(j) "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
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such services or (ii) who is a member of the Board of Directors of an Affiliate.
However, the term "Consultant" shall not include either Directors who are not
compensated by the Company for their services as Directors or Directors who are
merely paid a director's fee by the Company for their services as Directors.
(k) "Continuous Service" means that the Participant's service with the
Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not
interrupted or terminated. The Participant's Continuous Service shall not be
deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which
the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee,
Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant
renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of
the Participant's Continuous Service. For example, a change in status from an
Employee of the Company to a Consultant of an Affiliate or a Director 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.
(l) "Covered Employee" means the chief executive officer and the four (4)
other highest compensated officers of the Company for whom total compensation is
required to be reported to shareholders under the Exchange Act, as determined
for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(m) "Director" means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.
(n) "Disability" means the permanent and total disability of a person
within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
(o) "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.
(p) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(q) "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.
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(r) "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option intended to qualify as an
incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.
(s) "Non-Employee Director" means a Director who either (i) is not a
current Employee or Officer of the Company or its parent or a subsidiary, does
not receive compensation (directly or indirectly) from the Company or its parent
or a subsidiary for services rendered as a consultant or in any capacity other
than as a Director (except for an amount as to which disclosure would not be
required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant to the
Securities Act ("Regulation S-K")), does not possess an interest in any other
transaction as to which disclosure would be required under Item 404(a) of
Regulation S-K and is not engaged in a business relationship as to which
disclosure would be required under Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii) is
otherwise considered a "non-employee director" for purposes of Rule 16b-3.
(t) "Nonstatutory Stock Option" means an Option not intended to qualify as
an Incentive Stock Option.
(u) "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.
(v) "Option" means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option
granted pursuant to the Plan.
(w) "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.
(x) "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.
(y) "Outside Director" means a Director who either (i) is not a current
employee of the Company or an "affiliated corporation" (within the meaning of
Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Code), is not a
former employee of the Company or an "affiliated corporation" receiving
compensation for prior services (other than benefits under a tax qualified
pension plan), was not an officer of the Company or an "affiliated corporation"
at any time and is not currently receiving direct or indirect remuneration from
the Company or an "affiliated corporation" for services in any capacity other
than as a Director or (ii) is otherwise considered an "outside director" for
purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(z) "Participant" means a person to whom a Stock Award is granted pursuant
to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding Stock
Award.
(aa) "Plan" means this Noosh, Inc. 2000 Equity Incentive Plan.
(bb) "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.
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(cc) "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(dd) "Stock Award" means any right granted under the Plan, including an
Option, a stock bonus and a right to acquire restricted stock.
(ee) "Stock Award Agreement" means a written agreement between the Company
and a holder of a Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an
individual Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the
terms and conditions of the Plan.
(ff) "Ten Percent Shareholder" means a person who owns (or is deemed to own
pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent
(10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company
or of any of its Affiliates.
3. Administration.
(a) Administration by Board. The Board shall administer the Plan unless and
until the Board delegates administration to a Committee, as provided in
subsection 3(c).
(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 from time to time which of the persons eligible under
the Plan shall be granted Stock Awards; when and how each Stock Award shall be
granted; what type or combination of types of Stock Award shall be granted; the
provisions of each Stock Award granted (which need not be identical), including
the time or times when a person shall be permitted to receive Common Stock
pursuant to a Stock Award; and the number of shares of Common Stock with respect
to which a Stock Award shall be granted to each such person.
(ii) To construe and interpret the Plan and Stock Awards 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 Stock Award 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 a Stock Award as provided in Section 12.
(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.
(c) Delegation to Committee.
(i) General. The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a
Committee or Committees of one (1) or more members of the Board, and the term
"Committee" shall apply to any person or persons to whom such authority has been
delegated. If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall
have, in connection with the
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administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board,
including the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative
powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to
the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee or subcommittee), subject,
however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan,
as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the
Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan.
(ii) Committee Composition when Common Stock is Publicly Traded. At
such time as the Common Stock is publicly traded, in the discretion of the
Board, a Committee may consist solely of two or more Outside Directors, in
accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code, and/or solely of two or more Non-
Employee Directors, in accordance with Rule 16b-3. Within the scope of such
authority, the Board or the Committee may (1) delegate to a committee of one or
more members of the Board who are not Outside Directors the authority to grant
Stock Awards to eligible persons who are either (a) not then Covered Employees
and are not expected to be Covered Employees at the time of recognition of
income resulting from such Stock Award or (b) not persons with respect to whom
the Company wishes to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code and/or) (2)
delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not Non-
Employee Directors the authority to grant Stock Awards to eligible persons who
are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
(d) Effect of Board's Decision. All determinations, interpretations and
constructions made by the Board in good faith shall not be subject to review by
any person and shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons.
4. Shares Subject to the Plan.
(a) Share Reserve. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 relating to
adjustments upon changes in Common Stock, the Common Stock that may be issued
pursuant to Stock Awards shall not exceed in the aggregate six million
(6,000,000) shares of Common Stock, plus an annual increase on the date of each
annual stockholders' meeting, beginning with the annual stockholders' meeting in
2001, equal to the least of (1) four and one half percent (4.5 %) of the total
shares of the Company's Common Stock outstanding (on a fully diluted basis) as
of the date of annual stockholders' meeting; (2) two million (2,000,000) shares
of Common Stock; or (3) such smaller number of shares of Common Stock as
determined by the Board.
(b) Reversion of Shares to the Share Reserve. If any Stock Award shall for
any reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part, without having
been exercised in full, the shares of Common Stock not acquired under such Stock
Award shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan.
(c) Source of Shares. The shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan may be
unissued shares or reacquired shares, bought on the market or otherwise.
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5. Eligibility.
(a) Eligibility for Specific Stock Awards. Incentive Stock Options may be
granted only to Employees. Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may
be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants.
(b) Ten Percent Shareholders. A Ten Percent Shareholder shall not be
granted an Incentive Stock Option unless the exercise price of such Option is at
least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common
Stock at the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the
expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant.
(c) Section 162(m) Limitation. Subject to the provisions of Section 11
relating to adjustments upon changes in the shares of Common Stock, no Employee
shall be eligible to be granted Options covering more than five hundred thousand
(500,000) shares of Common Stock during any calendar year.
(d) Consultants.
(i) A Consultant shall not be eligible for the grant of a Stock Award
if, at the time of grant, a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities
Act ("Form S-8") is not available to register either the offer or the sale of
the Company's securities to such Consultant because of the nature of the
services that the Consultant is providing to the Company, or because the
Consultant is not a natural person, or as otherwise provided by the rules
governing the use of Form S-8, unless the Company determines both (i) that such
grant (A) shall be registered in another manner under the Securities Act (e.g.,
on a Form S-3 Registration Statement) or (B) does not require registration under
the Securities Act in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities
Act, if applicable, and (ii) that such grant complies with the securities laws
of all other relevant jurisdictions.
(ii) Form S-8 generally is available to consultants and advisors only
if (i) they are natural persons; (ii) they provide bona fide services to the
issuer, its parents, its majority-owned subsidiaries or majority-owned
subsidiaries of the issuer's parent; and (iii) the services are not in
connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising
transaction, and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for
the issuer's securities.
6. Option Provisions.
Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and
conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. All Options shall be separately
designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options at the time of
grant, and, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates
will be issued for shares of Common Stock purchased on exercise of each type of
Option. The provisions of separate Options need not be identical, but each
Option shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in
the Option or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:
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(a) Term. Subject to the provisions of subsection 5(b) regarding Ten
Percent Shareholders, no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after the
expiration of ten (10) years from the date it was granted.
(b) Exercise Price of an Incentive Stock Option. Subject to the provisions
of subsection 5(b) regarding Ten Percent Shareholders, the exercise price of
each Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of
the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the date the
Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Incentive Stock 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) Exercise Price of a Nonstatutory Stock Option. The exercise price of
each Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be not less than eighty-five percent (85%)
of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option on the date
the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Nonstatutory Stock
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.
(d) Consideration. The purchase price of Common Stock acquired pursuant to an
Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and
regulations, either (i) in cash at the time the Option is exercised or (ii) at
the discretion of the Board at the time of the grant of the Option (or
subsequently in the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option) (1) by delivery to the
Company of other Common Stock, (2) according to a deferred payment or other
similar arrangement with the Optionholder or (3) in any other form of legal
consideration that may be acceptable to the Board. Unless otherwise
specifically provided in the Option, the purchase price of Common Stock acquired
pursuant to an Option that is paid by delivery to the Company of other Common
Stock acquired, directly or indirectly from the Company, shall be paid only by
shares of the Common Stock of the Company that have been held for more than six
(6) months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge
to earnings for financial accounting purposes). At any time that the Company is
incorporated in Delaware, payment of the Common Stock's "par value," as defined
in the Delaware General Corporation Law, shall not be made by deferred payment.
In the case of any deferred payment arrangement, interest shall be
compounded at least annually and shall be charged at the minimum rate of
interest necessary to avoid the treatment as interest, under any applicable
provisions of the Code, of any amounts other than amounts stated to be interest
under the deferred payment arrangement.
(e) Transferability of an Incentive Stock Option. An Incentive Stock 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
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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.
(f) Transferability of a Nonstatutory Stock Option. A Nonstatutory Stock
Option shall be transferable to the extent provided in the Option Agreement. If
the Nonstatutory Stock Option does not provide for transferability, then the
Nonstatutory Stock 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.
(g) Vesting Generally. The total number of shares of Common Stock subject
to an Option may, but need not, vest and therefore become exercisable in
periodic installments that may, but need not, be equal. The Option may be
subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be
exercised (which may be based on performance or other criteria) as the Board may
deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary. The
provisions of this subsection 6(g) are subject to any Option provisions
governing the minimum number of shares of Common Stock as to which an Option may
be exercised.
(h) 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 such Option 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 such longer or shorter period specified in the Option
Agreement), 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 in the Option Agreement, the Option
shall terminate.
(i) Extension of Termination Date. An Optionholder's Option Agreement may
also provide that 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 of Common Stock 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 6(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.
(j) Disability of Optionholder. In the event that 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 such Option 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 such longer or shorter period specified in
the Option Agreement) or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set
forth in the Option
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Agreement. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not exercise his or her
Option within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.
(k) 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 period (if any) specified in the Option Agreement
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 such 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 pursuant to subsection 6(e) or 6(f), but
only within the period ending on the earlier of (1) the date eighteen (18)
months following the date of death (or such longer or shorter period specified
in the Option Agreement) 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.
(l) Early Exercise. The Option may, but need not, include a provision
whereby the Optionholder may elect at any time before the Optionholder's
Continuous Service terminates to exercise the Option as to any part or all of
the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option prior to the full vesting of
the Option. Any unvested shares of Common Stock so purchased may be subject to a
repurchase option in favor of the Company or to any other restriction the Board
determines to be appropriate. The Company will not exercise its repurchase
option until at least six (6) months (or such longer or shorter period of time
required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes) have
elapsed following exercise of the Option unless the Board otherwise specifically
provides in the Option.
(m) Re-Load Options.
(i) Without in any way limiting the authority of the Board to make or
not to make grants of Options hereunder, the Board shall have the authority (but
not an obligation) to include as part of any Option Agreement a provision
entitling the Optionholder to a further Option (a "Re-Load Option") in the event
the Optionholder exercises the Option evidenced by the Option Agreement, in
whole or in part, by surrendering other shares of Common Stock in accordance
with this Plan and the terms and conditions of the Option Agreement. Unless
otherwise specifically provided in the Option, the Optionholder shall not
surrender shares of Common Stock acquired, directly or indirectly from the
Company, unless such shares have been held for more than six (6) months (or such
longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to earnings for
financial accounting purposes).
(ii) Any such Re-Load Option shall (1) provide for a number of shares
of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock surrendered as
part or all of the exercise price of such Option; (2) have an expiration date
which is the same as the expiration date of the Option the exercise of which
gave rise to such Re-Load Option; and (3) have an exercise price which is equal
to one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock
subject to the Re-Load Option on the date of exercise of the original Option.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Re-Load Option shall be subject to the same
exercise price and term provisions heretofore described for Options under the
Plan.
(iii) Any such Re-Load Option may be an Incentive Stock Option or a
Nonstatutory Stock Option, as the Board may designate at the time of the grant
of the original Option; provided, however, that the designation of any Re-Load
Option as an Incentive Stock Option shall be subject to the one hundred thousand
dollar ($100,000) annual limitation on the exercisability of Incentive Stock
Options described in subsection 10(d) and in Section 422(d) of the Code. There
shall be no Re-Load Options on a Re-Load Option. Any such Re-Load Option shall
be subject to the availability of sufficient shares of Common Stock under
subsection 4(a) and the "Section 162(m) Limitation" on the grants of Options
under subsection 5(c) and shall be subject to such other terms and conditions as
the Board may determine which are not inconsistent with the express provisions
of the Plan regarding the terms of Options.
7. Provisions of Stock Awards other than Options.
(a) Stock Bonus Awards. Each stock bonus agreement shall be in such form
and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate.
The terms and conditions of stock bonus agreements may change from time to time,
and the terms and conditions of separate stock bonus agreements need not be
identical, but each stock bonus agreement shall include (through incorporation
of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance
of each of the following provisions:
(i) Consideration. A stock bonus may be awarded in consideration for
past services actually rendered to the Company or an Affiliate for its benefit.
(ii) Vesting. Shares of Common Stock awarded under the stock bonus
agreement may, but need not, be subject to a share repurchase option in favor of
the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board.
(iii) Termination of Participant's Continuous Service. In the event a
Participant's Continuous Service terminates, the Company may reacquire any or
all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant which have not vested
as of the date of termination under the terms of the stock bonus agreement.
(iv) Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of Common Stock under
the stock bonus agreement shall be transferable by the Participant only upon
such terms and conditions as are set forth in the stock bonus agreement, as the
Board shall determine in its discretion, so long as Common Stock awarded under
the stock bonus agreement remains subject to the terms of the stock bonus
agreement.
(b) Restricted Stock Awards. Each restricted stock purchase agreement shall
be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall
deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of the restricted stock purchase
agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of
separate restricted stock purchase agreements need not be identical, but each
restricted stock purchase agreement shall include (through incorporation of
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provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of
each of the following provisions:
(i) Purchase Price. The purchase price under each restricted stock
purchase agreement shall be such amount as the Board shall determine and
designate in such restricted stock purchase agreement. The purchase price shall
not be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Common Stock's Fair Market
Value on the date such award is made or at the time the purchase is consummated.
(ii) Consideration. The purchase price of Common Stock acquired
pursuant to the restricted stock purchase agreement shall be paid either: (i) in
cash at the time of purchase; (ii) at the discretion of the Board, according to
a deferred payment or other similar arrangement with the Participant; or (iii)
in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board in
its discretion; provided, however, that at any time that the Company is
incorporated in Delaware, then payment of the Common Stock's "par value," as
defined in the Delaware General Corporation Law, shall not be made by deferred
payment.
(iii) Vesting. Shares of Common Stock acquired under the restricted
stock purchase agreement may, but need not, be subject to a share repurchase
option in favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be
determined by the Board.
(iv) Termination of Participant's Continuous Service. In the event a
Participant's Continuous Service terminates, the Company may repurchase or
otherwise reacquire any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the
Participant which have not vested as of the date of termination under the terms
of the restricted stock purchase agreement.
(v) Transferability. Rights to acquire shares of Common Stock under
the restricted stock purchase agreement shall be transferable by the Participant
only upon such terms and conditions as are set forth in the restricted stock
purchase agreement, as the Board shall determine in its discretion, so long as
Common Stock awarded under the restricted stock purchase agreement remains
subject to the terms of the restricted stock purchase agreement.
8. Covenants of the Company.
(a) Availability of Shares. During the terms of the Stock Awards, the
Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock
required to satisfy such Stock Awards.
(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 Stock Awards and to issue and sell shares of Common
Stock upon exercise of the Stock Awards; provided, however, that this
undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Securities Act
the Plan, any Stock Award or any Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to any
such Stock Award. 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 Common Stock
under the Plan, the
12
Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell
Common Stock upon exercise of such Stock Awards unless and until such authority
is obtained.
9. Use of Proceeds from Stock.
Proceeds from the sale of Common Stock pursuant to Stock Awards shall
constitute general funds of the Company.
10. Miscellaneous.
(a) Acceleration of Exercisability and Vesting. The Board shall have the
power to accelerate the time at which a Stock Award may first be exercised or
the time during which a Stock Award or any part thereof will vest in accordance
with the Plan, notwithstanding the provisions in the Stock Award stating the
time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it will vest.
(b) Shareholder Rights. No Participant shall be deemed to be the holder of,
or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares of Common
Stock subject to such Stock Award unless and until such Participant has
satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Stock Award pursuant to its
terms.
(c) No Employment or other Service Rights. Nothing in the Plan or any
instrument executed or Stock Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon
any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in
the capacity in effect at the time the Stock Award was granted 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.
(d) Incentive Stock Option $100,000 Limitation. To the extent that the
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common Stock
with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time
by any Optionholder during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and
its Affiliates) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the Options or
portions thereof which exceed such limit (according to the order in which they
were granted) shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options.
(e) Investment Assurances. The Company may require a Participant, as a
condition of exercising or acquiring Common Stock under any Stock Award, (i) to
give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Participant'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 Stock Award; and (ii) to
give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that the Participant
is acquiring Common Stock subject to the Stock Award for
13
the Participant's own account and not with any present intention of selling or
otherwise distributing the Common Stock. The foregoing requirements, and any
assurances given pursuant to such requirements, shall be inoperative if (1) the
issuance of the shares of Common Stock upon the exercise or acquisition of
Common Stock under the Stock Award has been registered under a then currently
effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (2) 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 Common
Stock.
(f) Withholding Obligations. To the extent provided by the terms of a Stock
Award Agreement, the Participant may satisfy any federal, state or local tax
withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock
under a Stock Award by any of the following means (in addition to the Company's
right to withhold from any compensation paid to the Participant by the Company)
or by a combination of such means: (i) tendering a cash payment; (ii)
authorizing the Company to withhold shares of Common Stock from the shares of
Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise
or acquisition of Common Stock under the Stock Award, provided, however, that no
shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the minimum amount of
tax required to be withheld by law; or (iii) delivering to the Company owned and
unencumbered shares of Common Stock.
11. Adjustments upon Changes in Stock.
(a) Capitalization Adjustments. If any change is made in the Common Stock
subject to the Plan, or subject to any Stock Award, 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 to the Plan
pursuant to subsection 4(a) and the maximum number of securities subject to
award to any person pursuant to subsection 5(c), and the outstanding Stock
Awards will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and number of securities
and price per share of Common Stock subject to such outstanding Stock Awards.
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 Stock Awards
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, lease or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company, (ii) a consolidation or merger of the Company
with or into any other corporation or
14
other entity or person, or any other corporate reorganization, in which the
shareholders of the Company immediately prior to such consolidation, merger or
reorganization, own less than 50% of the Company's outstanding voting power of
the surviving entity (or its parent) following the consolidation, merger or
reorganization or (iii) any transaction (or series of related transactions
involving a person or entity, or a group of affiliated persons or entities) in
which in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the Company's outstanding voting power
is transferred, then any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation shall
assume any Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan or shall substitute similar
stock awards (including an award to acquire the same consideration paid to the
shareholders in the transaction described in this subsection 11(c) for those
outstanding under the Plan. In the event any surviving corporation or acquiring
corporation refuses to assume such Stock Awards or to substitute similar stock
awards for those outstanding under the Plan, then with respect to Stock Awards
held by Participants whose Continuous Service has not terminated, the vesting of
such Stock Awards (and, if applicable, the time during which such Stock Awards
may be exercised) shall be accelerated in full, and the Stock Awards shall
terminate if not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to such event. With
respect to any other Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan, such Stock Awards
shall terminate if not exercised (if applicable) 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 and provided
that such acquisition is not a result of, and does not constitute a transaction
described in, subsection 11(c) hereof, then with respect to Stock Awards held by
Participants whose Continuous Service has not terminated, the vesting of such
Stock Awards (and, if applicable, the time during which such Stock Awards may be
exercised) shall be accelerated in full.
(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 and provided that such change in the Incumbent Board
does not occur solely as a result of and/or following a transaction described in
subsection 11(c) hereof, then with respect to Stock Awards held by persons whose
Continuous Service has not terminated, the vesting of such Stock Awards (and, if
applicable, the time during which such Stock Awards may be exercised) shall be
accelerated in full. If the election, or nomination for election, by the
Company's shareholders 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.
(f) Special Acceleration Provisions. Notwithstanding any other provisions
of this Plan to the contrary, if (i) a Change in Control (as such term is
defined below) occurs and (ii) within one (1) month prior to the date of such
Change in Control or thirteen (13) months after the date of such Change in
Control the Continuous Service of a Participant terminates due to an
15
involuntary termination (not including death or Disability) without Cause or due
to a Constructive Termination, then the vesting and exercisability of all Stock
Awards held by such Participant shall be accelerated in full or any
reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to a Stock
Award shall lapse in full, as appropriate; provided, however, that if such
potential acceleration of the vesting and exercisability of Stock Awards (or
lapse of reacquisition or repurchase rights held by the Company with respect to
Stock Awards) would cause a contemplated Change in Control transaction that
would otherwise be eligible to be accounted for as a "pooling-of-interests"
transaction to become ineligible for such accounting treatment under generally
accepted accounting principles as determined by the Accountants prior to the
Change of Control, such acceleration shall not occur.
For purposes of this subsection 11(f) only, Change in Control means: (i) a
dissolution or liquidation of the Company; (ii) a sale of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Company; or (iii) a merger or consolidation in which
the Company is not the surviving corporation and in which beneficial ownership
of securities of the Company representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the
combined voting power entitled to vote in the election of Directors has changed;
(iv) 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, and in which beneficial ownership of securities
of the Company representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting
power entitled to vote in the election of Directors has changed; (v) 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 subsidiary of the Company or other entity controlled by the Company)
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; or (vi) in the event that the individuals
who, as of the date of adoption of the Plan, are members of the Company's Board
(the "Incumbent Board"), cease for any reason to constitute at least fifty
percent (50%) of the Board. (If the election, or nomination for election by the
Company's stockholders, of any new Director is approved by a vote of at least
fifty percent (50%) of the Incumbent Board, such new Director shall be
considered to be a member of the Incumbent Board in the future.)
(g) Parachute Payments. In the event that the acceleration of the vesting
and exercisability of the Stock Awards and/or the lapse of reacquisition or
repurchase rights with respect to Stock Awards provided for in subsection 11(f)
and benefits otherwise payable to a Participant (i) constitute "parachute
payments" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, or any comparable
successor provisions, and (ii) but for this subsection would be subject to the
excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code, or any comparable successor
provisions (the "Excise Tax"), then such Participant's benefits hereunder shall
be either
(i) provided to such Participant in full, or
16
(ii) provided to such Participant as to such lesser extent which
would result in no portion of such benefits being subject to
the Excise Tax,
whichever of the foregoing amounts, when taking into account applicable federal,
state, local and foreign income and employment taxes, the Excise Tax, and any
other applicable taxes, results in the receipt by such Participant, on an after-
tax basis, of the greatest amount of benefits, notwithstanding that all or some
portion of such benefits may be taxable under the Excise Tax. Unless the
Company and such Participant otherwise agree in writing, any determination
required under this subsection shall be made in writing in good faith by the
Accountants. In the event of a reduction of benefits hereunder, the Participant
shall be given the choice of which benefits to reduce. For purposes of making
the calculations required by this subsection, the Accountants may make
reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may
rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of the
Code, and other applicable legal authority. The Company and the Participant
shall furnish to the Accountants such information and documents as the
Accountants may reasonably request in order to make a determination under this
subsection. The Company shall bear all costs the Accountants may reasonably
incur in connection with any calculations contemplated by this subsection.
If, notwithstanding any reduction described in this subsection, the
IRS determines that the Participant is liable for the Excise Tax as a result of
the receipt of the payment of benefits as described above, then the Participant
shall be obligated to pay back to the Company, within thirty (30) days after a
final IRS determination or in the event that the Participant challenges the
final IRS determination, a final judicial determination, a portion of the
payment equal to the "Repayment Amount." The Repayment Amount with respect to
the payment of benefits shall be the smallest such amount, if any, as shall be
required to be paid to the Company so that the Participant's net after-tax
proceeds with respect to any payment of benefits (after taking into account the
payment of the Excise Tax and all other applicable taxes imposed on such
payment) shall be maximized. The Repayment Amount with respect to the payment
of benefits shall be zero if a Repayment Amount of more than zero would not
result in the Participant's net after-tax proceeds with respect to the payment
of such benefits being maximized. If the Excise Tax is not eliminated pursuant
to this paragraph, the Participant shall pay the Excise Tax.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection 11(g), if (i)
there is a reduction in the payment of benefits as described in this subsection,
(ii) the IRS later determines that the Participant is liable for the Excise Tax,
the payment of which would result in the maximization of the Participant's net
after-tax proceeds (calculated as if the Participant's benefits had not
previously been reduced), and (iii) the Participant pays the Excise Tax, then
the Company shall pay to the Participant those benefits which were reduced
pursuant to this subsection contemporaneously or as soon as administratively
possible after the Participant pays the Excise Tax so that the Participant's net
after-tax proceeds with respect to the payment of benefits is maximized.
17
12. Amendment of the Plan and Stock Awards.
(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 Common Stock, no amendment shall be effective unless
approved by the shareholders of the Company to the extent shareholder approval
is necessary to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, Rule 16b-3
or any Nasdaq or securities exchange listing requirements.
(b) Shareholder Approval. The Board may, in its sole discretion, submit any
other amendment to the Plan for shareholder approval, including, but not limited
to, amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of Section
162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder regarding the exclusion of
performance-based compensation from the limit on corporate deductibility of
compensation paid to certain executive officers.
(c) Contemplated Amendments. It is expressly contemplated that the Board
may amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to
provide eligible Employees with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided
under the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder
relating to Incentive Stock Options and/or to bring the Plan and/or Incentive
Stock Options granted under it into compliance therewith.
(d) No Impairment of Rights. Rights under any Stock Award 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 Participant and (ii) the Participant
consents in writing.
(e) Amendment of Stock Awards. The Board at any time, and from time to
time, may amend the terms of any one or more Stock Awards; provided, however,
that the rights under any Stock Award shall not be impaired by any such
amendment unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and
(ii) the Participant consents in writing.
13. Termination or Suspension of the Plan.
(a) Plan Term. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time.
Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on the day before the tenth
(10th) anniversary of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or approved by
the shareholders of the Company, whichever is earlier. No Stock Awards 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 Stock Award granted while the Plan
is in effect except with the written consent of the Participant.
14. Effective Date of Plan.
The Plan shall become effective as determined by the Board, but no Stock
Award shall be exercised (or, in the case of a stock bonus, shall be granted)
unless and until the Plan has been
18
approved by the shareholders 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.
The law of the State of California shall govern all questions concerning
the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to
such state's conflict of laws rules.
19
EXHIBIT 10.3
Noosh, Inc.
2000 Equity Incentive Plan
STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT
(INCENTIVE AND 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 Equity Incentive 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. Exercise prior to Vesting ("Early Exercise"). If permitted in your
Grant Notice (i.e., the "Exercise Schedule" indicates that "Early Exercise" of
your option is permitted) and subject to the provisions of your option, you may
elect at any time that is both (i) during the period of your Continuous Service
and (ii) during the term of your option, to exercise all or part of your option,
including the nonvested portion of your option; provided, however, that:
(a) a partial exercise of your option shall be deemed to cover first
vested shares of Common Stock and then the earliest vesting installment of
unvested shares of Common Stock;
(b) any shares of Common Stock so purchased from installments that
have not vested as of the date of exercise shall be subject to the purchase
option in favor of the Company as described in the Company's form of Early
Exercise Stock Purchase Agreement;
(c) you shall enter into the Company's form of Early Exercise Stock
Purchase Agreement with a vesting schedule that will result in the same vesting
as if no early exercise had occurred; and
(d) if your option is an incentive stock option, then, as provided in
the Plan, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the
time of grant) of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which your option
plus all other incentive stock options you hold are exercisable for the first
time by you during any calendar year (under all plans of the
Company and its Affiliates) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000),
your option(s) or portions thereof that exceed such limit (according to the
order in which they were granted) shall be treated as nonstatutory stock
options.
4. 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
Grant Notice, which may include one or more of the following:
(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.
(c) Pursuant to the following deferred payment alternative:
(i) Not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the aggregate
exercise price, plus accrued interest, shall be due four (4) years from date of
exercise or, at the Company's election, upon termination of your Continuous
Service.
(ii) Interest shall be compounded at least annually and shall be
charged at the minimum rate of interest necessary to avoid the treatment as
interest, under any applicable provisions of the Code, of any portion of any
amounts other than amounts stated to be interest under the deferred payment
arrangement.
(iii) At any time that the Company is incorporated in Delaware,
payment of the Common Stock's "par value," as defined in the Delaware General
Corporation Law, shall be made in cash and not by deferred payment.
(iv) In order to elect the deferred payment alternative, you
must, as a part of your written notice of exercise, give notice of the election
of this payment alternative and,
in order to secure the payment of the deferred exercise price to the Company
hereunder, if the Company so requests, you must tender to the Company a
promissory note and a security agreement covering the purchased shares of Common
Stock, both in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, or such other or
additional documentation as the Company may request.
5. Whole Shares. You may exercise your option only for whole shares of
Common Stock.
6. 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.
7. Term. You may not exercise your option before the commencement of its
term or after its term expires. 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 day before the tenth (10th) anniversary of the Date of Grant.
If your option is an incentive stock option, note that, to obtain the
federal income tax advantages associated with an "incentive stock option," the
Code requires that at all times beginning on the date of grant of your option
and ending on the day three (3) months before the date of your option's
exercise, you must be an employee of the Company or an Affiliate, except in the
event of your death or Disability. The Company has provided for extended
exercisability of your option under certain circumstances for your benefit but
cannot guarantee that your option will necessarily be treated as an "incentive
stock option" if you continue to provide services to
the Company or an Affiliate as a Consultant or Director after your employment
terminates or if you otherwise exercise your option more than three (3) months
after the date your employment terminates.
8. 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.
(c) If your option is an incentive stock option, by exercising your
option you agree that you will notify the Company in writing within fifteen (15)
days after the date of any disposition of any of the shares of the Common Stock
issued upon exercise of your option that occurs within two (2) years after the
date of your option grant or within one (1) year after such shares of Common
Stock are transferred upon exercise of your option.
9. 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.
10. Right of Repurchase. To the extent provided in the Company's bylaws
as amended from time to time, the Company shall have the right to repurchase all
or any part of the shares of Common Stock you acquire pursuant to the exercise
of your option.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.