Exhibit 10.3
NITRES, INC.
1999 STOCK OPTION/STOCK ISSUANCE PLAN
ARTICLE ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
I. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
This 1999 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan is intended to promote the
interests of Nitres, Inc., a California corporation, by providing eligible
persons in the Corporation's employ or service with the opportunity to acquire a
proprietary interest, or otherwise increase their proprietary interest, in the
Corporation as an incentive for them to continue in such employ or service.
Capitalized terms herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in
the attached Appendix.
II. STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN
A. The Plan shall be divided into two (2) separate equity programs:
(i) the Option Grant Program under which eligible persons may, at
the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be granted options to
purchase shares of Common Stock, and
(ii) the Stock Issuance Program under which eligible persons may, at
the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be issued shares of
Common Stock directly, either through the immediate purchase of
such shares or as a bonus for services rendered the Corporation
(or any Parent or Subsidiary).
B. The provisions of Articles One and Four shall apply to both equity
programs under the Plan and shall accordingly govern the interests of all
persons under the Plan.
III. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
A. The Plan shall be administered by the Board. However, any or all
administrative functions otherwise exercisable by the Board may be delegated to
the Committee. Members of the Committee shall serve for such period of time as
the Board may determine and shall be subject to removal by the Board at any
time. The Board may also at any time terminate the functions of the Committee
and reassume all powers and authority previously delegated to the Committee.
B. The Plan Administrator shall have full power and authority (subject
to the provisions of the Plan) to establish such rules and regulations as it may
deem appropriate for proper administration of the Plan and to make such
determinations under, and issue such interpretations of, the Plan and any
outstanding options or stock issuances thereunder as it may
deem necessary or advisable. Decisions of the Plan Administrator shall be final
and binding on all parties who have an interest in the Plan or any option or
stock issuance thereunder.
IV. ELIGIBILITY
A. The persons eligible to participate in the Plan are as follows:
(i) Employees,
(ii) non-employee members of the Board or the non-employee members of
the board of directors of any Patent or Subsidiary, and
consultants and other independent advisors who provide services
to the Corporation (or any Patent or Subsidiary).
B. The Plan Administrator shall have full authority to determine, (i)
with respect to the grants made under the Option Grant Program, which eligible
persons are to receive the option grants, the time or times when those grants
are to be made, the number of shares to be covered by such grant, the status of
the granted option as either an Incentive Option or a Non-Statutory Option, the
time or times when each option is to become exercisable, the vesting schedule
(if any) applicable to the option shares and the maximum term for which the
option is to remain outstanding, and (ii) with respect to stock issuances made
under the Stock Issuance Program, which eligible persons are to receive such
stock issuances, the time or times those issuances are to be made, the number of
shares to be issued to each Participant, the vesting schedule (if any)
applicable to the issued shares and the consideration to be paid by the
Participant for such shares.
C. The Plan Administrator shall have the absolute discretion either to
grant options in accordance with the Option Grant Program or to effect stock
issuances in accordance with the Stock Issuance Program.
V. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
A. The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized but
unissued or reacquired Common Stock. The maximum number of shares of Common
Stock which may be issued over the term of the Plan shall not exceed 1,558,750
shares.
B. Shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options shall be
available for subsequent issuance under the Plan to the extent (i) the options
expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise in full or (ii) the options
are cancelled in accordance with the cancellation-regrant provisions of Article
Two. Unvested shares issued under the Plan and subsequently repurchased by the
Corporation, at the option exercise or direct issue price paid per share,
pursuant to the Corporation's repurchase rights under the Plan shall be added
back to the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the
Plan and shall accordingly be available for reissuance through one or more
subsequent option grants or direct stock issuances under the Plan.
C. Should any change be made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock
split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of
shares or other change
affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation's
receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments shall be made to (i) the
maximum number and/or class of securities issuable under the Plan and (ii) the
number and/o class of securities and the exercise price per share in effect
under each outstanding option in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of
benefits thereunder. The adjustments determined by the Plan Administrator shall
be final, binding and conclusive. In no event shall any such adjustments be made
in connection with the conversion of one or more outstanding shares of the
Corporation's preferred stock into shares of Common Stock.
ARTICLE TWO
OPTIONS GRANT PROGRAM
I. OPTION TERMS
Each option shall be evidenced by one or more documents in the form
approved by the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that each such document
shall comply with the terms specified below. Each document evidencing an
Incentive Option shall, in addition, be subject to the provisions of the Plan
applicable to such options.
A. Exercise Price.
1. The exercise price per share shall be fixed by the Plan
Administrator in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) The exercise price per share shall not be less than eighty-five
percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock
on the option grant date.
(ii) If the person to whom the option is granted is a 10%
Shareholder, then the exercise price per share shall not be less
than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per
share of Common Stock on the option grant date.
2. The exercise price shall become immediately due upon exercise of
the option and shall, subject to the provisions of Section I of Article Four and
the documents evidencing the option, be payable in cash or check made payable to
the Corporation. Should the Common Stock be registered under Section 12 of the
1934 Act at the time the option is exercised, then the exercise price may also
be paid as follows:
(i) in shares of Common Stock held for the requisite period
necessary to avoid a charge to the Corporation's earnings for
financial reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on
the Exercise Date; or
(ii) to the extent the option is exercised for vested shares, through
a special sale and remittance pursuant to which the Optionee
shall concurrently provide
irrevocable instructions (A) to a Corporation-designed
brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of the purchased
shares and remit to the Corporation, out of the sale proceeds
available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover
the aggregate exercise price payable for the purchased shares
plus all applicable Federal, state and local income and
employment taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation
by reason of such exercise and (B) to the Corporation to
deliver the certificates for the purchased shares directly to
such brokerage firm in order to complete the sale.
Except to the extent such sale and remittance procedure is utilized,
payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on the
Exercise Date.
B. Exercise and Term of Options. Each option shall be exercisable at
such time or times, during such period and for such number of shares as shall be
determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the documents evidencing
the option grant. However, no option shall have a term in excess of ten (10)
years measured from the option grant date.
C. Effect of Termination of Service.
1. The following provisions shall govern the exercise of any options
held by the Optionee at the time of cessation of Service or death:
(i) Should the Optionee cease to remain in Service for any reason
other than death, Disability or Misconduct, then the Optionee
shall have a period of three (3) months following the date of
such cessation of Service during which to exercise each
outstanding option held by such Optionee.
(ii) Should Optionee's Service terminate by reason of Disability,
then the Optionee shall have a period of twelve (12) months
following the date of such cessation of Service during which
to exercise each outstanding option held by such Optionee.
(iii) If the Optionee dies while holding an outstanding option,
then the personal representative of his or her estate or the
person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant
to the Optionee's will or the laws of inheritance shall have
a twelve (12)-month period following the date of the
Optionee's death to exercise such option.
(iv) Under no circumstances, however, shall any such option be
exercisable after the specified expiration of the option
term.
(v) During the applicable post-Service exercise period, the
option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than
the number of vested shares for which the option is
exercisable on the date of the Optionee's cessation of
Service. Upon the expiration of the applicable exercise
period of (if earlier)
upon the expiration of the option term, the option shall
terminate and cease to be outstanding for any vested
shares for which the option has not been exercised.
However, the option shall, immediately upon Optionee's
cessation of Service, terminate and cease to be
outstanding with respect to any and all option shares
for which the option is not otherwise at the time
exercisable or in which the Optionee is not otherwise at
that time vested.
(vi) Should Optionee's Service be terminated for Misconduct,
then all outstanding options held by the Optionee shall
terminate immediately and cease to remain outstanding.
2. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion,
exercisable either at the time an option is granted or at any time while the
option remains outstanding, to:
(i) extend the period of time for which the option is to
remain exercisable following Optionee's cessation of
Service or death from the limited period otherwise in
effect for that option to such greater period of time as
the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate, but in no
event beyond the expiration of the option term, and/or
(ii) permit the option to be exercised, during the applicable
post-Service exercise period, not only with respect to
the number of vested shares of Common Stock for which
such option is exercisable at the time of the Optionee's
cessation of Service but also with respect to one or
more additional installments in which the Optionee would
have vested under the option had the Optionee continued
in Service.
D. Shareholder Rights. The holder of an option shall have no
shareholder rights with respect to the shares subject to the option until such
person shall have exercised the option, paid the exercise price and become the
recordholder of the purchased shares.
E. Unvested Shares. The Plan Administrator shall have the
discretion to grant options which are exercisable for unvested shares of Common
Stock. Should the Optionee cease Service while holding such unvested shares, the
Corporation shall have the right to repurchase, at the exercise price paid per
share, any or all of those unvested shares. The terms upon which such repurchase
right shall be exercisable (including the period and procedure for exercise and
the appropriate vesting schedule for the purchased shares) shall be established
by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the document evidencing such
repurchase right. The Plan Administrator may not impose a vesting schedule upon
any option grant or the shares of Common Stock subject to that option which is
more restrictive than twenty-five percent (25%) per year vesting with the
initial vesting to occur not later than one (1) year after the option grant
date. However, such limitation shall not be applicable to any option grants made
to individuals who are officers of the Corporation, non-employee Board members
or independent consultants.
F. First Refusal Right. Until such time as the Common Stock is
first registered under Section 12 of the 1934 Act, the Corporation shall have
the right of first refusal with respect
to any proposed disposition by the Optionee (or any successor in interest) of
any shares of Common Stock issued under the Plan. Such right of first refusal
shall be exercisable in accordance with the terms established by the Plan
Administrator and set forth in the document evidencing such right.
G. Limited Transferability of Options. During the lifetime of the
Optionee, the option shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and shall not be
assignable or transferable other than be will or by the laws of descent and
distribution following the Optionee's death.
H. Withholding. The Corporation's obligation to deliver shares of
Common Stock upon the exercise of any options granted under the Plan shall be
subject to the satisfaction of all applicable Federal, state and local income
and employment tax withholding requirements.
II. INCENTIVE OPTIONS
The terms specified below shall be applicable to all Incentive Options.
Except as modified by the provisions of this Section II, all the provisions of
Articles One, Two and Four shall be applicable to Incentive Options. Options
which are specifically designated as Non-Statutory Options shall not be subject
to the terms of this Section II.
A. Eligibility. Incentive Options may only be granted to
Employees.
B. Exercise Price. The exercise price per share shall not be less
than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock on the option grant date.
C. Dollar Limitation. The aggregate Fair Market Value of the
shares of Common Stock (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant)
for which one or more options granted to any Employee under the Plan (or any
other option plan of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary) may for the
first time become exercisable as Incentive Options during any one (1) calendar
year shall not exceed the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). To the
extent the Employee holds two (2) or more such options which become exercisable
for the first time in the same calendar year, the foregoing limitation on the
exercisability of such options as Incentive Options shall be applied on the
basis of the order in which such options were granted.
D. 10% Shareholder. If any Employee to whom an Incentive Option
is granted is a 10% Shareholder, then the option term shall not exceed five (5)
years measured from the option grant date.
III. CORPORATE TRANSACTION
A. The shares subject to each option outstanding under the Plan
at the time of a Corporate Transaction shall automatically vest in full so that
each such option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the Corporate
Transaction, become fully exercisable for all the shares of Common Stock at the
time subject to that option and may be exercised for any or all of those shares
as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. However, the shares subject to an
outstanding option shall not vest on such an accelerated basis if and to the
extent: (i) such option is assumed by the successor corporation (or parent
thereof) in the Corporate Transaction and any repurchase rights of the
Corporation with respect to the unvested option shares are concurrently assigned
to such successor corporation (or parent thereof) or (ii) such option is to be
replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation which
preserves the spread existing on the unvested option shares at the time of the
Corporate Transaction and provides for subsequent payout in accordance with the
same vesting schedule applicable to those unvested option shares or (iii) the
acceleration of such option is subject to other limitations imposed by the Plan
Administrator at the time of the option grant.
B. All outstanding repurchase rights shall also terminate automatically,
and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall
immediately vest in full, in the event of any Corporate Transaction, except to
the extent: (i) those repurchase rights are assigned to the successor
corporation (or parent thereof) in connection with such Corporate Transaction or
(ii) such accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations imposed by the
Plan Administrator at the time the repurchase right is issued.
C. Immediately following the consummation of the Corporate Transaction,
all outstanding options shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to
the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof).
D. Each option which is assumed in connection with a Corporate
Transaction shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Corporate
Transaction, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have
been issuable to the Optionee in consummation of such Corporate Transaction, had
the option been exercised immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction.
Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to (i) the number and class of
securities available for issuance under the Plan following the consummation of
such Corporate Transaction and (ii) the exercise price payable per share under
each outstanding option, provided the aggregate exercise price payable for such
securities shall remain the same.
E. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion, exercisable either
at the time the option is granted or at any time while the option remains
outstanding, to structure one or more options so that those options shall
automatically accelerate and vest in full (and any repurchase rights of the
Corporation with respect to the unvested shares subject to those options shall
immediately terminate) upon the occurrence of a Corporate Transaction, whether
or not those options are to be assumed in the Corporate Transaction.
F. The Plan Administrator shall also have full power and authority,
exercisable either at the time the option is granted or at any time while the
option remains outstanding, to structure such option so that the shares subject
to that option will automatically vest on an accelerated basis should the
Optionee's Service terminate by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a
designated period (not to exceed eighteen (18) months) following the effective
date of any Corporate Transaction in which the option is assumed and the
repurchase rights applicable to those shares do not otherwise terminate. Any
option so accelerated shall remain exercisable for the fully-vested option
shares until the expiration or sooner termination of the option term. In
addition, the Plan Administrator may provide that one or more of the
Corporation's outstanding repurchase rights with respect to shares held by the
Optionee at the time of such Involuntary Termination shall immediately terminate
on an accelerated basis, and the shares subject to those terminated rights shall
accordingly vest at that time.
G. The portion of any Incentive Option accelerated in connection with a
Corporate Transaction shall remain exercisable as an Incentive Option only to
the extent the applicable One Hundred Thousand Dollar limitation is not
exceeded. To the extent such dollar limitation is exceeded, the accelerated
portion of such option shall be exercisable as a Non-Statutory Option under the
Federal tax laws.
H. The grant of options under the Plan shall in no way affect the right
of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its
capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or
sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
IV. CANCELLATION AND REGRANT OF OPTIONS
The Plan Administrator shall have the authority to effect, at any time and
from time to time, with the consent of the affected option holders, the
cancellation of any or all outstanding options under the Plan and to grant in
substitution therefor new options covering the same or different number of
shares of Common Stock but with an exercise price per share based on the Fair
Market Value per share of Common Stock on the new option grant date.
ARTICLE THREE
STOCK ISSUANCE PROGRAM
I. STOCK ISSUANCE TERMS
Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program
through direct and immediate issuances without any intervening option grants.
Each such stock issuance shall be evidenced by a Stock Issuance Agreement which
complies with the terms specified below.
A. Purchase Price.
1. The purchase price per share shall be fixed by the Plan
Administrator but shall not be less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair
Market Value per share of Common Stock on the issue date. However, the purchase
price per share of Common Stock issued to a 10% Shareholder shall not be less
than one hundred and ten percent (110%) of such Fair Market Value.
2. Subject to the provisions of Section I of Article Four, shares of
Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program for any of the
following items of consideration which the Plan Administrator may deem
appropriate in each individual instance:
(i) cash or check made payable to the Corporation, or
(ii) past services rendered to the Corporation (or any Parent or
Subsidiary).
B. Vesting Provisions.
1. Shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance Program
may, in the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be fully and immediately
vested upon issuance or may vest in one or more installments over the
Participant's period of Service or upon attainment of specified performance
objectives. However, the Plan Administrator may not impose a vesting schedule
upon any stock issuance effected under the Stock Issuance Program which is more
restrictive than twenty-five percent (25%) per year vesting, with initial
vesting to occur not later than one (1) year after the issuance date. Such
limitation shall not apply to any Common Stock issuances made to the officers of
the Corporation, non-employee Board members or independent consultants.
2. Any new, substituted or additional securities or other property
(including money paid other than as a regular cash dividend) which the
Participant may have the right to receive with respect to the Participant's
unvested shares of Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change
affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation's
receipt of consideration shall be issued subject to (i) the same vesting
requirements applicable to the Participant's unvested shares of Common Stock and
(ii) such escrow arrangements as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate.
3. The Participant shall have full shareholder rights with respect
to any shares of Common Stock issued to the Participant under the Stock Issuance
Program, whether or not the Participant's interest in those shares is vested.
Accordingly, the Participant shall have the right to vote such shares and to
receive any regular cash dividends paid on such shares.
4. Should the Participant cease to remain in Service while holding
one or more unvested shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance
Program or should the performance objectives not be attained with respect to one
or more such unvested shares of Common Stock, then those shares shall be
immediately surrendered to the Corporation for cancellation, and the Participant
shall have no further shareholder rights with respect to those shares. To the
extent the surrendered shares were previously issued to the Participant for
consideration paid in cash or cash equivalent (including the Participant's
purchase-money indebtedness), the Corporation shall repay to the Participant the
cash consideration paid for the surrendered shares and shall cancel the unpaid
principal balance of any outstanding purchase-money note of the Participant
attributable to such surrendered shares.
5. The Plan Administrator may in its discretion waive the surrender
and cancellation of one or more unvested shares of Common Stock (or other assets
attributable thereto) which would otherwise occur upon the non-completion of the
vesting schedule applicable to those shares. Such waiver shall result in the
immediate vesting of the Participant's interest in the shares of Common Stock as
to which the waiver applies. Such waiver may be
effected at any time, whether before or after the Participant's cessation of
Service or the attainment or non-attainment of the applicable performance
objectives.
C. First Refusal Rights. Until such time as the Common Stock is first
registered under Section 12 of the 1934 Act, the Corporation shall have the
right of first refusal with respect to any proposed disposition by the
Participant (or any successor in interest) of any shares of Common Stock issued
under the Stock Issuance Program. Such right of first refusal shall be
exercisable in accordance with the terms established by the Plan Administrator
and set forth in the document evidencing such right.
II. CORPORATE TRANSACTION
A. Upon the occurrence of a Corporate Transaction, all outstanding
repurchase rights under the Stock Issuance Program shall terminate
automatically, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights
shall immediately vest in full, except to the extent: (i) those repurchase
rights are assigned to the successor corporation (or parent thereof) in
connection with such Corporate Transaction or (ii) such accelerated vesting is
precluded by other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator at the time the
repurchase right is issued.
B. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority,
exercisable either at the time the unvested shares are issued or any time while
the Corporation's repurchase rights with respect to those shares remain
outstanding, to provide that those rights shall automatically terminate on an
accelerated basis, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated
rights shall immediately vest, in the event the Participant's Service should
subsequently terminate by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a
designated period (not to exceed eighteen (IS) months) following the effective
date of any Corporate Transaction in which those repurchase rights are assigned
to the successor corporation (or parent thereof).
III. SHARE ESCROW/LEGENDS
Unvested shares may, in the Plan Administrator's discretion, be held in
escrow by the Corporation until the Participant's interest in such shares vests
or may be issued directly to the Participant with restrictive legends on the
certificates evidencing those unvested shares.
ARTICLE FOUR
MISCELLANEOUS
I. FINANCING
The Plan Administrator may permit any Optionee or Participant to pay the
option exercise price under the Option Grant Program or the purchase price for
shares issued under the Stock Issuance Program by delivering a full-recourse,
interest bearing promissory note payable in one or more installments and secured
by the purchased shares. The terms of any such promissory note (including the
interest rate and the terms of repayment) shall be established by
the Plan Administrator in its sole discretion. In no event may the maximum
credit available to the Optionee or Participant exceed the sum of (i) the
aggregate option exercise price or purchase price payable for the purchased
shares (less the par value of those shares) plus (ii) any Federal, state and
local income and employment tax liability incurred by the Optionee or the
Participant in connection with the option exercise or share purchase.
II. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN
A. The Plan shall become effective when adopted by the Board, but no
option granted under the Plan may be exercised, and no shares shall be issued
under the Plan, until the Plan is approved by the Corporation's shareholders. If
such shareholder approval is not obtained within twelve (12) months after the
date of the Board's adoption of the Plan, then all options previously granted
under the Plan shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, and no further
options shall be granted and no shares shall be issued under the Plan. Subject
to such limitation, the Plan Administrator may grant options and issue shares
under the Plan at any time after the effective date of the Plan and before the
date fixed herein for termination of the Plan.
B. The Plan shall terminate upon the earliest of (i) the expiration of the
ten (10)-year period measured from the date the Plan is adopted by the Board,
(ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Plan shall
have been issued as vested shares or (iii) the termination of all outstanding
options in connection with a Corporate Transaction. All options and unvested
stock issuances outstanding at the time of a clause (i) termination event shall
continue to have full force and effect in accordance with the provisions of the
documents evidencing those options or issuances.
III. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN
A. The Board shall have complete and exclusive power and authority to
amend or modify the Plan in any or all respects. However, no such amendment or
modification shall adversely affect the rights and obligations with respect to
options or unvested stock issuances at the time outstanding under the Plan
unless the Optionee or the Participant consents to such amendment or
modification. In addition, certain amendments may require shareholder approval
pursuant to applicable laws and regulations.
B. Options may be granted under the Option Grant Program and shares may be
issued under the Stock Issuance Program which are in each instance in excess of
the number of shares of Common Stock then available for issuance under the Plan,
provided any excess shares actually issued under those programs shall be held in
escrow until there is obtained shareholder approval of an amendment sufficiently
increasing the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the
Plan. If such shareholder approval is not obtained within twelve (12) months
after the date the first such excess grants or issuances are made, then (i) any
unexercised options granted on the basis of such excess shares shall terminate
and cease to be outstanding and (ii) the Corporation shall promptly refund to
the Optionees and the Participants the exercise or purchase price paid for any
excess shares issued under the Plan and held in escrow, together with interest
(at the applicable Short Term Federal Rate) for the period the
shares were held in escrow, and such shares shall thereupon be automatically
cancelled and cease to be outstanding.
IV. USE OF PROCEEDS
Any cash proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of shares of
Common Stock under the Plan shall be used for general corporate purposes.
V. WITHHOLDING
The Corporation's obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock upon the
exercise of any options or upon the issuance or vesting of any shares issued
under the Plan shall be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable Federal,
state and local income and employment tax withholding requirements.
VI. REGULATORY APPROVALS
The implementation of the Plan, the granting of any options under the Plan
and the issuance of any shares of Common Stock (i) upon the exercise of any
option or (ii) under the Stock Issuance Program shall be subject to the
Corporation's procurement of all approvals and permits required by regulatory
authorities having jurisdiction over the Plan, the options granted under it and
the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to it.
VII. NO EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE RIGHTS
Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon the Optionee or the Participant any
right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration or interfere
with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation (or any
Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining such person) or of the Optionee or
the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each, to
terminate such person's Service at any time for any reason, with or without
cause.
VIII. FINANCIAL REPORTS
The Corporation shall deliver a balance sheet and an income statement at
least annually to each individual holding an outstanding option under the Plan,
unless such individual is a key Employee whose duties in connection with the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) assure such individual access to
equivalent information.
APPENDIX
The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:
A. Board shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.
B. Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
C. Committee shall mean a committee of two (2) or more Board members
appointed by the Board to exercise one or more administrative functions under
the Plan.
D. Common Stock shall mean the Corporation's common stock.
E. Corporate Transaction shall mean either of the following
shareholder-approved transactions to which the Corporation is a party:
(i) a merger or consolidation in which securities possessing more
than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
Corporation's outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons
different from the persons holding those securities immediately prior to
such transaction, or
(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially
all of the Corporation's assets incomplete liquidation or dissolution of
the Corporation.
F. Corporation shall mean Nitres, Inc., a California corporation, and any
successor corporation to all or substantially all of the assets or voting stock
of Nitres, Inc. which shall by appropriate action adopt the Plan.
G. Disability shall mean the inability of the Optionee or the Participant
to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment and shall be determined by the Plan
Administrator on the basis of such medical evidence as the Plan Administrator
deems warranted under the circumstances.
H. Employee shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), subject to the control and direction
of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and
method of performance.
I. Exercise Date shall mean the date on which the Corporation shall have
received written notice of the option exercise.
J. Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on any relevant date shall
be determined in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the Nasdaq National
Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per
share of Common Stock
on the date in question, as such price is reported by the National
Association of Securities Dealers on the Nasdaq National Market. If there
is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question,
then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the last
preceding date for which such quotation exists.
(ii) If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any Stock Exchange,
then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price per share of
Common Stock on the date in question on the Stock Exchange determined by
the Plan Administrator to be the primary market for the Common Stock, as
such price is officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions on
such exchange. If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on
the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing
selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
(iii) If the Common Stock is at the time neither listed on any Stock
Exchange nor traded on the Nasdaq National Market, then the Fair Market
Value shall be determined by the Plan Administrator after taking into
account such factors as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate.
K. Incentive Option shall mean an option which satisfies the requirements
of Code Section 422.
L. Involuntary Termination shall mean the termination of the Service of
any individual which occurs by reason of:
(i) such individual's involuntary dismissal or discharge by the
Corporation for reasons other than Misconduct, or
(ii) such individual's voluntary resignation following (A) a change
in his or her position with the Corporation which materially reduces his or
her duties and responsibilities or the level of management to which he or
she reports, (B) a reduction in his or her level of compensation (including
base salary, fringe benefits and target bonuses under any
corporate-performance based bonus or incentive programs) by more than
fifteen percent (15%) or (C) a relocation of such individual's place of
employment by more than fifty (50) miles, provided and only if such change,
reduction or relocation is effected without the individual's consent.
M. Misconduct shall mean the commission of any act of fraud, embezzlement
or dishonesty by the Optionee or Participant, any unauthorized use or disclosure
by such person of confidential information or trade secrets of the Corporation
(or any Parent or Subsidiary), or any other intentional misconduct by such
person adversely affecting the business or affairs of the Corporation (or any
Parent or Subsidiary) in a material manner. The foregoing definition shall not
be deemed to be inclusive of all the acts or omissions which the Corporation (or
any Parent or Subsidiary) may consider as grounds for the dismissal or discharge
of any Optionee, Participant or other person in the Service of the Corporation
(or any Parent or Subsidiary).
N. 1934 Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
O. Non-Statutory Option shall mean an option not intended to satisfy the
requirements of Code Section 422.
P. Option Grant Program shall mean the option grant program in effect
under the Plan.
Q. Optionee shall mean any person to whom an option is granted under the
Plan.
R. Parent shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in an
unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each
corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the time
of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations
in such chain.
S. Participant shall mean any person who is issued shares of Common Stock
under the Stock Issuance Program.
T. Plan shall mean the Corporation's 1999 Stock Option/Stock Issuance
Plan, as set forth in this document.
U. Plan Administrator shall mean either the Board or the Committee acting
in its capacity as administrator of the Plan.
V. Service shall mean the provision of services to the Corporation (or
any Parent or Subsidiary) by a person in the capacity of an Employee, a
non-employee member of the board of directors or a consultant or independent
advisor, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in the documents
evidencing theoption grant.
W. Stock Exchange shall mean either the American Stock Exchange or the
New York Stock Exchange.
X. Stock Issuance Agreement shall mean the agreement entered into by the
Corporation and the Participant at the time of issuance of shares of Common
Stock under the Stock Issuance Program.
Y. Stock Issuance Program shall mean the stock issuance program in effect
under the Plan.
Z. Subsidiary shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation) in
an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Corporation, provided
each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the unbroken chain owns,
at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more
of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other
corporations in such chain.
AA. 10% Shareholder shall mean the owner of stock (as determined under
Code Section 424(d)) possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation (or any Parent
or Subsidiary).