Exhibit 10.50
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SYNBIOTICS CORPORATION
1995 STOCK OPTION/STOCK ISSUANCE PLAN
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as amended through March 29, 1999
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ARTICLE ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
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I. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
This 1995 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan (the "Plan") is intended to promote
the interests of Synbiotics Corporation, a California corporation, by providing
eligible persons with the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest, or
otherwise increase their proprietary interest, in the Corporation as an
incentive for them to remain in the service of the Corporation.
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to such
terms in the attached Appendix.
II. STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN
A. The Plan shall be divided into three separate equity programs:
(i) the Discretionary Option Grant Program under which eligible
persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be
granted options to purchase shares of common stock of the
Corporation,
(ii) the Stock Issuance Program under which eligible persons may, at
the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be issued shares of
common stock of the Corporation directly, either through the
immediate purchase of such shares or as a bonus for services
rendered the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), and
(iii) the Automatic Option Grant Program under which non-employee
directors shall automatically receive option grants at periodic
intervals to purchase shares of common stock of the
Corporation.
B. The provisions of Articles One and Five shall apply to all equity
programs under the Plan and shall accordingly govern the interests of
all persons under the Plan.
III. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
A. Plan Administrator. Either the Board or a committee of two (2) or
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more non-employee Board members appointed by the Board to administer
the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with
respect to Section 16 insiders (the "Primary Committee") shall have
sole and exclusive authority to administer the Plan with respect to
Section 16 Insiders.
B. Committees. Administration of the Discretionary Option Grant and
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Stock Issuance Programs with respect to all other persons eligible to
participate in those programs may, at the Board's discretion, be
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vested in the Board, the Primary Committee or a committee of two (2)
or more Board members appointed by the Board to administer the
Discretionary Option Grant Program and Stock Issuance Program with
respect to eligible persons other than Section 16 insiders (the
"Secondary Committee"), or the Board may retain the power to
administer those programs with respect to all such persons. All Board
members are eligible to be members of the Secondary Committee,
including Board members who are Employees eligible to receive
discretionary option grants or direct stock issuances under the Plan
or any other stock option, stock appreciation, stock bonus or other
stock plan of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).
C. Members of Committees. Members of the Primary Committee or any
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Secondary Committee shall serve for such period of time as the Board
may determine and may be removed by the Board at any time. The Board
may also at any time terminate the functions of any Secondary
Committee and assume all powers and authority previously delegated to
such committee.
D. Service as Committee Members. Service on the Primary Committee or the
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Secondary Committee shall constitute service as a Board member, and
members of each such committee shall accordingly be entitled to full
indemnification and reimbursement as Board members for their service
on such committee. No member of the Primary Committee or the
Secondary Committee shall be liable for any act or omission made in
good faith with respect to the Plan or any option grants or stock
issuances under the Plan.
E. Authority. Each Plan Administrator shall, within the scope of its
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administrative functions under the Plan, have full power and authority
(subject to the express provisions of the Plan) to (i) establish such
rules and regulations as it may deem appropriate for the proper
administration of the Discretionary Option Grant Program and Stock
Issuance Program and to make such determinations under, and issue such
interpretations of, such programs and any outstanding option grants or
stock issuances as it may deem necessary or advisable, (ii) determine,
with respect to the option grants under the Discretionary Option Grant
Program, which eligible persons are to receive option grants, the time
or times when such option grants are to be made, the number of shares
to be covered by each such grant, the status of the granted option as
either an Incentive Option or a Non-Statutory Option, the time or
times at which 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 (iii) determine,
with respect to stock issuances under the Stock Issuance Program,
which eligible persons are to receive stock issuances, the time or
times when such 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. The Plan Administrator(s) shall have the
absolute discretion either to grant options in accordance with the
Discretionary Option Grant Program or to effect stock issuances in
accordance with the Stock Issuance Program. Decisions of each Plan
Administrator shall be final and binding on all parties who have an
interest in the Discretionary Option Grant Program and Stock Issuance
Program or any outstanding option or stock issuance thereunder.
F. Restriction on Discretion. The administration of the Automatic Option
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Grant Program under Article Three shall be self executing in
accordance with the terms and conditions thereof and the Plan
Administrator shall not exercise any discretionary functions in
respect to matters governed by Article Three.
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IV. OPTION GRANTS AND STOCK ISSUANCES
A. Subject to Section V.B below, the persons eligible to receive stock
issuances under the Stock Issuance Program ("Participant") and/or
option grants pursuant to the Discretionary Option Grant Program
("Optionee") are as follows:
(i) officers and other employees of the Corporation (or its parent
or subsidiary corporations) who render services which
contribute to the management, growth and financial success of
the Corporation (or its parent or subsidiary corporations);
(ii) non-employee members of the Board; and
(iii) those consultants or other independent contractors who provide
valuable services to the Corporation (or its parent or
subsidiary corporations).
B. The individuals eligible to receive option grants under the Automatic
Option Grant Program shall be those individuals who serve as non-
employee Board members during the term of the Plan.
V. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
A. The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of authorized but
unissued or reacquired common stock of the Corporation ("Common
Stock"), including shares repurchased by the Corporation on the open
market. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock which may be
issued over the term of the Plan shall not exceed 2,752,565 shares.
Such authorized share reserve is comprised of (i) the number of shares
available for issuance under the Predecessor Plan as last approved by
the Corporation prior to their incorporation into this Plan, including
the shares subject to the outstanding options incorporated into the
Plan and any other shares which would have been available for future
option grants under the Predecessor Plan, plus (ii) an additional
increase of 1,332,055 shares authorized by the Board under the Plan,
subject to stockholder approval.
B. No one person participating in the Plan may receive options and direct
stock issuances for more than 800,000 shares of Common Stock in the
aggregate over the term of the Plan.
C. Shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options shall be
available for subsequent issuance under the Plan to the extent (i) the
options (including any options incorporated from the Predecessor
Plan) 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. All shares issued under the Plan
(including shares issued upon exercise of options incorporated from
the Predecessor Plan), whether or not those shares are subsequently
repurchased by the Corporation pursuant to its repurchase rights under
the Plan, shall reduce on a share-for-share basis the number of shares
of Common Stock available for subsequent issuance under the Plan. In
addition, should the exercise price of an option under the Plan
(including any option incorporated from the Predecessor Plan) be paid
with shares of Common Stock or should shares of Common Stock otherwise
issuable under the Plan be withheld by the Corporation in satisfaction
of the withholding taxes incurred in connection with the exercise of
an option or the vesting of a stock issuance under the Plan, then the
number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan
shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the option is
exercised or which vest under the stock issuance, and not by the net
number of shares of Common Stock issued to the holder of such option
or stock issuance.
D. Should any change be made to the Common Stock by reason of any stock
split, stock dividend,
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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, (ii) the maximum number and/or class of securities for
which the share reserve is to increase automatically each year, (iii)
the number and/or class of securities for which any one person may be
granted options and direct stock issuances over the term of the Plan,
(iv) the number and/or class of securities for which automatic option
grants are to be subsequently made under the Automatic Option Grant
Program and (v) the number and/or class of securities and the exercise
price per share in effect under each outstanding option (including any
option incorporated from the Predecessor Plan) in order to prevent the
dilution or enlargement of benefits thereunder. The adjustments
determined by the Plan Administrator shall be final, binding and
conclusive.
ARTICLE TWO
DISCRETIONARY OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
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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
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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.
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1. The exercise 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
option grant date, provided that the Plan Administrator may fix
the exercise price at less than 85% if the optionee makes a
payment to the Company (including payment made by means of a
salary reduction agreement) of no less than the excess of 85% of
the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock on the option grant
date over such exercise price.
2. The exercise price shall become immediately due upon exercise of
the option and shall, subject to the provisions of Section II of
Article Five and the documents evidencing the option, be payable
in one or more of the forms specified below:
(i) cash or check made payable to the Corporation,
(ii) 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
(iii) to the extent the option is exercised for vested shares,
through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant
to which the Optionee shall concurrently provide
irrevocable written instructions to (a) a Corporation-
designated 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) the Corporation to deliver the
certificates for the purchased shares directly to such
brokerage firm in order to
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complete the sale transaction.
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
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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. 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.
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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) Any option outstanding at the time of the Optionee's
cessation of Service for any reason shall remain
exercisable for such period of time thereafter as shall be
determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the
documents evidencing the option, but no such option shall
be exercisable after the expiration of the option term.
(ii) Any option exercisable in whole or in part by the Optionee
at the time of death may be subsequently exercised by the
personal representative of the Optionee's estate or by the
person or persons to whom the option is transferred
pursuant to the Optionee's will or in accordance with the
laws of descent and distribution.
(iii) 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 or (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 the Optionee's cessation of Service, terminate and
cease to be outstanding to the extent it is not
exercisable for vested shares on the date of such
cessation of Service.
(iv) In the event of a Corporate Transaction,the provisions of
Section III of this Article Two shall govern the period
for which the outstanding options are to remain
exercisable following the Optionee's cessation of Service
and shall supersede any provisions to the contrary in this
section.
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 the Optionee's cessation of
Service from the 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
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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. Stockholder Rights. The holder of an option shall have no stockholder
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rights with respect to the shares subject to the option until such
person shall have exercised the option, paid the exercise price and
become a holder of record of the purchased shares.
E. Repurchase Rights. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion
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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.
F. Limited Transferability of Options. Unless the Plan Administrator
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otherwise expressly approves in writing, the option shall be
exercisable only by the Optionee during the lifetime of the Optionee,
and shall not be assignable or transferable other than by will or by
the laws of descent and distribution following the Optionee's death.
However, a Non-Statutory Option may be assigned in accordance with the
terms of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order within the meaning of
Internal Revenue Code Section 414(p). The assigned option may only be
exercised by the person or persons who acquire a proprietary interest
in the option pursuant to such Qualified Domestic Relations Order.
The terms applicable to the assigned option (or portion thereof) shall
be the same as those in effect for the option immediately prior to
such assignment and shall be set forth in such documents issued to the
assignee as the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate
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 Five shall be applicable to Incentive Options. Options which are
specifically designated as Non-Statutory Options when issued under the Plan
shall not be subject to the terms of this Section II.
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A. Eligibility. Incentive Options may only be granted to Employees.
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B. Exercise Price. The exercise price per share shall not be less than
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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
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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 are granted.
D. 10% Stockholder. If any Employee to whom an Incentive Option is
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granted is a 10% stockholder (within the meaning of Internal Revenue
Code Section 424(d)), then the exercise price per share shall
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not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market
Value per share of Common Stock on the option grant date, and the
option term shall not exceed five (5) years measured from the option
grant date.
III. CORPORATE TRANSACTION
A. In the event of any Corporate Transaction, each outstanding option
shall automatically accelerate so that each such option shall,
immediately prior to the effective date of the Corporate Transaction,
become fully exercisable for all of the shares of Common Stock at the
time subject to such option and may be exercised for any or all of
those shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. However, an
outstanding option shall not so accelerate if and to the extent: (i)
such option is, in connection with the Corporate Transaction, either
to be assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or to
be replaced with a comparable option to purchase shares of the capital
stock of the successor corporation (or parent thereof), (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 such option or (iii) the acceleration of such
option is subject to other limitations imposed by the Plan
Administrator at the time of the option grant. The determination of
option comparability under clause (i) above shall be made by the Plan
Administrator, and its determination shall be final, binding and
conclusive.
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 to
be 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 on both an aggregate and per Optionee basis following
the consummation of such Corporate Transaction and (ii) the exercise
price payable per share under each outstanding option, provided the
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aggregate exercise price payable for such securities shall remain the
same.
E. Any options which are assumed or replaced in the Corporate Transaction
and do not otherwise accelerate at that time, shall automatically
accelerate (and any of the Corporation's outstanding repurchase rights
which do not otherwise terminate at the time of the Corporate
Transaction shall automatically terminate and the shares of Common
Stock subject to those terminated rights shall immediately vest in
full) in the event the Optionee's Service should subsequently
terminate by reason of an Involuntary Termination within eighteen (18)
months following the effective date of such Corporate Transaction.
Any options so accelerated shall remain exercisable for fully-vested
shares until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the option term or
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(ii) the expiration of the one (1)-year period measured from the
effective date of the Involuntary Termination.
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F. The portion of any Incentive Option accelerated in connection with a
Corporate Transaction or Change in Control 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.
G. The grant of options under the Discretionary Option Grant Program
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 Discretionary Option Grant Program
(including outstanding options incorporated from the Predecessor Plan) and to
grant in substitution 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
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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
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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
stock issuance date.
2. Subject to the provisions of Section II of Article Five, shares
of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program
for one or both 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
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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
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performance objectives. The elements of the vesting schedule
applicable to any unvested shares of Common Stock issued under
the Stock Issuance Program, namely:
(i) the Service period to be completed by the Participant or
the performance objectives to be attained,
(ii) the number of installments in which the shares are to
vest,
(iii) the interval or intervals (if any) which are to lapse
between installments, and
(iv) the effect which death, Permanent Disability or other
event designated by the Plan Administrator is to have upon
the vesting schedule,
shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and incorporated
into the stock issuance agreement.
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 stockholder 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 stockholder 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 such 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.
II. CORPORATE TRANSACTION
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A. All of the outstanding repurchase rights under the Stock Issuance
Program shall terminate automatically, and all 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 in the stock issuance agreement.
B. Any repurchase rights that are assigned in the Corporate Transaction
shall automatically terminate, and all the shares of Common Stock
subject to those terminated rights shall immediately vest in full, in
the event the Optionee's Service should subsequently terminate by
reason of an Involuntary Termination within eighteen (18) months
following the effective date of such Corporate Transaction.
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
AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
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I. OPTION TERMS
A. Grant Dates. Option grants shall be made on the dates specified
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below:
1. Each non-employee director who is who is first elected or
appointed as a non-employee Board member after the effective date
of the Plan shall automatically be granted, on such initial
election or appointment, a Non-Statutory Option to purchase 7,000
shares of Common Stock.
2. On the date of each Annual Stockholders Meeting, beginning with
the 1995 Annual Meeting, each individual who is to continue to
serve as a non-employee director after such meeting, shall
automatically be granted, whether or not such individual is
standing for re-election as a Board member at that Annual
Meeting, a Non-Statutory Option to purchase an additional 7,000
shares of Common Stock, provided such individual has served as a
non-employee Board member for at least six (6) months prior to
the date of such Annual Meeting. There shall be no limit on the
number of such 7,000-share option grants any one non-employee
director may receive over his or her period of Board service.
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B. Exercise Price.
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1. The exercise price per share shall be equal to one hundred
percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock
on the option grant date.
2. The exercise price shall be payable in one or more of the
alternative forms authorized under the Discretionary Option Grant
Program. Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure
specified thereunder is utilized, payment of the exercise price
for the purchased shares must be made on the exercise date.
C. Option Term. Each option shall have a term of ten (10) years measured
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from the option grant date.
D. Exercise and Vesting of Options. Each option shall be immediately
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exercisable for any or all of the option shares. However, any shares
purchased under the option shall be subject to repurchase by the
Corporation, at the exercise price paid per share, upon the Optionee's
cessation of Board service prior to vesting in those shares. Each
grant shall vest, and the Corporation's repurchase right shall lapse,
in a series of four (4) equal and successive quarterly installments
over the Optionee's period of continued service as a Board member,
with the first such installment to vest upon the Optionee's completion
of three (3) months of Board service measured from the option grant
date.
E. Effect of Termination of Board Service. The following provisions
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shall govern the exercise of any options held by the Optionee at the
time the Optionee ceases to serve as a Board member:
(i) The Optionee (or, in the event of Optionee's death, the
personal representative of the Optionee's estate or the person
or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to the
Optionee's will or in accordance with the laws of descent and
distribution) shall have the balance of the option term in
which to exercise each such option.
(ii) Following cessation of service on the Board for other than
death or disability, the option may not be exercised in the
aggregate for more than the number of vested shares of Common
Stock for which the option was exercisable at the time of the
Optionee's cessation of Board service.
(iii) Should the Optionee cease to serve as a Board member by reason
of death or Permanent Disability, then all shares at the time
subject to the option shall immediately vest so that such
option may be exercised for all or any portion of such shares
as fully-vested shares of Common Stock.
(iv) Upon 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 the Optionee's cessation of Board service,
terminate and cease to be outstanding to the extent it is not
exercisable for vested shares on the date of such cessation of
Board service.
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II. CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER
A. In the event of any Corporate Transaction, the shares of Common Stock
at the time subject to each outstanding option but not otherwise
vested 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 of the shares of Common
Stock at the time subject to such option and may be exercised for all
or any portion of such shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock.
Immediately following the consummation of the Corporate Transaction,
each automatic option grant shall terminate and cease to be
outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation
(or parent thereof).
B. In connection with any Change in Control, the shares of Common Stock
at the time subject to each outstanding option but not otherwise
vested shall automatically vest in full so that each such option
shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in
Control, become fully exercisable for all of the shares of Common
Stock at the time subject to such option and may be exercised for all
or any portion of such shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock.
Each such option shall remain exercisable for such fully-vested option
shares until the expiration or sooner termination of the option term
or the surrender of the option in connection with a Hostile Take-Over.
C. Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the Optionee shall have a
thirty (30)-day period in which to surrender to the Corporation each
automatic option held by him or her for a period of at least six (6)
months. The Optionee shall in return be entitled to a cash
distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of
(i) the Take-Over Price of the shares of Common Stock at the time
subject to the surrendered option (whether or not the Optionee is
otherwise at the time vested in those shares) over (ii) the aggregate
exercise price payable for such shares. Such cash distribution shall
be paid within five (5) days following the surrender of the option to
the Corporation. No approval or consent of the Board shall be
required in connection with such option surrender and cash
distribution.
D. The grant of options under the Automatic Option Grant Program 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.
III. REMAINING TERMS
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The remaining terms of each option granted under the Automatic Option Grant
Program shall be the same as the terms in effect for option grants made under
the Discretionary Option Grant Program.
ARTICLE FIVE
MISCELLANEOUS
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I. ACCELERATION
A. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion, exercisable either
at the time an option is granted under the Discretionary Stock Option
Program, at the time that stock is issued under the Stock Issuance
Program or at any time while the option or stock remains outstanding,
to provide for the acceleration of one or
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more outstanding options and the termination of repurchase rights on
one or more outstanding shares upon the occurrence of such events as
the Plan Administrator may determine, including upon a Corporate
Transaction regardless or whether or not such options are to be
assumed or replaced or the repurchase rights are to be assigned in the
Corporate Transaction.
B. The Plan Administrator shall not have the discretion to provide for
the acceleration of any options granted under the Automatic Option
Grant Program.
II. FINANCING
A. The Plan Administrator may permit any Optionee or Participant to pay
the option exercise price under the Discretionary Option Grant Program
or the purchase price for shares issued under the Stock Issuance
Program by delivering a promissory note payable in one or more
installments. 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. Promissory notes may be
authorized with or without security or collateral. In all events, the
maximum credit available to the Optionee or Participant may not exceed
the sum of (i) the aggregate option exercise price or purchase price
payable for the purchased 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.
B. The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, determine that one or
more such promissory notes shall be subject to forgiveness by the
Corporation in whole or in part upon such terms as the Plan
Administrator may deem appropriate.
III. TAX WITHHOLDING
A. The Corporation's obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock upon
the exercise of options or upon the issuance or vesting of such shares
under the Plan shall be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable
Federal, state and local income and employment tax withholding
requirements.
B. The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, provide any or all
holders of Non-Statutory Options or unvested shares of Common Stock
under the Plan (other than the options granted or the shares issued
under the Automatic Option Grant Program) with the right to use shares
of Common Stock in satisfaction of all or part of the federal, state
and local income or employment taxes incurred by such holders in
connection with the exercise of their options or the vesting of their
shares. Such right may be provided to any such holder in either or
both of the following formats:
(i) Stock Withholding: The election to have the Corporation
-----------------
withhold, from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable
upon the exercise of such Non-Statutory Option or the vesting
of such shares, a portion of those shares with an aggregate
Fair Market Value equal to the percentage of such taxes (not to
exceed one hundred percent (100%)) designated by the holder.
(ii) Stock Delivery: The election to deliver to the Corporation, at
--------------
the time the Non-Statutory Option is exercised or the shares
vest, one or more shares of Common Stock previously acquired by
such holder (other than in connection with the option exercise
or share vesting triggering the taxes) with an aggregate Fair
Market Value equal to the percentage of such taxes (not to
exceed one hundred percent (100%)) designated by the holder.
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IV. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN
A. The Plan shall become effective on the date the Plan is adopted by the
Board, and options may be granted under the Discretionary Option Grant
Program from and after the effective date. However, no options
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
stockholders. If such stockholder approval is not obtained within
twelve (12) months after such effective date, then all options
previously granted under this Plan shall terminate and cease to be
outstanding, and no further options shall be granted and no shares
shall be issued under the Plan.
B. The Plan shall serve as the successor to the Predecessor Plan, and no
further option grants shall be made under the Predecessor Plan after
the effective date of the Plan. All options outstanding under the
Predecessor Plan as of such date shall, immediately upon approval of
the Plan by the Corporations's stockholders, be incorporated into the
Plan and treated as outstanding options under the Plan. However, each
outstanding option so incorporated shall continue to be governed
solely by the terms of the documents evidencing such option. No
provision of the Plan shall be deemed to adversely affect or otherwise
diminish the rights or obligations of the holders of such incorporated
options with respect to their acquisition of shares of Common Stock
which may exist under the terms of the Predecessor Plan under which
such incorporated option was issued. Subject to the rights of the
optionee under the incorporated option documents and Predecessor Plan,
the discretion delegated to the Plan Administrator hereunder may be
exercised with respect to incorporated options to the same extent as
it is exercisable with respect to options originally granted under
this Plan.
C. The option/vesting acceleration provisions of Article Two relating to
Corporate Transactions and Changes in Control may, in the Plan
Administrator's discretion, be extended to one or more options
incorporated from the Predecessor Plan which do not otherwise provide
for such acceleration.
D. The Plan shall terminate upon the earliest of (i) April 27, 2005, (ii)
--------
the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Plan
shall have been issued pursuant to the exercise of the options or the
issuance of shares (whether vested or unvested) under the Plan or
(iii) the termination of all outstanding options in connection with a
Corporate Transaction. Upon such Plan termination, all options and
unvested stock issuances outstanding on such date shall thereafter
continue to have force and effect in accordance with the provisions of
the documents evidencing such options or issuances.
V. 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 stockholder approval if so determined by the
Board or pursuant to applicable laws or regulations.
B. If stockholder approval is required, pursuant to the previous
sentence, to amend the Plan to increase the number of shares of Common
Stock available for issuance under the Plan, then upon Board approval
of such an amendment, options to purchase shares of Common Stock may
be granted under the Discretionary Option Grant Program and shares of
Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program that are
in each instance in excess of the number of shares then available for
issuance under the Plan, provided any excess shares actually issued
under those programs are held in
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escrow until there is obtained stockholder approval of an amendment
sufficiently increasing the number of shares of Common Stock
available for issuance under the Plan. If such stockholder approval
(if so required) is not obtained within twelve (12) months after the
date the first such excess 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.
VI. 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.
VII. REGULATORY APPROVALS
A. The implementation of the Plan, the granting of any option 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.
B. No shares of Common Stock or other assets shall be issued or
delivered under the Plan unless and until there shall have been
compliance with all applicable requirements of Federal and state
securities laws, including the filing and effectiveness of the Form
S-8 registration statement for the shares of Common Stock issuable
under the Plan, and all applicable listing requirements of any stock
exchange (or the Nasdaq National Market, if applicable) on which
Common Stock is then listed for trading.
VIII. NO EMPLOYMENT/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.
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APPENDIX
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The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:
A. Board shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.
-----
B. Change in Control shall mean a change in ownership or control of the
-----------------
Corporation effected through either of the following transactions:
(i) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or related
group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under
common control with, the Corporation), of beneficial ownership
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the
total combined voting power of the Corporation's outstanding
securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to
the Corporation's stockholders which the Board does not recommend
such stockholders to accept, or
(ii) a change in the composition of the Board over a period of thirty-
six (36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the
Board members ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections
for Board membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (A)
have been Board members continuously since the beginning of such
period or (B) have been elected or nominated for election as Board
members during such period by at least a majority of the Board
members described in clause (A) who were still in office at the
time the Board approved such election or nomination.
C. Corporate Transaction shall mean either of the following stockholder-
---------------------
approved transactions to which the Corporation is a party:
(i) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving
entity, except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is
to change the State of the Company's incorporation,
(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all
of the assets of the Company in liquidation or dissolution of the
Company, or
(iii) any reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving entity but
in which securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the
total combined voting power of the Company's outstanding securities
are transferred to holders different from those who held such
securities immediately prior to such merger.
D. Corporation shall mean Synbiotics Corporation, a California corporation.
-----------
E. 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.
F. 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 or any successor system. If there is
no closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in
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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 not traded on the Nasdaq National
Market or listed on any stock exchange, then the Fair Market Value
shall be determined according to whatever method is from time to
time approved in good faith by the Board.
G. Hostile Take-Over shall mean a change in ownership of the Corporation
-----------------
effected through acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person or
related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with, the Corporation) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning
of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of securities
possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power
of the Corporation's outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or
exchange offer made directly to the Corporation's stockholders which the
Board does not recommend such stockholders to accept.
H. Incentive Option shall mean an option which satisfies the requirements of
----------------
Internal Revenue Code Section 422.
I. 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 level of responsibility, (B) a reduction in his or her
level of compensation (including base salary, fringe benefits and
any non-discretionary and objective-standard incentive payment or
bonus award) 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 by the Corporation without the individual's consent.
J. 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).
K. Non-Statutory Option shall mean an option which is not an Incentive Option.
--------------------
L. 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
A-2
of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
M. Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled 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 expected to result in death or to be of continuous duration of
twelve (12) months or more.
N. Predecessor Plan shall mean, collectively, the Corporation's existing 1986
----------------
Stock Option Plan, 1987 Stock Option Plan, 1988 Stock Option Plan, 1991
Stock Option Plan, 1994 Stock Option Plan, 1996 Stock Option Plan and 1998
Stock Option Plan.
O. Service shall mean the provision of services to the Corporation (or any
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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 the option grant.
P. 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.
Q. Take-Over Price shall mean the greater of (i) the Fair Market Value per
--------------- -------
share of Common Stock on the date the option is surrendered to the
Corporation in connection with a Hostile Take-Over or (ii) the highest
reported price per share of Common Stock paid by the tender offeror in
effecting such Hostile Take-Over. However, if the surrendered option is an
Incentive Option, the Take-Over Price shall not exceed the clause (i) price
per share.
A-3