EXHIBIT 10(a)
DIGI INTERNATIONAL INC.
STOCK OPTION PLAN
AS AMENDED AND RESTATED
1. PURPOSE OF PLAN. The purpose of this Digi International Inc. Stock Option
Plan (the "Plan"), is to promote the interests of Digi International Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and its stockholders by providing key
personnel of the Company and its subsidiaries with an opportunity to acquire a
proprietary interest in the Company and thereby develop a stronger incentive to
put forth maximum effort for the continued success and growth of the Company and
its subsidiaries. In addition, the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest
in the Company will aid in attracting and retaining key personnel of outstanding
ability.
2. ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN. This Plan shall be administered by a committee of
two or more directors (the "Committee") appointed by the Company's board of
directors (the "Board"). No person shall serve as a member of the Committee
unless such person shall be a "Non-Employee Director" as that term is defined in
Rule 16b-3(a)(3)(i), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Act"), or any successor statute or regulation comprehending the
same subject matter. A majority of the members of the Committee shall constitute
a quorum for any meeting of the Committee, and the acts of a majority of the
members present at any meeting at which a quorum is present or the acts
unanimously approved in writing by all members of the Committee shall be the
acts of the Committee. Subject to the provisions of this Plan, the Committee
may from time to time adopt such rules for the administration of this Plan as it
deems appropriate. The decision of the Committee on any matter affecting this
Plan or the rights and obligations arising under this Plan or any option granted
hereunder, shall be final, conclusive and binding upon all persons, including
without limitation the Company, stockholders, employees and optionees. To the
full extent permitted by law, (i) no member of the Committee or the CEO Stock
Option Committee (as defined in this paragraph 2) shall be liable for any action
or determination taken or made in good faith with respect to this Plan or any
option granted hereunder and (ii) the members of the Committee and the CEO Stock
Option Committee shall be entitled to indemnification by the Company against and
from any loss incurred by such member or person by reason of any such actions
and determinations. The Committee may delegate all or any part of its authority
under this Plan to a one person committee consisting of the Chief Executive
Officer of the Company as its sole member (the "CEO Stock Option Committee") for
purposes of granting and administering awards granted to persons other than
persons who are then subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16 of the
Exchange Act ("Section 16 Individuals").
3. SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN. The shares that may be made subject to options
granted under this Plan shall be authorized and unissued shares of common stock
(the "Common Shares") of the Company, $.01 par value, or Common Shares held in
treasury, and they shall not exceed 4,129,400 in the aggregate, except that, if
any option lapses or terminates for any reason before such option has been
completely exercised, the Common Shares covered by the unexercised portion of
such option may again be made subject to options granted under this Plan.
Appropriate adjustments in the number of shares and in the purchase price per
share may be made by the Committee in its sole discretion to give effect to
adjustments made in the number of outstanding Common Shares of the Company
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through a merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification,
combination, stock dividend, stock split or other relevant change, provided that
fractional shares shall be rounded to the nearest whole share.
4. ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS. Options may be granted under this Plan to any key
employee of the Company or any subsidiary thereof, including any such employee
who is also an officer or director of the Company or any subsidiary thereof.
Nonstatutory stock options, as defined in paragraph 5(a) hereof, also shall be
granted to directors of the Company who are not employees of the Company or any
subsidiary thereof (the "Outside Directors") in accordance with paragraph 6
hereof and may also be granted to other individuals or entities who are not
"employees" but who provide services to the Company or a parent or subsidiary
thereof in the capacity of an Outside Director, advisor or consultant.
References herein to "employed," "employment" and similar terms (except
"employee") shall include the providing of services in any such capacity or as a
director. The employees and other individuals and entities to whom options may
be granted pursuant to this paragraph 4 are referred to herein as "Eligible
Participants."
5. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYEE OPTIONS.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, the Committee
may, from time to time prior to December 1, 2006, grant to such Eligible
Participants as the Committee may determine options to purchase such number
of Common Shares of the Company on such terms and conditions as the
Committee may determine; provided, however, that no Eligible Participant
may be granted options with respect to more than 250,000 Common Shares
during any calendar year. In determining the Eligible Participants to whom
options shall be granted and the number of Common Shares to be covered by
each option, the Committee may take into account the nature of the services
rendered by the respective Eligible Participants, their present and
potential contributions to the success of the Company, and such other
factors as the Committee in its sole discretion shall deem relevant. The
date and time of approval by the Committee of the granting of an option
shall be considered the date and the time of the grant of such option. The
Committee in its sole discretion may designate whether an option granted to
an employee is to be considered an "incentive stock option" (as that term
is defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
or any amendment thereto (the "Code")) or a nonstatutory stock option (an
option granted under this Plan that is not intended to be an "incentive
stock option"). The Committee may grant both incentive stock options and
nonstatutory stock options to the same employee. However, if an incentive
stock option and a nonstatutory stock option are awarded simultaneously,
such options shall be deemed to have been awarded in separate grants, shall
be clearly identified, and in no event shall the exercise of one such
option affect the right to exercise the other. To the extent that the
aggregate Fair Market Value (as defined in paragraph 5(c)) of Common Shares
with respect to which incentive stock options (determined without regard to
this sentence) are exercisable for the first time by any individual during
any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and its parent and
subsidiary corporations) exceeds $100,000, such options shall be treated as
nonstatutory stock options.
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(b) The purchase price of each Common Share subject to an option
granted pursuant to this paragraph 5 shall be fixed by the Committee. For
nonstatutory stock options, such purchase price may be set at not less that
50% of the Fair Market Value (as defined below) of a Common Share on the
date of grant. For incentive stock options, such purchase price shall be no
less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Common Share on the date of
grant, provided that if such incentive stock option is granted to an
employee who owns, or is deemed under Section 424(d) of the Code to own, at
the time such option is granted, stock of the Company (or of any parent or
subsidiary of the Company) possessing more than 10% of the total combined
voting power of all classes of stock therein (a "10% Stockholder"), such
purchase price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of a
Common Share on the date of grant.
(c) For purposes of this Plan, the "Fair Market Value" of a Common
Share at a specified date shall, unless otherwise expressly provided in
this Plan, mean the closing sale price of a Common Share on the date
immediately preceding such date or, if no sale of such shares shall have
occurred on that date, on the next preceding day on which a sale of such
shares occurred, on the Composite Tape for New York Stock Exchange listed
shares or, if such shares are not quoted on the Composite Tape for New York
Stock Exchange listed shares, on the principal United States securities
exchange registered under the Act, on which the shares are listed, or, if
such shares are not listed on any such exchange, on the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System/National
Market System or any similar system then in use or, if such shares are not
included in the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotation System/National Market System or any similar system then in use,
the mean between the closing "bid" and the closing "asked" quotation of
such a share on the date immediately preceding the date as of which such
Fair Market Value is being determined, or, if no closing bid or asked
quotation is made on that date, on the next preceding day on which a
quotation is made, on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Automated Quotation System or any similar system then in use, provided that
if the shares in question are not quoted on any such system, Fair Market
Value shall be what the Committee determines in good faith to be 100% of
the fair market value of such a share as of the date in question.
Notwithstanding anything stated in this paragraph, if the applicable
securities exchange or system has closed for the day by the time the
determination is being made, all references in this paragraph to the date
immediately preceding the date in question shall be deemed to be references
to the date in question.
(d) Each option agreement provided for in paragraph 14 hereof shall
specify when each option granted under this Plan shall become exercisable.
(e) Each option granted pursuant to this paragraph 5 and all rights
to purchase shares thereunder shall cease on the earliest of:
(i) ten years after the date such option is granted (or in
the case of an incentive stock option granted to a 10% Stockholder,
five years after the date such
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option is granted) or on such date prior thereto as may be fixed by
the Committee on or before the date such option is granted;
(ii) the expiration of the period after the termination of the
optionee's employment within which the option is exercisable as
specified in paragraph 8(b) or 8(c), whichever is applicable; or
(iii) the date, if any, fixed for cancellation pursuant to
paragraph 9 of this Plan.
In no event shall any option be exercisable at any time after its original
expiration date. When an option is no longer exercisable, it shall be deemed to
have lapsed or terminated and will no longer be outstanding.
6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OUTSIDE DIRECTOR OPTIONS.
(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan, the Committee
shall grant options to each Outside Director who is not on the date such
option would be granted the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Act) of more than 5% of the outstanding Common Shares, on the
terms and conditions set forth in this paragraph 6. During the term of this
Plan and provided that sufficient Common Shares are available pursuant to
paragraph 3:
(i) each person who is an Outside Director at the conclusion
of each Annual Meeting of Stockholders held prior to the date of the
1996 Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall be granted a nonstatutory
stock option on the date of such Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The
date of such Annual Meeting of Stockholders also shall be the date of
grant for options granted pursuant to this subparagraph 6(a)(i). The
number of Common Shares covered by each such option shall be 15,000
(7,500 on or after the 1992 Annual Meeting of Stockholders);
(ii) each person who is elected to be an Outside Director
between Annual Meetings of Stockholders and prior to the date of the
1996 Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall be granted a nonstatutory
stock option. The date such person is elected to be an Outside
Director of the Company by the Board shall be the date of grant for
such options granted pursuant to this subparagraph 6(a)(ii). The
number of Common Shares covered by each such option shall be 15,000
(7,500 on or after the 1992 Annual Meeting of Stockholders) multiplied
by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be 12 minus the number of
whole 30-day months that have elapsed from the date of the most recent
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to the date such person is elected to
be an Outside Director, and the denominator of which shall be 12;
(iii) each person who is elected to be an Outside Director at
any time on or after the date of the 1996 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders and who was not at any time previously a director of the
Company shall be granted a nonstatutory stock option. The date such
person is elected to be an Outside Director of the Company
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shall be the date of grant for such options granted pursuant to this
subparagraph 6(a)(iii). The number of Common Shares covered by each
such option shall be 5,000;
(iv) each person who is an Outside Director at the conclusion
of the 1996 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and at the conclusion of
each Annual Meeting of Stockholders thereafter shall be granted a
nonstatutory stock option on the date of such Annual Meeting of
Stockholders. The date of such Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall
also be the date of grant for options granted pursuant to this
subparagraph 6(a)(iv). The number of Common Shares covered by each
such option shall be 1,500;
(v) each person who is elected to be an Outside Director
between Annual Meetings of Stockholders and after the date of the 1996
Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall be granted a nonstatutory stock
option. The date such person is elected to be an Outside Director of
the Company by the Board shall be the date of grant for such options
granted pursuant to this subparagraph 6(a)(v). The number of Common
Shares covered by each such option shall be 1,500 multiplied by a
fraction, the numerator of which shall be 12 minus the number of whole
30-day months that have elapsed from the date of the most recent
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to the date such person is elected to
be an Outside Director, and the denominator of which shall be 12;
(vi) each person who is an Outside Director at the conclusion
of the 1996 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and each Annual Meeting of
Stockholders thereafter may elect in writing to be granted a
nonstatutory stock option on the date of such Annual Meeting of
Stockholders in lieu of all cash compensation to which such Outside
Director would be entitled for the Board year of the Company
commencing with such Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The date of such
Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall also be the date of grant for
options granted pursuant to this subparagraph 6(a)(vi). The number of
Common Shares covered by each such option shall be 6,000. Any such
election by an Outside Director shall be subject to prior approval by
the Committee; and
(vii) each person who is elected to be an Outside Director
between Annual Meetings of Stockholders and after the date of the 1996
Annual Meeting of Stockholders may elect in writing to be granted a
nonstatutory stock option in lieu of all cash compensation to which
such Outside Director would otherwise be entitled for the period
commencing with the date such person is elected to be an Outside
Director of the Company by the Board and ending on the date of the
next Annual Meeting of Stockholders. The date such person is elected
to be an Outside Director of the Company by the Board shall be the
date of grant for such options granted pursuant to this
subparagraph 6(a)(vii). The number of Common Shares covered by each
such option shall be 6,000 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of
which shall be 12 minus the number of whole 30-day months that have
elapsed
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from the date of the most recent Annual Meeting of Stockholders to the
date such person is elected to be an Outside Director, and the
denominator of which shall be 12. Such election by an Outside Director
shall be subject to prior approval by the Committee.
(b) The purchase price of each Common Share subject to an option
granted to an Outside Director pursuant to this paragraph 6 shall be the
Fair Market Value of a Common Share on the date of grant.
(c)(i) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 6(e) and 6(f) hereof,
the options granted to Outside Directors pursuant to subparagraph 6(a)(i)
shall vest and become exercisable in accordance with the following
schedule:
Cumulative Percentage
Annual Meeting ---------------------
of Stockholders Becoming Exercisable
--------------- --------------------
One Year After Grant 20%
Two Years After Grant 40%
Three Years After Grant 60%
Four Years After Grant 80%
Five Years After Grant 100%
(ii) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 6(e) hereof, the
options granted to Outside Directors pursuant to subparagraph 6(a)(ii)
shall vest and become exercisable in accordance with the following
schedule:
Cumulative Percentage
Anniversary of the ---------------------
Date of Grant Becoming Exercisable
------------- --------------------
One Year After Grant 20%
Two Years After Grant 40%
Three Years After Grant 60%
Four Years After Grant 80%
Five Years After Grant 100%
(iii) Subject to the provisions of paragraphs 6(e) and 6(f)
hereof, (x) options granted to Outside Directors pursuant to
subparagraph 6(a)(iv) and (vi) and (y) options granted to Outside
Directors pursuant to subparagraph 6(a)(iii) if the date of grant of
such options is the date of an Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall
vest and become exercisable in accordance with the following schedule:
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Cumulative Percentage
Annual Meeting ---------------------
of Stockholders Becoming Exercisable
--------------- --------------------
One Year After Grant 50%
Two Years After Grant 100%
(iv) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 6(e) and 6(f)
hereof, (x) the options granted to Outside Directors pursuant to
subparagraphs 6(a)(v) and (vii) and (y) options granted to Outside
Directors pursuant to subparagraph 6(a)(iii) if the date of grant of
such options is a date other than the date of an Annual Meeting of
Stockholders shall vest and become exercisable in accordance with the
following schedule:
Cumulative Percentage
Anniversary of the ---------------------
Date of Grant Becoming Exercisable
------------- --------------------
One Year After Grant 50%
Two Years After Grant 100%
(d) Notwithstanding the terms of paragraphs 6(a), 6(b) and 6(c)
hereof, options shall be granted to Willis K. Drake ("Drake") and to
Richard E. Eichhorn ("Eichhorn"), on the effective date of the merger (the
"Merger") of Digiboard, Inc., a Minnesota corporation, with and into the
Company, to purchase (i) 15,000 Common Shares at a purchase price of $.50
per share, in substitution for options previously granted to Drake and
Eichhorn on October 1, 1987 (the "1987 Options"), which 1987 Options shall
vest and become exercisable in accordance with the following schedule:
Cumulative Percentage
---------------------
Date Becoming Exercisable
---- --------------------
Effective Date of this Plan 20%
October 1, 1989 40%
October 1, 1990 60%
October 1, 1991 80%
October 1, 1992 100%
and (ii) 15,000 Common Shares at a purchase price of $.50 per share, in
substitution for options previously granted to Drake and Eichhorn on October 1,
1988 (the "1988 Options"), which 1988 Options shall vest and become exercisable
in accordance with the following schedule:
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Cumulative Percentage
---------------------
Date Becoming Exercisable
---- --------------------
October 1, 1989 20%
October 1, 1990 40%
October 1, 1991 60%
October 1, 1992 80%
October 1, 1993 100%
(e) Notwithstanding the vesting schedules set forth in
paragraphs 6(c) and 6(d) hereof, an option held by an Outside Director
shall vest and become immediately exercisable upon the latest of (i) the
date on which such Outside Director attains 62 years of age, (ii) the date
on which such Outside Director has completed five years of Service (as
hereinafter defined) and (iii) the first anniversary of the date of grant
of such option or, if applicable, the Annual Meeting of Stockholders next
succeeding the Annual Meeting at which such option was granted. Any option
granted to an Outside Director on or after the first accelerated vesting
date for such Outside Director shall automatically vest on the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders next succeeding the Annual Meeting at which such
option was granted. As used herein, "Service" shall mean service to the
Company or any subsidiary thereof in the capacity of any advisor,
consultant, employee, officer or director, and Service as a director from
an Annual Meeting of Stockholders to the next succeeding Annual Meeting
shall constitute a year of Service, notwithstanding that such period may
actually be more or less than one year.
(f) Each option granted to an Outside Director pursuant to this
paragraph 6 and all rights to purchase shares thereunder shall terminate on
the earliest of:
(i) ten years after the date such option is granted;
provided, however, that the 1987 Options shall terminate on
September 30, 1997, and the 1988 Options shall terminate on
September 30, 1998;
(ii) the expiration of the period specified in paragraph 8(b)
or 8(c), whichever is applicable, after an Outside Director ceases to
be a director of the Company; or
(iii) the date, if any, fixed for cancellation pursuant to
paragraph 9 of this Plan.
In no event shall such option be exercisable at any time after its original
expiration date. When an option is no longer exercisable, it shall be deemed to
have lapsed or terminated and will no longer be outstanding.
7. MANNER OF EXERCISING OPTIONS. A person entitled to exercise an option
granted under this Plan may, subject to its terms and conditions and the terms
and conditions of this Plan, exercise it in whole at any time, or in part from
time to time, by delivery to the Company at its principal
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executive office, to the attention of its President, of written notice of
exercise, specifying the number of shares with respect to which the option is
being exercised, accompanied by payment in full of the purchase price of the
shares to be purchased at the time. The purchase price of each share on the
exercise of any option shall be paid in full in cash (including check, bank
draft or money order) at the time of exercise or, at the discretion of the
holder of the option, by delivery to the Company of unencumbered Common Shares
having an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the
purchase price, or by a combination of cash and such unencumbered Common Shares.
No shares shall be issued until full payment therefor has been made, and the
granting of an option to an individual shall give such individual no rights as a
stockholder except as to shares issued to such individual.
8. TRANSFERABILITY AND TERMINATION OF OPTIONS.
(a) During the lifetime of an optionee, only such optionee or his or
her guardian or legal representative may exercise options granted under
this Plan, and no option granted under this Plan shall be assignable or
transferable by the optionee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent
and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order as defined in
the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act
("ERISA"), or the rules thereunder; provided, however, that any optionee
may transfer a nonstatutory stock option granted under this Plan to a
member or members of his or her immediate family (i.e., his or her
children, grandchildren and spouse) or to one or more trusts for the
benefit of such family members or partnerships in which such family members
are the only partners, if (i) the option agreement with respect to such
options, which must be approved by the Committee, expressly so provides
either at the time of initial grant or by amendment to an outstanding
option agreement and (ii) the optionee does not receive any consideration
for the transfer. Any options held by any such transferee shall continue
to be subject to the same terms and conditions that were applicable to such
options immediately prior to their transfer and may be exercised by such
transferee as and to the extent that such option has become exercisable and
has not terminated in accordance with the provisions of the Plan and the
applicable option agreement. For purposes of any provision of this Plan
relating to notice to an optionee or to vesting or termination of an option
upon the death, disability or termination of employment of an optionee, the
references to "optionee" shall mean the original grantee of an option and
not any transferee.
(b) During the lifetime of an optionee, an option may be exercised
only while the optionee is employed by the Company or a parent or
subsidiary thereof, and only if such optionee has been continuously so
employed since the date the option was granted, except that:
(i) an option granted to an optionee who is not an Outside
Director shall continue to be exercisable for three months after
termination of such optionee's employment but only to the extent that
the option was exercisable immediately prior to such optionee's
termination of employment, and an option granted to an optionee who
is an Outside Director shall continue to be exercisable after such
Outside
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Director ceases to be a director of the Company but only to the extent
that the option was exercisable immediately prior to such Outside
Director's ceasing to be a director;
(ii) in the case of an optionee who is disabled (within the
meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) while employed, the option
granted to such optionee may be exercised within one year after
termination of such optionee's employment; and
(iii) as to any optionee whose termination occurs following a
declaration pursuant to paragraph 9 of this Plan, the option granted
to such optionee may be exercised at any time permitted by such
declaration.
(c) An option may be exercised after the death of the optionee, but
only within one year after the death of such optionee.
(d) In the event of the disability (within the meaning of
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code) or death of an optionee, any option granted
to such optionee that was not previously exercisable shall become
immediately exercisable in full if the disabled or deceased optionee shall
have been continuously employed by the Company or a parent or subsidiary
thereof between the date such option was granted and the date of such
disability, or, in the event of death, a date not more than three months
prior to such death.
9. DISSOLUTION, LIQUIDATION, MERGER. In the event of (a) a proposed merger or
consolidation of the Company with or into any other corporation, regardless of
whether the Company is the surviving corporation, unless appropriate provision
shall have been made for the protection of the outstanding options granted under
this Plan by the substitution, in lieu of such options, of options to purchase
appropriate voting common stock (the "Survivor's Stock") of the corporation
surviving any such merger or consolidation or, if appropriate, the parent
corporation of the Company or such surviving corporation, or, alternatively, by
the delivery of a number of shares of the Survivor's Stock which has a Fair
Market Value as of the effective date of such merger or consolidation equal to
the product of (i) the excess of (x) the Event Proceeds per Common Share (as
hereinafter defined) covered by the option as of such effective date, over
(y) the option price per Common Share, times (ii) the number of Common Shares
covered by such option, or (b) the proposed dissolution or liquidation of the
Company (such merger, consolidation, dissolution or liquidation being herein
called an "Event"), the Committee shall declare, at least ten days prior to the
actual effective date of an Event, and provide written notice to each optionee
of the declaration, that each outstanding option, whether or not then
exercisable, shall be cancelled at the time of, or immediately prior to the
occurrence of, the Event (unless it shall have been exercised prior to the
occurrence of the Event) in exchange for payment to the holder of each cancelled
option, within ten days after the Event, of cash equal to the amount (if any),
for each Common Share covered by the cancelled option, by which the Event
Proceeds per Common Share (as hereinafter defined) exceeds the exercise price
per Common Share covered by such option. At the time of the declaration provided
for in the immediately preceding sentence, each option shall immediately become
exercisable in full and each holder of an option shall have the right, during
the period preceding the time of cancellation of the
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option, to exercise his or her option as to all or any part of the Common Shares
covered thereby. Each outstanding option granted pursuant to this Plan that
shall not have been exercised prior to the Event shall be cancelled at the time
of, or immediately prior to, the Event, as provided in the declaration, and this
Plan shall terminate at the time of such cancellation, subject to the payment
obligations of the Company provided in this paragraph 9. For purposes of this
paragraph, "Event Proceeds per Common Share" shall mean the cash plus the fair
market value, as determined in good faith by the Committee, of the non-cash
consideration to be received per Common Share by the stockholders of the Company
upon the occurrence of the Event.
10. SUBSTITUTION OPTIONS. Options may be granted under this Plan from time to
time in substitution for stock options held by employees of other corporations
who are about to become employees of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company,
or whose employer is about to become a subsidiary of the Company, as the result
of a merger or consolidation of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company with
another corporation, the acquisition by the Company or a subsidiary of the
Company of all or substantially all the assets of another corporation or the
acquisition by the Company or a subsidiary of the Company of at least 50% of the
issued and outstanding stock of another corporation. The terms and conditions of
the substitute options so granted may vary from the terms and conditions set
forth in this Plan to such extent as the Board at the time of the grant may deem
appropriate to conform, in whole or in part, to the provisions of the stock
options in substitution for which they are granted, but with respect to stock
options which are incentive stock options, no such variation shall be permitted
which affects the status of any such substitute option as an incentive stock
option under Section 422A of the Code.
11. TAX WITHHOLDING. Delivery of Common Shares upon exercise of any
nonstatutory stock option granted under this Plan shall be subject to any
required withholding taxes. A person exercising such an option may, as a
condition precedent to receiving the Common Shares, be required to pay the
Company a cash amount equal to the amount of any required withholdings. In lieu
of all or any part of such a cash payment, the Committee may, but shall not be
required to, permit the optionee to elect to cover all or any part of the
required withholdings, and to cover any additional withholdings up to the amount
needed to cover such optionee's full FICA and federal, state and local income
tax liability with respect to income arising from the exercise of the option,
through a reduction of the number of Common Shares delivered to the person
exercising the option or through a subsequent return to the Company of shares
delivered to the person exercising the option.
12. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Neither the transfer of employment of an
optionee between any combination of the Company, a parent corporation or a
subsidiary thereof, nor a leave of absence granted to such optionee and approved
by the Committee, shall be deemed a termination of employment for purposes of
this Plan. The terms "parent" or "parent corporation" and "subsidiary" as used
in this Plan shall have the meaning ascribed to "parent corporation" and
"subsidiary corporation", respectively, in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code.
13. OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS. The Committee shall have the power, subject to
the other limitations contained herein, to fix any other terms and conditions
for the grant or exercise of any option under this Plan. Nothing contained in
this Plan, or in any option granted pursuant to this Plan, shall confer upon any
optionee any right to continued employment by the Company or any
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parent or subsidiary of the Company or limit in any way the right of the Company
or any such parent or subsidiary to terminate an optionee's employment at any
time.
14. OPTION AGREEMENTS. All options granted under this Plan shall be evidenced
by a written agreement in such form or forms as the Committee may from time to
time determine, which agreement shall, among other things, designate whether the
options being granted thereunder are nonstatutory stock options or incentive
stock options under Section 422 of the Code.
15. AMENDMENT AND DISCONTINUANCE OF PLAN. The Board may at any time amend,
suspend or discontinue this Plan; provided, however, that no amendment by the
Board shall, without further approval of the Stockholders of the Company, if
required in order for the Plan to continue to meet the requirements of the Code:
(a) change the persons eligible to receive options;
(b) except as provided in paragraph 3 hereof, increase the total number of
Common Shares of the Company which may be made subject to options
granted under this Plan;
(c) except as provided in paragraph 3 hereof, change the minimum purchase
price for the exercise of an option;
(d) increase the maximum period during which options may be exercised or
otherwise materially increase the benefits accruing to participants
under this Plan; or
(e) extend the term of this Plan beyond December 1, 2006.
No amendment to this Plan shall, without the consent of the holder of the
option, alter or impair any options previously granted under this Plan.
16. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Plan shall be effective upon the Merger.
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