AUDIO HIGHWAY
1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. PURPOSES OF THE PLAN. The purposes of this 1996 Stock Plan are to
attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial
responsibility, to provide additional incentive to Employees and Consultants of
the Company and its Subsidiaries and to promote the success of the Company's
business. Options granted under the Plan may be incentive stock options (as
defined under Section 422 of the Code) or non-statutory stock options, as
determined by the Administrator at the time of grant of an option and subject to
the applicable provisions of Section 422 of the Code, as amended, and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.
2. DEFINITIONS. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:
(a) "ADMINISTRATOR" means the Board or any of its Committees
appointed pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan.
(b) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(d) "COMMITTEE" means the Committee appointed by the Board of
Directors in accordance with Section 4(a) of the Plan.
(e) "COMMON STOCK" means the Common Stock of the Company.
(f) "COMPANY" means Audio Highway, a California corporation.
(g) "CONSULTANT" means any person, including an advisor, who is
engaged by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary to render services and is
compensated for such services, and any director of the Company whether
compensated for such services or not, provided that if and in the event the
Company registers any class of any equity security pursuant to the Exchange Act,
the term Consultant shall thereafter not include directors who are not
compensated for their services or are paid only a director's fee by the Company.
(h) "CONTINUOUS STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE OR CONSULTANT" means the
absence of any interruption or termination of service as an Employee or
Consultant. Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant shall not be
considered interrupted in the case of (i) sick leave; (ii) military leave; (iii)
any other leave of absence approved by the Administrator, provided that such
leave is for a period of not more than ninety (90) days, unless reemployment
upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute, or
unless provided otherwise pursuant to Company policy adopted from time to time;
or (iv) in the case of transfers between locations of the Company or between the
Company, its Subsidiaries or their respective successors. For purposes of this
Plan, a change in status
from an Employee to a Consultant or from a Consultant to an Employee will not
constitute an interruption of Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant.
(i) "EMPLOYEE" means any person, including officers and directors,
employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company, with the
status of employment determined based upon such minimum number of hours or
periods worked as shall be determined by the Administrator in its discretion,
subject to any requirements of the Code. The payment of a director's fee by the
Company shall not be sufficient to constitute "employment" by the Company.
(j) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(k) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any date, the fair market value
of Common Stock determined as follows:
(i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system including without limitation the National
Market of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated
Quotation ("Nasdaq") System, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales
price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported), as quoted
on such system or exchange, or the exchange with the greatest volume of trading
in Common Stock for the last market trading day prior to the time of
determination, as reported in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL or such other source as
the Administrator deems reliable;
(ii) If the Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq System (but
not on the National Market thereof) or regularly quoted by a recognized
securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value
shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked prices for the Common Stock
for the last market trading day prior to the time of determination, as reported
in THE WALL STREET JOURNAL or such other source as the Administrator deems
reliable; or
(iii) In the absence of an established market for the Common
Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the
Administrator.
(1) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an Option intended to qualify as
an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
(m) "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" means an Option not intended to
qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
(n) "OPTION" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.
(o) "OPTIONED STOCK" means the Common Stock subject to an Option.
(p) "OPTIONEE" means an Employee or Consultant who receives an
Option.
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(q) "PARENT" means a "parent corporation", whether now or hereafter
existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code, or any successor provision.
(r) "PLAN" means this 1996 Stock Option Plan.
(s) "REPORTING PERSON" means an officer, director, or greater than
ten percent shareholder of the Company within the meaning of Rule 16a-2 under
the Exchange Act, who is required to file reports pursuant to Rule 16a-3 under
the Exchange Act.
(t) "RULE 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act,
as the same may be amended from time to time, or any successor provision.
(u) "SHARE" means a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in
accordance with Section I I of the Plan.
(v) "STOCK EXCHANGE" means any stock exchange or consolidated stock
price reporting system on which prices for the Common Stock are quoted at any
given time.
(w) "SUBSIDIARY" means a "subsidiary corporation," whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code, or any successor
provision.
3. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 of
the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares that may be optioned and sold
under the Plan is 1,400,000 shares of Common Stock. The shares may be
authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock. If an Option should
expire or become unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in
full, the unpurchased Shares that were subject thereto shall, unless the Plan
shall have been terminated, become available for future grant under the Plan.
In addition, any shares of Common Stock which are retained by the Company upon
exercise of an Option in order to satisfy the exercise or purchase price for
such Option or any withholding taxes due with respect to such exercise shall be
treated as not issued and shall continue to be available under the Plan.
4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN.
(a) PROCEDURE.
(i) MULTIPLE ADMINISTRATIVE BODIES. If permitted by Rule
16b-3, the Plan may be administered by different bodies with respect to
directors, non-director officers and Employees or Consultants who are not
Reporting Persons.
(ii) ADMINISTRATION WITH RESPECT TO REPORTING PERSONS. With
respect to grants of Options to Employees who are Reporting Persons, the Plan
shall be administered by (A) the Board if the Board may administer the Plan in
compliance with Rule 16b-3 with respect to a plan intended to qualify thereunder
as a discretionary plan, or (B) a committee designated by the Board to
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administer the Plan, which committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to
permit the Plan to comply with Rule 16b-3 with respect to a plan intended to
qualify thereunder as a discretionary plan. Once appointed, such committee
shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by
the Board. From time to time the Board may increase the size of the committee
and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or without cause)
and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies, however
caused, and remove all members of the committee and thereafter directly
administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by Rule 16b-3 with respect to a
plan intended to qualify thereunder as a discretionary plan. No person serving
as a member of an Administrator that has authority with respect to grants to
Reporting Persons shall be eligible to receive any grant under the Plan which
would cause such member to cease to be "disinterested" within the meaning of
Rule 16b-3.
(iii) ADMINISTRATION WITH RESPECT TO CONSULTANTS AND OTHER
EMPLOYEES. With respect to grants of Options to Employees or Consultants who
are not Reporting Persons, the Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or
(B) a committee designated by the Board, which committee shall be constituted in
such a manner as to satisfy the legal requirements relating to the
administration of incentive stock option plans, if any, of California corporate
and securities laws, of the Code and of any applicable Stock Exchange (the
"Applicable Laws"). Once appointed, such Committee shall continue to serve in
its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board. From time to
time the Board may increase the size of the Committee and appoint additional
members thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members
in substitution therefor, fill vacancies, however caused, and remove all members
of the Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent
permitted by the Applicable Laws.
(b) POWERS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. Subject to the provisions of the
Plan and in the case of a Committee, the specific duties delegated by the Board
to such Committee, and subject to the approval of any relevant authorities,
including the approval, if required, of any Stock Exchange, the Administrator
shall have the authority, in its discretion:
(i) to determine the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock,
in accordance with Section 2(k) of the Plan;
(ii) to select the Consultants and Employees to whom Options
may from time to time be granted hereunder;
(iii) to determine whether and to what extent Options or any
combination thereof are granted hereunder;
(iv) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be
covered by each such option granted hereunder;
(v) to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;
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(vi) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent
with the terms of the Plan, of any option granted hereunder;
(vii) to determine whether and under what circumstances an
Option may be settled in cash under Section 9(f) instead of Common Stock;
(viii) in order to fulfill the purposes of the Plan and without
amending the Plan, to modify grants of Options to participants who are foreign
nationals or employed outside of the United States in order to recognize
differences in local law, tax policies or customs.
(c) EFFECT OF ADMINISTRATOR'S DECISION. All decisions,
determinations and interpretations of the Administrator shall be final and
binding on all holders of Options.
5. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) Nonstatutory Stock Options may be granted to Employees and
Consultants. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. An
Employee or Consultant who has been granted an Option may, if he or she is
otherwise eligible, be granted additional Options.
(b) Each Option shall be designated in the written option agreement
as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option. However,
notwithstanding such designations, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market
Value of the Shares with respect to which Options designated as Incentive Stock
Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionee during any calendar
year (under all plans of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary) exceeds
$100,000, such excess Options shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options.
(c) For purposes of Section 5(b), Incentive Stock Options shall be
taken into account in the order in which they were granted, and the Fair Market
Value of the Shares subject to an Incentive Stock Option shall be determined as
of the date of the grant of such Option.
(d) The Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee any right with
respect to continuation of employment or consulting relationship with the
Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with such Optionee's right or the
Company's right to terminate his or her employment or consulting relationship at
any time, with or without cause.
6. TERM OF PLAN. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to
occur of its adoption by the Board of Directors or its approval by the
shareholders of the Company as described in Section 18 of the Plan. It shall
continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated under
Section 14 of the Plan.
7. TERM OF OPTION. The term of each Option shall be the term stated in
the Option Agreement; provided, however, that the term shall be no more than ten
(10) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be
provided in the Option Agreement. However, in the case
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of an Option granted to an Optionee who, at the time the Option is granted, owns
stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary, the term of the
Option shall be five (5) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter
term as may be provided in the Option Agreement.
8. OPTION EXERCISE PRICE AND CONSIDERATION.
(a) The per share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant
to exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the Board, but
shall be subject to the following:
(i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is:
(A) granted to an Employee who, at the time of the
grant of such Incentive Stock Option, owns stock representing more than ten
percent (10%) of the voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any
Parent or Subsidiary, the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of
the Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant.
(B) granted to any Employee, the per Share exercise
price shall be no less than 100% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date
of grant.
(ii) In the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option that is:
(A) granted to a person who, at the time of the grant
of such Option, owns stock representing more than ten percent (10%) of the
voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary,
the per Share exercise price shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value
per Share on the date of the grant.
(B) granted to any person, the per Share exercise
price shall be no less than 85% of the Fair Market Value per Share on the date
of grant.
(b) The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon
exercise of an Option, including the method of payment, shall be determined by
the Administrator (and, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, shall be
determined at the time of grant) and may consist entirely of (i) cash, (ii)
check, (iii) promissory note, (iv) other Shares that (x) in the case of Shares
acquired upon exercise of an Option, have been owned by the Optionee for more
than six months on the date of surrender or such other period as may be required
to avoid a charge to the Company's earnings, and (y) have a Fair Market Value on
the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to
which such Option shall be exercised, (v) authorization for the Company to
retain from the total number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised that
number of Shares having a Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to the
exercise price for the total number of Shares as to which the Option is
exercised, (vi) delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with
such other documentation as the Administrator and the broker, if applicable,
shall require to effect an exercise of the Option and delivery to the Company of
the sale or loan proceeds required to pay the exercise price and any
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applicable income or employment taxes, (vii) delivery of an irrevocable
subscription agreement for the Shares that irrevocably obligates the option
holder to take and pay for the Shares not more than twelve months after the date
of delivery of the subscription agreement, (viii) any combination of the
foregoing methods of payment, or (ix) such other consideration and method of
payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted under Applicable
Laws. In making its determination as to the type of consideration to accept,
the Administrator shall consider if acceptance of such consideration may be
reasonably expected to benefit the Company.
9. EXERCISE OF OPTION.
(a) PROCEDURE FOR EXERCISE: RIGHTS AS A Shareholder. Any Option
granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions
as determined by the Administrator, including performance criteria with respect
to the Company and/or the Optionee, and as shall be permissible under the terms
of the Plan; provided that such Option shall become exercisable at the rate of
at least twenty percent (20%) per year over five (5) years from the date the
Option is granted.
An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.
An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of such
exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the
Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and the Company has
received full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is
exercised. Full payment may, as authorized by the Board, consist of any
consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 8(b) of the Plan.
Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the
Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the stock
certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any
other rights as a shareholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock,
not withstanding the exercise of the Option. The Company shall issue (or cause
to be issued) such stock certificate promptly upon exercise of the Option. No
adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date
is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in
Section I 1 of the Plan.
Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the
number of Shares that thereafter may be available, both for purposes of the Plan
and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is
exercised.
(b) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR CONSULTING RELATIONSHIP. Subject to
Section 9(c), in the event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous Status as
an Employee or Consultant with the Company, such Optionee may, but only within
three (3) months (or such other period of time not less than thirty (30) days as
is determined by the Administrator, with such determination in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option being made at the time of grant of the Option and not
exceeding three (3) months) after the date of such termination (but in no event
later than the expiration date of the term of such Option as set forth in the
Option Agreement), exercise his or her Option to the extent that the Optionee
was
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not entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination. To the extent
that Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of such
termination, or if Optionee does not exercise such Option to the extent so
entitled within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate. No
termination shall be deemed to occur and this Section 9(b) shall not apply if
(i) the Optionee is a Consultant who becomes an Employee; or (ii) the
Optionee is an Employee who becomes a Consultant.
(c) DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE.
(i) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9(b) above, in
the event of termination of an Option's Continuous Status as an Employee or
Consultant as a result of his or her total and permanent disability (within the
meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), Optionee may, but only within twelve
(12) months from the date of such termination (but in no event later than the
expiration date of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option
Agreement), exercise the Option to the extent otherwise entitled to exercise it
at the date of such termination. To the extent that Optionee was not entitled
to exercise the Option at the date of termination, or if Optionee does not
exercise such Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified herein,
the Option shall terminate.
(ii) In the event of termination of an Optionee's Continuous
Status as an Employee or Consultant as a result of a disability which does not
fall within the meaning of total and permanent disability (as set forth in
Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), Optionee may, but only within six (6) months from
the date of such termination (but in no event later than the expiration date of
the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise the
Option to the extent otherwise entitled to exercise it at the date of such
termination. However, to the extent that such Optionee fails to exercise an
Option which is an Incentive Stock Option ("ISO") (within the meaning of Section
422 of the Code) within three (3) months of the date of such termination, the
Option will not qualify for ISO treatment under the Code. To the extent that
Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of termination, or
if Optionee does not exercise such Option to the extent so entitled within six
months (6) from the date of termination, the Option shall terminate.
(d) DEATH OF OPTIONEE. In the event of the death of an Optionee
during the period of Continuous Status as an Employee or Consultant, or within
thirty (30) days following the termination of the Optionee's Continuous Status
as an Employee or Consultant, the Option may be exercised, at any time within
six (6) months following the date of death (but in no event later than the
expiration date of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option
Agreement), by the Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to
exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent the
Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option at the date of death or, if
earlier, the date of termination of the Continuous Status as an Employee or
Consultant. To the extent that Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option
at the date of death or termination, as the case may be, or if Optionee does not
exercise such Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified herein,
the Option shall terminate.
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(e) RULE 16b-3. Options granted to Reporting Persons shall comply
with Rule 16b-3 and shall contain such additional conditions or restrictions as
may be required thereunder to qualify for the maximum exemption for Plan
transactions.
(f) BUYOUT PROVISIONS. The Administrator may at any time offer to
buy out for a payment in cash or Shares, an Option previously granted, based on
such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and communicate
to the Optionee at the time that such offer is made.
10. STOCK WITHHOLDING TO SATISFY WITHHOLDING TAX OBLIGATIONS. At the
discretion of the Administrator, Optionees may satisfy withholding obligations
as provided in this paragraph. When an Optionee incurs tax liability in
connection with an Option, which tax liability is subject to tax withholding
under applicable tax laws, and the Optionee is obligated to pay the Company an
amount required to be withheld under applicable tax laws, the Optionee may
satisfy the withholding tax obligation by one or some combination of the
following methods: (a) by cash payment, or (b) out of Optionee's current
compensation, (c) if permitted by the Administrator, in its discretion, by
surrendering to the Company Shares that (i) in the case of Shares previously
acquired from the Company, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six
months on the date of surrender, and (ii) have a fair market value on the date
of surrender equal to or less than Optionee's marginal tax rate times the
ordinary income recognized, or (d) by electing to have the Company withhold from
the Shares to be issued upon exercise of the Option, if any, that number of
Shares having a fair market value equal to the amount required to be withheld.
For this purpose, the fair market value of the Shares to be withheld shall be
determined on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined
(the "Tax Date").
Any surrender by a Reporting Person of previously owned Shares to satisfy
tax withholding obligations arising upon exercise of this Option must comply
with the applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 and shall be subject to such
additional conditions or restrictions as may be required thereunder to qualify
for the maximum exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to
Plan transactions.
All elections by an Optionee to have Shares withheld to satisfy tax
withholding obligations shall be made in writing in a form acceptable to the
Administrator and shall be subject to the following restrictions:
(a) the election must be made on or prior to the applicable Tax Date;
(b) once made, the election shall be irrevocable as to the particular
Shares of
the Option as to which the election is made;
(c) all elections shall be subject to the consent or disapproval of
the
Administrator;
(d) if the Optionee is a Reporting Person, the election must comply
with the
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applicable provisions of Rule 16b-3 and shall be subject to such additional
conditions or restrictions as may be required thereunder to qualify for the
maximum exemption from Section 16 of the Exchange Act with respect to Plan
transactions.
In the event the election to have Shares withheld is made by an Optionee
and the Tax Date is, deferred under Section 83 of the Code because no election
is filed under Section 83(b) of the Code, the Optionee shall receive the full
number of Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised but such Optionee
shall be unconditionally obligated to tender back to the Company the proper
number of Shares on the Tax Date.
11. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION, MERGER OR CERTAIN OTHER
TRANSACTIONS.
(a) CHANGES IN CAPITALIZATION. Subject to any required action by the
shareholders of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock covered by
each outstanding Option, and the number of shares of Common Stock that have been
authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Options have yet been
granted or that have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration
of an Option, as well as the price per share of Common Stock covered by each
such outstanding Option, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or
decrease in the number of issued shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock
split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination, recapitalization or
reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the
number of issued shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of
consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any
convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected
without receipt of consideration." Such adjustment shall be made by the Board,
whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive.
Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of
stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class,
shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to,
the number or price of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option.
(b) DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION. In the event of the proposed
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, the Board shall notify the Optionee
at least fifteen (15) days prior to such proposed action. To the extent it has
not been previously exercised, the Option will terminate immediately prior to
the consummation of such proposed action.
(c) MERGER OR SALE OF ASSETS. In the event of a proposed sale of all
or substantially all of the Company's assets or a merger of the Company with or
into another corporation where the successor corporation issues its securities
to the Company's shareholders, each outstanding Option shall be assumed or an
equivalent option or right shall be substituted by such successor corporation or
a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation, unless the successor
corporation does not agree to assume the Option or to substitute an equivalent
option, in which case such Option shall terminate upon the consummation of the
merger or sale of assets.
(d) CERTAIN DISTRIBUTIONS. In the event of any distribution to the
Company's shareholders of securities of any other entity or other assets (other
than dividends payable in cash or
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stock of the Company) without receipt of consideration by the Company, the
Administrator may, in its discretion, appropriately adjust the price per share
of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Option to reflect the effect of such
distribution.
12. NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. Options may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by
will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised or purchased
during the lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee.
13. TIME OF GRANTING OPTIONS. The date of grant of an Option shall, for
all purposes, be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination
granting such Option, or such other date as is determined by the Board. Notice
of the determination shall be given to each Employee or Consultant to whom an
Option is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.
14. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN.
(a) AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION. The Board may at any time amend,
alter, suspend or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration, suspension
or discontinuation shall be made that would impair the rights of any Optionee
under any grant theretofore made, without his or her consent. In addition, to
the extent necessary and desirable to comply with Rule 16b-3 or with Section 422
of the Code (or any other applicable law or regulation, including the
requirements of any Stock Exchange), the Company shall obtain shareholder
approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as
required.
(b) EFFECT OF AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION. No amendment or termination
of the Plan shall adversely affect Options already granted, unless mutually
agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the Board, which agreement must be in
writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company.
15. CONDITIONS UPON ISSUANCE OF SHARES. Shares shall not be issued
pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the
issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all
relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, and the requirements of any Stock Exchange.
As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require the
person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any such
exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any
present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of
counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by law.
16. RESERVATION OF SHARES. The Company, during the term of this Plan,
will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan. The inability of the
Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction
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which authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to be necessary to the lawful
issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any
liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which
such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.
17. AGREEMENTS. Options shall be evidenced by written agreements in such
form as the Administrator shall approve from time to time.
18. SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. Continuance of the Plan shall be subject to
approval by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or
after the date the Plan is adopted. Such shareholder approval shall be obtained
in the degree and manner required under applicable state and federal law and the
rules of any Stock Exchange. All Options issued under the Plan shall become
void in the event such approval is not obtained.
19. INFORMATION TO OPTIONEES. The Company shall provide financial
statements at least annually to each Optionee during the period such Optionee
has one or more Options outstanding, and in the case of an individual who
acquired Shares pursuant to the Plan, during the period such individual owns
such Shares. The Company shall not be required to provide such information if
the issuance of Options under the Plan is limited to key employees whose duties
in connection with the Company assure their access to equivalent information.
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