EXHIBIT 3.4
2001 Equity Incentive Plan
Gateway Access Solutions, Inc.
a Nevada corporation
2001 Equity Incentive Plan
Adopted by the Board July 1, 2001
Approved by the Shareholders July 1, 2001
Plan Terminates July 1, 2011
1. PURPOSES.
(a) The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by which selected
Employees and Directors of and Consultants to the Company, and its Affiliates,
may be given an opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the stock of
the Company through the granting of (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii)
Nonstatutory Stock Options, (iii) stock bonuses and (iv) rights to purchase
restricted stock, all as defined below. The Plan does not provide for the
granting of stock appreciation rights.
(b) The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of
persons who are now Employees or Directors of or Consultants to the Company or
its Affiliates, to secure and retain the services of new Employees, Directors
and Consultants, and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum
efforts for the success of the Company and its Affiliates.
(c) The Company intends that the Stock Awards issued under the Plan shall,
in the discretion of the Board or any Committee to which responsibility for
administration of the Plan has been delegated pursuant to subsection 3(c), be
either (i) Options granted pursuant to Section 6 hereof, including Incentive
Stock Options and Nonstatutory Stock Options or (ii) stock bonuses or rights to
purchase restricted stock granted pursuant to Section 7 hereof. All Options
shall be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock
Options at the time of grant, and in such form as issued pursuant to Section 6,
and a separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares purchased
on exercise of each type of Option.
2. DEFINITIONS.
(a) "Affiliate" means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation,
whether now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e)
and (f) respectively, of the Code.
(b) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(c) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(d) "Committee" means a Committee appointed by the Board in accordance with
subsection 3(c) of the Plan.
(e) "Company" means Gateway Access Solutions, Inc., a Nevada corporation.
(f) "Consultant" means any person, including an advisor, engaged by the
Company or an Affiliate to render consulting services and who is compensated for
such services, provided that the term "Consultant" shall not include Directors
who are paid only a director's fee by the Company or who are not compensated by
the Company for their services as Directors.
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2. DEFINITIONS - continued
(g) "Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant" means the
employment or relationship as a Employee, Director or Consultant is not
interrupted or terminated. The Board, in its sole discretion, may determine
whether Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant shall be
considered interrupted in the case of: (i) any leave of absence approved by the
Board, including sick leave, military leave, or any other personal leave; or
(ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company,
Affiliates or their successors.
(h) "Director" means a member of the Board.
(i) "Employee" means any person, including Officers and Directors, employed
by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company. Neither service as a Director
nor payment of a director's fee by the Company shall 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 value of the common
stock of the Company determined as follows:
(1) If the common stock is listed on any established stock exchange or
a national market system, including without limitation the NASDAQ National
Market or The NASDAQ Small Cap, the Fair Market Value of a share of common
stock shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the closing bid,
if no sales were reported) as quoted on such system or exchange (or the
exchange with the greatest volume of trading in common stock) on the last
market trading day prior to the day of determination, as reported in the
Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable; or
(2) In the absence of an established market for the common stock, the
Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Board.
(l) "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option intended to qualify as an
incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.
(m) "Non-Employee Director" means a member of the Board of Directors who
either (i) is not a current employee or officer of the Company or any Affiliate,
does not receive compensation (directly or indirectly) from the Company or any
Affiliate for services rendered as a Consultant or in any capacity other than as
a member of the Board of Directors (except for an amount as to which disclosure
would not be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated pursuant
to the Securities Act of 1933 ("Regulation S-K"), does not possess an interest
in any other transaction as to which disclosure would be required under Item
404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is not engaged in a business relationship as to
which disclosure would be required under Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii)
is otherwise considered a "non-employee director" for purposes of Rule 16b-3.
(n) "Nonstatutory Stock Option" means an Option not intended to qualify as
an Incentive Stock Option.
(o) "Officer" means (i) prior to the date of the first registration of an
equity security of the Company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, any person
designated by the Company as an officer and (ii) from and after such date of
registration, a person who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of
Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
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2. DEFINITIONS - continued
(p) "Option" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.
(q) "Option Agreement" means a written agreement between the Company and an
Optionee evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option grant. Each
Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
(r) "Optionee" means an Employee, Director or Consultant who holds an
outstanding Option.
(s) "Outside Director" means a Director who either (i) is not a current
employee of the Company or an "affiliated corporation" (within the meaning of
Treasury regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the Code), is not a
former employee of the Company or an "affiliated corporation" receiving
compensation for prior services (other than benefits under a tax qualified
pension plan), was not an officer of the Company or an "affiliated corporation"
at any time, and is not currently receiving direct or indirect remuneration from
the Company or an "affiliated corporation" for services in any capacity other
than as a Director, or (ii) is otherwise considered an "outside director" for
purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(t) "Plan" means this 2001 Equity Incentive Plan.
(u) "Rule 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any successor to
Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to the
Plan.
(v) "Stock Award" means any right granted under the Plan, including any
Option, any stock bonus, or any right to purchase restricted stock.
(w) "Stock Award Agreement" means a written agreement between the Company
and a holder of a Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an
individual Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the
terms and conditions of the Plan.
3. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Board unless and until the Board
delegates administration to a Committee, as provided in subsection 3(c).
(b) The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations
of, the express provisions of the Plan:
(1) To determine from time to time which of the persons eligible under
the Plan shall be granted Stock Awards; when and how each Stock Award shall
be granted; whether a Stock Award will be an Incentive Stock Option, a
Nonstatutory Stock Option, a stock bonus, a right to purchase restricted
stock, or a combination of the foregoing; the provisions of each Stock
Award granted (which need not be identical), including the time or times
when a person shall be permitted to receive stock pursuant to a Stock Award
and the number of shares with respect to which a Stock Award shall be
granted to each such person.
(2) To construe and interpret the Plan and Stock Awards granted under
it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its
administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any
defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock Award
Agreement, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or
expedient to make the Plan fully effective.
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3. ADMINISTRATION - continued
(3) To amend the Plan or a Stock Award as provided in Section 13.
(c) The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a committee or
committees ("Committee") of one (1) or more persons. In the discretion of the
Board, a Committee may consist solely of two (2) or more Outside Directors, in
accordance with Code Section 162(m), or solely of two (2) or more Non-Employee
Directors, in accordance with Rule 16b-3. If administration is delegated to a
Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of
the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board (and references in this
Plan to the Board of Directors shall thereafter be to the Committee). The Board
may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration
of the Plan.
4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 12 relating to adjustments upon
changes in stock, the stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards shall
not exceed in the aggregate Two Million (2,000,000) shares of the Company's
common stock. If any Stock Award shall for any reason expire or otherwise
terminate, in whole or in part, without having been exercised in full, the stock
not acquired under such Stock Award shall revert to and again become available
for issuance under the Plan.
(b) The stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares or reacquired
shares, bought on the market or otherwise.
5. ELIGIBILITY.
(a) Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. Stock Awards
other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees, Directors
or Consultants.
(b) Prior to the date of the first registration of an equity security of
the Company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, no person shall be eligible
for the grant of an Incentive Stock Option, Nonstatutory Stock Option or an
award to purchase restricted stock if, at the time of grant, such person owns
(or is deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing
more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company or of any of its Affiliates (a "10% Shareholder") unless
the exercise price of such Option is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of
the Fair Market Value of such stock at the date of grant and the Option is not
exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant, or in
the case of a restricted stock purchase award, the purchase price is at least
one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of such stock at the date of
grant. From and after the date of the first registration of an equity security
of the Company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, this subsection 5(b) shall
only apply with respect to the granting of Incentive Stock Options.
(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 12 relating to adjustments upon
changes in stock, no person shall be eligible to be granted Options covering
more than One Hundred Thousand (100,000) shares of the Company's common stock in
any calendar year. This subsection(c) shall not apply prior to the date of the
first registration of an equity security of the Company under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act and, following such registration, shall not apply until (i) the
earliest of: (A) the first material modification of the Plan (including any
increase to the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan in
accordance with Section 4); (B) the issuance of all of the shares of common
stock reserved for issuance under the Plan; (C) the expiration of the Plan; or
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5. ELIGIBILITY - continued
(D) the first meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected that
occurs after the close of the third calendar year following the calendar year in
which occurred the first registration of an equity security under Section 12 of
the Exchange Act; or (ii) such other date required by Section 162(m) of the Code
and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
6. OPTION PROVISIONS.
Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and
conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. The provisions of separate
Options need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through
incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the
substance of each of the following provisions:
(a) Term. No Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10)
years from the date it was granted.
(b) Price. The exercise price of each Incentive Stock Option shall be not
less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the stock
subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted; the exercise price of
each Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be not less than eighty-five percent (85%)
of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the Option on the date the
Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option (whether an
Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be granted with an
exercise price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such
Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option
in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.
(c) Consideration. The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to an
Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and
regulations, either (i) in cash at the time the Option is exercised, or (ii) at
the discretion of the Board or the Committee, at the time of the grant of the
Option, (A) by delivery to the Company of other common stock of the Company, (B)
according to a deferred payment or other arrangement (which may include, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the use of other common stock of the
Company) with the person to whom the Option is granted or to whom the Option is
transferred pursuant to subsection 6(d), or (C) in any other form of legal
consideration that may be acceptable to the Board. In the case of any deferred
payment arrangement, interest shall be payable at least annually and shall be
charged at the minimum rate of interest necessary to avoid the treatment as
interest, under any applicable provisions of the Code, of any amounts other than
amounts stated to be interest under the deferred payment arrangement.
(d) Transferability. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable
except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and shall be
exercisable during the lifetime of the person to whom the Option is granted only
by such person. A Nonstatutory Stock Option shall not be transferable except by
will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a domestic
relations order satisfying the requirements of Rule 16b-3 and any administrative
interpretations or pronouncements thereunder, and shall be exercisable during
the lifetime of the person to whom the Option is granted only by such person or
any transferee pursuant to such domestic relations order. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the person to whom the Option is granted may, by delivering written
notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third
party who, in the event of the death of the Optionee, shall thereafter be
entitled to exercise the Option.
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6. OPTION PROVISIONS - continued
(e) Vesting. The total number of shares of stock subject to an Option may,
but need not, be allotted in periodic installments (which may, but need not, be
equal). The Option Agreement may provide that from time to time during each of
such installment periods, the Option may become exercisable ("vest") with
respect to some or all of the shares allotted to that period, and may be
exercised with respect to some or all of the shares allotted to such period
and/or any prior period as to which the Option became vested but was not fully
exercised. The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the
time or times when it may be exercised (which may be based on performance or
other criteria) as the Board may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of
individual Options may vary; provided, however, that to the extent required by
then applicable law and regulations, each Option granted prior to the date of
the first registration of an equity security of the Company under Section 12 of
the Exchange Act shall vest with respect to at least twenty percent (20%) of the
total number of shares subject to the Option. The provisions of this subsection
6(e) are subject to any Option provisions governing the minimum number of shares
as to which an Option may be exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options
granted to an Officer, Director or Consultant of the Company may become fully
exercisable, subject to reasonable conditions such as continued employment, at
any time or during any period established by the Company or of any of its
Affiliates.
(f) Termination of Employment or Relationship as a Director or Consultant.
In the event an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or
Consultant terminates (other than upon the Optionee's death or disability), the
Optionee may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionee was
entitled to exercise it at the date of termination) but only within such period
of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date three (3) months after the
termination of the Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or
Consultant (or such longer or shorter period as specified in the Option
Agreement, which in no event shall be less than thirty (30) days for Options
granted prior to the date of the first registration of an equity security of the
Company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act), or (ii) the expiration of the
term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after termination,
the Optionee does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified in
the Option Agreement, the Option shall terminate, and the shares covered by such
Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan.
An Optionee's Option Agreement may also provide that if the exercise of the
Option following the termination of the Optionee's Continuous Status as an
Employee, Director, or Consultant (other than upon the Optionee's death or
disability) would result in liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act,
then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the term
of the Option set forth in the Option Agreement, or (ii) the tenth (10th) day
after the last date on which such exercise would result in such liability under
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Finally, an Optionee's Option Agreement may
also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of the
Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant (other than
upon the Optionee's death or disability) would be prohibited at any time solely
because the issuance of shares would violate the registration requirements under
the Exchange Act, then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the
expiration of the term of the Option set forth in the first paragraph of this
subsection 6(f), or (ii) the expiration of a period of three (3) months after
the termination of the Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or
Consultant during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of
such registration requirements.
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6. OPTION PROVISIONS - continued
(g) Disability of Optionee. In the event an Optionee's Continuous Status as
an Employee, Director or Consultant terminates as a result of the Optionee's
disability, the Optionee may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the
Optionee was entitled to exercise it at the date of termination), but only
within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date twelve (12)
months following such termination (or such longer or shorter period as specified
in the Option Agreement, which in no event shall be less than six (6) months for
Options granted prior to the date of the first registration of an equity
security of the Company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act), or (ii) the
expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If,
at the date of termination, the Optionee is not entitled to exercise his or her
entire Option, the shares covered by the unexercisable portion of the Option
shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. If,
after termination, the Optionee does not exercise his or her Option within the
time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the shares covered by
such Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the
Plan.
(h) Death of Optionee. In the event of the death of an Optionee during, or
within a period specified in the Option after the termination of, the Optionee's
Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant, the Option may be
exercised (to the extent the Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option at the
date of death) by the Optionee's estate, by a person who acquired the right to
exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to
exercise the option upon the Optionee's death pursuant to subsection 6(d), but
only within the period ending on the earlier of (i) the date eighteen (18)
months following the date of death (or such longer or shorter period as
specified in the Option Agreement, which in no event shall be less than six (6)
months for Options granted prior to the date of the first registration of an
equity security of the Company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act), or (ii)
the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement.
If, at the time of death, the Optionee was not entitled to exercise his or her
entire Option, the shares covered by the unexercisable portion of the Option
shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. If,
after death, the Option is not exercised within the time specified herein, the
Option shall terminate, and the shares covered by such Option shall revert to
and again become available for issuance under the Plan.
(i) Early Exercise. The Option may, but need not, include a provision
whereby the Optionee may elect at any time while an Employee, Director or
Consultant to exercise the Option as to any part or all of the shares subject to
the Option prior to the full vesting of the Option. Any unvested shares so
purchased shall be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the Company, with
the repurchase price to be equal to the original purchase price of the stock, or
to any other restriction the Board determines to be appropriate; provided,
however, that, subject to then applicable law, prior to the date of the first
registration of an equity security of the Company under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act (i) the right to repurchase at the original purchase price shall
lapse at a minimum rate of twenty percent (20%) per year over five (5) years
from the date the Option was granted, (ii) such right shall be exercisable only
within (A) the ninety (90)-day period following the termination of employment or
the relationship as a Director or Consultant, or (B) such longer period as may
be agreed to by the Company and the Optionee (for example, for purposes of
satisfying the requirements of Section 1202(c)(3) of the Code regarding
"qualified small business stock") and (iii) such right shall be exercisable only
for cash or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness for the shares.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares received on exercise of an Option by an
Officer, Director or Consultant may be subject to additional or greater
restrictions.
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6. OPTION PROVISIONS - continued
(j) Right of Repurchase. The Option may, but need not, include a provision
whereby the Company may elect, prior to the date of the first registration of an
equity security of the Company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, to
repurchase all or any part of the vested shares exercised pursuant to the
Option; provided, however, that (i) such repurchase right shall be exercisable
only within (A) the ninety (90)-day period following the termination of
employment or the relationship as a Director or Consultant, or (B) such longer
period as may be agreed to by the Company and the Optionee (for example, for
purposes of satisfying the requirements of Section 1202(c)(3) of the Code
regarding "qualified small business stock"), (ii) such repurchase right shall be
exercisable for less than all of the vested shares only with the Optionee's
consent, and (iii) such right shall be exercisable only for cash or cancellation
of purchase money indebtedness for the shares at a repurchase price equal to the
stock's Fair Market Value at the time of such termination. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, shares received on exercise of an Option by an Officer, Director or
Consultant may be subject to additional or greater restrictions specified in the
Option Agreement.
(k) Right of First Refusal. The Option may, but need not, include a
provision whereby the Company may elect, prior to the date of the first
registration of an equity security of the Company under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, to exercise a right of first refusal following receipt of notice
from the Optionee of the intent to transfer all or any part of the shares
exercised pursuant to the Option.
(l) Re-Load Options. Without in any way limiting the authority of the Board
or the Committee to make or not to make grants of Options hereunder, the Board
or the Committee shall have the authority (but not an obligation) to include as
part of any Option Agreement a provision entitling the Optionee to a further
Option (a "Re-Load Option") in the event the Optionee exercises the Option
evidenced by the Option Agreement, in whole or in part, by surrendering other
shares of common stock in accordance with this Plan and the terms and conditions
of the Option Agreement. Any such Re-Load Option (i) shall be for a number of
shares equal to the number of shares surrendered as part or all of the exercise
price of such Option; (ii) shall have an expiration date which is the same as
the expiration date of the Option the exercise of which gave rise to such
Re-Load Option; and (iii) shall have an exercise price which is equal to one
hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the common stock subject to
the Re-Load Option on the date of exercise of the original Option.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Re-Load Option which is granted to a 10%
Shareholder (as described in subsection 5(b)), shall have an exercise price
which is equal to one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of the
stock subject to the Re-Load Option on the date of exercise of the original
Option and shall have a term which is no longer than five (5) years.
Any such Re-Load Option may be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory
Stock Option, as the Board or the Committee may designate at the time of the
grant of the original Option; provided, however, that the designation of any
Re-Load Option as an Incentive Stock Option shall be subject to the One Hundred
Thousand dollar ($100,000) annual limitation on exercisability of Incentive
Stock Options described in subsection 11(d) of the Plan and in Section 422(d) of
the Code. There shall be no Re-Load Options granted on a option which is itself
a Re-Load Option. Any Re-Load Option shall be subject to the availability of
sufficient shares under subsection 4(a) and shall be subject to such other terms
and conditions as the Board or the Committee may determine which are not
inconsistent with the express provisions of the Plan regarding the terms of
Options.
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7. TERMS OF STOCK BONUSES AND PURCHASES OF RESTRICTED STOCK.
Each stock bonus or restricted stock purchase agreement shall be in such
form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board or the Committee
shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of stock bonus or restricted
stock purchase agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and
conditions of separate agreements need not be identical, but each stock bonus or
restricted stock purchase agreement shall include (through incorporation of
provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of
each of the following provisions as appropriate:
(a) Purchase Price. The purchase price under each restricted stock purchase
agreement shall be such amount as the Board or the Committee shall determine and
designate in such agreement, but in no event shall the purchase price be less
than eighty-five percent (85%) of the stock's Fair Market Value on the date such
award is made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or the Committee may
determine that eligible participants in the Plan may be awarded stock pursuant
to a stock bonus agreement in consideration for past services actually rendered
to the Company or for its benefit.
(b) Transferability. No rights under a stock bonus or restricted stock
purchase agreement shall be transferable except by will or the laws of descent
and distribution or pursuant to a domestic relations order (as described in
subsection 6(d)) and any administrative interpretations or pronouncements
thereunder, so long as stock awarded under such agreement remains subject to the
terms of the agreement.
(c) Consideration. The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to a stock
purchase agreement shall be paid either: (i) in cash at the time of purchase;
(ii) at the discretion of the Board or the Committee, according to a deferred
payment or other arrangement with the person to whom the stock is sold; or (iii)
in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board or
the Committee in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or the
Committee to which administration of the Plan has been delegated may award stock
pursuant to a stock bonus agreement in consideration for past services actually
rendered to the Company or for its benefit.
(d) Vesting. Shares of stock sold or awarded under the Plan may, but need
not, be subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company in accordance
with a vesting schedule to be determined by the Board or the Committee;
provided, however, that, subject to then applicable law and regulations and only
prior to the date of the first registration of an equity security of the Company
under Section 12 of the Exchange Act (i) the right to repurchase at the original
purchase price shall lapse at a minimum rate of twenty percent (20%) per year
over five (5) years from the date the Stock Award was granted, (ii) such right
shall be exercisable only (A) within the ninety (90)-day period following the
termination of employment or the relationship as a Director or Consultant, or
(B) such longer period as may be agreed to by the Company and the holder of the
Stock Award (for example, for purposes of satisfying the requirements of Section
1202(c)(3) of the Code regarding "qualified small business stock") and (iii)
such right shall be exercisable only for cash or cancellation of purchase money
indebtedness for the shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Stock Awards granted
to an Officer, Director or Consultant of the Company may become fully
exercisable, subject to reasonable conditions such as continued employment, at
any time or during any period established by the Company or of any of its
Affiliates.
(e) Termination of Employment or Relationship as a Director or Consultant.
In the event a Participant's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or
Consultant terminates, the Company may repurchase or otherwise reacquire,
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7. TERMS OF STOCK BONUSES AND PURCHASES OF RESTRICTED STOCK - continued
subject to the limitations described in subsection 7(d), any or all of the
shares of stock held by that person which have not vested as of the date of
termination under the terms of the stock bonus or restricted stock purchase
agreement between the Company and such person.
8. CANCELLATION AND RE-GRANT OF OPTIONS.
(a) The Board or the Committee shall have the authority to effect, at any
time and from time to time, (i) the repricing of any outstanding Options under
the Plan and/or (ii) with the consent of the affected holders of Options, the
cancellation of any outstanding Options under the Plan and the grant in
substitution therefor of new Options under the Plan covering the same or
different numbers of shares of stock, but having an exercise price per share not
less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value (one hundred
percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value in the case of an Incentive Stock
Option) or, in the case of a ten percent (10%) Shareholder (as described in
subsection 5(b) and to the extent provided for in subsection 5(b)), not less
than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per share of stock
on the new grant date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or the Committee
may grant an Option with an exercise price lower than that set forth above if
such Option is granted as part of a transaction to which section 424(a) of the
Code applies.
(b) Shares subject to an Option canceled under this Section 8 shall
continue to be counted against the maximum award of Options permitted to be
granted pursuant to subsection 5(c) of the Plan. The repricing of an Option
under this Section 8, resulting in a reduction of the exercise price, shall be
deemed to be a cancellation of the original Option and the grant of a substitute
Option. In the event of such repricing, both the original and the substituted
Options shall be counted against the maximum awards of Options permitted to be
granted pursuant to subsection 5(c) of the Plan. The provisions of this
subsection 8(b) shall be applicable only to the extent required by Section
162(m) of the Code.
9. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.
(a) During the terms of the Stock Awards, the Company shall keep available
at all times the number of shares of stock required to satisfy such Stock
Awards.
(b) The Company shall seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or
agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to
issue and sell shares of stock upon exercise of the Stock Award; provided,
however, that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") either the Plan,
any Stock Award or any stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Stock
Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any
such regulatory commission or agency the authority which counsel for the Company
deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of stock under the Plan, the
Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell stock
upon exercise of such Stock Awards unless and until such authority is obtained.
10. USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.
Proceeds from the sale of stock pursuant to Stock Awards shall constitute
general funds of the Company.
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11. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) Neither an Employee, Director or Consultant nor any person to whom a
Stock Award is transferred under subsection 6(d) or 7(b) shall be deemed to be
the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any
shares subject to such Stock Award unless and until such person has satisfied
all requirements for exercise of the Stock Award pursuant to its terms.
(b) Throughout the term of any Stock Award, the Company shall deliver to
the holder of such Stock Award, not later than one hundred twenty (120) days
after the close of each of the Company's fiscal years during the term of such
Stock Award, a balance sheet and an income statement. This section shall not
apply when (i) issuance is limited to key employees whose duties in connection
with the Company assure them access to equivalent information or (ii) after the
date of the first registration of an equity security under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act.
(c) Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Stock Award granted
pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Employee, Director, Consultant or other
holder of Stock Awards any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any
Affiliate (or to continue acting as a Director or Consultant) or shall affect
the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the employment of any
Employee with or without cause, the right of the Company's Board of Directors
and/or the Company's shareholders to remove any Director pursuant to the terms
of the Company's Bylaws and the provisions of the Nevada general corporation
law, or the right to terminate the relationship of any Consultant pursuant to
the terms of such Consultant's agreement with the Company or Affiliate.
(d) To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the
time of grant) of stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are
exercisable for the first time by any Optionee during any calendar year under
all stock plans of the Company and its Affiliates exceeds One Hundred Thousand
dollars ($100,000), the Options or portions thereof which exceed such limit
(according to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as
Nonstatutory Stock Options.
(e) The Company may require any person to whom a Stock Award is granted, or
any person to whom a Stock Award is transferred pursuant to subsection 6(d) or
7(b), as a condition of exercising or acquiring stock under any Stock Award, (1)
to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to such person's
knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and/or to employ a
purchaser representative reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is
knowledgeable and experienced in financial and business matters, and that he or
she is capable of evaluating, alone or together with the purchaser
representative, the merits and risks of exercising the Stock Award; and (2) to
give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that such person is
acquiring the stock subject to the Stock Award for such person's own account and
not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the stock.
The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such
requirements, shall be inoperative if (i) the issuance of the shares upon the
exercise or acquisition of stock under the Stock Award has been registered under
a then currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act, or
(ii) as to any particular requirement, a determination is made by counsel for
the Company that such requirement need not be met in the circumstances under the
then applicable securities laws. The Company may, upon advice of counsel to the
Company, place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan as such
counsel deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with applicable
securities laws, including, but not limited to, legends restricting the transfer
of the stock.
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11. MISCELLANEOUS - continued
(f) To the extent provided by the terms of a Stock Award Agreement, the
person to whom a Stock Award is granted may satisfy any federal, state or local
tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of stock
under a Stock Award by any of the following means or by a combination of such
means: (1) tendering a cash payment; (2) authorizing the Company to withhold
shares from the shares of the common stock otherwise issuable to the participant
as a result of the exercise or acquisition of stock under the Stock Award; or
(3) delivering to the Company owned and unencumbered shares of the common stock
of the Company.
12. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK.
(a) If any change is made in the stock subject to the Plan, or subject to
any Stock Award, without the receipt of consideration by the Company (through
merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, reincorporating, stock
dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating
dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate
structure or other transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the
Company), the Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and maximum
number of shares subject to the Plan pursuant to subsection 4(a) and the maximum
number of shares subject to award to any person during any calendar year
pursuant to subsection 5(c), and the outstanding Stock Awards will be
appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and number of shares and price per share
of stock subject to such outstanding Stock Awards. Such adjustments shall be
made by the Board or the Committee, the determination of which shall be final,
binding and conclusive. (The conversion of any convertible securities of the
Company shall not be treated as a "transaction not involving the receipt of
consideration by the Company.")
(b) In the event of: (1) a dissolution, liquidation, or sale of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company; (2) a merger or consolidation in
which the Company is not the surviving corporation; (3) a reverse merger in
which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of the Company's
common shares outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by
virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities,
cash or otherwise; or (4) the acquisition by any person, entity or group within
the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act, or any comparable
successor provisions (excluding any employee benefit plan, or related trust,
sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company) of the
beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the
Exchange Act, or comparable successor rule) of securities of the Company
representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power entitled
to vote in the election of directors, then: (i) any surviving or acquiring
corporation shall assume Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan or shall
substitute similar Stock Awards for those outstanding under the Plan, or (ii) in
the event any surviving or acquiring corporation refuses to assume such Stock
Awards or to substitute similar Stock Awards for those outstanding under the
Plan, (A) with respect to Stock Awards held by persons then performing services
as Employees, Directors or Consultants, the vesting of such Stock Awards and the
time during which such Stock Awards may be exercised shall be accelerated prior
to such event and the Stock Awards terminated if not exercised after such
acceleration and at or prior to such event, and (B) with respect to any other
Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan, such Stock Awards shall be terminated
if not exercised prior to such event.
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13. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND STOCK AWARDS.
(a) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the Plan.
However, except as provided in paragraph 12 relating to adjustments upon changes
in stock, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the shareholders of
the Company to the extent shareholder approval is necessary for the Plan to
satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, Rule 16b-3 under the
Exchange Act or any NASDAQ or securities exchange listing requirements.
(b) The Board may in its sole discretion submit any other amendment to the
Plan for shareholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to the
Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder regarding the exclusion of performance-based
compensation from the limit on corporate deductibility of compensation paid to
certain executive officers.
(c) It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in any
respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible Employees,
Directors or Consultants with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided
under the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder
relating to Incentive Stock Options and/or to bring the Plan and/or Incentive
Stock Options granted under it into compliance therewith.
(d) Rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted before amendment
of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless (i) the
Company requests the consent of the person to whom the Stock Award was granted
and (ii) such person consents in writing.
(e) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the terms of
any one or more Stock Award; provided, however, that the rights and obligations
under any Stock Award shall not be impaired by any such amendment unless (i) the
Company requests the consent of the person to whom the Stock Award was granted
and (ii) such person consents in writing.
14. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.
(a) The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Unless sooner
terminated, the Plan shall terminate on June 1, 2011. No Stock Awards may be
granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.
(b) Rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted while the Plan is
in effect shall not be impaired by suspension or termination of the Plan, except
with the consent of the person to whom the Stock Award was granted.
15. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.
The Plan shall become effective as determined by the Board, but no Stock
Awards granted under the Plan shall be exercised unless and until the Plan has
been approved by the shareholders of the Company, which approval shall be within
twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.
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