NETWORK COMPUTER, INC. 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN (As amended through February 11, 1999) 1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this 1996 Stock Option 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 nonqualified 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 of the Plan. (e) 'Common Stock' means the Common Stock of the Company. (f) 'Company' means Network Computer, Inc., a Delaware 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 by the Company of a director's fee to a Director shall not be sufficient to constitute 'employment' of such Director 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 at the Administrator's discretion. In making any such determination, the Administrator may elect, but shall not be obligated, to engage an appraiser or investment banking firm to make the determination of Fair Market Value and such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes under the Plan. (1) 'Incentive Stock Option' or 'ISO' means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, as designated in the applicable written option agreement. (m) 'Nonqualified Stock Option' means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, as designated in the applicable written option agreement. (n) 'Option' means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan. (o) 'Optioned Stock' means the Common Stock subject to an Option. 2 (p) 'Optionee' means an Employee or Consultant who receives an Option. (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 11 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 thirty-five million (35,000,000)(1) 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) Initial Plan Procedure. Prior to the date, if any, upon which the Company becomes subject to the Exchange Act, the Plan shall be administered by the Board or a committee appointed by the Board. ---------- (1) The Board approved a 5,000,000-share increase on October 15, 1998 to increase the maximum aggregate number of Shares authorized from 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 Shares. The Board approved a 15,000,000-share increase on February 11, 1999 to increase the maximum aggregate number of Shares authorized from 20,000,000 to 35,000,000 Shares. 3 (b) Plan Procedure After the Date, if any, Upon Which the Company Becomes Subject to the Exchange Act. (i) Multiple Administrative Bodies. If permitted by Rule 16b-3, grants under the Plan may be made 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, such grants shall be made by (A) the Board if the Board may make grants to Reporting Persons under the Plan in compliance with Rule 16b-3, or B) a committee designated by the Board to make such grants to the Plan, which committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to permit grants under the Plan to comply with Rule 16b-3. 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 make grants to Reporting Persons under the Plan, all to the extent permitted by 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 other applicable 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. (c) 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 are granted hereunder; 4 (iv) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each such award granted hereunder; (v) to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan; (vi) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any award granted hereunder; (vii) to reduce the exercise price of any Option to the then current Fair Market Value if the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock covered by such Option shall have declined since the date the Option was granted; (viii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and awards granted pursuant to the Plan; (ix) 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; and (x) to modify, extend or renew outstanding Options and to authorize the grant of new Options in substitution thereof, provided that any such action may not, without the written consent of the Optionee, impair any rights under any Option previously granted. (d) 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) Recipients of Grants. Nonqualified 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) Type of Option. Each Option shall be designated in the written option agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designations, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of 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 Nonqualified Stock Options. For purposes of this 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. (c) 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 5 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 or as may be required by local law, and provided further that, in the case 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 written 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 and set forth in the applicable agreement, but shall be subject to the following: (i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is: (A) granted to a U.S. 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 other U.S. 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 Nonqualified 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 other 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 (1) cash, (2) check, (3) promissory note, (4) other Shares that (x) in the case of Shares 6 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, (5) 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, (6) 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 applicable income or employment taxes, (7) 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, (8) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment, or (9) 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 and reflected in the written option agreement, which may include vesting requirements and/or performance criteria with respect to the Company and/or the Optionee; provided that such Option shall become exercisable not less rapidly than twenty-five percent (25%) at the end of the first year after the date the Option is granted and in equal monthly increments over the next three (3) years. 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 11 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. 7 (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 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 Option. (i) Notwithstanding Section 9(b) above, in the event of termination of an Optionee'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 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 since the date of grant of the Option, or within thirty (30) days following termination of 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 Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to exercise that had accrued at the date of death or, if earlier, the date of termination of Optionee' s Continuous Status 8 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. (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 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, (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, or (e) as otherwise determined by the Administrator. 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; 9 (d) if the Optionee is a Reporting Person, the election 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. 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 or right, 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 10 or 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) Authority to Amend or Terminate. 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 roles 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, 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 11 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 roles of any Stock Exchange upon which the Common Stock is listed. All Options issued under the Plan shall become void in the event such approval is not obtained. 19. Information to Optionees and Purchasers. The Company shall provide financial statements at least annually to each Optionee during the period such Optionee has one or more Options outstanding. 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. 12 WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE STOCKHOLDERS OF NETWORK COMPUTER, INC. ON OCTOBER 15, 1998 Pursuant to Section 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and the Bylaws of Network Computer, Inc. (the 'Corporation'), the undersigned stockholders of the Corporation do hereby, pursuant to this Written Consent, vote all shares of the Corporation's outstanding voting stock held of record by them FOR the adoption and approval of the following resolution, without a formal meeting and without prior notice: WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the 'Board') previously adopted the Corporation's 1996 Stock Option Plan (the 'Plan') as an equity incentive program under which employees of the Corporation or its subsidiary corporations (including officers), non-employee members of the Board, and consultants to the Corporation or its subsidiary corporations may be offered the opportunity to acquire shares of the Corporation's Common Stock; and WHEREAS, the Board, subject to the approval of the stockholders of the Corporation, has amended the Plan to increase the maximum number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance over the term of the Plan by 5,000,000 shares from 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 shares. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the amendment to the Plan, in substantially the form approved by the Board and attached hereto as Exhibit A, be, and it hereby is, approved in its entirety. This Written Consent may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same written consent. IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned stockholders of the Corporation, hereby voting the full number of shares of each class of the Corporation's outstanding voting stock held of record by them, have executed this Written Consent and direct that this Written Consent be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Corporation's stockholders and that prompt notice of this action be given to stockholders of the Corporation who have not executed this Written Consent. /s/ Daniel Cooperman Daniel Cooperman ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------- (Signature) (Name--PLEASE PRINT) Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary October 20, 1998 ----------------------------------------- -------------------------- (Title, if applicable) (Date) Exhibit A NETWORK COMPUTER, INC. 1996 STOCK OPTION PLAN (As amended through October 15, 1998) 1. Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this 1996 Stock Option 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 nonqualified 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 of the Plan. (e) 'Common Stock' means the Common Stock of the Company. (f) 'Company' means Network Computer, Inc., a Delaware 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 by the Company of a director's fee to a Director shall not be sufficient to constitute 'employment' of such Director 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 at the Administrator's discretion. In making any such determination, the Administrator may elect, but shall not be obligated, to engage an appraiser or investment banking firm to make the determination of Fair Market Value and such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes under the Plan. (1) 'Incentive Stock Option' or 'ISO' means an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, as designated in the applicable written option agreement. (m) 'Nonqualified Stock Option' means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, as designated in the applicable written option agreement. (n) 'Option' means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan. (o) 'Optioned Stock' means the Common Stock subject to an Option. 2 (p) 'Optionee' means an Employee or Consultant who receives an Option. (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 11 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 twenty million (20,000,000)(l) 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) Initial Plan Procedure. Prior to the date, if any, upon which the Company becomes subject to the Exchange Act, the Plan shall be administered by the Board or a committee appointed by the Board. ---------- (1) The Board approved a 5,000,000-share increase on October 15, 1998 to increase the maximum aggregate number of Shares authorized from 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 Shares. 3 (b) Plan Procedure After the Date if any, Upon Which the Company Becomes Subject to the Exchange Act. (i) Multiple Administrative Bodies. If permitted by Rule 16b-3, grants under the Plan may be made 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, such grants shall be made by (A) the Board if the Board may make grants to Reporting Persons under the Plan in compliance with Rule 16b-3, or (B) a committee designated by the Board to make such grants to the Plan, which committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to permit grants under the Plan to comply with Rule 16b-3. 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 make grants to Reporting Persons under the Plan, all to the extent permitted by 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 other applicable 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. (c) 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 are granted hereunder; 4 (iv) to determine the number of shares of Common Stock to be covered by each such award granted hereunder; (v) to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan; (vi) to determine the terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any award granted hereunder; (vii) to reduce the exercise price of any Option to the then current Fair Market Value if the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock covered by such Option shall have declined since the date the Option was granted; (viii) to construe and interpret the terms of the Plan and awards granted pursuant to the Plan; (ix) 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; and (x) to modify, extend or renew outstanding Options and to authorize the grant of new Options in substitution thereof, provided that any such action may not, without the written consent of the Optionee, impair any rights under any Option previously granted. (d) 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) Recipients of Grants. Nonqualified 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) Type of Option. Each Option shall be designated in the written option agreement as either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonqualified Stock Option. However, notwithstanding such designations, to the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value of 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 Nonqualified Stock Options. For purposes of this 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. (c) 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 5 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 or as may be required by local law, and provided further that, in the case 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 written 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 and set forth in the applicable agreement, but shall be subject to the following' (i) In the case of an Incentive Stock Option that is: (A) granted to a U.S. 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 other U.S. 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 Nonqualified 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 other 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 (1) cash, (2) check, (3) promissory note, (4) other Shares that (x) in the case of Shares 6 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, (5) 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, (6) 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 applicable income or employment taxes, (7) 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, (8) any combination of the foregoing methods of payment, or (9) 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 and reflected in the written option agreement, which may include vesting requirements and/or performance criteria with respect to the Company and/or the Optionee; provided that such Option shall become exercisable not less rapidly than twenty-five percent (25%) at the end of the first year after the date the Option is granted and in equal monthly increments over the next three (3) years. 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 11 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. 7 (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 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 Section 9(b) above, in the event of termination of an Optionee'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 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 since the date of grant of the Option, or within thirty (30) days following termination of 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 Optionee's estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to exercise that had accrued at the date of death or, if earlier, the date of termination of Optionee's Continuous Status 8 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. (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 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, (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, or (e) as otherwise determined by the Administrator. 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; 9 (d) if the Optionee is a Reporting Person, the election 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. 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) clays 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 or right, 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 10 or 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 or Stock Purchase Right 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) Authority to Amend or Terminate. 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 roles 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, 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 11 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 roles of any Stock Exchange upon which the Common Stock is listed. All Options issued under the Plan shall become void in the event such approval is not obtained. 19. Information to Optionees and Purchasers. The Company shall provide financial statements at least annually to each Optionee during the period such Optionee has one or more Options outstanding. 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. 12
1996 Stock Option Plan - Network Computer Inc.
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