COM21, INC.
1998 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
ARTICLE ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
I. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
This 1998 Stock Incentive Plan is intended to promote the
interests of Com 21, Inc., a Delaware corporation, by providing eligible
persons with the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest, or otherwise
increase their proprietary interest, in the Corporation as an incentive for
them to remain in the service of the Corporation.
Capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to such
terms in the attached Appendix.
II. STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN
A. The Plan shall be divided into five separate equity
programs:
- the Discretionary Option Grant Program under
which eligible persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be
granted options to purchase shares of Common Stock,
- the Salary Investment Option Grant Program
under which eligible employees may elect to have a portion of their base salary
invested each year in special option grants,
- the Stock Issuance Program under which
eligible persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be issued
shares of Common Stock directly, either through the immediate purchase of such
shares or as a bonus for services rendered the Corporation (or any Parent or
Subsidiary),
- the Automatic Option Grant Program under
which eligible non-employee Board members shall automatically receive option
grants at periodic intervals to purchase shares of Common Stock, and
- the Director Fee Option Grant Program under
which non-employee Board members may elect to have all or any portion of their
annual retainer fee otherwise payable in cash applied to a special option
grant.
B. The provisions of Articles One and Seven shall apply
to all equity programs under the Plan and shall govern the interests of all
persons under the Plan.
III. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
A. The Primary Committee shall have sole and exclusive
authority to administer the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance
Programs with respect to Section 16 Insiders. Administration of the
Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to all
other persons eligible to participate in those programs may, at the Board's
discretion, be vested in the Primary Committee or a Secondary Committee, or the
Board may retain the power to administer those programs with respect to all
such persons. However, any discretionary option grants or stock issuances for
members of the Primary Committee shall be made by a disinterested majority of
the Board.
B. Members of the Primary Committee or any Secondary
Committee shall serve for such period of time as the Board may determine and
may be removed by the Board at any time. The Board may also at any time
terminate the functions of any Secondary Committee and reassume all powers and
authority previously delegated to such committee.
C. Each Plan Administrator shall, within the scope of
its administrative functions under the Plan, have full power and authority
(subject to the provisions of the Plan) to establish such rules and regulations
as it may deem appropriate for proper administration of the Discretionary
Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs and to make such determinations under,
and issue such interpretations of, the provisions of such programs and any
outstanding options or stock issuances thereunder as it may deem necessary or
advisable. Decisions of the Plan Administrator within the scope of its
administrative functions under the Plan shall be final and binding on all
parties who have an interest in the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock
Issuance Programs under its jurisdiction or any option or stock issuance
thereunder.
D. The Primary Committee shall have the sole and
exclusive authority to determine which Section 16 Insiders and other highly
compensated Employees shall be eligible for participation in the Salary
Investment Option Grant Program for one or more calendar years. However, all
option grants under the Salary Investment Option Grant Program shall be made in
accordance with the express terms of that program, and the Primary Committee
shall not exercise any discretionary functions with respect to the option
grants made under that program.
E. Service on the Primary Committee or the Secondary
Committee shall constitute service as a Board member, and members of each such
committee shall accordingly be entitled to full indemnification and
reimbursement as Board members for their service on such committee. No member
of the Primary Committee or the Secondary Committee shall be liable for any act
or omission made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any option grants or
stock issuances under the Plan.
2.
F. Administration of the Automatic Option Grant and
Director Fee Option Grant Programs shall be self-executing in accordance with
the terms of those programs, and no Plan Administrator shall exercise any
discretionary functions with respect to any option grants or stock issuances
made under those programs.
IV. ELIGIBILITY
A. The persons eligible to participate in the
Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs are as follows:
(i) Employees,
(ii) non-employee members of the Board or
the board of directors of any Parent or Subsidiary, and
(iii) consultants and other independent
advisors who provide services to the Corporation (or any Parent or
Subsidiary).
B. Only Employees who are Section 16 Insiders or other
highly compensated individuals shall be eligible to participate in the Salary
Investment Option Grant Program.
C. Each Plan Administrator shall, within the scope of
its administrative jurisdiction under the Plan, have full authority to
determine, (i) with respect to the option grants under the Discretionary Option
Grant Program, which eligible persons are to receive option grants, the time or
times when such option grants are to be made, the number of shares to be
covered by each such grant, the status of the granted option as either an
Incentive Option or a Non-Statutory Option, the time or times when each option
is to become exercisable, the vesting schedule (if any) applicable to the
option shares and the maximum term for which the option is to remain
outstanding and (ii) with respect to stock issuances under the Stock Issuance
Program, which eligible persons are to receive stock issuances, the time or
times when such issuances are to be made, the number of shares to be issued to
each Participant, the vesting schedule (if any) applicable to the issued shares
and the consideration for such shares.
D. The Plan Administrator shall have the absolute
discretion either to grant options in accordance with the Discretionary Option
Grant Program or to effect stock issuances in accordance with the Stock
Issuance Program.
E. The individuals who shall be eligible to participate
in the Automatic Option Grant Program shall be limited to (i) those individuals
who first become non-employee Board members after the Underwriting Date,
whether through appointment by the Board or election by the Corporation's
stockholders, and (ii) those individuals who continue to serve as non-employee
Board members at one or more Annual Stockholders Meetings held after the
Underwriting Date. A non-employee Board member who has previously been in the
employ of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) shall not be eligible
to receive an option grant under the Automatic
3.
Option Grant Program at the time he or she first becomes a non-employee Board
member, but shall be eligible to receive periodic option grants under the
Automatic Option Grant Program while he or she continues to serve as a
non-employee Board member.
F. All non-employee Board members shall be eligible to
participate in the Director Fee Option Grant Program.
V. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
A. The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of
authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased
by the Corporation on the open market. The maximum number of shares of Common
Stock initially reserved for issuance over the term of the Plan shall not exceed
2,478,190 shares, which shall consist of the number of shares which remained
available for issuance, as of the Plan Effective Date, under the Predecessor
Plan as last approved by the Corporation's stockholders, including the shares
subject to outstanding options under that Predecessor Plan. To the extent any
unvested shares of Common Stock outstanding under the Predecessor Plan as of the
Plan Effective Date are subsequently repurchased by the Corporation, at the
option exercise price paid per share, in connection with the holder's
termination of service prior to vesting in the shares, those repurchased shares
shall be added to the reserve of Common Stock available for issuance under the
Plan, but in no event shall the number of such repurchased shares added to the
reserve exceed 72,810 shares. In addition, the number of shares of Common Stock
reserved for issuance under the 1998 Plan will automatically be increased on the
first trading day of each calendar year, beginning in calendar year 1999, by an
amount equal to four percent of the total number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding on the last trading day of the preceding calendar year.
B. No one person participating in the Plan may receive
options, separately exercisable stock appreciation rights and direct stock
issuances for more than 500,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate per
calendar year, beginning with the 1998 calendar year.
C. Shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options
(including options incorporated into this Plan from the Predecessor Plan) shall
be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan to the extent (i) those
options expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise in full or (ii)
the options are cancelled in accordance with the cancellation-regrant
provisions of Article Two. Unvested shares issued under the Plan and
subsequently cancelled or repurchased by the Corporation (including unvested
shares issued under the Predecessor Plan and repurchased by the Corporation at
or after the Plan Effective Date), at the original issue price paid per share,
pursuant to the Corporation's repurchase rights under the Plan shall be added
back to the number of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the
Plan and shall accordingly be available for reissuance through one or more
subsequent option grants or direct stock issuances under the Plan. However,
should the exercise price of an option under the Plan be paid with shares of
Common Stock or should shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable under the Plan
be withheld by the Corporation in satisfaction of the withholding taxes
incurred in connection with the exercise of an option or the vesting of a stock
issuance under the Plan, then the number
4.
of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be
reduced by the gross number of shares for which the option is exercised or
which vest under the stock issuance, and not by the net number of shares of
Common Stock issued to the holder of such option or stock issuance. Shares of
Common Stock underlying one or more stock appreciation rights exercised under
Section IV of Article Two of the Plan shall NOT be available for subsequent
issuance under the Plan.
D. If any change is made to the Common Stock by reason
of any stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares,
exchange of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a
class without the Corporation's receipt of consideration, appropriate
adjustments shall be made to (i) the maximum number and/or class of securities
issuable under the Plan, (ii) the number and/or class of securities for which
any one person may be granted stock options, separately exercisable stock
appreciation rights and direct stock issuances under the Plan per calendar
year, (iii) the number and/or class of securities for which grants are
subsequently to be made under the Automatic Option Grant Program to new and
continuing non-employee Board members, (iv) the number and/or class of
securities and the exercise price per share in effect under each outstanding
option under the Plan and (v) the number and/or class of securities and price
per share in effect under each outstanding option incorporated into this Plan
from the Predecessor Plan. Such adjustments to the outstanding options are to
be effected in a manner which shall preclude the enlargement or dilution of
rights and benefits under such options. The adjustments determined by the Plan
Administrator shall be final, binding and conclusive.
5.
ARTICLE TWO
DISCRETIONARY OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
I. OPTION TERMS
Each option shall be evidenced by one or more documents in the
form approved by the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that each such
document shall comply with the terms specified below. Each document evidencing
an Incentive Option shall, in addition, be subject to the provisions of the
Plan applicable to such options.
A. EXERCISE PRICE.
1. The exercise price per share shall be fixed
by the Plan Administrator but shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%)
of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the option grant date.
2. The exercise price shall become immediately
due upon exercise of the option and shall, subject to the provisions of Section
I of Article Six and the documents evidencing the option, be payable in one or
more of the forms specified below:
(i) cash or check made payable to the
Corporation,
(ii) shares of Common Stock held for the
requisite period necessary to avoid a charge to the Corporation's
earnings for financial reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market
Value on the Exercise Date, or
(iii) to the extent the option is
exercised for vested shares, through a special sale and remittance
procedure pursuant to which the Optionee shall concurrently provide
irrevocable instructions to (a) a Corporation- designated brokerage
firm to effect the immediate sale of the purchased shares and remit to
the Corporation, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement
date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate exercise price payable
for the purchased shares plus all applicable Federal, state and local
income and employment taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation
by reason of such exercise and (b) the Corporation to deliver the
certificates for the purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm
in order to complete the sale.
Except to the extent such sale and remittance procedure is
utilized, payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made
on the Exercise Date.
6.
B. EXERCISE AND TERM OF OPTIONS. Each option shall be
exercisable at such time or times, during such period and for such number of
shares as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the
documents evidencing the option. However, no option shall have a term in
excess of ten (10) years measured from the option grant date.
C. EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE.
1. The following provisions shall govern the
exercise of any options held by the Optionee at the time of cessation of
Service or death:
(i) Any option outstanding at the time
of the Optionee's cessation of Service for any reason shall remain
exercisable for such period of time thereafter as shall be determined
by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the documents evidencing
the option, but no such option shall be exercisable after the
expiration of the option term.
(ii) Any option exercisable in whole or
in part by the Optionee at the time of death may be subsequently
exercised by the personal representative of the Optionee's estate or
by the person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to
the Optionee's will or in accordance with the laws of descent and
distribution.
(iii) Should the Optionee's Service be
terminated for Misconduct, then all outstanding options held by the
Optionee shall terminate immediately and cease to be outstanding.
(iv) During the applicable post-Service
exercise period, the option may not be exercised in the aggregate for
more than the number of vested shares for which the option is
exercisable on the date of the Optionee's cessation of Service. Upon
the expiration of the applicable exercise period or (if earlier) upon
the expiration of the option term, the option shall terminate and
cease to be outstanding for any vested shares for which the option has
not been exercised. However, the option shall, immediately upon the
Optionee's cessation of Service, terminate and cease to be outstanding
to the extent the option is not otherwise at that time exercisable for
vested shares.
2. The Plan Administrator shall have complete
discretion, exercisable either at the time an option is granted or at any time
while the option remains outstanding, to:
(i) extend the period of time for which
the option is to remain exercisable following the Optionee's cessation
of Service from the limited exercise period otherwise in effect for
that option to such greater period of time as the Plan Administrator
shall deem appropriate, but in no event beyond the expiration of the
option term, and/or
7.
(ii) permit the option to be exercised,
during the applicable post-Service exercise period, not only with
respect to the number of vested shares of Common Stock for which such
option is exercisable at the time of the Optionee's cessation of
Service but also with respect to one or more additional installments
in which the Optionee would have vested had the Optionee continued in
Service.
D. STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. The holder of an option shall
have no stockholder rights with respect to the shares subject to the option
until such person shall have exercised the option, paid the exercise price and
become a holder of record of the purchased shares.
E. REPURCHASE RIGHTS. The Plan Administrator shall have
the discretion to grant options which are exercisable for unvested shares of
Common Stock. Should the Optionee cease Service while holding such unvested
shares, the Corporation shall have the right to repurchase, at the exercise
price paid per share, any or all of those unvested shares. The terms upon
which such repurchase right shall be exercisable (including the period and
procedure for exercise and the appropriate vesting schedule for the purchased
shares) shall be established by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the
document evidencing such repurchase right.
F. LIMITED TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. During the
lifetime of the Optionee, Incentive Options shall be exercisable only by the
Optionee and shall not be assignable or transferable other than by will or by
the laws of descent and distribution following the Optionee's death.
Non-Statutory Options shall be subject to the same restrictions, except that a
Non-Statutory Option may, in connection with the Optionee's estate plan, be
assigned in whole or in part during the Optionee's lifetime to one or more
members of the Optionee's immediate family or to a trust established
exclusively for one or more such family members. The assigned portion may only
be exercised by the person or persons who acquire a proprietary interest in the
option pursuant to the assignment. The terms applicable to the assigned portion
shall be the same as those in effect for the option immediately prior to such
assignment and shall be set forth in such documents issued to the assignee as
the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate.
II. INCENTIVE OPTIONS
The terms specified below shall be applicable to all Incentive
Options. Except as modified by the provisions of this Section II, all the
provisions of Articles One, Two and Seven shall be applicable to Incentive
Options. Options which are specifically designated as Non-Statutory Options
when issued under the Plan shall not be subject to the terms of this Section
II.
A. ELIGIBILITY. Incentive Options may only be granted
to Employees.
B. EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price per share shall
not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share
of Common Stock on the option grant date.
8.
C. DOLLAR LIMITATION. The aggregate Fair Market Value
of the shares of Common Stock (determined as of the respective date or dates of
grant) for which one or more options granted to any Employee under the Plan (or
any other option plan of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary) may for
the first time become exercisable as Incentive Options during any one calendar
year shall not exceed the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). To
the extent the Employee holds two (2) or more such options which become
exercisable for the first time in the same calendar year, the foregoing
limitation on the exercisability of such options as Incentive Options shall be
applied on the basis of the order in which such options are granted.
D. 10% STOCKHOLDER. If any Employee to whom an
Incentive Option is granted is a 10% Stockholder, then the exercise price per
share shall not be less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market
Value per share of Common Stock on the option grant date, and the option term
shall not exceed five (5) years measured from the option grant date.
III. CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE IN CONTROL
A. In the event of any Corporate Transaction, each
outstanding option shall automatically accelerate so that each such option
shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the Corporate Transaction,
become fully exercisable with respect to the total number of shares of Common
Stock at the time subject to such option and may be exercised for any or all of
those shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock. However, an outstanding
option shall NOT become exercisable on such an accelerated basis if and to the
extent: (i) such option is, in connection with the Corporate Transaction, to
be assumed by the successor corporation (or parent thereof) or (ii) such option
is to be replaced with a cash incentive program of the successor corporation
which preserves the spread existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction on
any shares for which the option is not otherwise at that time exercisable and
provides for subsequent payout in accordance with the same exercise/vesting
schedule applicable to those option shares or (iii) the acceleration of such
option is subject to other limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator at the
time of the option grant.
B. All outstanding repurchase rights shall automatically
terminate, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights
shall immediately vest in full, in the event of any Corporate Transaction,
except to the extent: (i) those repurchase rights are to be assigned to the
successor corporation (or parent thereof) in connection with such Corporate
Transaction or (ii) such accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations
imposed by the Plan Administrator at the time the repurchase right is issued.
C. Immediately following the consummation of the
Corporate Transaction, all outstanding options shall terminate and cease to be
outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or
parent thereof).
9.
D. Each option which is assumed in connection with a
Corporate Transaction shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such
Corporate Transaction, to apply to the number and class of securities which
would have been issuable to the Optionee in consummation of such Corporate
Transaction had the option been exercised immediately prior to such Corporate
Transaction. Appropriate adjustments to reflect such Corporate Transaction
shall also be made to (i) the exercise price payable per share under each
outstanding option, provided the aggregate exercise price payable for such
securities shall remain the same, (ii) the maximum number and/or class of
securities available for issuance over the remaining term of the Plan and (iii)
the maximum number and/or class of securities for which any one person may be
granted stock options, separately exercisable stock appreciation rights and
direct stock issuances under the Plan per calendar year.
E. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary
authority to provide for the automatic acceleration of one or more outstanding
options under the Discretionary Option Grant Program upon the occurrence of a
Corporate Transaction, whether or not those options are to be assumed in the
Corporate Transaction, so that each such option shall, immediately prior to the
effect date of such Corporate Transaction, become fully exercisable with
respect to the total number of shares of Common Stock at the time subject to
that option and may be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully vested
shares of Common Stock. In addition, the Plan Administrator shall have the
discretionary authority to structure one or more of the Corporation's
repurchase rights under the Discretionary Option Grant Program so that those
rights shall not be assignable in connection with such Corporate Transaction
and shall accordingly terminate upon the consummation of such Corporate
Transaction, and the shares subject to those terminated rights shall thereupon
vest in full.
F. The Plan Administrator shall have full power and
authority, exercisable either at the time the option is granted or at any time
while the option remains outstanding, to provide for the automatic acceleration
of one or more outstanding options under the Discretionary Option Grant Program
in the event the Optionee's Service is subsequently terminated by reason of an
Involuntary Termination within a designated period (not to exceed eighteen (18)
months) following the effective date of any Corporate Transaction in which
those options are assumed and do not otherwise accelerate. Any options so
accelerated shall remain exercisable for fully vested shares until the earlier
of (i) the expiration of the option term or (ii) the expiration of the one (1)
year period measured from the effective date of the Involuntary Termination.
In addition, the Plan Administrator may provide that one or more of the
Corporation's outstanding repurchase rights with respect to shares held by the
Optionee at the time of such Involuntary Termination shall immediately
terminate, and the shares subject to those terminated repurchase rights shall
accordingly vest in full.
G. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary
authority to provide for the automatic acceleration of one or more outstanding
options under the Discretionary Option Grant Program upon the occurrence of a
Change in Control so that each such option shall, immediately prior to the
effect date of such Change in Control, become fully exercisable with respect to
the total number of shares of Common Stock at the time subject to that option
and may
10.
be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully vested shares of Common
Stock. In addition, the Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary
authority to structure one or more of the Corporation's repurchase rights under
the Discretionary Option Grant Program so that those rights shall terminate
automatically upon the consummation of such Change in Control, and the shares
subject to those terminated rights shall thereupon vest in full.
Alternatively, the Plan Administrator may condition the automatic acceleration
of one or more outstanding options under the Discretionary Option Grant Program
and the termination of one or more of the Corporation's outstanding repurchase
rights under such program upon the subsequent termination of the Optionee's
Service by reason of an Involuntary Termination within a designated period (not
to exceed eighteen (18) months) following the effective date of such Change in
Control. Each option so accelerated shall remain exercisable for fully vested
shares until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the option term or (ii) the
expiration of the one (1) year period measured from the effective date of
Optionee's cessation of Service.
H. The portion of any Incentive Option accelerated in
connection with a Corporate Transaction or Change in Control shall remain
exercisable as an Incentive Option only to the extent the applicable One
Hundred Thousand Dollar ($100,000) limitation is not exceeded. To the extent
such dollar limitation is exceeded, the accelerated portion of such option
shall be exercisable as a Nonstatutory Option under the Federal tax laws.
I. The outstanding options shall in no way affect the
right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change
its capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate
or sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
IV. CANCELLATION AND REGRANT OF OPTIONS
The Plan Administrator shall have the authority to effect, at
any time and from time to time, with the consent of the affected option
holders, the cancellation of any or all outstanding options under the
Discretionary Option Grant Program (including outstanding options incorporated
from the Predecessor Plan) and to grant in substitution new options covering
the same or different number of shares of Common Stock but with an exercise
price per share based on the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the
new grant date.
V. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
A. The Plan Administrator shall have full power and
authority to grant to selected Optionees tandem stock appreciation rights
and/or limited stock appreciation rights.
B. The following terms shall govern the grant and
exercise of tandem stock appreciation rights:
(i) One or more Optionees may be granted
the right, exercisable upon such terms as the Plan Administrator may
establish, to elect between the exercise of the underlying option for
shares of Common Stock and
11.
the surrender of that option in exchange for a distribution from the
Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (a) the Fair Market
Value (on the option surrender date) of the number of shares in which
the Optionee is at the time vested under the surrendered option (or
surrendered portion thereof) over (b) the aggregate exercise price
payable for such shares.
(ii) No such option surrender shall be
effective unless it is approved by the Plan Administrator, either at
the time of the actual option surrender or at any earlier time. If
the surrender is so approved, then the distribution to which the
Optionee shall be entitled may be made in shares of Common Stock
valued at Fair Market Value on the option surrender date, in cash, or
partly in shares and partly in cash, as the Plan Administrator shall
in its sole discretion deem appropriate.
(iii) If the surrender of an option is not
approved by the Plan Administrator, then the Optionee shall retain
whatever rights the Optionee had under the surrendered option (or
surrendered portion thereof) on the option surrender date and may
exercise such rights at any time prior to the later of (a) five (5)
business days after the receipt of the rejection notice or (b) the
last day on which the option is otherwise exercisable in accordance
with the terms of the documents evidencing such option, but in no
event may such rights be exercised more than ten (10) years after the
option grant date.
C. The following terms shall govern the grant and
exercise of limited stock appreciation rights:
(i) One or more Section 16 Insiders may
be granted limited stock appreciation rights with respect to their
outstanding options.
(ii) Upon the occurrence of a Hostile
Take-Over, each individual holding one or more options with such a
limited stock appreciation right shall have the unconditional right
(exercisable for a thirty (30)-day period following such Hostile
Take-Over) to surrender each such option to the Corporation, to the
extent the option is at the time exercisable for vested shares of
Common Stock. In return for the surrendered option, the Optionee
shall receive a cash distribution from the Corporation in an amount
equal to the excess of (A) the Take-Over Price of the shares of Common
Stock which are at the time vested under each surrendered option (or
surrendered portion thereof) over (B) the aggregate exercise price
payable for such shares. Such cash distribution shall be paid within
five (5) days following the option surrender date.
12.
(iii) The grant of such limited stock
appreciation right shall automatically constitute pre- approval by the
Plan Administrator of any subsequent exercise of that right in
accordance with the terms of this Paragraph C. Accordingly, no
further approval of the Plan Administrator or the Board shall be
required at the time of the actual option surrender and cash
distribution.
(iv) The balance of the option (if any)
shall remain outstanding and exercisable in accordance with the
documents evidencing such option.
13.
ARTICLE THREE
SALARY INVESTMENT OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
I. OPTION GRANTS
The Primary Committee shall have the sole and exclusive
authority to determine the calendar year or years (if any) for which the Salary
Investment Option Grant Program is to be in effect and to select the Section 16
Insiders and other highly compensated Employees eligible to participate in the
Salary Investment Option Grant Program for those calendar year or years. Each
selected individual who elects to participate in the Salary Investment Option
Grant Program must, prior to the start of each calendar year of participation,
file with the Plan Administrator (or its designate) an irrevocable
authorization directing the Corporation to reduce his or her base salary for
that calendar year by an amount not less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00)
nor more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00). The Primary Committee shall
have complete discretion to determine whether to approve the filed
authorization in whole or in part. To the extent the Primary Committee
approves the authorization, the individual who filed that authorization shall
automatically be granted an option under the Salary Investment Grant Program on
the first trading day in January of the calendar year for which the salary
reduction is to be in effect.
II. OPTION TERMS
Each option shall be a Non-Statutory Option evidenced by one
or more documents in the form approved by the Plan Administrator; provided,
however, that each such document shall comply with the terms specified below.
A. EXERCISE PRICE.
1. The exercise price per share shall be
thirty-three and one-third percent (33-1/3%) of the Fair Market Value per share
of Common Stock on the option grant date.
2. The exercise price shall become immediately
due upon exercise of the option and shall be payable in one or more of the
alternative forms authorized under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.
Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure specified thereunder is
utilized, payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made
on the Exercise Date.
14.
B. NUMBER OF OPTION SHARES. The number of shares of
Common Stock subject to the option shall be determined pursuant to the
following formula (rounded down to the nearest whole number):
X = A / (B x 66-2/3%), where
X is the number of option shares,
A is the dollar amount of the approved reduction in
the Optionee's base salary for the calendar year, and
B is the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock
on the option grant date.
C. EXERCISE AND TERM OF OPTIONS. The option shall
become exercisable in a series of twelve (12) successive equal monthly
installments upon the Optionee's completion of each calendar month of Service
in the calendar year for which the salary reduction is in effect. Each option
shall have a maximum term of ten (10) years measured from the option grant
date.
D. EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE. Should the
Optionee cease Service for any reason while holding one or more options under
this Article Three, then each such option shall remain exercisable, for any or
all of the shares for which the option is exercisable at the time of such
cessation of Service, until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten
(10)-year option term or (ii) the expiration of the three (3)-year period
measured from the date of such cessation of Service. Should the Optionee die
while holding one or more options under this Article Three, then each such
option may be exercised, for any or all of the shares for which the option is
exercisable at the time of the Optionee's cessation of Service (less any shares
subsequently purchased by Optionee prior to death), by the personal
representative of the Optionee's estate or by the person or persons to whom the
option is transferred pursuant to the Optionee's will or in accordance with the
laws of descent and distribution. Such right of exercise shall lapse, and the
option shall terminate, upon the earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten
(10)-year option term or (ii) the three (3)-year period measured from the date
of the Optionee's cessation of Service. However, the option shall, immediately
upon the Optionee's cessation of Service for any reason, terminate and cease to
remain outstanding with respect to any and all shares of Common Stock for which
the option is not otherwise at that time exercisable.
III . CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER
A. In the event of any Corporate Transaction while the
Optionee remains in Service, each outstanding option held by such Optionee
under this Salary Investment Option Grant Program shall automatically
accelerate so that each such option shall, immediately prior to the effective
date of the Corporate Transaction, become fully exercisable with respect to the
total number of shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such option and
may be exercised
15.
for any or all of those shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. Each
such outstanding option shall be assumed by the successor corporation (or
parent thereof) in the Corporate Transaction and shall remain exercisable for
the fully-vested shares until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten
(10)-year option term or (ii) the expiration of the three (3)-year period
measured from the date of the Optionee's cessation of Service.
B. In the event of a Change in Control while the
Optionee remains in Service, each outstanding option held by such Optionee
under this Salary Investment Option Grant Program shall automatically
accelerate so that each such option shall immediately become fully exercisable
with respect to the total number of shares of Common Stock at the time subject
to such option and may be exercised for any or all of those shares as
fully-vested shares of Common Stock. The option shall remain so exercisable
until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option term, (ii)
the expiration of the three (3)-year period measured from the date of the
Optionee's cessation of Service or (iii) the surrender of the option in
connection with a Hostile Take-Over.
C. Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the
Optionee shall have a thirty (30)-day period in which to surrender to the
Corporation each outstanding option granted him or her under the Salary
Investment Option Grant Program. The Optionee shall in return be entitled to a
cash distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i)
the Take-Over Price of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to the
surrendered option (whether or not the Optionee is otherwise at the time vested
in those shares) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such
shares. Such cash distribution shall be paid within five (5) days following
the surrender of the option to the Corporation. The Primary Committee shall,
at the time the option with such limited stock appreciation right is granted
under the Salary Investment Option Grant Program, pre-approve any subsequent
exercise of that right in accordance with the terms of this Paragraph C.
Accordingly, no further approval of the Primary Committee or the Board shall be
required at the time of the actual option surrender and cash distribution.
D. The grant of options under the Salary Investment
Option Grant Program shall in no way affect the right of the Corporation to
adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business
structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all
or any part of its business or assets.
III. REMAINING TERMS
The remaining terms of each option granted under the Salary
Investment Option Grant Program shall be the same as the terms in effect for
option grants made under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.
16.
ARTICLE FOUR
STOCK ISSUANCE PROGRAM
I. STOCK ISSUANCE TERMS
Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance
Program through direct and immediate issuances without any intervening option
grants. Each such stock issuance shall be evidenced by a Stock Issuance
Agreement which complies with the terms specified below.
A. PURCHASE PRICE.
1. The purchase price per share shall be fixed
by the Plan Administrator, but shall not be less than one hundred percent
(100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the issuance date.
2. Subject to the provisions of Section I of
Article Seven, shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance
Program for any of the following items of consideration which the Plan
Administrator may deem appropriate in each individual instance:
(i) cash or check made payable to the
Corporation, or
(ii) past services rendered to the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).
B. VESTING PROVISIONS.
1. Shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock
Issuance Program may, in the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be fully and
immediately vested upon issuance or may vest in one or more installments over
the Participant's period of Service or upon attainment of specified performance
objectives. The elements of the vesting schedule applicable to any unvested
shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance Program, namely:
(i) the Service period to be completed
by the Participant or the performance objectives to be attained,
(ii) the number of installments in which
the shares are to vest,
(iii) the interval or intervals (if any)
which are to lapse between installments, and
17.
(iv) the effect which death, Permanent
Disability or other event designated by the Plan Administrator is to
have upon the vesting schedule,
shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and incorporated into the Stock
Issuance Agreement.
2. Any new, substituted or additional securities
or other property (including money paid other than as a regular cash dividend)
which the Participant may have the right to receive with respect to the
Participant's unvested shares of Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend,
stock split, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or
other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the
Corporation's receipt of consideration shall be issued subject to (i) the same
vesting requirements applicable to the Participant's unvested shares of Common
Stock and (ii) such escrow arrangements as the Plan Administrator shall deem
appropriate.
3. The Participant shall have full stockholder
rights with respect to any shares of Common Stock issued to the Participant
under the Stock Issuance Program, whether or not the Participant's interest in
those shares is vested. Accordingly, the Participant shall have the right to
vote such shares and to receive any regular cash dividends paid on such shares.
4. Should the Participant cease to remain in
Service while holding one or more unvested shares of Common Stock issued under
the Stock Issuance Program or should the performance objectives not be attained
with respect to one or more such unvested shares of Common Stock, then those
shares shall be immediately surrendered to the Corporation for cancellation,
and the Participant shall have no further stockholder rights with respect to
those shares. To the extent the surrendered shares were previously issued to
the Participant for consideration paid in cash or cash equivalent (including
the Participant's purchase-money indebtedness), the Corporation shall repay to
the Participant the cash consideration paid for the surrendered shares and
shall cancel the unpaid principal balance of any outstanding purchase- money
note of the Participant attributable to the surrendered shares.
5. The Plan Administrator may in its discretion
waive the surrender and cancellation of one or more unvested shares of Common
Stock which would otherwise occur upon the cessation of the Participant's
Service or the non-attainment of the performance objectives applicable to those
shares. Such waiver shall result in the immediate vesting of the Participant's
interest in the shares of Common Stock as to which the waiver applies. Such
waiver may be effected at any time, whether before or after the Participant's
cessation of Service or the attainment or non-attainment of the applicable
performance objectives.
18.
II. CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE IN CONTROL
A. All of the Corporation's outstanding repurchase
rights under the Stock Issuance Program shall terminate automatically, and all
the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall immediately
vest in full, in the event of any Corporate Transaction, except to the extent
(i) those repurchase rights are to be assigned to the successor corporation (or
parent thereof) in connection with such Corporate Transaction or (ii) such
accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations imposed in the Stock
Issuance Agreement.
B. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary
authority, exercisable either at the time the unvested shares are issued or any
time while the Corporation's repurchase rights remain outstanding under the
Stock Issuance Program, to provide that those rights shall automatically
terminate in whole or in part, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those
terminated rights shall immediately vest, in the event the Participant's
Service should subsequently terminate by reason of an Involuntary Termination
within a designated period (not to exceed eighteen (18) months) following the
effective date of any Corporate Transaction in which those repurchase rights
are assigned to the successor corporation (or parent thereof).
C. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary
authority, exercisable either at the time the unvested shares are issued or any
time while the Corporation's repurchase rights remain outstanding under the
Stock Issuance Program, to provide that those rights shall automatically
terminate in whole or in part, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those
terminated rights shall immediately vest, in the event the Participant's
Service should subsequently terminate by reason of an Involuntary Termination
within a designated period (not to exceed eighteen (18) months) following the
effective date of any Change in Control.
III. SHARE ESCROW/LEGENDS
Unvested shares may, in the Plan Administrator's discretion,
be held in escrow by the Corporation until the Participant's interest in such
shares vests or may be issued directly to the Participant with restrictive
legends on the certificates evidencing those unvested shares.
19.
ARTICLE FIVE
AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
I. OPTION TERMS
A. GRANT DATES. Option grants shall be made on the
dates specified below:
1. Each individual who is first elected or
appointed as a non-employee Board member at any time after the Underwriting
Date shall automatically be granted, on the date of such initial election or
appointment, a Non-Statutory Option to purchase 20,000 shares of Common Stock,
provided that individual has not previously been in the employ of the
Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary.
2. On the date of each Annual Stockholders
Meeting held after the Underwriting Date, each individual who is to continue to
serve as an Eligible Director, whether or not that individual is standing for
re-election to the Board at that particular Annual Meeting, shall automatically
be granted a Non-Statutory Option to purchase 5,000 shares of Common Stock,
provided such individual has served as a non-employee Board member for at least
six (6) months. There shall be no limit on the number of such 5,000-share
option grants any one Eligible Director may receive over his or her period of
Board service, and non-employee Board members who have previously been in the
employ of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) or who have otherwise
received a stock option grant from the Corporation prior to the Underwriting
Date shall be eligible to receive one or more such annual option grants over
their period of continued Board service.
B. EXERCISE PRICE.
1. The exercise price per share shall be equal
to one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock on the option grant date.
2. The exercise price shall be payable in one or
more of the alternative forms authorized under the Discretionary Option Grant
Program. Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure specified
thereunder is utilized, payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares
must be made on the Exercise Date.
C. OPTION TERM. Each option shall have a term of ten
(10) years measured from the option grant date.
D. EXERCISE AND VESTING OF OPTIONS. Each option shall
be immediately exercisable for any or all of the option shares. However, any
shares purchased under the option shall be subject to repurchase by the
Corporation, at the exercise price paid per share, upon the Optionee's
cessation of Board service prior to vesting in those shares. Each initial
15,000-share grant shall vest, and the Corporation's repurchase right shall
lapse, in a series of four (4)
20.
successive equal annual installments over the Optionee's period of continued
service as a Board member, with the first such installment to vest upon the
Optionee's completion of one (1) year of Board service measured from the option
grant date. Each annual 5,000-share automatic option shall vest, and the
Corporation's repurchase right shall lapse, in a series of two successive equal
annual installments over the Optionee's period of continued service as a Board
Member, with the first such installment to vest upon the Optionee's completion
of one (1) year of Board service measured from the option grant date.
E. TERMINATION OF BOARD SERVICE. The following
provisions shall govern the exercise of any options held by the Optionee at the
time the Optionee ceases to serve as a Board member:
(i) The Optionee (or, in the event of
Optionee's death, the personal representative of the Optionee's estate
or the person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to
the Optionee's will or in accordance with the laws of descent and
distribution) shall have a twelve (12)-month period following the date
of such cessation of Board service in which to exercise each such
option.
(ii) During the twelve (12)-month
exercise period, the option may not be exercised in the aggregate for
more than the number of vested shares of Common Stock for which the
option is exercisable at the time of the Optionee's cessation of Board
service.
(iii) Should the Optionee cease to serve
as a Board member by reason of death or Permanent Disability, then all
shares at the time subject to the option shall immediately vest so
that such option may, during the twelve (12)-month exercise period
following such cessation of Board service, be exercised for all or any
portion of those shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock.
(iv) In no event shall the option remain
exercisable after the expiration of the option term. Upon the
expiration of the twelve (12)-month exercise period or (if earlier)
upon the expiration of the option term, the option shall terminate and
cease to be outstanding for any vested shares for which the option has
not been exercised. However, the option shall, immediately upon the
Optionee's cessation of Board service for any reason other than death
or Permanent Disability, terminate and cease to be outstanding to the
extent the option is not otherwise at that time exercisable for vested
shares.
II. CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER
A. In the event of any Corporate Transaction, the shares
of Common Stock at the time subject to each outstanding option but not
otherwise vested shall automatically vest in full so that each such option
shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the Corporate
21.
Transaction, become fully exercisable for all of the shares of Common Stock at
the time subject to such option and may be exercised for all or any portion of
those shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. Immediately following the
consummation of the Corporate Transaction, each automatic option grant shall
terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the
successor corporation (or parent thereof).
B. In connection with any Change in Control, the shares
of Common Stock at the time subject to each outstanding option but not
otherwise vested shall automatically vest in full so that each such option
shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control, become
fully exercisable for all of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to
such option and may be exercised for all or any portion of those shares as
fully-vested shares of Common Stock. Each such option shall remain exercisable
for such fully-vested option shares until the expiration or sooner termination
of the option term or the surrender of the option in connection with a Hostile
Take-Over.
C. All outstanding repurchase rights shall automatically
terminate, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights
shall immediately vest in full, in the event of any Corporate Transaction or
Change in Control.
D. Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the
Optionee shall have a thirty (30)-day period in which to surrender to the
Corporation each of his or her outstanding automatic option grants. The
Optionee shall in return be entitled to a cash distribution from the
Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Take-Over Price of the
shares of Common Stock at the time subject to each surrendered option (whether
or not the Optionee is otherwise at the time vested in those shares) over (ii)
the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares. Such cash distribution
shall be paid within five (5) days following the surrender of the option to the
Corporation. No approval or consent of the Board or any Plan Administrator
shall be required in connection with such option surrender and cash
distribution.
E. Each option which is assumed in connection with a
Corporate Transaction shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such
Corporate Transaction, to apply to the number and class of securities which
would have been issuable to the Optionee in consummation of such Corporate
Transaction had the option been exercised immediately prior to such Corporate
Transaction. Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the exercise price
payable per share under each outstanding option, provided the aggregate
exercise price payable for such securities shall remain the same.
F. The grant of options under the Automatic Option Grant
Program shall in no way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust,
reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or
to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part
of its business or assets.
22.
III. REMAINING TERMS
The remaining terms of each option granted under the Automatic
Option Grant Program shall be the same as the terms in effect for option grants
made under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.
23.
ARTICLE SIX
DIRECTOR FEE OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
I. OPTION GRANTS
Each non-employee Board member may elect to apply all or any
portion of the annual retainer fee otherwise payable in cash for his or her
service on the Board to the acquisition of a special option grant under this
Director Fee Option Grant Program. Such election must be filed with the
Corporation's Chief Financial Officer prior to first day of the calendar year
for which the annual retainer fee which is the subject of that election is
otherwise payable. Each non-employee Board member who files such a timely
election shall automatically be granted an option under this Director Fee
Option Grant Program on the first trading day in January in the calendar year
for which the annual retainer fee which is the subject of that election would
otherwise be payable in cash.
II. OPTION TERMS
Each option shall be a Non-Statutory Option governed by the
terms and conditions specified below.
A. EXERCISE PRICE.
1. The exercise price per share shall be
thirty-three and one-third percent (33-1/3%) of the Fair Market Value per share
of Common Stock on the option grant date.
2. The exercise price shall become immediately
due upon exercise of the option and shall be payable in one or more of the
alternative forms authorized under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.
Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure specified thereunder is
utilized, payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made
on the Exercise Date.
B. NUMBER OF OPTION SHARES. The number of shares of
Common Stock subject to the option shall be determined pursuant to the
following formula (rounded down to the nearest whole number):
X = A / (B x 66-2/3%), where
X is the number of option shares,
A is the portion of the annual retainer fee subject to
the non-employee Board member's election, and
24.
B is the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock
on the option grant date.
C. EXERCISE AND TERM OF OPTIONS. The option shall
become exercisable in a series of twelve (12) equal monthly installments upon
the Optionee's completion of each month of Board service over the twelve
(12)-month period measured from the grant date. Each option shall have a
maximum term of ten (10) years measured from the option grant date.
D. TERMINATION OF BOARD SERVICE. Should the Optionee
cease Board service for any reason (other than death or Permanent Disability)
while holding one or more options under this Director Fee Option Grant Program,
then each such option shall remain exercisable, for any or all of the shares
for which the option is exercisable at the time of such cessation of Board
service, until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option
term or (ii) the expiration of the three (3)-year period measured from the date
of such cessation of Board service. However, each option held by the Optionee
under this Director Fee Option Grant Program at the time of his or her
cessation of Board service shall immediately terminate and cease to remain
outstanding with respect to any and all shares of Common Stock for which the
option is not otherwise at that time exercisable.
E. DEATH OR PERMANENT DISABILITY. Should the Optionee's
service as a Board member cease by reason of death or Permanent Disability,
then each option held by such Optionee under this Director Fee Option Grant
Program shall immediately become exercisable for all the shares of Common Stock
at the time subject to that option, and the option may be exercised for any or
all of those shares as fully-vested shares until the earlier of (i) the
expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the expiration of the three
(3)-year period measured from the date of such cessation of Board service.
Should the Optionee die after cessation of Board service but
while holding one or more options under this Director Fee Option Grant Program,
then each such option may be exercised, for any or all of the shares for which
the option is exercisable at the time of the Optionee's cessation of Board
service (less any shares subsequently purchased by Optionee prior to death), by
the personal representative of the Optionee's estate or by the person or
persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to the Optionee's will or in
accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. Such right of exercise
shall lapse, and the option shall terminate, upon the earlier of (i) the
expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the three (3)-year period
measured from the date of the Optionee's cessation of Board service.
III. CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER
A. In the event of any Corporate Transaction while the
Optionee remains a Board member, each outstanding option held by such Optionee
under this Director Fee Option Grant Program shall automatically accelerate so
that each such option shall, immediately prior to the effective date of the
Corporate Transaction, become fully exercisable with respect to the
25.
total number of shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such option and
may be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully-vested shares of
Common Stock. Each such outstanding option shall be assumed by the successor
corporation (or parent thereof) in the Corporate Transaction and shall remain
exercisable for the fully-vested shares until the earlier of (i) the expiration
of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the expiration of the three (3)-year
period measured from the date of the Optionee's cessation of Board service.
B. In the event of a Change in Control while the
Optionee remains in Service, each outstanding option held by such Optionee
under this Director Fee Option Grant Program shall automatically accelerate so
that each such option shall immediately become fully exercisable with respect
to the total number of shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such
option and may be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully-vested
shares of Common Stock. The option shall remain so exercisable until the
earlier or (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the
expiration of the three (3)-year period measured from the date of the
Optionee's cessation of Service.
C. Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the
Optionee shall have a thirty (30)-day period in which to surrender to the
Corporation each outstanding option granted him or her under the Director Fee
Option Grant Program. The Optionee shall in return be entitled to a cash
distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the
Take-Over Price of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to each
surrendered option (whether or not the Optionee is otherwise at the time vested
in those shares) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such
shares. Such cash distribution shall be paid within five (5) days following
the surrender of the option to the Corporation. No approval or consent of the
Board or any Plan Administrator shall be required in connection with such
option surrender and cash distribution.
D. The grant of options under the Director Fee Option
Grant Program shall in no way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust,
reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or
to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part
of its business or assets.
IV. REMAINING TERMS
The remaining terms of each option granted under this Director
Fee Option Grant Program shall be the same as the terms in effect for option
grants made under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.
26.
ARTICLE SEVEN
MISCELLANEOUS
I. FINANCING
The Plan Administrator may permit any Optionee or Participant
to pay the option exercise price under the Discretionary Option Grant Program
or the purchase price of shares issued under the Stock Issuance Program by
delivering a full-recourse, interest bearing promissory note payable in one or
more installments. The terms of any such promissory note (including the
interest rate and the terms of repayment) shall be established by the Plan
Administrator in its sole discretion. In no event may the maximum credit
available to the Optionee or Participant exceed the sum of (i) the aggregate
option exercise price or purchase price payable for the purchased shares plus
(ii) any Federal, state and local income and employment tax liability incurred
by the Optionee or the Participant in connection with the option exercise or
share purchase.
II. TAX WITHHOLDING
A. The Corporation's obligation to deliver shares of
Common Stock upon the exercise of options or the issuance or vesting of such
shares under the Plan shall be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable
Federal, state and local income and employment tax withholding requirements.
B. The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion,
provide any or all holders of Non-Statutory Options or unvested shares of
Common Stock under the Plan (other than the options granted or the shares
issued under the Automatic Option Grant or Director Fee Option Grant Program)
with the right to use shares of Common Stock in satisfaction of all or part of
the Taxes incurred by such holders in connection with the exercise of their
options or the vesting of their shares. Such right may be provided to any such
holder in either or both of the following formats:
Stock Withholding: The election to have the
Corporation withhold, from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon
the exercise of such Non-Statutory Option or the vesting of such shares, a
portion of those shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the
percentage of the Taxes (not to exceed one hundred percent (100%)) designated
by the holder.
Stock Delivery: The election to deliver to the
Corporation, at the time the Non-Statutory Option is exercised or the shares
vest, one or more shares of Common Stock previously acquired by such holder
(other than in connection with the option exercise or share vesting triggering
the Taxes) with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the percentage of the
Taxes (not to exceed one hundred percent (100%)) designated by the holder.
27.
III. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN
A. The Plan shall become effective immediately at the
Plan Effective Date. However, the Salary Investment Option Grant Program and
the Director Fee Option Grant Program shall not be implemented until such time
as the Primary Committee may deem appropriate. Options may be granted under
the Discretionary Option Grant at any time on or after the Plan Effective Date.
However, no options granted under the Plan may be exercised, and no shares
shall be issued under the Plan, until the Plan is approved by the Corporation's
stockholders. If such stockholder approval is not obtained within twelve (12)
months after the Plan Effective Date, then all options previously granted under
this Plan shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, and no further options
shall be granted and no shares shall be issued under the Plan.
B. The Plan shall serve as the successor to the
Predecessor Plan, and no further option grants or direct stock issuances shall
be made under the Predecessor Plan after the Section 12 Registration Date.
All options outstanding under the Predecessor Plan on the Section 12
Registration Date shall be incorporated into the Plan at that time and shall be
treated as outstanding options under the Plan. However, each outstanding
option so incorporated shall continue to be governed solely by the terms of the
documents evidencing such option, and no provision of the Plan shall be deemed
to affect or otherwise modify the rights or obligations of the holders of such
incorporated options with respect to their acquisition of shares of Common
Stock.
C. One or more provisions of the Plan, including
(without limitation) the option/vesting acceleration provisions of Article Two
relating to Corporate Transactions and Changes in Control, may, in the Plan
Administrator's discretion, be extended to one or more options incorporated
from the Predecessor Plan which do not otherwise contain such provisions.
D. The Plan shall terminate upon the earliest to occur
of (i) March 9, 2008, (ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance
under the Plan shall have been issued as fully-vested shares or (iii) the
termination of all outstanding options in connection with a Corporate
Transaction. Should the Plan terminate on March 9, 2008, then all option grants
and unvested stock issuances outstanding at that time shall continue to have
force and effect in accordance with the provisions of the documents evidencing
such grants or issuances.
IV. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN
A. The Board shall have complete and exclusive power and
authority to amend or modify the Plan in any or all respects. However, no such
amendment or modification shall adversely affect the rights and obligations
with respect to stock options or unvested stock issuances at the time
outstanding under the Plan unless the Optionee or the Participant consents to
such amendment or modification. In addition, certain amendments may require
stockholder approval pursuant to applicable laws or regulations.
28.
B. Options to purchase shares of Common Stock may be
granted under the Discretionary Option Grant and Salary Investment Option Grant
Programs and shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance
Program that are in each instance in excess of the number of shares then
available for issuance under the Plan, provided any excess shares actually
issued under those programs shall be held in escrow until there is obtained
stockholder approval of an amendment sufficiently increasing the number of
shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan. If such
stockholder approval is not obtained within twelve (12) months after the date
the first such excess issuances are made, then (i) any unexercised options
granted on the basis of such excess shares shall terminate and cease to be
outstanding and (ii) the Corporation shall promptly refund to the Optionees and
the Participants the exercise or purchase price paid for any excess shares
issued under the Plan and held in escrow, together with interest (at the
applicable Short Term Federal Rate) for the period the shares were held in
escrow, and such shares shall thereupon be automatically cancelled and cease to
be outstanding.
V. USE OF PROCEEDS
Any cash proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of
shares of Common Stock under the Plan shall be used for general corporate
purposes.
VI. REGULATORY APPROVALS
A. The implementation of the Plan, the granting of any
stock option under the Plan and the issuance of any shares of Common Stock (i)
upon the exercise of any granted option or (ii) under the Stock Issuance
Program shall be subject to the Corporation's procurement of all approvals and
permits required by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Plan,
the stock options granted under it and the shares of Common Stock issued
pursuant to it.
B. No shares of Common Stock or other assets shall be
issued or delivered under the Plan unless and until there shall have been
compliance with all applicable requirements of Federal and state securities
laws, including the filing and effectiveness of the Form S-8 registration
statement for the shares of Common Stock issuable under the Plan, and all
applicable listing requirements of any stock exchange (or the Nasdaq National
Market, if applicable) on which Common Stock is then listed for trading.
VII. NO EMPLOYMENT/SERVICE RIGHTS
Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon the Optionee or the
Participant any right to continue in Service for any period of specific
duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining such person) or
of the Optionee or the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved
by each, to terminate such person's Service at any time for any reason, with or
without cause.
29.
APPENDIX
The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:
A. AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANT PROGRAM shall mean the automatic option
grant program in effect under the Plan.
B. BOARD shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.
C. CHANGE IN CONTROL shall mean a change in ownership or control
of the Corporation effected through either of the following transactions:
(i) the acquisition, directly or indirectly by
any person or related group of persons (other than the Corporation or
a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is
under common control with, the Corporation), of beneficial ownership
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities
possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting
power of the Corporation's outstanding securities pursuant to a tender
or exchange offer made directly to the Corporation's stockholders, or
(ii) a change in the composition of the Board over
a period of thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less such that a
majority of the Board members ceases, by reason of one or more
contested elections for Board membership, to be comprised of
individuals who either (A) have been Board members continuously since
the beginning of such period or (B) have been elected or nominated for
election as Board members during such period by at least a majority of
the Board members described in clause (A) who were still in office at
the time the Board approved such election or nomination.
D. CODE shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
E. COMMON STOCK shall mean the Corporation's common stock.
F. CORPORATE TRANSACTION shall mean either of the following
stockholder-approved transactions to which the Corporation is a party:
(i) a merger or consolidation in which securities
possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting
power of the Corporation's outstanding securities are transferred to a
person or persons different from the persons holding those securities
immediately prior to such transaction, or
A-1.
(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of
all or substantially all of the Corporation's assets in complete
liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation.
G. CORPORATION shall mean Com21, Inc., a Delaware corporation,
and its successors.
H. DIRECTOR FEE OPTION GRANT PROGRAM shall mean the special stock
option grant in effect for non-employee Board members under Article Six of the
Plan.
I. DISCRETIONARY OPTION GRANT PROGRAM shall mean the
discretionary option grant program in effect under the Plan.
J. ELIGIBLE DIRECTOR shall mean a non-employee Board member
eligible to participate in the Automatic Option Grant Program in accordance
with the eligibility provisions of Article One.
K. EMPLOYEE shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), subject to the control and direction
of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and
method of performance.
L. EXERCISE DATE shall mean the date on which the Corporation
shall have received written notice of the option exercise.
M. FAIR MARKET VALUE per share of Common Stock on any relevant
date shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) If the Common Stock is at the time traded on
the Nasdaq National Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the
closing selling price per share of Common Stock on the date in
question, as such price is reported by the National Association of
Securities Dealers on the Nasdaq National Market. If there is no
closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question,
then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the
last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
(ii) If the Common Stock is at the time listed on
any Stock Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing
selling price per share of Common Stock on the date in question on the
Stock Exchange determined by the Plan Administrator to be the primary
market for the Common Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the
composite tape of transactions on such exchange. If there is no
closing selling price for the Common Stock on the date in question,
then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price on the
last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
A-2.
(iii) For purposes of any option grants made on the
Underwriting Date, the Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be equal
to the price per share at which the Common Stock is to be sold in the
initial public offering pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
N. HOSTILE TAKE-OVER shall mean the acquisition, directly or
indirectly, by any person or related group of persons (other than the
Corporation or a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by,
or is under common control with, the Corporation) of beneficial ownership
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing
more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
Corporation's outstanding securities pursuant to a tender or exchange offer
made directly to the Corporation's stockholders which the Board does not
recommend such stockholders to accept.
O. INCENTIVE OPTION shall mean an option which satisfies the
requirements of Code Section 422.
P. INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION shall mean the termination of the
Service of any individual which occurs by reason of:
(i) such individual's involuntary dismissal or
discharge by the Corporation for reasons other than Misconduct, or
(ii) such individual's voluntary resignation
following (A) a change in his or her position with the Corporation
which materially reduces his or her duties and responsibilities or the
level of management to which he or she reports, (B) a reduction in his
or her level of compensation (including base salary, fringe benefits
and target bonus under any corporate-performance based bonus or
incentive programs) by more than fifteen percent (15%) or (C) a
relocation of such individual's place of employment by more than fifty
(50) miles, provided and only if such change, reduction or relocation
is effected by the Corporation without the individual's consent.
Q. MISCONDUCT shall mean the commission of any act of fraud,
embezzlement or dishonesty by the Optionee or Participant, any unauthorized use
or disclosure by such person of confidential information or trade secrets of
the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), or any other intentional
misconduct by such person adversely affecting the business or affairs of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) in a material manner. The foregoing
definition shall not be deemed to be inclusive of all the acts or omissions
which the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) may consider as grounds for
the dismissal or discharge of any Optionee, Participant or other person in the
Service of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).
R. 1934 ACT shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
A-3.
S. NON-STATUTORY OPTION shall mean an option not intended to
satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422.
T. OPTIONEE shall mean any person to whom an option is granted
under the Discretionary Option Grant, Salary Investment Option Grant, Automatic
Option Grant or Director Fee Option Grant Program.
U. PARENT shall mean any corporation (other than the Corporation)
in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation, provided each
corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation) owns, at the
time of the determination, stock possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other
corporations in such chain.
V. PARTICIPANT shall mean any person who is issued shares of
Common Stock under the Stock Issuance Program.
W. PERMANENT DISABILITY OR PERMANENTLY DISABLED shall mean the
inability of the Optionee or the Participant to engage in any substantial
gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental
impairment expected to result in death or to be of continuous duration of
twelve (12) months or more. However, solely for purposes of the Automatic
Option Grant and Director Fee Option Grant Programs, Permanent Disability or
Permanently Disabled shall mean the inability of the non-employee Board member
to perform his or her usual duties as a Board member by reason of any medically
determinable physical or mental impairment expected to result in death or to be
of continuous duration of twelve (12) months or more.
X. PLAN shall mean the Corporation's 1998 Stock Incentive Plan,
as set forth in this document.
Y. PLAN ADMINISTRATOR shall mean the particular entity, whether
the Primary Committee, the Board or the Secondary Committee, which is
authorized to administer the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance
Programs with respect to one or more classes of eligible persons, to the extent
such entity is carrying out its administrative functions under those programs
with respect to the persons under its jurisdiction.
Z. PLAN EFFECTIVE DATE shall mean April 1, 1998.
AA. PREDECESSOR PLAN shall mean the Corporation's pre-existing
Stock Option Plan in effect immediately prior to the Plan Effective Date
hereunder.
A-4.
AB. PRIMARY COMMITTEE shall mean the committee of two (2) or more
non-employee Board members appointed by the Board to administer the
Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to Section
16 Insiders and to administer the Salary Investment Option Grant Program solely
with respect to the selection of the eligible individuals who may participate
in such program.
AC. SALARY INVESTMENT OPTION GRANT PROGRAM shall mean the salary
investment option grant program in effect under the Plan.
AD. SECONDARY COMMITTEE shall mean a committee of one or more
Board members appointed by the Board to administer the Discretionary Option
Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to eligible persons other than
Section 16 Insiders.
AE. SECTION 12 REGISTRATION DATE shall mean the date on which the
Common Stock is first registered under Section 12 of the 1934 Act.
AF. SECTION 16 INSIDER shall mean an officer or director of the
Corporation subject to the short-swing profit liabilities of Section 16 of the
1934 Act.
AG. SERVICE shall mean the performance of services for the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) by a person in the capacity of an
Employee, a non-employee member of the board of directors or a consultant or
independent advisor, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in
the documents evidencing the option grant or stock issuance.
AH. STOCK EXCHANGE shall mean either the American Stock Exchange
or the New York Stock Exchange.
AI. STOCK ISSUANCE AGREEMENT shall mean the agreement entered into
by the Corporation and the Participant at the time of issuance of shares of
Common Stock under the Stock Issuance Program.
AJ. STOCK ISSUANCE PROGRAM shall mean the stock issuance program
in effect under the Plan.
AK. SUBSIDIARY shall mean any corporation (other than the
Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the
Corporation, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the
unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty
percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
A-5.
AL. TAKE-OVER PRICE shall mean the greater of (i) the Fair Market
Value per share of Common Stock on the date the option is surrendered to the
Corporation in connection with a Hostile Take-Over or (ii) the highest reported
price per share of Common Stock paid by the tender offeror in effecting such
Hostile Take-Over. However, if the surrendered option is an Incentive Option,
the Take-Over Price shall not exceed the clause (i) price per share.
AM. TAXES shall mean the Federal, state and local income and
employment tax liabilities incurred by the holder of Non-Statutory Options or
unvested shares of Common Stock in connection with the exercise of those
options or the vesting of those shares.
AN. 10% STOCKHOLDER shall mean the owner of stock (as determined
under Code Section 424(d)) possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation (or any Parent
or Subsidiary).
AO. UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT shall mean the agreement between the
Corporation and the underwriter or underwriters managing the initial public
offering of the Common Stock.
AP. UNDERWRITING DATE shall mean the date on which the
Underwriting Agreement is executed and priced in connection with an initial
public offering of the Common Stock.
A-6.
1998 Stock Incentive Plan - Com21 Inc.
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