1992 Stock Option Plan - Be Inc.
BE INCORPORATED 1992 STOCK OPTION PLAN Adopted by the Board of Directors February 5, 1992 Amended by the Board of Directors January 27, 1998 Approved by the Shareholders January 27, 1998 1. PURPOSES. -------- (a) The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by which selected Employees, Directors of and Consultants to the Company, and its Affiliates, may be given an opportunity to purchase stock of the Company. (b) The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of persons who are now Employees, Directors of or Consultants to the Company or its affiliates, to secure and retain the services of new Employees, Directors and Consultants, and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and its affiliates. (c) The Company intends that the Options issued under the Plan shall, in the discretion of the Board or any Committee to which responsibility for administration of the Plan has been delegated pursuant to subsection 3(c), be either Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options. All Options shall be separately designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options at the time of grant, and in such form as issued pursuant to Section 6, and a separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares purchased on exercise of each type of Option. 2. DEFINITIONS. ----------- (a) "AFFILIATE" means any parent corporation or subsidiary --------- corporation, whether now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) respectively, of the Code. <PAGE> (b) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company. ----- (c) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. ---- (d) "COMMITTEE" means a Committee appointed by the Board in --------- accordance with subsection 3(c) of the Plan. (e) "COMPANY" means Be Incorporated, a California corporation. ------- (f) "CONSULTANT" means any person, including an advisor, engaged by ---------- the Company or an Affiliate to render consulting services and who is compensated for such services, provided that the term "Consultant" shall not include Directors who are paid only a director's fee by the Company or who are not compensated by the Company for their services as Directors. (g) "CONTINUOUS STATUS AS AN EMPLOYEE, DIRECTOR OR CONSULTANT" means -------------------------------------------------------- that the service of an individual to the Company, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. The Board, in its sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant shall be considered interrupted in the case of: (i) any leave of absence approved by the Board, including sick leave, military leave, or any other personal leave; or (ii) transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, Affiliates or their successors. (h) "DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board. -------- (i) "DISINTERESTED PERSON" means a Director: who either (i) was not -------------------- during the one year prior to service as an administrator of the Plan granted or awarded equity securities pursuant to the Plan or any other plan of the Company or any affiliate entitling the participants therein to acquire equity securities of the Company or any affiliate except as permitted by Rule 16b-3(c)(2)(i); or (ii) is otherwise considered to be a "disinterested person" in accordance 2 <PAGE> with Rule 16b-3(c)(2)(i), or any other applicable rules, regulations or interpretations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. (j) "EMPLOYEE" means any person, including Officers and Directors, -------- employed by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company. Neither service as a Director nor payment of a director's fee by the Company shall be sufficient to constitute "employment" by the Company. (k) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as ------------ amended. (l) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, the value of the common stock of the ----------------- Company determined in good faith by the Board and in a manner consistent with Section 260.140.50 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations. (m) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an Option intended to qualify as ---------------------- an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. (n) "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" means an Option not intended to ------------------------- qualify as an Incentive Stock Option. (o) "OFFICER" means a person who is an officer of the Company within ------- the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. (p) "OPTION" means a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan. ------ (q) "OPTION AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the Company ---------------- and an Optionee evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. (r) "OPTIONEE" means a person who holds an outstanding Option. -------- (s) "PLAN" means this 1992 Stock Option Plan. ---- 3 <PAGE> (t) "RULE 16B-3" means Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act or any ---------- successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect when discretion is being exercised with respect to the Plan. 3. ADMINISTRATION. -------------- (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Board unless and until the Board delegates administration to a Committee, as provided in subsection 3(c). (b) The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan: (1) To determine from time to time which of the persons eligible under the Plan shall be granted Options; when and how each Option shall be granted; whether an Option will be an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option; the provisions of each Option granted (which need not be identical), including the time or times such Option may be exercised in whole or in part; and the number of shares for which an Option shall be granted to each such person. (2) To construe and interpret the Plan and Options granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for its administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Option Agreement, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the Plan fully effective. (3) To amend the Plan or an Option as provided in Section 11. (c) The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a committee composed of not fewer than two (2) members (the "Committee"), all of the members of which Committee shall be Disinterested Persons. If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by 4 <PAGE> the Board (and references in this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the administration of the Plan. Additionally, prior to the date of the first registration of an equity security of the Company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Board may delegate administration of the Plan to any person or persons and the term "Committee" shall apply to any person or persons to whom such authority has been delegated. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 3 to the contrary, the Board or the Committee may delegate to a committee of one or more members of the Board the authority to grant Options to eligible persons who (1) are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act and/or (2) are either (i) not then Covered Employees and are not expected to be Covered Employees at the time of recognition of income resulting from such Option, or (ii) not persons with respect to whom the Company wishes to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code. (d) Any requirement that an administrator of the Plan be a Disinterested Person shall not apply (i) prior to the date of the first registration of an equity security of the Company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, or (ii) if the Board or the Committee expressly declares that such requirement shall not apply. Any Disinterested Person shall otherwise comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3. 4. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN. -------------------------- (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 10 relating to adjustments upon changes in stock, the stock that may be sold pursuant to Options shall not exceed in the aggregate eight million (8,000,000) shares of the Company's common stock. If any Option shall for any reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part, without having been exercised in full, the 5 <PAGE> stock not purchased under such Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. (b) The stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares or reacquired shares, bought on the market or otherwise. 5. ELIGIBILITY. ----------- (a) Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. Nonstatutory Stock Options may be granted only to Employees, Directors or Consultants. (b) A Director shall in no event be eligible for the benefits of the Plan unless at the time discretion is exercised in the selection of the Director as a person to whom Options may be granted, or in the determination of the number of shares which may be covered by Options granted to the Director: (i) the Board has delegated its discretionary authority over the Plan to a Committee which consists solely of Disinterested Persons; or (ii) the Plan otherwise complies with the requirements of Rule 16b-3. The Board shall otherwise comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3. This subsection 5(b) shall not apply (i) prior to the date of the first registration of an equity security of the Company under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, or (ii) if the Board or Committee expressly declares that it shall not apply. (c) No person shall be eligible for the grant of an Option if, at the time of grant, such person owns (or is deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its Affiliates unless the exercise price of such Option is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value of such stock at the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant. 6. OPTION PROVISIONS. ----------------- 6 <PAGE> Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. The provisions of separate Options need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions: (a) TERM. No Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten ---- (10) years from the date it was granted. (b) PRICE. The exercise price of each Incentive Stock Option shall ----- be not less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted; the exercise price of each Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be granted with an exercise price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code. (c) CONSIDERATION. The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant ------------- to an Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and regulations, either (i) in cash at the time the Option is exercised, or (ii) at the discretion of the Board or the Committee, at the time of the grant of the Option, (A) by delivery to the Company of other common stock of the Company, (B) according to a deferred payment or other arrangement (which may include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the use of other common stock of the Company) with the person to whom the Option is granted or to whom the Option is transferred pursuant to 7 <PAGE> subsection 6(d), or (C) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board. In the case of any deferred payment arrangement, interest shall be payable at least annually and shall be charged at the minimum rate of interest necessary to avoid the treatment as interest, under any applicable provisions of the Code, of any amounts other than amounts stated to be interest under the deferred payment arrangement. (d) TRANSFERABILITY. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be --------------- transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the person to whom the Incentive Stock Option is granted only by such person. A Nonstatutory Stock Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order satisfying the requirements of Rule 16b-3 and the rules thereunder (a "QDRO"), and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the person to whom the Option is granted only by such person or any transferee pursuant to a QDRO. The person to whom the Option is granted may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionee, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option. (e) Vesting. The total number of shares of stock subject to an Option ------- may, but need not, be allotted in periodic installments (which may, but need not, be equal). The Option Agreement may provide that from time to time during each of such installment periods, the Option may become exercisable ("vest") with respect to some or all of the shares allotted to that period, and may be exercised with respect to some or all of the shares allotted to such period and/or any prior period as to which the Option became vested but was not fully exercised. The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be 8 <PAGE> exercised (which may be based on performance or other criteria) as the Board may deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary but in each case will, to the extent required by applicable law, provide for vesting of at least twenty percent (20%) per year of the total number of shares subject to the Option. The provisions of this subsection 6(e) are subject to any Option provisions governing the minimum number of shares as to which an Option may be exercised. (f) SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE. The Company may require any Optionee, ------------------------- or any person to whom an Option is transferred under subsection 6(d), as a condition of exercising any such Option, (1) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Optionee's knowledge and experience in financial and business matters and/or to employ a purchaser representative reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is knowledgeable and experienced in financial and business matters, and that he or she is capable of evaluating, alone or together with the purchaser representative, the merits and risks of exercising the Option; and (2) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that such person is acquiring the stock subject to the Option for such person's own account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the stock. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, shall be inoperative if (i) the issuance of the shares upon the exercise of the Option has been registered under a then currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or (ii) as to any particular requirement, a determination is made by counsel for the Company that such requirement need not be met in the circumstances under the then applicable securities laws. The Company may require the Optionee to provide such other representations, written assurances or information which the Company shall determine is necessary, desirable or appropriate to comply with 9 <PAGE> applicable securities and other laws as a condition of granting an Option to such Optionee or permitting the Optionee to exercise such Option. The Company may, upon advice of counsel to the Company, place legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan as such counsel deems necessary or appropriate in order to comply with applicable securities laws, including, but not limited to, legends restricting the transfer of the stock. (g) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR RELATIONSHIP AS A DIRECTOR OR ---------------------------------------------------------- CONSULTANT. In the event an Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, ---------- Director or Consultant terminates (other than upon the Optionee's death or disability), the Optionee may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise it as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date three (3) months after the termination of the Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant, or such longer or shorter period, which in no event shall be less than thirty (30) days, specified in the Option Agreement, or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement). If, after termination, the Optionee does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified in the Option Agreement, the Option shall terminate, and the shares covered by such Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. (h) DISABILITY OF OPTIONEE. In the event an Optionee's Continuous ---------------------- Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant terminates as a result of the Optionee's disability, the Optionee may exercise his or her Option, (to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise it as of the date of termination) but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date twelve (12) months following such termination (or such shorter period, which in no event shall be less than six (6) months, specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement). If, at the date of termination, the 10 <PAGE> Optionee is not entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the shares covered by the unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. If, after termination, the Optionee does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the shares covered by such Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. (i) DEATH OF OPTIONEE. In the event of the death of an Optionee during, ----------------- or within a period specified in the Option Agreement after the termination of, the Optionee's Continuous Status as an Employee, Director or Consultant, the Option may be exercised (to the extent the Optionee was entitled to exercise the Option as of the date of death) by the Optionee's estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the option upon the Optionee's death pursuant to subsection 6(d), but only within the period ending on the earlier of (i) the date eighteen (18) months following the date of death (or such longer or shorter period, which in no event shall be less than six (6) months, specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, at the time of death, the Optionee was not entitled to exercise his or her entire Option, the shares covered by the unexercisable portion of the Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. If, after death, the Option is not exercised within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate, and the shares covered by such Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. (j) EARLY EXERCISE. The Option may, but need not, include a provision -------------- whereby the Optionee may elect at any time while an Employee, Director or Consultant to exercise the Option as to any part or all of the shares subject to the Option prior to the full vesting of the Option. Any unvested shares so purchased shall be subject to a repurchase right in favor of the 11 <PAGE> Company, with the repurchase price to be equal to the original purchase price of the stock, or to any other restriction the Board determines to be appropriate; provided, however, that to the extent required by applicable law (i) the right to repurchase at the original purchase price shall lapse at a minimum rate of twenty percent (20%) per year over five (5) years from the date the Option was granted, and (ii) such right shall be exercisable only within (A) the ninety (90) day period following the termination of employment [or the relationship as a Director or Consultant, or (B) such longer period as may be agreed to by the Company and the Optionee (for example, for purposes of satisfying the requirements of Section 1202(c)(3) of the Code (regarding "qualified small business stock")), and (iii) such right shall be exercisable only for cash or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness for the shares. Should the right of repurchase be assigned by the Company, the assignee shall pay the Company cash equal to the difference between the original purchase price and the stock's Fair Market Value if the original purchase price is less than the stock's Fair Market Value. (k) WITHHOLDING. To the extent provided by the terms of an Option ----------- Agreement, the Optionee may satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise of such Option by any of the following means or by a combination of such means: (1) tendering a cash payment; (2) authorizing the Company to withhold shares from the shares of the common stock otherwise issuable to the Optionee as a result of the exercise of the Option; or (3) delivering to the Company owned and unencumbered shares of the common stock of the Company. 7. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. ------------------------ (a) During the terms of the Options, the Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of stock required to satisfy such Options. 12 <PAGE> (b) The Company shall seek to obtain from each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such authority as may be required to issue and sell shares of stock upon exercise of the Options; provided, however, that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Securities Act either the Plan, any Option or any stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Option. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and sell stock upon exercise of such Options unless and until such authority is obtained. 8. USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK. -------------------------- Proceeds from the sale of stock pursuant to Options shall constitute general funds of the Company. 9. MISCELLANEOUS. ------------- (a) Neither an Optionee nor any person to whom an Option is transferred under subsection 6(d) shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares subject to such Option unless and until such person has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Option pursuant to its terms. (b) Throughout the term of any Option, to the extent required by applicable law, the Company shall deliver to the holder of such Option, not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the close of each of the Company's fiscal years during the Option term, a balance sheet and an income statement. This section shall not apply when issuance is limited to key employees whose duties in connection with the Company assure them access to equivalent information. 13 <PAGE> (c) Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Option granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Employee, Director, Consultant or Optionee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate (or to continue acting as a Director or Consultant) or shall affect the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate the employment of any Employee, with or without cause, to remove any Director as provided in the Company's By-Laws and the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of California, or to terminate the relationship of any Consultant in accordance with the terms of that Consultant's agreement with the Company or Affiliate to which such Consultant is providing services. (d) To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by any Optionee during any calendar year under all plans of the Company and its Affiliates exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the Options or portions thereof which exceed such limit (according to the order in which they were granted) shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options. (e) The Board or the Committee shall have the authority to effect, at any time and from time to time (i) the repricing of any outstanding Options under the Plan and/or (ii) with the consent of the affected holders of Options, the cancellation of any outstanding Options and the grant in substitution therefor of new Options under the Plan covering the same or different numbers of shares of common stock, but having an exercise price per share not less than eighty-five percent (85%) percent of the Fair Market Value (one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value in the case of an Incentive Stock Option or, in the case of a ten percent (10%) shareholder (as defined in subsection 5(c)), not less than one hundred and ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value) per share of common stock on the new grant date. 14 <PAGE> 10. ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK. --------------------------------- (a) If any change is made in the stock subject to the Plan, or subject to any Option (through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, dividend in property other than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of shares, change in corporate structure or other transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the Company), the Plan will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and maximum number of shares subject to the Plan pursuant to subsection 4(a), and the outstanding Options will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and number of shares and price per share of stock subject to such outstanding Options. Such adjustments shall be made by the Board or Committee, the determination of which shall be final, binding and conclusive. (The conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be treated as a "transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by the Company.") (b) In the event of: (1) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or (2) a reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of the Company's common stock outstanding immediately preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise; or (4) the acquisition by any person, entity or group within the meaning of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act, or any comparable successor provisions (excluding any employee benefit plan, or related trust, sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company) of the beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, or comparable successor rule) of securities of the Company representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power entitled to vote in the election of directors, then to the extent not prohibited by applicable law: (i) any surviving or 15 <PAGE> acquiring corporation shall assume any Options outstanding under the Plan or shall substitute similar Options (including an option to acquire the same consideration paid to the shareholders in the transaction described in this subsection 10(b)) for those outstanding under the Plan, or (ii) such Options shall continue in full force and effect. In the event any surviving or acquiring corporation refuses to assume or continue such Options, or to substitute similar options for those outstanding under the Plan, then such Options shall terminate if not exercised prior to such event. In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, any Options outstanding under the Plan shall terminate if not exercised prior to such event. 11. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND OPTIONS. --------------------------------- (a) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the Plan. However, except as provided in Section 10 relating to adjustments upon changes in stock, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the adoption of the amendment, where the amendment will: (i) Increase the number of shares reserved for Options under the Plan; (ii) Modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the Plan (to the extent such modification requires shareholder approval in order for the Plan to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code); or (iii) Modify the Plan in any other way if such modification requires shareholder approval in order for the Plan to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or to comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3. (b) The Board may in its sole discretion submit any other amendment to the Plan for shareholder approval, including, but not limited to, amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated 16 <PAGE> thereunder regarding the exclusion of performance-based compensation from the limit on corporate deductibility of compensation paid to certain executive officers. (c) It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide Optionees with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options and/or to bring the Plan and/or Incentive Stock Options granted under it into compliance therewith. (d) Rights and obligations under any Option granted before amendment of the Plan shall not be altered or impaired by any amendment of the Plan unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the person to whom the Option was granted and (ii) such person consents in writing. (e) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the terms of any one or more Options; provided, however, that the rights and obligations under any Option shall not be impaired by any such amendment unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the person to whom the Option was granted and (ii) such person consents in writing. 12. TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN. ------------------------------------- (a) The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on January 31, 2002, which shall be within ten (10) years from the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or approved by the shareholders of the Company, whichever is earlier. No Options may be granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated. 17 <PAGE> (b) Rights and obligations under any Option granted while the Plan is in effect shall not be altered or impaired by suspension or termination of the Plan, except with the consent of the person to whom the Option was granted. 13. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN. ---------------------- The Plan shall become effective as determined by the Board, but no Options granted under the Plan shall be exercised unless and until the Plan has been approved by the shareholders of the Company, which approval shall be within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the Board and, if required, an appropriate permit has been issued by the Commissioner of Corporations of the State of California. 18