1993 Stock Option Plan - Countrywide Credit Industries Inc.
COUNTRYWIDE CREDIT INDUSTRIES, INC.
1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN
(Amended and Restated as of March 27, 1996)
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COUNTRYWIDE CREDIT INDUSTRIES, INC.
1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN
(Amended and Restated as of March 27, 1996)
1. Purpose................................................................................................1
2. Definitions............................................................................................1
3. Administration.........................................................................................6
4. Stock Subject to Program...............................................................................7
5. Option Grants for Nonemployee Directors................................................................8
6. Option Grants for Eligible Employees...................................................................9
7. Terms and Conditions Applicable to All Options.........................................................10
8. Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization..............................................................12
9. Effect of Certain Transactions.........................................................................12
10. Termination and Amendment of the Plan..................................................................13
11. Non-Exclusivity of the Plan............................................................................13
12. Limitation of Liability................................................................................13
13. Regulations and Other Approvals; Governing Law.........................................................14
14. Miscellaneous..........................................................................................15
15. Effective Date.........................................................................................16
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Page 38
COUNTRYWIDE CREDIT INDUSTRIES, INC.
1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN
(Amended and Restated as of March 27, 1996)
1. Purpose.
The purpose of this Plan is to strengthen Countrywide Credit
Industries, Inc. by providing an incentive to its key employees and directors
and thereby encouraging them to devote their abilities and industry to the
success of the Company's business enterprise. It is intended that this purpose
be achieved by extending to key employees and directors of the Company and the
Subsidiaries an added long-term incentive for high levels of performance and
unusual efforts through the grant of options to purchase shares of the Company's
common stock under the amended and restated Countrywide Credit Industries, Inc.
1993 Stock Option Plan.
2. Definitions.
For purposes of the Plan:
(a) "Adjusted Fair Market Value" means, in the event of a Change in
Control, the greater of (1) the highest price per Share paid to holders of the
Shares in any transaction (or series of transactions) constituting or resulting
in a Change in Control or (2) the highest Fair Market Value of a Share during
the ninety (90) day period ending on the date of a Change in Control.
(b) "Agreement" means the written agreement between the Company and an
Optionee evidencing the grant of an Option and setting forth the terms and
conditions thereof.
(c) "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) "Cause" means (1) any act of (A) fraud or intentional
misrepresentation, or (B) embezzlement, misappropriation or conversion of assets
or opportunities of the Company or any direct or indirect majority-owned
subsidiary of the Company, or (2) willful violation of any law, rule or
regulation in connection with the performance of an Optionee's duties (other
than traffic violations or similar offenses).
(e) "Change in Capitalization" means any increase or reduction in the
number of Shares, or exchange of Shares for a different number or kind of shares
or other securities of the Company, by reason of a reclassification,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization, stock dividend, stock
split or reverse stock split, combination or exchange of shares, or other
similar event.
(f) "Change in Control" means the occurrence of any one of the following
events:
(1) An acquisition (other than directly from Employer) of any common stock
or other "Voting Securities" (as hereinafter defined) of Employer by any
"Person" (as the term person is used for purposes of Section 13(d) or 14(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")),
immediately after which such Person has "Beneficial Ownership" (within the
meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of twenty five percent
(25%) or more of the then outstanding shares of Employer's common stock or the
combined voting power of Employer's then outstanding Voting Securities;
provided, however, in determining whether a Change in Control has
-------- -------
occurred, Voting Securities which are acquired in a "Non-Control
Acquisition" (as hereinafter defined) shall not constitute an acquisition which
would cause a Change in Control. For purposes of this Agreement, (A) "Voting
Securities" shall mean Employer's outstanding voting securities entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors and (B) a "Non-Control Acquisition" shall
mean an acquisition by (i) an employee benefit plan (or a trust forming a part
thereof) maintained by (x) Employer or (y) any corporation or other Person of
which a majority of its voting power or its voting equity securities or equity
interest is owned, directly or indirectly, by Employer (for purposes of this
definition, a "Subsidiary"), (ii) Employer or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iii)
any Person in connection with a "Non-Control Transaction" (as hereinafter
defined);
(2) The individuals who as of March 27, 1996 are members of the Board (the
"Incumbent Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least two-thirds of the
members of the Board; provided, however, that if the election, or nomination for
election by
-------- -------
Employer's common stockholders, of any new director was approved by a vote
of at least two-thirds of the Incumbent Board, such new director shall, for
purposes of this Agreement, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board;
provided further,
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however, that no individual shall be considered a member of the Incumbent
Board if
-------
such individual initially assumed office as a result of either an actual or
threatened "Election Contest" (as described in Rule 14a-11 promulgated under the
Exchange Act) or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents
by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board (a "Proxy Contest") including
by reason of any agreement intended to avoid or settle any Election Contest or
Proxy Contest; or
(3) The consummation of:
(A) A merger, consolidation or reorganization involving Employer, unless
such merger, consolidation or reorganization is a "Non-Control Transaction." A
"Non-Control Transaction" shall mean a merger, consolidation or reorganization
of Employer where:
(i) the stockholders of Employer, immediately before such merger,
consolidation or reorganization, own directly or indirectly immediately
following such merger, consolidation or reorganization, at least seventy percent
(70%) of the combined voting power of the outstanding Voting Securities of the
corporation resulting from such merger, consolidation or reorganization (the
"Surviving Corporation") in substantially the same proportion as their ownership
of the Voting Securities immediately before such merger, consolidation or
reorganization;
(ii) the individuals who were members of the Incumbent Board immediately
prior to the execution of the agreement providing for such merger, consolidation
or reorganization constitute at least two-thirds of the members of the board of
directors of the Surviving Corporation, or in the event that, immediately
following the consummation of such transaction, a corporation beneficially owns,
directly or indirectly, a majority of the Voting Securities of the Surviving
Corporation, the board of directors of such corporation; and
(iii) no Person other than (w) Employer, (x) any Subsidiary, (y) any
employee benefit plan (or any trust forming a part thereof) maintained by
Employer, the Surviving Corporation, or any Subsidiary, or (z) any Person who,
immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or reorganization had Beneficial
Ownership of twenty five percent (25%) or more of the then outstanding Voting
Securities or common stock of Employer, has Beneficial Ownership of twenty five
percent (25%) or more of the combined voting power of the Surviving
Corporation's then outstanding Voting Securities or its common stock;
(B) A complete liquidation or dissolution of Employer; or
(C) The sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets
of Employer to any Person (other than a transfer to a Subsidiary).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not
be deemed to occur solely because any Person (the "Subject Person") acquired
Beneficial Ownership of more than the permitted amount of the then outstanding
common stock or Voting Securities as a result of the acquisition of common stock
or Voting Securities by Employer which, by reducing the number of shares of
common stock or Voting Securities then outstanding, increases the proportional
number of shares Beneficially Owned by the Subject Persons; provided, however,
that if a Change in Control would occur (but for the operation of this sentence)
as a result of the acquisition of common stock or Voting Securities by Employer,
and after such share acquisition by Employer, the Subject Person becomes the
Beneficial Owner of any additional common stock or Voting Securities which
increases the percentage of the then outstanding common stock or Voting
Securities Beneficially Owned by the Subject Person, then a Change in Control
shall occur.
(g) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(h) "Committee" means a committee consisting of at least two (2)
directors appointed by the Board to administer the Plan and to perform the
functions set forth herein.
(i) "Company" means Countrywide Credit Industries, Inc.
(j) "Director Option" means an Option granted to a Nonemployee Director
pursuant to Section 5.
(k) "Disability" means a physical or mental infirmity which impairs the
Optionee's ability to perform substantially his or her duties for a period of
one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days.
(l) "Disinterested Director" means a director of the Company who is
"disinterested" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.
(m) "Eligible Employee" means any officer or other key employee of the
Company or a Subsidiary designated by the Committee as eligible to receive
Options subject to the conditions set forth herein.
(n) "Employee Option" means an Option granted to an Eligible Employee
pursuant to Section 6.
(o) "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(p) "Fair Market Value" on any date means the average of the high and
low sales prices of the Shares on such date on the principal national securities
exchange on which such Shares are listed or admitted to trading, or if such
Shares are not so listed or admitted to trading, the arithmetic mean of the per
Share closing bid price and per Share closing asked price on such date as quoted
on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System or
such other market in which such prices are regularly quoted, or, if there have
been no published bid or asked quotations with respect to Shares on such date,
the Fair Market Value shall be the value established by the Board in good faith
and in accordance with Section 422 of the Code.
(q) "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option satisfying the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code and designated by the Committee as an
Incentive Stock Option.
(r) "Nonemployee Director" means a director of the Company who is not an
employee of the Company or any Subsidiary.
(s) "Nonqualified Stock Option" means an Option which is not an Incentive
Stock Option.
(t) "Option" means an Employee Option, a Director Option, or either or both
of them.
(u) "Optionee" means a person to whom an Option has been granted under the
Plan.
(v) "Outside Director" means a director of the Company who is an
"outside director" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.
(w) "Parent" means any corporation which is a parent corporation
(within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code) with respect to the Company.
(x) "Plan" means the Countrywide Credit Industries, Inc. 1993 Stock Option
Plan, as amended and restated effective March 27, 1996.
(y) "Shares" means the common stock, par value $.05 per share, of the
Company.
(z) "Subsidiary" means any corporation which is a subsidiary
corporation (within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code) with respect to
the Company.
(aa) "Successor Corporation" means a corporation, or a parent or
subsidiary thereof within the meaning of Section 424(a) of the Code, which
issues or assumes a stock option in a transaction to which Section 424(a) of the
Code applies.
(bb) "Ten-Percent Stockholder" means an Eligible Employee, who, at the
time an Incentive Stock Option is to be granted to him or her, owns (within the
meaning of Section 422(b)(6) 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 a Parent or a Subsidiary.
3. Administration.
(a) The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which shall hold
meetings at such times as may be necessary for the proper administration of the
Plan. The Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings. A quorum shall consist
of not less than two members of the Committee and a majority of a quorum may
authorize any action. Any decision or determination reduced to writing and
signed by a majority of all of the members shall be as fully effective as if
made by a majority vote at a meeting duly called and held. Each member of the
Committee shall be a Disinterested Director and an Outside Director. No member
of the Committee shall be liable for any action, failure to act, determination
or interpretation made in good faith with respect to this Plan or any
transaction hereunder, except for liability arising from his or her own willful
misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or her duties. The
Company hereby agrees to indemnify each member of the Committee for all costs
and expenses and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any liability
incurred in connection with defending against, responding to, negotiation for
the settlement of or otherwise dealing with any claim, cause of action or
dispute of any kind arising in connection with any actions in administering this
Plan or in authorizing or denying authorization to any transaction hereunder.
(b) Subject to the express terms and conditions set forth herein, the
Committee shall have the power from time to time to:
(1) determine those Eligible Employees to whom Employee
Options shall be granted under the Plan and the number of Incentive Stock
Options and/or Nonqualified Stock Options to be granted to each Eligible
Employee and to prescribe the terms and conditions (which need not be identical)
of each such Employee Option, including the purchase price per Share subject to
each Employee Option, and make any amendment or modification to any Agreement
consistent with the terms of the Plan;
(2) to construe and interpret the Plan and the Options granted
hereunder and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for the
administration of the Plan, including, but not limited to, correcting any defect
or supplying any omission, or reconciling any inconsistency in the Plan or in
any Agreement, in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or
advisable so that the Plan complies with applicable law, including Rule 16b-3
under the Exchange Act and the Code to the extent applicable, and otherwise to
make the Plan fully effective. All decisions and determinations by the Committee
in the exercise of this power shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the
Company, its Subsidiaries, the Optionees and all other persons having any
interest therein;
(3) to determine the duration and purposes for leaves of
absence which may be granted to an Optionee on an individual basis without
constituting a termination of employment or service for purposes of the Plan;
(4) to exercise its discretion with respect to the powers and rights
granted to it as set forth in the Plan; and
(5) generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such
acts as are deemed necessary or advisable to promote the best interests of the
Company with respect to the Plan.
4. Stock Subject to Program.
(a) The maximum number of Shares that may be made the subject of
Options granted under the Plan is ten million five hundred thousand
(10,500,000); provided, however, that the maximum number of Shares that may be
the subject of Options granted to any Eligible Employee from and after March 27,
1996 and during the term of the Plan may not exceed three million (3,000,000).
Upon a Change in Capitalization the maximum number of Shares shall be adjusted
in number and kind pursuant to Section 8. The Company shall reserve for the
purposes of the Plan, out of its authorized but unissued Shares or out of Shares
held in the Company's treasury, or partly out of each, such number of Shares as
shall be determined by the Board.
(b) Whenever any outstanding Option or portion thereof expires, is
canceled or is otherwise terminated for any reason (other than upon the
surrender of the Option pursuant to Section 7(e) hereof), the Shares allocable
to the expired, canceled or otherwise terminated Option or portion thereof may
again be the subject of Options granted hereunder.
5. Option Grants for Nonemployee Directors.
(a) Grant. Director Options shall be granted to each Nonemployee
Director on the first business day of June of each year that the Plan is in
effect. The number of Shares and the purchase price therefor of each Director
Option shall be as provided in this Section 5 and such Options shall be
evidenced by an Agreement containing such other terms and conditions not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Plan as determined by the Board.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Subsection (a), no Option shall
be granted in any year to a Nonemployee Director who makes a written election
not to receive such Option under the Plan, provided such election is filed with
the Secretary of the Company at least one business day prior to the date such
grant would otherwise be made under the Plan; provided, further, that an
election made pursuant to this sentence shall remain effective until the next
business day following the date a written notice revoking such election is made
and filed with the Secretary of the Company. A Nonemployee Director who makes an
election not to receive an Option will not receive anything from the Company in
lieu thereof.
(b) Number of Shares. Each Director Option granted shall be in respect
of a number of Shares equal to the lesser of (1) 7,500 multiplied by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the earnings per Share on a fully diluted basis of the
Company for the fiscal year of the Company ended immediately before the date of
grant of the Director Option (as reported in the audited Financial Statements
included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), but in no event less than zero) (the "EPS
Numerator Amount") and the denominator of which is $.68, or (2) 7,500 multiplied
by a fraction, the numerator of which is the EPS Numerator Amount and the
denominator of which is the earnings per share on a fully diluted basis of the
Company for the fiscal year immediately preceding the fiscal year in respect of
which the EPS Numerator Amount is determined as reported in the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. The number 7,500 and the $.68 amount
referred to in the previous sentence shall be equitably adjusted in the event of
a Change in Capitalization.
(c) Purchase Price. The purchase price for Shares under each Director
Option shall be equal to 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date
the Director Option is granted.
(d) Duration. Director Options shall be for a term of ten (10) years.
(e) Vesting. Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, Director Options shall be
exercisable in whole or in part at any time after one year from the date of
grant of the Director Option.
(f) The provisions in this Section 5 shall not be amended more than
once every six months, other than to comport with changes in the Code or the
rules and regulations thereunder.
(g) Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Director Option will be granted
to any Nonemployee Director pursuant to this Section 5 on any day if such
Nonemployee Director is granted an option pursuant to Section 5 of the Company's
1991 Stock Option Plan on such day.
6. Option Grants for Eligible Employees.
(a) Subject to the provisions of the Plan and to Section 4(a) above,
the Committee shall have full and final authority to select those Eligible
Employees who will receive Employee Options, the terms and conditions of which
shall be set forth in an Agreement; provided, however, that no Eligible Employee
shall receive any Incentive Stock Options unless he or she is an employee of the
Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary at the time the Incentive Stock Option is
granted.
(b) Purchase Price. The purchase price or the manner in which the
purchase price is to be determined for Shares under each Employee Option shall
be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Agreement; provided,
however, that the purchase price per Share under each Employee Option shall not
be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Employee
Option is granted (110% in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a
Ten-Percent Stockholder).
(c) Duration. Employee Options granted hereunder shall be for such term
as the Committee shall determine, provided that no Employee Option shall be
exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it is granted
(five (5) years in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a
Ten-Percent Stockholder). The Committee may, subsequent to the granting of any
Employee Option, extend the term thereof but in no event shall the term as so
extended exceed the maximum term provided for in the preceding sentence.
(d) Vesting. Subject to Section 7(e) hereof, each Employee Option
shall, commencing not earlier than the first anniversary of the date of its
grant, become exercisable in such installments (which need not be equal) and at
such times as may be designated by the Committee and set forth in the Agreement.
To the extent not exercised, installments shall accumulate and be exercisable,
in whole or in part, at any time after becoming exercisable, but not later than
the date the Employee Option expires. The Committee may accelerate the
exercisability of any Employee Option or portion thereof at any time.
(e) Modification or Substitution. The Committee may, in its discretion,
modify outstanding Employee Options or accept the surrender of outstanding
Employee Options (to the extent not exercised) and grant new Options in
substitution for them. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no modification of an
Employee Option shall adversely alter or impair any rights or obligations under
the Employee Option without the Optionee's consent.
7. Terms and Conditions Applicable to All Options.
(a) Non-transferability. Unless provided for to the contrary in the
Agreement, no Option granted hereunder shall be transferable by the Optionee to
whom granted otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and
an Option may be exercised during the lifetime of such Optionee only by the
Optionee or his or her guardian or legal representative. The terms of such
Option shall be final, binding and conclusive upon the beneficiaries, executors,
administrators, heirs and successors of the Optionee.
(b) Method of Exercise. The exercise of an Option shall be made only by
a written notice delivered in person or by mail to the Secretary of the Company
at the Company's principal executive office, specifying the number of Shares to
be purchased and accompanied by payment therefor and otherwise in accordance
with the Agreement pursuant to which the Option was granted. The purchase price
for any Shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option shall be paid in
full upon such exercise, by any one or a combination of the following: (1) cash,
(2) pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Financing Plan (approved by the
Company's shareholders at the Company's 1987 Annual Meeting) as amended from
time to time or any successor or additional financing plan approved by the
Board, through the execution of a promissory note and pledge agreement or (3)
transferring Shares to the Company. In addition, Options may be exercised
through a registered broker-dealer pursuant to such cashless exercise procedures
(other than Share withholding) which are, from time to time, deemed acceptable
by the Committee. Any Shares transferred to the Company as payment of the
purchase price under an Option shall be valued at their Fair Market Value on the
day preceding the date of exercise of such Option. If requested by the
Committee, the Optionee shall deliver the Agreement evidencing the Option to the
Secretary of the Company who shall endorse thereon a notation of such exercise
and return such Agreement to the Optionee. No fractional Shares (or cash in lieu
thereof) shall be issued upon exercise of an Option and the number of Shares
that may be purchased upon exercise shall be rounded to the nearest number of
whole Shares.
(c) Rights of Optionees. No Optionee shall be deemed for any purpose to
be the owner of any Shares subject to any Option unless and until (1) the Option
shall have been exercised pursuant to the terms thereof, (2) the Company shall
have issued and delivered the Shares to the Optionee and (3) the Optionee's name
shall have been entered as a stockholder of record on the books of the Company.
Thereupon, the Optionee shall have full voting, dividend and other ownership
rights with respect to such Shares.
(d) Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise provided in the
Agreement evidencing the Option, an Option shall terminate upon or following an
Optionee's termination of employment with the Company and its Subsidiaries or
service as a director of the Company and its Subsidiaries as follows:
(1) if an Optionee's employment or service as a director
terminates for any reason other than death, Disability or Cause, the Optionee
may at any time within three (3) months after his or her termination of
employment or service as a director, exercise an Option to the extent, and only
to the extent, that the Option or portion thereof was exercisable on the date of
termination;
(2) in the event the Optionee's employment or service as a
director terminates as a result of Disability, the Optionee may at any time
within one (1) year after such termination exercise such Option to the extent,
and only to the extent, the Option or portion thereof was exercisable at the
date of such termination;
(3) if an Optionee's employment or service as a director terminates for
Cause, the Option shall terminate immediately and no rights thereunder may be
exercised;
(4) if an Optionee dies while a director or an employee of the
Company or any Subsidiary or within three months after termination as described
in clause (1) of this Section 7(d) or within one (1) year after termination as a
result of Disability as described in clause (2) of this Section 7(d), the Option
may be exercised at any time within one (1) year after the Optionee's death by
the person or persons to whom such rights under the Option shall pass by will or
by the laws of descent and distribution; provided, however, that an Option may
be exercised to the extent, and only to the extent, that the Option or portion
thereof was exercisable on the date of death or earlier termination.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, (1) in no event may any Option
be exercised by anyone after the expiration of the term of the Option and (2) a
termination of service as a director shall not be deemed to occur so long as the
director continues to serve the Company as either a director or director
emeritus.
(e) Effect of Change in Control. Notwithstanding anything contained in
the Plan or an Agreement to the contrary, in the event of a Change in Control,
(1) all Options outstanding on the date of such Change in Control shall become
immediately and fully exercisable and (2) an Optionee shall be permitted to
surrender for cancellation within sixty (60) days after such Change in Control,
any Option or portion of an Option to the extent not yet exercised and the
Optionee will be entitled to receive a cash payment in an amount equal to the
excess, if any, of (x) (A) in the case of a Nonqualified Stock Option, the
greater of (i) the Fair Market Value, on the date preceding the date of
surrender, of the Shares subject to the Option or portion thereof surrendered or
(ii) the Adjusted Fair Market Value of the Shares subject to the Option or
portion thereof surrendered or (B) in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, the
Fair Market Value, on the date preceding the date of surrender, of the Shares
subject to the Option or portion thereof surrendered, over (y) the aggregate
purchase price for such Shares under the Option or portion thereof surrendered;
provided, however, that in the case of an Option granted within six (6) months
prior to the Change in Control to any Optionee who may be subject to liability
under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, such Optionee shall be entitled to
surrender for cancellation his or her Option during the sixty (60) day period
commencing upon the expiration of six (6) months from the date of grant of any
such Option.
8. Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization.
(a) Subject to Section 9, in the event of a Change in Capitalization,
the maximum number and class of Shares or other stock or securities with respect
to which Options may be granted under the Plan in the aggregate and to any
Optionee, the number and class of Shares or other stock or securities which are
subject to outstanding Options granted under the Plan, and the purchase price
therefor, if applicable, shall be appropriately and equitably adjusted by the
Committee.
(b) Any such adjustment in the Shares or other stock or securities
subject to outstanding Incentive Stock Options (including any adjustments in the
purchase price) shall be made in such manner as not to constitute a modification
as defined by Section 424(h)(3) of the Code and only to the extent otherwise
permitted by Sections 422 and 424 of the Code.
(c) If, by reason of a Change in Capitalization, an Optionee shall be
entitled to exercise an Option with respect to new, additional or different
shares of stock or securities, such new, additional or different shares shall
thereupon be subject to all of the conditions which were applicable to the
Shares subject to the Option, as the case may be, prior to such Change in
Capitalization.
9. Effect of Certain Transactions.
Subject to Section 7(e), in the event of (1) the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company or (2) a merger or consolidation of the Company (a
"Transaction"), the Plan and the Options issued hereunder shall continue in
effect in accordance with their respective terms and each Optionee shall be
entitled to receive in respect of each Share subject to any outstanding Options,
as the case may be, upon exercise of any Option, the same number and kind of
stock, securities, cash, property, or other consideration that each holder of a
Share was entitled to receive in the Transaction in respect of a Share. In the
event that, after a Transaction, there occurs any change of a type described in
Section 2(e) hereof with respect to the shares of the surviving or resulting
corporation, then adjustments similar to, and subject to the same conditions as,
those in Section 8 hereof shall be made.
10. Termination and Amendment of the Plan.
(a) The Plan shall terminate on April 7, 2003, and no Option may be
granted thereafter. The Board may sooner terminate or amend the Plan at any time
and from time to time; provided, however, that to the extent necessary under
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder or other applicable law, no amendment shall be effective unless
approved by the stockholders of the Company in accordance with applicable law
and regulations at an annual or special meeting held within twelve (12) months
after the date of adoption of such amendment.
(b) Except as provided in Sections 8 and 9 hereof, rights and
obligations under any Option granted before any amendment or termination of the
Plan shall not be adversely altered or impaired by such amendment or
termination, except with the consent of the Optionee, nor shall any amendment or
termination deprive any Optionee of any Shares which he may have acquired
through or as a result of the Plan.
11. Non-Exclusivity of the Plan.
The adoption of the Plan by the Board shall not be construed as
amending, modifying or rescinding any previously approved incentive arrangement
or as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other
incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation,
the granting of stock options otherwise than under the Plan, and such
arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.
12. Limitation of Liability.
As illustrative of the limitations of liability of the Company, but not
intended to be exhaustive thereof, nothing in the Plan shall be construed to:
(a) give any person any right to be granted an Option other than at the
sole discretion of the Committee;
(b) give any person any rights whatsoever with respect to Shares except as
specifically provided in the Plan;
(c) limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate the employment
of any person at any time; or
(d) be evidence of any agreement or understanding, expressed or
implied, that the Company will employ any person at any particular rate of
compensation or for any particular period of time.
13. Regulations and Other Approvals; Governing Law.
(a) This Plan and the rights of all persons claiming hereunder shall be
construed and determined in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
(b) The obligation of the Company to sell or deliver Shares with
respect to Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable
laws, rules and regulations, including all applicable federal and state
securities laws, and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental
agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
(c) (1) The Plan is intended to comply with Rule 16b-3 promulgated
under the Exchange Act and the Committee shall interpret and administer the
provisions of the Plan or any Agreement in a manner consistent therewith. Any
provisions inconsistent with such Rule shall be inoperative and shall not affect
the validity of the Plan.
(2) The Director Options described in Section 5 are intended
to qualify as formula awards under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act
(thereby preserving the disinterested status of Nonemployee Directors receiving
such awards) and the Committee shall interpret and administer the provisions of
the Plan or any Agreement in a manner consistent therewith. Any provisions
inconsistent with the foregoing intent shall be inoperative and shall not affect
the validity of the Plan.
(3) Unless otherwise expressly stated in the relevant
Agreement, each Employee Option granted under the Plan is intended to be
performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the
Code.
(d) The Board may make such changes as may be necessary or appropriate
to comply with the rules and regulations of any government authority, or to
obtain for Eligible Employees granted Incentive Stock Options the tax benefits
under the applicable provisions of the Code and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
(e) Each Option is subject to the requirement that, if at any time the
Committee determines, in its discretion, that the listing, registration or
qualification of Shares issuable pursuant to the Plan is required by any
securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or
approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a
condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Option or the issuance of
Shares, no Options shall be granted or payment made or Shares issued, in whole
or in part, unless listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval has
been effected or obtained free of any conditions as acceptable to the Committee.
(f) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan to the contrary, in
the event that the disposition of Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan is not
covered by a then current registration statement under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and is not otherwise exempt from such
registration, such Shares shall be restricted against transfer to the extent
required by the Securities Act and Rule 144 or other regulations thereunder. The
Committee may require any individual receiving Shares pursuant to the Plan, as a
condition precedent to receipt of such Shares upon exercise of an Option, to
represent and warrant to the Company in writing that the Shares acquired by such
individual are acquired without a view to any distribution thereof and will not
be sold or transferred other than pursuant to an effective registration thereof
under said Act or pursuant to an exemption applicable under the Securities Act
or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. The certificates evidencing
any of such Shares shall be appropriately amended to reflect their status as
restricted securities as aforesaid.
14. Miscellaneous.
(a) Multiple Agreements. The terms of each Option may differ from other
Options granted under the Plan at the same time, or at some other time. The
Committee may also grant more than one Option to a given Eligible Employee
during the term of the Plan, either in addition to, or in substitution for, one
or more Options previously granted to that Eligible Employee.
(b) Withholding of Taxes. (1) The Company shall have the right to
deduct from any distribution of cash to any Optionee, an amount equal to the
federal, state and local income taxes and other amounts as may be required by
law to be withheld (the "Withholding Taxes") with respect to any Option. If an
Optionee is entitled to receive Shares upon exercise of an Option, the Optionee
shall pay the Withholding Taxes to the Company prior to the issuance, or release
from escrow, of such Shares. In satisfaction of the Withholding Taxes to the
Company, the Optionee may make a written election (the "Tax Election"), which
may be accepted or rejected in the discretion of the Committee, to have withheld
a portion of the Shares issuable to him or her upon exercise of the Option
having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the Withholding Taxes, provided
that in respect of an Optionee who may be subject to liability under Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act either (A) (i) the Optionee makes the Tax Election at
least six (6) months after the date the Option was granted, (ii) the Option is
exercised during the ten day period beginning on the third business day and
ending on the twelfth business day following the release for publication of the
Company's quarterly or annual statements of earnings (a "Window Period") and
(iii) the Tax Election is made during the Window Period in which the Option is
exercised or prior to such Window Period and subsequent to the immediately
preceding Window Period or (B) (i) the Tax Election is made at least six (6)
months prior to the date the Option is exercised and (ii) the Tax Election is
irrevocable with respect to the exercise of all Options which are exercised
prior to the expiration of six (6) months following an election to revoke the
Tax Election. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, by the adoption
of rules or otherwise, (x) modify the provisions in the preceding sentence or
impose such other restrictions or limitations on Tax Elections as may be
necessary to ensure that the Tax Elections will be exempt transactions under
Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, and (y) permit Tax Elections to be made at
such other times and subject to such other conditions as the Committee
determines will constitute exempt transactions under Section 16(b) of the
Exchange Act.
(2) If an Optionee makes a disposition, within the meaning of
Section 424(c) of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder, of any Share
or Shares issued to such Optionee pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock
Option within the two-year period commencing on the day after the date of the
grant or within the one-year period commencing on the day after the date of
transfer of such Share or Shares to the Optionee pursuant to such exercise, the
Optionee shall, within ten (10) days of such disposition, notify the Company
thereof, by delivery of written notice to the Company at its principal executive
office, and immediately deliver to the Company the amount of Withholding Taxes.
15. Effective Date.
The effective date of the Amended and Restated Plan shall be the date
of its adoption by the Board, subject only to the approval by the affirmative
votes of the holders of a majority of the securities of the Company present, or
represented, and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders duly held in
accordance with the applicable laws of the State of Delaware within twelve (12)
months of such adoption.
Notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the contrary, any
Option outstanding on the date the Board adopts the Amended and Restated Plan
will be governed by the terms of the Plan as in effect immediately prior to such
adoption.