2004 Equity Incentive Award Plan - Santarus Inc.
SANTARUS, INC.
2004 EQUITY INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN
ARTICLE 1
PURPOSE
1.1 General. The purpose of the Santarus, Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Award
Plan (the "PLAN") is to promote the success and enhance the value of Santarus,
Inc. (the "COMPANY") by linking the personal interests of the members of the
Board, employees, consultants, officers, and executives of the Company and any
Subsidiary, to those of Company stockholders and by providing such individuals
with an incentive for outstanding performance to generate superior returns to
Company stockholders. The Plan is further intended to provide flexibility to the
Company in its ability to motivate, attract, and retain the services of members
of the Board, employees, consultants, officers, and executives of the Company
upon whose judgment, interest, and special effort the successful conduct of the
Company's operation is largely dependent.
ARTICLE 2
DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
2.1 Definitions. The following words and phrases shall have the following
meanings:
(a) "AWARD" means an Option, a Restricted Stock award, a Stock
Appreciation Right award, a Performance Share award, a Dividend Equivalents
award, a Stock Payment award, a Deferred Stock award, or a Performance-Based
Award granted to a Participant pursuant to the Plan.
(b) "AWARD AGREEMENT" means any written agreement, contract, or
other instrument or document evidencing an Award.
(c) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
(d) "CAUSE" includes one or more of the following: (i) the
commission of an act of fraud, embezzlement or dishonesty by a Participant that
has a material adverse impact on the Company or any successor or parent or
Subsidiary thereof; (ii) a conviction of, or plea of "guilty" or "no contest"
to, a felony by a Participant; (iii) any unauthorized use or disclosure by a
Participant of confidential information or trade secrets of the Company or any
successor or parent or Subsidiary thereof that has a material adverse impact on
any such entity or (iv) any other intentional misconduct by a Participant that
has a material adverse impact on the Company or any successor or parent or
Subsidiary thereof. However, if the term or concept of "Cause" has been defined
in an agreement between a Participant and the Company or any successor or parent
or Subsidiary thereof, then "Cause" shall have the definition set forth in such
agreement. The foregoing definition shall not in any way preclude or restrict
the right of the Company or any successor or parent or Subsidiary thereof to
discharge or dismiss any Participant in the service of such entity for any other
acts or omissions, but such other acts or omissions shall not be deemed, for
purposes of this Plan, to constitute grounds for termination for Cause.
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(e) "CHANGE OF CONTROL" means and includes each of the following:
(1) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any "person"
or "group" (as those terms are defined in Sections 3(a)(9), 13(d) and 14(d) of
the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder) of "beneficial ownership" (as
determined pursuant to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of securities entitled
to vote generally in the election of directors ("voting securities") of the
Company that represent 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's
then outstanding voting securities, other than:
(A) an acquisition by a trustee or other fiduciary
holding securities under any employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored
or maintained by the Company or any person controlled by the Company or by any
employee benefit plan (or related trust) sponsored or maintained by the Company
or any person controlled by the Company, or
(B) an acquisition of voting securities by the Company
or a corporation owned, directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the
Company in substantially the same proportions as their ownership of the stock of
the Company;
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following event shall not
constitute an "acquisition" by any person or group for purposes of this
subsection (e): an acquisition of the Company's securities by the Company that
causes the Company's voting securities beneficially owned by a person or group
to represent 50% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's then
outstanding voting securities; provided, however, that if a person or group
shall become the beneficial owner of 50% or more of the combined voting power of
the Company's then outstanding voting securities by reason of share acquisitions
by the Company as described above and shall, after such share acquisitions by
the Company, become the beneficial owner of any additional voting securities of
the Company, then such acquisition shall constitute a Change of Control; or
(2) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals
who, at the beginning of such period, constitute the Board together with any new
director(s) (other than a director designated by a person who shall have entered
into an agreement with the Company to effect a transaction described in clauses
(1) or (3) of this subsection (e)) whose election by the Board or nomination for
election by the Company's stockholders was approved by a vote of at least
two-thirds of the directors then still in office who either were directors at
the beginning of the two year period or whose election or nomination for
election was previously so approved, cease for any reason to constitute a
majority thereof; or
(3) the consummation by the Company (whether directly
involving the Company or indirectly involving the Company through one or more
intermediaries) of (x) a merger, consolidation, reorganization, or business
combination or (y) a sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the Company's assets or (z) the acquisition of assets or stock of another
entity, in each case other than a transaction:
(A) which results in the Company's voting securities
outstanding immediately before the transaction continuing to represent (either
by remaining outstanding or by being converted into voting securities of the
Company or the person that, as a
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result of the transaction, controls, directly or indirectly, the Company or
owns, directly or indirectly, all or substantially all of the Company's assets
or otherwise succeeds to the business of the Company (the Company or such
person, the "SUCCESSOR ENTITY")) directly or indirectly, at least a majority of
the combined voting power of the Successor Entity's outstanding voting
securities immediately after the transaction, and
(B) after which no person or group beneficially owns
voting securities representing 50% or more of the combined voting power of the
Successor Entity; provided, however, that no person or group shall be treated
for purposes of this clause (B) as beneficially owning 50% or more of combined
voting power of the Successor Entity solely as a result of the voting power held
in the Company prior to the consummation of the transaction; or
(4) the Company's stockholders approve a liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
The Committee shall have full and final authority, which shall be
exercised in its discretion, to determine conclusively whether a Change of
Control of the Company has occurred pursuant to the above definition, and the
date of the occurrence of such Change of Control and any incidental matters
relating thereto.
(f) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(g) "COMMITTEE" means the committee of the Board described in
Article 12.
(h) "COVERED EMPLOYEE" means an Employee who is, or could be, a
"covered employee" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
(i) "DEFERRED STOCK" means a right to receive a specified number of
shares of Stock during specified time periods pursuant to Article 8.
(j) "DISABILITY" means, for purposes of this Plan, that the
Participant qualifies to receive long-term disability payments under the
Company's long-term disability insurance program, as it may be amended from time
to time.
(k) "DIVIDEND EQUIVALENTS" means a right granted to a Participant
pursuant to Article 8 to receive the equivalent value (in cash or Stock) of
dividends paid on Stock.
(l) "EMPLOYEE" means any officer or other employee (as defined in
accordance with Section 3401(c) of the Code) of the Company or any Subsidiary.
(m) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
(n) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" shall mean, as of any date, the value of
Stock determined as follows:
(1) If the Stock is listed on any established stock exchange
or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq National
Market or The Nasdaq SmallCap Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its Fair Market
Value shall be the closing sales
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price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted
on such exchange or system for the last market trading day prior to the date of
determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as
the Committee deems reliable;
(2) If the Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized
securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value
shall be the mean of the closing bid and asked prices for the Stock on the date
prior to the date of determination as reported in The Wall Street Journal or
such other source as the Committee deems reliable; or
(3) In the absence of an established market for the Stock, the
Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Committee.
(o) "GOOD REASON" means a Participant's voluntary resignation
following any one or more of the following that is effected without the
Participant's written consent: (i) a change in his or her position following the
Change of Control that materially reduces his or her duties or responsibilities,
(ii) a reduction in his or her base salary following a Change of Control, unless
the base salaries of all similarly situated individuals are similarly reduced,
or (iii) a relocation of such Participant's place of employment of more than
fifty (50) miles following a Change of Control. However, if the term or concept
of "Good Reason" has been defined in an agreement between a Participant and the
Company or any successor or parent or Subsidiary thereof, then "Good Reason"
shall have the definition set forth in such agreement.
(p) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an Option that is intended to
meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code or any successor provision
thereto.
(q) "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board who
qualifies as a "Non-Employee Director" as defined in Rule 16b-3(b)(3) of the
Exchange Act, or any successor definition adopted by the Board.
(r) "NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION" means an Option that is not
intended to be an Incentive Stock Option.
(s) "OPTION" means a right granted to a Participant pursuant to
Article 5 of the Plan to purchase a specified number of shares of Stock at a
specified price during specified time periods. An Option may be either an
Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Stock Option.
(t) "PARTICIPANT" means a person who, as a member of the Board,
consultant to the Company or any Subsidiary or Employee, has been granted an
Award pursuant to the Plan.
(u) "PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARD" means an Award granted to selected
Covered Employees pursuant to Articles 6 and 8, but which is subject to the
terms and conditions set forth in Article 9. All Performance-Based Awards are
intended to qualify as Qualified Performance-Based Compensation.
(v) "PERFORMANCE CRITERIA" means the criteria that the Committee
selects for purposes of establishing the Performance Goal or Performance Goals
for a Participant for a Performance Period. The Performance Criteria that will
be used to establish Performance Goals are limited to the following: net
earnings (either before or after interest, taxes, depreciation and
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amortization), net losses, sales or revenue, operating earnings, operating cash
flow, return on net assets, return on stockholders' equity, return on assets,
return on capital, stockholder returns, gross or net profit margin, earnings per
share, price per share of Stock, and market share, any of which may be measured
either in absolute terms or as compared to any incremental increase or as
compared to results of a peer group. The Committee shall, within the time
prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code, define in an objective fashion the
manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such
Performance Period for such Participant.
(w) "PERFORMANCE GOALS" means, for a Performance Period, the goals
established in writing by the Committee for the Performance Period based upon
the Performance Criteria. Depending on the Performance Criteria used to
establish such Performance Goals, the Performance Goals may be expressed in
terms of overall Company performance or the performance of a division, business
unit, or an individual. The Committee, in its discretion, may, within the time
prescribed by Section 162(m) of the Code, adjust or modify the calculation of
Performance Goals for such Performance Period in order to prevent the dilution
or enlargement of the rights of Participants (i) in the event of, or in
anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction,
event, or development, or (ii) in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any
other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company, or the financial
statements of the Company, or in response to, or in anticipation of, changes in
applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, or business conditions.
(x) "PERFORMANCE PERIOD" means the one or more periods of time,
which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Committee may select,
over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for
the purpose of determining a Participant's right to, and the payment of, a
Performance-Based Award.
(y) "PERFORMANCE SHARE" means a right granted to a Participant
pursuant to Article 8, to receive cash, Stock, or other Awards, the payment of
which is contingent upon achieving certain performance goals established by the
Committee.
(z) "PLAN" means this Santarus, Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Award
Plan, as it may be amended from time to time.
(aa) "PUBLIC TRADING DATE" means the first date upon which Stock is
listed (or approved for listing) upon notice of issuance on any securities
exchange or designated (or approved for designation) upon notice of issuance as
a national market security on an interdealer quotation system.
(bb) "QUALIFIED PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION" means any
compensation that is intended to qualify as "qualified performance-based
compensation" as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code.
(cc) "RESTRICTED STOCK" means Stock awarded to a Participant
pursuant to Article 6 that is subject to certain restrictions and to risk of
forfeiture.
(dd) "STOCK" means the common stock of the Company and such other
securities of the Company that may be substituted for Stock pursuant to Article
11.
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(ee) "STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHT" or "SAR" means a right granted
pursuant to Article 7 to receive a payment equal to the excess of the Fair
Market Value of a specified number of shares of Stock on the date the SAR is
exercised over the Fair Market Value on the date the SAR was granted as set
forth in the applicable Award Agreement.
(ff) "STOCK PAYMENT" means (a) a payment in the form of shares of
Stock, or (b) an option or other right to purchase shares of Stock, as part of
any bonus, deferred compensation or other arrangement, made in lieu of all or
any portion of the compensation, granted pursuant to Article 8.
(gg) "SUBSIDIARY" means any corporation or other entity of which a
majority of the outstanding voting stock or voting power is beneficially owned
directly or indirectly by the Company.
ARTICLE 3
SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
3.1 Number of Shares.
(a) Subject to Article 11, the aggregate number of shares of Stock
which may be issued or transferred pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall be
the sum of (i) 3,500,000 shares; (ii) the number of shares of Stock remaining
available for issuance and not subject to options granted under the Santarus,
Inc. 1998 Stock Option Plan (the "EXISTING PLAN") as of the Public Trading Date
and (iii) with respect to options granted under the Existing Plan before the
Public Trading Date that expire or are canceled without having been exercised in
full or shares of Stock that are repurchased pursuant to the terms of options
granted under the Existing Plan, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to
each such option as to which such option or award was not exercised prior to its
expiration or cancellation or which are repurchased by the Company. The
aggregate number of shares of Stock authorized for issuance under the Existing
Plan was 4,171,428 shares (giving effect to the Company's 1-for-3.5 reverse
stock split effected prior to the Company's initial public offering) and,
accordingly, the total number of shares of Stock under clauses (ii) and (iii) in
the preceding sentence shall not exceed 4,171,428 shares. In addition to the
foregoing, subject to Article 11, commencing on the first day of the Company's
2005 fiscal year and on the first day of each fiscal year thereafter during the
term of the Plan, the number of shares of Stock which may be issued or
transferred pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall be increased by that number
of shares of Stock equal to the lesser of (i) five percent (5%) of the Company's
outstanding shares on the date of approval of the Plan by the stockholders of
the Company or (ii) a lesser amount determined by the Board. The Company's
fiscal year is the calendar year and, accordingly, the number of shares of Stock
which may be issued or transferred pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall be
subject to increase under the preceding sentence only on January 1, 2005 and on
each subsequent January 1 through and including January 1, 2014. The Plan was
approved by the stockholders of the Company on February 24, 2004, and five
percent (5%) of the Company's outstanding shares on such date equaled 1,116,670
shares (giving effect to the Company's 1-for-3.5 reverse stock split effected
prior to the Company's initial public offering). Accordingly, subject to Article
11, the aggregate number of shares of Stock which may be issued or transferred
pursuant to Awards under the Plan shall
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not exceed 18,838,128 shares. The payment of Dividend Equivalents in conjunction
with any outstanding Awards shall not be counted against the shares available
for issuance under the Plan.
(b) To the extent that an Award terminates, expires, or lapses for
any reason, any shares of Stock subject to the Award shall again be available
for the grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan. Additionally, any shares of
Stock tendered or withheld to satisfy the grant or exercise price or tax
withholding obligation pursuant to any Award shall again be available for the
grant of an Award pursuant to the Plan. To the extent permitted by applicable
law or any exchange rule, shares of Stock issued in assumption of, or in
substitution for, any outstanding awards of any entity acquired in any form of
combination by the Company or any Subsidiary shall not be counted against shares
of Stock available for grant pursuant to this Plan.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 3.1 no shares of
Stock may again be optioned, granted or awarded if such action would cause an
Incentive Stock Option to fail to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option under
Code Section 422.
3.2 Stock Distributed. Any Stock distributed pursuant to an Award may
consist, in whole or in part, of authorized and unissued Stock, treasury Stock
or Stock purchased on the open market.
3.3 Limitation on Number of Shares Subject to Awards. Notwithstanding any
provision in the Plan to the contrary, and subject to Article 11, the maximum
number of shares of Stock with respect to one or more Awards that may be granted
to any one Participant during a calendar year shall be 2,000,000.
ARTICLE 4
ELIGIBILITY AND PARTICIPATION
4.1 Eligibility.
(a) General. Persons eligible to participate in this Plan include
Employees, consultants to the Company or any Subsidiary and all members of the
Board, as determined by the Committee.
(b) Foreign Participants. In order to assure the viability of Awards
granted to Participants employed in foreign countries, the Committee may provide
for such special terms as it may consider necessary or appropriate to
accommodate differences in local law, tax policy, or custom. Moreover, the
Committee may approve such supplements to, or amendments, restatements, or
alternative versions of, the Plan as it may consider necessary or appropriate
for such purposes without thereby affecting the terms of the Plan as in effect
for any other purpose; provided, however, that no such supplements, amendments,
restatements, or alternative versions shall increase the share limitations
contained in Sections 3.1 and 3.3 of the Plan.
4.2 Actual Participation. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the
Committee may, from time to time, select from among all eligible individuals,
those to whom Awards shall be granted and shall determine the nature and amount
of each Award. No individual shall have any right to be granted an Award
pursuant to this Plan.
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ARTICLE 5
STOCK OPTIONS
5.1 General. The Committee is authorized to grant Options to Participants
on the following terms and conditions:
(a) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Stock subject to
an Option shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Award
Agreement; provided that the exercise price for any Option shall not be less
than par value of a share of Stock on the date of grant.
(b) Time And Conditions Of Exercise. The Committee shall determine
the time or times at which an Option may be exercised in whole or in part,
provided that the term of any Option granted under the Plan shall not exceed ten
years, and provided further, that in the case of a Non-Qualified Stock Option,
such Option shall be exercisable for one year after the date of the
Participant's death. The Committee shall also determine the performance or other
conditions, if any, that must be satisfied before all or part of an Option may
be exercised.
(c) Payment. The Committee shall determine the methods by which the
exercise price of an Option may be paid, the form of payment, including, without
limitation, cash, promissory note bearing interest at no less than such rate as
shall then preclude the imputation of interest under the Code, shares of Stock
held for longer than six months having a Fair Market Value on the date of
delivery equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Option or exercised
portion thereof, or other property acceptable to the Committee (including
through the delivery of a notice that the Participant has placed a market sell
order with a broker with respect to shares of Stock then issuable upon exercise
of the Option, and that the broker has been directed to pay a sufficient portion
of the net proceeds of the sale to the Company in satisfaction of the Option
exercise price, provided that payment of such proceeds is then made to the
Company upon settlement of such sale), and the methods by which shares of Stock
shall be delivered or deemed to be delivered to Participants. Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant who is a member
of the Board or an "executive officer" of the Company within the meaning of
Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to pay the exercise price
of an Option in any method which would violate Section 13(k).
(d) Evidence Of Grant. All Options shall be evidenced by a written
Award Agreement between the Company and the Participant. The Award Agreement
shall include such additional provisions as may be specified by the Committee.
5.2 Incentive Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options shall be granted only
to Employees and the terms of any Incentive Stock Options granted pursuant to
the Plan must comply with the following additional provisions of this Section
5.2:
(a) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share of Stock shall be
set by the Committee, provided that the exercise price for any Incentive Stock
Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value on the date of
grant.
(b) Expiration Of Option. An Incentive Stock Option may not be
exercised to any extent by anyone after the first to occur of the following
events:
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(1) Ten years from the date it is granted, unless an earlier
time is set in the Award Agreement.
(2) One year after the date of the Participant's termination
of employment or service on account of Disability or death, unless in the case
of death a shorter or longer period is designated in the Award Agreement. Upon
the Participant's Disability or death, any Incentive Stock Options exercisable
at the Participant's Disability or death may be exercised by the Participant's
legal representative or representatives, by the person or persons entitled to do
so pursuant to the Participant's last will and testament, or, if the Participant
fails to make testamentary disposition of such Incentive Stock Option or dies
intestate, by the person or persons entitled to receive the Incentive Stock
Option pursuant to the applicable laws of descent and distribution.
(c) Individual Dollar Limitation. The aggregate Fair Market Value
(determined as of the time the Option is granted) of all shares of Stock with
respect to which Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant
in any calendar year may not exceed $100,000.00 or such other limitation as
imposed by Section 422(d) of the Code, or any successor provision. To the extent
that Incentive Stock Options are first exercisable by a Participant in excess of
such limitation, the excess shall be considered Non-Qualified Stock Options.
(d) Ten Percent Owners. An Incentive Stock Option shall be granted
to any individual who, at the date of grant, owns stock possessing more than ten
percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of Stock of the
Company only if such Option is granted at a price that is not less than 110% of
Fair Market Value on the date of grant and the Option is exercisable for no more
than five years from the date of grant.
(e) Transfer Restriction. The Participant shall give the Company
prompt notice of any disposition of shares of Stock acquired by exercise of an
Incentive Stock Option within (1) two years from the date of grant of such
Incentive Stock Option or (2) one year after the transfer of such shares of
Stock to the Participant.
(f) Expiration Of Incentive Stock Options. No Award of an Incentive
Stock Option may be made pursuant to this Plan after the Expiration Date (as
defined in Section 13.2).
(g) Right To Exercise. During a Participant's lifetime, an Incentive
Stock Option may be exercised only by the Participant.
ARTICLE 6
RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
6.1 Grant of Restricted Stock. The Committee is authorized to make Awards
of Restricted Stock to any Participant selected by the Committee in such amounts
and subject to such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee. All
Awards of Restricted Stock shall be evidenced by a written Restricted Stock
Award Agreement.
6.2 Issuance and Restrictions. Restricted Stock shall be subject to such
restrictions on transferability and other restrictions as the Committee may
impose (including, without limitation,
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limitations on the right to vote Restricted Stock or the right to receive
dividends on the Restricted Stock). These restrictions may lapse separately or
in combination at such times, pursuant to such circumstances, in such
installments, or otherwise, as the Committee determines at the time of the grant
of the Award or thereafter.
6.3 Forfeiture. Except as otherwise determined by the Committee at the
time of the grant of the Award or thereafter, upon termination of employment or
service during the applicable restriction period, Restricted Stock that is at
that time subject to restrictions shall be forfeited; provided, however, that
the Committee may provide in any Restricted Stock Award Agreement that
restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock will be
waived in whole or in part in the event of terminations resulting from specified
causes, and the Committee may in other cases waive in whole or in part
restrictions or forfeiture conditions relating to Restricted Stock.
6.4 Certificates For Restricted Stock. Restricted Stock granted pursuant
to the Plan may be evidenced in such manner as the Committee shall determine. If
certificates representing shares of Restricted Stock are registered in the name
of the Participant, certificates must bear an appropriate legend referring to
the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock, and
the Company may, at its discretion, retain physical possession of the
certificate until such time as all applicable restrictions lapse.
ARTICLE 7
STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
7.1 Grant of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right may be
granted to any Participant selected by the Committee. A Stock Appreciation Right
may be granted (a) in connection and simultaneously with the grant of an Option,
(b) with respect to a previously granted Option, or (c) independent of an
Option. A Stock Appreciation Right shall be subject to such terms and conditions
not inconsistent with the Plan as the Committee shall impose and shall be
evidenced by an Award Agreement.
7.2 Coupled Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) A Coupled Stock Appreciation Right ("CSAR") shall be related to
a particular Option and shall be exercisable only when and to the extent the
related Option is exercisable.
(b) A CSAR may be granted to a Participant for no more than the
number of shares subject to the simultaneously or previously granted Option to
which it is coupled.
(c) A CSAR shall entitle the Participant (or other person entitled
to exercise the Option pursuant to the Plan) to surrender to the Company
unexercised a portion of the Option to which the CSAR relates (to the extent
then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and to receive from the Company in
exchange therefor an amount determined by multiplying the difference obtained by
subtracting the Option exercise price from the Fair Market Value of a share of
Stock on the date of exercise of the CSAR by the number of shares of Stock with
respect to which the CSAR shall have been exercised, subject to any limitations
the Committee may impose.
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7.3 Independent Stock Appreciation Rights.
(a) An Independent Stock Appreciation Right ("ISAR") shall be
unrelated to any Option and shall have a term set by the Committee. An ISAR
shall be exercisable in such installments as the Committee may determine. An
ISAR shall cover such number of shares of Stock as the Committee may determine.
The exercise price per share of Stock subject to each ISAR shall be set by the
Committee; provided, however, that, the Committee in its sole and absolute
discretion may provide that the ISAR may be exercised subsequent to a
termination of employment or service, as applicable, or following a Change of
Control of the Company, or because of the Participant's retirement, death or
disability, or otherwise.
(b) An ISAR shall entitle the Participant (or other person entitled
to exercise the ISAR pursuant to the Plan) to exercise all or a specified
portion of the ISAR (to the extent then exercisable pursuant to its terms) and
to receive from the Company an amount determined by multiplying the difference
obtained by subtracting the exercise price per share of the ISAR from the Fair
Market Value of a share of Stock on the date of exercise of the ISAR by the
number of shares of Stock with respect to which the ISAR shall have been
exercised, subject to any limitations the Committee may impose.
7.4 Payment and Limitations on Exercise.
(a) Payment of the amounts determined under Section 7.2(c) and
7.3(b) above shall be in cash, in Stock (based on its Fair Market Value as of
the date the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised) or a combination of both, as
determined by the Committee.
(b) To the extent any payment under Section 7.2(c) or 7.3(b) is
effected in Stock it shall be made subject to satisfaction of all provisions of
Article 5 above pertaining to Options.
ARTICLE 8
OTHER TYPES OF AWARDS
8.1 Performance Share Awards. Any Participant selected by the Committee
may be granted one or more Performance Share awards which may be denominated in
a number of shares of Stock or in a dollar value of shares of Stock and which
may be linked to any one or more of the Performance Criteria or other specific
performance criteria determined appropriate by the Committee, in each case on a
specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the
Committee. In making such determinations, the Committee shall consider (among
such other factors as it deems relevant in light of the specific type of award)
the contributions, responsibilities and other compensation of the particular
Participant.
8.2 Dividend Equivalents.
(a) Any Participant selected by the Committee may be granted
Dividend Equivalents based on the dividends declared on the shares of Stock that
are subject to any Award, to be credited as of dividend payment dates, during
the period between the date the Award is granted and the date the Award is
exercised, vests or expires, as determined by the
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Committee. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional
shares of Stock by such formula and at such time and subject to such limitations
as may be determined by the Committee.
(b) Dividend Equivalents granted with respect to Options or SARs
that are intended to be Qualified Performance-Based Compensation shall be
payable, with respect to pre-exercise periods, regardless of whether such Option
or SAR is subsequently exercised.
8.3 Stock Payments. Any Participant selected by the Committee may receive
Stock Payments in the manner determined from time to time by the Committee. The
number of shares shall be determined by the Committee and may be based upon the
Performance Criteria or other specific performance criteria determined
appropriate by the Committee, determined on the date such Stock Payment is made
or on any date thereafter.
8.4 Deferred Stock. Any Participant selected by the Committee may be
granted an award of Deferred Stock in the manner determined from time to time by
the Committee. The number of shares of Deferred Stock shall be determined by the
Committee and may be linked to the Performance Criteria or other specific
performance criteria determined to be appropriate by the Committee, in each case
on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the
Committee. Stock underlying a Deferred Stock award will not be issued until the
Deferred Stock award has vested, pursuant to a vesting schedule or performance
criteria set by the Committee. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, a
Participant awarded Deferred Stock shall have no rights as a Company stockholder
with respect to such Deferred Stock until such time as the Deferred Stock Award
has vested and the Stock underlying the Deferred Stock Award has been issued.
8.5 Term. The term of any Award of Performance Shares, Dividend
Equivalents, Stock Payments or Deferred Stock shall be set by the Committee in
its discretion.
8.6 Exercise or Purchase Price. The Committee may establish the exercise
or purchase price of any Award of Performance Shares, Deferred Stock or Stock
Payments; provided, however, that such price shall not be less than the par
value of a share of Stock, unless otherwise permitted by applicable state law.
8.7 Exercise Upon Termination of Employment or Service. An Award of
Performance Shares, Dividend Equivalents, Deferred Stock and Stock Payments
shall only be exercisable or payable while the Participant is an Employee,
consultant to the Company or a member of the Board, as applicable; provided,
however, that the Committee in its sole and absolute discretion may provide that
an Award of Performance Shares, Dividend Equivalents, Stock Payments or Deferred
Stock may be exercised or paid subsequent to a termination of employment or
service, as applicable, or following a Change of Control of the Company, or
because of the Participant's retirement, death or disability, or otherwise;
provided, however, that any such provision with respect to Performance Shares
shall be subject to the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code that apply to
Qualified Performance-Based Compensation.
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8.8 Form of Payment. Payments with respect to any Awards granted under
this Article 8 shall be made in cash, in Stock or a combination of both, as
determined by the Committee.
8.9 Award Agreement. All Awards under this Article 8 shall be subject to
such additional terms and conditions as determined by the Committee and shall be
evidenced by a written Award Agreement.
ARTICLE 9
PERFORMANCE-BASED AWARDS
9.1 Purpose. The purpose of this Article 9 is to provide the Committee the
ability to qualify Awards other than Options and SARs and that are granted
pursuant to Articles 6 and 8 as Qualified Performance-Based Compensation. If the
Committee, in its discretion, decides to grant a Performance-Based Award to a
Covered Employee, the provisions of this Article 9 shall control over any
contrary provision contained in Articles 6 or 8; provided, however, that the
Committee may in its discretion grant Awards to Covered Employees that are based
on Performance Criteria or Performance Goals but that do not satisfy the
requirements of this Article 9.
9.2 Applicability. This Article 9 shall apply only to those Covered
Employees selected by the Committee to receive Performance-Based Awards. The
designation of a Covered Employee as a Participant for a Performance Period
shall not in any manner entitle the Participant to receive an Award for the
period. Moreover, designation of a Covered Employee as a Participant for a
particular Performance Period shall not require designation of such Covered
Employee as a Participant in any subsequent Performance Period and designation
of one Covered Employee as a Participant shall not require designation of any
other Covered Employees as a Participant in such period or in any other period.
9.3 Procedures With Respect to Performance-Based Awards. To the extent
necessary to comply with the Qualified Performance-Based Compensation
requirements of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, with respect to any Award
granted under Articles 6 and 8 which may be granted to one or more Covered
Employees, no later than ninety (90) days following the commencement of any
fiscal year in question or any other designated fiscal period or period of
service (or such other time as may be required or permitted by Section 162(m) of
the Code), the Committee shall, in writing, (i) designate one or more Covered
Employees, (ii) select the Performance Criteria applicable to the Performance
Period, (iii) establish the Performance Goals, and amounts of such Awards, as
applicable, which may be earned for such Performance Period, and (iv) specify
the relationship between Performance Criteria and the Performance Goals and the
amounts of such Awards, as applicable, to be earned by each Covered Employee for
such Performance Period. Following the completion of each Performance Period,
the Committee shall certify in writing whether the applicable Performance Goals
have been achieved for such Performance Period. In determining the amount earned
by a Covered Employee, the Committee shall have the right to reduce or eliminate
(but not to increase) the amount payable at a given level of performance to take
into account additional factors that the Committee may deem relevant to the
assessment of individual or corporate performance for the Performance Period.
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9.4 Payment of Performance-Based Awards. Unless otherwise provided in the
applicable Award Agreement, a Participant must be employed by the Company or a
Subsidiary on the day a Performance-Based Award for such Performance Period is
paid to the Participant. Furthermore, a Participant shall be eligible to receive
payment pursuant to a Performance-Based Award for a Performance Period only if
the Performance Goals for such period are achieved. In determining the amount
earned under a Performance-Based Award, the Committee may reduce or eliminate
the amount of the Performance-Based Award earned for the Performance Period, if
in its sole and absolute discretion, such reduction or elimination is
appropriate.
9.5 Additional Limitations. Notwithstanding any other provision of the
Plan, any Award which is granted to a Covered Employee and is intended to
constitute Qualified Performance-Based Compensation shall be subject to any
additional limitations set forth in Section 162(m) of the Code (including any
amendment to Section 162(m) of the Code) or any regulations or rulings issued
thereunder that are requirements for qualification as qualified
performance-based compensation as described in Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code,
and the Plan shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to such
requirements.
ARTICLE 10
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO AWARDS
10.1 Stand-Alone and Tandem Awards. Awards granted pursuant to the Plan
may, in the discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone, in addition
to, or in tandem with, any other Award granted pursuant to the Plan. Awards
granted in addition to or in tandem with other Awards may be granted either at
the same time as or at a different time from the grant of such other Awards.
10.2 Award Agreement. Awards under the Plan shall be evidenced by Award
Agreements that set forth the terms, conditions and limitations for each Award
which may include the term of an Award, the provisions applicable in the event
the Participant's employment or service terminates, and the Company's authority
to unilaterally or bilaterally amend, modify, suspend, cancel or rescind an
Award.
10.3 Limits on Transfer. No right or interest of a Participant in any
Award may be pledged, encumbered, or hypothecated to or in favor of any party
other than the Company or a Subsidiary, or shall be subject to any lien,
obligation, or liability of such Participant to any other party other than the
Company or a Subsidiary. Except as otherwise provided by the Committee, no Award
shall be assigned, transferred, or otherwise disposed of by a Participant other
than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee by express
provision in the Award or an amendment thereto may permit an Award (other than
an Incentive Stock Option) to be transferred to, exercised by and paid to
certain persons or entities related to the Participant, including but not
limited to members of the Participant's family, charitable institutions, or
trusts or other entities whose beneficiaries or beneficial owners are members of
the Participant's family and/or charitable institutions, or to such other
persons or entities as may be expressly approved by the Committee, pursuant to
such conditions and procedures as the Committee may establish. Any permitted
transfer may be subject to the condition that the Committee receive evidence
satisfactory to it that the transfer is being made for estate and/or tax
planning purposes (or to a "blind trust" in connection with the Participant's
termination of employment or service with the
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Company or a Subsidiary to assume a position with a governmental, charitable,
educational or similar non-profit institution) and on a basis consistent with
the Company's lawful issue of securities.
10.4 Beneficiaries. Notwithstanding Section 10.3, a Participant may, in
the manner determined by the Committee, designate a beneficiary to exercise the
rights of the Participant and to receive any distribution with respect to any
Award upon the Participant's death. A beneficiary, legal guardian, legal
representative, or other person claiming any rights pursuant to the Plan is
subject to all terms and conditions of the Plan and any Award Agreement
applicable to the Participant, except to the extent the Plan and Award Agreement
otherwise provide, and to any additional restrictions deemed necessary or
appropriate by the Committee. If the Participant is married and resides in a
community property state, a designation of a person other than the Participant's
spouse as his beneficiary with respect to more than 50% of the Participant's
interest in the Award shall not be effective without the prior written consent
of the Participant's spouse. If no beneficiary has been designated or survives
the Participant, payment shall be made to the person entitled thereto pursuant
to the Participant's will or the laws of descent and distribution. Subject to
the foregoing, a beneficiary designation may be changed or revoked by a
Participant at any time provided the change or revocation is filed with the
Committee.
10.5 Stock Certificates. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary,
the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver any certificates
evidencing shares of Stock pursuant to the exercise of any Award, unless and
until the Board has determined, with advice of counsel, that the issuance and
delivery of such certificates is in compliance with all applicable laws,
regulations of governmental authorities and, if applicable, the requirements of
any exchange on which the shares of Stock are listed or traded. All Stock
certificates delivered pursuant to the Plan are subject to any stop-transfer
orders and other restrictions as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to
comply with federal, state, or foreign jurisdiction, securities or other laws,
rules and regulations and the rules of any national securities exchange or
automated quotation system on which the Stock is listed, quoted, or traded. The
Committee may place legends on any Stock certificate to reference restrictions
applicable to the Stock. In addition to the terms and conditions provided
herein, the Board may require that a Participant make such reasonable covenants,
agreements, and representations as the Board, in its discretion, deems advisable
in order to comply with any such laws, regulations, or requirements. The
Committee shall have the right to require any Participant to comply with any
timing or other restrictions with respect to the settlement or exercise of any
Award, including a window-period limitation, as may be imposed in the discretion
of the Committee.
ARTICLE 11
CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE
11.1 Adjustments. In the event of any stock dividend, stock split,
combination or exchange of shares, merger, consolidation, spin-off,
recapitalization or other distribution (other than normal cash dividends) of
Company assets to stockholders, or any other change affecting the shares of
Stock or the share price of the Stock, the Committee shall make such
proportionate adjustments, if any, as the Committee in its discretion may deem
appropriate to reflect such change with respect to (i) the aggregate number and
type of shares that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to,
adjustments of the limitations in Sections 3.1 and 3.3); (ii) the
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terms and conditions of any outstanding Awards (including, without limitation,
any applicable performance targets or criteria with respect thereto); and (iii)
the grant or exercise price per share for any outstanding Awards under the Plan.
Any adjustment affecting an Award intended as Qualified Performance-Based
Compensation shall be made consistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) of
the Code.
11.2 Effect of a Change of Control When Awards Are Not Assumed. If a
Change of Control occurs and a Participant's Awards are not assumed by the
surviving or successor entity or its parent or Subsidiary and such successor
does not substitute substantially similar awards for those outstanding under the
Plan, such Awards shall become fully exercisable and/or payable as applicable,
and all forfeiture restrictions on such Awards shall lapse. Upon, or in
anticipation of, a Change of Control, the Committee may cause any and all Awards
outstanding hereunder to terminate at a specific time in the future and shall
give each Participant the right to exercise such Awards during a period of time
as the Committee, in its sole and absolute discretion, shall determine. The
Committee shall have sole discretion to determine whether an Award has been
assumed by the surviving or successor entity or its parent or Subsidiary or
whether such successor has substituted substantially similar awards for those
outstanding under the Plan in connection with a Change of Control.
11.3 Effect of Change of Control When Awards Are Assumed; Termination
Following Change of Control.
(a) In the event of a Change of Control where a Participant's Awards
are assumed by the surviving or successor entity or its parent or Subsidiary or
such successor substitutes substantially similar awards for those outstanding
under the Plan, then fifty percent (50%) of such Participant's unvested Awards
shall become fully exercisable and/or payable as applicable, and all forfeiture
restrictions on such Awards shall lapse, immediately prior to such Change of
Control.
(b) In the event of a Change of Control where a Participant's Awards
are assumed by the surviving or successor entity or its parent or Subsidiary or
such successor substitutes substantially similar awards for those outstanding
under the Plan, if within twelve (12) months following such Change of Control
(i) the Participant's employment or service with the surviving or successor
entity or its parent or Subsidiary is terminated without Cause or (ii) such
Participant voluntarily terminates such Participant's employment or service with
Good Reason, then such Participant's remaining unvested Awards (including any
substituted awards) shall become fully exercisable and/or payable as applicable,
and all forfeiture restrictions on such Awards (including any substituted
awards) shall lapse, on the date of termination. Such Awards (including any
substituted awards) shall remain exercisable, as applicable, until the earlier
of the expiration date of the Award or three (3) months following such
Participant's cessation of employment or service.
11.4 Outstanding Awards - Certain Mergers. Subject to any required action
by the stockholders of the Company, in the event that the Company shall be the
surviving corporation in any merger or consolidation (except a merger or
consolidation as a result of which the holders of shares of Stock receive
securities of another corporation), each Award outstanding on the date of such
merger or consolidation shall pertain to and apply to the securities that a
holder of the
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number of shares of Stock subject to such Award would have received in such
merger or consolidation.
11.5 Outstanding Awards - Other Changes. In the event of any other change
in the capitalization of the Company or corporate change other than those
specifically referred to in this Article 11, the Committee may, in its absolute
discretion, make such adjustments in the number and class of shares subject to
Awards outstanding on the date on which such change occurs and in the per share
grant or exercise price of each Award as the Committee may consider appropriate
to prevent dilution or enlargement of rights.
11.6 No Other Rights. Except as expressly provided in the Plan, no
Participant shall have any rights by reason of any subdivision or consolidation
of shares of stock of any class, the payment of any dividend, any increase or
decrease in the number of shares of stock of any class or any dissolution,
liquidation, merger, or consolidation of the Company or any other corporation.
Except as expressly provided in the Plan or pursuant to action of the Committee
under the Plan, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or
securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no
adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares
of Stock subject to an Award or the grant or exercise price of any Award.
ARTICLE 12
ADMINISTRATION
12.1 Committee. Unless and until the Board delegates administration to a
Committee as set forth below, the Plan shall be administered by the Board. The
Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees of
one or more members of the Board, and the term "Committee" shall apply to any
person or persons to whom such authority has been delegated. If administration
is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the
administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board,
including the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of the administrative
powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in this Plan to
the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee or subcommittee), subject,
however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan,
as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
however, from and after the Public Trading Date, a Committee of the Board shall
administer the Plan and the Committee shall consist solely of two or more
members of the Board each of whom is both an "outside director," within the
meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, and a Non-Employee Director. Within the
scope of such authority, the Board or the Committee may (i) delegate to a
committee of one or more members of the Board who are not "outside directors,"
within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code the authority to grant awards
under the Plan to eligible persons who are either (1) not then "covered
employees," within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and are not
expected to be "covered employees" at the time of recognition of income
resulting from such award or (2) not persons with respect to whom the Company
wishes to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code and/or (ii) delegate to a
committee of one or more members of the Board who are not Non-Employee
Directors, the authority to grant awards under the Plan to eligible persons who
are not then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act. The Board may abolish
the Committee at any time and/or revest in the Board the administration of the
Plan. Appointment of Committee members shall be effective upon
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acceptance of appointment. Committee members may resign at any time by
delivering written notice to the Board. Vacancies in the Committee may only be
filled by the Board.
12.2 Action by the Committee. A majority of the Committee shall constitute
a quorum. The acts of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which
a quorum is present, and acts approved in writing by a majority of the Committee
in lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed the acts of the Committee. Each member of
the Committee is entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or
other information furnished to that member by any officer or other employee of
the Company or any Subsidiary, the Company's independent certified public
accountants, or any executive compensation consultant or other professional
retained by the Company to assist in the administration of the Plan.
12.3 Authority of Committee. Subject to any specific designation in the
Plan, the Committee has the exclusive power, authority and discretion to:
(a) Designate Participants to receive Awards;
(b) Determine the type or types of Awards to be granted to each
Participant;
(c) Determine the number of Awards to be granted and the number of
shares of Stock to which an Award will relate;
(d) Determine the terms and conditions of any Award granted pursuant
to the Plan, including, but not limited to, the exercise price, grant price, or
purchase price, any reload provision, any restrictions or limitations on the
Award, any schedule for lapse of forfeiture restrictions or restrictions on the
exercisability of an Award, and accelerations or waivers thereof, any provisions
related to non-competition and recapture of gain on an Award, based in each case
on such considerations as the Committee in its sole discretion determines;
provided, however, that the Committee shall not have the authority to accelerate
the vesting or waive the forfeiture of any Performance-Based Awards;
(e) Determine whether, to what extent, and pursuant to what
circumstances an Award may be settled in, or the exercise price of an Award may
be paid in, cash, Stock, other Awards, or other property, or an Award may be
canceled, forfeited, or surrendered;
(f) Prescribe the form of each Award Agreement, which need not be
identical for each Participant;
(g) Decide all other matters that must be determined in connection
with an Award;
(h) Establish, adopt, or revise any rules and regulations as it may
deem necessary or advisable to administer the Plan;
(i) Interpret the terms of, and any matter arising pursuant to, the
Plan or any Award Agreement; and
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(j) Make all other decisions and determinations that may be required
pursuant to the Plan or as the Committee deems necessary or advisable to
administer the Plan.
12.4 Decisions Binding. The Committee's interpretation of the Plan, any
Awards granted pursuant to the Plan, any Award Agreement and all decisions and
determinations by the Committee with respect to the Plan are final, binding, and
conclusive on all parties.
ARTICLE 13
EFFECTIVE AND EXPIRATION DATE
13.1 Effective Date. The Plan is effective as of the Public Trading Date
(the "EFFECTIVE DATE"); provided that the Plan has been approved by the
Company's stockholders prior to such date. The Plan will be deemed to be
approved by the stockholders if it receives the affirmative vote of the holders
of a majority of the shares of stock of the Company present or represented and
entitled to vote at a meeting duly held in accordance with the applicable
provisions of the Company's Bylaws.
13.2 Expiration Date. The Plan will expire on, and no Award may be granted
pursuant to the Plan after, the earlier of the tenth anniversary of (i) the date
this Plan is approved by the Company's stockholders or (ii) the date this Plan
is approved by the Board (the "EXPIRATION DATE"). Any Awards that are
outstanding on the Expiration Date shall remain in force according to the terms
of the Plan and the applicable Award Agreement. Each Award Agreement shall
provide that it will expire on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant of the
Award to which it relates.
ARTICLE 14
AMENDMENT, MODIFICATION, AND TERMINATION
14.1 Amendment, Modification, and Termination. With the approval of the
Board, at any time and from time to time, the Committee may terminate, amend or
modify the Plan; provided, however, that (i) to the extent necessary and
desirable to comply with any applicable law, regulation, or stock exchange rule,
the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any Plan amendment in such a
manner and to such a degree as required, and (ii) shareholder approval is
required for any amendment to the Plan that (A) increases the number of shares
available under the Plan (other than any adjustment as provided by Article 11),
(B) permits the Committee to grant Options with an exercise price that is below
Fair Market Value on the date of grant, or (C) permits the Committee to extend
the exercise period for an Option beyond ten years from the date of grant.
14.2 Awards Previously Granted. No termination, amendment, or modification
of the Plan shall adversely affect in any material way any Award previously
granted pursuant to the Plan without the prior written consent of the
Participant.
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ARTICLE 15
GENERAL PROVISIONS
15.1 No Rights to Awards. No Participant, employee, or other person shall
have any claim to be granted any Award pursuant to the Plan, and neither the
Company nor the Committee is obligated to treat Participants, employees, and
other persons uniformly.
15.2 No Stockholders Rights. No Award gives the Participant any of the
rights of a stockholder of the Company unless and until shares of Stock are in
fact issued to such person in connection with such Award.
15.3 Withholding. The Company or any Subsidiary shall have the authority
and the right to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit to the
Company, an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, local and foreign taxes
(including the Participant's FICA obligation) required by law to be withheld
with respect to any taxable event concerning a Participant arising as a result
of this Plan. The Committee may in its discretion and in satisfaction of the
foregoing requirement allow a Participant to elect to have the Company withhold
shares of Stock otherwise issuable under an Award (or allow the return of shares
of Stock) having a Fair Market Value equal to the sums required to be withheld.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, the number of shares of Stock
which may be withheld with respect to the issuance, vesting, exercise or payment
of any Award (or which may be repurchased from the Participant of such Award
within six months after such shares of Stock were acquired by the Participant
from the Company) in order to satisfy the Participant's federal, state, local
and foreign income and payroll tax liabilities with respect to the issuance,
vesting, exercise or payment of the Award shall be limited to the number of
shares which have a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding or repurchase
equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the minimum statutory
withholding rates for federal, state, local and foreign income tax and payroll
tax purposes that are applicable to such supplemental taxable income.
15.4 No Right to Employment or Services. Nothing in the Plan or any Award
Agreement shall interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or
any Subsidiary to terminate any Participant's employment or services at any
time, nor confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ or
service of the Company or any Subsidiary.
15.5 Unfunded Status of Awards. The Plan is intended to be an "unfunded"
plan for incentive compensation. With respect to any payments not yet made to a
Participant pursuant to an Award, nothing contained in the Plan or any Award
Agreement shall give the Participant any rights that are greater than those of a
general creditor of the Company or any Subsidiary.
15.6 Indemnification. To the extent allowable pursuant to applicable law,
each member of the Committee or of the Board shall be indemnified and held
harmless by the Company from any loss, cost, liability, or expense that may be
imposed upon or reasonably incurred by such member in connection with or
resulting from any claim, action, suit, or proceeding to which he or she may be
a party or in which he or she may be involved by reason of any action or failure
to act pursuant to the Plan and against and from any and all amounts paid by him
or her in satisfaction of judgment in such action, suit, or proceeding against
him or her, provided he or she gives the Company an opportunity, at its own
expense, to handle and defend the same before he or she undertakes to handle and
defend it on his or her own behalf. The foregoing right of indemnification shall
not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which such persons
may be entitled pursuant to the Company's Certificate of Incorporation or
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Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any power that the Company may have
to indemnify them or hold them harmless.
15.7 Relationship to Other Benefits. No payment pursuant to the Plan shall
be taken into account in determining any benefits pursuant to any pension,
retirement, savings, profit sharing, group insurance, welfare or other benefit
plan of the Company or any Subsidiary except to the extent otherwise expressly
provided in writing in such other plan or an agreement thereunder.
15.8 Expenses. The expenses of administering the Plan shall be borne by
the Company and its Subsidiaries.
15.9 Titles and Headings. The titles and headings of the Sections in the
Plan are for convenience of reference only and, in the event of any conflict,
the text of the Plan, rather than such titles or headings, shall control.
15.10 Fractional Shares. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued and
the Committee shall determine, in its discretion, whether cash shall be given in
lieu of fractional shares or whether such fractional shares shall be eliminated
by rounding up or down as appropriate.
15.11 Limitations Applicable to Section 16 Persons. Notwithstanding any
other provision of the Plan, the Plan, and any Award granted or awarded to any
Participant who is then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, shall be
subject to any additional limitations set forth in any applicable exemptive rule
under Section 16 of the Exchange Act (including any amendment to Rule 16b-3 of
the Exchange Act) that are requirements for the application of such exemptive
rule. To the extent permitted by applicable law, the Plan and Awards granted or
awarded hereunder shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to
such applicable exemptive rule.
15.12 Government And Other Regulations. The obligation of the Company to
make payment of awards in Stock or otherwise shall be subject to all applicable
laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by government agencies as
may be required. The Company shall be under no obligation to register pursuant
to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, any of the shares of Stock paid
pursuant to the Plan. If the shares paid pursuant to the Plan may in certain
circumstances be exempt from registration pursuant to the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, the Company may restrict the transfer of such shares in such
manner as it deems advisable to ensure the availability of any such exemption.
15.13 Governing Law. The Plan and all Award Agreements shall be construed
in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Delaware.
15.14 Acceleration Upon Death or Disability. In addition, in the event of
a Participant's termination of employment on account of Disability or death,
that number of Participant's unvested Awards that would have become fully
vested, exercisable and/or payable, as applicable, over the twelve (12) months
following the Participant's termination under the vesting schedules applicable
to such Awards had the Participant remained continuously employed by the Company
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during such period shall immediately become so vested, exercisable and/or
payable, as applicable, on the date of termination.
15.15 Acceleration of Stock Awards. For purposes of this Plan, to the
extent the vesting and/or exercisability of any of a Participant's outstanding
Awards shall be accelerated pursuant to this Plan or the terms of the applicable
Award Agreement, if any Award had previously been partially exercised such that
an unexercised portion of the Award still remains outstanding as of the date of
such acceleration, the vesting acceleration provisions of this Plan or the
applicable Award Agreement shall be applied to the total number of shares
subject to such Award that consist of (i) then unvested exercised shares that
were previously acquired upon the partial exercise of such Award, plus (ii) the
remaining unexercised portion of the Award. The acceleration of vesting shall be
first applied toward the unvested previously exercised shares such that no
unexercised shares shall vest on an accelerated basis in accordance with the
provisions of this Plan or the applicable Award Agreement unless and until all
of the unvested exercised shares subject to such Award have first vested. In
addition, the acceleration of vesting shall be applied to each Award
individually.
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