Aastrom Biosciences Inc. Contracts
Sample Business Contracts
2001 Stock Option Plan - Aastrom Biosciences Inc.
AASTROM BIOSCIENCES, INC.
2001 STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. ESTABLISHMENT, PURPOSE AND TERM OF PLAN.
1.1 ESTABLISHMENT. The Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. 2001 Stock
Option Plan (the "PLAN") is hereby established effective as of November 14, 2001
(the "EFFECTIVE DATE").
1.2 PURPOSE. The purpose of the Plan is to advance the
interests of the Participating Company Group and its stockholders by providing
an incentive to attract and retain persons performing services for the
Participating Company Group and by motivating such persons to contribute to the
growth and profitability of the Participating Company Group.
1.3 TERM OF PLAN. The Plan shall continue in effect until the
earlier of its termination by the Board or the date on which all of the shares
of Stock available for issuance under the Plan have been issued and all
restrictions on such shares under the terms of the Plan and the agreements
evidencing Options granted under the Plan have lapsed. However, all Incentive
Stock Options shall be granted, if at all, within ten (10) years from the
earlier of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or the date the Plan is
duly approved by the stockholders of the Company.
2. DEFINITIONS AND CONSTRUCTION.
2.1 DEFINITIONS. Whenever used herein, the following terms
shall have their respective meanings set forth below:
(a) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the
Company. If one or more Committees have been appointed by the Board to
administer the Plan, "Board" also means such Committee(s).
(b) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and any applicable regulations promulgated thereunder.
(c) "COMMITTEE" means the Compensation Committee or
other committee of the Board duly appointed to administer the Plan and having
such powers as shall be specified by the Board. Unless the powers of the
Committee have been specifically limited, the Committee shall have all of the
powers of the Board granted herein, including, without limitation, the power to
amend or terminate the Plan at any time, subject to the terms of the Plan and
any applicable limitations imposed by law.
(d) "COMPANY" means Aastrom Biosciences, Inc., a
Michigan corporation, or any successor corporation thereto.
(e) "CONSULTANT" means a person engaged to provide
consulting or advisory services (other than as an Employee or a Director) to a
Participating Company.
1
<PAGE>
(f) "DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board or of the
board of directors of any other Participating Company.
(g) "DISABILITY" means the permanent and total
disability of the Optionee within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
(h) "EMPLOYEE" means any person treated as an employee
(including an Officer or a Director who is also treated as an employee) in the
records of a Participating Company and, with respect to any Incentive Stock
Option granted to such person, who is an employee for purposes of Section 422 of
the Code; provided, however, that neither service as a Director nor payment of a
director's fee shall be sufficient to constitute employment for purposes of the
Plan. The Company shall determine in good faith and in the exercise of its
discretion whether an individual has become or has ceased to be an Employee and
the effective date of such individual's employment or termination of employment,
as the case may be. For purposes of an individual's rights, if any, under the
Plan as of the time of the Company's determination, all such determinations by
the Company shall be final, binding and conclusive, notwithstanding that the
Company or any court of law or governmental agency subsequently makes a contrary
determination.
(i) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended.
(j) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any date, the
value of a share of Stock determined as follows:
(i) If, on such date, the Stock is listed on a
national or regional securities exchange or market system, the Fair Market Value
of a share of Stock shall be the closing price of a share of Stock (or the mean
of the closing bid and asked prices of a share of Stock if the Stock is so
quoted instead) as quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, The Nasdaq SmallCap
Market or such other national or regional securities exchange or market system
constituting the primary market for the Stock, as reported in The Wall Street
Journal or such other source as the Company deems reliable. If the relevant date
does not fall on a day on which the Stock has traded on such securities exchange
or market system, the date on which the Fair Market Value shall be established
shall be the last day on which the Stock was so traded prior to the relevant
date.
(ii) If, on such date, the Stock is not listed on
a national or regional securities exchange or market system, the Fair Market
Value of a share of Stock shall be as determined by the Board in good faith
without regard to any restriction other than a restriction which, by its terms,
will never lapse.
(k) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an Option intended
to be (as set forth in the Option Agreement) and which qualifies as an incentive
stock option within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code.
2
<PAGE>
(l) "INSIDER" means an Officer, a Director of the
Company or other person whose transactions in Stock are subject to Section 16 of
the Exchange Act.
(m) "NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" means a Director of the
Company who is not an Employee.
(n) "NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR OPTION" means a right to
purchase Stock (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2) granted to a
Nonemployee Director pursuant to the terms and conditions of Section 7.
Nonemployee Director Options shall be Nonstatutory Stock Options.
(o) "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" means an Option not
intended to be (as set forth in the Option Agreement) or which does not qualify
as an Incentive Stock Option.
(p) "OFFICER" means any person designated by the Board as
an officer of the Company.
(q) "OPTION" means a right to purchase Stock (subject
to adjustment as provided in Section 4.2) pursuant to the terms and conditions
of the Plan. An option may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory
Stock Option.
(r) "OPTION AGREEMENT" means a written agreement
between the Company and an Optionee setting forth the terms, conditions and
restriction of the Option granted to the Optionee and any shares acquired upon
the exercise thereof. An Option Agreement may consist of a form of "Notice of
Grant of Stock Option" and a form of "Stock Option Agreement" incorporated
therein by reference, or such other form or forms as the Board may approve from
time to time.
(s) "OPTIONEE" means a person who has been granted one
or more Options.
(t) "PARENT CORPORATION" means any present or future
"parent corporation" of the Company, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.
(u) "PARTICIPATING COMPANY" means the Company or any
Parent Corporation or Subsidiary Corporation.
(v) "PARTICIPATING COMPANY GROUP" means, at any point
in time, all corporations collectively which are then Participating Companies.
(w) "RULE 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange
Act, as amended from time to time, or any successor rule or regulation.
(x) "SECTION 162(m)" means Section 162(m) of the Code.
(y) "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended.
3
<PAGE>
(z) "SERVICE" means the Optionee's employment or
service with the Participating Company Group, whether in the capacity of an
Employee, a Director or a Consultant. The Optionee's Service shall not be deemed
to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the
Optionee renders Service to the Participating Company Group or a change in the
Participating Company for which the Optionee renders such Service, provided that
there is no interruption or termination of the Optionee's Service. Furthermore,
the Optionee's Service with the Participating Company Group shall not be deemed
to have terminated if the Optionee takes any military leave, sick leave, or
other bona fide leave of absence approved by the Company; provided, however,
that if any such leave exceeds ninety (90) days, on the ninety-first (91st) day
of such leave the Optionee's Service shall be deemed to have terminated unless
the Optionee's right to return to Service with the Participating Company Group
is guaranteed by statute or contract. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless
otherwise designated by the Company or required by law, a leave of absence shall
not be treated as Service for purposes of determining vesting under the
Optionee's Option Agreement. The Optionee's Service shall be deemed to have
terminated either upon an actual termination of Service or upon the corporation
for which the Optionee performs Service ceasing to be a Participating Company.
Subject to the foregoing, the Company, in its discretion, shall determine
whether the Optionee's Service has terminated and the effective date of such
termination.
(aa) "STOCK" means the common stock of the Company, as
adjusted from time to time in accordance with Section 4.2.
(bb) "SUBSIDIARY CORPORATION" means any present or
future "subsidiary corporation" of the Company, as defined in Section 424(f) of
the Code.
(cc) "TEN PERCENT OWNER OPTIONEE" means an Optionee who,
at the time an Option is granted to the Optionee, owns stock possessing more
than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of a Participating Company within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the
Code.
2.2 CONSTRUCTION. Captions and titles contained herein are for
convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of any
provision of the Plan. Except when otherwise indicated by the context, the
singular shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular. Use
of the term "or" is not intended to be exclusive, unless the context clearly
requires otherwise.
3. ADMINISTRATION.
3.1 ADMINISTRATION BY THE BOARD. The Plan shall be
administered by the Board. All questions of interpretation of the Plan or of any
Option shall be determined by the Board, and such determinations shall be final
and binding upon all persons having an interest in the Plan or such Option.
3.2 AUTHORITY OF OFFICERS. Any Officer shall have the
authority to act on behalf of the Company with respect to any matter, right,
obligation, determination or election
4
<PAGE>
which is the responsibility of or which is allocated to the Company herein,
provided the Officer has apparent authority with respect to such matter, right,
obligation, determination or election.
3.3 POWERS OF THE BOARD. In addition to any other powers set
forth in the Plan and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Board shall
have the full and final power and authority, in its discretion:
(a) to determine the persons to whom, and the time or
times at which, Options shall be granted and the number of shares of Stock to be
subject to each Option;
(b) to designate Options as Incentive Stock Options or
Nonstatutory Stock Options;
(c) to determine the Fair Market Value of shares of
Stock or other property;
(d) to determine the terms, conditions and restrictions
applicable to each Option (which need not be identical) and any shares acquired
upon the exercise thereof, including, without limitation, (i) the exercise price
of the Option, (ii) the method of payment for shares purchased upon the exercise
of the Option, (iii) the method for satisfaction of any tax withholding
obligation arising in connection with the Option or such shares, including by
the withholding or delivery of shares of stock, (iv) the timing, terms and
conditions of the exercisability of the Option or the vesting of any shares
acquired upon the exercise thereof, (v) the time of the expiration of the
Option, (vi) the effect of the Optionee's termination of Service with the
Participating Company Group on any of the foregoing, and (vii) all other terms,
conditions and restrictions applicable to the Option or such shares not
inconsistent with the terms of the Plan;
(e) to approve one or more forms of Option Agreement;
(f) to amend, modify, extend, cancel or renew any
Option or to waive any restrictions or conditions applicable to any Option or
any shares acquired upon the exercise thereof;
(g) to accelerate, continue, extend or defer the
exercisability of any Option or the vesting of any shares acquired upon the
exercise thereof, including with respect to the period following an Optionee's
termination of Service with the Participating Company Group;
(h) to prescribe, amend or rescind rules, guidelines
and policies relating to the Plan, or to adopt supplements to, or alternative
versions of, the Plan, including, without limitation, as the Board deems
necessary or desirable to comply with the laws of, or to accommodate the tax
policy or custom of, foreign jurisdictions whose citizens may be granted
Options; and
5
<PAGE>
(i) to correct any defect, supply any omission or
reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or any Option Agreement and to make all
other determinations and take such other actions with respect to the Plan or any
Option as the Board may deem advisable to the extent not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan or applicable law.
3.4 ADMINISTRATION WITH RESPECT TO INSIDERS. With respect to
participation by Insiders in the Plan, at any time that any class of equity
security of the Company is registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange
Act, the Plan shall be administered in compliance with the requirements, if any,
of Rule 16b-3.
3.5 COMMITTEE COMPLYING WITH SECTION 162(m). If the Company is
a "publicly held corporation" within the meaning of Section 162(m), the Board
may establish a Committee of "outside directors" within the meaning of Section
162(m) to approve the grant of any Option which might reasonably be anticipated
to result in the payment of employee remuneration that would otherwise exceed
the limit on employee remuneration deductible for income tax purposes pursuant
to Section 162(m).
3.6 INDEMNIFICATION. In addition to such other rights of
indemnification as they may have as members of the Board or officers or
employees of the Participating Company Group, members of the Board and any
officers or employees of the Participating Company Group to whom authority to
act for the Board or the Company is delegated shall be indemnified by the
Company against all reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and
necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit or
proceeding, or in connection with any appeal therein, to which they or any of
them may be a party by reason of any action taken or failure to act under or in
connection with the Plan, or any right granted hereunder, and against all
amounts paid by them in settlement thereof (provided such settlement is approved
by independent legal counsel selected by the Company) or paid by them in
satisfaction of a judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding, except in
relation to matters as to which it shall be adjudged in such action, suit or
proceeding that such person is liable for gross negligence, bad faith or
intentional misconduct in duties; provided, however, that within sixty (60) days
after the institution of such action, suit or proceeding, such person shall
offer to the Company, in writing, the opportunity at its own expense to handle
and defend the same.
4. SHARES SUBJECT TO PLAN.
4.1 MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SHARES ISSUABLE. Subject to adjustment
as provided in Section 4.2, the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that
may be issued under the Plan shall be two million one hundred thousand
(2,100,000) and shall consist of authorized but unissued or reacquired shares of
Stock or any combination thereof. If an outstanding Option for any reason
expires or is terminated or canceled or if shares of Stock are acquired upon the
exercise of an Option subject to a Company repurchase option and are repurchased
by the Company at the Optionee's exercise or purchase price, the shares of Stock
allocable to the unexercised portion of such Option or such repurchased shares
of Stock shall again be available for issuance under the Plan. However, except
as adjusted pursuant to Section 4.2, in no event shall more than two million one
hundred thousand (2,100,000) shares of
6
<PAGE>
Stock be available for issuance pursuant to the exercise of Incentive Stock
Options (the "ISO SHARE ISSUANCE LIMIT").
4.2 ADJUSTMENTS FOR CHANGES IN CAPITAL STRUCTURE. In the event
of any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization,
combination, reclassification or similar change in the capital structure of the
Company, appropriate adjustments shall be made in the number and class of shares
subject to the Plan and to any outstanding Options, in the ISO Share Issuance
Limit set forth in Section 4.1, in the Section 162(m) Grant Limit set forth in
Section 5.4, in the automatic Nonemployee Director Option grant provisions set
forth in Section 7.1 and in the exercise price per share of any outstanding
Options. If a majority of the shares which are of the same class as the shares
that are subject to outstanding Options are exchanged for, converted into, or
otherwise become (whether or not pursuant to an Ownership Change Event, as
defined in Section 9.1) shares of another corporation (the "NEW SHARES"), the
Board may unilaterally amend the outstanding Options to provide that such
Options are exercisable for New Shares. In the event of any such amendment, the
number of shares subject to, and the exercise price per share of, the
outstanding Options shall be adjusted in a fair and equitable manner as
determined by the Board, in its discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
fractional share resulting from an adjustment pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall
be rounded down to the nearest whole number, and in no event may the exercise
price of any Option be decreased to an amount less than the par value, if any,
of the stock subject to the Option. The adjustments determined by the Board
pursuant to this Section 4.2 shall be final, binding and conclusive.
5. ELIGIBILITY AND OPTION LIMITATIONS.
5.1 PERSONS ELIGIBLE FOR OPTIONS. Options may be granted only
to Employees, Consultants, and Directors. For purposes of the foregoing
sentence, "Employees," "Consultants" and "Directors" shall include prospective
Employees, prospective Consultants and prospective Directors to whom Options are
granted in connection with written offers of an employment or other service
relationship with the Participating Company Group. Eligible persons may be
granted more than one (1) Option. However, eligibility in accordance with this
Section shall not entitle any person to be granted an Option, or, having been
granted an Option, to be granted an additional Option.
5.2 OPTION GRANT RESTRICTIONS. Any person who is not an
Employee on the effective date of the grant of an Option to such person may be
granted only a Nonstatutory Stock Option. An Incentive Stock Option granted to a
prospective Employee upon the condition that such person become an Employee
shall be deemed granted effective on the date such person commences Service with
a Participating Company, with an exercise price determined as of such date in
accordance with Section 6.1. Nonemployee Director Options shall be granted only
to a person who at the time of grant is a Nonemployee Director.
5.3 FAIR MARKET VALUE LIMITATION. To the extent that options
designated as Incentive Stock Options (granted under all stock option plans of
the Participating Company Group, including the Plan) become exercisable by an
Optionee for the first time during any calendar year for stock having a Fair
Market Value greater than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000), the portions
of such options which exceed such amount shall be treated as
7
<PAGE>
Nonstatutory Stock Options. For purposes of this Section 5.3, options designated
as Incentive Stock Options shall be taken into account in the order in which
they were granted, and the Fair Market Value of stock shall be determined as of
the time the option with respect to such stock is granted. If the Code is
amended to provide for a lower limitation from that set forth in this Section
5.3, such different limitation shall be deemed incorporated herein effective as
of the date and with respect to such Options as required or permitted by such
amendment to the Code. If an Option is treated as an Incentive Stock Option in
part and as a Nonstatutory Stock Option in part by reason of the limitation set
forth in this Section 5.3, the Optionee may designate which portion of such
Option the Optionee is exercising. In the absence of such designation, the
Optionee shall be deemed to have exercised the Incentive Stock Option portion of
the Option first. Separate certificates representing each such portion shall be
issued upon the exercise of the Option.
5.4 SECTION 162(m) GRANT LIMIT. Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 4.2, no Employee or prospective Employee shall be granted
one or more Options within any fiscal year of the Company which in the aggregate
are for the purchase of more than five hundred thousand (500,000) shares (the
"SECTION 162(m) GRANT LIMIT"). An Option which is canceled in the same fiscal
year of the Company in which it was granted shall continue to be counted against
the Section 162(m) Grant Limit for such period.
6. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS.
Options shall be evidenced by Option Agreements specifying the
number of shares of Stock covered thereby, in such form as the Board shall from
time to time establish. No Option or purported Option shall be a valid and
binding obligation of the Company unless evidenced by a fully executed Option
Agreement. Option Agreements may incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan
by reference and , except as otherwise provided in Section 7 with respect to
Nonemployee Director Options, shall comply with and be subject to the following
terms and conditions:
6.1 EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price for each Option shall
be established in the discretion of the Board; provided, however, that (a) the
exercise price per share for an Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than
the Fair Market Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the
Option, (b) the exercise price per share for a Nonstatutory Stock Option shall
be not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of a share
of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option, and (c) no Incentive
Stock Option granted to a Ten Percent Owner Optionee shall have an exercise
price per share less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market
Value of a share of Stock on the effective date of grant of the Option.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option (whether an Incentive Stock Option or a
Nonstatutory Stock Option) may be granted with an exercise price lower than the
minimum exercise price set forth above if such Option is granted pursuant to an
assumption or substitution for another option in a manner qualifying under the
provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.
6.2 EXERCISABILITY AND TERM OF OPTIONS. Options shall be
exercisable at such time or times, or upon such event or events, and subject to
such terms, conditions, performance criteria and restrictions as shall be
determined by the Board and set forth in the
8
<PAGE>
Option Agreement evidencing such Option; provided, however, that (a) no Option
shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years after the effective
date of grant of such Option, (b) no Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten
Percent Owner Optionee shall be exercisable after the expiration of five (5)
years after the effective date of grant of such Option, and (c) no Option
granted to a prospective Employee, prospective Consultant or prospective
Director may become exercisable prior to the date on which such person commences
Service with a Participating Company. Subject to the foregoing, unless otherwise
specified by the Board in the grant of an Option, any Option granted hereunder
shall terminate ten (10) years after the effective date of grant of the Option,
unless earlier terminated in accordance with its provisions. In addition, unless
otherwise specified by the Board, shares subject to any Option granted hereunder
shall vest, subject to the Optionee's continued Service, as follows: 1/4 of the
shares subject to the Option will vest one (1) year after the vesting
commencement date, and thereafter, 1/16 of the shares subject to the Option will
vest for each full three (3) months of Service.
6.3 PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE.
(a) FORMS OF CONSIDERATION AUTHORIZED. Except as
otherwise provided below, payment of the exercise price for the number of shares
of Stock being purchased pursuant to any Option shall be made (i) in cash, by
check or cash equivalent, (ii) by tender to the Company, or attestation to the
ownership, of shares of Stock owned by the Optionee having a Fair Market Value
not less than the exercise price, (iii) by delivery of a properly executed
notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker providing for the
assignment to the Company of the proceeds of a sale or loan with respect to some
or all of the shares being acquired upon the exercise of the Option (including,
without limitation, through an exercise complying with the provisions of
Regulation T as promulgated from time to time by the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System) (a "CASHLESS EXERCISE"), (iv) by such other
consideration as may be approved by the Board from time to time to the extent
permitted by applicable law, or (v) by any combination thereof. The Board may at
any time or from time to time, by approval of or by amendment to the standard
forms of Option Agreement described in Section 8, or by other means, grant
Options which do not permit all of the foregoing forms of consideration to be
used in payment of the exercise price or which otherwise restrict one or more
forms of consideration.
(b) LIMITATIONS ON FORMS OF CONSIDERATION.
(i) TENDER OF STOCK. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, an Option may not be exercised by tender to the Company, or
attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock to the extent such tender or
attestation would constitute a violation of the provisions of any law,
regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company's stock.
Unless otherwise provided by the Board, an Option may not be exercised by tender
to the Company, or attestation to the ownership, of shares of Stock unless such
shares either have been owned by the Optionee for more than six (6) months (and
not used for another Option exercise by attestation during such period) or were
not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company.
(ii) CASHLESS EXERCISE. The Company reserves, at
any and all times, the right, in the Company's sole and absolute discretion, to
establish, decline to approve or
9
<PAGE>
terminate any program or procedures for the exercise of Options by means of a
Cashless Exercise.
6.4 TAX WITHHOLDING. The Company shall have the right, but not
the obligation, to deduct from the shares of Stock issuable upon the exercise of
an Option, or to accept from the Optionee the tender of, a number of whole
shares of Stock having a Fair Market Value, as determined by the Company, equal
to all or any part of the federal, state, local and foreign taxes, if any,
required by law to be withheld by the Participating Company Group with respect
to such Option or the shares acquired upon the exercise thereof. Alternatively
or in addition, in its discretion, the Company shall have the right to require
the Optionee, through payroll withholding, cash payment or otherwise, including
by means of a Cashless Exercise, to make adequate provision for any such tax
withholding obligations of the Participating Company Group arising in connection
with the Option or the shares acquired upon the exercise thereof. The Fair
Market Value of any shares of Stock withheld or tendered to satisfy any such tax
withholding obligations shall not exceed the amount determined by the applicable
statutory withholding rates. The Company shall have no obligation to deliver
shares of Stock or to release shares of Stock from an escrow established
pursuant to the Option Agreement until the Participating Company Group's tax
withholding obligations have been satisfied by the Optionee.
6.5 EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE.
(a) OPTION EXERCISABILITY. Subject to earlier
termination of the Option as otherwise provided herein and unless otherwise
provided by the Board in the grant of an Option and set forth in the Option
Agreement, an Option shall be exercisable after an Optionee's termination of
Service only during the applicable time period determined in accordance with
this Section 6.5 and thereafter shall terminate:
(i) DISABILITY. If the Optionee's Service
terminates because of the Disability of the Optionee, the Option, to the extent
unexercised and exercisable on the date on which the Optionee's Service
terminated, may be exercised by the Optionee (or the Optionee's guardian or
legal representative) at any time prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months
(or such longer period of time as determined by the Board, in its discretion)
after the date on which the Optionee's Service terminated, but in any event no
later than the date of expiration of the Option's term as set forth in the
Option Agreement evidencing such Option (the "OPTION EXPIRATION DATE").
(ii) DEATH. If the Optionee's Service terminates
because of the death of the Optionee, the Option, to the extent unexercised and
exercisable on the date on which the Optionee's Service terminated, may be
exercised by the Optionee's legal representative or other person who acquired
the right to exercise the Option by reason of the Optionee's death at any time
prior to the expiration of twelve (12) months (or such longer period of time as
determined by the Board, in its discretion) after the date on which the
Optionee's Service terminated, but in any event no later than the Option
Expiration Date.
(iii) OTHER TERMINATION OF SERVICE. If the
Optionee's Service terminates for any reason, except Disability or death, the
Option, to the extent unexercised and
10
<PAGE>
exercisable by the Optionee on the date on which the Optionee's Service
terminated, may be exercised by the Optionee at any time prior to the expiration
of three (3) months (or such longer period of time as determined by the Board,
in its discretion) after the date on which the Optionee's Service terminated,
but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.
(b) EXTENSION IF EXERCISE PREVENTED BY LAW.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the exercise of an Option within the
applicable time periods set forth in Section 6.5(a) is prevented by the
provisions of Section 12 below, the Option shall remain exercisable until three
(3) months (or such longer period of time as determined by the Board, in its
discretion) after the date the Optionee is notified by the Company that the
Option is exercisable, but in any event no later than the Option Expiration
Date.
(c) EXTENSION IF OPTIONEE SUBJECT TO SECTION 16(b).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a sale within the applicable time periods set
forth in Section 6.5(a) of shares acquired upon the exercise of the Option would
subject the Optionee to suit under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the Option
shall remain exercisable until the earliest to occur of (i) the tenth (10th) day
following the date on which a sale of such shares by the Optionee would no
longer be subject to such suit, (ii) the one hundred and ninetieth (190th) day
after the Optionee's termination of Service, or (iii) the Option Expiration
Date.
7. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR OPTIONS.
Nonemployee Director Options shall be evidenced by Option
Agreements specifying the number of shares of Stock covered thereby, in such
form as the Board shall from time to time establish. Such Option Agreements may
incorporate all or any of the terms of the Plan by reference and shall comply
with and be subject to the following terms and conditions:
7.1 AUTOMATIC GRANT. Subject to execution by a Nonemployee
Director of an appropriate Option Agreement, Nonemployee Director Options shall
be granted automatically and without further action of the Board, as follows:
(a) INITIAL OPTION. Each person who first becomes a
Nonemployee Director after the Effective Date shall be granted on the date he or
she first becomes a Nonemployee Director a Nonemployee Director Option to
purchase ten thousand (10,000) shares of Stock (an "INITIAL OPTION").
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, an Initial Option shall not be
granted to a Director who previously did not qualify as a Nonemployee Director
but subsequently becomes a Nonemployee Director as a result of the termination
of his or her status as an Employee.
(b) ANNUAL OPTION. Each Nonemployee Director (including
any Director who previously did not qualify as a Nonemployee Director but who
subsequently becomes a Nonemployee Director) shall be granted on the date
immediately following each annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company
which occurs on or after the Effective Date (an "ANNUAL MEETING") an Option to
purchase ten thousand (10,000) shares of Stock (an "ANNUAL OPTION").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Nonemployee Director who received an Initial
Option on, or within a period of six (6) months prior to, the date of an Annual
Meeting
11
<PAGE>
shall not be granted an Annual Option pursuant to this Section with respect to
the same Annual Meeting.
(c) RIGHT TO DECLINE NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR OPTION.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any person may elect not to receive a Nonemployee
Director Option by delivering written notice of such election to the Board no
later than the day prior to the date such Nonemployee Director Option would
otherwise be granted. A person so declining a Nonemployee Director Option shall
receive no payment or other consideration in lieu of such declined Nonemployee
Director Option. A person who has declined a Nonemployee Director Option may
revoke such election by delivering written notice of such revocation to the
Board no later than the day prior to the date such Nonemployee Director Option
would be granted pursuant to Section 7.1(a) or (b), as the case may be.
7.2 EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price per share of Stock
subject to a Nonemployee Director Option shall be the Fair Market Value of a
share of Stock on the date of grant of the Nonemployee Director Option.
7.3 EXERCISABILITY AND TERM OF NONEMPLOYEE DIRECTOR OPTIONS.
(a) EXERCISABILITY. Except as otherwise provided in the
Plan or in the Option Agreement evidencing such Option, a Nonemployee Director
Option shall vest and become exercisable in twelve (12) substantially equal
monthly installments following the date of grant, provided that the Optionee's
Service has not terminated prior to the relevant date. In addition, any
unexercisable or unvested portion of a Nonemployee Director Option will become
vested and exercisable in full as of the date ten (10) days prior to the date of
a Change in Control which occurs prior to the termination of the Optionee's
Service. Any vesting or exercise of the Option that was permitted solely by
reason of the preceding sentence shall be conditioned upon the consummation of
the Change in Control.
(b) TERM. Each Nonemployee Director Option shall
terminate and cease to be exercisable on the date ten (10) years after the date
of grant of such Nonemployee Director Option, unless earlier terminated pursuant
to the terms of the Plan or the Option Agreement. In the event of the Optionee's
termination of Service, the Option, to the extent unexercised and exercisable on
the date on which the Optionee's Service terminated, may be exercised by the
Optionee (or the Optionee's legal representative, guardian or other person who
acquired the right to exercise the Option by reason of the Optionee's death) at
any time prior to the expiration of six (6) months after the date on which the
Optionee's Service terminated (twelve (12) months if such termination was due to
death or Disability), but in any event no later than the Option Expiration Date.
In addition, the post-termination exercise periods described in the preceding
sentence shall be extended in accordance with Section 6.5(b) and (c), if
applicable.
12
<PAGE>
8. STANDARD FORMS OF OPTION AGREEMENT.
8.1 OPTION AGREEMENT. Unless otherwise provided by the Board
at the time the Option is granted, an Option shall comply
with and be subject to the terms and conditions set forth
in the form of Option Agreement approved by the Board
concurrently with its adoption of the Plan and as amended
from time to time.
8.2 AUTHORITY TO VARY TERMS. The Board shall have the
authority from time to time to vary the terms of any standard form of Option
Agreement described in this Section either in connection with the grant or
amendment of an individual Option or in connection with the authorization of a
new standard form or forms; provided, however, that the terms and conditions of
any such new, revised or amended standard form or forms of Option Agreement are
not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan.
9. CHANGE IN CONTROL.
9.1 DEFINITIONS.
(a) An "OWNERSHIP CHANGE EVENT" shall be deemed to have
occurred if any of the following occurs with respect to the Company: (i) the
direct or indirect sale or exchange in a single or series of related
transactions by the Stockholders of the Company of more than fifty percent (50%)
of the voting stock of the Company; (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the
Company is a party; (iii) the sale, exchange, or transfer of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company; or (iv) a liquidation or
dissolution of the Company.
(b) A "CHANGE IN CONTROL" shall mean an Ownership
Change Event or a series of related Ownership Change Events (collectively, a
"TRANSACTION") wherein the Stockholders of the Company immediately before the
Transaction do not retain immediately after the Transaction, in substantially
the same proportions as their ownership of shares of the Company's voting stock
immediately before the Transaction, direct or indirect beneficial ownership of
more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of the
outstanding voting securities of the Company or, in the case of a Transaction
described in Section 9.1(a)(iii), the corporation or other business entity to
which the assets of the Company were transferred (the "TRANSFEREE"), as the case
may be. For purposes of the preceding sentence, indirect beneficial ownership
shall include, without limitation, an interest resulting from ownership of the
voting securities of one or more corporations or other business entities which
own the Company or the Transferee, as the case may be, either directly or
through one or more subsidiary corporations or other business entities. The
Board shall have the right to determine whether multiple sales or exchanges of
the voting securities of the Company or multiple Ownership Change Events are
related, and its determination shall be final, binding and conclusive.
9.2 EFFECT OF CHANGE IN CONTROL ON OPTIONS. In the event of a
Change in Control, the surviving, continuing, successor, or purchasing
corporation or other business entity or parent thereof, as the case may be (the
"ACQUIRING CORPORATION"), may, without the consent of the Optionee, either
assume the Company's rights and obligations under outstanding Options
13
<PAGE>
or substitute for outstanding Options substantially equivalent options for the
Acquiring Corporation's stock. Except as otherwise provided in an Option
Agreement, in the event the Acquiring Corporation elects not to assume the
Company's rights or obligations under the Option or substitute for the Option in
connection with the Change in Control, and provided that the Optionee's Service
has not terminated prior to such date, any unexercised portion of the Option
shall be immediately exercisable and vested in full as of ten (10) days prior to
the date of the Change in Control. Any vesting or exercise of the Option that
was permissible solely by reason of this Section 9.2 shall be conditioned upon
the consummation of the Change in Control. Any Options which are neither assumed
or substituted for by the Acquiring Corporation in connection with the Change in
Control nor exercised as of the date of the Change in Control shall terminate
and cease to be outstanding effective as of the date of the Change in Control.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, shares acquired upon exercise of an Option prior
to the Change in Control and any consideration received pursuant to the Change
in Control with respect to such shares shall continue to be subject to all
applicable provisions of the Option Agreement evidencing such Option except as
otherwise provided in such Option Agreement. Furthermore, notwithstanding the
foregoing, if the corporation the stock of which is subject to the outstanding
Options immediately prior to an Ownership Change Event described in Section
9.1(a)(i) constituting a Change in Control is the surviving or continuing
corporation and immediately after such Ownership Change Event less than fifty
percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of its voting stock is held by
another corporation or by other corporations that are members of an affiliated
group within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to the
provisions of Section 1504(b) of the Code, the outstanding Options shall not
terminate unless the Board otherwise provides in its discretion.
10. PROVISION OF INFORMATION.
Each Optionee shall be given access to information concerning the
company equivalent to that information generally made available to the Company's
common stockholders.
11. TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS.
During the lifetime of the Optionee, an Option shall be
exercisable only by the Optionee or the Optionee's guardian or legal
representative. No Option shall be assignable or transferable by the Optionee,
except by will or by the laws of the descent and distribution. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, to the extent permitted by the Board, in its discretion, and set
forth in the Option Agreement evidencing such Option, a Nonstatutory Stock
Option shall be assignable or transferable subject to the applicable
limitations, if any, described in the General Instructions to Form S-8
Registration Statement under the Securities Act.
12. COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAW.
The grant of Options and the issuance of shares of Stock upon
exercise of Options shall be subject to compliance with all applicable
requirements of federal, state and foreign law with respect to such securities.
Options may not be exercised if the issuance of shares of Stock upon exercise
would constitute a violation of any applicable federal, state or foreign
securities laws or other law or regulations or the requirements of any stock
exchange or market system
14
<PAGE>
upon which the Stock may then be listed. In addition, no Option may be exercised
unless (a) a registration statement under the Securities Act shall at the time
of exercise of the Option be in effect with respect to the shares issuable upon
exercise of the Option or (b) in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company,
the shares issuable upon exercise of the Option may be issued in accordance with
the terms of an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act. The inability of the Company to obtain from any regulatory body
having jurisdiction the authority, if any, deemed by the Company's legal counsel
to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any shares hereunder shall
relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell
such shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.
As a condition to the exercise of any Option, the Company may require the
Optionee to satisfy any qualifications that may be necessary or appropriate, to
evidence compliance with any applicable law or regulation and to make any
representation or warranty with respect thereto as may be requested by the
Company.
13. TERMINATION OR AMENDMENT OF PLAN.
The Board may terminate or amend the Plan at any time. However,
subject to changes in applicable law, regulations or rules that would permit
otherwise, without the approval of the Company's stockholders, there shall be
(a) no increase in the maximum aggregate number of shares of Stock that may be
issued under the Plan (except by operation of the provisions of Section 4.2),
(b) no change in the class of persons eligible to receive Incentive Stock
Options, and (c) no other amendment of the Plan that would require approval of
the Company's Stockholders under any applicable law, regulation or rule. No
termination or amendment of the Plan shall affect any then outstanding Option
unless expressly provided by the Board. In any event, no termination or
amendment of the Plan may adversely affect any then outstanding Option without
the consent of the Optionee, unless such termination or amendment is required to
enable an Option designated as an Incentive Stock Option to qualify as an
Incentive Stock Option or is necessary to comply with any applicable law,
regulation or rule.
15
<PAGE>
PLAN HISTORY
September 12, 2001 Board adopts Plan, with an initial reserve of 2,100,000
shares.
November 14, 2001 Stockholders approve Plan, with an initial reserve of
2,100,000 shares.