SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
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BIOSANTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC. |
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EXHIBIT A
BIOSANTE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED {}1998 STOCK {OPTION} PLAN
(As amended through May {31, 2002)} [30, 2003)
]
1. Purpose of Plan.
The
purpose of the BioSante Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1998 Stock {Option} Plan (the "Plan") is to advance the interests of BioSante
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (the "Company") and its {shareholders}[stockholders] by
enabling the Company and its Subsidiaries to attract and retain persons of ability to perform services for the Company and its Subsidiaries by providing an incentive to such individuals through equity
participation in the Company and by rewarding such individuals who contribute to the achievement by the Company of its [economic] objectives{, as the Board of Directors describes them}.
2. Definitions.
The following terms will have the meanings set forth below, unless the context clearly otherwise requires:
2.1 {"CVE"
means the Canadian Venture Exchange.
2.2 "CVE
Requirements" means the by-laws, rules, circulars and policies of the CVE.
2.3} "Board"
means the Board of Directors of the Company.
{2.4}
[2.2] "Broker Exercise Notice" means a written notice pursuant to which a Participant, upon exercise of an Option, irrevocably instructs a broker or dealer to sell a sufficient number of shares or loan a sufficient amount of money to pay all or a portion of the exercise price of the Option and/or any related withholding tax obligations and remit such sums to the Company and directs the Company to deliver stock certificates to be issued upon such exercise directly to such broker or dealer.
{2.5}
[2.3] "Change in Control" means an event described in
{Section 9.1} [Section 10.1] of the Plan.
{2.6}
[2.4] "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
{2.7}
[2.5] "Committee" means the group of individuals administering the Plan, as provided in Section 3 of the Plan.
{2.8}
[2.6] "Common Stock" means the common stock of the Company,
{no} par value [$0.0001 per share], or the number and kind of shares of stock or other
securities into which such {Common Stock} [common stock] may be changed in accordance
with Section 4.3 of the Plan.
{2.9}
[2.7] "Disability" means the disability of the Participant such as would entitle the Participant to receive disability income benefits pursuant to the long-term disability plan of the Company or
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Subsidiary then covering the Participant or, if no such plan exists or is applicable to the Participant, the permanent and total disability of the Participant within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.
{2.10}
[2.8] "Eligible Recipients" means all employees [(including officers and directors who are also employees)] of the Company or any
Subsidiary and any non-employee
directors{,} [and] officers{,} [and individual] consultants and independent contractors of the Company or any
Subsidiary[,
other than consultants or independent contractors providing services in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital raising transaction or who directly or indirectly promote or
maintain a market for the Company's securities.]
{2.11}
[2.9] "Exchange Act" means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
{2.12}
[2.10] "Fair Market Value" means, with respect to the Common Stock, as
of any date (or, if no shares were traded or quoted on such date, as of the next preceding date on which there was such a trade or quote) (a) the mean between the reported high and low sale
prices of the Common Stock if the Common Stock is listed, admitted to unlisted trading privileges or reported on any foreign or national securities exchange or on the Nasdaq National Market or [SmallCap Market or]
an equivalent foreign market on which sale prices are reported; (b) if the Common Stock is not so
listed, admitted to unlisted trading privileges or reported, the closing bid price as reported by the {Nasdaq SmallCap Market,} OTC Bulletin Board or the
National Quotation Bureau, Inc. or other comparable service; or (c) if the Common Stock is not so listed or reported, such price as the Committee determines in good faith in the exercise
of its reasonable discretion.
[2.11 "Incentive Award" means an Option or Stock Award granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to the Plan.
2.12]
{2.13} "Incentive Stock Option" means a right to purchase Common Stock granted to an
Eligible Recipient pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan that qualifies as an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
{2.14}
[2.13] "Non-Statutory Stock Option" means a right to purchase Common Stock granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to Section 6 of the Plan that does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.
{2.15}
[2.14] "Option" means an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Statutory Stock Option.
{2.16}
[2.15] "Participant" means an Eligible Recipient who receives one or
more {Options} [Incentive Awards] under the Plan.
{2.17}
[2.16] "Previously Acquired Shares" means shares of Common Stock or any other shares of capital stock of the Company that are already owned by the Participant or, with respect to any Option, that are to be issued upon the exercise of such Option.
{2.18}
[2.17] "Retirement" means termination of employment or service pursuant to and in accordance with the regular (or, if approved by the Board for purposes of the Plan, early) retirement/pension plan or practice of the Company or Subsidiary then covering the Participant, provided that if the Participant
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is not covered by any such plan or practice, the Participant will be deemed to be covered by the Company's plan or practice for purposes of this determination.
{2.19}
[2.18] "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
[2.19 "Stock Award" means an award of Common Stock granted to an Eligible Recipient pursuant to Section 7 of the Plan.
2.20 "Stock Unit" means a bookkeeping entry representing the equivalent of one share of Common Stock that is payable in the form of Common Stock, cash or any combination of the foregoing.
2.21] {2.20} "Subsidiary" means any entity
that is directly or indirectly controlled by the Company or any entity in which the Company has a significant equity interest, as determined by the Committee.
{2.21}
[2.22] "Tax Date" means the date any withholding tax obligation arises
under the Code or other applicable tax statute for a Participant with respect to an {Option} [Incentive
Award].
3. Plan Administration.
3.1 The
Committee. The Plan will be administered by the Board or by a committee of the Board. So long as the Company has a class of
its equity securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, any committee administering the Plan will consist solely of two or more members of the Board who are
"non-employee directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and, if the Board so determines in its sole discretion, who are "outside directors"
within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. Such a committee, if established, will act by majority approval of the members (but may also take action with the written consent of all of the
members of such committee), and a majority of the members of such a committee will constitute a quorum. As used in the Plan, "Committee" will refer to the Board or to such a committee, if
established[; provided, however, that with respect to the grant of any Incentive Award to a Participant who is then a Committee Member, and to any action that may
be taken hereunder by the Committee regarding any such Incentive Award for so long as such Participant is a Committee Member, such action may be taken only by the
Board]. To the extent consistent with [applicable] corporate law, the Committee may delegate
to any officers of the Company the duties, power and authority of the Committee under the Plan pursuant to such conditions or limitations as the Committee may establish; provided, however, that only
the Committee may exercise such duties, power and authority with respect to Eligible Recipients who are subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act [and
Section 162(m) of the Code]. The Committee may exercise its duties, power and authority under the Plan in its sole and absolute discretion without the
consent of any Participant or other party, unless the Plan specifically provides otherwise. Each determination, interpretation or other action made or taken by the Committee pursuant to the provisions
of the Plan
will be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes and on all persons, including, without limitation, the Company, the
{shareholders}[stockholders] of the Company, the participants and their respective
successors-in-interest. No member of the Committee will be liable for any action or determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any
{Option}[Incentive Award] granted under the Plan.
3.2 Authority of the Committee.
(a) In
accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee will have the authority to determine all provisions of
{Options} [Incentive Awards] as the Committee may deem necessary or desirable and as
consistent with the terms of the Plan, including, without limitation, the following: (i) the Eligible Recipients to be selected as Participants; (ii) the nature and extent of
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the {Options} [Incentive Awards] to be made to each Participant (including the number of
shares of Common Stock to be subject to each {Option, the}[Incentive Award, any] exercise
price {and}[,] the manner in which {Options will become
exercisable)} [Incentive Awards will vest or become exercisable and whether Incentive Awards will be granted in tandem with other Incentive
Awards)] and the form of written agreement, if any, evidencing such {Option} [Incentive
Award]; (iii) the time or times when {Options} [Incentive
Awards] will be granted; (iv) the duration of each {Option} [Incentive
Award]; and (v) the restrictions and other conditions to which the {Options} [payment or vesting of Incentive Awards] may be subject. In addition, the
Committee will have the authority under the Plan in
its sole discretion to pay the economic value of any {Option} [Incentive Award] in the
form of cash, shares of Common Stock, shares of any capital stock of the Company, [Stock Units] or any combination of
{both}[the foregoing].
(b) The
Committee will have the authority under the Plan to amend or modify the terms of any outstanding {Option} [Incentive Award] in any manner, including, without limitation, the authority
to modify the number of shares or other terms and
conditions of an {Option} [Incentive Award], extend the term of an
{Option} [Incentive Award], accelerate the exercisability [or vesting] or otherwise terminate any restrictions relating to an
{Option} [Incentive Award], accept the surrender of any outstanding {Option} [Incentive Award] or, to the extent not
previously exercised or vested, authorize the grant of new
{Options} [Incentive Awards] in substitution for surrendered
{Options} [Incentive Awards]; provided, however that the amended or modified terms are
permitted by the Plan as then in effect and that any Participant adversely affected by such amended or modified terms has consented to such amendment or modification. No amendment or modification to
an {Option} [Incentive Award], however, whether pursuant to this Section 3.2 or
any other provisions of the Plan, will be deemed to be a re-grant of such {Option} [Incentive
Award] for purposes of this Plan.
(c) In
the event of (i) any reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, combination of
shares, rights offering, extraordinary dividend or divestiture (including a spin-off) or any other similar change in corporate structure or shares, (ii) any purchase, acquisition,
sale or disposition of a significant amount of assets or a significant business, (iii) any change in accounting principles or practices, or (iv) any other similar change, in each case
with respect to the Company or any other entity whose performance is relevant to the grant or vesting of an
{Option}[Incentive Award], the Committee (or, if the Company is not the surviving
corporation in any
such transaction, the board of directors of the surviving corporation) may, without the consent of any affected Participant, amend or modify the {conditions to the
exercisability} [vesting criteria] of any outstanding {Option} [Incentive Award] that is based in whole or in part on the
financial performance of the Company (or any Subsidiary or division
thereof) or such other entity so as equitably to reflect such event, with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating such financial performance of the Company or such other entity will be
substantially the same (in the sole discretion of the Committee or the board of directors of the surviving corporation) following such event as prior to such event; provided, however, that the amended
or modified terms are permitted by the Plan as then in effect.
[(d) The Committee may permit or require the deferral of any payment, issuance or other settlement of an Incentive Award subject to such rules and procedures as the Committee may establish, including the conversion of such payment, issuance or other settlement into Stock Units and the payment or crediting of interest, dividends or dividend equivalents.]
4. Shares Available for Issuance.
4.1 Maximum
Number of Shares Available. Subject to {Section 4.4 below and} adjustment as provided
in Section 4.3 of the Plan, the maximum number of shares of Common Stock that will be available for issuance under the Plan will be {1,000,000} [2,000,000] shares of Common Stock,
plus any
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shares of Common Stock which, as of the date the Plan is approved by the {shareholders} [stockholders] of the Company, are reserved for issuance under the Company's existing Stock
Option Plan and which are not
thereafter issued or which have been issued but are subsequently forfeited and which would otherwise have been available for further issuance under such plan. [The
Committee may use]{4.2 Accounting for Options. Shares of Common Stock that are issued under the Plan or that are subject to outstanding Options
will be applied to reduce the maximum number of} shares {of Common Stock remaining} available for issuance under the
Plan{. Any shares of Common Stock } [as the form of payment for compensation, awards or rights earned or due under deferred
or any other compensation plans or arrangements of the Company or any Subsidiary. The shares available for issuance under the Plan may, at the election of the Committee, be either treasury shares or
shares authorized but unissued, and, if treasury shares are used, all references in the Plan to the issuance of shares will, for corporate law purposes, be deemed to mean the transfer of shares from
treasury.
4.2 Calculation of Shares Available. Shares of Common Stock (a) that are
issued under the Plan or under any deferred or other compensation plan or arrangement of the Company or any Subsidiary or (b)] that are subject to {an Option that
lapses, expires, is forfeited or for any reason is terminated unexercised and} [outstanding Incentive Awards, Stock Units or other awards or
rights earned or due under the Plan or under any deferred or other compensation plan or arrangement of the Company or any Subsidiary, will be applied to reduce the maximum number of shares of Common
Stock remaining available for issuance under the Plan. To the extent that] any shares of Common Stock that are subject to an {Option that
}[Incentive Award, Stock Unit or other award or right earned or due under the Plan or under any deferred or other compensation plan or
arrangement of the Company or any Subsidiary (a) are not issued to a Participant under the Plan or a participant under any deferred or other compensation plan or arrangement of the Company or
any Subsidiary due to the fact that such
Incentive Award, Stock Unit or other award or right earned or due under the Plan or under any deferred or other compensation plan or arrangement of the Company or any Subsidiary lapses, expires, is
forfeited or for any reason is terminated unexercised or unvested, or] is settled or paid in cash or {any form other
than}[(b) are used to satisfy any exercise price or withholding obligations, such shares will automatically again become available for issuance
under the Plan. In addition, to the extent that a Participant tenders (either by actual delivery or by attestation)] shares of Common Stock [already owned by the Participant to the Company in
satisfaction of any exercise price or withholding tax obligations, such
shares] will automatically again become available for issuance under the Plan.
4.3 Adjustments
to Shares and {Options} [Incentive
Awards]. In the event of any reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, liquidation, reclassification, stock dividend,
stock split, combination of shares, rights offering, divestiture or extraordinary dividend (including a spin-off) or any other [similar] change in the corporate structure or shares of the Company, the
Committee (or, if the Company is not the surviving
corporation in any such transaction, the board of directors of the surviving corporation) will make appropriate adjustment (which determination will be conclusive) as to the number and kind of
securities or other property (including cash) available for issuance or payment under the Plan and, in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants, [(a)] the number and kind
of securities or other property (including cash) subject to [outstanding Options], and [(b)] the exercise price
of{,} outstanding Options.
{4.4 CVE
Requirements. So long as the Common Stock of the Company is listed on the CVE and the Company has not been exempted from the CVE
Requirements the number of shares of Common Stock that may be reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan and any other stock option plan, stock purchase plan or for remuneration for any service
performed for or on behalf of the Company to any one party shall not exceed five percent of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, on a non-diluted basis;}
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5. Participation.
Participants
in the Plan will be those Eligible Recipients who, in the judgment of the Committee, have contributed, are contributing or are expected to contribute to the achievement of [economic] objectives
{as determined by the Board}of the Company or its Subsidiaries.
Eligible Recipients may be granted from time to time one or more {Options}[Incentive Awards, singly or in combination or in
tandem with other Incentive Awards,] as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. {Options} [Incentive Awards] will be deemed to be granted as
of the date specified in the grant resolution of the Committee, which date
will be the date of any related agreement with the Participant.
6. Options.
6.1 Grant. An Eligible Recipient may be granted one or more Options under the Plan, and such Options will be subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of the Plan, as may be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion. The Committee may designate whether an Option is to be considered an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Statutory Stock Option. To the extent that any Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan ceases for any reason to qualify as an "incentive stock option" for purposes of Section 422 of the Code, such Incentive Stock Option will continue to be outstanding for purposes of the Plan but will thereafter be deemed to be a Non-Statutory Stock Option.
6.2 Exercise
Price. The per share price to be paid by a Participant upon exercise of an Option will be determined by the Committee
in its discretion at the time of the Option grant; provided, however, that {(a)} such price will not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of one share of
Common Stock on the date of grant with respect to an Incentive Stock Option (110% of the Fair Market Value if, at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, the Participant owns, directly or
indirectly, more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company){, and (b) such
price will not be less than 85% of the Fair Market Value of one share of Common Stock on the date of grant with respect to a Non-Statutory Stock Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so
long as the Common Stock of the Company is listed on the CVE and the Company has not been exempted from the CVE Requirements in this regard, the exercise price per share of an Option shall not be less
than the price per share permitted by the CVE Requirements}.
6.3 Exercisability
and Duration. An Option will become exercisable at such times and in such installments as may be determined by
the Committee in its sole discretion at the time of grant; provided, however, that no Incentive Stock Option may be exercisable after 10 years from its date of grant (five years from its date
of grant if{, (a)} at the time the Incentive Stock Option is granted, the Participant owns, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the total combined voting
power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation of the Company {or (b) the Common Stock of the Company is then listed on the CVE and the
Company has not been exempted from the CVE Requirements in this regard).}[).]
6.4 Payment of Exercise Price. The total purchase price of the shares to be purchased upon exercise of an Option must be paid entirely in cash (including check, bank draft or money order); provided, however, that the Committee, in its sole discretion and upon terms and conditions established by the Committee, may allow such payments to be made, in whole or in part, by tender of a Broker Exercise Notice, Previously Acquired Shares [(including through delivery of a written attestation of ownership of such Previously Acquired Shares if permitted, and on terms acceptable, to the Committee in its sole discretion)], a promissory note (on terms acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion) or by a combination of such methods.
6.5 Manner of Exercise. An Option may be exercised by a Participant in whole or in part from time to time, subject to the conditions contained in the Plan and in the agreement evidencing such
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Option, by delivery in person, by facsimile or electronic transmission or through the mail of written notice of exercise to the Company (Attention: Chief Financial Officer) at its principal executive office in Lincolnshire, Illinois and by paying in full the total exercise price for the shares of Common Stock to be purchased in accordance with Section 6.4 of the Plan.
6.6 Aggregate Limitation of Stock Subject to Incentive Stock Options. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the date an Incentive Stock Option is granted) of the shares of Common Stock with respect to which incentive stock options (within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code) are exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under the Plan and any other incentive stock option plans of the Company or any subsidiary or parent corporation of the Company (within the meaning of the Code)) exceeds $100,000 (or such other amount as may be prescribed by the Code from time to time), such excess Options will be treated as Non-Statutory Stock Options. The determination will be made by taking incentive stock options into account in the order in which they were granted. If such excess only applies to a portion of an Incentive Stock Option, the Committee, in its discretion, will designate which shares will be treated as shares to be acquired upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option.
7[. Stock Awards.
An Eligible Recipient may be granted one or more Stock Awards under the Plan, and such Stock Awards will be subject to such terms and conditions, consistent with the other provisions of the Plan, as may be determined by the Committee. The Participant will have all voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock issued to a Participant as a Stock Award under this Section 7 upon the Participant becoming the holder of record of such shares; provided, however, that the Committee may impose such restrictions on the assignment or transfer of a Stock Award as it deems appropriate; and provided, further, that if the Participant defers the receipt of the Stock Award under any deferred compensation plan or arrangement of the Company or any Subsidiary and in lieu thereof receives a Stock Unit, such Participant will not have all voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights with respect to the shares of Common Stock issued to the Participant as a Stock Award under this Section 7.
8]. Effect of Termination of Employment or Other Service.
{7.1}
[8.1] Termination Due to Death, Disability or
Retirement. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee in its sole discretion in the agreement evidencing an {Option} [Incentive Award]:
(a) In the event a Participant's employment or other service with the Company and all Subsidiaries is terminated by reason of death or Disability, all outstanding Options then held by the Participant will remain exercisable, to the extent exercisable as of the date of such termination, for a period of six months after such termination (but in no event after the expiration date of any such Option) [and all Stock Awards then held by a Participant will, to the extent applicable, vest and/or continue to vest in the manner determined by the Committee and set forth in any agreement evidencing such Stock Award].
(b) In the event a Participant's employment or other service with the Company and all Subsidiaries is terminated by reason of Retirement, all outstanding Options then held by the Participant will remain exercisable, to the extent exercisable as of the date of such termination, for a period of three months after such termination (but in no event after the expiration date of any such Option) [and all Stock Awards then held by a Participant will, to the extent applicable, vest and/or continue to vest in the manner determined by the Committee and set forth in any agreement evidencing such Stock Award.
8.2]{.
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7.2} Termination
for Reasons Other than Death, Disability or Retirement.
(a) Unless
otherwise provided by the Committee in its sole discretion in the agreement evidencing an {Option} [Incentive Award], in the event a Participant's employment or other service is
terminated with the Company and all Subsidiaries
for any reason other than death, Disability or Retirement, or a Participant is in the employ or service of a Subsidiary and the Subsidiary ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Company (unless the
Participant continues in the employ or service of the Company or another Subsidiary), all rights of the Participant under the Plan and any agreements evidencing an Option will immediately terminate
without notice of any kind, and no Options then held by the Participant will thereafter be exercisable [and all Stock Awards then held by a Participant will, to the
extent applicable, vest and/or continue to vest in the manner determined by the Committee and set forth in any agreement evidencing such Stock Award]; provided,
however, that if such termination is due to any reason other than termination by the Company or any Subsidiary for "cause," all outstanding Options then held by such Participant will remain
exercisable, to the extent exercisable as of such termination, for a period of three months after such termination (but in no event after the expiration date of any such Option).
(b) For
purposes of this Section {7.2} [8.2], "cause" (as
determined by the Committee) will be as defined in any employment or other agreement or policy applicable to the Participant or, if no such agreement or policy exists, will mean (i) dishonesty,
fraud, misrepresentation, embezzlement or deliberate injury or attempted injury, in each case related to the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) any unlawful or criminal activity of a serious
nature, (iii) any intentional and deliberate breach of a duty or duties that, individually or in the aggregate, are material in relation to the Participant's overall duties, or (iv) any
material breach of any employment, service, confidentiality or non-compete agreement entered into with the Company or any Subsidiary.
{7.3}
[8.3] Modification of Rights Upon
Termination. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this {Section 7} [Section 8], upon a Participant's termination of employment or other service
with the Company and all Subsidiaries, the
Committee may, in its sole discretion (which may be exercised at any time on or after the date of grant, including following such termination), cause Options (or any part thereof) then held by such
Participant to become or continue to become exercisable and/or remain exercisable following such termination of employment or service [and all Stock Awards then
held by a Participant will, to the extent applicable, vest and/or continue to vest in the manner determined by the Committee and set forth in any agreement evidencing such Stock
Award]; provided, however, that no Option may remain exercisable beyond its expiration date.
{7.4}
[8.4] Exercise of Incentive Stock Options Following Termination. Any Incentive Stock Option that remains unexercised more than one year following termination of employment by reason of Disability or more than three months following termination for any reason other than death or Disability will thereafter be deemed to be a Non-Statutory Stock Option.
{7.5}
[8.5] Date of Termination of Employment or Other Service. Unless the Committee otherwise determines in its sole discretion, a Participant's employment or other service will, for purposes of the Plan, be deemed to have terminated on the date recorded on the personnel or other records of the Company or the Subsidiary for which the Participant provides employment or other service, as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion based upon such records.
{8}
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[9]. Payment of Withholding Taxes.
{8.1}
[9.1] General Rules. The Company is entitled to
(a) withhold and deduct from future wages of the Participant (or from other amounts that may be due and owing to the Participant from the Company or a Subsidiary), or make other arrangements
for the collection of, all legally required amounts necessary to satisfy any and all foreign, federal, state and local withholding and employment-related tax requirements attributable to an
{Option} [Incentive Award], including, without limitation, the grant
{or exercise of an Option}[, exercise or vesting of, or payment of dividends with respect to, an Incentive
Award] or a disqualifying disposition of stock received upon exercise of an Incentive Stock Option, or (b) require the Participant promptly to remit the
amount of such withholding to the Company before taking any action, including issuing any shares of Common Stock, with respect to an {Option.} [Incentive Award.]
{8.2}
[9.2] Special Rules. The Committee may, in its sole
discretion and upon terms and conditions established by the Committee, permit or require a Participant to satisfy, in whole or in part, any withholding or employment-related tax obligation described
in Section {8.1} [9.1] of the Plan by electing to tender Previously Acquired Shares, a
Broker Exercise Notice or a promissory note (on terms acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion), or by a combination of such methods.
{9}
[10]. Change in Control.
{9.1}
[10.1] Change in Control. For purposes of this Section
{9} [10], a "Change in Control" of the Company will mean the following:
(a) the sale, lease, exchange or other transfer, directly or indirectly, of substantially all of the assets of the Company (in one transaction or in a series of related transactions) to a person or entity that is not controlled by the Company;
(b) the
approval by the {shareholders} [stockholders] of the
Company of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
(c) any
person becomes after the effective date of the Plan the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or
indirectly, of (i) 20% or more, but not 50% or more, of the combined voting power of the Company's outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections of directors, unless
the transaction resulting in such ownership has been approved in advance by the Continuity Directors (as defined in Section {9.2} [10.2] below), or (ii) 50% or more of the combined
voting power of the Company's outstanding securities ordinarily having
the right to vote at elections of directors (regardless of any approval by the Continuity Directors);
(d) a
merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party if the
{shareholders}[stockholders] of the Company immediately prior to effective date of such
merger or consolidation have "beneficial ownership" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), immediately following the effective date of such merger or consolidation, of
securities of the surviving corporation representing (i) more than 50%, but less than 80%, of the combined voting power of the surviving corporation's then outstanding securities ordinarily
having the right to vote at elections of directors, unless such merger or consolidation has been approved in advance by the Continuity Directors, or (ii) 50% or less of the combined voting
power of the surviving
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corporation's then outstanding securities ordinarily having the right to vote at elections of directors (regardless of any approval by the Continuity Directors);
(e) the Continuity Directors cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; or
(f) any other change in control of the Company of a nature that would be required to be reported pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, whether or not the Company is then subject to such reporting requirement.
{9.2}
[10.2] Continuity Directors. For purposes of this Section
{9} [10], "Continuity Directors" of the Company will mean any individuals who are members
of the Board on the effective date of the Plan and any individual who subsequently becomes a member of the Board whose election, or nomination for election by the Company's
{shareholders} [stockholders], was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the
Continuity Directors (either by specific vote or by approval of the Company's proxy statement in which such individual is named as a nominee for director without objection to such nomination).
{9.3}
[10.3] Acceleration of
{Exercisability} [Vesting]. Without limiting the authority of the Committee under Sections 3.2 and 4.3
of the Plan, if a Change in Control of the Company occurs, then, unless otherwise provided by the Committee in its sole discretion either in the agreement evidencing an
{Option} [Incentive Award] at the time of grant or at any time after the grant of an
{Option} [Incentive Award], all outstanding Options will become immediately exercisable
in full and will remain exercisable for the remainder of their terms, regardless of whether the Participant to whom such Options have been granted remains in the employ or service of the Company or
any Subsidiary [and all outstanding Stock Awards then held by a Participant will, to the extent applicable, vest and/or continue to vest in the manner determined by
the Committee and set forth in any agreement evidencing such Stock Award.
11] {10}. Rights of Eligible Recipients and Participants;
Transferability.
{10.1}
[11.1] Employment or Service. Nothing in the Plan will interfere with or limit in any way the right of the Company or any Subsidiary to terminate the employment or service of any Eligible Recipient or Participant at any time, nor confer upon any Eligible Recipient or Participant any right to continue in the employ or service of the Company or any Subsidiary.
{10.2}
[11.2] Rights as a
{Shareholder}[Stockholder]. As a
holder of Options, a Participant will have no rights as a {shareholder} [stockholder]
unless and until such Options are exercised for, or paid in the form of, shares of Common Stock and the Participant becomes the holder of record of such shares. Except as otherwise provided in the
Plan, no adjustment will be made for dividends or distributions with respect to such Options as to which there is a record date preceding the date the Participant becomes the holder of record of such
shares, except as the Committee may determine in its discretion.
{10.3}
[11.3] Restrictions on Transfer.
[(a)] Except pursuant to testamentary will or the laws of descent and distribution
{or} [and except] as {otherwise} expressly
permitted by [Section 11.3(b) of] the Plan{(unless approved by the Committee in its sole discretion
and the CVE, if necessary)}, no right or interest of any
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Participant in an {Option}[Incentive Award] prior to the exercise [or vesting] of such {Option} [Incentive
Award] will be assignable or transferable, or subjected to any lien, during the lifetime of the Participant, either voluntarily or involuntarily, directly or
indirectly, by operation of law or otherwise. A Participant will, however, be entitled to designate a beneficiary to receive an
{Option}[Incentive Award] upon such Participant's death{, and
in}[. In] the event of a Participant's death, payment of any amounts due under the Plan will be made to, and
exercise of [any] Options (to the extent permitted pursuant to
{Section 7}[Section 8] of the Plan)
{may} [will] be made by, the Participant's {legal representatives,
heirs and legatees.} [designated beneficiary. For purposes of the Plan, a "designated beneficiary" will be the beneficiary or beneficiaries
designated by the Participant in a writing filed with the Committee in such form and at such time as the Committee will require in its sole discretion. If a Participant fails to designate a
beneficiary, or if the designated beneficiary does not survive the Participant or dies before the designated beneficiary's exercise of all rights under the Plan, payment of any amounts due under the
Plan will be made to, and exercise of any Options (to the extent permitted pursuant to Section 8 of the Plan) may be made by, the Participant's personal representative. ]
{10.4}
[(b) The Committee may, in its discretion, authorize all or a portion of the Options to be granted to a Participant to be on terms which permit transfer by such Participant to (i) the spouse, ex-spouse, children, step-children or grandchildren of the Participant (the "Family Members"), (ii) a trust or trusts for the exclusive benefit of such Family Members, (iii) a partnership in which such Family Members are the only partners, or (iv) such other persons or entities as the Committee, in its discretion, may permit, provided that (1) there may be no consideration for such a transfer (other than the possible receipt of an ownership interest in an entity to which such a transfer is made), (2) the award agreement pursuant to which such Options are granted must be approved by the Committee and must expressly provide for transferability in a manner consistent with this Section 11.3(b), (3) timely written notice of the transfer must be provided to the Company by the Participant, and (4) subsequent transfers of the transferred Options shall be prohibited except for those in accordance with Section 11.3(a). Following transfer, any such Option and the rights of any transferee with respect thereto will continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable immediately prior to the transfer, including that the events of termination of employment or other service as provided in the Plan and in any applicable award agreement will continue to be applied with respect to the original Participant, with the transferee bound by the consequences of any such termination of employment or service as specified in the Plan and the applicable award agreement. The Company will be under no obligation to provide notice of termination of a Participant's employment or other service to any transferee of such Participant's Options. Notwithstanding any Option transfer pursuant to this Section 11.3(b), the Participant will remain subject to and liable for any employment-related taxes in connection with the exercise of such Option.
11.4] Breach of Confidentiality or Non-Compete Agreements.
Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the contrary, in the event that a Participant materially breaches the terms of any confidentiality or non-compete agreement entered into with the
Company or any Subsidiary, whether such breach occurs before or after termination of such Participant's employment or other service with the Company or any Subsidiary, the Committee in its sole
discretion may immediately terminate all rights of the Participant under the Plan and any agreements evidencing an {Option} [Incentive Award] then held by the Participant without notice
of any kind.
{10.5}
[11.5] Non-Exclusivity of the Plan. Nothing contained in the Plan is intended to modify or rescind any previously approved compensation plans or programs of the Company or create any
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limitations on the power or authority of the Board to adopt such additional or other compensation arrangements as the Board may deem necessary or desirable.
{11}
[12]. Securities Law and Other Restrictions.
Notwithstanding
any other provision of the Plan or any agreements entered into pursuant to the Plan, the Company will not be required to issue any shares of Common Stock under this Plan,
and a Participant may not sell, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose of shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to {Options} [Incentive Awards] granted under the Plan, unless
(a) there is in effect with respect to such shares a registration
statement under the Securities Act and any applicable state or foreign securities laws or an exemption from such registration under the Securities Act and applicable state or foreign securities laws,
and (b) there has been obtained any other consent, approval or permit from any other regulatory body which the Committee, in its sole discretion, deems necessary or advisable. The Company may
condition such issuance, sale or transfer upon the receipt of any representations or agreements from the parties involved, and the placement of any legends on certificates representing shares of
Common Stock, as may be deemed necessary or advisable by the Company in order to comply with such securities law or other restrictions.
{12}
[13]. Plan Amendment, Modification and Termination.
The
Board may suspend or terminate the Plan or any portion thereof at any time, and may amend the Plan from time to time in such respects as the Board may deem advisable in order that
{Options} [Incentive Awards] under the Plan will conform to any change in applicable laws
or regulations or in any other respect the Board may deem to be in the best interests of the Company; provided, however, that no amendments to the Plan will be effective without approval of the
{shareholders} [stockholders] of the Company if
{shareholder} [stockholder] approval of the amendment is then required pursuant to
Section 422 of the Code or the rules of any stock exchange or Nasdaq or similar regulatory body. No termination, suspension or amendment of the Plan may adversely affect any outstanding
{Option} [Incentive Award] without the consent of the affected Participant; provided, however, that this sentence will not impair the
right of the Committee to take whatever action it deems appropriate under Sections 3.2, 4.3 and {9} [10] of the Plan.
{13}
[14]. Effective Date and Duration of the Plan.
The
Plan is effective as of December 8, 1998, the date it was adopted by the Board. The Plan will terminate at midnight on December 8, 2008 and may be terminated prior to
such time to by Board action, and no {Option} [Incentive Award]will be granted after such
termination. {Options} [Incentive Awards] outstanding upon termination of the Plan may
continue to be exercised[, or become free of restrictions,] in accordance with their terms.
{14.}
[15.] Miscellaneous.
14.1 Governing
Law. The validity, construction, interpretation, administration and effect of the Plan and any rules, regulations
and actions relating to the Plan will be governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the laws of the State of {Wyoming} [Delaware], notwithstanding the conflicts of laws
principles of any jurisdictions.
14.2 Successors and Assigns. The Plan will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the successors and permitted assigns of the Company and the Participants.
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