Exhibit 10.3

A. Schulman, Inc. 2002 Equity Incentive Plan
Stock Option Award Agreement

Congratulations on your selection as a Participant in the A. Schulman, Inc. 2002
Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). This Award Agreement is between you, as the
undersigned Participant in the Plan, and A. Schulman, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the “Company”). This Award Agreement and the Plan together govern
your rights under the Plan and set forth all of the conditions and limitations
affecting such rights. A copy of the Plan is attached to this Award Agreement.

Capitalized terms used in this Award Agreement shall have the meanings ascribed
to them in the Plan or in this Award Agreement. If there is any inconsistency
between the terms of this Award Agreement and the terms of the Plan, the Plan’s
terms shall supersede and replace the conflicting terms of this Award Agreement.

The Options granted to you under this Award Agreement are Nonqualified Stock
Options (“Options”).

Overview of Your Stock Options

1.   Number of Shares Covered by this Option:                                   
      2.   Option Price: $          per share   3.   Date of Grant:            
                                                                               
    (“Date of Grant”).   4.   Option Term: The Options have been granted for a
period of ten (10) years from the Date of Grant (“Option Term”).   5.   Vesting
Period: The Options do not provide you with any rights or interests therein
until they vest in accordance with the following schedule:

(a)   Thirty-three percent (33%) of the aggregate number of Shares specified
above in Paragraph 1 of this Award Agreement (rounded to a whole Share) will
vest on each of the first, second, and third anniversaries of the Date of Grant,
provided you have continued as a Director of the Company through such
anniversary or anniversaries. Notwithstanding anything in the preceding sentence
to the contrary, on the third anniversary of the Date of Grant, one-hundred
percent (100%) of the Options shall be vested, again provided you have continued
as a Director of the Company on such anniversary.   (b)   One hundred percent
(100%) of the unvested Options will vest upon your termination as a Director due
to death or Disability, provided you have continued as a Director of the Company
through such event.   (c)   If you retire as a Director on or after attaining
the age of sixty-five (65), one hundred percent (100%) of the unvested Options
will vest upon your termination as a Director due to such retirement, provided
you have continued as a Director of the Company through such event.

[Director Form]

1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

6.   Exercise: You, or your representative upon your death or incapacity, may
exercise vested Options at any time prior to the termination of the Options
subject to Paragraphs 8 and 9 of this Award Agreement.   7.   How to Exercise:
The Options hereby granted shall be exercised by written notice to Marilyn
Shriner at the Company’s executive offices, 3550 West Market Street, Akron, Ohio
44333, or such other administrator, specifying the number of Shares you then
desire to purchase, together with a check payable to the order of the Company
for an amount in United States dollars equal to the Option Price of such Shares
or, delivery (or certification of ownership) of nonforfeitable, unrestricted
Shares (that have been held by you for at least six (6) months prior to delivery
(or certification of ownership) or that have been purchased in the open market)
having an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date of exercise) equal to such
Option Price, or a combination of cash and such Shares. The requirement of
paying the Option Price in cash shall be deemed satisfied if you make
arrangements that are satisfactory to the Company with a broker that is a member
of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. to sell on the exercise
date a sufficient number of Shares that are being purchased pursuant to the
exercise, so that the net proceeds of the sale transaction will at least equal
the amount of the aggregate Option Price and pursuant to which the broker
undertakes to deliver to the Company the amount of the aggregate Option Price on
a date satisfactory to the Company, but not later than the date on which the
sale transaction will settle in the ordinary course of business. The date of the
Company’s receipt of your written notice shall be the date of exercise.       As
soon as practicable after receipt of such written notification and payment of
the Option Price, the Company shall issue or transfer to you, the number of
Shares with respect to which such Options shall be so exercised and not sold.
However, if the Option Price is satisfied by certification of previously
acquired Shares, the Company shall issue or transfer to you a number of Shares
equal to the number of Shares with respect to which the Options are exercised
less the number to which you have certified ownership. Upon receipt of the
Option Price, the Company shall deliver to you evidence of book entry Shares or,
upon your request, Share certificates in an appropriate amount based upon the
number of Shares purchased under the Option.   8.   Termination of Options: The
Options, which become exercisable as provided in Paragraphs 5 and 9 of this
Award Agreement, shall terminate and be of no force or effect as follows:

(a)   If your position as a Director terminates during the Option Term by reason
of death, the Options terminate and have no force or effect, and your ability to
exercise vested Options will expire, upon the earlier of: (i) twenty-four
(24) months after the date of death, or (ii) the expiration of the Option Term;
  (b)   If your position as a Director terminates during the Option Term by
reason of Disability, the Options terminate and have no force or effect, and
your ability to exercise vested Options will expire, upon the earlier of:
(i) twenty-four (24) months after your termination as a Director of the Company,
or (ii) the expiration of the Option Term;   (c)   If your position as a
Director terminates during the Option Term by reason of your retirement as
contemplated by Paragraph 5(c) of this Award Agreement, the Options terminate
and have no force or effect, and your ability to exercise vested Options will
expire, upon the earlier of: (i) twenty-four (24) months after your termination
as a Director of the Company, or (ii) the expiration of the Option Term;

2

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

(d)   Subject to your rights under Paragraph 9 of this Award Agreement, if your
position as a Director terminates during the Option Term for any other reason,
the vesting of your Options will terminate immediately and the Options will
terminate and have no force or effect, and your ability to exercise vested
Options will expire, upon the earlier of: (i) ninety (90) days after your
termination as a Director of the Company, or (ii) the expiration of the Option
Term; and   (e)   If you continue as a Director of the Company through the
Option Term, the Options terminate and have no force or effect, and your ability
to exercise vested Options will expire, upon the expiration of the Option Term.

9.   Change in Control: In the event of a Change in Control, all of the unvested
Options shall become immediately vested and exercisable. If your service as a
Director of the Company is terminated for reasons other than death, Disability,
or Retirement within ninety (90) days prior to a Change in Control or within
twelve (12) months following a Change in Control, the Options terminate and have
no force or effect, and your ability to exercise vested Options will expire,
upon the earlier of: (i) twenty-four (24) months after your termination as a
Director of the Company, or (ii) the expiration of the Option Term.   10.   Who
Can Exercise: During your lifetime, the Options shall be exercisable only by
you, or, in the event of your legal incapacity, by your guardian or legal
representative acting on your behalf in a fiduciary capacity under state or
foreign law and court supervision. No assignment or transfer of the Options,
whether voluntary or involuntary, by operation of law or otherwise, except by
will or the laws of descent and distribution or as otherwise required by
applicable law, shall vest in the assignee or transferee any interest
whatsoever. Upon your death, your estate (or the beneficiary that receives the
Options under your will) may exercise vested Options.   11.   Requirements of
Law: The granting of Options and the issuance of Shares under the Plan shall be
subject to all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and to such approvals by
any governmental agencies, national securities exchanges or automated quotation
systems as may be required. You will take all steps necessary to comply with all
applicable federal and state securities laws in exercising your rights under
this Award Agreement.   12.   Applicable Laws and Consent to Jurisdiction: The
validity, construction, interpretation, and enforceability of this Award
Agreement shall be determined and governed by the laws of the State of Ohio
without giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law. For the purpose of
litigating any dispute that arises under this Award Agreement, the parties
hereby consent to exclusive jurisdiction, and agree that such litigation shall
be conducted, in the federal or state courts of the State of Ohio.   13.  
Nontransferability: Options awarded pursuant to this Award Agreement may not be
sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or otherwise alienated or hypothecated
(“Transfer”), other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution,
except as provided in the Plan. If any Transfer, whether voluntary or
involuntary, of the Options is made, or if any attachment, execution,
garnishment, or lien shall be issued against or placed upon the Options, your
right to such Options shall be immediately forfeited to the Company, and this
Award Agreement shall lapse.   14.   Administration: This Award Agreement and
your rights hereunder are subject to all the terms and conditions of the Plan,
as the same may be amended from time to time, as well as to such

3

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

    rules and regulations as the Committee may adopt for administration of the
Plan. It is expressly understood that the Committee is authorized to administer,
construe, and make all determinations necessary or appropriate to the
administration of the Plan and this Award Agreement, all of which shall be
binding upon you, the Participant.   15.   Amendment to the Plan: Subject to
certain limitations, the Committee may terminate, amend, or modify the Plan;
provided, however, that no such termination, amendment, or modification of the
Plan may in any way adversely affect your rights under this Award Agreement,
without your written approval.   16.   Successor: All obligations of the Company
under the Plan and this Award Agreement, with respect to the Options, shall be
binding on any successor to the Company, whether the existence of such successor
is the result of a direct or indirect purchase, merger, consolidation, or
otherwise, of all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the
Company. In the event such successor does not agree to be bound by this Award
Agreement, this Option shall become immediately exercisable in full and shall
remain so for a period of ninety (90) days or, if sooner, until the expiration
of the Option Term.   17.   Severability: The provisions of this Award Agreement
are severable and if any one or more provisions are determined to be illegal or
otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part, the remaining provisions shall
nevertheless be binding and enforceable.   18.   Additional Information: Please
refer any questions you may have regarding your Options to Marilyn Shriner at
the Company’s executive offices, 3550 West Market Street, Akron, Ohio 44333, or
such other administrator as designated from time to time by the Company.   19.  
Acknowledgement: By executing this Award Agreement below, you will be agreeing
to participate in the Plan and abide by all of the governing terms and
provisions of the Plan and this Award Agreement. By agreeing to participate, you
acknowledge that you have reviewed the Plan and this Award Agreement, and fully
understand all of your rights under the Plan and this Award Agreement, and the
Company’s remedies if you violate the terms of this Award Agreement, as well as,
all of the terms and conditions that may limit your eligibility to retain and
receive the Options and/or Shares issued pursuant to the Plan and this Award
Agreement.

     
                                      , 20         
  A. SCHULMAN, INC.
 
   

  By:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 
   

  Its:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Acknowledged and Agreed to this          , day of                               
       , 20         

     
 
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  PARTICIPANT

4