exv10w4



 





Exhibit 10.4




PARALLEL PETROLEUM CORPORATION




1998 STOCK OPTION PLAN




I. Purpose of the Plan




     The Parallel Petroleum Corporation 1998 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) is intended to provide
a means whereby certain employees of Parallel Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), and its subsidiaries may develop a sense of proprietorship and personal involvement in
the development and financial success of the Company, and to encourage them to remain with and
devote their best efforts to the business of the Company, thereby advancing the interests of the
Company and its stockholders. Accordingly, the Plan provides for granting certain employees the
option (“Option”) to purchase shares of the common stock of the Company (“Stock”), as hereinafter
set forth. Options granted under the Plan to employees may be either incentive stock options,
within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”),
(“Incentive Stock Options”) or options which do not constitute Incentive Stock Options.



II. Administration




     The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) or by a
committee (the “Committee”) of two or more directors of the Company appointed by the Board. If a
Committee is not appointed by the Board, the Board shall act as and be deemed to be the Committee
for all purposes of the Plan. The Committee shall have sole authority (within the limitations
described herein) to select the employees who are to be granted Options hereunder and to establish
the number of shares which may be issued to employees under each Option and to prescribe the form
of the agreement embodying awards of Options. The Committee is authorized to interpret the Plan
and may from time to time adopt such rules and regulations, consistent with the provisions of the
Plan, as it may deem advisable to carry out the Plan. All decisions made by the Committee in
selecting the employees to whom Options shall be granted, in establishing the number of shares
which may be issued to employees under each Option and in construing the provisions of the Plan
shall be final. No member of the Board shall be liable for anything done or omitted to be done by
such member or by any other member of the Board in connection with the Plan, except for such
member’s own willful misconduct or as expressly provided by statute.



 









 





III. Option Agreements; Terms and Conditions




     Each Option granted under the Plan shall be evidenced by an agreement and shall contain such
terms and conditions, and may be exercisable for such periods, as the Committee shall prescribe
from time to time in accordance with this Plan, and shall comply with the following terms and
conditions:



     (a) The Option exercise price shall be the fair market value of the Stock subject to the
Option on the date the Option is granted. For all purposes under the Plan, the fair market of a
share of Stock on a particular date shall be equal to the average of the high and low sales prices
of the Stock on the date of grant as reported on the Nasdaq National Market tier of The Nasdaq
Stock Market (“NMS”), or on the stock exchange composite tape if the Stock is traded on a national
stock exchange on that date, or if no prices are reported on that date, on the last preceding date
on which such prices of the Stock are so reported. If the Stock is not traded on the NMS or other
stock exchange on that date, but is otherwise traded over the counter at the time a determination
of its fair market value is required to be made hereunder, its fair market value shall be deemed to
be equal to the average between the reported high and low or closing bid and asked prices of the
Stock on the most recent date on which the Stock was publicly traded. If the Stock is not publicly
traded at the time a determination of its value is required to be made hereunder, the determination
of its fair market value shall be made by the Committee in such manner as it deems appropriate.



     (b) The Option shall not be transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and
distribution, and may be exercised only by the employee during the employee’s lifetime and while
the employee remains employed by the Company, except that: (i) if the employee ceases to be an
employee of the Company because of disability, the Option may be exercised in full by the employee
(or the employee’s estate or the person who acquires the Option by will or the laws of descent and
distribution or otherwise by reason of the death of the employee) at any time during the period of
one year following such termination; (ii) if the employee dies while he is an employee of the
Company, the employee’s estate, or the person who acquires the Option by will or the laws of
descent and distribution or otherwise by reason of the death of the employee, may exercise the
Option in full at any time during the period of one year following the date of the employee’s
death; and (iii) if the employee ceases to be an employee of the Company for any reason other than
as described in clause (i) or (ii) above, unless the employee is removed for cause, the Option may
be exercised by the employee at any time during the period of three months following the date the
employee ceases to be an employee of the Company, or by the employee’s estate (or the person who
acquires the Option by will or the laws of descent and distribution or otherwise by reason of the
death of the employee) during a period of one year following the employee’s death if the employee
dies during such three-month period, but in each case only as to the number of shares the employee
was entitled to purchase hereunder upon exercise of the Option as of the date the employee ceases
to be an employee.



     (c) The Option shall not be exercisable in any event after the expiration of ten years from
the date of grant.



     (d) The purchase price of shares as to which the Option is exercised shall be paid in full at
the time of exercise (a) in cash, (b) by delivering to the Company shares of Stock having a fair
market value equal to the purchase price, or (c) any combination of cash or Stock, as shall be
established by the Committee. Unless and until a certificate or certificates representing such
shares shall have been issued



-2-









 





by the Company to the employee, the employee (or the person permitted
to exercise the Option in the event of the employee’s death) shall not be or have any of the rights
or privileges of a stockholder of the Company with respect to shares acquirable upon an exercise of
the Option.



     (e) The terms and conditions of the respective employee stock option agreements need not be
identical.



IV. Eligibility of Optionee




     (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) below, Options may be granted only to
individuals who are employees (including officers and directors who are also employees) of the
Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation (as defined in Section 424 of the Code) of the
Company at the time the Option is granted. Options may be granted to the same employee on more
than one occasion.



     (b) No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to an individual if, at the time the Option is
granted, such individual owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock of the Company or of its parent or subsidiary corporation, within the meaning
of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code, unless (i) at the time such Option is granted the option price is
at least 110% of the fair market value of the Stock subject to the Option and (ii) such Option by
its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five years from the date of grant. To the
extent that the aggregate fair market value (determined at the time the respective Incentive Stock
Option is granted) of stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the
first time by an individual during any calendar year under all incentive stock option plans of the
Company and its parent and subsidiary corporations exceeds $100,000, such Incentive Stock Options
shall be treated as options which do not constitute Incentive Stock Options. The Committee shall
determine, in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code, Treasury Regulations and other
administrative pronouncements, which of an employee optionee’s Incentive Stock Options will not
constitute Incentive Stock Options because of such limitation and shall notify the employee
optionee of such determination as soon as practicable after such determination.



V. Shares Subject to the Plan




     The aggregate number of shares which may be issued under Options granted under the Plan shall
not exceed 850,000 shares of Stock. Such shares may consist of authorized but unissued shares of
Stock or previously issued shares of Stock reacquired by the Company. Any of such shares which
remain unissued and which are not subject to outstanding Options at the



-3-









 







termination of the Plan shall cease to be subject to the Plan, but, until termination of the Plan,
the Company shall at all times make available a sufficient number of shares to meet the
requirements of the Plan. Should any Option hereunder expire or terminate prior to its exercise in
full, the shares theretofore subject to such Option may again be subject to an Option granted under
the Plan. The aggregate number of shares which may be issued under the Plan shall be subject to
adjustment in the same manner as provided in Article VII hereof with respect to shares of Stock
subject to Options then outstanding. Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a
decrease in the number of shares of Stock which may thereafter be available, both for purposes of
the Plan and for sale to any one individual, by the number of shares as to which the Option is
exercised. Separate stock certificates shall be issued by the Company for those shares acquired
pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive Stock Option and for those shares acquired pursuant to the
exercise of any Option which does not constitute an Incentive Stock Option.



VI. Term of Plan




     The Plan shall be effective upon the date of its approval and adoption by the stockholders of
the Company. Except with respect to Options then outstanding, if not sooner terminated under the
provisions of Article VIII, the Plan shall terminate upon and no further Options shall be granted
after the expiration of ten years from the date of its adoption by the Board.



VII. Recapitalization or Reorganization




     (a) The existence of the Plan and the Options granted hereunder shall not affect in any way
the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any
adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s capital structure or
its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company, any issue of debt or equity securities
ahead of or affecting the Stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the
Company or any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or any part of its assets or
business or any other corporate act or proceeding.



     (b) The shares with respect to which Options may be granted are shares of Stock as presently
constituted, but if, and whenever, prior to the expiration of an Option theretofore granted, the
Company shall effect a subdivision or consolidation of shares of Stock or the payment of a stock
dividend on Stock without receipt of consideration by the Company, the number of shares of Stock
with respect to which such Option may thereafter be exercised (i) in the event of an increase in
the number of outstanding shares shall be proportionately increased, and the purchase price per
share shall be proportionately reduced, and (ii) in the event of a reduction in the number of
outstanding shares shall be proportionately reduced, and the purchase price per share shall be
proportionately increased.



     (c) If the Company recapitalizes or otherwise changes its capital structure, thereafter
upon any exercise of an Option theretofore granted the optionee shall be entitled to purchase under
such Option, in lieu of the number of shares of Stock as to which such Option shall then be



-4-









 







exercisable, the number and class of shares of stock and securities to which the optionee would
have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the recapitalization if, immediately prior to such
recapitalization, the optionee had been the holder of record of the number of shares of Stock as to
which such Option is then exercisable. If (i) the Company shall not be the surviving entity in any
merger or consolidation (or survives only as a subsidiary of an entity other than a previously
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company), (ii) the Company sells, leases or exchanges or agrees to
sell, lease or exchange all or substantially all of its assets to any other person or entity (other
than a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company), (iii) the Company is to be dissolved and
liquidated, (iv) any person or entity, including a “group” as contemplated by Section 13(d)(3) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, acquires or gains ownership or control (including,
without limitation, power to vote) of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of Stock, or (v) as a
result of or in connection with a contested election of directors, the persons who were directors
of the Company before such election shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board (each such
event is referred to herein as a “Corporate Change”), then upon the occurrence of any such
Corporate Change, any outstanding Options held by employees shall become fully exercisable and
upon any exercise of an Option theretofore granted the employee shall be entitled to purchase under
such Option, in lieu of the number of shares of Stock as to which such Option shall then be
exercisable, the number and class of shares of stock or other securities or property to which the
employee would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the Corporate Change if, immediately
prior to such Corporate Change, the employee had been the holder of record of the number of shares
of Stock as to which such Option is then exercisable.



     (d) Any adjustment provided for in Subparagraphs (b) or (c) above shall be subject to any
required stockholder action.



     (e) Except as hereinbefore expressly provided, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock
of any class or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash, property, labor
or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or
upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other
securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by
reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Stock subject to Options
theretofore granted or the purchase price per share.



VIII. Amendment or Termination of the Plan




     The Board in its discretion may terminate the Plan at any time with respect to any shares for
which Options have not theretofore been granted. The Board shall have the right to alter or amend
the Plan or any part thereof from time to time, provided, that no change in any Option theretofore
granted may be made which would impair the rights of the optionee without the consent of such
optionee.



-5-









 





IX. Miscellaneous Provisions




     (a) Neither the Plan nor any action taken hereunder shall be construed as giving any employee
any right to be retained in the service of the Company.



     (b) An optionee’s rights and interest under the Plan may not be assigned or transferred in
whole or in part either directly or by operation of law or otherwise (except in the event of an
optionee’s death or disability, by will or the laws of descent and distribution, all as provided in
Article III), including, but not by way of limitation, execution, levy, garnishment, attachment,
pledge, bankruptcy, or in any other manner, and no such right or interest of any participant in the
Plan shall be subject to any obligation or liability of such participant.



     (c) No shares of Stock shall be issued hereunder unless counsel for the Company shall be
satisfied that such issuance will be in compliance with applicable Federal, state, and other
securities laws and regulations.



     (d) It shall be a condition to the obligation of the Company to issue shares of Stock upon
exercise of an Option, that the optionee (or any beneficiary or person entitled to act under or
through Optionee as provided herein) pay to the Company, upon its demand, such amount as may be
requested by the Company for the purpose of satisfying any liability to withhold Federal, state,
local, or foreign income or other taxes. If the amount requested is not paid, the Company may
refuse to issue shares of Stock.



     (e) By accepting any Option under the Plan, each optionee and each person claiming under or
through such person shall be conclusively deemed to have indicated his or her acceptance and
ratification of, and consent to, any action taken under the Plan by the Company, the Board of
Directors or the Committee.




-6-