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Exhibit 4.3




HELIX TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION




1981 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN




Adopted November 11, 1981

Amended April 14, 1982

Amended February 6, 1985

Amended December 9, 1987

Amended February 5, 1988

Amended April 13, 1988

Amended February 8, 1989

Amended February 13, 1992




Article 1 —  Purpose




     This 1981 Stock option Plan the “Plan”) is intended to provide incentives to key employees of
Helix Technology Corporation (the “Company”) and its present and future subsidiaries (as defined in
Section 425(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (the “Code”)) by providing them
with opportunities to purchase stock in the Company pursuant to the exercise of options. The
Company intends certain options granted under the Plan which are designated as Incentive Stock
Options to be “incentive stock options” complying with, and subject to, the terms and conditions of
Section 422A of the Code; and with respect to those Incentive Stock Options this Plan shall be
interpreted in accordance with that section of the Code, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated from time to time thereunder. Stock options granted hereunder which do not comply with
Section 422A of the Code shall be designated as Non-Qualified Stock Options.



Article 2 —  Administration of the Plan




     The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of
Directors (the “Board”) of the Company. The Committee shall consist of at least two members of the
Board who are not employees or officers of the Company or its subsidiaries and who are
disinterested persons as defined in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 16b-3, as amended. The
Board may remove members from the Committee at any time with or without cause, or may add members
to the Committee. Vacancies on the Committee, howsoever caused, shall be filled by the Board.
Acts by a majority of the Committee at a meeting, or acts approved in writing by all the members of
the Committee, shall be the valid acts of the Committee. Subject to the terms of the Plan, and
subject to such overall policies with respect thereto as may be established from time to time by
the Board, the Committee shall have authority to determine the time or times at which options shall
be granted, the persons to whom options shall be granted, the number of shares covered by each
option, the price per share specified in each option, the time or times when each option shall
become exercisable and the duration of the exercise period or periods, and all other terms and provisions of each option and each
instrument by which each option shall be evidenced.



 









 





     All determinations and interpretations made by the Committee with respect to the Plan and each
option granted thereunder shall be binding and conclusive on all interested parties unless
otherwise determined by the Board. The Committee may from time to time adopt such rules and
regulations for carrying out the Plan as it may determine in its sole discretion. No member of the
Board or the Committee shall be liable with respect to any action or determination made in good
faith regarding the Plan or any option granted under it.



     In the event that the Board fails to appoint a Committee, those members of the board who are
“disinterested persons” shall have all power and authority to administer the Plan. In such event,
the word “Committee” wherever used herein shall be deemed to mean the “disinterested persons” on
the Board unless the context requires otherwise.



Article 3 —  Eligible Persons




     Options may only be granted to officers and other key employees of the Company or its
subsidiaries (as defined in Section 425(f) of the Code). The granting of any option to a person
shall neither entitle such person to, nor disqualify him from, participation in any other grant of
options pursuant to this Plan or any other Plan. Directors who are not employees or officers of
the Company or its subsidiaries shall not be eligible to receive options under the Plan.



Article 4 —  Stock




     The stock subject to the options granted hereunder shall be shares of the Company’s authorized
but unissued shares of Common Stock or shares of Common Stock reacquired by the Company including
shares purchased in the open market (“Common Stock”). The maximum number of shares which are
hereby reserved for issuance and may be issued pursuant to this Plan is 300,000 shares less such
number of shares as may from time to time be issued and not forfeited pursuant to the Helix
Technology Corporation 1985 Restricted Stock Plan, subject to adjustment as provided in Article 13.
In the event any option granted under the Plan shall expire, terminate or be cancelled for any
reason without having been exercised in full, or shall cease for any reason to be exercisable in
whole or in part, the unpurchased shares subject thereto, to the extent the option ceases to be
exercisable, shall again be available under the Plan.



Article 5 —  Grant of Options




     Options may be granted to eligible persons in such number and at such times during the term of
the Plan as the Committee shall determine.



Article 6 —  Minimum Price of Options




     The price per share specified in each option granted under the Plan shall in no event be less
than 100% (110% in the case of an incentive stock option granted to a 10% shareholder as defined in
Section 422A(b)(6) and related sections of the Code) of the fair market value per share of Common
Stock on the date the option is granted. Fair market value shall be determined by the Committee in accordance with applicable regulations but in general shall be the mean
between the highest and lowest quoted selling prices in the market on the valuation date.



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Article 7 —  Duration of Options




     Subject to earlier termination as provided in Articles 9 and 10, each option shall expire on
the date specified by the Committee, but in the case of incentive stock options such expiration
date shall be not more than ten years (five years in the case of an incentive stock option granted
to a 10% shareholder as defined in Section 422A(b)(6) and related sections of the Code) from its
date of grant. The Committee may extend the term of any previously granted option provided that if
such option is an incentive stock option it must expire not more than ten or five years from its
original date of grant as provided above.



Article 8 —  Exercise of Options




     Subject to the provisions of Articles 9 through 12, each option granted under the Plan shall
be exercisable as follows:




	 	A.	 	The option shall either be fully exercisable at the time of grant or shall
become exercisable in such installments as the Committee may determine, which
installments may be cumulative or noncumulative as the Committee may determine.
	 
	 	B.	 	Once an installment becomes exercisable it shall remain exercisable until
expiration or termination of the option, unless otherwise specified by the Committee.
	 
	 	C.	 	Each option may be exercised from time to time, in whole or in part, up to the
total number of shares with respect to which it is then exercisable.
	 
	 	D.	 	The Committee shall have the right to accelerate the date of exercise of any
installment for any reason.
	 
	 	E.	 	In no event shall an Incentive Stock Option granted before January 1, 1987,
hereunder be exercisable by any Optionee while there is outstanding any Incentive Stock
Option which was previously granted to such Optionee to purchase stock in the Company
or in a predecessor of the Company until such previously granted Incentive Stock Option
is exercised in full or expires by reason of lapse of time.
	 
	 	F.	 	The aggregate fair market value (determined at the time the option is granted)
of the Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted after
December 31, 1986, are exercisable for the first time by an Optionee during any
calendar year (under all Incentive Stock Option Plans of the Company and its parent and
subsidiary corporations) shall not exceed $100,000.





Article 9 —  Termination of Employment




     If an optionee ceases to be employed by the Company or any subsidiary, for any reason other
than death, disability (within the meaning of Section 105(d)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code), or
termination for cause, his options may be exercised to the extent they were exercisable



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on the date he ceased to be employed by the Company or any subsidiary, but no further installments of such
options will become exercisable and each such option shall terminate on the date one month
following the date of such cessation (but not later than its specified expiration date). The
aforesaid one month period may be extended by up to an additional two months by the Committee in
its sole discretion. If an optionee’s employment is terminated for cause, all his options shall
terminate immediately and be of no further force or effect. Whether authorized leaves of absences
or absence on military or governmental service may constitute employment for the purposes of the
Plan shall be conclusively determined by the Committee. Nothing in the Plan or in any option
granted hereunder shall be deemed to give any optionee the right to continue in the employ of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or shall be deemed to interfere in any way with the right of the
Company to terminate any optionee’s employment at any time and for any reason. Options granted
under the Plan shall not be affected by any change of employment among the Company and its
subsidiaries so long as the optionee continues to be an employee of the Company or one of its
subsidiaries.



Article 10 —  Disability; Death




     If an optionee becomes disabled (within the meaning of Section 105(d)(4) of the Code), his
options may be exercised to the extent they were exercisable on the date he ceased to be employed
by the Company or any subsidiary, but no further installments of such options will become
exercisable and each such option shall terminate on the date one year following the date of such
cessation of employment (but not later than its specified expiration date).



     If an optionee dies while employed by the Company or during the one month (or extended) period
referred to in Article 9 or during the one year period referred to above in this Article 10, his
options may be exercised to the extent they were exercisable on the date of his death (or cessation
of employment, whichever first occurred), by his estate, or duly appointed representative, or
beneficiary who acquires the options by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, but no
further installments of such options will become exercisable and each such option shall terminate
on the date one year following the date of the optionee’s death (but not later than its specified
expiration date).



Article 11 —  Assignability




     No option shall be assignable or transferable by the optionee except by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution, and during the lifetime of the optionee each option shall be exercisable
only by him.



Article 12 —  Terms and Conditions of Options




     Options shall be evidenced by instruments (which need not be identical) in such forms as the
Committee may from time to time approve. Such instruments shall conform to the terms and
conditions set forth herein and may contain such other provisions not inconsistent with the Plan,
including restrictions applicable to shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of options
granted under the Plan, as the Committee deems advisable provided such provisions would not cause
any incentive stock option to fail to qualify as an incentive stock option under Section 422A of
the code. Options granted hereunder and Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of



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options may not be disposed of within six months following date of grant. The Company shall not be obligated to
deliver any shares unless and until, in the opinion of the Company’s counsel, all applicable
Federal and state laws and regulations have been complied with, nor, in the event the outstanding
common stock is at the time listed upon any stock exchange, unless and until the shares to be
delivered have been listed, or authorized to be added to the list upon official notice of issuance,
upon such exchange, nor unless and until all other legal matters in connection with the issuance
and delivery of shares have been approved by the Company’s counsel. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the Company may require from the optionee such investment
representation of such agreement, if any, as counsel for the Company may consider necessary in
order to comply with the Securities Act of 1933. The Company shall use its best efforts to effect
any such compliance and listing, and the optionee shall take any action reasonably requested by the
Company in such regard.



Article 13 —  Adjustments




     Upon the happening of any of the foregoing described events, an optionee’s rights under
options granted hereunder shall be adjusted as hereinafter provided.




	 	A.	 	In the event shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be subdivided or
combined into a greater or smaller number of shares or if, upon a merger,
consolidation, reorganization, split-up, liquidation, combination, recapitalization or
the like of the Company, the shares of the Company’s Common Stock shall be exchanged
for other securities of the Company or of another corporation, each optionee shall be
entitled to purchase, subject to the terms and conditions of each individual option,
such number of shares of Common Stock or amount of other securities of the Company or
such other corporation as were exchangeable for the number of shares of Common Stock of
the company which such optionee would have been entitled to purchase except for such
action, and appropriate adjustments shall be made in the purchase price per share to
reflect such subdivision, combination, or exchange; and
	 
	 	B.	 	In the event the Company shall issue any of its shares as a stock dividend upon
or with respect to the shares of stock of the class which shall at the time be subject
to option hereunder, each optionee upon exercising such an option shall be entitled to
receive (for the purchase price paid upon such exercise) the shares as to which he is
exercising his option and, in addition thereto (at no additional cost), such number of
shares of the class or classes in which such stock dividend or dividends were declared
or paid, and such amount of cash in lieu of fractional shares, as he would have
received if he had been the holder of the shares as to which he is exercising his
option at all times between the date of the granting of such option and the date of its
exercise.





     Upon the happening of any of the foregoing events, the class and aggregate number of shares
set forth in Article 4 hereof which are reserved for issuance pursuant to the Plan or are subject
to options which have heretofore been or may hereafter be granted under the Plan shall also be
appropriately adjusted to reflect the events specified in paragraphs A and B above.



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     The Committee shall determine the adjustments to be made under this Article 13, and its
determination shall be conclusive and binding on all interested parties.



Article 14 —  Exercise of Options




     An option (or any part or installment thereof) shall be exercised by giving written notice to
the Company at its principal office address, identifying the option being exercised, specifying the
number of shares as to which such option is being exercised and accompanied by full payment of the
purchase price thereof either (1) in United States Dollars, in cash or by certified or bank check,
or (2) in shares of Common Stock of the Company owned by the optionee having a fair market value
(as defined in Article 6 and determined on the business day immediately preceding the day on which
the option is exercised) equal to, or a fraction of a share less than, such purchase price, or (3)
in a combination of such Common Stock and cash or check. Unless the Committee otherwise determines
the holder of an option shall have no rights of a stockholder with respect to the shares covered by
his option until the date of issuance of a stock certificate to him for such shares. Unless the
Committee otherwise determines no adjustment will be made for dividends or similar rights for which
the record date occurs after the exercise of the option but prior to the date such stock
certificate is issued. In no case may a fraction of a share be purchased or issued under the Plan.



Article 15 —  Termination and Amendments to Plan




     The Plan was adopted by the Board on November 11, 1981, and became effective on that date
subject to approval by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the
Company at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company held in 1982. The Plan as originally
adopted expired on November 10, 1991 (except as to options outstanding on that date). The Plan was
extended by the Board on February 13, 1992, for an additional 10 years subject to approval by the
stockholders at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company held in 1992. Subject to such
approval, the Plan shall expire on November 10, 2001 (except as to options outstanding on that
date). Options may be granted under the Plan prior to the date of stockholder approval of the Plan
(or extension of the Plan), but such options shall be granted subject to such approval. The Board
may terminate or amend the Plan in any respect at any time, except that, without the approval of
the stockholders (a) the total number of shares that may be issued under the Plan may not be
increased (except by adjustment pursuant to Article 13); (b) the provisions of Article 3, regarding
eligibility, may not be modified; (c) the provisions of Article 6, regarding the exercise price at
which shares may be offered pursuant to options, may not be modified (except by adjustment pursuant
to Article 13); (d) the expiration date of the Plan may not be extended; and (e) the benefits
accruing to participants under the Plan may not be materially increased. No action of the Board or
stockholders, however, may, without the consent of an optionee, substantially impair his rights
under any option previously granted to him; and no amendment may cause any incentive stock options
previously granted or to be granted under the Plan to cease to qualify as incentive stock options in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Plan.



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Article 16 —  Governmental Regulation




     The Plan and the grant and exercise of options thereunder, and the Company’s obligation to
sell and deliver shares of the Company’s Common Stock under such options, shall be subject to all
applicable laws (including tax laws), rules and regulations.



Article 17 —  Withholding Taxes




     At any time when an optionee is required to pay to the Company an amount to be withheld under
applicable income tax laws upon the exercise of a non-qualified stock option, the optionee may
satisfy this obligation (to the extent of the minimum amount required to be withheld) in whole or
in part by electing (the “Election”) to have the Company withhold from the distribution of shares
of Common Stock, a number of shares of Common Stock having a value equal to the amount required to
be withheld. The value of the shares to be withheld shall be based on the fair market value of the
Common Stock on the Tax Date. Any fractional share amount left over after satisfying the
withholding requirement must be paid to the optionee in cash. “Tax Date” means the date on which
the amount of tax to be withheld with respect to the exercise of the non-qualified stock option is
determined.



     Each such election must be made prior to the Tax Date. The Committee may disapprove the
Election, may suspend or terminate the right to make an Election, or may provide with respect to
any non-qualified option that the right to make an Election shall not apply to such option. An
Election is irrevocable.



     If the optionee is subject to Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, an
Election by such optionee is subject to the following additional restrictions:



     1. No Election shall be effective for a Tax Date which occurs within six months of the grant
of the option, except that this limitation shall not apply in the event the death or disability of
the optionee occurs prior to the expiration of the six-month period.



     2. The election must be made either six months prior to the Tax Date or must be made during a
period beginning on the third business day following the date of release for publication of the
Company’s quarterly or annual summary statements of sales and earnings and ending on the twelfth
business day following such date.



	 	 	 	 	 
	A true copy.

	 	
	 	 

	 

	 	Attest:

Date:

	 	



	 

	 	 	 	 
	 

	 	

	 	Stanley D. Piekos







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