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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                            THE PETROLEUM PLACE, INC.

                 AMENDED AND RESTATED 1999 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

                             ADOPTED APRIL 14, 2000
                     APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS MAY ___, 2000
                        TERMINATION DATE: APRIL 13, 2010

1.       PURPOSES.

         (a) ELIGIBLE STOCK AWARD RECIPIENTS. The persons eligible to receive
Stock Awards are the Employees, Directors and Consultants of the Company and its
Affiliates.

         (b) AVAILABLE STOCK AWARDS. The purpose of the Plan is to provide a
means by which eligible recipients of Stock Awards may be given an opportunity
to benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock through the granting of
the following Stock Awards: (i) Incentive Stock Options, (ii) Nonstatutory Stock
Options, (iii) stock appreciation rights, (iv) stock bonuses and (v) rights to
acquire restricted stock.

         (c) GENERAL PURPOSE. The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain
the services of the group of persons eligible to receive Stock Awards, to secure
and retain the services of new members of this group and to provide incentives
for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and its
Affiliates. The Plan is amended and restated from the Energy Auction Exchange,
Inc. 1999 Equity Incentive Plan that was adopted by the Board on May 25, 1999,
and approved by the stockholders of the Company on June 24, 1999.

2.       DEFINITIONS.

         (a) "AFFILIATE" means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation
of the Company, whether now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in
Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code.

         (b) "BOARD" means the Board of Directors of the Company.

         (c) "CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

         (d) "COMMITTEE" means a Committee appointed by the Board in accordance
with subsection 3(c).

         (e) "COMMON STOCK" means the common stock of the Company.

         (f) "COMPANY" means The Petroleum Place, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

         (g) "CONSULTANT" means any person, including an advisor, (i) engaged by
the Company or an Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and who is
compensated for such services or (ii) who is a member of the Board of Directors
of an Affiliate. However, the term "Consultant" shall not include either
Directors of the Company who are not compensated

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by the Company for their services as Directors or Directors of the Company who
are merely paid a director's fee by the Company for their services as Directors.

         (h) "CONTINUOUS SERVICE" means that the Participant's service with the
Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not
interrupted or terminated. The Participant's Continuous Service shall not be
deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which
the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee,
Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant
renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of
the Participant's Continuous Service. For example, a change in status from an
Employee of the Company to a Consultant of an Affiliate or a Director of the
Company will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service. The Board or
the chief executive officer of the Company, in that party's sole discretion, may
determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered interrupted in the case
of any leave of absence approved by that party, including sick leave, military
leave or any other personal leave.

         (i) "COVERED EMPLOYEE" means the chief executive officer and the four
(4) other highest compensated officers of the Company for whom total
compensation is required to be reported to stockholders under the Exchange Act,
as determined for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.

         (j) "DIRECTOR" means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

         (k) "DISABILITY" means the permanent and total disability of a person
within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

         (l) "EMPLOYEE" means any person employed by the Company or an
Affiliate. Mere service as a Director or payment of a director's fee by the
Company or an Affiliate shall not be sufficient to constitute "employment" by
the Company or an Affiliate.

         (m) "EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.

         (n) "FAIR MARKET VALUE" means, as of any date, the value of the Common
Stock determined as follows:

                  (i) If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or traded on the Nasdaq National Market or the Nasdaq SmallCap Market,
the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock shall be the closing sales
price for such stock (or the closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted
on such exchange or market (or the exchange or market with the greatest volume
of trading in the Common Stock) on the last market trading day prior to the day
of determination, as reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as
the Board deems reliable.

                  (ii) In the absence of such markets for the Common Stock, the
Fair Market Value shall be determined in good faith by the Board.

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         (o) "INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION" means an Option intended to qualify as an
incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.

         (p) "LISTING DATE" means the first date upon which any security of the
Company is listed (or approved for listing) upon notice of issuance on any
securities exchange or designated (or approved for designation) upon notice of
issuance as a national market security on an interdealer quotation system.

         (q) "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" means a Director of the Company who either
(i) is not a current Employee or Officer of the Company or its parent or a
subsidiary, does not receive compensation (directly or indirectly) from the
Company or its parent or a subsidiary for services rendered as a Consultant or
in any capacity other than as a Director (except for an amount as to which
disclosure would not be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated
pursuant to the Securities Act ("REGULATION S-K")), does not possess an interest
in any other transaction as to which disclosure would be required under Item
404(a) of Regulation S-K and is not engaged in a business relationship as to
which disclosure would be required under Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii)
is otherwise considered a "non-employee director" for purposes of Rule 16b-3.

         (r) "NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION" means an Option not intended to qualify
as an Incentive Stock Option.

         (s) "OFFICER" means (i) before the Listing Date, any person designated
by the Company as an officer and (ii) on and after the Listing Date, a person
who is an officer of the Company within the meaning of Section 16 of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

         (t) "OPTION" means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock
Option granted pursuant to the Plan.

         (u) "OPTION AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the Company
and an Optionholder evidencing the terms and conditions of an individual Option
grant. Each Option Agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the
Plan.

         (v) "OPTIONHOLDER" means a person to whom an Option is granted pursuant
to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an outstanding
Option.

         (w) "OUTSIDE DIRECTOR" means a Director of the Company who either (i)
is not a current employee of the Company or an "affiliated corporation" (within
the meaning of Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 162(m) of the
Code), is not a former employee of the Company or an "affiliated corporation"
receiving compensation for prior services (other than benefits under a tax
qualified pension plan), was not an officer of the Company or an "affiliated
corporation" at any time and is not currently receiving direct or indirect
remuneration from the Company or an "affiliated corporation" for services in any
capacity other than as a Director or (ii) is otherwise considered an "outside
director" for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.

                                       3.
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         (x) "PARTICIPANT" means a person to whom a Stock Award is granted
pursuant to the Plan or, if applicable, such other person who holds an
outstanding Stock Award.

         (y) "PLAN" means this Petroleum Place Inc. Amended and Restated 1999
Equity Incentive Plan.

         (z) "RULE 16b-3" means Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act or
any successor to Rule 16b-3, as in effect from time to time.

         (aa) "SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         (bb) "STOCK AWARD" means any right granted under the Plan, including an
Option, a stock appreciation right, a stock bonus and a right to acquire
restricted stock.

         (cc) "STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT" means a written agreement between the
Company and a holder of a Stock Award evidencing the terms and conditions of an
individual Stock Award grant. Each Stock Award Agreement shall be subject to the
terms and conditions of the Plan.

         (dd) "TEN PERCENT STOCKHOLDER" means a person who owns (or is deemed to
own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten
percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or of any of its Affiliates.

3.       ADMINISTRATION.

         (a) ADMINISTRATION BY BOARD. The Board shall administer the Plan unless
and until the Board delegates administration to a Committee, as provided in
subsection 3(c).

         (b) POWERS OF BOARD. The Board shall have the power, subject to, and
within the limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

                  (i) To determine from time to time which of the persons
eligible under the Plan shall be granted Stock Awards; when and how each Stock
Award shall be granted; what type or combination of types of Stock Award shall
be granted; the provisions of each Stock Award granted (which need not be
identical), including the time or times when a person shall be permitted to
receive stock pursuant to a Stock Award; and the number of shares with respect
to which a Stock Award shall be granted to each such person.

                  (ii) To construe and interpret the Plan and Stock Awards
granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for
its administration. The Board, in the exercise of this power, may correct any
defect, omission or inconsistency in the Plan or in any Stock Award Agreement,
in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make the
Plan fully effective.

                  (iii) To amend the Plan or a Stock Award as provided in
Section 12.

                  (iv) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such
acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best interests of
the Company which are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan.

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         (c) DELEGATION TO COMMITTEE.

                  (i) GENERAL. The Board may delegate administration of the Plan
to a Committee or Committees of one or more members of the Board, and the term
"Committee" shall apply to any person or persons to whom such authority has been
delegated. If administration is delegated to a Committee, the Committee shall
have, in connection with the administration of the Plan, the powers theretofore
possessed by the Board, including the power to delegate to a subcommittee any of
the administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and
references in this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee or
subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The
Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the
administration of the Plan.

                  (ii) COMMITTEE COMPOSITION WHEN COMMON STOCK IS PUBLICLY
TRADED. At such time as the Common Stock is publicly traded, in the discretion
of the Board, a Committee may consist solely of two or more Outside Directors,
in accordance with Section 162(m) of the Code, and/or solely of two or more
Non-Employee Directors, in accordance with Rule 16b-3. Within the scope of such
authority, the Board or the Committee may (1) delegate to a committee of one or
more members of the Board who are not Outside Directors, the authority to grant
Stock Awards to eligible persons who are either (a) not then Covered Employees
and are not expected to be Covered Employees at the time of recognition of
income resulting from such Stock Award or (b) not persons with respect to whom
the Company wishes to comply with Section 162(m) of the Code and/or (2) delegate
to a committee of one or more members of the Board who are not Non-Employee
Directors the authority to grant Stock Awards to eligible persons who are not
then subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

4.       SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

         (a) SHARE RESERVE. Subject to the provisions of Section 11 relating to
adjustments upon changes in stock, the stock that may be issued pursuant to
Stock Awards shall not exceed in the aggregate one million two hundred fifty
thousand (1,250,000) shares of Common Stock ("Reserved Shares"). As of each
January 1, beginning with January 1, 2001, and continuing through and including
January 1, 2010, the number of Reserved Shares will be increased automatically
by the lesser of three percent (3.0%) of (i) the total number of shares of the
Company's Common Stock outstanding on such January 1 or (ii) the total number of
shares of the Company's Common Stock outstanding on the effective date of the
Company's initial public offering; provided that the Board may designate a
smaller number by which the Reserved Shares shall be increased as of any
particular January 1.

         (b) REVERSION OF SHARES TO THE SHARE RESERVE. If any Option shall for
any reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part, without having
been exercised in full, the stock not acquired under such Option shall revert to
and again become available for issuance under the Plan. Shares subject to stock
appreciation rights exercised in accordance with the Plan shall not be available
for subsequent issuance under the Plan.

         (c) SOURCE OF SHARES. The stock subject to the Plan may be unissued
shares or reacquired shares, bought on the market or otherwise.

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5.       ELIGIBILITY.

         (a) ELIGIBILITY FOR SPECIFIC STOCK AWARDS. Incentive Stock Options may
be granted only to Employees. Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock Options
may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants.

         (b) TEN PERCENT STOCKHOLDERS. No Ten Percent Stockholder shall be
eligible for the grant of an Incentive Stock Option unless the exercise price of
such Option is at least one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value
of the Common Stock at the date of grant and the Option is not exercisable after
the expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant.

         (c) SECTION 162(m) LIMITATION. Subject to the provisions of Section 11
relating to adjustments upon changes in stock, no employee shall be eligible to
be granted Stock Awards covering more than two hundred fifty thousand (250,000)
shares of the Common Stock during any calendar year. This subsection 5(c) shall
not apply prior to the Listing Date and, following the Listing Date, this
subsection 5(c) shall not apply until (i) the earliest of: (1) the first
material modification of the Plan (including any increase in the number of
shares reserved for issuance under the Plan in accordance with Section 4); (2)
the issuance of all of the shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under
the Plan; (3) the expiration of the Plan; or (4) the first meeting of
stockholders at which Directors of the Company are to be elected that occurs
after the close of the third calendar year following the calendar year in which
occurred the first registration of an equity security under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act; or (ii) such other date required by Section 162(m) of the Code and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

6.       OPTION PROVISIONS.

         Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and
conditions as the Board shall deem appropriate. All Options shall be separately
designated Incentive Stock Options or Nonstatutory Stock Options at the time of
grant, and a separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares
purchased on exercise of each type of Option. The provisions of separate Options
need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through incorporation of
provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the substance of each
of the following provisions, subject to such modifications as the Board shall
deem appropriate:

         (a) TERM. Subject to the provisions of subsection 5(b) regarding Ten
Percent Stockholders, no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after the
expiration of ten (10) years from the date it was granted.

         (b) EXERCISE PRICE OF AN INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION. Subject to the
provisions of subsection 5(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, the exercise
price of each Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than one hundred percent
(100%) of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the Option on the date
the Option is granted. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Incentive Stock Option
may be granted with an exercise price lower than that set forth in the preceding
sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for
another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the
Code.

         (c) EXERCISE PRICE OF A NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION. The exercise price
of each Nonstatutory Stock Option shall be not less than fifty percent (50%) of
the Fair Market Value of

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the stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Nonstatutory Stock Option may be granted with
an exercise price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such
Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option
in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.

         (d) CONSIDERATION. The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to an
Option shall be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and
regulations, either (i) in cash at the time the Option is exercised or (ii) at
the discretion of the Board at the time of the grant of the Option (or
subsequently in the case of a Nonstatutory Stock Option) (1) by delivery to the
Company of other Common Stock, (2) according to a deferred payment or other
arrangement (which may include, without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the use of other Common Stock) with the Participant or (3) in any
other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board; provided,
however, that at any time that the Company is incorporated in Delaware, payment
of the Common Stock's "par value," as defined in the Delaware General
Corporation Law, shall not be made by deferred payment.

         In the case of any deferred payment arrangement, interest shall be
compounded at least annually and shall be charged at the minimum rate of
interest necessary to avoid the treatment as interest, under any applicable
provisions of the Code, of any amounts other than amounts stated to be interest
under the deferred payment arrangement.

         (e) TRANSFERABILITY OF AN INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION. An Incentive Stock
Option shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder
only by the Optionholder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may,
by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the
Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the
Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.

         (f) TRANSFERABILITY OF A NONSTATUTORY STOCK OPTION. A Nonstatutory
Stock Option shall be transferable to the extent provided in the Option
Agreement. If the Nonstatutory Stock Option does not provide for
transferability, then the Nonstatutory Stock Option shall not be transferable
except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and shall be
exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written
notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third
party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be
entitled to exercise the Option.

         (g) VESTING GENERALLY. The total number of shares of Common Stock
subject to an Option may, but need not, vest and therefore become exercisable in
periodic installments which may, but need not, be equal. The Option may be
subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be
exercised (which may be based on performance or other criteria) as the Board may
deem appropriate. The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary. The
provisions of this subsection 6(g) are subject to any Option provisions
governing the minimum number of shares as to which an Option may be exercised.

         (h) TERMINATION OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE. In the event an Optionholder's
Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Optionholder's death or
Disability), the Optionholder

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may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled
to exercise it as of the date of termination) but only within such period of
time ending on the earlier of (i) the date three (3) months following the
termination of the Optionholder's Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter
period specified in the Option Agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of
the Option as set forth in the Option Agreement. If, after termination, the
Optionholder does not exercise his or her Option within the time specified in
the Option Agreement or the Plan, the Option shall terminate.

         (i) EXTENSION OF TERMINATION DATE. An Optionholder's Option Agreement
may also provide that if the exercise of the Option following the termination of
the Optionholder's Continuous Service (other than upon the Optionholder's death
or Disability) would be prohibited at any time solely because the issuance of
shares would violate the registration requirements under the Securities Act,
then the Option shall terminate on the earlier of (i) the expiration of the term
of the Option set forth in subsection 6(a) or (ii) the expiration of a period of
three (3) months after the termination of the Optionholder's Continuous Service
during which the exercise of the Option would not be in violation of such
registration requirements.

         (j) DISABILITY OF OPTIONHOLDER. In the event an Optionholder's
Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder's Disability, the
Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder
was entitled to exercise it as of the date of termination), but only within such
period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date twelve (12) months
following such termination (or such longer or shorter period specified in the
Option Agreement) or (ii) the expiration of the term of the Option as set forth
in the Option Agreement. If, after termination, the Optionholder does not
exercise his or her Option within the time specified herein, the Option shall
terminate.

         (k) DEATH OF OPTIONHOLDER. In the event (i) an Optionholder's
Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder's death or (ii)
the Optionholder dies within the period (if any) specified in the Option
Agreement after the termination of the Optionholder's Continuous Service for a
reason other than death, then the Option may be exercised (to the extent the
Optionholder was entitled to exercise the Option as of the date of death) by the
Optionholder's estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option
by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the option upon
the Optionholder's death pursuant to subsection 6(e) or 6(f), but only within
the period ending on the earlier of (1) the date eighteen (18) months following
the date of death (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option
Agreement) or (2) the expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the
Option Agreement. If, after death, the Option is not exercised within the time
specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

         (l) EARLY EXERCISE. The Option may, but need not, include a provision
whereby the Optionholder may elect at any time before the Optionholder's
Continuous Service terminates to exercise the Option as to any part or all of
the shares subject to the Option prior to the full vesting of the Option. Any
unvested shares so purchased may be subject to an unvested share repurchase
option in favor of the Company or to any other restriction the Board determines
to be appropriate.

                                       8.
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         (m) RIGHT OF FIRST REFUSAL. The Option may, but need not, include a
provision whereby the Company may elect, prior to the Listing Date, to exercise
a right of first refusal following receipt of notice from the Optionholder of
the intent to transfer all or any part of the shares received upon the exercise
of the Option. Except as expressly provided in this subsection 6(n), such right
of first refusal shall otherwise comply with any applicable provisions of the
Bylaws of the Company.

         (n) RE-LOAD OPTIONS. Without in any way limiting the authority of the
Board to make or not to make grants of Options hereunder, the Board shall have
the authority (but not an obligation) to include as part of any Option Agreement
a provision entitling the Optionholder to a further Option (a "RE-LOAD OPTION")
in the event the Optionholder exercises the Option evidenced by the Option
Agreement, in whole or in part, by surrendering other shares of Common Stock in
accordance with this Plan and the terms and conditions of the Option Agreement.
Any such Re-Load Option shall (i) provide for a number of shares equal to the
number of shares surrendered as part or all of the exercise price of such
Option; (ii) have an expiration date which is the same as the expiration date of
the Option the exercise of which gave rise to such Re-Load Option; and (iii)
have an exercise price which is equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair
Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Re-Load Option on the date of
exercise of the original Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Re-Load Option
shall be subject to the same exercise price and term provisions heretofore
described for Options under the Plan.

                  Any such Re-Load Option may be an Incentive Stock Option or a
Nonstatutory Stock Option, as the Board may designate at the time of the grant
of the original Option; provided, however, that the designation of any Re-Load
Option as an Incentive Stock Option shall be subject to the one hundred thousand
dollar ($100,000) annual limitation on the exercisability of Incentive Stock
Options described in subsection 10(d) and in Section 422(d) of the Code. There
shall be no Re-Load Options on a Re-Load Option. Any such Re-Load Option shall
be subject to the availability of sufficient shares under subsection 4(a) and
the "Section 162(m) Limitation" on the grants of Options under subsection 5(c)
and shall be subject to such other terms and conditions as the Board may
determine which are not inconsistent with the express provisions of the Plan
regarding the terms of Options.

7.       PROVISIONS OF STOCK AWARDS OTHER THAN OPTIONS.

         (a) STOCK BONUS AWARDS. Each stock bonus agreement shall be in such
form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board shall deem
appropriate. The terms and conditions of stock bonus agreements may change from
time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate stock bonus agreements
need not be identical, but each stock bonus agreement shall include (through
incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise)
the substance of each of the following provisions:

                  (i) CONSIDERATION. A stock bonus shall be awarded in
consideration for past services actually rendered to the Company or an Affiliate
for its benefit.

                                       9.
<PAGE>   10

                  (ii) VESTING. Shares of Common Stock awarded under the stock
bonus agreement may, but need not, be subject to a share repurchase option in
favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule to be determined by
the Board.

                  (iii) TERMINATION OF PARTICIPANT'S CONTINUOUS SERVICE. In the
event a Participant's Continuous Service terminates, the Company may reacquire
any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant which have not
vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the stock bonus
agreement.

                  (iv) TRANSFERABILITY. Rights to acquire shares under the stock
bonus agreement shall be transferable by the Participant only upon such terms
and conditions as are set forth in the stock bonus agreement, as the Board shall
determine in its discretion, so long as stock awarded under the stock bonus
agreement remains subject to the terms of the stock bonus agreement.

         (b) RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS. Each restricted stock purchase agreement
shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board
shall deem appropriate. The terms and conditions of the restricted stock
purchase agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions
of separate restricted stock purchase agreements need not be identical, but each
restricted stock purchase agreement shall include (through incorporation of
provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of
each of the following provisions:

                  (i) PURCHASE PRICE. The purchase price under each restricted
stock purchase agreement shall be such amount as the Board shall determine and
designate in such restricted stock purchase agreement. The purchase price shall
not be less than fifty percent (50%) of the stock's Fair Market Value on the
date such award is made or at the time the purchase is consummated.

                  (ii) CONSIDERATION. The purchase price of stock acquired
pursuant to the restricted stock purchase agreement shall be paid either: (i) in
cash at the time of purchase; (ii) at the discretion of the Board, according to
a deferred payment or other arrangement with the Participant; or (iii) in any
other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board in its
discretion; provided, however, that at any time that the Company is incorporated
in Delaware, payment of the Common Stock's "par value," as defined in the
Delaware General Corporation Law, shall not be made by deferred payment.

                  (iii) VESTING. Shares of Common Stock acquired under the
restricted stock purchase agreement may, but need not, be subject to a share
repurchase option in favor of the Company in accordance with a vesting schedule
to be determined by the Board.

                  (iv) TERMINATION OF PARTICIPANT'S CONTINUOUS SERVICE. In the
event a Participant's Continuous Service terminates, the Company may repurchase
or otherwise reacquire any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the
Participant which have not vested as of the date of termination under the terms
of the restricted stock purchase agreement.

                  (v) TRANSFERABILITY. Rights to acquire shares under the
restricted stock purchase agreement shall be transferable by the Participant
only upon such terms and conditions

                                      10.
<PAGE>   11

as are set forth in the restricted stock purchase agreement, as the Board shall
determine in its discretion, so long as stock awarded under the restricted stock
purchase agreement remains subject to the terms of the restricted stock purchase
agreement.

         (c) STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS.

                  (i) AUTHORIZED RIGHTS. The following three types of stock
appreciation rights shall be authorized for issuance under the Plan:

                           (1) TANDEM RIGHTS. A "Tandem Right" means a stock
appreciation right granted appurtenant to an Option which is subject to the same
terms and conditions applicable to the particular Option grant to which it
pertains with the following exceptions: The Tandem Right shall require the
holder to elect between the exercise of the underlying Option for shares of
Common Stock and the surrender, in whole or in part, of such Option for an
appreciation distribution. The appreciation distribution payable on the
exercised the Tandem Right shall be in cash (or, if so provided, in an
equivalent number of shares of Common Stock based on Fair Market Value on the
date of the Option surrender) in an amount up to the excess of (A) the Fair
Market Value (on the date of the Option surrender) of the number of shares of
Common Stock covered by that portion of the surrendered Option in which the
Optionholder is vested over (B) the aggregate exercise price payable for such
vested shares.

                           (2) CONCURRENT RIGHTS. A "Concurrent Right" means a
stock appreciation right granted appurtenant to an Option which applies to all
or a portion of the shares of Common Stock subject to the underlying Option and
which is subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to the particular
Option grant to which it pertains with the following exceptions: A Concurrent
Right shall be exercised automatically at the same time the underlying Option is
exercised with respect to the particular shares of Common Stock to which the
Concurrent Right pertains. The appreciation distribution payable on an exercised
Concurrent Right shall be in cash (or, if so provided, in an equivalent number
of shares of Common Stock based on Fair Market Value on the date of the exercise
of the Concurrent Right) in an amount equal to such portion as determined by the
Board at the time of the grant of the excess of (A) the aggregate Fair Market
Value (on the date of the exercise of the Concurrent Right) of the vested shares
of Common Stock purchased -under the underlying Option which have Concurrent
Rights appurtenant to them over (B) the aggregate exercise price paid for such
shares.

                           (3) INDEPENDENT RIGHTS. An "Independent Right" means
a stock appreciation right granted independently of any Option but which is
subject to the same terms and conditions applicable to a Nonstatutory Stock
Option with the following exceptions: An Independent Right shall be denominated
in share equivalents. The appreciation distribution payable on the exercised
Independent Right shall be not greater than an amount equal to the excess of (a)
the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise of the Independent
Right) of a number of shares of Company stock equal to the number of share
equivalents in which the holder is vested under such Independent Right, and with
respect to which the holder is exercising the Independent Right on such date,
over (b) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the grant of the
Independent Right) of such number of shares of Company stock. The appreciation
distribution payable on the exercised Independent Right shall be in cash or, if
so

                                      11.
<PAGE>   12

provided, in an equivalent number of shares of Common Stock based on Fair Market
Value on the date of the exercise of the Independent Right.

                  (ii) RELATIONSHIP TO OPTIONS. Stock appreciation rights
appurtenant to Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees. The
"Section 162(m) Limitation" provided in subsection 5(c) and any authority to
reprice Options shall apply as well to the grant of stock appreciation rights.

                  (iii) EXERCISE. To exercise any outstanding stock appreciation
right, the holder shall provide written notice of exercise to the Company in
compliance with the provisions of the Stock Award Agreement evidencing such
right. Except as provided in subsection 5(c) regarding the "Section 162(m)
Limitation," no limitation shall exist on the aggregate amount of cash payments
that the Company may make under the Plan in connection with the exercise of a
stock appreciation right.

8.       COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

         (a) AVAILABILITY OF SHARES. During the terms of the Stock Awards, the
Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock
required to satisfy such Stock Awards.

         (b) SECURITIES LAW COMPLIANCE. The Company shall seek to obtain from
each regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the Plan such
authority as may be required to grant Stock Awards and to issue and sell shares
of Common Stock upon exercise of the Stock Awards; provided, however, that this
undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Securities Act
the Plan, any Stock Award or any stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such
Stock Award. If, after reasonable efforts, the Company is unable to obtain from
any such regulatory commission or agency the authority which counsel for the
Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale of stock under the
Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability for failure to issue and
sell stock upon exercise of such Stock Awards unless and until such authority is
obtained.

9.       USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.

         Proceeds from the sale of stock pursuant to Stock Awards shall
constitute general funds of the Company.

10.      MISCELLANEOUS.

         (a) ACCELERATION OF EXERCISABILITY AND VESTING. The Board shall have
the power to accelerate the time at which a Stock Award may first be exercised
or the time during which a Stock Award or any part thereof will vest in
accordance with the Plan, notwithstanding the provisions in the Stock Award
stating the time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it
will vest.

         (b) STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. No Participant shall be deemed to be the holder
of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares subject
to such Stock Award unless

                                      12.
<PAGE>   13

and until such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the
Stock Award pursuant to its terms.

         (c) NO EMPLOYMENT OR OTHER SERVICE RIGHTS. Nothing in the Plan or any
instrument executed or Stock Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon
any Participant any right to continue to serve the Company or an Affiliate in
the capacity in effect at the time the Stock Award was granted or shall affect
the right of the Company or an Affiliate to terminate (i) the employment of an
Employee with or without notice and with or without cause, subject to the terms
of any employment agreement with such Employee, (ii) the service of a Consultant
pursuant to the terms of such Consultant's agreement with the Company or an
Affiliate or (iii) the service of a Director pursuant to the Bylaws of the
Company or an Affiliate, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of
the state in which the Company or the Affiliate is incorporated, as the case may
be.

         (d) INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION $100,000 LIMITATION. To the extent that the
aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of stock with
respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by
any Optionholder during any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and
its Affiliates) exceeds one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), the Options or
portions thereof which exceed such limit (according to the order in which they
were granted) shall be treated as Nonstatutory Stock Options.

         (e) INVESTMENT ASSURANCES. The Company may require a Participant, as a
condition of exercising or acquiring stock under any Stock Award, (i) to give
written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Participant's knowledge
and experience in financial and business matters and/or to employ a purchaser
representative reasonably satisfactory to the Company who is knowledgeable and
experienced in financial and business matters and that he or she is capable of
evaluating, alone or together with the purchaser representative, the merits and
risks of exercising the Stock Award; and (ii) to give written assurances
satisfactory to the Company stating that the Participant is acquiring the stock
subject to the Stock Award for the Participant's own account and not with any
present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the stock. The foregoing
requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, shall be
inoperative if (iii) the issuance of the shares upon the exercise or acquisition
of stock under the Stock Award has been registered under a then currently
effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (iv) as to any
particular requirement, a determination is made by counsel for the Company that
such requirement need not be met in the circumstances under the then applicable
securities laws. The Company may, upon advice of counsel to the Company, place
legends on stock certificates issued under the Plan as such counsel deems
necessary or appropriate in order to comply with applicable securities laws,
including, but not limited to, legends restricting the transfer of the stock.

         (f) WITHHOLDING OBLIGATIONS. To the extent provided by the terms of a
Stock Award Agreement, the Participant may satisfy any federal, state or local
tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of stock
under a Stock Award by any of the following means (in addition to the Company's
right to withhold from any compensation paid to the Participant by the Company)
or by a combination of such means: (i) tendering a cash payment; (ii)
authorizing the Company to withhold shares from the shares of the Common Stock
otherwise issuable to the participant as a result of the exercise or acquisition
of stock under the Stock

                                      13.
<PAGE>   14

Award; or (iii) delivering to the Company owned and unencumbered shares of the
Common Stock.

11.      ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK.

         (a) CAPITALIZATION ADJUSTMENTS. If any change is made in the stock
subject to the Plan, or subject to any Stock Award, without the receipt of
consideration by the Company (through merger, consolidation, reorganization,
recapitalization, reincorporation, stock dividend, dividend in property other
than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of
shares, change in corporate structure or other transaction not involving the
receipt of consideration by the Company), the Plan will be appropriately
adjusted in the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject to the Plan
pursuant to subsection 4(a) and the maximum number of securities subject to
award to any person pursuant to subsection 5(c), and the outstanding Stock
Awards will be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and number of securities
and price per share of stock subject to such outstanding Stock Awards. The Board
shall make such adjustments, and its determination shall be final, binding and
conclusive. (The conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall
not be treated as a transaction "without receipt of consideration" by the
Company.)

         (b) CHANGE IN CONTROL--DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION. In the event of a
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, then all outstanding Stock Awards
shall terminate immediately prior to such event.

         (c) CHANGE IN CONTROL--ASSET SALE, MERGER, CONSOLIDATION OR REVERSE
MERGER. In the event of (i) a sale, lease or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company, (ii) a consolidation or merger
of the Company with or into any other corporation or other entity or person, or
any other corporate reorganization, in which the stockholders of the Company
immediately prior to such consolidation, merger or reorganization, own less than
50% of the outstanding voting power of the surviving entity (or its parent)
following the consolidation, merger or reorganization or (iii) any transaction
(or series of related transactions involving a person or entity, or a group of
affiliated persons or entities) in which in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the
Company's outstanding voting power is transferred (the transactions set forth in
Sections 11(c)(ii) or (iii) hereof are hereinafter referred to as an
"ACQUISITION"), then any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation shall
assume any Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan or shall substitute similar
stock awards (including an award to acquire the same consideration paid to the
stockholders in the transaction described in this subsection 11(c)) for those
outstanding under the Plan. With respect to Participants who were Employees of
the Company immediately prior to such Acquisition (a "CONTINUING EMPLOYEE"), in
the event any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation assumes Stock
Awards outstanding under the Plan or substitutes similar stock awards and a
Continuing Employee is either not offered employment by the surviving or
acquiring corporation (which employment shall not result in any reduction in the
Participant's salary or aggregate benefits in effect at the time of the
Acquisition) or such Continuing Employee is terminated for any reason other than
for Cause (as defined herein) or such Continuing Employee voluntarily terminates
his or her employment for Good Reason (as defined herein) within twelve (12)
months of the effective date of the Acquisition, then with respect to Stock
Awards held by such Continuing Employee, the vesting of such Stock Awards (and,
if applicable, the time during which such Stock Awards may be exercised) shall
be

                                      14.

<PAGE>   15

accelerated in full immediately prior to such termination. In the event any
surviving corporation or acquiring corporation refuses to assume such Stock
Awards or to substitute similar stock awards for those outstanding under the
Plan, then with respect to Stock Awards held by Participants whose Continuous
Service has not terminated, the vesting of such Stock Awards (and, if
applicable, the time during which such Stock Awards may be exercised) shall be
accelerated in full, and the Stock Awards shall terminate if not exercised (if
applicable) at or prior to such event. With respect to any other Stock Awards
outstanding under the Plan, such Stock Awards shall terminate if not exercised
(if applicable) prior to such event.

         As used herein, "CAUSE" shall mean (i) conviction of any felony or any
crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty; (ii) participation in a fraud or
act of dishonesty against the Company; (iii) willful and material breach of any
Company policies; (iv) intentional damage to the Company's property; (v)
material breach of any Proprietary Information and Inventions Agreement with the
Company or its Affiliates; or (vi) willful misfeasance or nonfeasance of duty
that materially injures the reputation, business or business relationships of
the Company. Physical or mental disability shall not constitute "cause". As used
herein, "GOOD REASON" shall mean (i) a reduction in compensation; (ii) a
relocation of the principal worksite location to a location more than thirty
(30) miles from the principal worksite immediately prior to the Acquisition; or
(iii) for an executive officer, a material reduction in responsibilities, title
or authority as in effect immediately prior to the Acquisition.

12.      AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND STOCK AWARDS.

         (a) AMENDMENT OF PLAN. The Board at any time, and from time to time,
may amend the Plan. However, except as provided in Section 11 relating to
adjustments upon changes in stock, no amendment shall be effective unless
approved by the stockholders of the Company to the extent stockholder approval
is necessary to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code, Rule 16b-3
or any Nasdaq or securities exchange listing requirements.

         (b) STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. The Board may, in its sole discretion, submit
any other amendment to the Plan for stockholder approval, including, but not
limited to, amendments to the Plan intended to satisfy the requirements of
Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations thereunder regarding the
exclusion of performance-based compensation from the limit on corporate
deductibility of compensation paid to certain executive officers.

         (c) CONTEMPLATED AMENDMENTS. It is expressly contemplated that the
Board may amend the Plan in any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable
to provide eligible Employees with the maximum benefits provided or to be
provided under the provisions of the Code and the regulations promulgated
thereunder relating to Incentive Stock Options and/or to bring the Plan and/or
Incentive Stock Options granted under it into compliance therewith.

         (d) NO IMPAIRMENT OF RIGHTS. Rights under any Stock Award granted
before amendment of the Plan shall not be impaired by any amendment of the Plan
unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the Participant and (ii) the
Participant consents in writing.

         (e) AMENDMENT OF STOCK AWARDS. The Board at any time, and from time to
time, may amend the terms of any one or more Stock Awards; provided, however,
that the rights under

                                      15.
<PAGE>   16

any Stock Award shall not be impaired by any such amendment unless (i) the
Company requests the consent of the Participant and (ii) the Participant
consents in writing.

13.      TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.

         (a) PLAN TERM. The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time.
Unless sooner terminated, the Plan shall terminate on the day before the tenth
(10th) anniversary of the date the Plan is adopted by the Board or approved by
the stockholders of the Company, whichever is earlier. No Stock Awards may be
granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.

         (b) NO IMPAIRMENT OF RIGHTS. Suspension or termination of the Plan
shall not impair rights and obligations under any Stock Award granted while the
Plan is in effect except with the written consent of the Participant.

14.      EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.

         The Plan shall become effective as determined by the Board, but no
Stock Award shall be exercised (or, in the case of a stock bonus, shall be
granted) unless and until the Plan has been approved by the stockholders of
the Company, which approval shall be within twelve (12) months before or after
the date the Plan is adopted by the Board.

15.      CHOICE OF LAW.

         All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation
of this Plan shall be governed by the law of the State of Colorado, without
regard to such state's conflict of laws rules.

                                      16.<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.2

                            THE PETROLEUM PLACE INC.

                        2000 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN

               ADOPTED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ON APRIL 14, 2000
                 APPROVED BY THE STOCKHOLDERS ON MAY ___, 2000

         1.       PURPOSE.

                  (a) The purpose of this Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the
"Plan") is to provide a means by which employees of The Petroleum Place, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and its Affiliates, as defined in
subparagraph 1(b), which are designated as provided in subparagraph 2(b), may be
given an opportunity to purchase stock of the Company.

                  (b) The word "Affiliate" as used in the Plan means any parent
corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, as those terms are defined
in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended (the "Code").

                  (c) The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the
services of its employees, to secure and retain the services of new employees,
and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the
success of the Company.

                  (d) The Company intends that the rights to purchase stock of
the Company granted under the Plan be considered options issued under an
"employee stock purchase plan" as that term is defined in Section 423(b) of the
Code.

         2.       ADMINISTRATION.

                  (a) The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors
(the "Board") of the Company unless and until the Board delegates administration
to a Committee, as provided in subparagraph 2(c). Whether or not the Board has
delegated administration, the Board shall have the final power to determine all
questions of policy and expediency that may arise in the administration of the
Plan.

                  (b) The Board shall have the power, subject to, and within the
limitations of, the express provisions of the Plan:

                           (i) To determine when and how rights to purchase
stock of the Company shall be granted and the provisions of each offering of
such rights (which need not be identical).

                           (ii) To designate from time to time which Affiliates
of the Company shall be eligible to participate in the Plan.

                           (iii) To construe and interpret the Plan and rights
granted under it, and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for
its administration. The Board, in the

                                       1
<PAGE>   2

exercise of this power, may correct any defect, omission or inconsistency in the
Plan, in a manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or expedient to make
the Plan fully effective.

                           (iv) To amend the Plan as provided in paragraph 13.

                           (v) Generally, to exercise such powers and to perform
such acts as the Board deems necessary or expedient to promote the best
interests of the Company and its Affiliates and to carry out the intent that the
Plan be treated as an "employee stock purchase plan" within the meaning of
Section 423 of the Code.

                  (c) The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a
Committee of the Board composed of two (2) or more members, all of the members
of which Committee may be, in the discretion of the Board, Non-Employee
Directors and/or Outside Directors. If administration is delegated to a
Committee, the Committee shall have, in connection with the administration of
the Plan, the powers theretofore possessed by the Board, including the power to
delegate to a subcommittee of two (2) or more Outside Directors any of the
administrative powers the Committee is authorized to exercise (and references in
this Plan to the Board shall thereafter be to the Committee or such a
subcommittee), subject, however, to such resolutions, not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Plan, as may be adopted from time to time by the Board. The
Board may abolish the Committee at any time and revest in the Board the
administration of the Plan. For purposes of the Plan:

                           (i) "NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR" means a Director who
either (i) is not a current Employee or Officer of the Company or its parent or
subsidiary, does not receive compensation (directly or indirectly) from the
Company or its parent or subsidiary for services rendered as a consultant or in
any capacity other than as a Director (except for an amount as to which
disclosure would not be required under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated
pursuant to the Securities Act ("Regulation S-K")), does not possess an interest
in any other transaction as to which disclosure would be required under Item
404(a) of Regulation S-K, and is not engaged in a business relationship as to
which disclosure would be required under Item 404(b) of Regulation S-K; or (ii)
is otherwise considered a "non-employee director" for purposes of Rule 16b-3.

                           (ii) "OUTSIDE DIRECTOR" means a Director who either
(i) is not a current employee of the Company or an "affiliated corporation"
(within the meaning of the Treasury regulations promulgated under Section 162(m)
of the Code), is not a former employee of the Company or an "affiliated
corporation" receiving compensation for prior services (other than benefits
under a tax qualified pension plan), was not an officer of the Company or an
"affiliated corporation" at any time, and is not currently receiving direct or
indirect remuneration from the Company or an "affiliated corporation" for
services in any capacity other than as a Director, or (ii) is otherwise
considered an "outside director" for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.

                  (d) Any interpretation of the Plan by the Board of any
decision made by it under the Plan shall be final and binding on all persons.

                                       2
<PAGE>   3

         3.       SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

                  (a) Subject to the provisions of paragraph 12 relating to
adjustments upon changes in stock, the stock that may be sold pursuant to rights
granted under the Plan shall not exceed in the aggregate one hundred fifty
thousand (150,000) shares of the Company's common stock (the "Common Stock"). As
of each January 1, beginning with January 1, 2001, and continuing through and
including January 1, 2010, the number of Reserved Shares will be increased
automatically by the lesser of three percent (3%) of (i) the total number of
shares of the Company's Common Stock outstanding on such January 1 or (ii) the
total number of shares of the Company's Common Stock outstanding on the
effective date of the Company's initial public offering; provided that the Board
may designate a smaller number by which the Reserved Shares shall be increased
as of any particular January 1.

                  (b) The stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares or
reacquired shares, bought on the market or otherwise.

         4.       GRANT OF RIGHTS; OFFERING.

                  (a) The Board or the Committee may from time to time grant or
provide for the grant of rights to purchase Common Stock of the Company under
the Plan to eligible employees (an "Offering") on a date or dates (the "Offering
Date(s)") selected by the Board or the Committee. Each Offering shall be in such
form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the Board or the Committee
shall deem appropriate, which shall comply with the requirements of Section
423(b)(5) of the Code that all employees granted rights to purchase stock under
the Plan shall have the same rights and privileges. The terms and conditions of
an Offering shall be incorporated by reference into the Plan and treated as part
of the Plan. The provisions of separate Offerings need not be identical, but
each Offering shall include (through incorporation of the provisions of this
Plan by reference in the document comprising the Offering or otherwise) the
period during which the Offering shall be effective, which period shall not
exceed twenty-seven (27) months beginning with the Offering Date, and the
substance of the provisions contained in paragraphs 5 through 8, inclusive.

                  (b) If an employee has more than one (1) right outstanding
under the Plan, unless he or she otherwise indicates in agreements or notices
delivered hereunder, a right with a lower exercise price (or an earlier-granted
right if two (2) rights have identical exercise prices), will be exercised to
the fullest possible extent before a right with a higher exercise price (or a
later-granted right if two (2) rights have identical exercise prices) will be
exercised.

         5.       ELIGIBILITY.

                  (a) Rights may be granted only to employees of the Company or,
as the Board or the Committee may designate as provided in subparagraph 2(b), to
employees of any Affiliate of the Company. Except as provided in subparagraph
5(b), an employee of the Company or any Affiliate shall not be eligible to be
granted rights under the Plan unless, on the Offering Date, such employee has
been in the employ of the Company or any Affiliate for such continuous period
preceding such grant as the Board or the Committee may require, but in no event
shall the required period of continuous employment be greater than two (2)
years. In addition, unless

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

otherwise determined by the Board or the Committee and set forth in the terms of
the applicable Offering, no employee of the Company or any Affiliate shall be
eligible to be granted rights under the Plan unless, on the Offering Date, such
employee's customary employment with the Company or such Affiliate is for at
least twenty (20) hours per week and at least five (5) months per calendar year.

                  (b) The Board or the Committee may provide that each person
who, during the course of an Offering, first becomes an eligible employee of the
Company or designated Affiliate will, on a date or dates specified in the
Offering which coincides with the day on which such person becomes an eligible
employee or occurs thereafter, receive a right under that Offering, which right
shall thereafter be deemed to be a part of that Offering. Such right shall have
the same characteristics as any rights originally granted under that Offering,
as described herein, except that:

                           (i) the date on which such right is granted shall be
the "Offering Date" of such right for all purposes, including determination of
the exercise price of such right;

                           (ii) the period of the Offering with respect to such
right shall begin on its Offering Date and end coincident with the end of such
Offering; and

                           (iii) the Board or the Committee may provide that if
such person first becomes an eligible employee within a specified period of time
before the end of the Offering, he or she will not receive any right under that
Offering.

                  (c) No employee shall be eligible for the grant of any rights
under the Plan if, immediately after any such rights are granted, such employee
owns stock possessing five percent (5%) or more of the total combined voting
power or value of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Affiliate. For
purposes of this subparagraph 5(c), the rules of Section 424(d) of the Code
shall apply in determining the stock ownership of any employee, and stock which
such employee may purchase under all outstanding rights and options shall be
treated as stock owned by such employee.

                  (d) An eligible employee may be granted rights under the Plan
only if such rights, together with any other rights granted under "employee
stock purchase plans" of the Company and any Affiliates, as specified by Section
423(b)(8) of the Code, do not permit such employee's rights to purchase stock of
the Company or any Affiliate to accrue at a rate which exceeds twenty five
thousand dollars ($25,000) of fair market value of such stock (determined at the
time such rights are granted) for each calendar year in which such rights are
outstanding at any time.

                  (e) Officers of the Company and any designated Affiliate shall
be eligible to participate in Offerings under the Plan; provided, however, that
the Board may provide in an Offering that certain employees who are highly
compensated employees within the meaning of Section 423(b)(4)(D) of the Code
shall not be eligible to participate.

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

         6.       RIGHTS; PURCHASE PRICE.

                  (a) On each Offering Date, each eligible employee, pursuant to
an Offering made under the Plan, shall be granted the right to purchase up to
the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company purchasable with a
percentage designated by the Board or the Committee not exceeding fifteen
percent (15%) of such employee's Earnings (as defined in subparagraph 7(a))
during the period which begins on the Offering Date (or such later date as the
Board or the Committee determines for a particular Offering) and ends on the
date stated in the Offering, which date shall be no later than the end of the
Offering. The Board or the Committee shall establish one (1) or more dates
during an Offering (the "Purchase Date(s)") on which rights granted under the
Plan shall be exercised and purchases of Common Stock carried out in accordance
with such Offering.

                  (b) In connection with each Offering made under the Plan, the
Board or the Committee may specify a maximum number of shares that may be
purchased by any employee as well as a maximum aggregate number of shares that
may be purchased by all eligible employees pursuant to such Offering. In
addition, in connection with each Offering that contains more than one (1)
Purchase Date, the Board or the Committee may specify a maximum aggregate number
of shares which may be purchased by all eligible employees on any given Purchase
Date under the Offering. If the aggregate purchase of shares upon exercise of
rights granted under the Offering would exceed any such maximum aggregate
number, the Board or the Committee shall make a pro rata allocation of the
shares available in as nearly a uniform manner as shall be practicable and as it
shall deem to be equitable.

                  (c) The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to rights
granted under the Plan shall be not less than the lesser of:

                           (i) an amount equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of
the fair market value of the stock on the Offering Date; or

                           (ii) an amount equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of
the fair market value of the stock on the Purchase Date.

         7.       PARTICIPATION; WITHDRAWAL; TERMINATION.

                  (a) An eligible employee may become a participant in the Plan
pursuant to an Offering by delivering an enrollment agreement to the Company
within the time specified in the Offering, in such form as the Company provides.
Each such agreement shall authorize payroll deductions of up to the maximum
percentage specified by the Board or the Committee of such employee's Earnings
during the Offering. "Earnings" is defined as an employee's regular salary or
wages (including amounts thereof elected to be deferred by the employee, that
would otherwise have been paid, under any arrangement established by the Company
that is intended to comply with Section 125, Section 401(k), Section 402(e)(3),
Section 402(h) or section 403(b) of the Code, and also including any deferrals
under a non-qualified deferred compensation plan or arrangement established by
the Company), and also, if determined by the Board or the Committee and set
forth in the terms of the Offering, may include any or all of the following: (i)
overtime pay, (ii) commissions, (iii) bonuses, incentive pay, profit sharing and
other

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

remuneration paid directly to the employee, and/or (iv) other items of
remuneration not specifically excluded pursuant to the Plan. Earnings shall not
include the cost of employee benefits paid for by the Company or an Affiliate,
education or tuition reimbursements, imputed income arising under any group
insurance or benefit program, traveling expenses, business and moving expense
reimbursements, income received in connection with stock options, contributions
made by the Company or an Affiliate under any employee benefit plan, and similar
items of compensation, as determined by the Board or the Committee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board or Committee may modify the definition
of "Earnings" with respect to one or more Offerings as the Board or Committee
determines appropriate. The payroll deductions made for each participant shall
be credited to an account for such participant under the Plan and shall be
deposited with the general funds of the Company. A participant may reduce
(including to zero) or increase such payroll deductions, and an eligible
employee may begin such payroll deductions, after the beginning of any Offering
only as provided for in the Offering. A participant may make additional payments
into his or her account only if specifically provided for in the Offering and
only if the participant has not had the maximum amount withheld during the
Offering.

                  (b) At any time during an Offering, a participant may
terminate his or her payroll deductions under the Plan and withdraw from the
Offering by delivering to the Company a notice of withdrawal in such form as the
Company provides. Such withdrawal may be elected at any time prior to the end of
the Offering except as provided by the Board or the Committee in the Offering.
Upon such withdrawal from the Offering by a participant, the Company shall
distribute to such participant all of his or her accumulated payroll deductions
(reduced to the extent, if any, such deductions have been used to acquire stock
for the participant) under the Offering, without interest, and such
participant's interest in that Offering shall be automatically terminated. A
participant's withdrawal from an Offering will have no effect upon such
participant's eligibility to participate in any other Offerings under the Plan
but such participant will be required to deliver a new enrollment agreement in
order to participate in subsequent Offerings under the Plan.

                  (c) Rights granted pursuant to any Offering under the Plan
shall terminate immediately upon cessation of any participating employee's
employment with the Company and any designated Affiliate, for any reason, and
the Company shall distribute to such terminated employee all of his or her
accumulated payroll deductions (reduced to the extent, if any, such deductions
have been used to acquire stock for the terminated employee), under the
Offering, without interest.

                  (d) Rights granted under the Plan shall not be transferable by
a participant other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, or by
a beneficiary designation as provided in paragraph 14, and during a
participant's lifetime, shall be exercisable only by such participant.

         8.       EXERCISE.

                  (a) On each Purchase Date specified therefor in the relevant
Offering, each participant's accumulated payroll deductions and other additional
payments specifically provided for in the Offering (without any increase for
interest) will be applied to the purchase of whole

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

shares of stock of the Company, up to the maximum number of shares permitted
pursuant to the terms of the Plan and the applicable Offering, at the purchase
price specified in the Offering. No fractional shares shall be issued upon the
exercise of rights granted under the Plan. The amount, if any, of accumulated
payroll deductions remaining in each participant's account after the purchase of
shares which is less than the amount required to purchase one share of Common
Stock on the final Purchase Date of an Offering shall be held in each such
participant's account for the purchase of shares under the next Offering under
the Plan, unless such participant withdraws from such next Offering, as provided
in subparagraph 7(b), or is no longer eligible to be granted rights under the
Plan, as provided in paragraph 5, in which case such amount shall be distributed
to the participant after such final Purchase Date, without interest. The amount,
if any, of accumulated payroll deductions remaining in any participant's account
after the purchase of shares which is equal to the amount required to purchase
one or more whole shares of Common Stock on the final Purchase Date of an
Offering shall be distributed in full to the participant after such Purchase
Date, without interest.

                  (b) No rights granted under the Plan may be exercised to any
extent unless the shares to be issued upon such exercise under the Plan
(including rights granted thereunder) are covered by an effective registration
statement pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act") and the Plan is in material compliance with all applicable state, foreign
and other securities and other laws applicable to the Plan. If on a Purchase
Date in any Offering hereunder the Plan is not so registered or in such
compliance, no rights granted under the Plan or any Offering shall be exercised
on such Purchase Date, and the Purchase Date shall be delayed until the Plan is
subject to such an effective registration statement and such compliance, except
that the Purchase Date shall not be delayed more than twelve (12) months and the
Purchase Date shall in no event be more than twenty-seven (27) months from the
Offering Date. If on the Purchase Date of any Offering hereunder, as delayed to
the maximum extent permissible, the Plan is not registered and in such
compliance, no rights granted under the Plan or any Offering shall be exercised
and all payroll deductions accumulated during the Offering (reduced to the
extent, if any, such deductions have been used to acquire stock) shall be
distributed to the participants, without interest.

         9.       COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

                  (a) During the terms of the rights granted under the Plan, the
Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock
required to satisfy such rights, provided that the Company shall not be
obligated to keep available shares in excess of the limits set forth or
described in paragraphs 3 and 6 of the Plan and any corresponding or additional
limits set forth in an Offering.

                  (b) The Company shall seek to obtain from each federal, state,
foreign or other regulatory commission or agency having jurisdiction over the
Plan such authority as may be required to issue and sell shares of stock upon
exercise of the rights granted under the Plan. If, after reasonable efforts, the
Company is unable to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency the
authority which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance
and sale of stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any
liability for failure to issue and sell stock upon exercise of such rights
unless and until such authority is obtained.

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

         10.      USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.

         Proceeds from the sale of stock pursuant to rights granted under the
Plan shall constitute general funds of the Company.

         11.      RIGHTS AS A STOCKHOLDER.

         A participant shall not be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any
of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares subject to rights granted
under the Plan unless and until the participant's shareholdings acquired upon
exercise of rights under the Plan are recorded in the books of the Company (or
its transfer agent).

         12.      ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK.

                  (a) If any change is made in the stock subject to the Plan, or
subject to any rights granted under the Plan (through merger, consolidation,
reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, dividend in property other
than cash, stock split, liquidating dividend, combination of shares, exchange of
shares, change in corporate structure or other transaction not involving the
receipt of consideration by the Company), the Plan and outstanding rights will
be appropriately adjusted in the class(es) and maximum number of shares subject
to the Plan and the class(es) and number of shares and price per share of stock
subject to outstanding rights. Such adjustments shall be made by the Board or
the Committee, the determination of which shall be final, binding and
conclusive. (The conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall
not be treated as a "transaction not involving the receipt of consideration by
the Company.")

                  (b) In the event of: (1) a dissolution or liquidation of the
Company; (2) a lease, sale, or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of the Company; (3) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is
not the surviving corporation; (4) a reverse merger in which the Company is the
surviving corporation but the shares of the Company's Common Stock outstanding
immediately preceding the merger are converted by virtue of the merger into
other property, whether in the form of securities, cash or otherwise; (5) the
acquisition by any person, entity or group within the meaning of Section 13(d)
or 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), or any comparable successor provisions (excluding any employee benefit
plan, or related trust, sponsored or maintained by the Company or any Affiliate
of the Company) of the beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
promulgated under the Exchange Act, or comparable successor rule) of securities
of the Company representing at least fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting
power entitled to vote in the election of directors; or (6) the individuals who,
as of the date of the adoption of this Plan, are members of the Board (the
"Incumbent Board"; (if the election, or nomination for election by the Company's
stockholders, of a new director was approved by a vote of at least fifty percent
(50%) of the members of the Board then comprising the Incumbent Board, such new
director shall upon his or her election be considered a member of the Incumbent
Board) cease for any reason to constitute at least fifty percent (50%) of the
Board; then the Board in its sole discretion may take any action or arrange for
the taking of any action among the following: (i) any surviving or acquiring
corporation may assume outstanding rights or substitute similar rights for those
under the Plan, (ii) such rights may continue in full force and

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

effect, or (iii) all participants' accumulated payroll deductions may be used to
purchase Common Stock immediately prior to or within a reasonable period of time
following the transaction described above and the participants' rights under the
ongoing Offering terminated.

         13.      AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN OR OFFERINGS.

                  (a) The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend
the Plan or the terms of one or more Offerings. However, except as provided in
paragraph 12 relating to adjustments upon changes in stock, no amendment shall
be effective unless approved by the stockholders of the Company within twelve
(12) months before or after the adoption of the amendment, where the amendment
will:

                           (i) Increase the number of shares reserved for rights
under the Plan;

                           (ii) Modify the provisions as to eligibility for
participation in the Plan or an Offering (to the extent such modification
requires stockholder approval in order for the Plan to obtain employee stock
purchase plan treatment under Section 423 of the Code or to comply with the
requirements of Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act, or any comparable
successor rule ("Rule 16b-3"); or

                           (iii) Modify the Plan or an Offering in any other way
if such modification requires stockholder approval in order for the Plan to
obtain employee stock purchase plan treatment under Section 423 of the Code or
to comply with the requirements of Rule 16b-3.

It is expressly contemplated that the Board may amend the Plan or an Offering in
any respect the Board deems necessary or advisable to provide eligible employees
with the maximum benefits provided or to be provided under the provisions of the
Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder relating to employee stock
purchase plans and/or to bring the Plan and/or rights granted under an Offering
into compliance therewith.

                  (b) The Board may, in its sole discretion, submit any
amendment to the Plan or an Offering for stockholder approval.

                  (c) Rights and obligations under any rights granted before
amendment of the Plan or Offering shall not be impaired by any amendment of the
Plan, except with the consent of the person to whom such rights were granted, or
except as necessary to comply with any laws or governmental regulations, or
except as necessary to ensure that the Plan and/or rights granted under an
Offering comply with the requirements of Section 423 of the Code.

         14.      DESIGNATION OF BENEFICIARY.

                  (a) A participant may file a written designation of a
beneficiary who is to receive any shares and cash, if applicable, from the
participant's account under the Plan in the event of such participant's death
subsequent to the end of an Offering but prior to delivery to the participant of
such shares and cash. In addition, a participant may file a written designation
of a beneficiary who is to receive any cash from the participant's account under
the Plan in the event of such participant's death during an Offering.

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

                  (b) Such designation of beneficiary may be changed by the
participant at any time by written notice in the form prescribed by the Company.
In the event of the death of a participant and in the absence of a beneficiary
validly designated under the Plan who is living (or if an entity, is otherwise
in existence) at the time of such participant's death, the Company shall deliver
such shares and/or cash to the executor or administrator of the estate of the
participant, or if no such executor or administrator has been appointed (to the
knowledge of the Company), the Company, in its sole discretion, may deliver such
shares and/or cash to the spouse or to any one (1) or more dependents or
relatives of the participant, or if no spouse, dependent or relative is known to
the Company, then to such other person as the Company may determine.

         15.      TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.

                  (a) The Board in its discretion, may suspend or terminate the
Plan at any time. The Plan shall automatically terminate if all the shares
subject to the Plan pursuant to subparagraph 3(a) are issued. No rights may be
granted under the Plan while the Plan is suspended or after it is terminated.

                  (b) Rights and obligations under any rights granted while the
Plan is in effect shall not be impaired by suspension or termination of the
Plan, except as expressly provided in the Plan or with the consent of the person
to whom such rights were granted, or except as necessary to comply with any laws
or governmental regulation, or except as necessary to ensure that the Plan
and/or rights granted under an Offering comply with the requirements of Section
423 of the Code.

         16.      EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.

         The Plan shall become effective on the same day on which the Company's
registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the initial
public offering of shares of the Company's Common Stock becomes effective (the
"Effective Date"), but no rights granted under the Plan shall be exercised
unless and until the Plan had been approved by the stockholders of the Company
within twelve (12) months before or after the date the Plan is adopted by the
Board or the Committee, which date may be prior to the Effective Date.

         17.      CHOICE OF LAW.

         All questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation
of this Plan shall be governed by the law of the State of Colorado, without
regard to such state's conflict of laws rules.

                                       10

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