Document:

Exhibit 10.1

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION

1998 Stock Option Plan

(As amended through December 31, 2005)

	
            1.
 	
            Purpose
 

The purpose of the Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation’s (the “Corporation”) 1998 Stock Option Plan (the “Plan”) is to advance the interests of the Company and its shareholders by providing those key employees of the Corporation, upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the successful conduct of the business of the Corporation largely depends, with additional incentive to perform in superior manner. A purpose of the Plan is also to attract people of experience and ability to the service of the Corporation.

	
            2.
 	
            Definitions
 

	
             
 	
            A.
 	
            Board of Directors or Board: means the board of directors of the Corporation.
 

 

	
             
 	
            B.
 	
            Change in Control: for purposes of this Plan, a Change in Control of the Company shall mean an event of a nature that; (1) any “person” (as the term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) who is not now presently but becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25% or more of the Company’s outstanding securities except for any securities purchased by any tax-qualified employee benefit plan of the Company; or (2) individuals who constitute the Board on the date hereof (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, provided that any person becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election was approved by a vote of at
least three-quarters of the directors comprising the Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by the same Nominating Committee serving under an Incumbent Board, shall be, for purposes of this clause (2), considered as though he were a member of the Incumbent Board; or (3) filing is made for regulatory approval to implement a plan of reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Company or similar transaction in which the Company is not the resulting entity or such plan, merger consolidation, sale or similar transaction occurs; or (4) a proxy statement soliciting proxies from shareholders of the Company, by someone other than the current management of the Company, seeking stockholder approval of a plan of reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company or similar transaction with one or more corporations as a result of which the outstanding shares of the class of securities then
subject to the plan or transaction are exchanged for or converted into cash or property or securities not issued by the Company shall be distributed; or (5) a tender offer is made for 25% or more of the voting securities of the Company.
 

	
             
 	
            C.
 	
            Committee: means a committee consisting of those members of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors who are non-employee members of the 
 

 

 

 

Board of Directors, all of whom are (i) “disinterested directors” as such term is defined under Rule 16b-3 (“Rule 16b-3”) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission and (ii) “outside directors” within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, subject to any transition rules applicable to the definition of outside director.

	
             
 	
            D.
 	
            Date of Grant: means the date an Option is granted by the Committee.
 

	
             
 	
            E.
 	
            Disability: means the permanent and total inability by reason of mental or physical infirmity, or both, of an employee to perform the work customarily assigned to him. Additionally, a medical doctor selected or approved by the Board of Directors must advise the Committee that it is either not possible to determine when such Disability will terminate or that it appears probable that such Disability will be permanent during the remainder of said Participant’s lifetime.
 

	
             
 	
            F.
 	
            Fair Market Value: for purposes of the 1998 Stock Option Plan when used in connection with Common Stock on a certain date, Fair Market Value means the average of the high and low prices of known trades of the Common Stock on the relevant date, or if the Common Stock was not traded on such date, on the next preceding day on which the Common Stock was traded thereon.
 

	
             
 	
            G.
 	
            Incentive Stock Option: means an Option granted by the Committee to a Participant, which Option is designated as an Incentive Stock Option pursuant to Section 8.
 

	
             
 	
            H.
 	
            Non-qualified Stock Option: means an Option granted by the Committee to a Participant and which is not designated by the Committee as an Incentive Stock Option.
 

	
             
 	
            I.
 	
            Normal Retirement: means retirement at the normal or early retirement date as set forth in any tax-qualified retirement/pension plan of the Company.
 

	
             
 	
            J.
 	
            Option: means the grant of Incentive Stock Options or Non-qualified Stock Options granted under Section 7 or Section 8.
 

	
             
 	
            K.
 	
            Participant: means an employee of the Company or its affiliates chosen by the Committee to participate in the Plan.
 

	
             
 	
            L.
 	
            Plan Year(s): means the part of the year beginning with the date the plan is approved by a majority of the shareholders and ending on December 31, 1998, and calendar years thereafter.
 

	
             
 	
            M.
 	
            Termination for Cause: means the termination upon an intentional failure to perform stated duties, breach of a fiduciary duty involving personal dishonesty or willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order.
 

 

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            3.
 	
            Administration 
 

The Plan shall be administered by the Committee. The Committee is authorized, subject to the provisions of the Plan, to establish such rules and regulations as it sees necessary for the proper administration of the Plan and to make determinations and interpretations in connection with the Plan it sees as necessary or advisable. All awards to the proxy executives shall be approved in writing by the Committee. All determinations and interpretations made by the Committee shall be binding and conclusive on all Participants in the Plan and on their legal representatives and successors in interest.

	
            4.
 	
            Types of Awards
 

Awards under the Plan may be granted in any one or a combination of:

	
             
 	
            (a)
 	
            Non-qualified Stock Options;
 

	
             
 	
            (b)
 	
            Incentive Stock Options; and as defined below in paragraphs 7 and 8 of the Plan.
 

Subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13, the maximum number of shares reserved for purchase pursuant to the exercise of options granted under the Plan shall not exceed 65,000 of the shares of Common Stock of the Company, no par value per share, subject to adjustments pursuant to this Section 5. These shares of Common Stock may be either authorized but unissued shares or shares previously issued and reacquired by the Company. No more than 6,500 shares may be granted to any one individual under this Plan in any one year, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13. Shares subject to any unexercised portion of a terminated, canceled or expired option granted hereunder, and pursuant to which a Participant never acquired benefits of ownership, including payment of a stock dividend (but excluding voting rights), may again be subjected to grant and awards under the Plan.

	
            6.
 	
            Eligibility
 

Officers and other employees of the Company shall be eligible to receive Incentive Stock Options and Non-qualified Stock Options under the Plan. Directors who are not employees or officers of the Company shall not be eligible to receive Options under the Plan.

	
            7.
 	
            Non-qualified Stock Options
 

	
             
 	
            7.1
 	
            Grant of Non-qualified Stock Options.
 

The Committee may, from time to time, grant Non-qualified Stock Options to eligible employees and, upon such terms and conditions as the Committee may determine, grant Non-qualified options in exchange for and upon surrender of previously granted Options under this Plan. Non-qualified Stock Options granted under this Plan are subject to the following terms and conditions.

	
             
 	
            (a)
 	
            Price. The purchase price per share of Common Stock deliverable upon the exercise of each Non-qualified Stock Option shall determined by the Committee on the date the option is granted. The purchase price shall not 
 

 

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be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Common Stock on the Date of Grant and in no event below the par value of the Common Stock on the Date of Grant. Shares may be purchased only upon full payment of the purchase price. Payment of the purchase price may be made, in whole or in part, through the surrender of shares of the Common Stock of the Company at the Fair Market Value of such shares on the date of surrender determined in the manner described in Section 2(i).

	
             
 	
            (b)
 	
            Terms of Options. The terms during which each Non-qualified Stock Option may be exercised shall be determined by the Committee, but in no event shall a Non-qualified Stock Option be exercisable in whole or in part more than 10 years from the Date of Grant. The Committee shall determine the date on which each Non-qualified Stock Option shall become exercisable and may provide that a Non-qualified Stock Option shall become exercisable in installments. The shares comprising each installment may be purchased in whole or in part at any time after such installment becomes purchasable. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the time at which any Non-qualified Stock Option may be exercised in whole or in part. Notwithstanding the above, in the event of a Change in Control of the Company, all
Non-qualified Stock Options shall become immediately exercisable.
 

	
             
 	
            (c)
 	
            Termination of Employment. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at the time a Stock Option is granted, upon the termination of a Participant’s service for any reason other than Disability, Normal Retirement, Change in Control, death or Termination for Cause, the Participant’s Non-qualified Stock Options shall be exercisable only as to those shares which were immediately purchasable by the Participant at the date of termination and only for a period of three years following termination. Notwithstanding any provision set forth herein or contained in any Agreement relating to the award of a Stock Option, in the event of Termination for Cause, all rights under the Participant’s Non-qualified Stock Options shall expire upon termination. Unless otherwise determined by the Committee at
the time a Stock Option is granted, in the event of the death, Disability, termination due to Change in Control or Normal Retirement of any Participant, all Non-qualified Stock Options held by the Participant, whether or not exercisable at such time, shall be exercisable by the Participant or his legal representatives or successors in interest of the Participant for three years or such longer period as determined by the Committee following the date of the Participant’s death, Normal Retirement or cessation of employment due to Disability or Change in Control, provided that in no event shall the period extend beyond the expiration of the Non-qualified Stock Option term.
 

	
            8.
 	
            Incentive Stock Options
 

	
             
 	
            8.1
 	
            Grant of Incentive Stock Options.
 

 

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The Committee may, from time to time, grant Incentive Stock Options to eligible employees. Incentive Stock Options granted pursuant to the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions:

	
             
 	
            (a)
 	
            Price. The purchase price per share of Common Stock deliverable upon the exercise of each Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Common Stock on the Date of Grant and in no event below the par value of the Common Stock on the Date of Grant. However, if a Participant owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of Common Stock of the Company, the purchase price per share of Common Stock deliverable upon the exercise of each Incentive Stock Options shall not be less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Company’s Common Stock on the Date of Grant. Shares may be purchased only upon payment of the full purchase price. Payment of the purchase price may be made, in whole or in part, through the
surrender of shares of the Common Stock of the Company at the Fair Market Value of such shares on the date of surrender determined in the manner described in Section 2(i).
 

	
             
 	
            (b)
 	
            Amounts of Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted to any eligible employee in such amounts as determined by the Committee. The aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time the option is granted) of the Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted are exercisable for the first time by the Participant during any calendar year (under all plans of the Participant’s employer corporation and its parent and subsidiary corporations, if any) shall not exceed $100,000. The provisions of this Section 8.1(b) shall be construed and applied in accordance with Section 422(d) of the Code and the regulations, if any, promulgated thereunder. To the extent an award under this Section 8.1 exceeds this $100,000 limit, the portion of the award in excess of such limit shall be
deemed a Non-qualified Option.
 

	
             
 	
            (c)
 	
            Terms of Options. The term during which each Incentive Stock Option may be exercised shall be determined by the Committee, but in no event shall an Incentive Stock Options be exercisable in whole or in part more than 10 years from the Date of Grant. If at the time an Incentive Stock is granted to any employee, the employee owns Common Stock representing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of the Company (or, under Section 425(d) of the Code, is deemed to own Common Stock representing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all such classes of Common Stock, by reason of the ownership of such classes of Common Stock, directly or indirectly, by or for any brother, sister, spouse, ancestor or lineal descendent of such employee, or by or for any corporation, partnership, estate or
trust of which such employee is a shareholder, partner or beneficiary), the Incentive Stock Option granted to such employee shall not be exercisable after the expiration of five years from the Date of Grant. No Incentive Stock Option granted under the Plan 
 

 

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is transferable except by will or the laws of descent and distribution and is exercisable in his lifetime only by the employee to whom it is granted.

The Committee shall determine the date on which each Incentive Stock Option shall become exercisable and may provide that an Incentive Stock Option shall become exercisable in installments. The shares comprising each installment may be purchased in whole or in part at any time after such installment becomes purchasable, provided that the amount able to be first exercised in a given year is consistent with the terms of Section 422 of the Code. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, accelerate the time at which any Incentive Stock Option may be exercised in whole or in part. In the event of a Change in Control of the Company, all Incentive Stock Options shall become immediately exercisable.

	
             
 	
            (d)
 	
            Termination of Employment. Upon the termination of a Participant’s service for any reason other than Disability, Normal Retirement, Change in Control, death or Termination for Cause, the Participant’s Incentive Stock Options shall be exercisable only as to those shares which were immediately purchasable by the Participant at the date of termination and only for a period of three months following termination. In the event of Termination for Cause all rights under the Participant’s Incentive Stock Options shall expire upon termination.
 

In the event of death or Disability of any employee, all Incentive at such time, shall be exercisable by the Participant or the Participant’s legal representatives or beneficiaries for three years following the date of the Participant’s death or cessation of employment due to Disability. Upon termination of the Participant’s service due to Normal Retirement, or a Change in Control, all Incentive Stock Options held by such Participant, whether or not exercisable at such time, shall be exercisable for a period of three months following the date of Participant’s cessation of employment. In no event shall the exercise period extend beyond the expiration of the Incentive Stock Option term.

	
             
 	
            (e)
 	
            Compliance with Code. The options granted under this Section 8 of the Plan are intended to qualify as incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 4212 of the Code, but the Company makes no warranty as to the qualifications of any option as an incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.
 

	
            9.
 	
            Rights of a Shareholder: Nontransferablility
 

No Participant shall have any rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by a Non-qualified and/or Incentive Stock Option until the date of issuance of a stock certificate for such shares. Nothing in this Plan or in any Option granted confers on any person any right to continue in the employ of the Company or to continue to perform services for the Company or 

 

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interferes in any way with the right of the Company to terminate a Participant’s services as an officer or other employee at any time.

No Option under the Plan shall be transferable by the optionee other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and may only be exercised during his lifetime by the optionee, or by a guardian or legal representative.

	
            10.
 	
            Rights of a Shareholder: Transferability.
 

No Option under the Plan shall be transferable or assignable, or payable to or exercisable by, anyone other than the Participant to whom it was granted, except (i) by will or by the laws of descent and distribution, (ii) as a result of the disability of a Participant or (iii) that the Committee (in the form of an Option Agreement or otherwise) may permit transfers of Options by gift or otherwise to a member of a Participant’s immediate family and/or trusts whose beneficiaries are members of the Participant’s immediate family, or to such other persons or entities as may be approved by the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall Incentive Stock Options be transferable or assignable other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution.

 

	
            11.
 	
            Agreement with Grantees
 

Each grant of Options, will be evidenced by a written agreement, executed by the Participant and the Company which describes the conditions for receiving the Options including the date of grant, the purchase price if any, applicable periods, and any other terms and conditions as may be required by the Board of Directors or applicable securities law.

	
            12.
 	
            Designation of Beneficiary
 

A Participant may, with the consent of the Committee, designate a person or persons to receive, in the event of death, any Options to which the Participant would then be entitled. Such designation will be made upon forms supplied by and delivered to the Company and may be revoked in writing. If a Participant fails effectively to designate a beneficiary, then the Participant’s estate will be deemed to be the beneficiary. 

	
            13.
 	
            Dilution and other Adjustments
 

In the event of any change in the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company by reason of any stock dividend or split, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, reorganization, combination or exchange of shares, or other similar corporate change, or other increase or decrease in such shares without receipt or payment of consideration by the Company, the Committee will make such proportionate adjustments to previously granted Options, to prevent dilution or enlargement of the rights of the Participant, including any or all of the following: 

	
             
 	
            (a)
 	
            proportionate adjustments in the aggregate number of kind of shares of Common Stock which may be awarded under the Plan; 
 

 

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            (b)
 	
            adjustments in the aggregate number or kind of shares of Common Stock covered by Options already granted under the Plan;
 

	
             
 	
            (c)
 	
            adjustments in the purchase price of outstanding Incentive and/or Non-qualified Stock Options. 
 

No such adjustments may, however, materially change the value of benefits available to a Participant under a previously granted Options. 

	
            14.
 	
            Tax Withholding
 

There shall be deducted from each distribution of cash and/or Common Stock under the Plan the amount required by any governmental authority to be withheld for income tax purposes.

	
            15.
 	
            Amendment of the Plan
 

The Board of Directors may at any time, and from time to time, modify or amend the Plan in any respect subject to obtaining any shareholder approval required by applicable New Jersey and Federal banking law; provided further that if it has been determined to continue to qualify the Plan under Rule 16b-3, shareholder approval shall be required for any such modification or amendment is required in order to qualify under 16B-3, including any modifications or amendments which:

	
             
 	
            (a)
 	
            increases the maximum number of shares for which options may be granted under the Plan (subject, however, to the provisions of Section 12 hereof);
 

	
             
 	
            (b)
 	
            reduces the exercise price at which Options may be granted (subject, however, to the provisions of Section 12 hereof):
 

	
             
 	
            (c)
 	
            extends the period during which Options may be granted or exercised beyond the times originally prescribed; or
 

	
             
 	
            (d)
 	
            changes the persons eligible to participate in the Plan.
 

Failure to ratify or approve amendments or modifications to subsections (a) through (d) of this Section by shareholders shall be effective only as to the specific amendment or modification requiring such ratification. Other provisions, sections, and subsections of this Plan will remain in full force and effect.

No such termination, modification or amendment may affect the rights of a Participant under an outstanding Option.

	
            16.
 	
            Effective Date of Plan
 

This Plan was approved by the Board of Directors on February 12, 1998 and, subject to first obtaining approval at the 1998 Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of the Company by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of Common Stock of the Company entitled to vote at the 1998 Annual Meeting.

 

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            17.
 	
            Termination of the Plan
 

The right to grant Options under the Plan will terminate upon the earlier of ten (10) years after the Effective Date of the Plan or the issuance of Common Stock or the exercise of Options equivalent to the maximum number of shares reserved under the Plan as set forth in Section 5. The Board of Directors has the right to suspend or terminate the Plan at any time, provided that no such action will, without the consent of a Participant, adversely affect his rights under a previously granted Option.

	
            18.
 	
            Applicable Law
 

The Plan will be administered in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey and applicable Federal law.

	
            19.
 	
            Compliance with Section 16
 

If this Plan is qualified under Rule 16b-3, with respect to persons subject to Section 16 of the Exchange Act, transactions under this Plan are intended to comply with all applicable conditions of Rule 16b-3 or its successors under the Exchange Act. To the extent any provisions of the Plan or action by the Committee fail to so comply, it shall be deemed null and void, to the extent permitted by law and deemed advisable by the Committee.

 

 

9Exhibit 10.2

PEAPACK-GLADSTONE FINANCIAL CORPORATION

2002 LONG-TERM STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

(Adopted by Directors January 10, 2002)

(Adopted by Shareholders April 23, 2002)

(Amended by the Board of Directors December 31, 2005)

 

1.            Purpose. The purpose of the Plan is to provide additional incentive to those officers and key employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries whose substantial contributions are essential to the continued growth and success of the Company’s business in order to strengthen their commitment to the Company and its Subsidiaries, to motivate such officers and employees to faithfully and diligently perform their assigned responsibilities and to attract and retain competent and dedicated individuals whose efforts will result in the long-term growth and profitability of the Company. To accomplish such purposes, the Plan provides that the Company may grant Incentive Stock Options, Nonqualified Stock Options, Restricted Stock Awards and Stock Appreciation Rights.

	
             
  	
            2.
 	
            Definitions. For purposes of this Plan:
 

(a)          “Agreement” means the written agreement between the Company and an Optionee or Grantee evidencing the grant of an Option or Award and setting forth the terms and conditions thereof.

(b)          “Award” means a grant of Restricted Stock or Stock Appreciation Rights, or either or both of them.

	
             
  	
            (c)
 	
            “Bank” means Peapack-Gladstone Bank, a Subsi­diary.
 	
             

	
             
  	
            (d)
 	
            “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
 

(e)          “Cause” means termination upon an intentional failure to perform stated duties, breach of a fiduciary duty involving personal dishonesty or willful violation of any law, rule or regulation (other than traffic violations or similar offenses) or final cease-and-desist order.

(f)          “Change in Capitalization” means any increase, reduction, change or exchange of Shares for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company by reason of a reclassification, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization, issuance of warrants or rights, stock dividend, stock split or reverse stock split, combination or exchange of shares, repurchase of shares, change in corporate structure or otherwise.

(g)          “Change in Control” means an event of a nature that:  (1) any “person” (as the term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) who is not now presently but becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company representing 25% or more of the Company’s outstanding securities except for any securities purchased by any tax-qualified employee benefit plan of the Company; or (2) individuals who constitute the Board on the date hereof (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof, provided that any person 

 

 

 

becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election was approved by a vote of at least three-quarters of the directors comprising the Incumbent Board, or whose nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders was approved by the same Nominating Committee serving under an Incumbent Board, shall be, for purposes of this clause (2), considered as though he were a member of the Incumbent Board; or (3) filing is made for regulatory approval to implement a plan of reorganization, merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all the assets of  the Company or similar transaction in which the Company is not the resulting entity or such plan, merger, consolidation, sale or similar transaction occurs; or (4) a proxy statement soliciting proxies from shareholders of the Company shall be distributed by someone other than the current management of the Company, seeking stockholder approval
of a plan of reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company or similar transaction with one or more corporations as a result of which the outstanding shares of the class of securities then subject to the plan or transaction are exchanged for or converted into cash or property or securities not issued by the Company; or (5) a tender offer is made for 25% or more of the voting securities of the Company.

	
             
  	
            (h)
 	
            “Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
 

(i)            “Committee” means a committee consisting solely of two (2) or more directors who are Non-Employee Directors (as defined in Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act as it may be amended from time to time) of the Company and outside directors as defined pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code (as it may be amended from time to time) appointed by the Board to administer the Plan and to perform the functions set forth herein. Directors appointed by the Board to the Committee shall have the authority to act notwithstanding the failure to be so qualified.

(j)            “Company” means Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation, a New Jersey corporation.

(k)           “Disability” means the permanent and total inability by reason of mental or physical infirmity, or both, of an employee to perform the work customarily assigned to him. Additionally, a medical doctor selected or approved by the Board of Directors must advise the Committee that it is either not possible to determine when such Disability will terminate or that it appears probable that such Disability will be permanent during the remainder of the individual’s lifetime.

(l)            “Eligible Employee” means any officer or other key employee of the Company or a Subsidiary designated by the Committee as eligible to receive Options or Awards subject to the conditions set forth herein.

(m)         “Escrow Agent” means the escrow agent under the Escrow Agreement, designated by the Committee.

(n)           “Escrow Agreement” means an agreement between the Company, the Escrow Agent and a Grantee, in the form specified by the Committee, under which shares of Restricted Stock awarded pursuant hereto shall be held by the Escrow Agent until either (a) the restrictions relating to such shares expire and the shares are delivered to the Grantee or (b) the Company reacquires the shares pursuant hereto and the shares are delivered to the Company.

 

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            (o)
 	
            “Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 

(p)           “Fair Market Value” means the fair market value of the Shares as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; provided, however, that (A) if the Shares are admitted to quotation on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”) or other comparable quotation system and have been designated as a National Market System (“NMS”) security, Fair Market Value on any date shall be the last sale price reported for the Shares on such system on such date or on the last day preceding such date on which a sale was reported, (B) if the Shares are admitted to quotation on NASDAQ and have not been designated a NMS security, Fair
Market Value on any date shall be the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices of the Shares on such system on such date, or (C) if the Shares are admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, Fair Market Value on any date shall be the last sale price reported for the Shares on such exchange on such date or on the last date preceding such date on which a sale was reported.

(q)           “Grantee” means a person to whom an Award has been granted under the Plan.

(r)           “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

(s)           “Nonqualified Stock Option” means an Option which is not an Incentive Stock Option.

(t)            “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option, a Nonqualified Stock Option, or either or both of them.

(u)           “Optionee” means a person to whom an Option has been granted under the Plan.

(v)           “Parent” means any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of one of the other corporations in such chain.

(w)         “Plan” means the Peapack-Gladstone Financial Corporation 2002 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan as set forth in this instrument and as it may be amended from time to time.

(x)           “Restricted Stock” means Shares issued or transferred to an Eligible Employee which are subject to restrictions as provided in Section 8 hereof.

(aa)         “Retirement” means the retirement from active employment by the Company of an employee or officer but only if such person meets all of the following requirements:  (i) he has a minimum combined total of years of service to the Company or any Subsidiary (excluding service to any acquired company) and age equal to eighty (80), (ii) he is age sixty-two (62) or older, and (iii) he provides six (6) months prior written notice to the Company of the retirement.

 

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(ab)        “Shares” means the common stock, no par value, of the Company (including any new, additional or different stock or securities resulting from a Change in Capitalization).

(ac)         “Stock Appreciation Right” means a right to receive all or some portion of the increase in the value of shares of Common Stock as provided in Section 7 hereof.

(ad)        “Subsidiary” means any corporation in an unbroken chain of corporations, beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.

(ae)         “Successor Corporation” means a corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, which issues or assumes a stock option in a transaction to which Section 425(a) of the Code applies.

(af)         “Ten-Percent Shareholder” means an eligible Employee, who, at the time an Incentive Stock Option is to be granted to him, owns (within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company, a Parent or a Subsidiary within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code.

	
             
  	
            3.
 	
            Administration.
 

(a)           The Plan shall be administered by the Committee which shall hold meetings at such times as may be necessary for the proper administration of the Plan. The Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings. A majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum and a majority of a quorum may authorize any action. Each member of the Committee shall be a Non-Employee Director (as defined in Rule 16b-3 of the Exchange Act as it may be amended from time to time) and an outside director as defined pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code as it may be amended from time to time. No failure to be so qualified shall invalidate any Option or Award or any action or inaction under the Plan. No member of the Committee shall be personally liable for any action, determination or interpretation made in good
faith with respect to the Plan, the Options or the Awards, and all members of the Committee shall be fully indemnified by the Company with respect to any such action, determination or interpretation.

Subject to the express terms and conditions set forth herein, the Committee shall have the power from time to time:

(1)           to determine those Eligible Employees to whom Options shall be granted under the Plan and the number of Incentive Stock Options and/or Nonqualified Options to be granted to each eligible Employee and to prescribe the terms and conditions (which need not be identical) of each Option, including the purchase price per share of each Option;

(2)           to select those Eligible Employees to whom Awards shall be granted under the Plan and to determine the number of shares of Restricted Stock and/or Stock Appreciation Rights to be granted pursuant to each Award, the terms and  conditions of each Award, including the restrictions or performance criteria relating to such shares or rights, the purchase price per share, 

 

4

 

 

if any, of Restricted Stock and whether Stock Appreciation Rights will be granted alone or in conjunction with an Option;

(3)           to construe and interpret the Plan and the Options and Awards granted thereunder and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for the administration of the Plan, including, but not limited to, correcting any defect or supplying any omission, or reconciling any inconsistency in the Plan or in any Agreement, in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or advisable to make the Plan fully effective, and all decisions and determinations by the Committee in the exercise of this power shall be final and binding upon the Company or a Subsidiary, the Optionees and the Grantees, as the case may be;

(4)           to determine the duration and purposes for leaves of absence which may be granted to an Optionee or Grantee without constituting a termination of employment or service for purposes of the Plan; and

(5)           generally, to exercise such powers and to perform such acts as are deemed necessary or advisable to promote the best interests of the Company with respect to the Plan.

	
             
  	
            4.
 	
            Stock Subject to Plan.
 

(a)           The maximum number of Shares that may be issued or transferred pursuant to all Options and Awards under this Plan is 100,000, of which not more than 25,000 Shares may be issued or transferred pursuant to Options and/or Awards to any one Eligible Employee. Subject to the foregoing aggregate limitations, the maximum number of Shares (i) that may be issued or transferred pursuant to Options or Awards for Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights shall be 100,000 and (ii) that may be issued or transferred pursuant to Awards of Restricted Stock shall be 10,000. In each case, upon a Change in Capitalization after the adoption of this Plan by the Board on January 11, 2002, the Shares shall be adjusted
to the number and kind of Shares of stock or other securities existing after such Change in Capitalization.

(b)           Whenever any outstanding Option or portion thereof expires, is cancelled or is otherwise terminated (other than by exercise of the Option or any related Stock Appreciation Right), the shares of Common Stock allocable to the unexercised portion of such Option may again be the subject of Options and Awards hereunder.

(c)           Whenever any Shares subject to an Award or Option are resold to the Company, or are forfeited for any reason  pursuant to the terms of the Plan, such Shares may again be the subject of Options and Awards hereunder.

5.             Eligibility. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have full and final authority to select those Eligible Employees who will receive Options and/or Awards, but no person shall receive any Options or Awards unless he is an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary at the time the Option or Award is granted.

 

5

 

 

6.             Stock Options. The Committee may grant Options in accordance with the Plan, the terms and conditions of which shall be set forth in an Agreement. Each Option and Option Agreement shall be subject to the following conditions:

(a)           Purchase Price. The purchase price or the manner in which the purchase price is to be determined for Shares under each Option shall be set forth in the Agreement, provided that the purchase price per Share under each Incentive Stock Option shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share at the time the Option is granted (110% in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten-Percent Shareholder) and under each Nonqualified Stock Option shall not be less than 80% of the Fair Market Value of a Share at the time the Option is granted.

(b)           Duration. Options granted hereunder shall be for such term as the Committee shall determine, provided that (i) no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it is granted (five (5) years in the case of an Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten-Percent Shareholder) and (ii) no Nonqualified Stock Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years and one (1) day from the date it is granted. The Committee may, subsequent to the granting of any Option, extend the term thereof, but in no event shall the term as so extended exceed the maximum term provided for in the preceding sentence.

(c)           Non-Transferability. No Option granted hereunder shall be transferable by the Optionee to whom granted otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and an Option may be exercised during the lifetime of such Optionee only by the Optionee or his guardian or legal representative. The terms of such Option shall be binding upon the beneficiaries, executors, administrators, heirs and successors of the Optionee.

(d)           Stock Options; Vesting.  Subject to Section 6(h) hereof, each Option shall be exercisable in such installments (which need not be equal) and at such times as may be designated by the Committee and set forth in the Option Agreement. Unless otherwise provided in the Agreement, to the extent not exercised, installments shall accumulate and be exercisable, in whole or in part, at any time after becoming exercisable, but not later than the date the Option expires. Upon the death,  Disability or Retirement of an Optionee, all Options shall become immediately exercisable. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any Option or portion thereof at any time.

(e)           Method of Exercise. The exercise of an Option shall be made only by a written notice delivered in person or by mail to the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal executive office, specifying the number of Shares to be purchased and accompanied by payment therefor and otherwise in accordance with the Agreement pursuant to which the Option was granted. The purchase price for any shares purchased pursuant to the exercise of an Option shall be paid in full upon such exercise in cash, by check, or, at the discretion of the Committee and upon such terms and conditions as the Committee shall approve, by transferring Shares to the Company. Any Shares transferred to the Company as payment of the purchase price under an Option shall be valued at
their Fair Market Value on the day preceding the date of exercise of such Option. If requested by the Committee, the Optionee shall deliver the Agreement evidencing the Option and the Agreement evidencing any related Stock Appreciation Right to the Secretary of the Company who shall endorse thereon a notation of such exercise and return such Agreement to the Optionee. Not less than 100 Shares may be purchased at any time upon the exercise of an Option

 

6

 

 

unless the number of Shares so purchased constitutes the total number of Shares then purchasable under the Option.

(f)            Rights of Optionees. No Optionee shall be deemed for any purpose to be the owner of any Shares subject to any Option unless and until (i) the Option shall have been exercised pursuant to the terms thereof, (ii) the Company shall have issued and delivered the Shares to the Optionee, and (iii) the Optionee’s name shall have been entered as a shareholder of record on the books of the Company. Thereupon, the Optionee shall have full voting, dividend and other ownership rights with respect to such Shares.

(g)           Termination of Employment. In the event that an Optionee ceases to be employed by the Company or any Subsidiary, any outstanding Options held by such Optionee shall, unless the Option Agreement evidencing such Option provides otherwise, terminate as follows:

(1)          If the Optionee’s termination of employment is due to his death or Disability, the Options shall become fully vested and shall be exercisable for a period of three years following such termination of employment, and shall thereafter terminate; 

(2)          If the Optionee’s termination of employment is by the Company or a Subsidiary for Cause or is by the Optionee (other than due to the Optionee’s Retirement), the Option shall terminate on the date of the termination of employment; 

(3)          If the termination of employment is due to the Optionee’s Retirement, the Option shall become fully vested and shall be exercisable for 90 days (three years for an Option designated initially as a Nonqualified Stock Option); and

(4)          If the Optionee’s termination of employment is for any other reason, the Option (to the extent exercisable at the time of the Optionee’s termination of employment) shall be exercisable for a period of ninety (90) days following such termination of employment, and shall thereafter terminate, except that with respect to an Option initially designated as a Nonqualified Stock Option, if the Optionee’s termination of employment occurs within 12 months of a Change in Control, the Option shall be exercisable for three years following the termination of employment.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may provide, either at the time an Option is granted or thereafter, that the Option may be exercised after the periods provided for in this Section 6(g), but in no event beyond the term of the Option. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 6(g), no Option shall be exercisable beyond the term of the Option.

(h)           Effect of Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control, all Options outstanding on the date of such Change in Control shall become immediately and fully exercisable.

(i)            Substitution and Modification. Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee may modify outstanding Options or accept the surrender of outstanding Options (to the extent not exercised) and grant new Options in substitution for them. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no modification of an Option shall alter or impair any rights or obligations under the Option without the Optionee’s consent, except as provided for in this Plan or the Agreement.

 

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7.            Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may, in its discretion, either alone or in connection with the grant of an Option, grant Stock Appreciation Rights in accordance with the Plan, the terms and conditions of which shall be set forth in an Agreement. If granted in connection with an Option, a Stock Appreciation Right shall cover the same shares covered by the Option (or such lesser number of shares as the Committee may determine) and shall, except as provided in this Section 7, be subject to the same terms and  conditions as the related Option.

	
             
  	
            (a)
 	
            Time of Grant. A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted:
 
	
             
 	
            (i)
 	
            at any time if unrelated to an Option; or
 	
             

(ii)          if related to an Option, either at the time of grant, or at any time thereafter during the term of the Option.

	
             
  	
            (b)
 	
            Stock Appreciation Rights Related to an Option.
 

(1)           Payment. A Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with an Option shall entitle the holder thereof, upon exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right or any portion thereof, to receive payment of an amount computed pursuant to Section 7(b)(3).

(2)           Exercise. Subject to Section 7(f), a Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with an Option shall be exercisable at such time or times and only to the extent that the related Option is exercisable, and will not be transferable except to the extent the related Option may be transferable. A Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with an Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable only if the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise exceeds the purchase price specified in the related Incentive Stock Option. 

(3)           Amount Payable. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7(g), upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right related to an Option, the Grantee shall be entitled to receive an amount determined by multiplying (A) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right over the per Share purchase price under the related Option, by (B) the number of Shares as to which such Stock Appreciation Right is being exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may limit in any manner the amount payable with respect to any Stock Appreciation Right by including such a limit in the Agreement evidencing the Stock Appreciation Right at the time it is granted.

(4)           Treatment of Related Options and Stock Appreciation Rights Upon Exercise. Except as provided in Section 7(b)(v), (A) upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection with an Option, the Option shall be cancelled to the extent of the number of Shares as to which the Stock Appreciation Right is exercised and (B) upon the exercise of an Option granted in connection with a Stock Appreciation Right, the Stock Appreciation Right shall be cancelled to the extent of the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

(5)           Simultaneous Exercise of Stock Appreciation Right and Option. The Committee may provide, either at the time a Stock Appreciation Right is granted in connection with a  Nonqualified Stock Option or thereafter during the term of the Stock Appreciation Right, that, subject to Section 7(f), upon exercise of such Option, the Stock Appreciation Right shall automatically be deemed to be exercised to the extent of the number of Shares as to which the 

 

8

 

 

Option is exercised. In such event, the Grantee shall be entitled to receive the amount described in Section 7(b)(3) or 7(g) hereof, as the case may be (or some percentage  of such amount if so provided in the Agreement evidencing the Stock Appreciation Right), in addition to the Shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of the Option. If a Stock Appreciation Right Agreement contains an automatic exercise provision described in this Section 7(b)(v) and the Option or any portion thereof to which it relates is exercised within six (6) months from the date the Stock Appreciation Right is granted, such automatic exercise provision shall not be effective with respect to that exercise of the Option. The inclusion in an Agreement evidencing a Stock Appreciation Right of a provision described in this Section 7(b)(v) may be in addition to and not in lieu of the right to exercise the Stock Appreciation Right as
otherwise provided herein and in the Agreement.

(c)           Stock Appreciation Rights Unrelated to an Option. The Committee may grant to Eligible Employees Stock Appreciation Rights unrelated to Options. Stock Appreciation Rights unrelated to Options shall contain such terms and conditions as to exercisability, vesting and duration as the Committee shall determine, but in no event shall they have a term of greater than ten (10) years. Upon the death, Disability or Retirement of a Grantee, all Stock Appreciation Rights shall become immediately exercisable. Upon the death or Disability of a Grantee, the Stock Appreciation Rights held by that Grantee shall be exercisable for a period of one (1) year following such termination of employment, and shall thereafter terminate. Upon the Retirement of a Grantee, the Stock
Appreciation Rights held by that Grantee shall be exercisable for a period of ninety (90) days following such termination of employment, and shall thereafter terminate. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7(g), the amount payable upon exercise of such Stock Appreciation Rights shall be determined in accordance with Section 7(b)(3), except that “Fair Market Value of a Share on the date of the grant of the Stock Appreciation Right” shall be substituted for “purchase price under the related Option.”

(d)           Method of Exercise. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be exercised by a Grantee only by a written notice delivered in person or by mail to the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal executive office, specifying the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is being exercised. If requested by the Committee, the Grantee shall deliver the Agreement evidencing the Stock Appreciation Right being exercised and the Agreement evidencing any related Option to the Secretary of the Company who shall endorse thereon a notation of such exercise and return such Agreements to the Grantee.

(e)           Form of Payment. Payment of the amount determined under Sections 7(b)(3) or 7(c), may be made solely in whole shares of Common Stock in a number determined at their Fair Market Value on the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right or, alternatively, at the sole discretion of the Committee, solely in cash, or in a combination of cash and Shares as the Committee deems advisable. In the event that a Stock Appreciation Right is exercised within the sixty-day period following a Change in Control, any amount payable shall be solely in cash. If the Committee decides to make full payment in Shares, and the amount payable results in a fractional Share, payment for the fractional Share will be made in cash. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no payment in the
form of cash may be made upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right pursuant to Section 7(b)(3) or 7(c) to an officer of the Company or a Subsidiary who is subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, unless the exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right is made during the period beginning on the third business day and ending on the twelfth business day following the date of release for publication of the Company’s quarterly or annual statements of earnings. 

 

9

 

 

(f)            Restrictions. No Stock Appreciation Right may be exercised before the date six (6) months after the date it is granted, except in the event that the death or Disability of the Grantee occurs before the expiration of the six-month period.

(g)           Effect of Change in Control. In the event of a Change in Control, subject to Section 7(f), all Stock Appreciation Rights shall become immediately and fully exercisable.

8.             Restricted Stock. The Committee may grant Awards of Restricted Stock which shall be evidenced by an Agreement between the Company and the Grantee. Each Agreement shall contain such restrictions, terms and conditions as the Committee may require and (without limiting the generality of the foregoing) such Agreements may require that an appropriate legend be placed on Share certificates. Awards of Restricted Stock shall be subject to the following terms and provisions:

	
             
  	
            (a)
 	
            Rights of Grantee.
 

(1)           Shares of Restricted Stock granted pursuant to an Award hereunder shall be issued in the name of the Grantee as soon as reasonably practicable after the Award is granted and the purchase price, if any, is paid by the Grantee; provided, that the Grantee has executed an Agreement evidencing the Award, an Escrow Agreement, appropriate blank stock powers and any other documents which the Committee, in its absolute discretion, may require as a condition to the issuance of such  Shares. If a Grantee shall fail to execute the Agreement evidencing a Restricted Stock Award, an Escrow Agreement or appropriate blank stock powers or shall fail to pay the purchase price, if any, for the Restricted Stock, the Award shall be null and void. Shares issued in connection with a Restricted Stock
Award, together with the stock powers, shall be deposited with the Escrow Agent. Except as restricted by the terms of the Agreement, upon the delivery of the Shares to the Escrow Agent, the Grantee shall have all of the rights of a shareholder with respect to such Shares, including the right to vote the shares and to receive, subject to Section 8(d), all dividends or other distributions paid or made with respect to the Shares.

(2)           If a Grantee receives rights or warrants with respect to any Shares which were awarded to him as Restricted Stock, such rights or warrants or any Shares or other securities he acquires by the exercise of such rights or warrants may be held, exercised, sold or otherwise disposed of by the Grantee free and clear of the restrictions and obligations provided by this Plan.

(b)           Non-Transferability. Until any restrictions upon the Shares of Restricted Stock awarded to a Grantee shall have lapsed in the manner set forth in Section 8(c), such Shares shall not be sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of and shall not be pledged or otherwise hypothecated, nor shall they be delivered to the Grantee. Upon the termination of employment of the Grantee, all of such Shares with respect to which restrictions have not lapsed shall be resold by the Grantee to the Company at the same price paid by the Grantee for such Shares or shall be forfeited and automatically transferred to and reacquired by the Company at no cost to the Company if no purchase price had been paid for such Shares. The Committee may also impose such other restrictions and
conditions on the Shares as it deems appropriate.

	
             
  	
            (c)
 	
            Lapse of Restrictions.
 

 

 

10

 

 

(1)          Restrictions upon Shares of Restricted Stock awarded hereunder shall lapse at such time or times and on such terms, conditions and satisfaction of performance criteria as the Committee may determine; provided, however, that the restrictions upon such Shares shall lapse only if the Grantee on the date of such lapse is then and has continuously been an employee of the Company or a Subsidiary from the date the Award was granted, or unless the Committee sets a later date for the lapse of such restrictions.

(2)           In the event of a Change in Control, all restrictions upon any Shares of Restricted Stock shall lapse immediately and all such Shares shall become fully vested in the Grantee thereof.

(3)           In the event of termination of employment as a result of death, Disability or Retirement of a Grantee, all restrictions upon  Shares of Restricted Stock awarded to  such Grantee shall thereupon immediately lapse. The Committee may also decide at any time in its absolute discretion and on such terms and conditions as it deems appropriate, to remove or modify the restrictions upon Shares of Restricted Stock awarded hereunder, unless the Committee sets a later date for the lapse of such restrictions.

(d)           Treatment of Dividends. At the time of an Award of Shares of Restricted Stock, the Committee may, in its discretion, determine that the payment to the Grantee of dividends, or a specified portion thereof, declared or paid on Shares of Restricted Stock by the Company, shall be deferred until the earlier to occur of (i) the lapsing of the restrictions imposed upon such Shares, in which case such dividends shall be paid over to the Grantee, or (ii) the forfeiture of such Shares under Section 8(b) hereof, in which case such dividends shall be forfeited to the Company, and such dividends shall be held by the Company for the account of the Grantee until such time. In the event of such deferral, interest shall be credited on the amount of such dividends held by
the Company for the account of the Grantee from time to time at such rate per annum as the Committee, in its discretion, may determine. Payment of deferred dividends, together with interest accrued thereon as aforesaid, shall be made upon the earlier to occur of the events specified in (i) and (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence, in the manner specified therein.

(e)           Delivery of Shares. When the restrictions imposed hereunder and in the Plan expire or have been cancelled with respect to one or more shares of Restricted Stock, the Company shall notify the Grantee and the Escrow Agent of same. The Escrow Agent shall then return the certificate covering the Shares of Restricted Stock to the Company and upon receipt of such certificate the Company shall deliver to the Grantee (or such Grantee’s legal representative, beneficiary or heir) a certificate for a number of shares of Common Stock, without any legend or restrictions (except those required by any federal or state securities laws), equivalent to the number of Shares of Restricted Stock for which restrictions have been cancelled or have expired. A new certificate
covering Shares of Restricted Stock previously awarded to the Grantee which remain restricted shall be issued to the Grantee and held by the Escrow Agent and the Agreement, as it relates to such shares, shall remain in effect.

	
             
  	
            9.
 	
            Loans.
 

(a)           The Company or any Subsidiary may make loans to a Grantee or Optionee in connection with the purchase of Shares pursuant to an Award or in connection with the exercise 

 

11

 

 

of an Option, subject to the following terms and conditions and such other terms and conditions not inconsistent with the Plan,  including the rate of interest, if any, as the Committee shall impose from time to time.

(b)           No loan made under the Plan shall exceed the sum of (i) the aggregate purchase price payable pursuant to the Option or Award with respect to which the loan is made, plus (ii) the amount of the reasonably estimated income taxes payable by the Optionee or Grantee with respect to the Option or Award. In no event may any such loan exceed the Fair Market Value, at the date of exercise, of any such Shares.

(c)           No loan shall have an initial term exceeding ten (10) years; provided, that loans under the Plan shall be renewable at the discretion of the Committee; and provided, further, that the indebtedness under each loan shall become due and payable, as the case may be, on a date no later than (i) one (1) year after termination of the Optionee’s or Grantee’s employment due to death, retirement or Disability, or (ii) the date of termination of the Optionee’s or Grantee’s employment for any reason other than death, retirement or Disability.

(d)           Loans under the Plan may be satisfied by an Optionee or Grantee, as determined by the Committee, in cash or, with the consent of the Committee, in whole or in part by the transfer to the Company of Shares whose Fair Market Value on the date of such payment is equal to the cash amount for which such Shares are transferred.

(e)           A loan shall be secured by a pledge of Shares with a Fair Market Value of not less than the principal amount of the loan. After partial repayment of a loan, pledged shares no longer required as security may be released to the Optionee or Grantee.

(f)            Every loan shall meet all applicable laws, regulations and rules of the Federal Reserve Board and any other governmental agency having jurisdiction.

	
             
  	
            10.
 	
            Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization.
 

(a)           In the event of a Change in Capitalization, the Committee shall conclusively determine the appropriate adjustments, if any, to the maximum number and class of shares of stock with respect to which Options or Awards may be granted under the Plan, the number and class of shares as to which Options or Awards have been granted under the Plan, and the purchase price therefor, if applicable.

(b)           Any such adjustment in the Shares or other securities subject to outstanding Incentive Stock Options (including any adjustments in the purchase price) shall be made in such manner as not to constitute a modification as defined by Section 425(h)(3) of the Code and only to the extent otherwise permitted by Sections 422 and 425 of the Code.

(c)           If, by reason of a Change in Capitalization, a Grantee of an Award shall be entitled to new, additional or different shares of stock or securities (other than rights or warrants to purchase securities), such new additional or different shares shall thereupon be subject to all of the conditions, restrictions and performance criteria which were applicable to the Shares or units pursuant to the Award prior to such Change in Capitalization.

 

12

 

 

11.          Effect of Certain Transactions. In the event of (i) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company, (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or (iii) the sale or disposition of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, provision shall be made in connection with such transaction for the assumption of the Plan and the Options or Awards theretofore granted under the Plan, or the substitution for such Options or Awards of new options or awards of the Successor Corporation, with appropriate adjustment as to the number and kind of shares and the purchase price for shares thereunder.

12.          Release of Financial Information. A copy of the Company’s annual report to shareholders shall be delivered to each Optionee and Grantee at the time such report is distributed to the Company’s shareholders. Upon request the Company shall furnish to each Optionee and Grantee a copy of its most recent annual report and each quarterly report and current report filed under the Exchange Act, since the end of the Company’s prior fiscal year.

13.          Termination and Amendment of the Plan. The Plan shall terminate on the day preceding the tenth anniversary of its effective date and no Option or Award may be granted thereafter. The Board may sooner terminate or amend the Plan at any time, and from time to time; provided, however, that, except as provided in Sections 10 and 11 hereof, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the shareholders of the Company in accordance with applicable law and regulations at an annual or special meeting held within twelve months before or after the date of adoption of such amendment, where such amendment will:

(a)           increase the number of Shares as to which Options or Awards may be granted under the Plan; or

	
             
  	
            (b)
 	
            change the class of persons eligible to participate in the Plan.
 

The following amendments shall not require Shareholder approval unless required by law or regulation to preserve the intended benefits of the Plan to the Company or the participants:

(a)          change the minimum purchase price of Shares pursuant to Options or Awards as provided herein;

(b)          extend the maximum period for granting or exercising Options provided herein; or

(c)          otherwise materially increase the benefits accruing to Eligible Employees under the Plan.

Except as provided in Sections 10 and 11 hereof, rights and obligations under any Option or Award granted before any amendment of the Plan shall not be altered or impaired by such amendment, except with the consent of the Optionee or Grantee, as the case may be.

14.          Non-Exclusivity of the Plan. The adoption of the Plan by the Board shall not be construed as amending, modifying or rescinding any previously approved incentive arrangement or as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without limitation, the granting of stock options otherwise than under the Plan, and such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.

 

13

 

 

15.          Limitation of Liability. As illustrative of the limitations of liability of the Company, but not intended to be exhaustive thereof, nothing in the Plan shall be construed to:

(a)           give any person any right to be granted an Option or Award other than at the sole discretion of the Committee;

(b)           give any person any rights whatsoever with respect to Shares except as specifically provided in the Plan;

(c)           limit in any way the right of the Company to terminate the employment of any person at any time; or

(d)           be evidence of any agreement or understanding, expressed or implied, that the Company will employ any person in any particular position at any particular rate of compensation or for any particular period of time.

	
             
  	
            16.
 	
            Regulations and Other Approvals; Governing Law.
 

(a)           This Plan and the rights of all persons claiming hereunder shall be construed and determined in accordance with the laws of the State of New Jersey without giving effect to the choice of law principles thereof, except to the extent that such law is preempted by federal law.

(b)          The obligation of the Company to sell or deliver Shares with respect to Options and Awards granted under the Plan shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including all applicable federal and state securities laws, and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.

(c)           The Plan is intended to comply with Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act and Section 162(m) of the Code (each as amended from time to time) and the Committee shall interpret and administer the provisions of the Plan or any Agreement in a manner consistent therewith to the extent necessary. Any provisions inconsistent with such Rule or Section shall be inoperative but shall not affect the validity of the Plan or any grants thereunder.

(d)           Except as otherwise provided in Section 13, the Board may make such changes as may be necessary or appropriate to comply with the rules and regulations of any government authority or to obtain for Eligible Employees granted Incentive Stock Options the tax benefits under the applicable provisions of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(e)           Each Option and Award is subject to the requirement that, if at any time the Committee determines, in its absolute discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of Shares issuable pursuant to the Plan is required by any securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Option or the issuance of Shares, no Options shall be granted or payment made or Shares issued, in whole or in part, unless listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval has been effected or obtained free of any conditions unacceptable to the Committee.

 

14

 

 

(f)            In the event that the disposition of Shares acquired pursuant to the Plan is not covered by a then current registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and is not otherwise exempt from such registration, such Shares shall be restricted against transfer to the extent required by the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or regulations thereunder, and the Committee may require any individual receiving Shares pursuant to the Plan, as a condition precedent to receipt of such Shares (including upon exercise of an Option), to represent to the Company in writing that the Shares acquired by such individual are acquired for investment only and not with a view to distribution.

	
             
  	
            17.
 	
            Miscellaneous.
 

(a)           Multiple Agreements. The terms of each Option or Award may differ from other Options or Awards granted under the Plan at the same time, or at some other time. The Committee may also grant more than one Option or Award to a given Eligible Employee during the term of the Plan, either in addition to, or in substitution for, one or more Options or Awards previously granted to that Eligible Employee. The grant of multiple Options and/or Awards may be evidenced by a single Agreement or multiple Agreements, as determined by the Committee.

(b)           Withholding of Taxes. The Company shall have the right to deduct from any distribution of cash to any Optionee  or Grantee an amount equal to the federal, state and local income taxes and other amounts required by law to be withheld with respect to any Option or Award. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if an Optionee or Grantee is entitled to receive Shares upon exercise of an Option or pursuant to an Award, the Company shall have the right to require such Optionee or Grantee, prior to the delivery of such Shares, to pay to the Company the amount of any federal, state or local income taxes and other amounts which the Company is required by law to withhold. The Agreement evidencing any Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan
shall provide that if the Optionee makes a disposition, within the meaning of Section 425(c) of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder, of any Share or Shares issued to him or her pursuant to his or her exercise of the Incentive Stock Option within the two-year period commencing on the day after the date of grant of such Option or within the one-year period commencing on the day after the date of transfer of the Share or Shares to the Optionee pursuant to the exercise of such Option, he or she shall, within ten (10) days of such disposition, notify the Company thereof and immediately deliver to the Company any amount of federal income tax withholding required by law.

(c)          Designation of Beneficiary. Each Optionee and Grantee may, with the consent of the Committee, designate a person or persons to receive in the event of his/her death, any Option or Award or any amount payable pursuant thereto, to which he/she would then be entitled. Such designation will be made upon forms supplied by and delivered to the Company and may be revoked in writing. If an Optionee fails effectively to designate a beneficiary, then his/her estate will be deemed to be the beneficiary.

18.          Effective Date. The effective date of the Plan shall be the date of its adoption by the Board, subject only to the approval by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present to be held within twelve (12) months of such adoption. No Options or Awards shall vest hereunder unless such Shareholder approval is obtained.

 

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