Document:

Exhibit 10.22

 

RIGEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

2000 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS’ STOCK OPTION PLAN

 

ADOPTED AUGUST 18, 2000

APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS SEPTEMBER 11, 2000

EFFECTIVE DATE: DECEMBER 4, 2000

AMENDED AND RESTATED APRIL 24, 2003

AMENDED AND RESTATED JUNE 20, 2003

APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS JUNE 20, 2003

AMENDED AND RESTATED APRIL 22, 2005

APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS JUNE 2, 2005

AMENDED AND RESTATED JANUARY 31, 2007

APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS MAY 31, 2007

AMENDED AND RESTATED SEPTEMBER 18, 2007

AMENDED AND RESTATED FEBRUARY 21, 2008

APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS MAY 29, 2008

AMENDED AND RESTATED MAY 19, 2009

AMENDED AND RESTATED JANUARY 28, 2010

APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS MAY 27, 2010

AMENDED AND RESTATED JANUARY 28, 2010

APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS MAY 27, 2010

AMENDED AND RESTATED FEBRUARY 4, 2011

APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS MAY 19, 2011

 

1.                                      PURPOSES.

 

(a)   Eligible Option Recipients.  The persons eligible to receive Options are the Non-Employee Directors of the Company.

 

(b)   Available Options.  The purpose of the Plan is to provide a means by which Non-Employee Directors may be given an opportunity to benefit from increases in value of the Common Stock through the granting of Nonstatutory Stock Options.

 

(c)   General Purpose.  The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of its Non-Employee Directors, to secure and retain the services of new Non-Employee Directors and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and its Affiliates.

 

2.                                      DEFINITIONS.

 

(a)                                  “Affiliate” means, at the time of determination, any “parent” or “subsidiary” of the Company as such terms are defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. The Board shall have the authority to determine the time or times at which “parent” or “subsidiary” status is determined within the foregoing definition.

 

(b)                                  “Annual Grant” means an Option granted annually to all Non-Employee Directors who meet the criteria specified in subsection 6(b) of the Plan.

 

(c)                                  “Annual Meeting” means the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Company.

 

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

 

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(e)                                  A “Change in Control,” with respect to Options granted on or after the effective date of the Plan, will be deemed to have occurred upon the first to occur of an event set forth in any one of the following paragraphs:

 

(i)                                    the acquisition (other than from the Company, by any person (as such term is defined in Section 13(c) or 14(d) of the Exchange Act of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding voting securities;

 

(ii)                                the individuals who, as of the effective date of the Plan, are members of the Board (the “Incumbent Board”), cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board, unless the election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, of any new director was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the Incumbent Board, and such new director shall, for purposes of this Plan, be considered as a member of the Incumbent Board; or

 

(iii)                            the closing of:

 

(1)                                 a merger or consolidation involving the Company if the stockholders of the Company, immediately before such merger or consolidation, do not, as a result of such merger or consolidation, own, directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the corporation resulting from such merger or consolidation in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company outstanding immediately before such merger or consolidation; or

 

(2)                                 a complete liquidation or dissolution of the Company or an agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Change in Control shall not be deemed to occur solely because fifty percent (50%) or more of the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities is acquired by (i) a trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under one or more employee benefit plans maintained by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) any corporation which, immediately prior to such acquisition, is owned directly or indirectly by the stockholders of the Company in the same proportion as their ownership of stock in the Company immediately prior to such acquisition.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the term Change in Control shall not include a sale of assets, merger or other transaction effected exclusively for the purpose of changing the domicile of the Company.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing or any other provision of this Plan, the definition of Change in Control (or any analogous term) in an individual written agreement between the Company or any Affiliate and the Optionholder shall supersede the foregoing definition with respect to Options subject to such agreement; provided, however, that if no definition of Change in Control or any analogous term is set forth in such an individual written agreement, the foregoing definition shall apply.

 

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

 

(g)                                 “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

 

(h)                                 “Company” means Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

(i)                                    “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 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.

 

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(j)                                    “Continuous Service” means that the Optionholder’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated. The Optionholder’s Continuous Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Optionholder renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Optionholder renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Optionholder’s service. For example, a change in status without interruption from a Non-Employee Director of the Company to a Consultant of an Affiliate or an Employee 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.

 

(k)                                “Director” means a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(l)                                    “Disability” means the permanent and total disability of a person within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

 

(m)                              “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.

 

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

 

(o)                                  “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.

 

(p)                                  “Initial Grant” means an Option granted to a Non-Employee Director who meets the criteria specified in subsection 6(a) of the Plan.

 

(q)                                  “IPO Date” means the effective date of the initial public offering of the Common Stock.

 

(r)                                  “Non-Employee Director” means a Director who is not an Employee.

 

(s)                                  “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option not intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(t)                                    “Officer” means 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.

 

(u)                                 “Option” means a Nonstatutory Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

(v)                                   “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.

 

(w)                                “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.

 

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(x)                                  “Plan” means this Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2000 Non-Employee Directors’ Stock Option Plan.

 

(y)                                  “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.

 

(z)                                  “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

3.                                      ADMINISTRATION.

 

(a)   Administration by Board.  The Board shall administer the Plan. The Board may not delegate administration of the Plan to a committee.

 

(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 the provisions of each Option to the extent not specified in the Plan.

 

(ii)                                To construe and interpret the Plan and Options 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 Option 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 an Option as provided in Section 12.

 

(iv)                               To terminate or suspend the Plan as provided in Section 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 that are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan.

 

(c)   Effect of Board’s Decision.  All determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Board in good faith shall not be subject to review by any person and shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons.

 

(d)   Cancellation and Re-Grant of Options.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, neither the Board nor any Committee shall have the authority to: (i) reprice any outstanding Option under the Plan, (ii) cancel and re-grant any outstanding Option under the Plan, or (iii) effect any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles unless, in each case, the stockholders of the Company have approved such an action within twelve (12) months prior to such an event.

 

4.                                      SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

 

(a)   Share Reserve.  Subject to the provisions of Section 11 relating to adjustments upon changes in the Common Stock, the Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Options shall not exceed in the aggregate 1,135,000 shares of Common Stock, which number consists of (i) 33,333 shares of Common stock initially reserved for issuance under the Plan plus (ii) 66,667 shares of Common stock approved by the Board in April 2003 and subsequently approved by the Company’s stockholders plus (iii) 225,000 shares of Common Stock approved by the Board in April 2005 and subsequently approved by the Company’s stockholders plus (iv) 110,000 shares of Common Stock approved by the Board in January 2007 and subsequently approved by the Company’s stockholders plus (v) 100,000 shares of Common Stock approved by the Board in February 2008 and subsequently approved by the Company’s stockholders plus (vi) 350,000 shares of Common Stock approved by the Board in January 2010 and subsequently approved by the Company’s stockholders plus (vii) 250,000 shares of Common Stock approved by the Board in February 2011 and subsequently approved by the Company’s stockholders.

 

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(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 shares of Common Stock not acquired under such Option shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. If any shares subject to an Option are not delivered to an Optionholder because the Option is exercised through a reduction of shares subject to the Option (i.e ., “net exercised”), the number of shares that are not delivered to the Optionholder shall not remain available for issuance under the Plan. If any shares subject to an Option are not delivered to an Optionholder because such shares are withheld in satisfaction of the withholding of taxes incurred in connection with the exercise of an Option, the number of shares that are not delivered to the Optionholder shall not remain available for subsequent issuance under the Plan. If the exercise price of any Option is satisfied by tendering shares of Common Stock held by the Optionholder (either by actual delivery or attestation), then the number of shares so tendered shall not remain available for subsequent issuance under the Plan.

 

(c)   Source of Shares.  The shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares or reacquired shares, bought on the market or otherwise.

 

5.                                      ELIGIBILITY.

 

The Options as set forth in section 6 automatically shall be granted under the Plan to all Non-Employee Directors who meet the specified criteria.

 

6.                                      NON-DISCRETIONARY GRANTS.

 

(a)   Initial Grants.  Without any further action of the Board, each person who is elected or appointed for the first time to be a Non-Employee Director automatically shall, upon the date of his or her initial election or appointment to be a Non-Employee Director by the Board or stockholders of the Company, be granted an Initial Grant to purchase twenty-five thousand (25,000) shares of Common Stock on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

(b)   Annual Grants.  Without any further action of the Board, a Non-Employee Director shall be granted an Annual Grant as follows: On the day following each Annual Meeting commencing with the Annual Meeting in 2010, each person who is then a Non-Employee Director automatically shall be granted an Annual Grant to purchase fifteen thousand (15,000) shares of Common Stock on the terms and conditions set forth herein; provided, however, that if the person has not been serving as a Non-Employee Director for the entire period since the preceding Annual Meeting, then the number of shares subject to the Annual Grant shall be reduced pro rata for each full quarter prior to the date of grant during which such person did not serve as a Non-Employee Director.

 

7.                                      OPTION PROVISIONS.

 

Each Option shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as required by the Plan. Each Option shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the Plan, as the Board shall deem appropriate. Each Option shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

 

(a)   Term.  No Option shall be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date it was granted.

 

(b)   Exercise Price.  The exercise price of each Option shall be 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 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.

 

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(c)   Consideration.  The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to an Option may be paid, to the extent permitted by applicable statutes and regulations, in any combination of the following methods:

 

(i)                                    By cash or check.

 

(ii)                                Provided that at the time of exercise the Common Stock is publicly traded and quoted regularly in The Wall Street Journal , by delivery to the Company of shares of Common Stock that are owned free and clear of any liens, claims, encumbrances or security interests, and that are valued at Fair Market Value on the date of exercise. “Delivery” for these purposes shall include delivery to the Company of the Optionholder’s attestation of ownership of such shares of Common Stock in a form approved by the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may not exercise the Option by tender to the Company of Common Stock to the extent such tender would violate the provisions of any law, regulation or agreement restricting the redemption of the Company’s stock.

 

(iii)                            Provided that at the time of exercise the Common Stock is publicly traded and quoted regularly in The Wall Street Journal , pursuant to a program developed under Regulation T as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board that, prior to the issuance of Common Stock, results in either the receipt of cash (or check) by the Company or the receipt of irrevocable instructions to pay the aggregate exercise price to the Company from the sales proceeds.

 

(iv)                               By a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price; provided, however, that the Company shall accept a cash or other payment from the Optionholder to the extent of any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such holding back of whole shares; provided, further, however, that shares of Common Stock will no longer be outstanding under an Option and will not be exercisable thereafter to the extent that (i) shares are used to pay the exercise price pursuant to the “net exercise,” (ii) shares are delivered to the Optionholder as a result of such exercise, and (iii) shares are withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations.

 

(d)   Transferability.  The Board may, in its sole discretion, impose such limitations on the transferability of Options as the Board shall determine. In the absence of such a determination by the Board to the contrary, the following restrictions on the transferability of Options shall apply:

 

(i)   Restrictions on Transfer.  An 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; provided, however, that the Board may, in its sole discretion, permit transfer of the Option in a manner that is not prohibited by applicable tax and securities laws upon the Optionholder’s request. Except as explicitly provided herein, an Option may not be transferred for consideration.

 

(ii)   Domestic Relations Orders.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may be transferred pursuant to a domestic relations order.

 

(iii)   Beneficiary Designation.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form provided by or otherwise satisfactory to the Company and any broker designated by the Company to effect Option exercises, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise. In the absence of such a designation, the executor or administrator of the Optionholder’s estate shall be entitled to exercise the Option and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise.

 

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(e)   Exercise Schedule.  The Option shall be exercisable as the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option vest.

 

(f)                                    Vesting Schedule.

 

(i)                                    Each Option granted as an initial grant shall vest in accordance with the schedule set forth below that results in a shorter period of full vesting:

 

(1)                                 1/36th of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option shall vest each month after the date of grant over a period of three (3) years; or

 

(2)                                 the Option shall vest in equal monthly installments after the date of grant over a period commencing on the date that the Optionholder is appointed for the first time to be a Non-Employee Director by the Board and ending on the date of the Annual Meeting at which the Optionholder is first scheduled to be considered for election to be a Non-Employee Director by the stockholders of the Company.

 

(ii)                                Each Option granted as an annual grant before the Annual Meeting in 2008 shall vest such that 1/36th of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Option shall vest each month after the date of grant over a period of three (3) years; and each Option granted as an annual grant on or after the Annual Meeting in 2008 shall vest such that 1/12th of the shares of Common Stock subject to such Option shall vest each month after the date of grant over a period of one (1) year.

 

(g)   Termination of Continuous Service.  In the event an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Optionholder’s death or 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 three (3) months following the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service, 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, the Option shall terminate.

 

(h)   Extension of Termination Date.  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 7(a) or (ii) the expiration of a total period of three (3) months (that need not be consecutive) 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.

 

(i)   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 (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.

 

(j)   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 three-month period 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 

 

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death, but only within the period ending on the earlier of (1) the date eighteen (18) months following the date of death 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.

 

8.                                      COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

 

(a)   Availability of Shares.  During the terms of the Options, the Company shall keep available at all times the number of shares of Common Stock required to satisfy such Options.

 

(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 Options and to issue and sell shares of Common Stock upon exercise of the Options; provided, however, that this undertaking shall not require the Company to register under the Securities Act the Plan, any Option or any stock issued or issuable pursuant to any such Option. 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 Options unless and until such authority is obtained.

 

9.                                      USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.

 

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

 

10.                              MISCELLANEOUS.

 

(a)   Stockholder Rights.  No Optionholder 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 Option unless and until such Optionholder has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Option pursuant to its terms.

 

(b)   No Service Rights.  Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Option granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Optionholder any right to continue to serve the Company as a Non-Employee Director 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, (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.

 

(c)   Investment Assurances.  The Company may require an Optionholder, as a condition of exercising or acquiring stock under any Option, (i) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company as to the Optionholder’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 Option; and (ii) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that the Optionholder is acquiring the stock subject to the Option for the Optionholder’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 Option 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 

 

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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.

 

(d)   Withholding Obligations.  The Optionholder may satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of stock under an Option by any of the following means (in addition to the Company’s right to withhold from any compensation paid to the Optionholder 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 Optionholder as a result of the exercise or acquisition of stock under the Option, provided, however, that no shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld by law; or (iii) delivering to the Company owned and unencumbered shares of the Common Stock.

 

(e)   Electronic Delivery.  Any reference herein to a “written” agreement or document shall include any agreement or document delivered electronically or posted on the Company’s intranet.

 

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 Option, 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 Board shall appropriately and proportionately adjust (i) the class(es) and maximum number of securities subject both to the Plan pursuant to subsection 4(a) and to the nondiscretionary Options specified in Section 5, (ii) the class(es) and number of securities and price per share of stock subject to outstanding Options. 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)   Corporate Transaction.  In the event of (i) a sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the securities or assets of the Company, (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or (iii) a reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of 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, then any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation may assume any Options outstanding under the Plan or may substitute similar Options (including an option to acquire the same consideration paid to the stockholders in the transaction described in this subsection 11(b)) for those outstanding under the Plan. In the event no surviving corporation or acquiring corporation assumes such Options or substitutes similar Options for those outstanding under the Plan, then with respect to Options held by Optionholders who are in Continuous Service immediately prior to such an event, the vesting of such Options (and the time during which such Options may be exercised) shall be accelerated in full, and the Options shall terminate if not exercised at or prior to such event. With respect to any other Options outstanding under the Plan, such Options shall terminate if not exercised prior to such event.

 

(c)   Change in Control.  Upon a Change in Control, all Options held by each Optionholder whose Continuous Service has not terminated immediately prior to the Change in Control shall become fully vested and exercisable immediately prior to the effectiveness of such Change in Control.

 

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12.                               AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN AND OPTIONS.

 

(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 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.

 

(c)   No Impairment of Rights.  Rights under any Option 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 Optionholder and (ii) the Optionholder consents in writing.

 

(d)   Amendment of Options.  The Board at any time, and from time to time, may amend the terms of any one or more Options including, but not limited to, amendments to provide terms more favorable than previously provided in the agreement evidencing an Option, subject to any specified limits in the Plan that are not subject to Board discretion; provided, however, that the rights under any Option shall not be impaired by any such amendment unless (i) the Company requests the consent of the Optionholder and (ii) the Optionholder consents in writing.

 

13.                               TERMINATION OR SUSPENSION OF THE PLAN.

 

(a)   Plan Term.  The Board may suspend or terminate the Plan at any time. No Options 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 Option granted while the Plan is in effect except with the written consent of the Optionholder.

 

14.                               EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN.

 

The Plan shall become effective on the IPO Date, but no Option shall be exercised 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 Delaware, without regard to such state’s conflict of laws rules.

 

10Exhibit 10.33

 

RIGEL PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.

 

2011 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN

 

ADOPTED: MARCH 23, 2011

APPROVED BY STOCKHOLDERS MAY 19, 2011

TERMINATION DATE: MARCH 23, 2021

 

1.                                      PURPOSES.

 

(a)           The persons eligible to receive Stock Awards are the Employees (other than the Company’s chief executive officer), Directors and Consultants of the Company and its Affiliates.

 

(b)           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 bonuses and (iv) rights to acquire restricted stock.

 

(c)           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.

 

2.                                      DEFINITIONS.

 

(a)           “Affiliate” means, at the time of determination, any “parent” or “subsidiary” of the Company as such terms are defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. The Board shall have the authority to determine the time or times at which “parent” or “subsidiary” status is determined within the foregoing definition.

 

(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 of one or more members of the Board appointed by the Board in accordance with subsection 3(c).

 

(e)           “Common Stock” means the common stock of the Company.

 

(f)            “Company” means Rigel Pharmaceuticals, 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 who are not compensated by the Company for their services as Directors or Directors 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 service. For example, a change in status without interruption from an Employee of the Company to a Consultant of an Affiliate or a Director 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

 

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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.

 

(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)           “Non-Employee Director” means a Director 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.

 

(q)           “Nonstatutory Stock Option” means an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(r)           “Officer” means 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.

 

(s)           “Option” means an Incentive Stock Option or a Nonstatutory Stock Option granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

(t)            “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.

 

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(u)           “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.

 

(v)            “Outside Director” means a Director 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.

 

(w)           “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.

 

(x)           “Performance Criteria” means the one or more criteria that the Board shall select for purposes of establishing the Performance Goals for a Performance Period. The Performance Criteria that shall be used to establish such Performance Goals may be based on any one of, or combination of, the following: (i) earnings per share; (ii) earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation; (iii) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA); (iv) net earnings; (v) total shareholder return; (vi) return on equity; (vii) return on assets, investment, or capital employed; (viii) operating margin; (ix) gross margin; (x) operating income; (xi) net income (before or after taxes); (xii) net operating income; (xiii) net operating income after tax; (xiv) pre- and after-tax income; (xv) pre-tax profit; (xvi) operating cash flow; (xvii) sales or revenue targets; (xviii) increases in revenue or product revenue; (xix) expenses and cost reduction goals; (xx) improvement in or attainment of expense levels; (xxi) improvement in or attainment of working capital levels; (xxii) economic value added (or an equivalent metric); (xxiii) market share; (xxiv) cash flow; (xxv) cash flow per share; (xxvi) share price performance; (xxvii) debt reduction; (xxviii) implementation or completion of projects or processes; (xxix) customer satisfaction; (xxx) total stockholder return; (xxxi) stockholders’ equity; and (xxxii) other measures of performance selected by the Board. Partial achievement of the specified criteria may result in the payment or vesting corresponding to the degree of achievement as specified in the Stock Award Agreement. The Board shall, in its sole discretion, define the manner of calculating the Performance Criteria it selects to use for such Performance Period.

 

(y)           “Performance Goals” means, for a Performance Period, the one or more goals established by the Board for the Performance Period based upon the Performance Criteria. The Board is authorized at any time in its sole discretion, to adjust or modify the calculation of a Performance Goal for such Performance Period in order to prevent the dilution or enlargement of the rights of Participants, (a) in the event of, or in anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event or development; (b) in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company, or the financial statements of the Company, or in response to, or in anticipation of, changes in applicable laws, regulations, accounting principles, or business conditions; or (c) in view of the Board’s assessment of the business strategy of the Company, performance of comparable organizations, economic and business conditions, and any other circumstances deemed relevant. Specifically, the Board is authorized to make adjustment in the method of calculating attainment of Performance Goals and objectives for a Performance Period as follows: (i) to exclude the dilutive effects of acquisitions or joint ventures; (ii) to assume that any business divested by the Company achieved performance objectives at targeted levels during the balance of a Performance Period following such divestiture; and (iii) to exclude the effect of any change in the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company by reason of any stock dividend or split, stock repurchase, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination or exchange of shares or other similar corporate change, or any distributions to common shareholders other than regular cash dividends. In addition, the Board is authorized to make adjustment in the method of calculating

 

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attainment of Performance Goals and objectives for a Performance Period as follows: (i) to exclude restructuring and/or other nonrecurring charges; (ii) to exclude exchange rate effects, as applicable, for non-U.S. dollar denominated net sales and operating earnings; (iii) to exclude the effects of changes to generally accepted accounting standards required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board; (iv) to exclude the effects to any statutory adjustments to corporate tax rates; (v) to exclude the impact of any “extraordinary items” as determined under generally accepted accounting principles; and (vi) to exclude any other unusual, non-recurring gain or loss or other extraordinary item.

 

(z)           “Performance Period” means the one or more periods of time, which may be of varying and overlapping durations, as the Board may select, over which the attainment of one or more Performance Goals will be measured for the purpose of determining a Participant’s right to and the payment of a Stock Award.

 

(aa)         “Plan” means this Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2011 Equity Incentive Plan.

 

(bb)         “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.

 

(cc)         “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(dd)         “Stock Award” means any right granted under the Plan, including an Option, a stock bonus, a right to acquire restricted stock, a stock unit award and a stock appreciation right.

 

(ee)         “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.

 

(ff)           “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 Common Stock pursuant to a Stock Award; and the number of shares of Common Stock 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)          To terminate or suspend the Plan as provided in Section 13.

 

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(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 which are not in conflict with the provisions of the Plan.

 

(c)           Delegation to Committee.

 

(i)            General.  The Board may delegate administration of the Plan to a Committee or Committees of one (1) 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.

 

(d)           Effect of Board’s Decision.  All determinations, interpretations and constructions made by the Board in good faith shall not be subject to review by any person and shall be final, binding and conclusive on all persons.

 

(e)           Cancellation and Re-Grant of Stock Awards.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan, neither the Board nor any Committee shall have the authority to: (i) reprice any outstanding Stock Awards under the Plan, (ii) cancel any outstanding Options or Stock Appreciation Rights that have an exercise price or strike price greater than the current Fair Market Value of the Common Stock in exchange for cash or other Stock Awards under the Plan, or (iii) effect any other action that is treated as a repricing under generally accepted accounting principles unless, in each case, the stockholders of the Company have approved such an action within twelve (12) months prior to such an event.

 

4.                                      SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.

 

(a)           Share Reserve.  Subject to the provisions of subsection 11(a) relating to adjustments upon changes in Common Stock, the shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards shall not exceed in the aggregate three million five hundred thousand (3,500,000) shares of Common Stock.

 

(b)           Subject to subsection 4(c), the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan shall be reduced by: (i) one (1) share for each share of stock issued pursuant to (A) an Option granted under Section 6, or (B) a Stock Appreciation Right granted under subsection 7(d) with respect to which the strike price is at least one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the underlying

 

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Common Stock on the date of grant; and (ii) one and seven tenths (1.7) shares for each share of Common Stock issued pursuant to a Stock Bonus Award, Restricted Stock Award, Stock Unit Award or Performance Stock Award.

 

(c)           Reversion of Shares to the Share Reserve.

 

(i)            Shares Available For Subsequent Issuance.  If any (i) Stock Award shall for any reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part, without having been exercised in full, (ii) shares of Common Stock issued to a Participant pursuant to a Stock Award are forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, including any repurchase or forfeiture caused by the failure to meet a contingency or condition required for the vesting of such shares, or (iii) Stock Award is settled in cash, then the shares of Common Stock not issued under such Stock Award, or forfeited to or repurchased by the Company, shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan. To the extent there is issued a share of Common Stock pursuant to a Stock Award that counted as one and seven tenths (1.7) shares against the number of shares available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to subsection 4(b) and such share of Common Stock again becomes available for issuance under the Plan pursuant to this subsection 4(c)(i), then the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall increase by one and seven tenths (1.7) shares.

 

(ii)           Shares Not Available For Subsequent Issuance.  If any shares subject to a Stock Award are not delivered to a Participant because the Stock Award is exercised through a reduction of shares subject to the Stock Award (i.e., “net exercised”), the number of shares that are not delivered to the Participant shall not remain available for issuance under the Plan. If any shares subject to a Stock Award are not delivered to a Participant because such shares are withheld in satisfaction of the withholding of taxes incurred in connection with the exercise of an Option or stock appreciation right, or the issuance of shares under a stock bonus award, restricted stock award or stock unit award, the number of shares that are not delivered to the Participant shall not remain available for subsequent issuance under the Plan. If the exercise price of any Stock Award is satisfied by tendering shares of Common Stock held by the Participant (either by actual delivery or attestation), then the number of shares so tendered shall not remain available for subsequent issuance under the Plan.

 

(d)           Source of Shares.  The shares of Common Stock subject to the Plan may be unissued shares or reacquired shares, bought on the market or otherwise.

 

5.                                      ELIGIBILITY.

 

(a)           Eligibility for Specific Stock Awards.  Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or a “parent corporation” or “subsidiary corporation” thereof (as such terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f) of the Code). Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants; provided, however, Nonstatutory Stock Options and stock appreciation rights may not be granted to Employees, Directors, and Consultants who are providing Continuous Services only to any “parent” of the Company, as such term is defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act, unless such Stock Awards comply with the distribution requirements of Section 409A of the Code. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer is not eligible to receive Stock Awards under the Plan.

 

(b)           Ten Percent Stockholders.  A Ten Percent Stockholder shall not be granted 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.

 

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(c)           Section 162(m) Limitation.  Subject to the provisions of Section 11 relating to adjustments upon changes in the shares of Common Stock, no Employee shall be eligible to be granted Options covering more than one million five hundred thousand (1,500,000) shares of Common Stock during any calendar year.

 

(d)           Consultants.

 

(i)            A Consultant shall not be eligible for the grant of a Stock Award if, at the time of grant, a Form S-8 Registration Statement under the Securities Act (“Form S-8”) is not available to register either the offer or the sale of the Company’s securities to such Consultant because of the nature of the services that the Consultant is providing to the Company, or because the Consultant is not a natural person, or as otherwise provided by the rules governing the use of Form S-8, unless the Company determines both (i) that such grant (A) shall be registered in another manner under the Securities Act (e.g., on a Form S-3 Registration Statement) or (B) does not require registration under the Securities Act in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act, if applicable, and (ii) that such grant complies with the securities laws of all other relevant jurisdictions.

 

(ii)           Form S-8 generally is available to consultants and advisors only if (i) they are natural persons; (ii) they provide bona fide services to the issuer, its parents, its majority-owned subsidiaries or majority-owned subsidiaries of the issuer’s parent; and (iii) the services are not in connection with the offer or sale of securities in a capital-raising transaction, and do not directly or indirectly promote or maintain a market for the issuer’s securities.

 

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, if certificates are issued, a separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares of Common Stock 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:

 

(a)           Term.  Subject to the provisions of subsection 5(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, no 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 Common 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 one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common 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 Common 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 (1) by delivery to the Company of other

 

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Common Stock; (2) according to a deferred payment or other similar arrangement with the Optionholder; (3) by a “net exercise” arrangement pursuant to which the Company will reduce the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon exercise by the largest whole number of shares with a Fair Market Value that does not exceed the aggregate exercise price; provided, however, that the Company shall accept a cash or other payment from the Participant to the extent of any remaining balance of the aggregate exercise price not satisfied by such holding back of whole shares; provided, further, however, that shares of Common Stock will no longer be outstanding under an Option and will not be exercisable thereafter to the extent that (i) shares are used to pay the exercise price pursuant to the “net exercise,” (ii) shares are delivered to the Participant as a result of such exercise, and (iii) shares are withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations; or (4) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board. 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 (1) 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 and (2) the treatment of the Option as a variable award for financial accounting purposes.

 

(e)           Transferability of Options.  The Board may, in its sole discretion, impose such limitations on the transferability of Options, as the Board shall determine. In the absence of such a determination by the Board to the contrary, the following restrictions on the transferability of Options shall apply:

 

(i)            Restrictions on Transfer.  An 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; provided, however, that the Board may, in its sole discretion, permit transfer of the Option in a manner that is not prohibited by applicable tax and securities laws upon the Optionholder’s request. Except as explicitly provided herein, an Option may not be transferred for consideration.

 

(ii)           Domestic Relations Orders.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Option may be transferred pursuant to a domestic relations order; provided, however, that if an Option is an Incentive Stock Option, such Option may be deemed to be a Nonstatutory Stock Option as a result of such transfer.

 

(iii)         Beneficiary Designation.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form provided by or otherwise satisfactory to the Company and any broker designated by the Company to effect Option exercises, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise. In the absence of such a designation, the executor or administrator of the Optionholder’s estate shall be entitled to exercise the Option and receive the Common Stock or other consideration resulting from such exercise.

 

(f)            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 that 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 of Common Stock as to which an Option may be exercised.

 

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(g)           Termination of Continuous Service.  In the event an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates (other than upon the Optionholder’s death or Disability), the Optionholder may exercise his or her Option (to the extent that the Optionholder was entitled to exercise such Option 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, the Option shall terminate.

 

(h)           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 of Common Stock 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 the Option Agreement or (ii) the expiration of a total period of three (3) months (that need not be consecutive) 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.

 

(i)            Disability of Optionholder.  In the event that 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 such Option 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.

 

(j)            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 such 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.

 

(k)           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 of Common Stock subject to the Option prior to the full vesting of the Option. Any unvested shares of Common Stock so purchased may be subject to a repurchase option in favor of the Company or to any other restriction the Board determines to be appropriate. The Company will not exercise its repurchase option until at least six (6) months (or such longer or shorter period of time required to avoid a charge to earnings for financial accounting purposes) have elapsed following exercise of the Option unless the Board otherwise specifically provides in the Option.

 

(l)            Non-Exempt Employees.  No Option granted to an Employee who is a non-exempt employee for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, as amended, shall be first exercisable for any shares of Common Stock until at least six months following the date of grant of the Option. Notwithstanding the foregoing, consistent with the provisions of the Worker Economic Opportunity

 

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Act, (i) in the event of the Participant’s death or Disability, (ii) upon a Corporate Transaction (as defined in section 11(c)) in which such Option is not assumed, continued, or substituted, or (iii) upon the Participant’s retirement (as such term may be defined in the Participant’s Option Agreement or in another applicable agreement or in accordance with the Company’s then current employment policies and guidelines), any such vested Options may be exercised earlier than six months following the date of grant. The foregoing provision is intended to operate so that any income derived by a non-exempt employee in connection with the exercise or vesting of an Option will be exempt from his or her regular rate of pay.

 

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 may be awarded in consideration for past services actually rendered to the Company or an Affiliate for its benefit.

 

(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 of Common Stock 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 Common 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 eighty-five percent (85%) of the Common 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 Common 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 similar 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

 

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Delaware, then 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 that have not vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the restricted stock purchase agreement.

 

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

 

(c)           Stock Unit Awards.  Each stock unit award 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 unit award agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate stock unit award agreements need not be identical, provided, however, that each stock unit award agreement shall include (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

 

(i)            Consideration.  At the time of grant of a stock unit award, the Board will determine the consideration, if any, to be paid by the Participant upon delivery of each share of Common Stock subject to the stock unit award. The consideration to be paid (if any) by the Participant for each share of Common Stock subject to a stock unit award may be paid in any form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board in its sole discretion and permissible under applicable law.

 

(ii)           Vesting.  At the time of the grant of a stock unit award, the Board may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of the stock unit award as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

 

(iii)         Payment.  A stock unit award may be settled by the delivery of shares of Common Stock, their cash equivalent, any combination thereof or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Board and contained in the stock unit award agreement.

 

(iv)          Additional Restrictions.  At the time of the grant of a stock unit award, the Board, as it deems appropriate, may impose such restrictions or conditions that delay the delivery of the shares of Common Stock (or their cash equivalent) subject to a stock unit award after the vesting of such stock unit award.

 

(v)            Dividend Equivalents.  Dividend equivalents may be credited in respect of shares of Common Stock covered by a stock unit award, as determined by the Board and contained in the stock unit award agreement. At the sole discretion of the Board, such dividend equivalents may be converted into additional shares of Common Stock covered by the stock unit award in such manner as determined by the Board. Any additional shares covered by the stock unit award credited by reason of such dividend equivalents will be subject to all the terms and conditions of the underlying stock unit award agreement to which they relate.

 

(vi)          Termination of Participant’s Continuous Service.  Except as otherwise provided in the applicable stock unit award agreement, such portion of the stock unit award that has not vested will be forfeited upon the Participant’s termination of Continuous Service.

 

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(d)           Stock Appreciation Rights.  Each stock appreciation right 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 appreciation right agreements may change from time to time, and the terms and conditions of separate stock appreciation right agreements need not be identical; provided, however, that each stock appreciation right agreement shall include (through incorporation of the provisions hereof by reference in the agreement or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

 

(i)            Strike Price and Calculation of Appreciation.  Each stock appreciation right will be denominated in shares of Common Stock equivalents. The appreciation distribution payable on the exercise of a stock appreciation right will be not greater than an amount equal to the excess of (i) the aggregate Fair Market Value (on the date of the exercise of the stock appreciation right) of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares of Common Stock equivalents in which the Participant is vested under such stock appreciation right, and with respect to which the Participant is exercising the stock appreciation right on such date, over (ii) an amount (the strike price) that will be determined by the Board at the time of grant of the stock appreciation right.

 

(ii)           Vesting.  At the time of the grant of a stock appreciation right, the Board may impose such restrictions or conditions to the vesting of such stock appreciation right as it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate.

 

(iii)         Exercise.  To exercise any outstanding stock appreciation right, the Participant must provide written notice of exercise to the Company in compliance with the provisions of the stock appreciation right agreement evidencing such stock appreciation right.

 

(iv)          Payment.  The appreciation distribution in respect to a stock appreciation right may be paid in Common Stock, in cash, in any combination of the two or in any other form of consideration, as determined by the Board and contained in the stock appreciation right agreement evidencing such stock appreciation right.

 

(v)            Termination of Continuous Service.  In the event that a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Participant may exercise his or her stock appreciation right (to the extent that the Participant was entitled to exercise such stock appreciation right 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 Participant’s Continuous Service (or such longer or shorter period specified in the stock appreciation right agreement), or (ii) the expiration of the term of the stock appreciation right as set forth in the stock appreciation right agreement. If, after termination, the Participant does not exercise his or her stock appreciation right within the time specified herein or in the stock appreciation right agreement (as applicable), the stock appreciation right shall terminate.

 

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 Common 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 Common Stock under the Plan, the Company shall be relieved from any liability

 

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for failure to issue and sell Common Stock upon exercise of such Stock Awards unless and until such authority is obtained.

 

(c)           No Obligation to Notify or Minimize Taxes.  The Company shall have no duty or obligation to any Participant to advise such holder as to the time or manner of exercising such Stock Award. Furthermore, the Company shall have no duty or obligation to warn or otherwise advise such holder of a pending termination or expiration of a Stock Award or a possible period in which the Stock Award may not be exercised. The Company has no duty or obligation to minimize the tax consequences of a Stock Award to the holder of such Stock Award.

 

9.                                      USE OF PROCEEDS FROM STOCK.

 

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

 

10.                               MISCELLANEOUS.

 

(a)           Corporate Action Constituting Grant of Stock Awards.  Corporate action constituting a grant by the Company of a Stock Award to any Participant shall be deemed completed as of the date of such corporate action, unless otherwise determined by the Board, regardless of when the instrument, certificate, or letter evidencing the Stock Award is communicated to, or actually received or accepted by, the Participant.

 

(b)           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.

 

(c)           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 of Common Stock subject to such Stock Award unless and until such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Stock Award pursuant to its terms.

 

(d)           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, (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.

 

(e)           Incentive Stock Option $100,000 Limitation.  To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time of grant) of Common 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.

 

(f)            Investment Assurances.  The Company may require a Participant, as a condition of exercising or acquiring Common 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

 

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(ii) to give written assurances satisfactory to the Company stating that the Participant is acquiring Common Stock subject to the Stock Award for the Participant’s own account and not with any present intention of selling or otherwise distributing the Common Stock. The foregoing requirements, and any assurances given pursuant to such requirements, shall be inoperative if (1) the issuance of the shares of Common Stock upon the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Stock Award has been registered under a then currently effective registration statement under the Securities Act or (2) 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 Common Stock.

 

(g)           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 Common 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 of Common Stock from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise or acquisition of Common Stock under the Stock Award, provided, however, that no shares of Common Stock are withheld with a value exceeding the minimum amount of tax required to be withheld by law (or such lesser amount as may be necessary to avoid variable award accounting); or (iii) delivering to the Company (either by actual delivery or attestation) owned and unencumbered shares of Common Stock of the Company.

 

(h)           Performance Stock Awards.  A Stock Award may be granted, may vest, or may be exercised based upon service conditions, upon the attainment during a Performance Period of certain Performance Goals, or both. The length of any Performance Period, the Performance Goals to be achieved during the Performance Period, and the measure of whether and to what degree such Performance Goals have been attained shall be conclusively determined by the Board in its sole discretion. The maximum benefit to be received by any individual in any calendar year attributable to Stock Awards described in this subsection 10(g) shall not exceed the value of one million five hundred thousand (1,500,000) shares of Common Stock.

 

(i)            Electronic Delivery.  Any reference herein to a “written” agreement or document shall include any agreement or document delivered electronically or posted on the Company’s intranet.

 

(j)            Compliance with Section 409A.  To the extent that the Board determines that any Stock Award granted hereunder is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Stock Award Agreement evidencing such Stock Award shall incorporate the terms and conditions necessary to avoid the consequences specified in Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code. To the extent applicable, the Plan and Stock Award Agreements shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Plan (and unless the Stock Award Agreement specifically provides otherwise), if the Shares are publicly traded and a Participant holding a Stock Award that constitutes “deferred compensation” under Section 409A of the Code is a “specified employee” for purposes of Section 409A of the Code, no distribution or payment of any amount shall be made upon a “separation from service” before a date that is six (6) months following the date of such Participant’s “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code without regard to alternative definitions thereunder) or, if earlier, the date of the Participant’s death.

 

11.                               ADJUSTMENTS UPON CHANGES IN STOCK.

 

(a)           Capitalization Adjustments.  If any change is made in the Common Stock subject to the Plan, or subject to any Stock Award, without the receipt of consideration by the Company (through

 

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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 Board shall appropriately and proportionately adjust: (i) 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 10(g) and (ii) the class(es) and number of securities and price per share of Common 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)           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, and shares of Common Stock subject to the Company’s repurchase option may be repurchased by the Company notwithstanding the fact that the holder of such stock is still in Continuous Service. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Options granted under the 1997 Stock Option Plan shall be subject to subsection 11(c) below in the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company.

 

(c)           Corporate Transaction.  In the event of (i) a sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the securities or assets of the Company, (ii) a merger or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation or (iii) a reverse merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation but the shares of 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, then any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation may assume any Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan or may 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. In the event any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation does not assume such Stock Awards or 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.

 

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 Common 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.

 

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(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 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.  Unless sooner terminated by the Board pursuant to Section 3, the Plan shall automatically 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 upon its adoption 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.

 

The law of the State of Delaware shall govern all questions concerning the construction, validity and interpretation of this Plan, without regard to such state’s conflict of laws rules.

 

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