Document:

steele_ex10-61.htm

 

 

January 27, 2011

 

 

Wayne Doss

Innocent Inc.

2000 NE 22nd Street

Wilton Manor, FL 33305

Via Email: dosswa@yahoo.com

Re: Letter of Intent to enter a Joint Venture Agreement governing exploration and development of mineral rights to A&P Patented Claims and Pony Project

Dear Mr. Doss,

This letter of intent ("LOI") constitutes an expression of the intent of Steele Resources, Inc. ("SRI") to enter into a Joint Venture Agreement with Innocent Inc. ("INI") which will govern the exploration and operations of mineral rights within the A&P Patented Claims and the Pony exploration projects jointly referred to as the Mineral Hill Project ("Mineral Hill Project"). These property rights are described in Exhibits A, B, C, & D attached to this LOI.

Upon execution of this LOI, INI shall provide initial Mineral Hill Project funding to SRI in the form of two initial deposits. The initial deposit of $300,000 will be completed on or before January 27, 2011 and the second deposit of $200,000 will be completed on or before February 10, 2011.

SRI and INI shall have 30 days from the execution of this LOI to draft formal JV agreements. INI agrees to fund the JV with up to $5,000,000 in operating funds over a one year period beginning with the execution of the JV agreements. The parties may jointly extend this period, but must be mutually agreed. SRI agrees to fund the JV with its matched $5,000,000 in operating funds no later than one year following the first $1,000,000 funded by INI. SRI and INI agree to negotiate in good faith toward the preparation and execution of written agreements to carry out the contemplated transactions.

The JV formed will be created to govern the operations of the various sites within the Mineral Hill Project wherein the parties to this agreement will initially share joint ownership of the JV, based upon the assumption, each party fulfills its terms and responsibilities of the intent of the LOI and the final agreement. INI shall contribute up to $5,000,000 in operating capital within the terms of the final agreement. In the event these funds are not provided as agreed, INI will forfeit 10% of its ownership for each one million dollars $1,000,000 not provided. This ownership will be transferred to the party that provides said delinquent funds. The forfeiting party will have no rights to reject the party that provides the funds if other than SRI. SRI shall contribute both management and mining operations expertise and commitment to match up to $5,000,000 in funding once INI has contributed its initial investment of $1,000,000. In the event these funds are not provided as agreed, SRI will forfeit 10% of its ownership for each one million dollars $1,000,000 not provided. This ownership will be transferred to the party that provided said delinquent funds The forfeiting party will have no rights to reject the party that provides the funds if other than INI.  SRI and INI shall be entitled to their pro-rata share of the net proceeds from the JV based upon the final funding provided by each party. In the event the parties determine that less funding is required, each parties funding requirement will be equally reduced, and said parties will retain the earned 50% JV ownership.

 

  

  

  

During the negotiations period, both SRI and INI recognize they will receive confidential or proprietary information and agree to maintain the confidentiality of such information. This confidentiality agreement shall be binding on SRI and INI regardless of whether any further documents in regard to these transactions are executed for a period of two years.

Both SRI and INI recognize that unless and until final agreements are approved and executed by both SRI and INI, this LOI shall not legally bind SRI and INI into the JV. However, both SRI and INI shall be legally obligated to negotiate in good faith and honor the specific terms of this LOI.  If INI or SRI shall deem the other party to have failed their internal due diligence requirements, then either party may terminate this LOI by issuing a formal letter of termination.

If the LOI is terminated by INI, after the initial deposits totaling $500,000 are made, but before a JV agreement can be established, both parties agree that the deposits would be refundable within 90 days, and INI shall hold its 50% ownership until the initial deposits are refunded. The refund shall constitute the only requirement for the immediate return of the entire 50% ownership of INI. INI certifies that it will return its proof of ownership upon receipt of funds without delay or further consideration.  If the LOI is terminated by either party following the execution of the JV agreement, the terms of the agreement would establish all avenues for recourse. Regardless of which party terminates the agreement, the above stated confidentiality agreement shall survive this LOI.

Signing this letter shall reflect SRI’s and INI’s intention to proceed in good faith towards consummation of the stated transactions.

	
Sincerely,

	  	
 Agreed to by:

	  	  	  
	  	  	  
	
/s/ Scott Dockter

	  	
/s/ Wayne Doss

	
Scott Dockter

	  	
 Wayne Doss

	
President/CEO

	  	
 President/CEO

	
Steele Resources, Inc.

	  	
 Innocent, Inc.steele_ex10-8.htm

Steele Resources Corporation

 

2011 Equity Compensation Plan

Adopted February 8, 2011

Approved By Stockholders ___________________

Termination Date:  February 8, 2021

 

1.           Purposes.

 

(a)           Eligible Stock Award Recipients.  The persons eligible to receive Stock Awards are the Employees, Directors and Consultants of the Company and its Affiliates.

 

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

 

(c)           General Purpose.  The Company, by means of the Plan, seeks to retain the services of the group of persons eligible to receive Stock Awards, to secure and retain the services of new members of this group and to provide incentives for such persons to exert maximum efforts for the success of the Company and its Affiliates.

 

2.           Definitions.

 

(a)           “Affiliate” means any parent corporation or subsidiary corporation of the Company, whether now or hereafter existing, as those terms are defined in Sections 424(e) and (f), respectively, of the Code. An Affiliate also refers to an executive officer, director or 10% stockholder of the Company.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(f)           “Company” means Steele Resources Corporation, a Nevada corporation.

 

(g)            “Consultant” means any person, including an advisor, (i) engaged by the Company or an Affiliate to render consulting or advisory services and who is compensated for such services or (ii) who is a member of the Board of Directors of an Affiliate.  However, the term “Consultant” shall not include either Directors of the Company who are not compensated 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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(h)           “Continuous Service” means that the Participant’s service with the Company or an Affiliate, whether as an Employee, Director or Consultant, is not interrupted or terminated.  The Participant’s Continuous Service shall not be deemed to have terminated merely because of a change in the capacity in which the Participant renders service to the Company or an Affiliate as an Employee, Consultant or Director or a change in the entity for which the Participant renders such service, provided that there is no interruption or termination of the Participant’s Continuous Service.  For example, a change in status from an Employee of the Company to a Consultant of an Affiliate or a Director of the Company will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service.  The Board or the chief executive officer of the Company, in that party’s sole discretion, may determine whether Continuous Service shall be considered interrupted in the case of any leave of absence approved by that party, including sick leave, military leave or any other personal leave.

 

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

 

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

 

(k)            “Disability” means (i) before the Listing Date, the inability of a person, in the opinion of a qualified physician acceptable to the Company, to perform the major duties of that person’s position with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company because of the sickness or injury of the person and (ii) after the Listing Date, 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 such Common Stock is publicly traded and is then listed on a national securities exchange, the last reported sale price on such date or, if no such reported sale takes place on such date, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading;

(ii)           if such Common Stock is publicly traded but is not quoted on the NASDAQ National Market nor listed or admitted to trading on a national securities exchange, the average of the closing bid and asked prices on such date, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, for the over-the-counter market; or

(iii)           if none of the foregoing is applicable, by the Board of Directors in good faith.

(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.

 

  

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

 

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

 

(r)           “Officer” means (i) any person designated by the Company as an officer and (ii) if the Company becomes registered under the Exchange Act, 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.

 

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

 

(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)           “Plan” means this Steele Resources Corporation 2011 Equity Compensation 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.

 

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

 

  

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(bb)           “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.

 

(cc)           “Ten Percent Stockholder” means a person who owns (or is deemed to own pursuant to Section 424(d) of the Code) stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its Affiliates.

 

3.           Administration.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(ii)           Determine the vesting, exercisability and payment of Awards.

(iii)           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.

 

(iv)           To amend the Plan or a Stock Award 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 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 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.

 

  

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(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 of the Exchange Act.

 

4.           Shares Subject to the Plan.

 

(a)           Share Available under the Plan.  Subject to the provisions of Section 11 relating to adjustments upon changes in stock, the stock that may be issued pursuant to Stock Awards shall not exceed in the aggregate ten million (10,000,000) shares of Common Stock, the “Available Shares.”

 

(b)           Reversion of Shares to the Status of Available Shares.  If any Stock Award shall for any reason expire or otherwise terminate, in whole or in part, without having been exercised in full (or vested in the case of Restricted Stock), the stock not acquired under such Stock Award shall revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan.  If any Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of an Option shall for any reason be repurchased by the Company under an unvested share repurchase option provided under the Plan, the stock repurchased by the Company under such repurchase option shall not revert to and again become available for issuance under the Plan.

 

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

 

(d)           Available Shares Limitation.  At no time shall the total number of shares issuable upon exercise of all outstanding Options and the total number of shares provided for under any stock bonus or similar plan of the Company exceed the applicable percentage as calculated in accordance with the conditions and exclusions of Section 260.140.45 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, based on the shares of the Company which are outstanding at the time the calculation is made.

 

5.           Eligibility.

 

(a)           Eligibility for Specific Stock Awards.  Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to Employees.  Stock Awards other than Incentive Stock Options may be granted to Employees, Directors and Consultants: provided such consultants render bona fide services not in connection with the offer and sale of Company securities in capital-raising transactions. A person may be granted more than one Award under this Plan.

 

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

 

No Ten Percent Stockholder shall be eligible for the grant of a Nonstatutory 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.

 

  

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No Ten Percent Stockholder shall be eligible for a restricted stock award unless the purchase price of the restricted stock is at least one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock at the date of grant.

 

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

 

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 (“ISO”) or Nonstatutory Stock Options (“NQSO”) at the time of grant, and a separate certificate or certificates will be issued for shares purchased on exercise of each type of Option.  The provisions of separate Options need not be identical, but each Option shall include (through incorporation of provisions hereof by reference in the Option or otherwise) the substance of each of the following provisions:

 

(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; five (5) years if options are granted to an Affiliate.

 

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

 

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

 

(d)           Exercise Price of a Nonstatutory Stock Option.  Subject to the provisions of subsection 5(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, the exercise price of each Nonstatutory Stock Option granted shall be not less than eighty-five percent (85%) of the Fair Market Value of the stock subject to the Option on the date the Option is granted.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Nonstatutory Stock Option may be granted with an exercise price lower than that set forth in the preceding sentence if such Option is granted pursuant to an assumption or substitution for another option in a manner satisfying the provisions of Section 424(a) of the Code.

 

(e)           Form of Option Grant.  Each Option granted under this Plan will be evidenced by an Option Agreement which will expressly identify the Option as an ISO or an NQSO (“Option Agreement”), and will be in such form and contain such provisions (which need not be the same for each Optionholder) as the Board (or Committee) may from time to time approve, and which will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.

  

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(f)           Date of Grant.  The date of grant of an Option will be the date on which the Board (or Committee) makes the determination to grant such Option, unless otherwise specified by the Board (or Committee). The Stock Option Agreement and a copy of this Plan will be delivered to the Optionholder within a reasonable time after the granting of the Option.

(g)           Exercise Period and Expiration Date.  An Option will vest and become exercisable within the times or upon the occurrence of events determined by the Board (or Committee) and set forth in the Option Agreement governing such Options, subject to the provisions of Section 10, and subject to Company policies established by the Board (or Committee) from time to time.

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

 

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

 

(i)           Transferability of Stock Options.  Neither an ISO or NQSO shall be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or to a revocable trust or as permitted by Rule 701 of the Securities Act and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Optionholder only by the Optionholder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection 6(i), the Optionholder may, by delivering written notice to the Company, in a form satisfactory to the Company, designate a third party who, in the event of the death of the Optionholder, shall thereafter be entitled to exercise the Option.

 

 (j)           Vesting Generally.  (1) The total number of shares of Common Stock subject to an Option may, but need not, vest and therefore become exercisable in periodic installments which may, but need not, be equal.  The Option may be subject to such other terms and conditions on the time or times when it may be exercised (which may be based on performance or other criteria) as the Board may deem appropriate.  The vesting provisions of individual Options may vary.  The provisions of this subsection 6(j) are subject to any Option provisions governing the minimum number of shares as to which an Option may be exercised.

 

(2)  Notwithstanding the foregoing subparagraph (1), Options granted shall provide for vesting of the total number of shares at a rate of at least twenty percent (20%) per year over five (5) years from the date the Option was granted, subject to reasonable conditions such as continued employment.  However, in the case of such Options granted to Officers, Directors or Consultants, the Option may become fully exercisable, subject to reasonable conditions such as continued employment, at any time or during any period established by the Company; for example, the vesting provision of the Option may provide for vesting of less than twenty percent (20%) per year of the total number of shares subject to the Option.

 

  

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(k)           Termination of Continuous Service.  (1) 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 such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement, which shall not be less than thirty (30) days, unless such termination is for cause), 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.

 

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

 

(l)           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 due to disability), but only within such period of time ending on the earlier of (i) the date twelve (12) months following such disability termination (or such longer or shorter period specified in the Option Agreement, which shall not be less than six (6) months) 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.

 

(m)           Death of Optionholder.  In the event (i) an Optionholder’s Continuous Service terminates as a result of the Optionholder’s death or (ii) the Optionholder dies within the period (if any) specified in the Option Agreement after the termination of the Optionholder’s Continuous Service for a reason other than death, then the Option may be exercised (to the extent the Optionholder was entitled to exercise the Option as of the date of death) by the Optionholder’s estate, by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance or by a person designated to exercise the option upon the Optionholder’s death pursuant to subsection 6(i), 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, which shall not be less than six (6) months) 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.

 

 (n)           Right of Repurchase.  Subject to the “Repurchase Limitation” in subsection 10(g), the Option may, but need not, include a provision whereby the Company may elect to repurchase all or any part of the vested shares acquired by the Optionholder pursuant to the exercise of the Option.

 

  

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(o)           Right of First Refusal.  The Option may, but need not, include a provision whereby the Company may elect, prior to the Listing Date, to exercise a right of first refusal following receipt of notice from the Optionholder of the intent to transfer all or any part of the shares exercised pursuant to the Option.  Except as expressly provided in this subsection 6(n), such right of first refusal shall otherwise comply with any applicable provisions of the Bylaws of the Company.

 

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

 

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

 

(q)           Modification, Extension or Renewal.  The Board may modify, extend or renew outstanding Options and authorize the grant of new Options in substitution therefor, provided that any such action may not, without the written consent of an Optionholder, impair any of such Optionholder’s rights under any Option previously granted. Any outstanding ISO that is modified, extended, renewed or otherwise altered will be treated in accordance with Section 424(h) of the Code. The Board may reduce the Exercise Price of outstanding Options without the consent of Optionholders effected by a written notice to them; provided, however, that the Exercise Price may not be reduced below the minimum Exercise Price that would be permitted under Sections 6(b) and 6(d) of this Plan for Options granted on the date the action is taken to reduce the Exercise Price.

 

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 “Stock Bonus Agreement”).  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:

 

  

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

 

(ii)           Vesting.  Subject to the “Repurchase Limitation” in subsection 10(g), 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.  Subject to the “Repurchase Limitation” in subsection 10(g), in the event a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Company may reacquire any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant which have not vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the Stock Bonus Agreement.

 

(iv)           Transferability.  Rights to acquire shares under the Stock Bonus Agreement shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or to a revocable trust and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant.

 

(b)           Performance Based Stock Bonus.  A Stock Bonus may be awarded upon satisfaction of such performance goals as are set out in advance in the Participant’s individual Award Agreement (the “Performance Stock Bonus Agreement”) that will be in such form (which need not be the same for each Participant) as the Board will from time to time approve, and will comply with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan. Stock Bonuses may vary from Participant to Participant and between groups of Participants, and may be based upon the achievement of the Company, and/or individual performance factors or upon such other criteria as the Board may determine.

(i)           Terms of Stock Bonuses.  The Board will determine: (1) the nature, length and starting date of any period during which performance is to be measured (the “Performance Period”) for each Stock Bonus; (2) the performance goals and criteria to be used to measure the performance, if any; (3) the number of Shares that may be awarded to the Participant; and (4) the extent to which such Stock Bonuses have been earned. Performance Periods may overlap and Participants may participate simultaneously with respect to Stock Bonuses that are subject to different Performance Periods and different performance goals and other criteria. The number of Shares may be fixed or may vary in accordance with such performance goals and criteria as may be determined by the Board. The Board may adjust the performance goals applicable to the Stock Bonuses to take into account changes in law and accounting or tax rules and to make such adjustments as the Board deems necessary or appropriate to reflect the impact of extraordinary or unusual items, events or circumstances to avoid windfalls or hardships.

(ii)           Termination During Performance Period.  If a Participant is Terminated during a Performance Period for any reason, then such Participant will be entitled to payment (whether in Shares, cash or otherwise) with respect to the Stock Bonus only to the extent earned as of the date of Termination in accordance with the Performance Stock Bonus Agreement, unless the Board determines otherwise.

  

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(c)           Restricted Stock Awards.  Each restricted stock purchase agreement (“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.  Subject to the provisions of subsection 5(b) regarding Ten Percent Stockholders, 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 stock’s Fair Market Value on the date such award is made or at the time the purchase is consummated.

 

(ii)           Consideration.  The purchase price of stock acquired pursuant to the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall be paid either:  (i) in cash at the time of purchase; (ii) at the discretion of the Board, according to a deferred payment or other arrangement with the Participant; or (iii) in any other form of legal consideration that may be acceptable to the Board in its discretion; provided, however, that at any time that the Company is incorporated in Delaware, 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.  Subject to the “Repurchase Limitation” in subsection 10(g), 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.  Subject to the “Repurchase Limitation” in subsection 10(g), in the event a Participant’s Continuous Service terminates, the Company may repurchase or otherwise reacquire any or all of the shares of Common Stock held by the Participant which have not vested as of the date of termination under the terms of the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement.

 

(v)           Transferability.  Rights to acquire shares under the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement shall not be transferable except by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or to a revocable trust and shall be exercisable during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant.

 

8.           Covenants of the Company.

 

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

 

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

 

  

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9.           Use of Proceeds from Stock.

 

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

 

10.           Miscellaneous.

 

(a)           Acceleration of Exercisability and Vesting.  The Board shall have the power to accelerate the time at which a Stock Award may first be exercised or the time during which a Stock Award or any part thereof will vest in accordance with the Plan, notwithstanding the provisions in the Stock Award stating the time at which it may first be exercised or the time during which it will vest.

 

(b)           Stockholder Rights.  No Participant shall be deemed to be the holder of, or to have any of the rights of a holder with respect to, any shares subject to such Stock Award unless and until such Participant has satisfied all requirements for exercise of the Stock Award pursuant to its terms and shares of the Company’s common stock have been issued to such Participant.

 

(c)           No Employment or other Service Rights.  Nothing in the Plan or any instrument executed or Stock Award granted pursuant thereto shall confer upon any Participant or other holder of Stock Awards 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 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 (iii) the service of a Director pursuant to the Bylaws of the Company, and any applicable provisions of the corporate law of the state in which the Company is incorporated or doing business, as the case may be.

 

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

 

  

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(e)           Withholding Obligations.  To the extent provided by the terms of a Stock Award Agreement, the Participant may satisfy any federal, state or local tax withholding obligation relating to the exercise or acquisition of stock under a Stock Award by any of the following means (in addition to the Company’s right to withhold from any compensation paid to the Participant by the Company) or by a combination of such means:  (i) tendering a cash payment; (ii) authorizing the Company to withhold shares from the shares of the Common Stock otherwise issuable to the Participant as a result of the exercise or acquisition of stock under the Stock Award; or (iii) delivering to the Company owned and unencumbered shares of the Common Stock. With regard to subsections (ii) and (iii) above, the shares shall have a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld, determined on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined.

 

(f)           Information Obligation.  To the extent required by Section 260.140.46 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations, the Company shall deliver financial statements to Participants at least annually.  This subsection 10(f) shall not apply to key Employees whose duties in connection with the Company assure them access to equivalent information.

 

(g)           Repurchase Limitation.  The terms of any repurchase option shall be specified in the Stock Award and may be either at Fair Market Value at the time of repurchase or at not less than the original purchase price.  Any repurchase option contained in a Stock Award granted to a person who is not an Officer, Director or Consultant shall be upon the terms described below:

 

(i)           Fair Market Value.  If the repurchase option gives the Company the right to repurchase the shares upon termination of employment at not less than the Fair Market Value of the shares to be purchased on the date of termination of Continuous Service, then (i) the right to repurchase shall be exercised for cash or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness for the shares within ninety (90) days of termination of Continuous Service (or in the case of shares issued upon exercise of Stock Awards after such date of termination, within ninety (90) days after the date of the exercise) or such longer period as may be agreed to by the Company and the Participant (for example, for purposes of satisfying the requirements of Section 1202(c)(3) of the Code regarding “qualified small business stock”) and (ii) the right terminates when the shares become publicly traded.

 

(ii)           Original Purchase Price.  If the repurchase option gives the Company the right to repurchase the shares upon termination of Continuous Service at the original purchase price, then (i) the right to repurchase at the original purchase price shall lapse at the rate of at least twenty percent (20%) of the shares per year over five (5) years from the date the Stock Award is granted (without respect to the date the Stock Award was exercised or became exercisable) and (ii) the right to repurchase shall be exercised for cash or cancellation of purchase money indebtedness for the shares within  ninety (90) days of termination of Continuous Service (or in the case of shares issued upon exercise of Options after such date of termination, within ninety (90) days after the date of the exercise) or such longer period as may be agreed to by the Company and the Participant (for example, for purposes of satisfying the requirements of Section 1202(c)(3) of the Code regarding “qualified small business stock”).

 

  

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(h)            Cancellation and Re-Grant of Options.

 

(i)           Authority to Reprice.  The Board shall have the authority to effect, at any time and from time to time, (i) the repricing of any outstanding Options under the Plan and/or (ii) with the consent of any adversely affected Optionholders, the cancellation of any outstanding Options under the Plan and the grant in substitution therefor of new Options under the Plan covering the same or different numbers of shares of Common Stock.  The exercise price per share shall be not less than that specified under the Plan for newly granted Stock Awards.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may grant an Option with an exercise price lower than that set forth above if such Option is granted as part of a transaction to which Section 424(a) of the Code applies.

 

(ii)           Effect of Repricing under Section 162(m) of the Code.  Shares subject to an Option which is amended or canceled in order to set a lower exercise price per share shall continue to be counted against the maximum award of Options permitted to be granted pursuant to subsection 5(c).  The repricing of an Option under this subsection 10(h) resulting in a reduction of the exercise price shall be deemed to be a cancellation of the original Option and the grant of a substitute Option; in the event of such repricing, both the original and the substituted Options shall be counted against the maximum awards of Options permitted to be granted pursuant to subsection 5(c).  The provisions of this subsection 10(h)(ii) shall be applicable only to the extent required by Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

11.           Adjustments upon Changes in Stock.

 

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

 

(b)           Change in Control--Dissolution or Liquidation.  In the event of a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, then such Stock Awards shall be terminated if not exercised (if applicable) prior to such event.

 

  

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(c)           Change in Control--Asset Sale, Merger, Consolidation or Reverse Merger.  In the event of (i) a sale of substantially all of the 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 shall assume any Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan or shall substitute similar stock awards (including an award to acquire the same consideration paid to the stockholders in the transaction described in this subsection 11(c) for those outstanding under the Plan.  In the event any surviving corporation or acquiring corporation refuses to assume such Stock Awards or to substitute similar stock awards for those outstanding under the Plan, then with respect to Stock Awards held by Participants whose Continuous Service has not terminated, the vesting of such Stock Awards (and, if applicable, the time during which such Stock Awards may be exercised) shall be accelerated in full, and the Stock Awards shall terminate if not exercised (if applicable) at or prior to such event.  With respect to any other Stock Awards outstanding under the Plan, such Stock Awards shall terminate if not exercised (if applicable) prior to such event.

 

12.           Securities Law and Other Regulatory Compliance.

 

A Stock Award will not be effective unless such Award is made in compliance with Rule 701 of the Securities Act and all other applicable federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations of any governmental body, and the requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Shares may then be listed or quoted, as they are in effect on the date of grant of the Stock Award and also on the date of exercise or other issuance. Notwithstanding, any other provision in this Plan, the Company will have no obligation to issue or deliver certificates for Shares under this Plan prior to: (a) obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company determines are necessary or advisable; and/or (b) completion of any registration or other qualification of such Shares under any state or federal law or ruling of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or advisable. The Company will be under no obligation to register any Stock Award with the SEC or to effect compliance with the registration, qualification or listing requirements of any state securities laws, stock exchange or automated quotation system, and the Company will have no liability for any inability or failure to do so.

13.           Amendment of the Plan and Stock Awards.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

14.           Effective Date of Plan.

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

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