EX-10.14 3 j3283_ex10d14.htm EX-10.14 2001 Employee Stock Option Plan

LATITUDE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

 

2001 EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTION PLAN

 

1.             Purposes of the Plan.  The purposes of this 2001 Employee Stock Option Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel for positions of substantial responsibility, to provide additional incentive to the Employees and Consultants of the Company and to promote the success of the Company’s business. Options granted hereunder shall be Nonstatutory Stock Options.

 

2.             Definitions.  As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

 

(a)           “Administrator” shall mean the Board or any of its Committees appointed pursuant to Section 4 of the Plan.

 

(b)           “Affiliate” means an entity other than a Subsidiary (as defined below) in which the Company owns an equity interest or which, together with the Company, is under common control of a third person or entity.

 

(c)           “Applicable Laws” means the legal requirements relating to the administration of stock option plans under applicable U.S. state corporate laws, U.S. federal and applicable state securities laws, the Code, any Stock Exchange rules and regulations and the applicable laws of any other country or jurisdiction where Options are granted under the Plan, as such laws, rules, regulations and requirements shall be in place from time to time.

 

(d)           “Board” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(e)           Change of Control means a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, or any merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another corporation other than a merger or consolidation in which the holders of more than 50% of the shares of capital stock of the Company outstanding immediately prior to such transaction continue to hold (either by the voting securities remaining outstanding or by their being converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 50% of the total voting power represented by the voting securities of the Company, or such surviving entity, outstanding immediately after such transaction.

 

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

 

(g)           “Committee” shall mean the Committee appointed by the Board of Directors in accordance with paragraph (a) of Section 4 of the Plan, if one is appointed.

 

(h)           “Common Stock” shall mean the Common Stock of the Company.

 

(i)            “Company” shall mean Latitude Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 



 

(j)            “Consultant” shall mean any person who is engaged by the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate to render consulting services and is compensated for such consulting services, excluding any Officers and Directors.

 

(k)           Continuous Service Status means the absence of any interruption or termination of service as an Employee or Consultant to the Company or a Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate.  Continuous Service Status shall not be considered interrupted in the case of:  (i) sick leave; (ii) military leave; (iii) any other leave of absence approved by the Administrator, provided that such leave is for a period of not more than 90 days, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is guaranteed by contract or statute, or unless provided otherwise pursuant to Company policy adopted from time to time; or (iv) in the case of transfers between locations of the Company or between the Company, its Parents, Subsidiaries or Affiliates or their respective successors. A change in status from an Employee to a Consultant or from a Consultant to an Employee will not constitute an interruption of Continuous Service Status.

 

(l)            Corporate Transaction means a sale of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets, or a merger, consolidation or other capital reorganization of the Company with or into another corporation.

 

(m)          “Director” shall mean a member of the Board.

 

(n)           “Employee” shall mean any person who is employed by the Company or any Parent, Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, excluding any Officer and Director.

 

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

 

(p)           “Fair Market Value” shall mean, as of any date, the value of Common Stock determined as follows:

 

(i)            If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock exchange or a national market system including without limitation the National Market of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation (“Nasdaq”) System, its Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock as quoted on such system on the date of determination (if for a given day no sales were reported, the closing bid on that day shall be used), as such price is reported in The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems reliable;

 

(ii)           If the Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq System (but not on the National Market thereof) or regularly quoted by a recognized securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, its Fair Market Value shall be the mean between the bid and asked prices for the Common Stock or;

 

(iii)          In the absence of an established market for the Common Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the Administrator.

 

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(q)           “Nonstatutory Stock Option” shall mean an Option not intended to qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, as designated in the applicable Option Agreement. “Incentive Stock Option” shall mean an Option intended to qualify as an incentive stock option within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, as designated in the applicable Option Agreement.

 

(r)            “Officer” shall mean a person who is appointed or elected by the Board of Directors as an officer of the Company and who is an “officer” within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(s)           “Option” shall mean a stock option granted pursuant to the Plan.

 

(t)            Option Agreement” means a written document, the form(s) of which shall be approved from time to time by the Administrator, reflecting the terms of an Option granted under the Plan and includes any documents attached to or incorporated into such Option Agreement, including, but not limited to, a notice of stock option grant and a form of exercise notice.

 

(u)           “Optioned Stock” shall mean the Common Stock subject to an Option.

 

(v)           “Option Exchange Program means a program approved by the Administrator whereby outstanding Options are exchanged for Options with a lower exercise price or are amended to decrease the exercise price as a result of a decline in the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock.

 

(w)          “Optionee” shall mean an Employee or Consultant who receives an Option.

 

(x)            “Parent” shall mean a “parent corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

 

(y)           “Plan” shall mean this 2001 Employee Stock Option Plan.

 

(z)            “Rule 16b-3” shall mean Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act as the same may be amended from time to time, or any successor provision.

 

(aa)         “Share” shall mean a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in accordance with Section 12 of the Plan.

 

(bb)         “Subsidiary” shall mean a “subsidiary corporation,” whether now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Code.

 

3.             Stock Subject to the Plan.  Subject to the provisions of Section 12 of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of shares which may be sold under the Plan is 800,000 shares of Common Stock.  The Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common Stock.

 

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If an award should expire or become unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full, or is surrendered pursuant to an Option Exchange Program, the unpurchased Shares that were subject thereto shall, unless the Plan shall have been terminated, become available for future grant under the Plan.  In addition, any Shares of Common Stock which are retained by the Company upon exercise of an Option in order to satisfy any withholding taxes due with respect to such exercise or purchase shall be treated as not issued and shall continue to be available under the Plan.  Shares issued under the Plan and later repurchased by the Company pursuant to any repurchase right which the Company may have shall not be available for future grant under the Plan.

 

4.             Administration of the Plan.

 

(a)           Composition of Administrator.  The Plan shall be administered by (A) the Board or (B) a Committee designated by the Board, which Committee shall be constituted in such a manner as to satisfy the Applicable Laws.  If a Committee has been appointed pursuant to this Section 4(a), such Committee shall continue to serve in its designated capacity until otherwise directed by the Board.  From time to time the Board may increase the size of any Committee and appoint additional members thereof, remove members (with or without cause) and appoint new members in substitution therefor, fill vacancies (however caused) and remove all members of a Committee and thereafter directly administer the Plan, all to the extent permitted by the Applicable Laws.

 

(b)           Powers of the Administrator.  Subject to the provisions of the Plan, and in the case of a Committee, the specific duties delegated by, or limitations of authority imposed by, the Board to or on such Committee, the Administrator shall have the authority, in its discretion:

 

(i) to grant Options under the Plan;

 

(ii) to determine, upon review of relevant information and in accordance with Section 2(p) of the Plan, the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock;

 

(iii) to determine the exercise price per share of Options to be granted, which exercise price shall be determined in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Plan;

 

(iv) to determine the Employees or Consultants to whom, and the time or times at which, Options shall be granted and the number of shares to be represented by each Option;

 

(v) to interpret the Plan;

 

(vi) to approve forms of agreement for use under the Plan;

 

(vii) to determine the terms and provisions of each Option granted (which need not be identical) and, with the consent of the holder thereof, modify or amend each Option;

 

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(viii) to accelerate or defer (with the consent of the Optionee) the exercise date of any Option;

 

(ix) to authorize any person to execute on behalf of the Company any instrument required to effectuate the grant of an Option previously granted by the Administrator;

 

(x)  to implement an Option Exchange Program on such terms and conditions as the Administrator in its discretion deems appropriate, provided that no amendment or adjustment to an Option that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Optionee shall be made without the prior written consent of the Optionee;

 

(xi) to adjust the vesting of an Option held by an Employee or Consultant as a result of a change in the terms or conditions under which such person is providing services to the Company;

 

(xii) to determine whether and under what circumstances an Option may be settled in cash under Section 9(f) instead of Common Stock;

 

(xiii)  in order to fulfil the purposes of the Plan and without amending the Plan, to modify grants of Options to Employees or Consultants who are foreign nationals or employed outside the United States in order to recognize differences in local law, tax policies or customs; and

 

(xiv) to make all other determinations deemed necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan.

 

(c)           Effect of Administrator’s Decision.  All decisions, determinations and interpretations of the Administrator shall be final and binding on all Optionees and any other holders of any Options granted under the Plan.

 

5.             Eligibility.

 

(a)           Recipients of Grants.  Options may be granted only to Employees and Consultants. An Employee or Consultant who has been granted an Option may, if he is otherwise eligible, be granted an additional Option or Options.

 

(b)           Type of Option.  Each Option shall be designated in the Option Agreement as a Nonstatutory Stock Option.

 

(c)           At-Will Relationship.  The Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee any right with respect to continuation of employment or consulting relationship with the Company, nor shall it interfere in any way with his right or the Company’s right to terminate his or her employment or consulting relationship at any time, with or without cause.

 

6.             Term of Plan.  The Plan shall become effective upon its adoption by the Board of Directors.  It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10) years unless sooner terminated under Section 14 of the Plan.

 

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7.             Term of Option. The term of each Option shall be ten (10) years from the date of grant thereof or such shorter term as may be provided in the Option Agreement.

 

8.             Exercise Price and Consideration.

 

(a)           The per Share exercise price for the Shares to be issued pursuant to exercise of an Option shall be such price as is determined by the Administrator.

 

(b)           The consideration to be paid for the Shares to be issued upon exercise of an Option, including the method of payment, shall be determined by the Administrator and may consist entirely of (1) cash, (2) check, (3) promissory note with a fair market value interest rate specific to the optionee at the date of exercise, (4) other Shares of Common Stock which (i) either have been owned by the Optionee for more than six (6) months on the date of surrender or were not acquired, directly or indirectly, from the Company, and (ii) have a fair market value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised, (5) delivery of a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds required to pay the exercise price, (6) any combination of such methods of payment, or (7) such other consideration and method of payment for the issuance of Shares to the extent permitted under the Applicable Laws.  In making its determination as to the type of consideration to accept, the Administrator shall consider if acceptance of such consideration may be reasonably expected to benefit the Company, and the Administrator may refuse to accept a particular form of consideration at the time of any Option exercise if, in its sole discretion, acceptance of such form of consideration is not in the best interests of the Company at such time.

 

9.             Exercise of Option.

 

(a)           Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Stockholder.  Any Option granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times and under such conditions as determined by the Administrator, consistent with the terms of the Plan and reflected in the Option Agreement, including vesting requirements and/or performance criteria with respect to the Company and/or the Optionee.  Unless otherwise determined by the Administrator, the vesting of Options shall be tolled during any unpaid leave of absence.

 

An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

 

An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Option by the per­son entitled to exercise the Option and full payment for the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been received by the Company.  Full payment may, as authorized by the Administrator, consist of any consideration and method of payment allowable under Section 8(b) of the Plan.  Until the issuance (as evidenced by the appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer agent of the Company) of the stock certificate evidencing such Shares, no right to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a stockholder shall exist with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option.  The Company shall issue (or cause to be issued) such stock certificate promptly upon exercise of the

 

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Option.  No adjustment will be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 12 of the Plan.

 

Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease in the number of Shares which thereafter may be avail­able, both for purposes of the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the Option is exercised.

 

(b)           Termination of Employment or Consulting Relationship.  In the event of termination of an Optionee’s Continuous Service Status with the Company, such Optionee may, but only within three (3) months (or such other period of time, not less than 30 days, as is determined by the Administrator) after the date of such termination (but in no event later than the date of expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise his Option to the extent that he was entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination.  To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of such termination, or if the Optionee does not exercise the Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified above, the Option shall terminate and the Optioned Stock underlying the unexercised portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan.  No termination shall be deemed to occur and this Section 9(b) shall not apply if (i) the Optionee is a Consultant who becomes an Employee, or (ii) the Optionee is an Employee who becomes a Consultant.

 

(c)           Disability of Optionee.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9(b) above, in the event of termination of an Optionee’s Continuous Service Status as a result of Optionee’s total and permanent disability (as defined in Section 22(e)(3) of the Code), Optionee may, but only within twelve (12) months (or such other period of time as is determined by the Administrator) from the date of such termination (but in no event later than the date of expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), exercise the Option to the extent otherwise entitled to exercise it at the date of such termination.  To the extent that Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of termination, or if Optionee does not exercise such Option (to the extent so entitled) within the time specified above, the Option shall terminate, and the Optioned Stock underlying the unexercised portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan.

 

(d)           Death of Optionee. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9(b) above, in the event of the death of an Optionee during the period of Continuous Service Status since the date of grant of the Option, or within 30 days following termination of the Optionee’s Continuous Service Status, the Option may be exercised, at any time within twelve (12) months following the date of death (but in no event later than the expiration date of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement), by such Optionee’s estate or by a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by bequest or inheritance, but only to the extent of the right to exercise that had accrued at the date of death or, if earlier, the date of termination of the Optionee’s Continuous Service Status.  To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to exercise the Option at the date of death or termination, as the case may be, or if the Optionee does not exercise such Option to the extent so entitled within the time specified above, the Option shall terminate and the Optioned Stock underlying the unexercised portion of the Option shall revert to the Plan.

 

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(e)           Extension of Exercise Period.  The Administrator shall have full power and authority to extend the period of time for which an Option is to remain exercisable following termination of an Optionee’s Continuous Service Status from the periods set forth in Sections 9(b), 9(c) and 9(d) above or in the Option Agreement to such greater time as the Board shall deem appropriate, provided, that in no event shall such Option be exercisable later than the date of expiration of the term of such Option as set forth in the Option Agreement.

 

(f)            Buy-Out Provisions.  The Administrator may at any time offer to buy out for a payment in cash or Shares an Option previously granted under the Plan, based on such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall establish and communicate to the Optionee at the time such offer is made.

 

10.           Taxes.

 

(a)           As a condition of the exercise of an Option granted under the Plan, the Optionee (or in the case of the Optionee’s death, the person exercising the Option) shall make such arrangements as the Administrator may require for the satisfaction of any applicable federal, state, local or foreign withholding tax obligations that may arise in connection with the exercise of an Option and the issuance of Shares.  The Company shall not be required to issue any Shares under the Plan until such obligations are satisfied.  If the Administrator allows the withholding or surrender of Shares to satisfy a Participant’s tax withholding obligations under this Section 10 (whether pursuant to Section 10(c), (d) or (e), or otherwise), the Administrator shall not allow Shares to be withheld in an amount that exceeds the minimum statutory withholding rates for federal and state tax purposes, including payroll taxes.

 

(b)           In the case of an Employee and in the absence of any other arrangement, the Employee shall be deemed to have directed the Company to withhold or collect from his or her compensation an amount sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations from the next payroll payment otherwise payable after the date of an exercise of the Option.

 

(c)           In the case of a Optionee other than an Employee (or in the case of an Employee where the next payroll payment is not sufficient to satisfy such tax obligations, with respect to any remaining tax obligations), in the absence of any other arrangement and to the extent permitted under the Applicable Laws, the Optionee shall be deemed to have elected to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued upon exercise of the Option that number of Shares having a Fair Market Value determined as of the applicable Tax Date (as defined below) equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld.  For purposes of this Section 10, the Fair Market Value of the Shares to be withheld shall be determined on the date that the amount of tax to be withheld is to be determined under the Applicable Laws (the “Tax Date”).

 

(d)           If permitted by the Administrator, in its discretion, a Optionee may satisfy his or her tax withholding obligations upon exercise of an Option by surrendering to the Company Shares that (i) in the case of Shares previously acquired from the Company, have been owned by the Optionee for more than six months on the date of surrender, and (ii) have a Fair

 

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Market Value determined as of the applicable Tax Date equal to the minimum statutory amount required to be withheld.

 

(e)           Any election or deemed election by a Optionee to have Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations under Section 10(c) or (d) above shall be irrevocable as to the particular Shares as to which the election is made and shall be subject to the consent or disapproval of the Administrator.  Any election by an Optionee under Section 10(d) above must be made on or prior to the applicable Tax Date.

 

(f)            In the event an election to have Shares withheld is made by a Optionee and the Tax Date is deferred under Section 83 of the Code because no election is filed under Section 83(b) of the Code, the Optionee shall receive the full number of Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised but such Optionee shall be unconditionally obligated to tender back to the Company the proper number of Shares on the Tax Date.

 

11.           Non-Transferability of Options.  The Option may not be sold, pledged, assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by will or by the laws of descent or distribution; provided, that the Administrator may in its discretion grant transferable Options pursuant to option agreements specifying (i) the manner in which such Options are transferable and (ii) that any such transfer shall be subject to the Applicable Laws.  The designation of a beneficiary by an Optionee will not constitute a transfer.  An Option may be exercised, during the lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee or a transferee permitted by this Section 11.

 

12.           Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Merger or Certain Other Transactions.

 

(a)           Changes in Capitalization.  Subject to any required action by the stockholders of the Company, the number of Shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Option, and the number of Shares of Common Stock that have been authorized for issuance under the Plan but as to which no Options have yet been granted or that have been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Option, as well as the price per Share of Common Stock covered by each such outstanding Option, shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares of Common Stock resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, combination, recapitalization or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares of Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been “effected without receipt of consideration.”  Such adjustment shall be made by the Administrator, whose determination in that respect shall be final, binding and conclusive.  Except as expressly provided herein, no issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares of Common Stock subject to an Option.

 

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(b)           Dissolution or Liquidation.  In the event of the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, each Option will terminate immediately prior to the consummation of such action, unless otherwise determined by the Administrator.

 

(c)           Change of Control. In the event of a Change of Control or Corporate Transaction, each outstanding Option shall be assumed or an equivalent option or right shall be substituted by the successor corporation or a parent or subsidiary of such successor corporation (such entity, the “Successor Corporation”).  For purposes of this Section 12(c), an Option shall be considered assumed, without limitation, if, at the time of issuance of the stock or other consideration upon such Change of Control, each holder of an Option would be entitled to receive upon exercise of the Option the same number and kind of shares of stock or the same amount of property, cash or securities as such holder would have been entitled to receive upon the occurrence of such Change of Control if the holder had been, immediately prior to such Change of Control, the holder of the number of Shares of Common Stock covered by the Option at such time (after giving effect to any adjustments in the number of Shares covered by the Option as provided for in this Section 12).

 

In the event that, following a Change of Control, the Successor Corporation does not agree to assume the Option or to substitute an equivalent option, then the unvested shares under such Option shall automatically be accelerated such that an additional 50% of the total number of unvested shares as of the effective date of the Change of Control shall automatically become vested, and the Company shall provide written notice to the holder of the Option of the termination of such vesting provisions.  The holder of an Option shall be entitled to exercise such Option for a period of 15 business days following the date that such notice is given.

 

(d)           Termination Following A Change of Control.  If the holder of an Option is an Employee and such holder’s employment terminates as a result of Involuntary Termination other than for Cause (as such terms are defined below) at any time within 24 months following a Change of Control, then, subject to Subsection (e) below, the unvested shares under such Option shall automatically be accelerated such that an additional 50% of the total number of unvested shares as of the effective date of such Involuntary Termination shall automatically become vested.

 

(e)           Limitation on Payments.  In the event that the vesting acceleration provided for in Subsection (c) above (i) constitutes “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and (ii) but for this Subsection (e), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (or any corresponding provisions of state income tax law), then the vesting acceleration pursuant to Subsection (c) above shall be either

 

(i)            delivered in full, or

 

(ii)           delivered as to such lesser extent which would result in no portion of such severance benefits being subject to excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code, whichever of the foregoing amounts, taking into account the applicable federal, state and local income taxes and the excise tax imposed by Section 4999, results in the receipt by the holder of an Option or

 

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Stock Purchase Right on an after-tax-basis, of the greater amount of severance benefits, notwithstanding that all or some portion of such severance benefits may be taxable under Section 4999 of the Code.  Any determination required under this Subsection (e) shall be made in writing by the Company’s independent accountants, whose determination shall be conclusive and binding on the Company and all holders of Options and Stock Purchase Rights for all purposes. In the event that subdivision (i) above applies, then the holder of the Option or Stock Purchase Rights shall be responsible for any excise taxes imposed with respect to such severance and other benefits.  In the event that subdivision (ii) above applies, then each benefit provided hereunder shall be proportionately reduced to the extent necessary to avoid imposition of such excise taxes.

 

(f)            Definition of Terms.  The following terms used in Subsections (c) through (d) shall have the following meanings:

 

(i)            Cause.  “Cause” shall mean (i) gross negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of an employee’s duties to the Company; (ii) repeated unexplained or unjustified absence from the Company; (iii) a material and willful violation of any federal or state law; (iv) refusal or failure to act in accordance with any specific direction or order of the Company; (v) commission of any act of fraud with respect to the Company; or (vi) conviction of or plea of no contest to a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude causing material harm to the standing and reputation of the Company, in each case as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(ii)           Involuntary Termination.  “Involuntary Termination” shall mean (i) without an employee’s express written consent, the significant reduction of such employee’s duties, authority or responsibilities, relative to the such employee’s duties, authority or responsibilities as in effect immediately prior to such reduction, or the assignment to the employee of such reduced duties, authority or responsibilities, provided, however, that the assignment of the employee to a position with the same title as the employee then holds, or substantially similar title, in a business unit, division or subsidiary of the Company following a Change of Control or a company into which the Company is merged in a Change of Control or otherwise acquiring assets or voting shares of the Company in connection with a Change of Control, or a parent of such a company, shall not constitute a significant reduction of duties, authority or responsibilities; (ii) a material reduction by the Company in the base salary of the employee as in effect immediately prior to such reduction; (iii) a material reduction by the Company in the kind or level of employee benefits, including bonuses, to which the employee was entitled immediately prior to such reduction with the result that the employee’s overall benefits package is significantly reduced; (iv) the relocation of the employee to a facility or a location more than fifty miles from the employee’s then present location, without the employee’s express written consent; or (v) any act or set of facts or circumstances which would, under California case law or statute, constitute a constructive termination of the employee.

 

(g)           Certain Distributions.  In the event of any distribution to the Company’s stockholders of securities of any other entity or other assets (other than dividends payable in cash or stock of the Company) without receipt of consideration by the Company, the Administrator may, in its discretion, appropriately adjust the price per Share of Common Stock covered by each outstanding Option to reflect the effect of such distribution.

 

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13.           Time of Granting Options.  The date of grant of an Option shall, for all purposes, be the date on which the Administrator makes the determination granting such Option.  Notice of the determination shall be given to each Employee or Consultant to whom an Option is so granted within a reasonable time after the date of such grant.

 

14.           Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

 

(a)           Authority to Amend or Terminate.  The Board may at any time amend, alter, suspend or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration, suspension or discontinuation (other than an adjustment pursuant to Section 12 above) shall be made that would materially and adversely affect the rights of any Optionee under any outstanding grant, without his or her consent.

 

(b)           Effect of Amendment or Termination.  No amendment or termination of the Plan shall materially and adversely affect Options already granted, unless mutually agreed otherwise between the Optionee and the Administrator, which agreement must be in writing and signed by the Optionee and the Company.

 

15.           Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan or any agreement entered into by the Company pursuant to the Plan, the Company shall not be obligated, and shall have no liability for failure, to issue or deliver any Shares under the Plan unless such issuance or delivery would comply with the Applicable Laws, with such compliance determined by the Company in consultation with its legal counsel.  As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require the person exercising the award to represent and warrant at the time of any such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares if, in the opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by law.

 

16.           Reservation of Shares.  The Company, during the term of this Plan, will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.  The inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company’s counsel to be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

 

17.           Option Agreements.  Options shall be evidenced by Option Agreements in such forms as the Administrator shall from time to time approve.

 

18.           Information to Optionees.  The Company shall provide to each Optionee upon request, during the period for which such Optionee has one or more Options outstanding, copies of all annual reports and other information which are provided to all stockholders of the Company.

 

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