EX-99.A 7 l95069aexv99wa.txt EX-99(A) Exhibit 99(a) BORON, LEPORE & ASSOCIATES, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED 1996 STOCK OPTION AND GRANT PLAN SECTION 1. GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PLAN; DEFINITIONS The name of the plan is the Amended and Restated Boron, LePore & Associates, Inc. 1996 Stock Option and Grant Plan (the "Plan"). The purpose of the Plan is to encourage and enable the officers, employees, directors, consultants, advisors and other key persons of Boron, LePore & Associates, Inc. (the "Company") and its Subsidiaries (as defined below) upon whose judgment, initiative and efforts the Company largely depends for the successful conduct of its business to acquire a proprietary interest in the Company. It is anticipated that providing such persons with a direct stake in the Company's welfare will assure a closer identification of their interests with those of the Company, thereby stimulating their efforts on the Company's behalf and strengthening their desire to remain with the Company. The following terms shall be defined as set forth below: "Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. "Award" or "Awards," except where referring to a particular category of grant under the Plan, shall include Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Performance Share Awards and Dividend Equivalent Rights. "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company. "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor Code, and related rules, regulations and interpretations. "Committee" has the meaning specified in Section 2. "Dividend Equivalent Right" means Awards granted pursuant to Section 10. "Effective Date" means the date on which the Plan is approved by stockholders as set forth in Section 16. "Fair Market Value" of the Stock on any given date means (i) if the Stock is admitted to quotation on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System ("NASDAQ"), the Fair Market Value on any given date shall not be less than the average of the highest bid and lowest asked prices of the Stock reported for such date or, if no bid and asked prices were reported for such date, for the last day preceding such date for which such prices were reported; or (ii) if the Stock is admitted to trading on a national securities exchange or the NASDAQ National Market System, then clause (i) shall not apply and the Fair Market Value on any date shall not be less than the closing price reported for the Stock on such exchange or system for such date or, if no sales were reported for such date, for the last date preceding such date for which a sale was reported; or (iii) if the Stock is not publicly traded on a securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market or, if traded or quoted, there are no transactions or quotations within the last ten trading days or trading has been halted for extraordinary reasons, the Fair Market Value on any given date shall be determined in good faith by the Committee with reference to the rules and principles of valuation set forth in Section 20.2031- 2 of the Treasury Regulations; and (iv) notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the effective date of the Initial Public Offering shall be the offering price to the public of the Stock on such date. "Incentive Stock Option" means any Stock Option designated and qualified as an "incentive stock option" as defined in Section 422 of the Code. "Independent Director" means a member of the Board who is neither an employee or officer of the Company or any Subsidiary. "Initial Public Offering" means the first underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, covering the offer and sale of Stock to the public. "Non-Qualified Stock Option" means any Stock Option that is not an Incentive Stock Option. "Option" or "Stock Option" means any option to purchase shares of Stock granted pursuant to Section 5. "Performance Share Award" means any Award granted pursuant to Section 9. "Restricted Stock Award" means any Award granted pursuant to Section 7. "Stock" means the Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company, subject to adjustments pursuant to Section 3. "Stock Appreciation Rights" means any Award granted pursuant to Section 6. "Subsidiary" means any corporation or other entity (other than the Company) in any unbroken chain of corporations or other entities, beginning with the Company, if each of the corporations or entities (other than the last corporation or entity in the unbroken chain) owns stock or other interests possessing 50% or more of the economic interest or the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or other interests in one of the other corporations or entities in the chain. "Unrestricted Stock Award" means any Award granted pursuant to Section 8. SECTION 2. ADMINISTRATION OF PLAN; COMMITTEE AUTHORITY TO SELECT PARTICIPANTS AND DETERMINE AWARDS (a) Committee. The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company, or at the discretion of the Board, by a committee of the Board consisting of not less than two Independent Directors. On and after the date the Company becomes subject to the Act, each member of the Committee shall be a "Non-Employee Director" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(a)(3). On and after the date the Plan becomes subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, each member of the Committee shall be an "Outside Director" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. All references herein to the Committee shall be deemed to refer to the entity then responsible for administration of the Plan at the relevant time (i.e., either the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board, as applicable). (b) Powers of Committee. The Committee shall have the power and authority to grant Awards consistent with the terms of the Plan, including the power and authority: (i) to select the officers, employees, Independent Directors, consultants, advisers and key persons of the Company and its Subsidiaries to whom Awards may from time to time be granted; (ii) to determine the time or times of grant, and the extent, if any, of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock Awards, Unrestricted Stock Awards, Performance Share Awards and Dividend Equivalent Rights, or any combination of the foregoing, granted to any one or more participants; (iii) to determine the number of shares of Stock to be covered by any Award; (iv) to determine and modify from time to time the terms and conditions, including restrictions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, of any Award, which terms and conditions may differ among individual Awards and participants, and to approve the form of written instruments evidencing the Awards; (v) to accelerate at any time the exercisability or vesting of all or any portion of any Award and/or to include provisions in Awards providing for such acceleration; (vi) to impose any limitations on Awards granted under the Plan, including limitations on transfers, repurchase provisions and the like and to exercise repurchase rights or obligations; (vii) subject to the provisions of Section 5(a)(iii), to extend at any time the period in which Stock Options may be exercised; (viii) to determine at any time whether, to what extent, and under what circumstances Stock and other amounts payable with respect to an Award shall be deferred either automatically or at the election of the participant and whether and to what extent the Company shall pay or credit amounts constituting interest (at rates determined by the Committee) or dividends or deemed dividends on such deferrals; and (ix) at any time to adopt, alter and repeal such rules, guidelines and practices for administration of the Plan and for its own acts and proceedings as it shall deem advisable; to interpret the terms and provisions of the Plan and any Award (including related written instruments); to make all determinations it deems advisable for the administration of the Plan; to decide all disputes arising in connection with the Plan; and to otherwise supervise the administration of the Plan. All decisions and interpretations of the Committee shall be binding on all persons, including the Company and Plan participants. (c) Delegation of Authority to Grant Awards. The Committee, in its discretion, may delegate to the Chief Executive Officer of the Company all or part of the Committee's authority and duties with respect to Awards, including the granting thereof, to individuals who are not subject to the reporting and other provisions of Section 16 of the Act or "covered employees" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. Any such delegation by the Committee shall include a limitation as to the amount of Awards that may be granted during the period of delegation and shall contain guidelines as to the determination of the exercise price of any Option or Stock Appreciation Right, the price of other Awards and the vesting criteria. The Committee may revoke or amend the terms of a delegation at any time but such action shall not invalidate any prior actions of the Committee's delegate or delegates that were consistent with the terms of the Plan. SECTION 3. STOCK ISSUABLE UNDER THE PLAN; MERGERS; SUBSTITUTION (a) Stock Issuable. The maximum number of shares of Stock reserved and available for issuance under the Plan shall be such aggregate number of shares of Stock as does not exceed the sum of (i) 4,500,000 shares; plus (ii) as of each June 30 and December 31 after December 31, 1997, an additional positive number equal to five percent (5%) of the shares of Stock issued by the Company during that six month period; provided, however, that the maximum number of shares of Stock for which Incentive Stock Options may be granted under the Plan shall not exceed 4,500,000 shares, and the maximum number of shares of stock which may be the subject of outright grants shall not exceed 1,125,000 shares. For purposes of the foregoing limitations, the shares of Stock underlying any Awards which are forfeited, canceled, reacquired by the Company, satisfied without the issuance of Stock or otherwise terminated (other than by exercise) shall be added back to the shares of Stock available for issuance under the Plan. Subject to such overall limitation, shares of Stock may be issued up to such maximum number pursuant to any type or types of Award; provided, however, that from and after the date the Plan is subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights with respect to no more than 500,000 shares of stock may be granted to any one individual participant during any one calendar year period. The shares available for issuance under the Plan may be authorized but unissued shares of Stock or shares of Stock reacquired by the Company. (b) Recapitalizations. If, through or as a result of any merger, consolidation, sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar transaction, the outstanding shares of Stock are increased or decreased or are exchanged for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company or any successor company, or additional shares or new or different shares or other securities of the Company or other non-cash assets are distributed with respect to such shares of Stock or other securities, the Committee shall make an appropriate or proportionate adjustment in (i) the maximum number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan, (ii) the number of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights or other Awards that can be granted to any one individual participant, (iii) the number and kind of shares or other securities subject to any then outstanding Awards under the Plan, and (iv) the price for each share subject to any then outstanding Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights or other Awards under the Plan, without changing the aggregate exercise price (i.e., the exercise price multiplied by the number of shares) as to which such Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights remain exercisable and the repurchase price for shares subject to repurchase. The adjustment by the Committee shall be final, binding and conclusive. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued under the Plan resulting from any such adjustment, but the Committee in its discretion may make a cash payment in lieu of fractional shares. (c) Mergers and Other Transactions. In the case of (i) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (ii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation in which the Company is acquired by another person or entity (other than a holding company formed by the Company), (iii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to an unrelated person or entity, or (iv) the sale of all of the Stock of the Company to an unrelated person or entity (in each case, a "Transaction"), all outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights held by participants, to the extent not fully vested and exercisable, shall not become fully vested and exercisable, except as the Committee otherwise determines. Upon the effectiveness of the Transaction, the Plan and all Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Dividend Equivalent Rights and Performance Share Awards ("Options/Contractual Awards") granted hereunder shall terminate, unless provision is made in connection with the Transaction for the assumption of Contractual Awards heretofore granted, or the substitution of such Contractual Awards of new Contractual Awards of the successor entity or parent thereof, with appropriate adjustment as to the number and kind of shares and, if appropriate, the per share exercise prices, as provided in Section 3(b) above. In the event of such termination, each optionee shall be permitted to exercise for a period of at least 15 days prior to the date of such termination all outstanding Options and Stock Appreciation Rights held by such optionee which are then exercisable. The treatment of Restricted Stock Awards and Unrestricted Stock Awards in connection with any such transaction shall be as specified in the relevant agreement relating to such Award. (d) Substitute Awards. The Committee may grant Awards under the Plan in substitution for stock and stock based awards held by employees of another corporation who become employees of the Company or a Subsidiary as the result of a merger or consolidation of the employing corporation with the Company or a Subsidiary or the acquisition by the Company or a Subsidiary of property or stock of the employing corporation. The Committee may direct that the substitute awards be granted on such terms and conditions as the Committee considers appropriate in the circumstances. SECTION 4. ELIGIBILITY Participants in the Plan will be such officers and other employees, Independent Directors, consultants, advisors and other key persons of the Company and its Subsidiaries who are responsible for or contribute to the management, growth or profitability of the Company and its Subsidiaries as are selected from time to time by the Committee, in its sole discretion. SECTION 5. STOCK OPTIONS Any Stock Option granted under the Plan shall be pursuant to a stock option agreement which shall be in such form as the Committee may from time to time approve. Option agreements need not be identical. Stock Options granted under the Plan may be either Incentive Stock Options or Non-Qualified Stock Options. Incentive Stock Options may be granted only to employees of the Company or any Subsidiary that is a "subsidiary corporation" within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code. Non-Qualified Stock Options may be granted to officers, employees, Independent Directors, advisors, consultants and other key persons of the Company and its Subsidiaries. To the extent that any Option does not qualify as an Incentive Stock Option, it shall be deemed a Non-Qualified Stock Option. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted under the Plan after August 17, 2007. (a) Terms of Stock Options. Stock Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to the following terms and conditions and shall contain such additional terms and conditions, not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan, as the Committee shall deem desirable: (i) Exercise Price. The exercise price per share for the Stock covered by a Stock Option shall be determined by the Committee at the time of grant but shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value in the case of Incentive Stock Options. If an employee owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules applicable under Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such employee, the option price of such Incentive Stock Option shall be not less than 110% of the Fair Market Value on the grant date. (ii) Grant of Discount Options in Lieu of Cash Compensation. Upon the request of a participant and with the consent of the Committee, such participant may elect each calendar year to receive a Non-Qualified Stock Option in lieu of any cash bonus or other compensation to which he may become entitled during the following calendar year, but only if such participant makes an irrevocable election to waive receipt of all or a portion of such cash compensation. Such election shall be made on or before the date set by the Committee which date shall be no later than 15 days (or such shorter period permitted by the Committee) preceding January 1 of the calendar year for which the cash compensation would otherwise be paid. A Non-Qualified Stock Option shall be granted to each participant who made such an irrevocable election on the date the waived cash compensation would otherwise be paid. The exercise price per share shall be determined by the Committee. The number of shares of Stock subject to the Stock Option shall be determined by dividing the amount of the waived cash compensation by the difference between the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date the Stock Option is granted and the exercise price per share of the Stock Option. The Stock Option shall be granted for a whole number of shares so determined; the value of any fractional share shall be paid in cash. (iii) Option Term. The term of each Stock Option shall be fixed by the Committee, but no Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable more than ten years after the date the option is granted. If an employee owns or is deemed to own (by reason of the attribution rules of Section 424(d) of the Code) more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation and an Incentive Stock Option is granted to such employee, the term of such option shall be no more than five years from the date of grant. (iv) Exercisability; Rights of a Stockholder. Stock Options shall become vested and exercisable at such time or times, whether or not in installments, as shall be determined by the Committee at or after the grant date; provided, however, that Stock Options granted in lieu of cash compensation shall be exercisable in full as of the grant date. The Committee may at any time accelerate the exercisability of all or any portion of any Stock Option. An optionee shall have the rights of a stockholder only as to shares acquired upon the exercise of a Stock Option and not as to unexercised Stock Options. (v) Method of Exercise. Stock Options may be exercised in whole or in part, by giving written notice of exercise to the Company, specifying the number of shares to be purchased. Payment of the purchase price may be made by one or more of the following methods; provided, however, that the methods set forth in subsections (B) and (C) below shall become available only after the closing of the Initial Public Offering: (A) In cash, by certified or bank check or other instrument acceptable to the Committee; (B) In the form of shares of Stock that are not then subject to restrictions under any Company plan and that have been held by the optionee free of such restrictions for at least six months, if permitted by the Committee in its discretion. Such surrendered shares shall be valued at Fair Market Value on the exercise date; (C) By the optionee delivering to the Company a properly executed exercise notice together with irrevocable instructions to a broker to promptly deliver to the Company cash or a check payable and acceptable to the Company to pay the purchase price; provided that in the event the optionee chooses to pay the purchase price as so provided, the optionee and the broker shall comply with such procedures and enter into such agreements of indemnity and other agreements as the Committee shall prescribe as a condition of such payment procedure; or (D) By the optionee delivering to the Company a promissory note if the Board has authorized the loan of funds to the optionee for the purpose of enabling or assisting the optionee to effect the exercise of his Stock Option; provided that at least so much of the exercise price as represents the par value of the Stock shall be paid other than with a promissory note. Payment instruments will be received subject to collection. The delivery of certificates representing the shares of Stock to be purchased pursuant to the exercise of a Stock Option will be contingent upon receipt from the optionee (or a purchaser acting in his stead in accordance with the provisions of the Stock Option) by the Company of the full purchase price for such shares and the fulfillment of any other requirements contained in the Stock Option or applicable provisions of laws. (vi) Termination. Unless otherwise provided in the option agreement or determined by the Committee, upon the optionee's termination of employment (or other business relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries, the optionee's rights in his Stock Options shall automatically terminate. (vii) Annual Limit on Incentive Stock Options. To the extent required for "incentive stock option" treatment under Section 422 of the Code, the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined as of the time of grant) of the shares of Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options granted under this Plan and any other plan of the Company or its parent and subsidiary corporations become exercisable for the first time by an optionee during any calendar year shall not exceed $100,000. To the extent that any Stock Option exceeds this limit, it shall constitute a Non- Qualified Stock Option. (b) Reload Options. At the discretion of the Committee, Options granted under the Plan may include a "reload" feature pursuant to which an optionee exercising an option by the delivery of a number of shares of Stock in accordance with Section 5(a)(v)(B) hereof would automatically be granted an additional Option (with an exercise price equal to the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date the additional Option is granted and with the same expiration date as the original Option being exercised, and with such other terms as the Committee may provide) to purchase that number of shares of Stock equal to the number delivered to exercise the original Option. (c) Non-transferability of Options. No Stock Option shall be transferable by the optionee otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution and all Stock Options shall be exercisable, during the optionee's lifetime, only by the optionee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may provide in an option agreement that the optionee may transfer, without consideration for the transfer, his Non-Qualified Stock Options to members of his immediate family, to trusts for the benefit of such family members, to partnerships in which such family members are the only partners; or to charitable organizations; provided, however, that the transferee agrees in writing to be bound by the terms and conditions of this Plan and the applicable Option Agreement. SECTION 6. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS. (a) Nature of Stock Appreciation Rights. A Stock Appreciation Right is an Award entitling the recipient to receive an amount in cash or shares of Stock or a combination thereof having a value equal to the excess of the Fair Market Value of the Stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price per Stock Appreciation Right set by the Committee at the time of grant, which price shall determined by the Committee in its sole discretion (or over the option exercise price per share, if the Stock Appreciation Right was granted in tandem with a Stock Option) multiplied by the number of shares of Stock with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right shall have been exercised, with the Committee having the right to determine the form of payment. (b) Grant and Exercise of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted by the Committee in tandem with, or independently of, any Stock Option granted pursuant to Section 5 of the Plan. In the case of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with a Non-Qualified Stock Option, such Stock Appreciation Right may be granted either at or after the time of the grant of such Option. In the case of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in tandem with an Incentive Stock Option, such Stock Appreciation Right may be granted only at the time of the grant of the Option. A Stock Appreciation Right or applicable portion thereof granted in tandem with a Stock Option shall terminate and no longer be exercisable upon the termination or exercise of the related Option. (c) Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to such terms and conditions as shall be determined from time to time by the Committee, subject to the following: (i) Stock Appreciation Rights granted in tandem with Options shall be exercisable at such time or times and to the extent that the related Stock Options shall be exercisable. (ii) Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right, the applicable portion of any related Option shall be surrendered. SECTION 7. RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS (a) Nature of Restricted Stock Awards. A Restricted Stock Award is an Award entitling the recipient to acquire, at par value or such other purchase price determined by the Committee, shares of Stock subject to such restrictions and conditions as the Committee may determine at the time of grant ("Restricted Stock"). Conditions may be based on continuing employment (or other business relationship) and/or achievement of pre-established performance goals and objectives. (b) Rights as a Stockholder. Upon execution of a written instrument setting forth the Restricted Stock Award and paying any applicable purchase price, a participant shall have the rights of a stockholder with respect to the voting of the Restricted Stock, subject to such conditions contained in the written instrument evidencing the Restricted Stock Award. Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine, certificates evidencing the Restricted Stock shall remain in the possession of the Company until such Restricted Stock is vested as provided in Section 7(d) below. (c) Restrictions. Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of except as specifically provided herein or in the written instrument evidencing the Restricted Stock Award. If a participant's employment (or other business relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries terminates under the conditions specified in the relevant instrument relating to the Award, or upon such other event or events as may be stated in the instrument evidencing the Award, the Company or its assigns shall have the right or shall agree, as may be specified in the relevant instrument, to repurchase some or all of the shares of Stock subject to the Award at such purchase price as is set forth in such instrument. (d) Vesting of Restricted Stock. The Committee at the time of grant shall specify the date or dates and/or the attainment of pre-established performance goals, objectives and other conditions on which Restricted Stock shall become vested, subject to such further rights of the Company or its assigns as may be specified in the instrument evidencing the Restricted Stock Award. (e) Waiver, Deferral and Reinvestment of Dividends. The written instrument evidencing the Restricted Stock Award may require or permit the immediate payment, waiver, deferral or investment of dividends paid on the Restricted Stock. SECTION 8. UNRESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS (a) Grant or Sale of Unrestricted Stock. The Committee may, in its sole discretion, grant (or sell at a purchase price determined by the Committee) an Unrestricted Stock Award to any participant, pursuant to which such participant may receive shares of Stock free of any vesting restrictions ("Unrestricted Stock") under the Plan. Unrestricted Stock Awards may be granted or sold as described in the preceding sentence in respect of past services or other valid consideration, or in lieu of any cash compensation due to such individual. (b) Elections to Receive Unrestricted Stock In Lieu of Compensation. Upon the request of a participant and with the consent of the Committee, each such participant may, pursuant to an advance written election delivered to the Company no later than the date specified by the Committee, receive a portion of the cash compensation otherwise due to such participant in the form of shares of Unrestricted Stock either currently or on a deferred basis. (c) Restrictions on Transfers. The right to receive shares of Unrestricted Stock on a deferred basis may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered, other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. SECTION 9. PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARDS (a) Nature of Performance Share Awards. A Performance Share Award is an Award entitling the recipient to acquire shares of Stock upon the attainment of specified performance goals. The Committee may make Performance Share Awards independent of or in connection with the granting of any other Award under the Plan. The Committee in its sole discretion shall determine whether and to whom Performance Share Awards shall be made, the performance goals applicable under each such Award, the periods during which performance is to be measured, and all other limitations and conditions applicable to the awarded Performance Shares; provided, however, that the Committee may rely on the performance goals and other standards applicable to other performance unit plans of the Company in setting the standards for Performance Share Awards under the Plan. (b) Restrictions on Transfer. Performance Share Awards and all rights with respect to such Awards may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered. (c) Rights as a Shareholder. A participant receiving a Performance Share Award shall have the rights of a shareholder only as to shares actually received by the participant under the Plan and not with respect to shares subject to the Award but not actually received by the participant. A participant shall be entitled to receive a stock certificate evidencing the acquisition of shares of Stock under a Performance Share Award only upon satisfaction of all conditions specified in the written instrument evidencing the Performance Share Award (or in a performance plan adopted by the Committee). (d) Termination. Except as may otherwise be provided by the Committee at any time, a participant's rights in all Performance Share Awards shall automatically terminate upon the participant's termination of employment (or business relationship) with the Company and its Subsidiaries for any reason. (e) Acceleration, Waiver, Etc. At any time prior to the participant's termination of employment (or other business relationship) by the Company and its Subsidiaries, the Committee may in its sole discretion accelerate, waive or, subject to Section 13, amend any or all of the goals, restrictions or conditions imposed under any Performance Share Award. SECTION 10. DIVIDEND EQUIVALENT RIGHTS (a) Dividend Equivalent Rights. A Dividend Equivalent Right is an Award entitling the recipient to receive credits based on cash dividends that would be paid on the shares of Stock specified in the Dividend Equivalent Right (or other award to which it relates) if such shares were held by the recipient. A Dividend Equivalent Right may be granted as a component of another Award or as a freestanding award. The terms and conditions of Dividend Equivalent Rights shall be specified in the grant. Dividend equivalents credited to the holder of a Dividend Equivalent Right may be paid currently or may be deemed to be reinvested in additional shares of Stock, which may thereafter accrue additional equivalents. Any such reinvestment shall be at Fair Market Value on the date of reinvestment or such other price as may then apply under a dividend reinvestment plan sponsored by the Company, if any. Dividend Equivalent Rights may be settled in cash or shares of Stock or a combination thereof, in a single installment or installments. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award may provide that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall be settled upon exercise, settlement, or payment of, or lapse of restrictions on, such other award, and that such Dividend Equivalent Right shall expire or be forfeited or annulled under the same conditions as such other award. A Dividend Equivalent Right granted as a component of another Award may also contain terms and conditions different from such other award. (b) Interest Equivalents. Any Award under this Plan that is settled in whole or in part in cash on a deferred basis may provide in the grant for interest equivalents to be credited with respect to such cash payment. Interest equivalents may be compounded and shall be paid upon such terms and conditions as may be specified by the grant. SECTION 11. TAX WITHHOLDING (a) Payment by Participant. Each participant shall, no later than the date as of which the value of an Award or of any Stock or other amounts received thereunder first becomes includable in the gross income of the participant for Federal income tax purposes, pay to the Company, or make arrangements satisfactory to the Committee regarding payment of, any federal, state, or local taxes of any kind required by law to be withheld with respect to such income. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall, to the extent permitted by law, have the right to deduct any such taxes from any payment of any kind otherwise due to the participant. (b) Payment in Stock. Subject to approval by the Committee, a participant may elect to have such tax withholding obligation satisfied, in whole or in part, by (i) authorizing the Company to withhold from shares of Stock to be issued pursuant to any Award a number of shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the withholding amount due, or (ii) transferring to the Company shares of Stock owned by the participant with an aggregate Fair Market Value (as of the date the withholding is effected) that would satisfy the withholding amount due. SECTION 12. TRANSFER, LEAVE OF ABSENCE, ETC. For purposes of the Plan, the following events shall not be deemed a termination of employment: (a) a transfer to the employment of the Company from a Subsidiary or from the Company to a Subsidiary, or from one Subsidiary to another; or (b) an approved leave of absence for military service or sickness, or for any other purpose approved by the Company, if the employee's right to re- employment is guaranteed either by a statute or by contract or under the policy pursuant to which the leave of absence was granted or if the Committee otherwise so provides in writing. SECTION 13. AMENDMENTS AND TERMINATION The Board may, at any time, amend or discontinue the Plan and the Committee may, at any time, amend or cancel any outstanding Award (or provide substitute Awards at the same or reduced exercise or purchase price or with no exercise or purchase price in a manner not inconsistent with the terms of the Plan), but such price, if any, must satisfy the requirements which would apply to the substitute or amended Award if it were then initially granted under this Plan for the purpose of satisfying changes in law or for any other lawful purpose, but no such action shall adversely affect rights under any outstanding Award without the holder's consent. If and to the extent determined by the Committee to be required by the Act to ensure that Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan are qualified under Section 422 of the Code, Plan amendments shall be subject to approval by the Company stockholders who are eligible to vote at a meeting of stockholders. SECTION 14. STATUS OF PLAN With respect to the portion of any Award which has not been exercised and any payments in cash, Stock or other consideration not received by a participant, a participant shall have no rights greater than those of a general creditor of the Company unless the Committee shall otherwise expressly determine in connection with any Award or Awards. In its sole discretion, the Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the Company's obligations to deliver Stock or make payments with respect to Awards hereunder, provided that the existence of such trusts or other arrangements is consistent with the foregoing sentence. SECTION 15. GENERAL PROVISIONS (a) No Distribution; Compliance with Legal Requirements. The Committee may require each person acquiring Stock pursuant to an Award to represent to and agree with the Company in writing that such person is acquiring the shares without a view to distribution thereof. No shares of Stock shall be issued pursuant to an Award until all applicable securities law and other legal and stock exchange or similar requirements have been satisfied. The Committee may require the placing of such stop-orders and restrictive legends on certificates for Stock and Awards as it deems appropriate. (b) Other Compensation Arrangements; No Employment Rights. Nothing contained in this Plan shall prevent the Board from adopting other or additional compensation arrangements, including trusts, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable only in specific cases. The adoption of this Plan and the grant of Awards do not confer upon any employee any right to continued employment with the Company or any Subsidiary. SECTION 16. EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN This Plan shall become effective upon approval by the holders of a majority of the shares of Stock of the Company present or represented and entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders. Subject to such approval by the stockholders and to the requirement that no Stock may be issued hereunder prior to such approval, Stock Options and other Awards may be granted hereunder on and after adoption of this Plan by the Board. SECTION 17. GOVERNING LAW This Plan shall be governed by Delaware law except to the extent such law is preempted by federal law. Adopted and Effective: August 18, 1997 FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE BORON, LEPORE & ASSOCIATES, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED 1996 STOCK OPTION AND GRANT PLAN WHEREAS, on April 25, 1998 the Board of Directors voted to increase the base number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan by 1,000,000 shares and to increase the number of shares for which incentive options may be issued under the Plan by 1,000,000 shares; and WHEREAS, the Stockholders of the Company approved such amendments at the 1997 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company held on June 4, 1998. NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby amended as follows: 1. Section 3(a)(i) - The reference to 3,000,000 shares is deleted substituting therefor "4,000,000 shares." 2. Section 3(a)(ii)- The reference to 3,000,000 shares is deleted and substituting therefor "4,000,000 shares." 3. Except as otherwise amended herein, the Plan is hereby affirmed in all other respects. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto signed his name as of this June 4, 1998. /s/ Patrick G. LePore ------------------------ Patrick G. LePore Chairman and Chief Executive Officer AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO BORON, LEPORE & ASSOCIATES, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED 1996 STOCK OPTION AND GRANT PLAN The undersigned, Patrick G. LePore, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Boron, LePore & Associates, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby certifies that he is the duly appointed Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and does further certify on behalf of the Company in such capacity that the following Amendment No. 2 to the Boron, LePore & Associates, Inc. Amended and Restated 1996 Stock Option and Grant Plan was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company at a meeting on December 7, 1998: 1. Section 3(c) is hereby amended by deleting such section in its entirety and replacing such section with the following: "(c) Mergers and Other Transactions. In the case of (i) the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (ii) the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company on a consolidated basis to an unrelated person or entity, (iii) a merger, reorganization or consolidation in which the holders of the Company's outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own a majority of the outstanding voting power of the surviving or resulting entity immediately upon completion of such transaction, (iv) the sale of all of the Stock of the Company to an unrelated person or entity in which the holders of the Company's outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own a majority of the outstanding voting power of the surviving or resulting entity immediately upon completion of such transaction, or (v) any other transaction in which the owners of the Company's outstanding voting power immediately prior to such transaction do not own at least a majority of the outstanding voting power of the relevant entity after the transaction (in each case, a "Transaction"), the Plan and all outstanding Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and other Awards granted hereunder shall terminate, unless provision is made in connection with the Transaction for the assumption of Awards, the continuation of Awards by the Company as survivor or the substitution of such Awards with new Awards of the successor entity or parent thereof, with appropriate adjustment as to the number and kind of shares and, if appropriate, the per share exercise prices, as provided in Section 3(b) above. In the event of such termination, each grantee shall be permitted to exercise, for a period of at least 15 days prior to the date of such termination, all outstanding Options, Stock Appreciation Rights and other Awards held by such grantee which are then exercisable or become exercisable upon the effectiveness of the Transaction. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in the event that provision is made in connection with the Transaction for the assumption or continuation of Awards, or the substitution of such Awards with new Awards of the successor entity or parent thereof, then, except as the Committee may otherwise determine with respect to particular Awards, any Award so assumed or continued or substituted therefor shall be deemed vested and exercisable in full upon the date on which the grantee's employment or service relationship with the Company and its subsidiaries or successor entity terminates if (i) such termination occurs within eighteen (18) months after the closing of such Transaction and (ii) such termination is by the Company or its Subsidiaries or successor entity without Cause (as defined below) or by the grantee for Good Reason (as defined below), subject, however, to the following sentence. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that the Company receives written advice from its independent public accountants in connection with any Transaction to the effect that vesting of any Award under the circumstances contemplated by the preceding sentence would preclude or otherwise adversely affect the ability of the Company or any other party to such Transaction to account for the same as a "pooling of interests" within the meaning of APB No. 16 (or any successor provision), which Transaction would otherwise qualify for such accounting treatment, then vesting of such Awards shall not accelerate on a subsequent termination of grantee's employment or service relationship within 18 months following such Transaction as contemplated by the preceding sentence. For purposes of this Section 3(c), the term "Cause" means a vote of the Board of Directors of the Company or the successor entity, as the case may be, resolving that the grantee should be dismissed as a result of (i) any material breach by the grantee of any agreement to which the grantee and the Company are parties, (ii) any act (other than retirement) or omission to act by the grantee which would reasonably be likely to have a material adverse effect on the business of the Company or its subsidiaries or successor entity, as the case may be, or on the grantee's ability to perform services for the Company or its subsidiaries or successor entity, as the case may be, including, without limitation, the conviction of any crime (other than ordinary traffic violations), or (iii) any material misconduct or willful and deliberate non- performance of duties by the grantee in connection with the business or affairs of the Company or its subsidiaries or successor entity, as the case may be; and the term "Good Reason" means the occurrence of any of the following events: (A) a substantial adverse change in the nature or scope of the grantee's responsibilities, authorities, title, powers, functions, or duties; (B) a reduction in the grantee's annual base salary except for across-the-board salary reductions similarly affecting all or substantially all management employees; or (C) the relocation of the offices at which the grantee is principally employed to a location more than fifty (50) miles from such offices." IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto signed his name as of this 7th day of December, 1998. /s/ Patrick G. LePore ----------------------- Patrick G. LePore Chairman and Chief Executive Officer THIRD AMENDMENT TO BORON, LEPORE & ASSOCIATES, INC. AMENDED AND RESTATED 1996 STOCK OPTION AND GRANT PLAN WHEREAS, on February 5, 2001 the Board of Directors voted to increase the base number of shares reserved for issuance under the Plan by 1,200,000 shares and to increase the number of shares for which incentive options may be issued under the Plan by 1,200,000 shares. WHEREAS, the Stockholders of the Company approved such amendments at the 2001 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company held on May 23, 2001. NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is hereby amended as follows: 1. Section 3(a)(i) - The reference to 4,000,000 shares is deleted substituting therefor "5,200,000 shares." 2. Section 3(a)(ii) - The reference to 4,000,000 shares is deleted and substituting therefor "5,200,000 shares." 3. Except as otherwise amended herein, the Plan is hereby affirmed in all other respects. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has hereunto signed his name as of May 23, 2001.