Exhibit 99.1
E Q U I C A P, I N C.
2000 COMPENSATORY STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. Purpose of this Plan.
This Compensatory Stock Option Plan ("Plan") is intended as an
employment incentive, to aid in attracting and retaining in the employ or
service of EQUICAP, INC. ("Company"), a California corporation, and any
Affiliated Company, persons of experience and ability and whose services are
considered valuable, to encourage the sense of proprietorship in such persons,
and to stimulate the active interest of such persons in the development and
success of the Company. This Plan provides for the issuance of non-statutory
stock options ("CSOs" or "Options") which are not intended to qualify as
"incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended ("Code"). Certain other terms also are defined
in Paragraph 17 and elsewhere of this Plan.
2. Administration of this Plan.
The Company's Board of Directors ("Board") may appoint and maintain as
administrator of this Plan the Compensation Committee ("Committee") of the Board
which shall consist of at least two members of the Board who are Non-Employee
Directors as defined in Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act. At any time that the
Committee is not duly constituted, the Board itself shall have and fulfill the
duties herein allocated to the Committee. The Committee shall have full power
and authority to designate Plan participants, to determine the provisions and
terms of respective CSOs (which need not be identical as to number of shares
covered by any CSO, the method of exercise as related to exercise in whole or in
installments, or otherwise), including the CSO price, and to interpret the
provisions and supervise the administration of this Plan. The Committee may in
its discretion provide that certain CSOs not vest (that is, become exercisable)
until expiration of a certain period after issuance or until other conditions
are satisfied, so long as not contrary to this Plan.
A majority of the members of the Committee shall consititue a quorum.
All decisions and selections made by the Committee pursuant to this Plan's
provisions shall be made by a majority of its members. Any decision reduced to
writing and signed by all of the members shall be fully effective as if it had
been made by a majority at a meeting duly held. The Committee shall select one
of its members as its chairman and shall hold its meetings at such times and
places as it deems advisable. Each Option shall be evidenced by a written
agreement containing terms and conditions established by the Committee
consistent with the provisions of this Plan.
3. Designation of Participants.
Only Employees shall be eligible for participation in this Plan. The
Committee shall have full power to designate, from among eligible individuals,
the persons to whom CSOs may be granted. A person who has been granted a CSO
hereunder may be granted an additional CSO or CSOs, if the Committee shall so
determine. Persons eligible under this Plan additionally may be granted one or
more options under any other compensation or stock option plan or awarded shares
under any other benefit plan of the Company. No Option shall confer any right
upon the Optionee with respect to the continuation of his employment (or his
position as an officer, director, employee or consultant) with the Company or
any Affiliated Company, and shall not interfere with the right of the Company or
any Affiliated Company to terminate such relationship(s) at any time in
accordance with law and any agreements then in force.
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4. Stock Reserved for this Plan.
Subject to adjustment as provided in Paragraph 9 below, a total of Three
Million (3,000,000) shares of Common Stock of the Company ("Option Stock" or
"Option Shares") shall be subject to this Plan. The Option Stock subject to this
Plan shall consist of unissued shares of Common Stock or previously issued
shares of Common Stock reacquired and held by the Company or any Affiliated
Company, and such number of Option Shares shall be and is hereby reserved for
sale for such purpose. Any Option Shares which may remain unsold and which are
not subject to outstanding CSOs at the termination of this Plan shall cease to
be reserved for the purpose of this Plan, but until termination of this Plan the
Company shall at all times reserve a sufficient number of shares to meet the
requirements of this Plan. Should any CSO expire or be cancelled prior to its
exercise in full, the unexercised Option Shares theretofore subject to such CSO
may again be subjected to a CSO under this Plan.
5. Option Exercise Price.
The purchase (exercise) price of each share of Option Stock made subject
to an Option shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair
Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date the Option is granted. For
purposes of this Plan, the "Fair Market Value" of a share of the Company's
Common Stock as of a given date shall be: (i) the closing price of a share of
the Company's Common Stock on the principal exchange, NASDAQ system, NASDAQ
Small Cap Market, or other quotation medium, on which shares of the Company's
Common Stock are then trading or quoted; or (ii) if no sales have occurred on
such date or if the Company's Common Stock is not publicly traded, the fair
market value established by the Committee acting in good faith. The cash
proceeds from the sale of Option Stock are to be added to the general funds of
the Company.
6. Exercise Period; Vesting. (a) An Option shall have a term of not more
than ten (10) years from the date of grant and shall automatically terminate:
(i) Upon termination of the Optionee's employment with the Company for
cause;
(ii) At the expiration of a period to be determined by the Committee at
the time of grant which is not to exceed nine (9) months following
the date of termination of the Optionee's employment with the Company
without cause for any reason other than death; provided, that if no
such period is specified in the Option, the Option shall
automatically terminate thirty (30) days following termination of
Optionee's employment; provided, further, that if the Optionee dies
within such period, subclause (iii) below shall apply; or
(iii) At the expiration of twelve (12) months after the date of death of
the Optionee; provided, that the Committee may in its discretion
provide that any Option not be exercisable after the Optionee's death
or may be exercised for a period less than twelve months.
(iv) Unless otherwise specified in the Option, if termination is due to
the Optionee's "permanent and total disability" within the meaning of
Section 422(c)(6) of the Code, an Option may be exercised at any time
within twelve (12) months following termination of employment or
relationship as a consultant or director.
(b) "Employment with the Company" as used in this Plan shall include
employment or relationship as a consultant, adviser or director with the Company
or any Affiliated Company in any such capacity, even if employment or engagement
in another capacity ceases. Options granted under this Plan shall not be
affected by an employee's transfer of employment among the Company and any one
or more Affiliated Companies. An Optionee's employment with the Company shall
not be deemed interrupted or terminated by a bona fide leave of absence (such as
sabbatical leave or employment by the Government) duly approved, military leave
or sick leave. As to consultants, advisers or other non-employee providers of
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services, employment with the Company shall be deemed to cease upon formal
termination of the Optionee's engagement.
(c) Each Option may be made exercisable (that is, vest) in whole or in
installments, cumulative or otherwise, during its term, or subject to other
restrictions or limitations. Unless otherwise set forth in the granting
resolution, an Option shall vest immediately upon grant. If an Option is made to
vest over time, any portion not vested at the time of termination of employment
or relationship as a director or consultant with the Company shall lapse as if
never granted. Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed to extend
the term of any Option or to permit anyone to exercise an Option after
expiration of its term, nor shall it be construed to increase the number of
shares as to which any Option is exercisable from the amount exercisable on the
date of termination of the Optionee's employment or relationship as a consultant
or director.
7. Exercise of Options.
(a) The Committee, in granting CSOs, shall have discretion to determine
the terms upon which CSOs shall be exercisable, subject to applicable provisions
of this Plan. Once available for purchase, unpurchased Option Shares shall
remain subject to purchase until the CSO expires or terminates in accordance
with Paragraph 6 above. Unless otherwise provided in the CSO, a CSO may be
exercised in whole or in part, one or more times, but no CSO may be exercised
for a fractional share. Resulting fractions shall be rounded up or down, as
appropriate.
(b) CSOs may be exercised solely by the Optionee or a permitted
transferee during his lifetime or by a spouse or former spouse pursuant to a
qualified domestic relations order, or if the Option permits, after his death
(with respect to the number of shares which the Optionee could have purchased at
the time of death) by the person or persons entitled thereto under the
decedent's will or the laws of descent and distribution.
(c) The purchase price of the Option Shares as to which a CSO is
exercised shall be paid or delivered in full at the time of exercise and no
Option Shares shall be issued until full payment is made therefor. Payment shall
be made by any one or more of the following means:
(i) in cash, represented by bank or cashier's check, certified check
or money order, or made by bank wire transfer;
(ii) by offsetting against the purchase price a cash obligation of the
Company which is both liquidated (meaning the dollar amount is
fixed and known or easily determinable) and uncontested;
(iii) with the prior approval of the Committee, by delivering shares
of the Company's Common Stock which have been beneficially owned
by the Optionee, the Optionee's spouse or both of them, for a
period of at least six (6) months prior to the time of exercise
(the "Delivered Stock"), the Delivered Stock to be valued by the
Committee in good faith at its Fair Market Value on the date of
exercise;
(iv) with the prior approval of the Committee, by delivery of shares
of corporate stock which are freely tradeable without restriction
and which are part of a class of securities which has been listed
for trading on the Nasdaq National Market System, the Nasdaq
Small Cap Market or a national securities exchange, with an
aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to or
greater than the exercise price of the Option Shares being
purchased under the Option ("Other Shares"); or
(v) with the prior approval of the Committee, by delivering to the
Company the Optionee's personal recourse promissory note,
adequately secured by property other than the Option Shares
thereby purchased, containing such terms and conditions as the
Committee shall determine.
(d) An Option shall be deemed exercised when written notice thereof,
accompanied by the appropriate payment in full, is received by the Company. No
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holder of an Option shall be, or have any of the rights and privileges of, a
shareholder of the Company in respect of any Option Shares purchasable upon
exercise of an Option unless and until certificates evidencing such shares shall
have been issued by the Company to him, her or it.
(e) An Option may, but need not, provide that the Optionee may at any
time when and to the extent the Option is exercisable, effect an Option
Exchange, provided the then market price of the Common Stock exceeds the
Option's exercise price. To effect an Option Exchange, the Optionee must
surrender the Option at the Company's principal offices stating the intent to
effect the Option Exchange and the number of Option Shares being exchanged, and
the Option Exchange shall be deemed to take place on the date of the Company's
receipt thereof or such later date as the Optionee specifies in writing. In
connection with any Option Exchange, an Option shall represent the right to
subscribe for and acquire the number of Option Shares equal to [i] the number of
Option Shares specified by the Optionee in its notice of exchange (the "Total
Number") LESS [ii] the number of Option Shares equal to the quotient obtained by
dividing (A) the product of the Total Number and the exercise price by (B) the
current Fair Market Value of a share of the Common Stock on the date of
exchange, or if such date is not a trading day, on the trading day preceding.
One or more certificates for the Option Shares issuable and, if applicable, a
new Option of like tenor evidencing the balance of the Option Shares remaining
subject to the Option, shall be issued as of the exercise date.
8. Non-Transferability of Options.
No Option shall be assignable or otherwise transferable except by will
or by operation of law, pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order (as
defined in Rule 16b-3 of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or any
successor rule), or pursuant to Title I of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), or rules thereunder. No CSO shall be
pledged or hypothecated in any manner, whether by operation of law or otherwise,
nor be subject to execution, attachment or similar process. The same
restrictions on transfer or assignment shall apply to any heirs, devisees,
beneficiaries, legal representatives or other persons acquiring this Option or
an interest herein under such an instrument or by operation of law. Any attempt
to transfer or otherwise dispose of an Option in contravention of its terms
shall void the Option.
9. Reorganizations and Recapitalizations of the Company.
(a) No Limit Imposed on Corporate Powers. The existence of this Plan and
Options granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the
Company or its shareholders to make or authorize any and all adjustments,
recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the Company's capital
structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any
issue of bonds, debentures or other indebtedness, or any preferred or prior
preference stocks senior to or affecting the Common Stock or the rights thereof,
or the dissolution or liquidation of the Company, or any sale, exchange or
transfer of all or any part of its assets or business, or any other corporate
act or proceeding, whether of a similar character or otherwise.
(b) Certain Adjustments to be Made. The Option Shares with respect to
which Options may be granted hereunder are shares of the Common Stock of the
Company as currently constituted. In certain instances, the number of shares
purchasable upon exercise of Options and the exercise price shall be adjusted as
provided herein. All adjustments and made under this Section shall be made by
the Committee in good faith in its sole discretion. Every adjustment in
outstanding Options shall be made without change in the total price applicable
to the unexercised portion of the Option but with a corresponding adjustment in
the exercise price per share and number (and if applicable, kind) of shares
purchasable.
(c) Stock Splits, Stock Combinations, Etc. If, and whenever, prior to
delivery by the Company of all of the Option Shares which are subject to Options
granted hereunder, the Company shall effect a split or combination of the Common
Stock or other capital readjustment, the payment of a Common Stock dividend, or
recapitalization, reclassification or other increase or reduction of the number
of shares of the Common Stock outstanding without receiving compensation
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therefor in money, services or property, then the number of Option Shares
available under this Plan and the number of Option Shares with respect to which
Options granted hereunder may thereafter be exercised shall (i) in the event of
an increase in the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, be
proportionately increased, and the cash consideration payable per share shall be
proportionately reduced; and (ii) in the event of a reduction in the number of
outstanding shares of Common Stock, be proportionately reduced, and the cash
consideration payable per share shall be proportionately increased.
(d) Certain Other Changes In the Common Stock. If the outstanding Common
Stock shall be hereafter increased or decreased, or changed into or exchanged
for a different number or kind of shares or other securities of the Company or
of another corporation, by reason of reorganization, merger, consolidation,
share exchange or other business combination in which the Company is the
surviving parent corporation, appropriate adjustment shall be made by the
Committee in the number and kind of shares for which Options may be granted
under the Plan. In addition, the Committee shall make appropriate adjustment in
the number and kind of shares as to which outstanding and unexercised Options
shall be exercisable, to the end that the proportionate interest of the holder
of the Option shall, to the extent practicable, be maintained as before the
occurrence of such event.
(e) Certain Defined Reorganizations. For purposes of this Section, the
term "Reorganization" shall mean any reorganization, merger, consolidation,
share exchange, or other business combination pursuant to which the Company is
not the surviving parent corporation after the effective date of the
Reorganization, or any sale or lease of all or substantially all of the assets
of the Company, and the term "Reorganization Agreement" shall mean a plan or
agreement with respect to a Reorganization. Nothing herein shall require the
Company to adopt a Reorganization Agreement, or to make provision for the
adjustment, change, conversion, or exchange of any Options, or the shares
subject thereto, in any Reorganization Agreement which it does adopt. In the
event of a Reorganization (as hereinafter defined), then,
(i) If there is no Reorganization Agreement, or if the Reorganization
Agreement does not specifically provide for the adjustment,
change, conversion, or exchange of the outstanding and
unexercised options for cash or other property or securities of
another corporation, then any outstanding and unexercised options
shall terminate as of a future date to be fixed by the Committee;
or,
(ii) If there is a Reorganization Agreement, and the Reorganization
Agreement specifically provides for the adjustment, change,
conversion, or exchange of the outstanding and unexercised
options for cash or other property or securities of another
corporation, the Committee shall adjust the shares under such
outstanding and unexercised options, and shall adjust the shares
remaining under the Plan which are then available for the
issuance of options under the Plan if the Reorganization
Agreement provides for the adjustment, change, conversion, or
exchange of such options and shares.
(iii) The Committee shall provide to each Optionee then holding an
outstanding and unexercised Option not less than thirty (30)
calendar Days' advance written notice of any date fixed by the
Committee pursuant to this Section and of the terms of any
Reorganization Agreement providing for the adjustment, change,
conversion, or exchange of outstanding and unexercised Options.
Except as the Committee may otherwise provide, each Optionee
shall have the right during such period to exercise his Option
only to the extent that the Option was exercisable on the date
such notice was provided to the Optionee.
(f) Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the dissolution or
liquidation of the Company, any outstanding and unexercised options shall
terminate as of a future date to be fixed by the Committee.
(g) When No Adjustments to be Made. Except as expressly provided above,
the Company's issuance of shares of its capital stock of any class, or
securities convertible into shares of its capital stock of any class, for cash
or property, or for labor or services, either upon direct sale or upon the
exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of
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shares or obligations of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for shares
of capital stock or other securities of the Company, shall not affect, and no
adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of Option
Shares subject to CSOs granted hereunder or the purchase price of such shares.
10. Purchase for Investment.
Unless the Option Shares covered by this Plan have been registered under
the Act prior to issuance, each person exercising a CSO under this Plan may be
required by the Company to give a representation in writing that he is acquiring
such shares for his or her own account for investment and not with a view to, or
for sale in connection with, the distribution of any part thereof.
11. Effective Date and Expiration of this Plan.
This Plan shall be effective as of October 16, 2000, the date of its
adoption by the Board, and no CSO shall be granted pursuant to this Plan after
its expiration. This Plan shall expire on October 15, 2010, except as to CSOs
then outstanding, which shall remain in effect until they have expired or been
exercised.
12. Amendments or Termination.
The Committee or Board may amend, alter or discontinue this Plan at any
time in such respects as it shall deem advisable in order to conform to any
change in any other applicable law, or in order to comply with the provisions of
any rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange Commission required to
exempt this Plan or any CSOs granted thereunder from the operation of Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act, or in any other respect not inconsistent with Section
16(b) of the Exchange Act; provided, that no amendment or alteration shall be
made which would impair the rights of any participant under any CSO theretofore
granted, without his consent (unless made solely to conform such CSO to, and
necessary because of, changes in the foregoing laws, rules or regulations), and
except that no amendment or alteration shall be made without the approval of
shareholders which would increase the total number of shares reserved for the
purposes of this Plan (except as provided in Paragraph 9) or extend the
expiration date of this Plan as set forth in Paragraph 11.
13. Government Regulations.
This Plan, and the granting and exercise of CSOs hereunder, and the
obligation of the Company to sell and deliver Option Shares under such CSOs,
shall be subject to all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and to such
approvals by any governmental agencies or national securities exchanges as may
be required.
14. Liability.
No member of the Board of Directors or the Committee, nor any officers,
employees or agents of the Company or any Affiliated Company shall be personally
liable for any action, omission or determination made in good faith in
connection with this Plan.
15. Options in Substitution for Other Options.
The Committee may, in its sole discretion, at any time during the term
of this Plan, grant new options to an employee under this Plan or any other
stock option plan of the Company on the condition that such employee shall
surrender for cancellation one or more outstanding options which represent the
right to purchase (after giving effect to any previous partial exercise thereof)
a number of shares, in relation to the number of shares to be covered by the new
conditional grant hereunder, determined by the Committee. If the Committee shall
have so determined to grant such new options on such a conditional basis ("New
Conditional Options"), no such New Conditional Option shall become exercisable
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in the absence of such employee's consent to the condition and surrender and
cancellation as appropriate. New Conditional Options shall be treated in all
respects under this Plan as newly granted options. Options may be granted under
this Plan from time to time in substitution for similar rights held by employees
of other corporations who are about to become employees of the Company or an
Affiliated Company as a result of a merger or consolidation of the employing
corporation with the Company or an Affiliated Company, or the acquisition by the
Company or an Affiliated Company of the assets of the employing corporation, or
the acquisition by the Company or an Affiliated Company of stock of the
employing corporation as the result of which such other corporation becomes an
Affiliated Company.
16. Withholding Taxes.
Pursuant to applicable federal and state laws, the Company may be
required to collect withholding taxes upon the exercise of a CSO. The Company
may require, as a condition to the exercise of a CSO, that the Optionee
concurrently pay to the Company the entire amount or a portion of any taxes
which the Company is required to withhold by reason of such exercise, in such
amount as the Committee or the Company in its discretion may determine. In lieu
of part or all of any such payment, the Optionee may elect 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 equal to the amount which the Company is
required to withhold.
17. Other Definitions.
Whenever used in this Plan, except where the context might clearly
indicate otherwise, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
a. "Act" means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
b. "Affiliated Company" means any Parent or Subsidiary of the
Company.
c. "Award" or "grant" means any grant of a CSO (Option) made under
this Plan.
d. "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
The term "Committee" is defined in Section 2 of this Plan.
e. "Common Stock" or "Common Shares" means the common stock, no par
value per share, of the Company, or in the event that the
outstanding Common Shares are hereafter changed into or exchanged
for different shares or securities of the Company or any other
issuer, such other shares or securities.
f. "Date of Grant" means the day the Committee authorizes the grant
of a CSO or such later date as may be specified by the Committee
as the date a particular grant will become effective.
g. "Employee" means and includes the following persons: (i)
executive officers, officers and directors (including advisory
and other special directors) of the Company or an Affiliated
Company; (ii) full-time and part-time employees of the Company or
an Affiliated Company; (iii) persons engaged by the Company or an
Affiliated Company as a consultant, advisor or agent; and (iv) a
lawyer, law firm, accountant or accounting firm, or other
professional or professional firm engaged by the Company or an
Affiliated Company.
h. "Exchange Act" means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
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i. "Optionee" means an Employee to whom a CSO is granted.
j. "Parent" means any corporation owning 50% or more of the total
combined voting stock of all classes of the Company or of another
corporation qualifying as a Parent within this definition.
k. "Subsidiary" means a corporation more than 50% of whose total
combined capital stock of all classes is held by the Company or
by another corporation qualifying as a Subsidiary within this
definition.
18. Litigation.
In the event that any Optionee or Optionee's successor should bring any
lawsuit or other action or proceeding ("Action") against the Company or an
Affiliated Company based upon or arising in relation to an Option, an Optionee,
or successor, as the case may be, not prevailing in such Action shall be
required to reimburse the Company or Affiliated Company's costs and expenses,
including reasonable attorneys' fees, incurred in defending such action and
appealing any award by a lower court.
19. Miscellaneous Provisions.
The place of administration of this Plan shall be in the State of
Colorado (or subsequently, wherever the Company's principal executive offices
are located), and the validity, construction, interpretation and effect of this
Plan and of its rules, regulations and rights relating to it, shall be
determined solely in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado or
subsequent state of domicile, should the Company be redomiciled. Without
amending this Plan, the Committee may issue Options and Option Shares to
employees of the Company who are foreign nationals or employed outside the
United States, or both, on such terms and conditions different from those
specified in this Plan but consistent with the purpose of this Plan, as it deems
necessary and desirable to create equitable opportunities given differences in
tax laws in other countries. All expenses of administering this Plan and issuing
Option and Option Shares shall be borne by the Company.
* * *
By signature below, the undersigned officers of the Company hereby
certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the 2000 Compensatory
Stock Option Plan of the Company.
DATED: October 16, 2000
EQUICAP, INC.
(SEAL)
By /s/ Stephen M. Siedow
---------------------------------
Stephen M. Siedow, President
By /s/ Denise A. Spencer
-------------------------------------
Secretary or Assistant Secretary
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E Q U I C A P, I N C.
CERTIFICATION OF PLAN ADOPTION
I, the undersigned Secretary or assistant secretary of this Corporation, hereby
certify that the foregoing 2000 Compensatory Stock Option Plan of this
corporation was duly approved by the requisite number of holders of the issued
and outstanding common stock of this corporation as of the date below.
Date of Approval: October 16, 2000
X /s/ Denise A. Spencer
--------------------------------------
Signature
(SEAL)
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