<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 99.1
Willis Lease Finance Corporation 1996 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan
<PAGE> 2
WILLIS LEASE FINANCE CORPORATION
1996 STOCK OPTION/STOCK ISSUANCE PLAN
(AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF MARCH ___, 2000)
ARTICLE ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
I. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
This 1996 Stock Option/Stock Issuance Plan is intended to
promote the interests of Willis Lease Finance Corporation, a California
corporation, by providing eligible persons with the opportunity to acquire a
proprietary interest, or otherwise increase their proprietary interest, in the
Corporation as an incentive for them to remain in the service of the
Corporation.
Capitalized terms shall have the meanings assigned to such terms
in the attached Appendix.
II. STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN
A. The Plan shall be divided into five separate equity programs:
(i) the Discretionary Option Grant Program under which
eligible persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be granted
options to purchase shares of Common Stock,
(ii) the Salary Investment Option Grant Program under
which eligible employees may elect to have a portion of their base salary
invested each year in special option grants,
(iii) the Stock Issuance Program under which eligible
persons may, at the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be issued shares of
Common Stock directly, either through the immediate purchase of such shares or
as a bonus for services rendered the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary),
(iv) the Automatic Option Grant Program under which
eligible non-employee Board members shall automatically receive option grants at
periodic intervals to purchase shares of Common Stock, and
(v) the Director Fee Option Grant Program under which
non-employee Board members may elect to have all or any portion of their annual
retainer fee and attendance fees otherwise payable in cash applied to special
option grants.
<PAGE> 3
B. The provisions of Articles One and Seven shall apply to all
equity programs under the Plan and shall govern the interests of all persons
under the Plan.
III. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
A. The Primary Committee shall have sole and exclusive authority
to administer the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with
respect to Section 16 Insiders. However, any discretionary option grants or
stock issuances for members of the Primary Committee shall be made by a
disinterested majority of the Board.
B. Administration of the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock
Issuance Programs with respect to all other persons eligible to participate in
those programs may, at the Board's discretion, be vested in the Primary
Committee or a Secondary Committee, or the Board may retain the power to
administer those programs with respect to all such persons. The members of the
Secondary Committee may be Board members who are Employees eligible to receive
discretionary option grants or direct stock issuances under the Plan or any
other stock option, stock appreciation, stock bonus or other stock plan of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).
C. Members of the Primary Committee or any Secondary Committee
shall serve for such period of time as the Board may determine and may be
removed by the Board at any time. The Board may also at any time terminate the
functions of any Secondary Committee and reassume all powers and authority
previously delegated to such committee.
D. Each Plan Administrator shall, within the scope of its
administrative functions under the Plan, have full power and authority (subject
to the provisions of the Plan) to establish such rules and regulations as it may
deem appropriate for proper administration of the Discretionary Option Grant and
Stock Issuance Programs and to make such determinations under, and issue such
interpretations of, the provisions of such programs and any outstanding options
or stock issuances thereunder as it may deem necessary or advisable. Decisions
of the Plan Administrator within the scope of its administrative functions under
the Plan shall be final and binding on all parties who have an interest in the
Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs under its jurisdiction or
any option or stock issuance thereunder.
E. The Primary Committee shall have the sole and exclusive
authority to determine which Section 16 Insiders and other highly compensated
employees shall be eligible for participation in the Salary Investment Option
Grant Program for one or more calendar years. However, all option grants under
the Salary Investment Option Grant Program shall be made in accordance with the
express terms of that program, and the Primary Committee shall not exercise any
discretionary functions with respect to the option grants made under that
program.
F. Service on the Primary Committee or the Secondary Committee
shall constitute service as a Board member, and members of each such committee
shall accordingly be entitled to full indemnification and reimbursement as Board
members for their service on such committee. No member of the Primary Committee
or the Secondary Committee shall be liable for any act or omission made in good
faith with respect to the Plan or any option grants or stock issuances under the
Plan.
2.
<PAGE> 4
G. Administration of the Automatic Option Grant and Director Fee
Option Grant Programs shall be self-executing in accordance with the terms of
those programs, and no Plan Administrator shall exercise any discretionary
functions with respect to any option grants or stock issuances made under those
programs.
IV. ELIGIBILITY
A. The persons eligible to participate in the Discretionary
Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs are as follows:
(i) Employees,
(ii) non-employee members of the Board or the board of
directors of any Parent or Subsidiary, and
(iii) consultants and other independent advisors who
provide services to the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).
B. Only Employees who are Section 16 Insiders or other highly
compensated individuals shall be eligible to participate in the Salary
Investment Option Grant Program.
C. Each Plan Administrator shall, within the scope of its
administrative jurisdiction under the Plan, have full authority to determine,
(i) with respect to the option grants under the Discretionary Option Grant
Program, which eligible persons are to receive option grants, the time or times
when such option grants are to be made, the number of shares to be covered by
each such grant, the status of the granted option as either an Incentive Option
or a Non-Statutory Option, the time or times when each option is to become
exercisable, the vesting schedule (if any) applicable to the option shares and
the maximum term for which the option is to remain outstanding and (ii) with
respect to stock issuances under the Stock Issuance Program, which eligible
persons are to receive stock issuances, the time or times when such issuances
are to be made, the number of shares to be issued to each Participant, the
vesting schedule (if any) applicable to the issued shares and the consideration
for such shares.
D. The Plan Administrator shall have the absolute discretion
either to grant options in accordance with the Discretionary Option Grant
Program or to effect stock issuances in accordance with the Stock Issuance
Program.
E. The individuals who shall be eligible to participate in the
Automatic Option Grant Program shall be limited to (i) those individuals serving
as non-employee Board members on the Underwriting Date, (ii) those individuals
who first become non-employee Board members after the Underwriting Date, whether
through appointment by the Board or election by the Corporation's stockholders,
and (iii) those individuals who continue to serve as non-employee Board members
at one or more Annual Stockholders Meetings held after the Underwriting Date. A
non-employee Board member who has previously been in the employ of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) shall not be eligible to receive an
option grant under the Automatic Option Grant Program at the time he or she
first becomes a non-employee Board member, but shall be eligible to receive
periodic option grants under the Automatic Option Grant Program while he or she
continues to serve as a non-employee Board member.
3.
<PAGE> 5
F. All non-employee Board members shall be eligible to
participate in the Director Fee Option Grant Program.
V. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
A. The stock issuable under the Plan shall be shares of
authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares repurchased
by the Corporation on the open market. The maximum number of shares of Common
Stock reserved for issuance over the term of the Plan shall not exceed 1,525,000
shares. Such authorized share reserve is comprised of (i) 525,000 shares
initially reserved for issuance under the Plan, (ii) an additional increase of
500,000 shares authorized by the Board on February 24, 1998, and approved by the
stockholders at the 1998 Annual Meeting and (iii) an additional increase of
500,000 shares authorized by the Board on March ___, 2000 subject to stockholder
approval at the 2000 Annual Meeting.
B. No one person participating in the Plan may receive options,
separately exercisable stock appreciation rights and direct stock issuances for
more than 250,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate per calendar year,
beginning with the 1996 calendar year.
C. Shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options shall
be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan to the extent those options
expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise in full. Unvested shares
issued under the Plan and subsequently cancelled or repurchased by the
Corporation, at the original issue price paid per share, pursuant to the
Corporation's repurchase rights under the Plan shall be added back to the number
of shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Plan and shall
accordingly be available for reissuance through one or more subsequent option
grants or direct stock issuances under the Plan. However, should the exercise
price of an option under the Plan be paid with shares of Common Stock or should
shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable under the Plan be withheld by the
Corporation in satisfaction of the withholding taxes incurred in connection with
the exercise of an option or the vesting of a stock issuance under the Plan,
then the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan
shall be reduced by the gross number of shares for which the option is exercised
or which vest under the stock issuance, and not by the net number of shares of
Common Stock issued to the holder of such option or stock issuance.
D. If any change is made to the Common Stock by reason of any
stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange
of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class
without the Corporation's receipt of consideration, appropriate adjustments
shall be made to (i) the maximum number and/or class of securities issuable
under the Plan, (ii) the number and/or class of securities for which any one
person may be granted stock options, separately exercisable stock appreciation
rights and direct stock issuances under this Plan per calendar year, (iii) the
number and/or class of securities for which grants are subsequently to be made
under the Automatic Option Grant Program to new and continuing non-employee
Board members, (iv) the number and/or class of securities and the exercise price
per share in effect under each outstanding option under the Plan. Such
adjustments to the outstanding options are to be effected in a manner which
shall preclude the enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under such
options. The adjustments determined by the Plan Administrator shall be final,
binding and conclusive.
4.
<PAGE> 6
ARTICLE TWO
DISCRETIONARY OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
I. OPTION TERMS
Each option shall be evidenced by one or more documents in the
form approved by the Plan Administrator; provided, however, that each such
document shall comply with the terms specified below. Each document evidencing
an Incentive Option shall, in addition, be subject to the provisions of the Plan
applicable to such options.
A. EXERCISE PRICE.
1. The exercise price per share shall be fixed by the Plan
Administrator but shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair
Market Value per share of Common Stock on the option grant date.
2. The exercise price shall become immediately due upon
exercise of the option and shall, subject to the provisions of Section I of
Article Five and the documents evidencing the option, be payable in one or more
of the forms specified below:
(i) cash or check made payable to the Corporation,
(ii) shares of Common Stock held for the requisite
period necessary to avoid a charge to the Corporation's earnings for financial
reporting purposes and valued at Fair Market Value on the Exercise Date, or
(iii) to the extent the option is exercised for vested
shares, through a special sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which the
Optionee shall concurrently provide irrevocable written instructions to (a) a
Corporation-designated brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of the
purchased shares and remit to the Corporation, out of the sale proceeds
available on the settlement date, sufficient funds to cover the aggregate
exercise price payable for the purchased shares plus all applicable Federal,
state and local income and employment taxes required to be withheld by the
Corporation by reason of such exercise and (b) the Corporation to deliver the
certificates for the purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm in order
to complete the sale.
Except to the extent such sale and remittance procedure is
utilized, payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on
the Exercise Date.
B. EXERCISE AND TERM OF OPTIONS. Each option shall be
exercisable at such time or times, during such period and for such number of
shares as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the
documents evidencing the option. However, no option shall have a term in excess
of ten (10) years measured from the option grant date.
5.
<PAGE> 7
C. EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE.
1. The following provisions shall govern the exercise of
any options held by the Optionee at the time of cessation of Service or death:
(i) Any option outstanding at the time of the
Optionee's cessation of Service for any reason shall remain exercisable for such
period of time thereafter as shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and
set forth in the documents evidencing the option, but no such option shall be
exercisable after the expiration of the option term.
(ii) Any option exercisable in whole or in part by the
Optionee at the time of death may be subsequently exercised by the personal
representative of the Optionee's estate or by the person or persons to whom the
option is transferred pursuant to the Optionee's will or in accordance with the
laws of descent and distribution.
(iii) Should the Optionee's Service be terminated for
Misconduct, then all outstanding options held by the Optionee shall terminate
immediately and cease to be outstanding.
(iv) During the applicable post-Service exercise
period, the option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than the
number of vested shares for which the option is exercisable on the date of the
Optionee's cessation of Service. Upon the expiration of the applicable exercise
period or (if earlier) upon the expiration of the option term, the option shall
terminate and cease to be outstanding for any vested shares for which the option
has not been exercised. However, the option shall, immediately upon the
Optionee's cessation of Service, terminate and cease to be outstanding to the
extent the option is not otherwise at that time exercisable for vested shares.
2. The Plan Administrator shall have complete discretion,
exercisable either at the time an option is granted or at any time while the
option remains outstanding, to:
(i) extend the period of time for which the option is
to remain exercisable following the Optionee's cessation of Service from the
limited exercise period otherwise in effect for that option to such greater
period of time as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate, but in no event
beyond the expiration of the option term, and/or
(ii) permit the option to be exercised, during the
applicable post-Service exercise period, not only with respect to the number of
vested shares of Common Stock for which such option is exercisable at the time
of the Optionee's cessation of Service but also with respect to one or more
additional installments in which the Optionee would have vested had the Optionee
continued in Service.
D. STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. The holder of an option shall have no
stockholder rights with respect to the shares subject to the option until such
person shall have exercised the option, paid the exercise price and become a
holder of record of the purchased shares.
6.
<PAGE> 8
E. REPURCHASE RIGHTS. The Plan Administrator shall have the
discretion to grant options which are exercisable for unvested shares of Common
Stock. Should the Optionee cease Service while holding such unvested shares, the
Corporation shall have the right to repurchase, at the exercise price paid per
share, any or all of those unvested shares. The terms upon which such repurchase
right shall be exercisable (including the period and procedure for exercise and
the appropriate vesting schedule for the purchased shares) shall be established
by the Plan Administrator and set forth in the document evidencing such
repurchase right.
F. LIMITED TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. During the lifetime of
the Optionee, Incentive Options shall be exercisable only by the Optionee and
shall not be assignable or transferable other than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution following the Optionee's death. However, a
Non-Statutory Option may, in connection with the Optionee's estate plan, be
assigned in whole or in part during the Optionee's lifetime to one or more
members of the Optionee's immediate family or to a trust established exclusively
for one or more such family members. The assigned portion may only be exercised
by the person or persons who acquire a proprietary interest in the option
pursuant to the assignment. The terms applicable to the assigned portion shall
be the same as those in effect for the option immediately prior to such
assignment and shall be set forth in such documents issued to the assignee as
the Plan Administrator may deem appropriate.
II. INCENTIVE OPTIONS
The terms specified below shall be applicable to all Incentive
Options. Except as modified by the provisions of this Section II, all the
provisions of Articles One, Two and Five shall be applicable to Incentive
Options. Options which are specifically designated as Non-Statutory Options when
issued under the Plan shall not be subject to the terms of this Section II.
A. ELIGIBILITY. Incentive Options may only be granted to
Employees.
B. DOLLAR LIMITATION. The aggregate Fair Market Value of the
shares of Common Stock (determined as of the respective date or dates of grant)
for which one or more options granted to any Employee under the Plan (or any
other option plan of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary) may for the
first time become exercisable as Incentive Options during any one calendar year
shall not exceed the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000). To the
extent the Employee holds two (2) or more such options which become exercisable
for the first time in the same calendar year, the foregoing limitation on the
exercisability of such options as Incentive Options shall be applied on the
basis of the order in which such options are granted.
C. 10% STOCKHOLDER. If any Employee to whom an Incentive Option
is granted is a 10% Stockholder, then the exercise price per share shall not be
less than one hundred ten percent (110%) of the Fair Market Value per share of
Common Stock on the option grant date, and the option term shall not exceed five
(5) years measured from the option grant date.
7.
<PAGE> 9
III. CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE IN CONTROL
A. In the event of any Corporate Transaction, each outstanding
option shall automatically accelerate so that each such option shall,
immediately prior to the effective date of the Corporate Transaction, become
fully exercisable with respect to the total number of shares of Common Stock at
the time subject to such option and may be exercised for any or all of those
shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock. However, an outstanding option
shall not so accelerate if and to the extent: (i) such option is, in connection
with the Corporate Transaction, either to be assumed by the successor
corporation (or parent thereof) or to be replaced with a comparable option to
purchase shares of the capital stock of the successor corporation (or parent
thereof), (ii) such option is to be replaced with a cash incentive program of
the successor corporation which preserves the spread existing on the unvested
option shares at the time of the Corporate Transaction and provides for
subsequent payout in accordance with the same vesting schedule applicable to
such option or (iii) the acceleration of such option is subject to other
limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator at the time of the option grant.
The determination of option comparability under clause (i) above shall be made
by the Plan Administrator, and its determination shall be final, binding and
conclusive.
B. All outstanding repurchase rights shall also terminate
automatically, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights
shall immediately vest in full, in the event of any Corporate Transaction,
except to the extent: (i) those repurchase rights are to be assigned to the
successor corporation (or parent thereof) in connection with such Corporate
Transaction or (ii) such accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations
imposed by the Plan Administrator at the time the repurchase right is issued.
C. Immediately following the consummation of the Corporate
Transaction, all outstanding options shall terminate and cease to be
outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or
parent thereof).
D. Each option which is assumed in connection with a Corporate
Transaction shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Corporate
Transaction, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have
been issuable to the Optionee in consummation of such Corporate Transaction had
the option been exercised immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction.
Appropriate adjustments to reflect such Corporate Transaction shall also be made
to (i) the exercise price payable per share under each outstanding option,
provided the aggregate exercise price payable for such securities shall remain
the same, (ii) the maximum number and/or class of securities available for
issuance over the remaining term of the Plan and (iii) the maximum number and/or
class of securities for which any one person may be granted stock options,
separately exercisable stock appreciation rights and direct stock issuances
under the Plan per calendar year.
E. The Plan Administrator shall have full power and authority to
grant options under the Discretionary Option Grant Program which will
automatically accelerate in the event the Optionee's Service subsequently
terminates by reason of an Involuntary Termination within twelve (12) months
following the effective date of any Corporate Transaction in which those options
are assumed or replaced and do not otherwise accelerate. Any options so
accelerated shall remain exercisable for fully-vested shares until the earlier
of (i) the expiration
8.
<PAGE> 10
of the option term or (ii) the expiration of the one (1)-year period measured
from the effective date of the Involuntary Termination. In addition, the Plan
Administrator may provide that one or more of the Corporation's outstanding
repurchase rights with respect to shares held by the Optionee at the time of
such Involuntary Termination shall immediately terminate, and the shares subject
to those terminated repurchase rights shall accordingly vest in full.
F. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion, exercisable
either at the time the option is granted or at any time while the option remains
outstanding, to (i) provide for the automatic acceleration of one or more
outstanding options (and the automatic termination of one or more outstanding
repurchase rights with the immediate vesting of the shares of Common Stock
subject to those rights) upon the occurrence of a Change in Control or (ii)
condition any such option acceleration (and the termination of any outstanding
repurchase rights) upon the subsequent Involuntary Termination of the Optionee's
Service within a specified period following the effective date of such Change in
Control. Any options accelerated in connection with a Change in Control shall
remain fully exercisable until the expiration or sooner termination of the
option term.
G. The portion of any Incentive Option accelerated in connection
with a Corporate Transaction or Change in Control shall remain exercisable as an
Incentive Option only to the extent the applicable One Hundred Thousand Dollar
limitation is not exceeded. To the extent such dollar limitation is exceeded,
the accelerated portion of such option shall be exercisable as a Non-Statutory
Option under the Federal tax laws.
H. The outstanding options shall in no way affect the right of
the Corporation to adjust, reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its
capital or business structure or to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or
sell or transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
IV. CANCELLATION AND REGRANT OF OPTIONS
The Plan Administrator shall have the authority to effect, at
any time and from time to time, with the consent of the affected option holders,
the cancellation of any or all outstanding options under the Discretionary
Option Grant Program and to grant in substitution new options covering the same
or different number of shares of Common Stock but with an exercise price per
share based on the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the new grant
date.
V. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
A. The Plan Administrator shall have full power and authority to
grant to selected Optionees tandem stock appreciation rights and/or limited
stock appreciation rights.
B. The following terms shall govern the grant and exercise of
tandem stock appreciation rights:
(i) One or more Optionees may be granted the right,
exercisable upon such terms as the Plan Administrator may establish, to elect
between the exercise of the underlying option for shares of Common Stock and the
surrender of that option in exchange for a distribution from the Corporation in
an amount equal to the excess of (a) the Fair Market Value
9.
<PAGE> 11
(on the option surrender date) of the number of shares in which the Optionee is
at the time vested under the surrendered option (or surrendered portion thereof)
over (b) the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares.
(ii) No such option surrender shall be effective
unless it is approved by the Plan Administrator. If the surrender is so
approved, then the distribution to which the Optionee shall be entitled may be
made in shares of Common Stock valued at Fair Market Value on the option
surrender date, in cash, or partly in shares and partly in cash, as the Plan
Administrator shall in its sole discretion deem appropriate.
(iii) If the surrender of an option is rejected by the
Plan Administrator, then the Optionee shall retain whatever rights the Optionee
had under the surrendered option (or surrendered portion thereof) on the option
surrender date and may exercise such rights at any time prior to the later of
(a) five (5) business days after the receipt of the rejection notice or (b) the
last day on which the option is otherwise exercisable in accordance with the
terms of the documents evidencing such option, but in no event may such rights
be exercised more than ten (10) years after the option grant date.
C. The following terms shall govern the grant and exercise of
limited stock appreciation rights:
(i) One or more Section 16 Insiders may be granted
limited stock appreciation rights with respect to their outstanding options.
(ii) Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, each
individual holding one or more options with such a limited stock appreciation
right shall have the unconditional right (exercisable for a thirty (30)-day
period following such Hostile Take-Over) to surrender each such option to the
Corporation, to the extent the option is at the time exercisable for vested
shares of Common Stock. In return for the surrendered option, the Optionee shall
receive a cash distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the
excess of (A) the Take-Over Price of the shares of Common Stock which are at the
time vested under each surrendered option (or surrendered portion thereof) over
(B) the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares. Such cash distribution
shall be paid within five (5) days following the option surrender date.
(iii) The Plan Administrator shall pre-approve, at the
time the limited stock appreciation right is granted, the subsequent exercise of
that right in accordance with the terms of the grant and the provisions of this
Section V.C. No additional approval of the Plan Administrator or the Board shall
be required at the time of the actual option surrender and cash distribution.
(iv) The balance of the option (if any) shall continue
in full force and effect in accordance with the documents evidencing such
option.
10.
<PAGE> 12
ARTICLE THREE
SALARY INVESTMENT OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
I. OPTION GRANTS
The Primary Committee shall have the sole and exclusive
authority to determine the calendar year or years (if any) for which the Salary
Investment Option Grant Program is to be in effect and to select the Section 16
Insiders and other highly compensated Employees eligible to participate in the
Salary Investment Option Grant Program for those calendar year or years. Each
selected individual who elects to participate in the Salary Investment Option
Grant Program must, prior to the start of each calendar year of participation,
file with the Plan Administrator (or its designate) an irrevocable authorization
directing the Corporation to reduce his or her base salary for that calendar
year by an amount not less than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) nor more than
Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) (or the appropriate amount with respect to
elections made by newly eligible individuals during a calendar year). The
Primary Committee shall have complete discretion to determine whether to approve
the filed authorization in whole or in part. To the extent the Primary Committee
approves the authorization, the individual who filed that authorization shall
automatically be granted an option under the Salary Investment Grant Program on
the first trading day in January of the calendar year for which the salary
reduction is to be in effect, or, if the Program is first implemented during a
calendar year, the option shall be granted on the first trading day of the month
following the month in which the Program is implemented.
II. OPTION TERMS
Each option shall be a Non-Statutory Option evidenced by one or
more documents in the form approved by the Plan Administrator; provided,
however, that each such document shall comply with the terms specified below.
A. EXERCISE PRICE.
(i) The exercise price per share shall be thirty-three
and one-third percent (33-1/3%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock on the option grant date.
(ii) The exercise price shall become immediately due
upon exercise of the option and shall be payable in one or more of the
alternative forms authorized under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.
Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure specified thereunder is
utilized, payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on
the Exercise Date.
B. NUMBER OF OPTION SHARES. The number of shares of Common Stock
subject to the option shall be determined pursuant to the following formula
(rounded down to the nearest whole number):
11.
<PAGE> 13
X = A / (B x 66-2/3%), where
X is the number of option shares,
A is the dollar amount of the approved reduction in the
Optionee's base salary for the calendar year, and
B is the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on
the option grant date.
C. EXERCISE AND TERM OF OPTIONS. The option shall become
exercisable in a series of twelve (12) successive equal monthly installments
upon the Optionee's completion of each calendar month of Service in the calendar
year for which the salary reduction is in effect. Each option shall have a
maximum term of ten (10) years measured from the option grant date.
D. EFFECT OF TERMINATION OF SERVICE. Should the Optionee cease
Service for any reason while holding one or more options under this Article
Three, then each such option shall remain exercisable, for any or all of the
shares for which the option is exercisable at the time of such cessation of
Service, until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option
term or (ii) the expiration of the three (3)-year period measured from the date
of such cessation of Service. Should the Optionee die while holding one or more
options under this Article Three, then each such option may be exercised, for
any or all of the shares for which the option is exercisable at the time of the
Optionee's cessation of Service (less any shares subsequently purchased by
Optionee prior to death), by the personal representative of the Optionee's
estate or by the person or persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to
the Optionee's will or in accordance with the laws of descent and distribution.
Such right of exercise shall lapse, and the option shall terminate, upon the
earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the three
(3)-year period measured from the date of the Optionee's cessation of Service.
However, the option shall, immediately upon the Optionee's cessation of Service
for any reason, terminate and cease to remain outstanding with respect to any
and all shares of Common Stock for which the option is not otherwise at that
time exercisable.
III. CORPORATE TRANSACTION/ CHANGE IN CONTROL/ HOSTILE TAKE-OVER
A. In the event of any Corporate Transaction while the Optionee
remains in Service, each outstanding option held by such Optionee under this
Salary Investment Option Grant Program, to the extent not already vested, shall
automatically accelerate so that each such option shall, immediately prior to
the effective date of the Corporate Transaction, become fully exercisable for
all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such option and may be
exercised for any or all of those shares as fully-vested shares of Common Stock.
Each such outstanding option shall terminate immediately following the Corporate
Transaction, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or
parent thereof) in such Corporate Transaction. Any option so assumed and shall
remain exercisable for the fully-vested shares until the earlier of (i) the
expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the expiration of the three
(3)-year period measured from the date of the Optionee's cessation of Service.
12.
<PAGE> 14
B. In the event of a Change in Control while the Optionee
remains in Service, each outstanding option held by such Optionee under this
Salary Investment Option Grant Program shall automatically accelerate so that
each such option shall immediately become fully exercisable with respect to the
total number of shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such option and
may be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully-vested shares of Common
Stock. The option shall remain so exercisable until the earlier of (i) the
expiration of the ten (10)-year option term, (ii) the expiration of the three
(3)-year period measured from the date of the Optionee's cessation of Service or
(iii) the surrender of the option in connection with a Hostile Take-Over.
C. Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the Optionee
shall have a thirty (30)-day period in which to surrender to the Corporation
each outstanding option granted him or her under the Salary Investment Option
Grant Program. The Optionee shall in return be entitled to a cash distribution
from the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Take-Over Price
of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to the surrendered option
(whether or not the Optionee is otherwise at the time vested in those shares)
over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares. Such cash
distribution shall be paid within five (5) days following the surrender of the
option to the Corporation. The Primary Committee shall, at the time the option
with such limited stock appreciation right is granted under the Salary
Investment Option Grant Program, pre-approve any subsequent exercise of that
right in accordance with the terms of this Paragraph C. Accordingly, no further
approval of the Primary Committee or the Board shall be required at the time of
the actual option surrender and cash distribution.
D. The grant of options under the Salary Investment Option Grant
Program shall in no way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust,
reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or
to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part
of its business or assets.
IV. REMAINING TERMS
The remaining terms of each option granted under the Salary
Investment Option Grant Program shall be the same as the terms in effect for
option grants made under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.
13.
<PAGE> 15
ARTICLE FOUR
STOCK ISSUANCE PROGRAM
I. STOCK ISSUANCE TERMS
Shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance
Program through direct and immediate issuances without any intervening option
grants. Each such stock issuance shall be evidenced by a Stock Issuance
Agreement which complies with the terms specified below.
A. PURCHASE PRICE.
1. The purchase price per share shall be fixed by the Plan
Administrator, but shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Fair
Market Value per share of Common Stock on the issuance date.
2. Subject to the provisions of Section I of Article Five,
shares of Common Stock may be issued under the Stock Issuance Program for any of
the following items of consideration which the Plan Administrator may deem
appropriate in each individual instance:
(i) cash or check made payable to the Corporation, or
(ii) past services rendered to the Corporation (or any
Parent or Subsidiary).
B. VESTING PROVISIONS.
1. Shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance
Program may, in the discretion of the Plan Administrator, be fully and
immediately vested upon issuance or may vest in one or more installments over
the Participant's period of Service or upon attainment of specified performance
objectives. The elements of the vesting schedule applicable to any unvested
shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock Issuance Program, namely:
(i) the Service period to be completed by the
Participant or the performance objectives to be attained,
(ii) the number of installments in which the shares
are to vest,
(iii) the interval or intervals (if any) which are to
lapse between installments, and
(iv) the effect which death, Permanent Disability or
other event designated by the Plan Administrator is to have upon the vesting
schedule,
shall be determined by the Plan Administrator and incorporated into the Stock
Issuance Agreement.
14.
<PAGE> 16
2. Any new, substituted or additional securities or other
property (including money paid other than as a regular cash dividend) which the
Participant may have the right to receive with respect to the Participant's
unvested shares of Common Stock by reason of any stock dividend, stock split,
recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange of shares or other change
affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class without the Corporation's
receipt of consideration shall be issued subject to (i) the same vesting
requirements applicable to the Participant's unvested shares of Common Stock and
(ii) such escrow arrangements as the Plan Administrator shall deem appropriate.
3. The Participant shall have full stockholder rights with
respect to any shares of Common Stock issued to the Participant under the Stock
Issuance Program, whether or not the Participant's interest in those shares is
vested. Accordingly, the Participant shall have the right to vote such shares
and to receive any regular cash dividends paid on such shares.
4. Should the Participant cease to remain in Service while
holding one or more unvested shares of Common Stock issued under the Stock
Issuance Program or should the performance objectives not be attained with
respect to one or more such unvested shares of Common Stock, then those shares
shall be immediately surrendered to the Corporation for cancellation, and the
Participant shall have no further stockholder rights with respect to those
shares. To the extent the surrendered shares were previously issued to the
Participant for consideration paid in cash or cash equivalent (including the
Participant's purchase-money indebtedness), the Corporation shall repay to the
Participant the cash consideration paid for the surrendered shares and shall
cancel the unpaid principal balance of any outstanding purchase-money note of
the Participant attributable to the surrendered shares.
5. The Plan Administrator may in its discretion waive the
surrender and cancellation of one or more unvested shares of Common Stock (or
other assets attributable thereto) which would otherwise occur upon the
cessation of the Participant's Service or the non-attainment of the performance
objectives applicable to those shares. Such waiver shall result in the immediate
vesting of the Participant's interest in the shares of Common Stock as to which
the waiver applies. Such waiver may be effected at any time, whether before or
after the Participant's cessation of Service or the attainment or non-attainment
of the applicable performance objectives.
II. CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE IN CONTROL
A. All of the Corporation's outstanding repurchase/cancellation
rights under the Stock Issuance Program shall terminate automatically, and all
the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall immediately
vest in full, in the event of any Corporate Transaction, except to the extent
(i) those repurchase/cancellation rights are to be assigned to the successor
corporation (or parent thereof) in connection with such Corporate Transaction or
(ii) such accelerated vesting is precluded by other limitations imposed in the
Stock Issuance Agreement.
B. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary
authority, exercisable either at the time the unvested shares are issued or any
time while the Corporation's
15.
<PAGE> 17
repurchase/cancellation rights remain outstanding under the Stock Issuance
Program, to provide that those rights shall automatically terminate in whole or
in part, and the shares of Common Stock subject to those terminated rights shall
immediately vest, in the event the Participant's Service should subsequently
terminate by reason of an Involuntary Termination within twelve (12) months
following the effective date of any Corporate Transaction in which those
repurchase/cancellation rights are assigned to the successor corporation (or
parent thereof).
C. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretion, exercisable
either at the time the unvested shares are issued or at any time while the
Corporation's repurchase rights remain outstanding, to (i) provide for the
automatic termination of one or more outstanding repurchase/cancellation rights
and the immediate vesting of the shares of Common Stock subject to those rights
upon the occurrence of a Change in Control or (ii) condition any such
accelerated vesting upon the subsequent Involuntary Termination of the
Participant's Service within a specified period following the effective date of
such Change in Control.
III. SHARE ESCROW/LEGENDS
Unvested shares may, in the Plan Administrator's discretion, be
held in escrow by the Corporation until the Participant's interest in such
shares vests or may be issued directly to the Participant with restrictive
legends on the certificates evidencing those unvested shares.
16.
<PAGE> 18
ARTICLE FIVE
AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
I. OPTION TERMS
A. GRANT DATES. Option grants shall be made on the dates
specified below:
1. Each individual who is first elected or appointed as a
non-employee Board member shall automatically be granted, on the date of such
initial election or appointment, a Non-Statutory Option to purchase 5,000 shares
of Common Stock, provided that individual has not previously been in the employ
of the Corporation or any Parent or Subsidiary.
2. On the date of each Annual Stockholders Meeting, each
individual who is to continue to serve as an Eligible Director, whether or not
that individual is standing for re-election to the Board at that particular
Annual Meeting, shall automatically be granted a Non-Statutory Option to
purchase a specified number of shares of Common Stock, provided such individual
has served as a non-employee Board member for at least six (6) months. The
number of shares of Common Stock subject to each such annual automatic option
grant will be determined by dividing $20,000 by the Black-Scholes formula value
of the option, as determined by the Company's independent financial advisors.
However, in no event may such option grant exceed 5,000 shares of Common Stock.
There shall be no limit on the number of such $20,000- value option grants any
one Eligible Director may receive over his or her period of Board service, and
non-employee Board members who have previously been in the employ of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) or who have otherwise received a stock
option grant from the Corporation shall be eligible to receive one or more such
annual option grants over their period of continued Board service.
Stockholder approval of this 1999 Restatement at the 1999 Annual
Meeting shall constitute pre-approval of each option granted under this Article
Five on or after the date of that Annual Meeting and the subsequent exercise of
that option in accordance with the provisions of this Article Five.
B. EXERCISE PRICE.
1. The exercise price per share shall be equal to one
hundred percent (100%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the
option grant date.
2. The exercise price shall be payable in one or more of
the alternative forms authorized under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.
Except to the extent the sale and remittance procedure specified thereunder is
utilized, payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on
the Exercise Date.
C. OPTION TERM. Each option shall have a term of ten (10) years
measured from the option grant date.
17.
<PAGE> 19
D. EXERCISE AND VESTING OF OPTIONS. Each option shall be
immediately exercisable for any or all of the option shares. However, any shares
purchased under the option shall be subject to repurchase by the Corporation, at
the exercise price paid per share, upon the Optionee's cessation of Board
service prior to vesting in those shares. Each initial 5,000-share grant shall
vest, and the Corporation's repurchase right shall lapse, in a series of four
(4) successive equal annual installments over the Optionee's period of continued
service as a Board member, with the first such installment to vest upon the
Optionee's completion of one (1) year of Board service measured from the option
grant date. Each annual $20,000 value grant shall vest, and the Corporation's
repurchase right shall lapse, upon the Optionee's completion of one (1) year of
Board service measured from the option grant date.
E. TERMINATION OF BOARD SERVICE. The following provisions shall
govern the exercise of any options held by the Optionee at the time the Optionee
ceases to serve as a Board member:
(i) The Optionee (or, in the event of Optionee's
death, the personal representative of the Optionee's estate or the person or
persons to whom the option is transferred pursuant to the Optionee's will or in
accordance with the laws of descent and distribution) shall have a twelve
(12)-month period following the date of such cessation of Board service in which
to exercise each such option.
(ii) During the twelve (12)-month exercise period, the
option may not be exercised in the aggregate for more than the number of vested
shares of Common Stock for which the option is exercisable at the time of the
Optionee's cessation of Board service.
(iii) Should the Optionee cease to serve as a Board
member by reason of death or Permanent Disability, then all shares at the time
subject to the option shall immediately vest so that such option may, during the
twelve (12)-month exercise period following such cessation of Board service, be
exercised for all or any portion of those shares as fully-vested shares of
Common Stock.
(iv) In no event shall the option remain exercisable
after the expiration of the option term. Upon the expiration of the twelve
(12)-month exercise period or (if earlier) upon the expiration of the option
term, the option shall terminate and cease to be outstanding for any vested
shares for which the option has not been exercised. However, the option shall,
immediately upon the Optionee's cessation of Board service for any reason other
than death or Permanent Disability, terminate and cease to be outstanding to the
extent the option is not otherwise at that time exercisable for vested shares.
II. CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE IN CONTROL/HOSTILE TAKE-OVER
A. In the event of any Corporate Transaction, the shares of
Common Stock at the time subject to each outstanding option but not otherwise
vested shall automatically vest in full so that each such option shall,
immediately prior to the effective date of the Corporate Transaction, become
fully exercisable for all of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to
such option and may be exercised for all or any portion of those shares as
fully-vested shares
18.
<PAGE> 20
of Common Stock. Immediately following the consummation of the Corporate
Transaction, each automatic option grant shall terminate and cease to be
outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the successor corporation (or
parent thereof).
B. In connection with any Change in Control, the shares of
Common Stock at the time subject to each outstanding option but not otherwise
vested shall automatically vest in full so that each such option shall,
immediately prior to the effective date of the Change in Control, become fully
exercisable for all of the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such
option and may be exercised for all or any portion of those shares as
fully-vested shares of Common Stock. Each such option shall remain exercisable
for such fully-vested option shares until the expiration or sooner termination
of the option term or the surrender of the option in connection with a Hostile
Take-Over.
C. Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the Optionee
shall have a thirty (30)-day period in which to surrender to the Corporation
each automatic option held by him or her. The Optionee shall in return be
entitled to a cash distribution from the Corporation in an amount equal to the
excess of (i) the Take-Over Price of the shares of Common Stock at the time
subject to the surrendered option (whether or not the Optionee is otherwise at
the time vested in those shares) over (ii) the aggregate exercise price payable
for such shares. Such cash distribution shall be paid within five (5) days
following the surrender of the option to the Corporation. Stockholder approval
of this 1999 Restatement at the 1999 Annual Meeting shall constitute
pre-approval of each option granted with such a surrender provision on or after
the date of that Annual Meeting and the subsequent surrender of that option in
accordance with the provisions of this Section II.C. No additional approval of
the Plan Administrator or the Board shall be required at the time of the actual
option surrender and cash distribution.
D. Each option which is assumed in connection with a Corporate
Transaction shall be appropriately adjusted, immediately after such Corporate
Transaction, to apply to the number and class of securities which would have
been issuable to the Optionee in consummation of such Corporate Transaction had
the option been exercised immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction.
Appropriate adjustments shall also be made to the exercise price payable per
share under each outstanding option, provided the aggregate exercise price
payable for such securities shall remain the same.
E. The grant of options under the Automatic Option Grant Program
shall in no way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust, reclassify,
reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or to merge,
consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part of its
business or assets.
III. REMAINING TERMS
The remaining terms of each option granted under the Automatic
Option Grant Program shall be the same as the terms in effect for option grants
made under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.
19.
<PAGE> 21
ARTICLE SIX
DIRECTOR FEE OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
I. OPTION GRANTS
Each non-employee Board member may elect to apply all or any
portion of the annual retainer and attendance fees otherwise payable in cash for
his or her service on the Board to the acquisition of special option grants
under this Director Fee Option Grant Program. Such election must be filed with
the Corporation's Chief Financial Officer prior to first day of the calendar
year for which the annual retainer fee and attendance fees which are the subject
of that election are otherwise payable, or, with respect to newly eligible
non-employee Board members, prior to the first day of the fiscal quarter
beginning after they became eligible. Each non-employee Board member who files
such a timely election shall automatically be granted an option under this
Director Fee Option Grant Program at the end of each fiscal quarter in the
calendar year for which the annual retainer and attendance fees which are the
subject of that election would otherwise be payable in cash.
II. OPTION TERMS
Each option shall be a Non-Statutory Option governed by the
terms and conditions specified below.
A. EXERCISE PRICE.
1. The exercise price per share shall be thirty-three and
one-third percent (33-1/3%) of the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock
on the option grant date.
2. The exercise price shall become immediately due upon
exercise of the option and shall be payable in one or more of the alternative
forms authorized under the Discretionary Option Grant Program. Except to the
extent the sale and remittance procedure specified thereunder is utilized,
payment of the exercise price for the purchased shares must be made on the
Exercise Date.
B. NUMBER OF OPTION SHARES. The number of shares of Common Stock
subject to the option shall be determined pursuant to the following formula
(rounded down to the nearest whole number):
X = A / (B x 66-2/3%), where
X is the number of option shares,
A is the portion of the annual retainer fee plus the
portion of any attendance fees earned during the quarter subject
to the non-employee Board member's election, and
B is the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on
the option grant date.
20.
<PAGE> 22
C. EXERCISE AND TERM OF OPTIONS. The option shall be fully
vested at the time of grant. Each option shall have a maximum term of ten (10)
years measured from the option grant date.
D. TERMINATION OF BOARD SERVICE. Should the Optionee cease Board
service for any reason (other than death or Permanent Disability) while holding
one or more options under this Director Fee Option Grant Program, then each such
option shall remain exercisable, for any or all of the shares for which the
option is exercisable at the time of such cessation of Board service, until the
earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the
expiration of the three (3)-year period measured from the date of such cessation
of Board service.
E. DEATH OR PERMANENT DISABILITY. Should the Optionee's service
as a Board member cease by reason of death or Permanent Disability, then each
option held by such Optionee under this Director Fee Option Grant Program may be
exercised for any or all of those shares as fully-vested shares until the
earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the
expiration of the three (3)-year period measured from the date of such cessation
of Board service.
Should the Optionee die after cessation of Board service but
while holding one or more options under this Director Fee Option Grant Program,
then each such option may be exercised, for any or all of the shares for which
the option is exercisable at the time of the Optionee's cessation of Board
service (less any shares subsequently purchased by Optionee prior to death), by
the personal representative of the Optionee's estate or by the person or persons
to whom the option is transferred pursuant to the Optionee's will or in
accordance with the laws of descent and distribution. Such right of exercise
shall lapse, and the option shall terminate, upon the earlier of (i) the
expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the three (3)-year period
measured from the date of the Optionee's cessation of Board service.
III. CORPORATE TRANSACTION/ CHANGE IN CONTROL/ HOSTILE TAKE-OVER
A. In the event of any Corporate Transaction while the Optionee
remains a Board member, each outstanding option held by such Optionee under this
Director Fee Option Grant Program, to the extent the option is not already
vested, shall automatically accelerate so that each such option shall,
immediately prior to the effective date of the Corporate Transaction, become
exercisable for all the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to such
option and may be exercised for any or all of those shares as fully-vested
shares of Common Stock. Each such outstanding option shall terminate immediately
following the Corporate Transaction, except to the extent assumed by the
successor corporation (or parent thereof) in such Corporate Transaction. Any
option so assumed and shall remain exercisable for the fully-vested shares until
the earlier of (i) the expiration of the ten (10)-year option term or (ii) the
expiration of the three (3)-year period measured from the date of the Optionee's
cessation of Board service.
B. In the event of a Change in Control while the Optionee
remains in Service, each outstanding option held by such Optionee under this
Director Fee Option Grant Program
21.
<PAGE> 23
shall remain exercisable until the earlier or (i) the expiration of the ten
(10)-year option term or (ii) the expiration of the three (3)-year period
measured from the date of the Optionee's cessation of Service.
C. Upon the occurrence of a Hostile Take-Over, the Optionee
shall have a thirty (30)-day period in which to surrender to the Corporation
each outstanding option granted him or her under the Director Fee Option Grant
Program. The Optionee shall in return be entitled to a cash distribution from
the Corporation in an amount equal to the excess of (i) the Take-Over Price of
the shares of Common Stock at the time subject to each surrendered option over
(ii) the aggregate exercise price payable for such shares. Such cash
distribution shall be paid within five (5) days following the surrender of the
option to the Corporation. No approval or consent of the Board or any Plan
Administrator shall be required in connection with such option surrender and
cash distribution.
D. The grant of options under the Director Fee Option Grant
Program shall in no way affect the right of the Corporation to adjust,
reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or
to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part
of its business or assets.
IV. REMAINING TERMS
The remaining terms of each option granted under this Director
Fee Option Grant Program shall be the same as the terms in effect for option
grants made under the Discretionary Option Grant Program.
22.
<PAGE> 24
ARTICLE SEVEN
MISCELLANEOUS
I. FINANCING
The Plan Administrator may permit any Optionee or Participant to
pay the option exercise price under the Discretionary Option Grant Program or
the purchase price of shares issued under the Stock Issuance Program by
delivering a full-recourse, interest bearing promissory note payable in one or
more installments. The terms of any such promissory note (including the interest
rate and the terms of repayment) shall be established by the Plan Administrator
in its sole discretion. In no event may the maximum credit available to the
Optionee or Participant exceed the sum of (i) the aggregate option exercise
price or purchase price payable for the purchased shares plus (ii) any Federal,
state and local income and employment tax liability incurred by the Optionee or
the Participant in connection with the option exercise or share purchase.
II. TAX WITHHOLDING
The Corporation's obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock
upon the exercise of options or the issuance or vesting of such shares under the
Plan shall be subject to the satisfaction of all applicable Federal, state and
local income and employment tax withholding requirements.
III. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN
A. The Plan became effective with respect to the Discretionary
Option Grant and the Stock Issuance Programs immediately upon the Plan Effective
Date. The Automatic Option Grant Program became effective on the Underwriting
Date. The Director Fee Option Grant Program shall become effective upon
shareholder approval of the proposal to incorporate the program into the Plan at
the 1999 Annual Meeting.
B. The Plan was amended and restated by the Board on February
24, 1998 (the "1998 Restatement") to effect the following changes: (i) increase
the maximum number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance over the
term of the Plan from 525,000 shares to 1,025,000 shares, (ii) render the
non-employee Board members who are serving as Plan Administrator eligible to
receive option grants and direct stock issuances under the Discretionary Option
Grant and Stock Issuance Programs in effect under the Plan, (iii) remove certain
restrictions on the eligibility of non-employee Board members to serve as Plan
Administrator, and (iv) effect a series of additional changes to the provisions
of the Plan (including the stockholder approval requirements, the
transferability of Non-Statutory Options and the elimination of the six
(6)-month holding requirement as a condition to the exercise of stock
appreciation rights) in order to take advantage of the amendments to Rule 16b-3
of the 1934 Act which exempts certain officer and director transactions under
the Plan from the short-swing liability provisions of the federal securities
laws. The 1998 Restatement was approved by the stockholders at the 1998 Annual
Meeting. All option grants and direct stock issuances made
23.
<PAGE> 25
prior to the 1998 Restatement shall remain outstanding in accordance with the
terms and conditions of the respective instruments evidencing those options or
issuances, and nothing in the 1998 Restatement shall be deemed to modify or in
any way affect those outstanding options or issuances. The Plan Administrator
may make option grants and direct stock issuances under the Plan at any time
before the date fixed herein for the termination of the Plan. The Plan was again
amended and restated by the Board on April 6, 1999 to (i) incorporate the Salary
Investment Option Grant and Director Fee Option Grant Programs and (ii) change
the calculation of the number of shares of common stock for which continuing
non-employee Board members are to be automatically granted stock options at each
Annual Stockholder's Meeting, beginning with the 1999 Annual Meeting, from a
fixed 1,000 shares per non-employee Board member to a grant worth $20,000 based
upon a Black-Scholes option valuation, with the number of shares subject to each
such automatic grant not to exceed 5,000 shares. The Plan was again amended and
restated by the Board on March ___, 2000 and on April ___, 2000 to increase the
maximum number of shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance over the term
of the Plan from 1,025,000 shares to 1,525,000 shares and to increase the limit
on the annual Automatic Grants to non-employee directors to _______, subject to
the approval of the stockholders at the 2000 Annual Meeting.
C. The Plan shall terminate upon the earliest of (i) June 19,
2006, (ii) the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Plan
shall have been issued as fully-vested shares or (iii) the termination of all
outstanding options in connection with a Corporate Transaction. Upon such plan
termination, all outstanding option grants and unvested stock issuances shall
thereafter continue to have force and effect in accordance with the provisions
of the documents evidencing such grants or issuances.
IV. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN
A. The Board shall have complete and exclusive power and
authority to amend or modify the Plan in any or all respects. However, no such
amendment or modification shall adversely affect the rights and obligations with
respect to stock options or unvested stock issuances at the time outstanding
under the Plan unless the Optionee or the Participant consents to such amendment
or modification. In addition, certain amendments may require stockholder
approval pursuant to applicable laws or regulations.
B. Options to purchase shares of Common Stock may be granted
under the Discretionary Option Grant Program and shares of Common Stock may be
issued under the Stock Issuance Program that are in each instance in excess of
the number of shares then available for issuance under the Plan, provided any
excess shares actually issued under those programs shall be held in escrow until
there is obtained stockholder approval of an amendment sufficiently increasing
the number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan. If
such stockholder approval is not obtained within twelve (12) months after the
date the first such excess issuances are made, then (i) any unexercised options
granted on the basis of such excess shares shall terminate and cease to be
outstanding and (ii) the Corporation shall promptly refund to the Optionees and
the Participants the exercise or purchase price paid for any excess shares
issued under the Plan and held in escrow, together with interest (at the
applicable Short Term Federal Rate) for the period the shares were held in
escrow, and such shares shall thereupon be automatically cancelled and cease to
be outstanding.
24.
<PAGE> 26
V. USE OF PROCEEDS
Any cash proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of
shares of Common Stock under the Plan shall be used for general corporate
purposes.
VI. REGULATORY APPROVALS
A. The implementation of the Plan, the granting of any stock
option under the Plan and the issuance of any shares of Common Stock (i) upon
the exercise of any granted option or (ii) under the Stock Issuance Program
shall be subject to the Corporation's procurement of all approvals and permits
required by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Plan, the stock
options granted under it and the shares of Common Stock issued pursuant to it.
B. No shares of Common Stock or other assets shall be issued or
delivered under the Plan unless and until there shall have been compliance with
all applicable requirements of Federal and state securities laws, including the
filing and effectiveness of the Form S-8 registration statement for the shares
of Common Stock issuable under the Plan, and all applicable listing requirements
of any stock exchange (or the Nasdaq National Market, if applicable) on which
Common Stock is then listed for trading.
VII. NO EMPLOYMENT/SERVICE RIGHTS
Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon the Optionee or the
Participant any right to continue in Service for any period of specific duration
or interfere with or otherwise restrict in any way the rights of the Corporation
(or any Parent or Subsidiary employing or retaining such person) or of the
Optionee or the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by each,
to terminate such person's Service at any time for any reason, with or without
cause.
25.
<PAGE> 27
APPENDIX
The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:
A. AUTOMATIC OPTION GRANT PROGRAM shall mean the automatic
option grant program in effect under the Plan.
B. BOARD shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.
C. CHANGE IN CONTROL shall mean a change in ownership or control
of the Corporation effected through either of the following transactions:
(i) the acquisition, directly or indirectly by any
person or related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control
with, the Corporation), of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule
13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of
the total combined voting power of the Corporation's outstanding securities
pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Corporation's
stockholders, or
(ii) a change in the composition of the Board over a
period of thirty-six (36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the
Board members ceases, by reason of one or more contested elections for Board
membership, to be comprised of individuals who either (A) have been Board
members continuously since the beginning of such period or (B) have been elected
or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least a
majority of the Board members described in clause (A) who were still in office
at the time the Board approved such election or nomination.
D. CODE shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
E. COMMON STOCK shall mean the Corporation's common stock.
F. CORPORATE TRANSACTION shall mean either of the following
stockholder-approved transactions to which the Corporation is a party:
(i) a merger or consolidation in which securities
possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting power of
the Corporation's outstanding securities are transferred to a person or persons
different from the persons holding those securities immediately prior to such
transaction, or
(ii) the sale, transfer or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Corporation's assets in complete liquidation or
dissolution of the Corporation.
G. CORPORATION shall mean Willis Lease Finance Corporation, a
California corporation, and any corporate successor to all or substantially all
of the assets or voting stock of Willis Lease Finance Corporation which shall by
appropriate action adopt the Plan.
A-1
<PAGE> 28
H. DISCRETIONARY OPTION GRANT PROGRAM shall mean the
discretionary option grant program in effect under the Plan.
I. DIRECTOR FEE OPTION GRANT PROGRAM shall mean the special
stock option grant program in effect for non-employee Board members under
Article Six of the Plan.
J. DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDER shall mean any judgment, decree or
order (including approval of a property settlement agreement) which provides or
otherwise conveys, pursuant to applicable State domestic relations laws
(including community property laws), marital property rights to any spouse or
former spouse of the Optionee.
K. ELIGIBLE DIRECTOR shall mean a non-employee Board member
eligible to participate in the Automatic Option Grant Program in accordance with
the eligibility provisions of Article One.
L. EMPLOYEE shall mean an individual who is in the employ of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), subject to the control and direction
of the employer entity as to both the work to be performed and the manner and
method of performance.
M. EXERCISE DATE shall mean the date on which the Corporation
shall have received written notice of the option exercise.
N. FAIR MARKET VALUE per share of Common Stock on any relevant
date shall be determined in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) If the Common Stock is at the time traded on the
Nasdaq National Market, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling
price per share of Common Stock on the date in question, as the price is
reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers on the Nasdaq
National Market or any successor system. If there is no closing selling price
for the Common Stock on the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall
be the closing selling price on the last preceding date for which such quotation
exists.
(ii) If the Common Stock is at the time listed on any
Stock Exchange, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling price
per share of Common Stock on the date in question on the Stock Exchange
determined by the Plan Administrator to be the primary market for the Common
Stock, as such price is officially quoted in the composite tape of transactions
on such exchange. If there is no closing selling price for the Common Stock on
the date in question, then the Fair Market Value shall be the closing selling
price on the last preceding date for which such quotation exists.
(iii) For purposes of any option grants made on the
Underwriting Date, the Fair Market Value shall be deemed to be equal to the
price per share at which the Common Stock is to be sold in the initial public
offering pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.
(iv) For purposes of any option grants made prior to
the Underwriting Date, the Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Plan
Administrator, after taking into account such factors as it deems appropriate.
2.
<PAGE> 29
O. HOSTILE TAKE-OVER shall mean a change in ownership of the
Corporation effected through the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any
person or related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control
with, the Corporation) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3
of the 1934 Act) of securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the
total combined voting power of the Corporation's outstanding securities pursuant
to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the Corporation's stockholders
which the Board does not recommend such stockholders to accept.
P. INCENTIVE OPTION shall mean an option which satisfies the
requirements of Code Section 422.
Q. INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION shall mean the termination of the
Service of any individual which occurs by reason of:
(i) such individual's involuntary dismissal or
discharge by the Corporation for reasons other than Misconduct, or
(ii) such individual's voluntary resignation following
(A) a change in his or her position with the Corporation which materially
reduces his or her level of responsibility, (B) a reduction in his or her level
of compensation (including base salary, fringe benefits and participation in any
corporate-performance based bonus or incentive programs) by more than fifteen
percent (15%) or (C) a relocation of such individual's place of employment by
more than fifty (50) miles, provided and only if such change, reduction or
relocation is effected by the Corporation without the individual's consent.
R. MISCONDUCT shall mean the commission of any act of fraud,
embezzlement or dishonesty by the Optionee or Participant, any unauthorized use
or disclosure by such person of confidential information or trade secrets of the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary), or any other intentional misconduct
by such person adversely affecting the business or affairs of the Corporation
(or any Parent or Subsidiary) in a material manner. The foregoing definition
shall not be deemed to be inclusive of all the acts or omissions which the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) may consider as grounds for the
dismissal or discharge of any Optionee, Participant or other person in the
Service of the Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary).
S. ACT shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
T. NON-STATUTORY OPTION shall mean an option not intended to
satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422.
U. OPTIONEE shall mean any person to whom an option is granted
under the Discretionary Option Grant, Salary Investment Option Grant, Automatic
Option Grant or Director Fee Option Grant Program.
V. PARENT shall mean any corporation (other than the
Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Corporation,
provided each corporation in the unbroken chain (other than the Corporation)
owns, at the time of the determination, stock
3.
<PAGE> 30
possessing fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of
all classes of stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
W. PARTICIPANT shall mean any person who is issued shares of
Common Stock under the Stock Issuance Program.
X. PERMANENT DISABILITY OR PERMANENTLY DISABLED shall mean the
inability of the Optionee or the Participant to engage in any substantial
gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental
impairment expected to result in death or to be of continuous duration of twelve
(12) months or more. However, solely for purposes of the Automatic Option Grant
Program, Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled shall mean the inability
of the non-employee Board member to perform his or her usual duties as a Board
member by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment
expected to result in death or to be of continuous duration of twelve (12)
months or more.
Y. PLAN shall mean the Corporation's 1996 Stock Option/Stock
Issuance Plan, as set forth in this document.
Z. PLAN ADMINISTRATOR shall mean the particular entity, whether
the Primary Committee, the Board or the Secondary Committee, which is authorized
to administer the Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with
respect to one or more classes of eligible persons, to the extent such entity is
carrying out its administrative functions under those programs with respect to
the persons under its jurisdiction.
AA. PLAN EFFECTIVE DATE shall mean June 21, 1996, the date on
which the Plan was adopted by the Board.
AB. PRIMARY COMMITTEE shall mean the committee of two (2) or
more non-employee Board members appointed by the Board to administer the
Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to Section
16 Insiders.
AC. QUALIFIED DOMESTIC RELATIONS ORDER shall mean a Domestic
Relations Order which substantially complies with the requirements of Code
Section 414(p). The Plan Administrator shall have the sole discretion to
determine whether a Domestic Relations Order is a Qualified Domestic Relations
Order.
AD. SALARY INVESTMENT OPTION GRANT PROGRAM shall mean the salary
investment option grant program in effect under the Plan.
AE. SECONDARY COMMITTEE shall mean a committee of two (2) or
more Board members appointed by the Board to administer the Discretionary Option
Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to eligible persons other than
Section 16 Insiders.
AF. SECTION 16 INSIDER shall mean an officer or director of the
Corporation subject to the short-swing profit liabilities of Section 16 of the
1934 Act.
AG. SERVICE shall mean the performance of services for the
Corporation (or any Parent or Subsidiary) by a person in the capacity of an
Employee, a non-employee member
4.
<PAGE> 31
of the board of directors or a consultant or independent advisor, except to the
extent otherwise specifically provided in the documents evidencing the option
grant or stock issuance.
AH. STOCK EXCHANGE shall mean either the American Stock Exchange
or the New York Stock Exchange.
AI. STOCK ISSUANCE AGREEMENT shall mean the agreement entered
into by the Corporation and the Participant at the time of issuance of shares of
Common Stock under the Stock Issuance Program.
AJ. STOCK ISSUANCE PROGRAM shall mean the stock issuance program
in effect under the Plan.
AK. SUBSIDIARY shall mean any corporation (other than the
Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the
Corporation, provided each corporation (other than the last corporation) in the
unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing fifty
percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
in one of the other corporations in such chain.
AL. TAKE-OVER PRICE shall mean the greater of (i) the Fair
Market Value per share of Common Stock on the date the option is surrendered to
the Corporation in connection with a Hostile Take-Over or (ii) the highest
reported price per share of Common Stock paid by the tender offeror in effecting
such Hostile Take-Over. However, if the surrendered option is an Incentive
Option, the Take-Over Price shall not exceed the clause (i) price per share.
AM. TAXES shall mean the Federal, state and local income and
employment tax liabilities incurred by the holder of Non-Statutory Options or
unvested shares of Common Stock in connection with the exercise of those options
or the vesting of those shares.
AN. 10% STOCKHOLDER shall mean the owner of stock (as determined
under Code Section 424(d)) possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation (or any Parent
or Subsidiary).
AO. UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT shall mean the agreement between the
Corporation and the underwriter or underwriters who managed the initial public
offering of the Common Stock.
AP. UNDERWRITING DATE shall mean September 18, 1996, the date on
which the Underwriting Agreement was executed and priced in connection with the
initial public offering of the Common Stock.
5.
