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EXHIBIT 4.08
AUTOWEB.COM,INC.
1999 EQUITY INCENTIVE PLAN
As Adopted January 21, 1999,
and Amended April 27, 2000
1. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Plan is to provide incentives to
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attract, retain and motivate eligible persons whose present and potential
contributions are important to the success of the Company, its Parent and
Subsidiaries, by offering them an opportunity to participate in the Company's
future performance through awards of Options, Restricted Stock and Stock
Bonuses. Capitalized terms not defined in the text are defined in Section 23.
2. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
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2.1 Number of Shares Available. Subject to Sections 2.2 and
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18, the total number of Shares reserved and available for grant and issuance
pursuant to this Plan will be 5,150,000 Shares plus (a) Shares that are subject
to: (i) issuance upon exercise of an Option but cease to be subject to such
Option for any reason other than exercise of such Option; (ii) an Award granted
hereunder but are forfeited or are repurchased by the Company at the original
issue price; and (iii) an Award that otherwise terminates without Shares being
issued; and (b) any authorized shares not issued or subject to outstanding
grants under the Company's 1997 Stock Option Plan (the "Prior Plan") on the
Effective Date (as defined below) and any shares issued under the Prior Plan
that are forfeited or repurchased by the Company or that are issuable upon
exercise of options granted pursuant to the Prior Plan that expire or become
unexercisable for any reason without having been exercised in full, which shares
will no longer be available for grant and issuance under the Prior Plan, but
will be available for grant and issuance under this Plan. At all times the
Company shall reserve and keep available a sufficient number of Shares as shall
be required to satisfy the requirements of all outstanding Options granted under
this Plan and all other outstanding but unvested Awards granted under this Plan.
2.2 Adjustment of Shares. In the event that the number of
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outstanding shares is changed by a stock dividend, recapitalization, stock
split, reverse stock split, subdivision, combination, reclassification or
similar change in the capital structure of the Company without consideration,
then (a) the number of Shares reserved for issuance under this Plan, (b) the
Exercise Prices of and number of Shares subject to outstanding Options, and (c)
the number of Shares subject to other outstanding Awards will be proportionately
adjusted, subject to any required action by the Board or the stockholders of the
Company and compliance with applicable securities laws; provided, however, that
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fractions of a Share will not be issued but will either be replaced by a cash
payment equal to the Fair Market Value of such fraction of a Share or will be
rounded up to the nearest whole Share, as determined by the Committee.
3. ELIGIBILITY. ISOs (as defined in Section 5 below) may be
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granted only to employees (including officers and directors who are also
employees) of the Company or of a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. All other
Awards may be granted to employees, officers, directors, consultants,
independent contractors and advisors of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary
of the Company; provided such consultants, contractors and advisors render bona
fide services not in connection with the offer and sale of securities in a
capital-raising transaction. No person will be eligible to receive more than
1,000,000 Shares in any calendar year under this Plan pursuant to the grant of
Awards hereunder, other than new employees of the Company or of a Parent or
Subsidiary of the Company (including new employees who are also officers and
directors of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company), who are
eligible to receive up to a maximum of 2,000,000 Shares in the calendar year in
which they commence their employment. A person may be granted more than one
Award under this Plan.
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1999 Equity Incentive Plan
4. ADMINISTRATION.
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4.1 Committee Authority. This Plan will be administered by
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the Committee or by the Board acting as the Committee. Subject to the general
purposes, terms and conditions of this Plan, and to the direction of the Board,
the Committee will have full power to implement and carry out this Plan. Without
limitation, the Committee will have the authority to:
(a) construe and interpret this Plan, any Award Agreement and any
other agreement or document executed pursuant to this Plan;
(b) prescribe, amend and rescind rules and regulations relating to
this Plan or any Award;
(c) select persons to receive Awards;
(d) determine the form and terms of Awards;
(e) determine the number of Shares or other consideration subject to
Awards;
(f) determine whether Awards will be granted singly, in combination
with, in tandem with, in replacement of, or as alternatives to,
other Awards under this Plan or any other incentive or
compensation plan of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of
the Company;
(g) grant waivers of Plan or Award conditions;
(h) determine the vesting, exercisability and payment of Awards;
(i) correct any defect, supply any omission or reconcile any
inconsistency in this Plan, any Award or any Award Agreement;
(j) determine whether an Award has been earned; and
(k) make all other determinations necessary or advisable for the
administration of this Plan.
4.2 Committee Discretion. Any determination made by the
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Committee with respect to any Award will be made in its sole discretion at the
time of grant of the Award or, unless in contravention of any express term of
this Plan or Award, at any later time, and such determination will be final and
binding on the Company and on all persons having an interest in any Award under
this Plan. The Committee may delegate to one or more officers of the Company the
authority to grant an Award under this Plan to Participants who are not Insiders
of the Company.
5. OPTIONS. The Committee may grant Options to eligible persons
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and will determine whether such Options will be Incentive Stock Options within
the meaning of the Code ("ISO") or Nonqualified Stock Options ("NQSOs"), the
number of Shares subject to the Option, the Exercise Price of the Option, the
period during which the Option may be exercised, and all other terms and
conditions of the Option, subject to the following:
5.1 Form of Option Grant. Each Option granted under this
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Plan will be evidenced by an Award Agreement which will expressly identify the
Option as an ISO or an NQSO ("Stock Option Agreement"), and will be in such form
and contain such provisions (which need not be the same for each Participant) as
the Committee may from time to time approve, and which will comply with and be
subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan.
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5.2 Date of Grant. The date of grant of an Option will be
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the date on which the Committee makes the determination to grant such Option,
unless otherwise specified by the Committee. The Stock Option Agreement and a
copy of this Plan will be delivered to the Participant within a reasonable time
after the granting of the Option.
5.3 Exercise Period. Options may be exercisable within the
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times or upon the events determined by the Committee as set forth in the Stock
Option Agreement governing such Option; provided, however, that no Option will
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be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years from the date the Option
is granted; and provided further that no ISO granted to a person who directly or
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by attribution owns more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting
power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any Parent or Subsidiary of
the Company ("Ten Percent Stockholder") will be exercisable after the expiration
of five (5) years from the date the ISO is granted. The Committee also may
provide for Options to become exercisable at one time or from time to time,
periodically or otherwise, in such number of Shares or percentage of Shares as
the Committee determines.
5.4 Exercise Price. The Exercise Price of an Option will be
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determined by the Committee when the Option is granted and may be not less than
85% of the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant; provided that:
(i) the Exercise Price of an ISO will be not less than 100% of the Fair Market
Value of the Shares on the date of grant; and (ii) the Exercise Price of any ISO
granted to a Ten Percent Stockholder will not be less than 110% of the Fair
Market Value of the Shares on the date of grant. Payment for the Shares
purchased may be made in accordance with Section 8 of this Plan.
5.5 Method of Exercise. Options may be exercised only by
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delivery to the Company of a written stock option exercise agreement (the
"Exercise Agreement") in a form approved by the Committee (which need not be the
same for each Participant), stating the number of Shares being purchased, the
restrictions imposed on the Shares purchased under such Exercise Agreement, if
any, and such representations and agreements regarding Participant's investment
intent and access to information and other matters, if any, as may be required
or desirable by the Company to comply with applicable securities laws, together
with payment in full of the Exercise Price for the number of Shares being
purchased.
5.6 Termination. Notwithstanding the exercise periods set
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forth in the Stock Option Agreement, exercise of an Option will always be
subject to the following:
(a) If the Participant is Terminated for any reason except death or
Disability, then the Participant may exercise such Participant's
Options only to the extent that such Options would have been
exercisable upon the Termination Date no later than three (3)
months after the Termination Date (or such shorter or longer
time period not exceeding five (5) years as may be determined by
the Committee, with any exercise beyond three (3) months after
the Termination Date deemed to be an NQSO), but in any event, no
later than the expiration date of the Options.
(b) If the Participant is Terminated because of Participant's death
or Disability (or the Participant dies within three (3) months
after a Termination other than for Cause or because of
Participant's Disability), then Participant's Options may be
exercised only to the extent that such Options would have been
exercisable by Participant on the Termination Date and must be
exercised by Participant (or Participant's legal representative
or authorized assignee) no later than twelve (12) months after
the Termination Date (or such shorter or longer time period not
exceeding five (5) years as may be determined by the Committee,
with any such exercise beyond (a) three (3) months after the
Termination Date when the Termination is for any reason other
than the Participant's death or Disability, or (b) twelve (12)
months after the Termination Date when the Termination is for
Participant's Disability, deemed to be an NQSO), but in any
event no later than the expiration date of the Options.
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(c) Notwithstanding the provisions in paragraph 5.6(a) above, if a
Participant is terminated for Cause, neither the Participant,
the Participant's estate nor such other person who may then hold
the Option shall be entitled to exercise any Option with respect
to any Shares whatsoever, after termination of service, whether
or not after termination of service the Participant may receive
payment from the Company or Subsidiary for vacation pay, for
services rendered prior to termination, for services rendered
for the day on which termination occurs, for salary in lieu of
notice, or for any other benefits. In making such determination,
the Board shall give the Participant an opportunity to present
to the Board evidence on his behalf. For the purpose of this
paragraph, termination of service shall be deemed to occur on
the date when the Company dispatches notice or advice to the
Participant that his service is terminated.
5.7 Limitations on Exercise. The Committee may specify a
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reasonable minimum number of Shares that may be purchased on any exercise of an
Option, provided that such minimum number will not prevent Participant from
exercising the Option for the full number of Shares for which it is then
exercisable.
5.8 Limitations on ISO. The aggregate Fair Market Value
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(determined as of the date of grant) of Shares with respect to which ISO are
exercisable for the first time by a Participant during any calendar year (under
this Plan or under any other incentive stock option plan of the Company, Parent
or Subsidiary of the Company) will not exceed $100,000. If the Fair Market Value
of Shares on the date of grant with respect to which ISO are exercisable for the
first time by a Participant during any calendar year exceeds $100,000, then the
Options for the first $100,000 worth of Shares to become exercisable in such
calendar year will be ISO and the Options for the amount in excess of $100,000
that become exercisable in that calendar year will be NQSOs. In the event that
the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder are amended after the
Effective Date of this Plan to provide for a different limit on the Fair Market
Value of Shares permitted to be subject to ISO, such different limit will be
automatically incorporated herein and will apply to any Options granted after
the effective date of such amendment.
5.9 Modification, Extension or Renewal. The Committee may
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modify, extend or renew outstanding Options and authorize the grant of new
Options in substitution therefor, provided that any such action may not, without
the written consent of a Participant, impair any of such Participant's rights
under any Option previously granted. Any outstanding ISO that is modified,
extended, renewed or otherwise altered will be treated in accordance with
Section 424(h) of the Code. The Committee may reduce the Exercise Price of
outstanding Options without the consent of Participants affected by a written
notice to them; provided, however, that the Exercise Price may not be reduced
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below the minimum Exercise Price that would be permitted under Section 5.4 of
this Plan for Options granted on the date the action is taken to reduce the
Exercise Price.
5.10 No Disqualification. Notwithstanding any other provision
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in this Plan, no term of this Plan relating to ISO will be interpreted, amended
or altered, nor will any discretion or authority granted under this Plan be
exercised, so as to disqualify this Plan under Section 422 of the Code or,
without the consent of the Participant affected, to disqualify any ISO under
Section 422 of the Code.
6. RESTRICTED STOCK. A Restricted Stock Award is an offer by the
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Company to sell to an eligible person Shares that are subject to restrictions.
The Committee will determine to whom an offer will be made, the number of Shares
the person may purchase, the price to be paid (the "Purchase Price"), the
restrictions to which the Shares will be subject, and all other terms and
conditions of the Restricted Stock Award, subject to the following:
6.1 Form of Restricted Stock Award. All purchases under a
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Restricted Stock Award made pursuant to this Plan will be evidenced by an Award
Agreement ("Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement") that will be in such form
(which need not be the same for each Participant) as the Committee will from
time to time approve, and will comply with and be subject to the terms and
conditions of this Plan. The offer of Restricted Stock will be accepted by the
Participant's execution and delivery of the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement
and full payment for the Shares to the Company within thirty (30) days from the
date the Restricted Stock Purchase Agree-
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ment is delivered to the person. If such person does not execute and deliver the
Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement along with full payment for the Shares to
the Company within thirty (30) days, then the offer will terminate, unless
otherwise determined by the Committee.
6.2 Purchase Price. The Purchase Price of Shares sold pursuant
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to a Restricted Stock Award will be determined by the Committee on the date the
Restricted Stock Award is granted, except in the case of a sale to a Ten Percent
Stockholder, in which case the Purchase Price will be 100% of the Fair Market
Value. Payment of the Purchase Price may be made in accordance with Section 8 of
this Plan.
6.3 Terms of Restricted Stock Awards. Restricted Stock Awards
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shall be subject to such restrictions as the Committee may impose. These
restrictions may be based upon completion of a specified number of years of
service with the Company or upon completion of the performance goals as set out
in advance in the Participant's individual Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement.
Restricted Stock Awards may vary from Participant to Participant and between
groups of Participants. Prior to the grant of a Restricted Stock Award, the
Committee shall: (a) determine the nature, length and starting date of any
Performance Period for the Restricted Stock Award; (b) select from among the
Performance Factors to be used to measure performance goals, if any; and (c)
determine the number of Shares that may be awarded to the Participant. Prior to
the payment of any Restricted Stock Award, the Committee shall determine the
extent to which such Restricted Stock Award has been earned. Performance Periods
may overlap and Participants may participate simultaneously with respect to
Restricted Stock Awards that are subject to different Performance Periods and
having different performance goals and other criteria.
6.4 Termination During Performance Period. If a Participant
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is Terminated during a Performance Period for any reason, then such Participant
will be entitled to payment (whether in Shares, cash or otherwise) with respect
to the Restricted Stock Award only to the extent earned as of the date of
Termination in accordance with the Restricted Stock Purchase Agreement, unless
the Committee will determine otherwise.
7. STOCK BONUSES.
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7.1 Awards of Stock Bonuses. A Stock Bonus is an award of
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Shares (which may consist of Restricted Stock) for services rendered to the
Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company. A Stock Bonus may be awarded
for past services already rendered to the Company, or any Parent or Subsidiary
of the Company pursuant to an Award Agreement (the "Stock Bonus Agreement") that
will be in such form (which need not be the same for each Participant) as the
Committee will from time to time approve, and will comply with and be subject to
the terms and conditions of this Plan. A Stock Bonus may be awarded upon
satisfaction of such performance goals as are set out in advance in the
Participant's individual Award Agreement (the "Performance Stock Bonus
Agreement") that will be in such form (which need not be the same for each
Participant) as the Committee will from time to time approve, and will comply
with and be subject to the terms and conditions of this Plan. Stock Bonuses may
vary from Participant to Participant and between groups of Participants, and may
be based upon the achievement of the Company, Parent or Subsidiary and/or
individual performance factors or upon such other criteria as the Committee may
determine.
7.2 Terms of Stock Bonuses. The Committee will determine the
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number of Shares to be awarded to the Participant. If the Stock Bonus is being
earned upon the satisfaction of performance goals pursuant to a Performance
Stock Bonus Agreement, then the Committee will: (a) determine the nature, length
and starting date of any Performance Period for each Stock Bonus; (b) select
from among the Performance Factors to be used to measure the performance, if
any; and (c) determine the number of Shares that may be awarded to the
Participant. Prior to the payment of any Stock Bonus, the Committee shall
determine the extent to which such Stock Bonuses have been earned. Performance
Periods may overlap and Participants may participate simultaneously with respect
to Stock Bonuses that are subject to different Performance Periods and different
performance goals and other criteria. The number of Shares may be fixed or may
vary in accordance with such performance goals and criteria as may be determined
by the Committee. The Committee may adjust the performance goals applicable to
the Stock Bonuses to take into account changes in law and accounting or tax
rules and to make such adjustments as
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the Committee deems necessary or appropriate to reflect the impact of
extraordinary or unusual items, events or circumstances to avoid windfalls or
hardships.
7.3 Form of Payment. The earned portion of a Stock Bonus may
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be paid currently or on a deferred basis with such interest or dividend
equivalent, if any, as the Committee may determine. Payment may be made in the
form of cash or whole Shares or a combination thereof, either in a lump sum
payment or in installments, all as the Committee will determine.
8. PAYMENT FOR SHARE PURCHASES.
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8.1 Payment. Payment for Shares purchased pursuant to this Plan
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may be made in cash (by check) or, where expressly approved for the Participant
by the Committee and where permitted by law:
(a) by cancellation of indebtedness of the Company to the
Participant;
(b) by surrender of shares that either: (1) have been owned by
Participant for more than six (6) months and have been paid
for within the meaning of SEC Rule 144 (and, if such shares
were purchased from the Company by use of a promissory
note, such note has been fully paid with respect to such
shares); or (2) were obtained by Participant in the public
market;
(c) by tender of a full recourse promissory note having such
terms as may be approved by the Committee and bearing
interest at a rate sufficient to avoid imputation of income
under Sections 483 and 1274 of the Code; provided, however,
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that Participants who are not employees or directors of the
Company will not be entitled to purchase Shares with a
promissory note unless the note is adequately secured by
collateral other than the Shares;
(d) by waiver of compensation due or accrued to the Participant
for services rendered;
(e) with respect only to purchases upon exercise of an Option,
and provided that a public market for the Company's stock
exists:
(1) through a "same day sale" commitment from the
Participant and a broker-dealer that is a member of
the National Association of Securities Dealers (an
"NASD Dealer") whereby the Participant irrevocably
elects to exercise the Option and to sell a portion
of the Shares so purchased to pay for the Exercise
Price, and whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably
commits upon receipt of such Shares to forward the
Exercise Price directly to the Company; or
(2) through a "margin" commitment from the Participant
and a NASD Dealer whereby the Participant
irrevocably elects to exercise the Option and to
pledge the Shares so purchased to the NASD Dealer in
a margin account as security for a loan from the
NASD Dealer in the amount of the Exercise Price, and
whereby the NASD Dealer irrevocably commits upon
receipt of such Shares to forward the Exercise Price
directly to the Company; or
(f) by any combination of the foregoing.
8.2 Loan Guarantees. The Committee may help the
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Participant pay for Shares purchased under this Plan by authorizing a guarantee
by the Company of a third-party loan to the Participant.
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9. WITHHOLDING TAXES.
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9.1 Withholding Generally. Whenever Shares are to be
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issued in satisfaction of Awards granted under this Plan, the Company may
require the Participant to remit to the Company an amount sufficient to satisfy
federal, state and local withholding tax requirements prior to the delivery of
any certificate or certificates for such Shares. Whenever, under this Plan,
payments in satisfaction of Awards are to be made in cash, such payment will be
net of an amount sufficient to satisfy federal, state, and local withholding tax
requirements.
9.2 Stock Withholding. When, under applicable tax laws,
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a Participant incurs tax liability in connection with the exercise or vesting of
any Award that is subject to tax withholding and the Participant is obligated to
pay the Company the amount required to be withheld, the Committee may in its
sole discretion allow the Participant to satisfy the minimum withholding tax
obligation by electing to have the Company withhold from the Shares to be issued
that number of Shares having a Fair Market Value equal to the minimum amount
required to be withheld, determined on the date that the amount of tax to be
withheld is to be determined. All elections by a Participant to have Shares
withheld for this purpose will be made in accordance with the requirements
established by the Committee and be in writing in a form acceptable to the
Committee
10. PRIVILEGES OF STOCK OWNERSHIP.
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10.1 Voting and Dividends. No Participant will have any
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of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any Shares until the Shares are
issued to the Participant. After Shares are issued to the Participant, the
Participant will be a stockholder and have all the rights of a stockholder with
respect to such Shares, including the right to vote and receive all dividends or
other distributions made or paid with respect to such Shares; provided, that if
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such Shares are Restricted Stock, then any new, additional or different
securities the Participant may become entitled to receive with respect to such
Shares by virtue of a stock dividend, stock split or any other change in the
corporate or capital structure of the Company will be subject to the same
restrictions as the Restricted Stock; provided, further, that the Participant
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will have no right to retain such stock dividends or stock distributions with
respect to Shares that are repurchased at the Participant's Purchase Price or
Exercise Price pursuant to Section 12.
10.2 Financial Statements. The Company will provide
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financial statements to each Participant prior to such Participant's purchase of
Shares under this Plan, and to each Participant annually during the period such
Participant has Awards outstanding; provided, however, the Company will not be
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required to provide such financial statements to Participants whose services in
connection with the Company assure them access to equivalent information.
11. TRANSFERABILITY. Awards granted under this Plan, and any
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interest therein, will not be transferable or assignable by Participant, and may
not be made subject to execution, attachment or similar process, otherwise than
by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or as determined by the
Committee and set forth in the Award Agreement with respect to Awards that are
not ISOs. During the lifetime of the Participant an Award will be exercisable
only by the Participant, and any elections with respect to an Award may be made
only by the Participant unless otherwise determined by the Committee and set
forth in the Award Agreement with respect to Awards that are not ISOs.
12. RESTRICTIONS ON SHARES. At the discretion of the Committee,
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the Company may reserve to itself and/or its assignee(s) in the Award Agreement
a right to repurchase a portion of or all Unvested Shares held by a Participant
following such Participant's Termination at any time within ninety (90) days
after the later of Participant's Termination Date and the date Participant
purchases Shares under this Plan, for cash and/or cancellation of purchase money
indebtedness, at the Participant's Exercise Price or Purchase Price, as the case
may be.
13. CERTIFICATES. All certificates for Shares or other
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securities delivered under this Plan will be subject to such stock transfer
orders, legends and other restrictions as the Committee may deem necessary or
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advisable, including restrictions under any applicable federal, state or foreign
securities law, or any rules, regulations and other requirements of the SEC or
any stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Shares may be
listed or quoted.
14. ESCROW; PLEDGE OF SHARES. To enforce any restrictions on a
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Participant's Shares, the Committee may require the Participant to deposit all
certificates representing Shares, together with stock powers or other
instruments of transfer approved by the Committee, appropriately endorsed in
blank, with the Company or an agent designated by the Company to hold in escrow
until such restrictions have lapsed or terminated, and the Committee may cause a
legend or legends referencing such restrictions to be placed on the
certificates. Any Participant who is permitted to execute a promissory note as
partial or full consideration for the purchase of Shares under this Plan will be
required to pledge and deposit with the Company all or part of the Shares so
purchased as collateral to secure the payment of Participant's obligation to the
Company under the promissory note; provided, however, that the Committee may
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require or accept other or additional forms of collateral to secure the payment
of such obligation and, in any event, the Company will have full recourse
against the Participant under the promissory note notwithstanding any pledge of
the Participant's Shares or other collateral. In connection with any pledge of
the Shares, Participant will be required to execute and deliver a written pledge
agreement in such form as the Committee will from time to time approve. The
Shares purchased with the promissory note may be released from the pledge on a
pro rata basis as the promissory note is paid.
15. EXCHANGE AND BUYOUT OF AWARDS. The Committee may, at any
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time or from time to time, authorize the Company, with the consent of the
respective Participants, to issue new Awards in exchange for the surrender and
cancellation of any or all outstanding Awards. The Committee may at any time buy
from a Participant an Award previously granted with payment in cash, Shares
(including Restricted Stock) or other consideration, based on such terms and
conditions as the Committee and the Participant may agree.
16. SECURITIES LAW AND OTHER REGULATORY COMPLIANCE. An Award
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will not be effective unless such Award is in compliance with all applicable
federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations of any governmental
body, and the requirements of any stock exchange or automated quotation system
upon which the Shares may then be listed or quoted, as they are in effect on the
date of grant of the Award and also on the date of exercise or other issuance.
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Plan, the Company will have no
obligation to issue or deliver certificates for Shares under this Plan prior to:
(a) obtaining any approvals from governmental agencies that the Company
determines are necessary or advisable; and/or (b) completion of any registration
or other qualification of such Shares under any state or federal law or ruling
of any governmental body that the Company determines to be necessary or
advisable. The Company will be under no obligation to register the Shares with
the SEC or to effect compliance with the registration, qualification or listing
requirements of any state securities laws, stock exchange or automated quotation
system, and the Company will have no liability for any inability or failure to
do so.
17. NO OBLIGATION TO EMPLOY. Nothing in this Plan or any Award
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granted under this Plan will confer or be deemed to confer on any Participant
any right to continue in the employ of, or to continue any other relationship
with, the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company or limit in any way
the right of the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company to terminate
Participant's employment or other relationship at any time, with or without
cause.
18. CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.
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18.1 Assumption or Replacement of Awards by Successor.
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In the event of (a) a dissolution or liquidation of the Company, (b) a merger or
consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other than
a merger or consolidation with a wholly-owned subsidiary, a reincorporation of
the Company in a different jurisdiction, or other transaction in which there is
no substantial change in the stockholders of the Company or their relative stock
holdings and the Awards granted under this Plan are assumed, converted or
replaced by the successor corporation, which assumption will be binding on all
Participants), (c) a merger in which the Company is the surviving corporation
but after which the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to
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such merger (other than any stockholder that merges, or which owns or controls
another corporation that merges, with the Company in such merger) cease to own
their shares or other equity interest in the Company, (d) the sale of
substantially all of the assets of the Company, or (e) the acquisition, sale, or
transfer of more than 50% of the outstanding shares of the Company by tender
offer or similar transaction, any or all outstanding Awards may be assumed,
converted or replaced by the successor corporation (if any), which assumption,
conversion or replacement will be binding on all Participants. In the
alternative, the successor corporation may substitute equivalent Awards or
provide substantially similar consideration to Participants as was provided to
stockholders (after taking into account the existing provisions of the Awards).
The successor corporation may also issue, in place of outstanding Shares of the
Company held by the Participant, substantially similar shares or other property
subject to repurchase restrictions no less favorable to the Participant. In the
event such successor corporation (if any) refuses to assume or substitute
Awards, as provided above, pursuant to a transaction described in this
Subsection 18.1, such Awards will expire on such transaction at such time and on
such conditions as the Committee will determine. Notwithstanding anything in
this Plan to the contrary, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, provide
that the vesting of any or all Awards granted pursuant to this Plan will
accelerate upon a transaction described in this Section 18. If the Committee
exercises such discretion with respect to Options, such Options will become
exercisable in full prior to the consummation of such event at such time and on
such conditions as the Committee determines, and if such Options are not
exercised prior to the consummation of the corporate transaction, they shall
terminate at such time as determined by the Committee.
18.2 Other Treatment of Awards. Subject to any greater
-------------------------
rights granted to Participants under the foregoing provisions of this Section
18, in the event of the occurrence of any transaction described in Section 18.1,
any outstanding Awards will be treated as provided in the applicable agreement
or plan of merger, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, or sale of assets.
18.3 Assumption of Awards by the Company. The Company,
-----------------------------------
from time to time, also may substitute or assume outstanding awards granted by
another company, whether in connection with an acquisition of such other company
or otherwise, by either; (a) granting an Award under this Plan in substitution
of such other company's award; or (b) assuming such award as if it had been
granted under this Plan if the terms of such assumed award could be applied to
an Award granted under this Plan. Such substitution or assumption will be
permissible if the holder of the substituted or assumed award would have been
eligible to be granted an Award under this Plan if the other company had applied
the rules of this Plan to such grant. In the event the Company assumes an award
granted by another company, the terms and conditions of such award will remain
unchanged (except that the exercise price and the number and nature of Shares
issuable upon exercise of any such option will be adjusted appropriately
pursuant to Section 424(a) of the Code). In the event the Company elects to
grant a new Option rather than assuming an existing option, such new Option may
be granted with a similarly adjusted Exercise Price.
19. ADOPTION AND STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL. This Plan will become
---------------------------------
effective on the date on which the registration statement filed by the Company
with the SEC under the Securities Act registering the initial public offering of
the Company's Common Stock is declared effective by the SEC (the "Effective
Date"). This Plan shall be approved by the stockholders of the Company
(excluding Shares issued pursuant to this Plan), consistent with applicable
laws, within twelve (12) months before or after the date this Plan is adopted by
the Board. Upon the Effective Date, the Committee may grant Awards pursuant to
this Plan; provided, however, that: (a) no Option may be exercised prior to
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initial stockholder approval of this Plan; (b) no Option granted pursuant to an
increase in the number of Shares subject to this Plan approved by the Board will
be exercised prior to the time such increase has been approved by the
stockholders of the Company; (c) in the event that initial stockholder approval
is not obtained within the time period provided herein, all Awards granted
hereunder shall be cancelled, any Shares issued pursuant to any Awards shall be
cancelled and any purchase of Shares issued hereunder shall be rescinded; and
(d) in the event that stockholder approval of such increase is not obtained
within the time period provided herein, all Awards granted pursuant to such
increase will be cancelled, any Shares issued pursuant to any Award granted
pursuant to such increase will be cancelled, and any purchase of Shares pursuant
to such increase will be rescinded.
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Autoweb.com, Inc
1999 Equity Incentive Plan
20. TERM OF PLAN/GOVERNING LAW. Unless earlier terminated as
--------------------------
provided herein, this Plan will terminate ten (10) years from the date this Plan
is adopted by the Board or, if earlier, the date of stockholder approval. This
Plan and all agreements thereunder shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of California.
21. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION OF PLAN. The Board may at any time
--------------------------------
terminate or amend this Plan in any respect, including without limitation
amendment of any form of Award Agreement or instrument to be executed pursuant
to this Plan; provided, however, that the Board will not, without the approval
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of the stockholders of the Company, amend this Plan in any manner that requires
such stockholder approval.
22. NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN. Neither the adoption of this
--------------------------
Plan by the Board, the submission of this Plan to the stockholders of the
Company for approval, nor any provision of this Plan will be construed as
creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt such additional
compensation arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without
limitation, the granting of stock options and bonuses otherwise than under this
Plan, and such arrangements may be either generally applicable or applicable
only in specific cases.
23. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Plan, the following terms will
-----------
have the following meanings:
"Award" means any award under this Plan, including any
Option, Restricted Stock or Stock Bonus.
"Award Agreement" means, with respect to each Award, the
signed written agreement between the Company and the Participant setting forth
the terms and conditions of the Award.
"Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
"Cause" means the commission of an act of theft,
embezzlement, fraud, dishonesty or a breach of fiduciary duty to the Company or
a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Board.
"Company" means Autoweb.com, Inc. or any successor
corporation.
"Disability" means a disability, whether temporary or
permanent, partial or total, as determined by the Committee. For ISO purposes,
"Disability" means a disability within the meaning of Code Section 22(e)(3).
"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
"Exercise Price" means the price at which a holder of an
Option may purchase the Shares issuable upon exercise of the Option.
"Fair Market Value" means, as of any date, the value of a
share of the Company's Common Stock determined as follows:
(a) if such Common Stock is then quoted on the Nasdaq National
Market, its closing price on the Nasdaq National Market on
the date of determination as reported in The Wall Street
---------------
Journal;
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<PAGE>
Autoweb.com, Inc
1999 Equity Incentive Plan
(b) if such Common Stock is publicly traded and is then listed
on a national securities exchange, its closing price on the
date of determination on the principal national securities
exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to
trading as reported in The Wall Street Journal;
-----------------------
(c) if such Common Stock is publicly traded but is not quoted
on the Nasdaq National Market nor listed or admitted to
trading on a national securities exchange, the average of
the closing bid and asked prices on the date of
determination as reported in The Wall Street Journal;
-----------------------
(d) in the case of an Award made on the Effective Date, the
price per share at which shares of the Company's Common
Stock are initially offered for sale to the public by the
Company's underwriters in the initial public offering of
the Company's Common Stock pursuant to a registration
statement filed with the SEC under the Securities Act; or
(d) if none of the foregoing is applicable, by the Committee in
good faith.
"Insider" means an officer or director of the Company or
any other person whose transactions in the Company's Common Stock are subject to
Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
"Option" means an award of an option to purchase Shares
pursuant to Section 5.
"Parent" means any corporation (other than the Company) in
an unbroken chain of corporations ending with the Company if each of such
corporations other than the Company owns stock possessing 50% or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock in one of the other
corporations in such chain.
"Participant" means a person who receives an Award under
this Plan.
"Performance Factors" means the factors selected by the
Committee from among the following measures to determine whether the performance
goals established by the Committee and applicable to Awards have been satisfied:
(a) Net revenue and/or net revenue growth;
(b) Earnings before income taxes and amortization and/or
earnings before income taxes and amortization
growth;
(c) Operating income and/or operating income growth;
(d) Net income and/or net income growth;
(e) Earnings per share and/or earnings per share growth;
(f) Total stockholder return and/or total stockholder
return growth;
(g) Return on equity;
(h) Operating cash flow return on income;
(i) Adjusted operating cash flow return on income;
(j) Economic value added; and
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Autoweb.com, Inc
1999 Equity Incentive Plan
(k) Individual confidential business objectives.
"Performance Period" means the period of service determined
by the Committee, not to exceed five years, during which years of service or
performance is to be measured for Restricted Stock Awards or Stock Bonuses.
"Plan" means this Autoweb.com, Inc. 1999 Equity Incentive
Plan, as amended from time to time.
"Restricted Stock Award" means an award of Shares pursuant
to Section 6.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
"Shares" means shares of the Company's Common Stock
reserved for issuance under this Plan, as adjusted pursuant to Sections 2 and
18, and any successor security.
"Stock Bonus" means an award of Shares, or cash in lieu of
Shares, pursuant to Section 7.
"Subsidiary" means any corporation (other than the Company)
in an unbroken chain of corporations beginning with the Company if each of the
corporations other than the last corporation in the unbroken chain owns stock
possessing 50% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock in one of the other corporations in such chain.
"Termination" or "Terminated" means, for purposes of this
Plan with respect to a Participant, that the Participant has for any reason
ceased to provide services as an employee, officer, director, consultant,
independent contractor, or advisor to the Company or a Parent or Subsidiary of
the Company. An employee will not be deemed to have ceased to provide services
in the case of (i) sick leave, (ii) military leave, or (iii) any other leave of
absence approved by the Committee, provided, that such leave is for a period of
not more than 90 days, unless reemployment upon the expiration of such leave is
guaranteed by contract or statute or unless provided otherwise pursuant to
formal policy adopted from time to time by the Company and issued and
promulgated to employees in writing. In the case of any employee on an approved
leave of absence, the Committee may make such provisions respecting suspension
of vesting of the Award while on leave from the employ of the Company or a
Subsidiary as it may deem appropriate, except that in no event may an Option be
exercised after the expiration of the term set forth in the Option agreement.
The Committee will have sole discretion to determine whether a Participant has
ceased to provide services and the effective date on which the Participant
ceased to provide services (the "Termination Date").
"Unvested Shares" means "Unvested Shares" as defined in the
Award Agreement.
"Vested Shares" means "Vested Shares" as defined in the
Award Agreement.
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