SYNERGY TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
1999 DIRECTORS AND ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
STOCK OPTION AND STOCK AWARD PLAN
- Definitions.
Each of the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below for purposes of this Plan, whether employed in the singular or plural unless the
particular context in which said term is used clearly indicates otherwise:
- "Option" shall mean the right to purchase a specified number shares of the Common Stock pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in this
Plan.
- "Optionee" shall mean the recipient of Options hereunder.
- "Effective Date" shall mean as of September 30, 1999.
- "Plan Termination Date" shall mean the date upon which the Plan terminates.
- Purpose.
The purpose of the Synergy Technologies Corporation 1999 Directors and Advisory Board Members Stock Option and Stock Award Plan (this "Plan") is to
maintain the ability of Synergy Technologies Corporation (the "Company") and its subsidiaries to attract and retain highly qualified and experienced directors
and advisory board members and to give such directors and advisory board members a continued proprietary interest in the success of the Company and its
subsidiaries. Pursuant to this Plan, eligible directors and advisory board members will be provided the opportunity to participate in the enhancement of
shareholder value through the grants of options, stock appreciation rights, awards of stock and restricted stock, or any combination thereof. Directors and
advisory board members who participate or become eligible to participate in this Plan from time to time are referred to collectively herein as "Participants".
The term "subsidiary" as used in this Plan shall mean any present or future corporation which is or would be a "subsidiary corporation" of the Company as the
term is defined in Section 424(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the "Code").
- Administrator of this Plan.
- Subject to the provisions of Section 5, this Plan shall be administered by the Board or by a Administrator of the Board (in either case, hereinafter
referred to as the "Administrator"). The Administrator, if so appointed, may adopt such rules and regulations as he or she shall deem appropriate
concerning this Plan and the Options, and make all other determinations necessary or advisable for administering this Plan, including, but not
limited to, the persons to whom, and the time or times at which, grants shall be made, the number of Options to be included in the grants, the
length of time the Options are exercisable, the number of Options which shall be treated as incentive stock options, the Option exercise price,
and any vesting schedule with respect to the Options. All determinations and interpretations by the Administrator shall be binding and
conclusive upon all parties.
- Each grant or award made pursuant to this Plan shall be evidenced by an Option Agreement or Award Agreement (the "Agreement"). No person
shall have any rights under any option, restricted stock or other award granted under this Plan unless and until the person to whom such option,
restricted stock or other award shall be granted shall have executed and delivered an Agreement to the Company. The Administrator shall
prescribe the form of all Agreements. A fully executed counterpart of the Agreement shall be provided to both the Company and the recipient of
the grant or award.
- The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless the Directors and the Administrator from and against any and all liabilities, costs and expenses
incurred by such persons as a result of any act, or omission to act, in connection with the performance of such persons' duties, responsibilities,
and obligations under this Plan, other than such liabilities, costs and expenses as may result from the gross negligence, bad faith, willful
misconduct, and/or criminal acts of such persons.
- Shares of Stock Subject to this Plan.
The maximum number of shares of the voting common stock of the Company, par value $0.002 per share (the "Common Stock"), that may be optioned or
awarded under this Plan is 1,100,000 shares, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 13 hereof. No Participant shall receive, over the term of this Plan,
awards of restricted stock, awards in the form of stock appreciation rights or options, whether incentive stock options or options other than incentive stock
options, to purchase more than 20 percent of the total shares of Common Stock authorized for issuance under this Plan. Any shares subject to an Option which
for any reason expires or is terminated unexercised and any restricted stock which is forfeited may again be optioned or awarded under this Plan; provided,
however, that forfeited shares shall not be available for further awards if the Participant has realized the benefits of ownership from such shares. Shares subject
to this Plan may be either authorized and unissued shares or issued shares repurchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or its subsidiaries.
- Grant of Options.
- The Administrator shall have the authority and responsibility, within the limitations of this Plan, to determine the directors and advisory board
members to whom and the times at which Options are to be granted, the number of shares of Common Stock which may be purchased under
each Option, the provisions of the respective Option Agreements (which need not be identical) including provisions concerning the time or times
when, and the extent to which, the Options may be exercised, and the Option exercise price. All Options pursuant to this Plan shall be granted
on or before the Plan Termination Date.
- In determining the directors and advisory board members to whom Options shall be granted, the number of shares of Common Stock to be
covered by each such Option, and the provisions of the respective Option agreements, the Administrator shall take into consideration the
director's or advisory board member's present and potential contribution to the success of the Company and such other factors as the
Administrator may deem proper and relevant.
- The aggregate fair market value (determined as of the date upon which an Option is granted) of the Common Stock for which any Optionee may
exercise incentive stock options for the first time in any calendar year (under all plans of the Company and any parent or subsidiary of the
Company which plans provide for granting of incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422(b) of the Code) shall not exceed
$100,000.
- Eligibility.
Directors and advisory board members are eligible to be granted options, restricted stock and other awards under this Plan and to have their bonuses payable in
restricted stock. The directors and advisory board members who shall receive awards or options under this Plan, and the criteria to be used in determining the
award to be made, shall be determined from time to time by the Administrator, in its sole discretion, from among those eligible, which may be based upon
information furnished to the Administrator by the Company's management; and the Administrator shall determine, in its sole discretion, the number of shares to
be covered by each award and option granted to each director or advisory board member selected.
- Duration of this Plan.
No award or option may be granted under this Plan after more than ten years from the earlier of the date this Plan is adopted by the Board or the date this Plan is
approved by the shareholders of the Company.
- Terms and Conditions of Stock Options.
Options granted under this Plan may be either incentive stock options, as defined in Section 422 of the Code, or options other than incentive stock options. Each
option shall be subject to all the applicable provisions of this Plan, including the following terms and conditions, and to such other terms and conditions not
inconsistent therewith as the Administrator shall determine:
- The option price per share is $1.00, which has been approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the Company's common
stock on September 24, 1999.
- The exercise of certain options granted under this plan shall be subject to the attainment of such performance goals, and/or during such period
ending not later than ten years from the date it was granted, as may be determined by the Administrator and stated in the Agreement. In no event
may an option be exercised more than 10 years from the date the option was granted.
- An Option shall not be exercisable with respect to a fractional share of Common Stock or with respect to the lesser of fifty (50) shares or the full
number of shares then subject to the Option. No fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued upon the exercise of an Option. If a
fractional share of Common Stock shall become subject to an Option by reason of a stock dividend or otherwise, the Optionee shall not be
entitled to exercise the Option with respect to such fractional share.
- Each Option shall state whether it will or will not be treated as an incentive stock option.
- Each Option will be deemed exercised on the day written notice specifying the number of shares to be purchased, accompanied by payment in
full including, if required by law, applicable taxes, is received by the Company. Payment, except as provided in the Agreement shall be:
- in United States dollars by check or bank draft, or
- by tendering to the Company shares of Common Stock already owned for at least six months by the person exercising the Option, which
may include shares received as the result of a prior exercise of an Option, and having a fair market value, on the date on which the Option
is exercised equal to the cash exercise price applicable to such Option, or
- by a combination of United States dollars and shares of Common Stock valued as aforesaid.
For purposes of this Plan, fair market value shall be the mean between the highest and lowest prices at which the Common Stock is traded on a national
securities exchange or an automated securities quotation exchange on the relevant date, provided however, if there is no sale of the Common Stock on such
exchange on such date, fair market value shall be the mean between the bid and asked prices on such exchange at the close of the market on such date. No
Optionee shall have any rights to dividends or other right of a shareholder with respect to shares of Common Stock subject to his or her Option until he or she
has given written notice of exercise of such Option and paid in full for such shares.
- Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrator may, in its sole discretion, include in the grant of an Option the right of a grantee (hereinafter
referred to as a "stock appreciation right") to elect, in the manner described below, in lieu of exercising his or her option for all or a portion of the
shares of Common Stock covered by such Option, to relinquish his or her Option with respect to any or all of such shares and to receive from the
Company a payment equal in value to (x) the fair market value, as determined in accordance with Section 8(e), of a share of Common Stock on
the date of such election, multiplied by the number of shares as to which the grantee shall have made such election, less (y) the exercise price for
that number of shares of Common Stock for which the grantee shall have made such election under the terms of such Option. A stock
appreciation right shall be exercisable at the time the tandem Option is exercisable, and the "expiration date" for the stock appreciation right
shall be the expiration date for the tandem Option. A grantee who makes such an election shall receive payment in the nearest whole number of
shares of Common Stock having an aggregate fair market value, as determined in accordance with Section 8(e) as of the date of election, which
is not greater than the cash amount calculated in (ii) above. A stock appreciation right may be exercised only when the amount described in (x)
above exceeds the amount described in (y) above. An election to exercise stock appreciation rights shall be deemed to have been made on the
day written notice of such election, addressed to the Administrator, is received by the Company. An Option or any portion thereof with respect
to which a grantee has elected to exercise a stock appreciation right shall be surrendered to the Company and such Option shall thereafter remain
exercisable according to its terms only with respect to the number of shares as to which it would otherwise be exercisable, less the number of
shares with respect to which stock appreciation rights have been exercised. The grant of a stock appreciation right shall be evidenced by an
Agreement. The Agreement evidencing stock appreciation rights shall be personal and will provide that the stock appreciation rights will not be
transferable by the grantee otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution and that they will be exercisable, during the lifetime of
the grantee, only by him or her.
- Except as provided in the applicable Agreement, an option may be exercised only if at all times during the period beginning with the date of the
granting of the Option and ending on the date of such exercise, the grantee was a director or advisory board member of either the Company (or of
a division) or subsidiary of the Company or of another corporation referred to in Section 421(a)(2) of the Code. The Agreement shall provide
whether, and to what extent, an option may be exercised after termination of continuous employment, but any such exercise shall in no event be
later than the termination date of the Option. If the grantee should die, or become permanently disabled as determined by the Administrator at
any time when the Option, or any portion thereof, shall be exercisable, the Option will be exercisable within a period provided for in the
Agreement, by the Optionee or person or persons to whom his or her rights under the Option shall have passed by will or by the laws of descent
and distribution, but in no event at a date later than the termination of the Option. The Administrator may require medical evidence of permanent
disability, including medical examinations by physicians selected by it.
- Each Option by its terms shall be personal and shall not be transferable by the Optionee otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution as provided in Section 8(g) above. During the lifetime of an Optionee, the Option shall be exercisable only by the Optionee. In the
event any option is exercised by the executors, administrators, heirs or distributees of the estate of a deceased Optionee as provided in Section
8(g) above, the Company shall be under no obligation to issue Common Stock thereunder unless and until the Company is satisfied that the
person or persons exercising the Option are the duly appointed legal representatives of the deceased Optionee's estate or the proper legatees or
distributees thereof.
- No incentive stock option shall be granted to an director or advisory board member who owns or would be treated as owning by attribution
under Code Section 424(d) immediately before the grant of such Option, directly or indirectly, stock possessing more than 10% of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company. This restriction shall not apply if, (i) at the time such incentive stock option is
granted, the option price is at least 110% of the fair market value of the shares of Common Stock subject to the Option, as determined in
accordance with Section 8(a) on the date of grant, and (ii) the incentive stock option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five
years from the date of its grant.
- An option and any Common Stock received upon the exercise of an option shall be subject to such other transfer restriction and/or legending
requirements as are specified in the applicable Agreement.
- Terms and Conditions of Restricted Stock Awards.
Awards of restricted stock under this Plan shall be subject to all the applicable provisions of this Plan, including the following terms and conditions, and to such
other terms and conditions not inconsistent therewith, as the Administrator shall determine:
- Awards of restricted stock may be in addition to or in lieu of Option grants.
- Awards may be conditioned on the attainment of particular performance goals based on criteria established by the Administrator at the time of
each award of restricted stock. During a period set forth in the Agreement (the "Restriction Period"), the recipient shall not be permitted to sell,
transfer, pledge, or otherwise encumber the shares of restricted stock; except that such shares may be used, if the Agreement permits, to pay the
option price pursuant to any Option granted under this Plan, provided an equal number of shares delivered to the Optionee shall carry the same
restrictions as the shares so used.
- Shares of restricted stock shall become free of all restrictions if during the Restriction Period, (i) the recipient dies, (ii) the recipient's
directorship, employment, or consultancy terminates by reason of permanent disability, as determined by the Administrator, (iii) the recipient
retires after attaining both 59 1/2 years of age and five years of continuous service with the Company and/or a division or subsidiary, or (iv) if
provided in the Agreement, there is a "change in control" of the Company (as defined in such Agreement). The Administrator may require
medical evidence of permanent disability, including medical examinations by physicians selected by it.
- Unless and to the extent otherwise provided in the Agreement, shares of restricted stock shall be forfeited and revert to the Company upon the
recipient's termination of directorship, employment or consultancy during the Restriction Period for any reason other than death, permanent
disability, as determined by the Administrator, retirement after attaining both 59 1/2 years of age and five years of continuous service with the
Company and/or a subsidiary or division, or, to the extent provided in the Agreement, a "change in control" of the Company (as defined in such
Agreement), except to the extent the Administrator, in its sole discretion, finds that such forfeiture might not be in the best interests of the
Company and, therefore, waives all or part of the application of this provision to the restricted stock held by such recipient.
- Stock certificates for restricted stock shall be registered in the name of the recipient but shall be appropriately legended and returned to the
Company by the recipient, together with a stock power endorsed in blank by the recipient. The recipient shall be entitled to vote shares of
restricted stock and shall be entitled to all dividends paid thereon, except that dividends paid in Common Stock or other property shall also be
subject to the same restrictions.
- Restricted stock shall become free of the foregoing restrictions upon expiration of the applicable Restriction Period and the Company shall then
deliver to the recipient Common Stock certificates evidencing such stock.
- Restricted Stock and any Common Stock received upon the expiration of the restriction period shall be subject to such other transfer restrictions
and/or legending requirements as are specified in the applicable Agreement.
- Change in Control.
Each Agreement may, in the sole discretion of the Administrator, provide that any or all of the following actions may be taken upon the occurrence of a change
in control (as defined in the Agreement) with respect to the Company:
- acceleration of time periods for purposes of vesting in, or realizing gain from, or exercise of any outstanding option or stock appreciation right or
shares of restricted stock awarded pursuant to this Plan;
- offering to purchase any outstanding option or stock appreciation right or shares of restricted stock made pursuant to this Plan from the holder
for its equivalent cash value, as determined by the Administrator, as of the date of the change in control; or
- making adjustments or modifications to outstanding options or stock appreciation rights or with respect to restricted stock as the Administrator
deems appropriate to maintain and protect the rights and interests of the Participants following such change in control, provided, however, that
the exercise period of any Option may not be extended beyond 10 years from the date of grant.
- Rights of Directors and Advisory Board Members.
- No person shall have any rights or claims under this Plan except in accordance with the provisions of this Plan and each Agreement.
- Nothing contained in this Plan and Agreement shall be deemed to give any Recipient the right to a continued or perpetual directorship on the
Board of Directors of the Company or its advisory board or its divisions or subsidiaries.
- Withholding Taxes.
The Company shall require a payment from a Participant to cover applicable withholding for income and employment taxes upon the happening of any event
pursuant to this Plan which requires such withholding. The Company reserves the right to offset such tax payment from any funds which may be due the
Participant from the Company or its subsidiaries or divisions or, in its discretion, to the extent permitted by applicable law, to accept such tax payment through
the delivery of shares of Common Stock owned by the Participant or by utilizing shares of the Common Stock which were to be delivered to the Participant
pursuant to this Plan, having an aggregate fair market value, determined as of the date of payment, equal to the amount of the payment due.
- Adjustments.
In the event of stock dividends, stock splits, recapitalizations, mergers, consolidations, combinations, exchanges of shares, spin-offs, liquidations,
reclassifications or other similar changes in the capitalization of the Company, the number of shares of Common Stock available for grant under this Plan shall
be adjusted appropriately by the Board, and, where deemed appropriate, the number of shares covered by outstanding stock options and stock appreciation
rights outstanding and the number of shares of restricted stock outstanding, and the option price of outstanding stock options, shall be similarly adjusted. If
another corporation or other business entity is acquired by the Company, and the Company has assumed outstanding employee option grants under a prior
existing plan of the acquired entity, similar adjustments are permitted at the discretion of the Administrator. In the event of any other change affecting the shares
of Common Stock available for awards under this Plan, such adjustment, if any, as may be deemed equitable by the Administrator, shall be made to preserve the
intended benefits of this Plan giving proper effect to such event.
- Miscellaneous Provisions.
- This Plan shall be unfunded. The Company shall not be required to establish any special or separate fund or to make any other segregation of
assets to assure the issuance of shares or the payment of cash upon exercise of any option or stock appreciation right under this Plan. The
expenses of this Plan shall be borne by the Company.
- The Administrator may, at any time and from time to time after the granting of an option or the award of restricted stock or bonuses payable in
Common Stock hereunder, specify such additional terms, conditions and restrictions with respect to such option or stock as may be deemed
necessary or appropriate to ensure compliance with any and all applicable laws, including, but not limited to, the Code, federal and state
securities laws and methods of withholding or providing for the payment of required taxes.
- If at any time the Administrator shall determine in its discretion that the listing, registration or qualification of shares of Common Stock upon
any national securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, is necessary
or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the sale or purchase of shares of Common Stock hereunder, no option or stock appreciation
right may be exercised or restricted stock or stock bonus may be transferred in whole or in part unless and until such listing registration,
qualification, consent or approval shall have been effected or obtained, or otherwise provided for, free of any conditions not acceptable to the
Administrator.
- By accepting any benefit under this Plan, each Participant and each person claiming under or through such Participant shall be conclusively
deemed to have indicated his acceptance and ratification, and consent to, any action taken under this Plan by the Administrator, the Company or
the Board.
- This Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado.
- Administrator members exercising their functions under this Plan are serving as directors of the Company and they shall therefore be entitled to
all rights of indemnification and advancement of expenses accorded directors of the Company.
- Limits of Liability.
- Any liability of the Company or a subsidiary of the Company to any Participant with respect to any option or award shall be based solely upon
contractual obligations created by this Plan and Agreement.
- Neither the Company nor a division or subsidiary of the Company, nor any member of the Administrator or the Board, nor any other person
participating in any determination of any question under this Plan, or in the interpretation, administration or application of this Plan, shall have
any liability to any party for any action taken or not taken in connection with this Plan, except as may expressly be provided by statute.
- Amendments and Termination.
The Board may, at any time, amend, alter or discontinue this Plan; provided, however, no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made which would
impair the rights of any holder of an award of restricted stock, option, stock appreciation rights or stock bonus theretofore granted, without his or her written
consent, or which, without the approval of the shareholders would:
- except as provided in Section 13, increase the maximum number of shares of Common Stock which may be issued under this Plan;
- except as provided in Section 13, decrease the option price of an option (and related stock appreciation rights, if any) to less than 100% of the
fair market value (as determined in accordance with Section 8(e)) of a share of Common Stock on the date of the granting of the Option (and
related stock appreciation rights, if any);
- materially change the class of persons eligible to receive an award of restricted stock or options or stock appreciation rights under this Plan;
- extend the duration of this Plan; or
- materially increase in any other way the benefits accruing to Participants.
- Duration.
This Plan shall be adopted by the Board and approved by the Company's shareholders and such regulatory bodies as may be necessary, which approvals must
occur within the period ending twelve months after the date this Plan is adopted. Subject to such approvals, grants and awards may be made under this Plan
between the date of its adoption and receipt of such approvals. This Plan shall terminate upon the earlier of the following dates or events to occur:
- upon the adoption of a resolution of the Board terminating this Plan;
- the date all shares of Common Stock subject to this Plan are purchased according to this Plan's provisions; or
- ten years from the date of adoption of this Plan by the Board.
No such termination of this Plan shall adversely affect the rights of any Participant hereunder and all options or stock appreciation rights previously granted and
restricted stock and stock bonuses awarded hereunder shall continue in force and in operation after the termination of this Plan, except as they may be otherwise
terminated in accordance with the terms of this Plan.
- Other Compensation Plans.
This Plan shall not be deemed to preclude the implementation by the Company or its divisions or subsidiaries of other compensation plans which may be in
effect from time to time, nor adversely affect any rights of Participants under any other compensation plans of the Company or its divisions or subsidiaries.
- Non-Transferability.
No right or interest in any award granted under this Plan shall be assignable or transferable, except as set forth in this Plan and required by law, and no right or
interest of any participant in any award shall be liable for, or subject to, any lien, obligation or liability except as set forth in this Plan or as required by law.