<PAGE>
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 26, 1999
Registration No. 333-____________
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
-------------------
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
-------------------
NETZERO, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 95-4644384
(State or other jurisdiction (IRS Employer Identification No.)
of incorporation or organization)
2555 TOWNSGATE ROAD
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA 91361
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
-------------------
1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
(Full title of the Plans)
-------------------
MARK R. GOLDSTON
CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
NETZERO, INC.
2555 TOWNSGATE ROAD
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CALIFORNIA 91361
(Name and address of agent for service)
(805) 418-2000
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
-------------------
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed Proposed
Title of Securities to be Amount to be Maximum Offering Maximum Aggregate Amount of
Registered Registered(1) Price per Share(2) Offering Price(2) Registration Fee
---------------------------------- ------------------- -------------------- ------------------- ---------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1999 Stock Incentive Plan
Common Stock, $0.001 par value 9,500,000 shares $18.40625 $174,859,375 $48,610.91
1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Common Stock, $0.001 par value 500,000 shares $18.40625 $9,203,125 $2,558.47
--------------------
Aggregate Registration Fee $51,169.38
--------------------
--------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
(1) This Registration Statement shall also cover any additional shares of
Common Stock which become issuable under the Employee Stock Purchase
Plan or the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan by reason of any stock
dividend, stock split, recapitalization or other similar transaction
effected without the Registrant's receipt of consideration which
results in an increase in the number of the outstanding shares of
Registrant's Common Stock.
(2) Calculated solely for purposes of this offering under Rule 457(h) of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on the basis of the average
of the high and low selling prices per share of Registrant's Common
Stock on October 21, 1999, as reported by the Nasdaq National Market.
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
NetZero, Inc. (the "Registrant") hereby incorporates by
reference into this Registration Statement the following documents previously
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"):
(a) The Registrant's Registration Statement No. 333-82827 on Form
S-1 filed with the SEC on July 14, 1999, together with the
amendments thereto on Form S-1/A filed with the SEC on August
4, 1999; August 27, 1999; September 7, 1999; September 15,
1999; and September 23, 1999, respectively;
(b) The Registrant's prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "1933 Act") filed with the SEC on September
24, 1999, in connection with the Registrant's Registration
Statement No. 333-82827, in which there is set forth the
audited financial statements for the Registrant's fiscal year
ended June 30, 1999; and
(c) The Registrant's Registration Statement on Form 8-A12G filed
with the SEC on September 21, 1999, in which are described the
terms, rights and provisions applicable to the Registrant's
outstanding Common Stock.
All reports and definitive proxy or information statements
filed pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act") after the date of this Registration
Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates
that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which de-registers all
securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference
into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing
of such documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed
to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a
statement contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which also is
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,
except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration
Statement.
Item 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
Not Applicable.
Item 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
Not Applicable.
Item 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 145 of the Delaware law empowers a corporation to
indemnify its directors and officers and to purchase insurance with respect to
liability arising out of their capacity or status as directors and officers, but
this statutory provision does not eliminate or limit the liability of a
director:
- for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to
the corporation or its stockholders;
- for acts or omissions not in good faith or which
involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law;
- arising under Section 174 of the Delaware law; or
II-1
<PAGE>
- for any transaction from which the director derived
an improper personal benefit.
The Registrant's certificate of incorporation provides that
directors will not be personally liable to the Registrant or its stockholders
for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty as directors of the
Registrant to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law.
The Delaware law provides further that the indemnification
permitted thereunder shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which
the directors and officers may be entitled under the corporation's bylaws, or by
reason of any agreement, a vote of stockholders or otherwise. The Registrant's
certificate of incorporation provides that the Registrant indemnify any person
who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that the
person is or was a director or officer, or is or was serving at the Registrant's
request as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against expenses,
judgements, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by the person in the action, suit or proceeding.
The Registrant plans to enter into indemnification agreements
with its directors and its executive officers containing provisions that may
require the Registrant, among other things, to indemnify its directors and
officers against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service
as directors or officers other than liabilities arising from willful misconduct
of a culpable nature, to advance their expenses incurred as a result of any
proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified, and has obtained
directors' and officers' liability insurance.
Item 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED
Not Applicable.
Item 8. EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NUMBER EXHIBIT
- -------------- -------
<S> <C>
4 Instruments Defining the Rights of Stockholders. Reference
is made to Registrant's Registration Statement No.
000-27405 on Form 8-A12G, together with any exhibits
thereto, which are incorporated herein by reference
pursuant to Item 3(c) to this Registration Statement.
5 Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.
23.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Public
Accountants.
23.2 Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in
Exhibit 5.
24 Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page II-4 of this
Registration Statement.
99.1 1999 Stock Incentive Plan.
99.2 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
99.3 Form of Enrollment/Change Form.
99.4 Form of Stock Purchase Agreement.
</TABLE>
Item 9. UNDERTAKINGS
A. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes: (1) to file,
during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective
amendment to this Registration Statement: (i) to include any prospectus required
by Section 10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act, (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts
or events arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement (or
the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this
Registration Statement and (iii) to include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
Registration Statement or any material change to such information in this
Registration Statement; provided, however, that clauses (1)(i) and (1)(ii) shall
not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by those clauses is contained in periodic reports filed by the
Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act that are
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement; (2) that for the
II-2
<PAGE>
purpose of determining any liability under the 1933 Act each such post-effective
amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; and (3) to remove
from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities
being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the Registrant's 1999
Stock Incentive Plan and Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
B. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for
purposes of determining any liability under the 1933 Act, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
1934 Act that is incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement
shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
C. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under
the 1933 Act may be permitted to directors, officers or controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the indemnification provisions summarized in Item 6
or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
1933 Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the 1933 Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-3
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8, and has duly caused
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Westlake Village, State of California
on this 25nd day of October, 1999.
NETZERO, INC.
By: /s/ MARK R. GOLDSTON
--------------------------------------
Mark R. Goldston
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS:
That the undersigned officers and directors of NetZero,
Inc., a Delaware corporation, do hereby constitute and appoint Mark. R.
Goldston and Charles S. Hilliard and each of them, the lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power and authority to do any and all
acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys
and agents, and any one of them, determine may be necessary or advisable or
required to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and any rules or regulations or requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with this Registration
Statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing power and
authority, the powers granted include the power and authority to sign the
names of the undersigned officers and directors in the capacities indicated
below to this Registration Statement, to any and all amendments, both
pre-effective and post-effective, and supplements to this Registration
Statement, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in
conjunction with this Registration Statement or amendments or supplements
thereof, and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms that all
said attorneys and agents, or any one of them, shall do or cause to be done
by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be signed in several
counterparts.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this
Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following
persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
- ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ MARK R. GOLDSTON Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and October 26, 1999
- ------------------------------------- Director (Principal Executive Officer)
Mark. R. Goldston
/s/ CHARLES S. HILLIARD Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief October 26, 1999
- ------------------------------------- Financial Officer (Principal Financial and
Charles S. Hilliard Accounting Officer)
/s/ RONALD T. BURR President and Director October 26, 1999
- -------------------------------------
Ronald T. Burr
</TABLE>
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<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
- ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ WILLIAM T. GROSS Director October 26, 1999
- -------------------------------------
William T. Gross
/s/ JAMES T. ARMSTRONG Director October 26, 1999
- -------------------------------------
James T. Armstrong
/s/ DAVID C. BOHNETT Director October 26, 1999
- -------------------------------------
David C. Bohnett
/s/ JENNIFER S. FONSTAD Director October 26, 1999
- -------------------------------------
Jennifer S. Fonstand
/s/ PAUL G. KOONTZ Director October 26, 1999
- -------------------------------------
Paul G. Koontz
</TABLE>
II-5
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NUMBER EXHIBIT
- -------------- --------
<S> <C>
4 Instruments Defining the Rights of Stockholders. Reference is
made to Registrant's Registration Statement No. 000-27405 on
Form 8-A12G, together with any exhibits thereto, which are
incorporated herein by reference pursuant to Item 3(c) to this
Registration Statement.
5 Opinion and consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP.
23.1 Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Public
Accountants.
23.2 Consent of Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is contained in
Exhibit 5.
24 Power of Attorney. Reference is made to page II-4 of this
Registration Statement.
99.1 1999 Stock Incentive Plan.
99.2 1999 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
99.3 Form of Enrollment/Change Form.
99.4 Form of Stock Purchase Agreement.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
EXHIBITS
TO
FORM S-8
UNDER
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
NETZERO, INC.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 5
OPINION AND CONSENT OF BROBECK, PHLEGER & HARRISON LLP
October 26, 1999
NetZero, Inc.
2555 Townsgate Road
Westlake Village, California 91361
Re: NetZero, Inc.- Registration Statement for Offering
of an Aggregate of 10,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to NetZero, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the registration on Form S-8
(the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of
10,000,000 shares of common stock (the "Shares") authorized for issuance under
the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan and the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan
(collectively, the "Plans").
This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the
requirements of Item 8 of Form S-8 and Item 601(b)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K.
We have reviewed the Company's charter documents and the
corporate proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the establishment
of the Plans. Based on such review, we are of the opinion that, if, as and when
the Shares have been issued and sold (and the consideration therefor received)
pursuant to (a) the provisions of option agreements or stock purchase rights
duly authorized under the Plans and in accordance with the Registration
Statement, or (b) duly authorized direct stock issuances under the 1999 Stock
Incentive Plan and in accordance with the Registration Statement, such Shares
will be duly authorized, legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
We consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5
to the Registration Statement.
This opinion letter is rendered as of the date first written
above and we disclaim any obligation to advise you of facts, circumstances,
events or developments which hereafter may be brought to our attention and which
may alter, affect or modify the opinion expressed herein. Our opinion is
expressly limited to the matters set forth above and we render no opinion,
whether by implication or otherwise, as to any other matters relating to the
Company, the Plans or the Shares.
Very truly yours,
BROBECK, PHLEGER & HARRISON LLP
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this registration
statement of NetZero, Inc. (the "Company") on Form S-8 of our report dated
July 28, 1999, except as to the reincorporation described in Note 13, as to
which the date is September 22, 1999, on our audits of the financial statements
of the Company as of June 30, 1998 and 1999 and for the period from July 21,
1997 (Inception) through June 30, 1998 and for the year ended June 30, 1999,
which report is included in the Company's registration statement on Form S-1.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Woodland Hills, California
October 25, 1999
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99.1
1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
<PAGE>
NETZERO, INC.
1999 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
ARTICLE ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
I. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
This 1999 Stock Incentive Plan is intended to promote the
interests of NetZero, Inc., a Delaware corporation, by providing eligible
persons in the Corporation's service 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 such service.
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 four separate equity
programs:
- 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,
- 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,
- 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),
and
- 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 otherwise payable in cash applied to a special stock option grant.
B. The provisions of Articles One and Six shall apply to all
equity programs under the Plan and shall govern the interests of all persons
under the Plan.
<PAGE>
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. 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. However, any discretionary option grants or stock issuances for
members of the Primary Committee must be authorized by a disinterested majority
of the Board.
B. 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.
C. 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 those 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.
D. 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.
E. 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.
F. Administration of the Director Fee Option Grant Program
shall be self-executing in accordance with the terms of that program, and no
Plan Administrator shall exercise any discretionary functions with respect to
any option grants or stock issuances made under such program.
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<PAGE>
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 such grants, the time or times
when those 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 such issuances, the time or times when the 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. Non-employee Board members shall be eligible to participate
in the Director Fee Option Grant Program. In no event, however, shall a
non-employee Board member be eligible for such participation if that individual
would be required, whether contractually or otherwise, to transfer the ownership
of the option grant received under that program, or any economic interest in
such grant, to any venture fund or other entity with which he or she is at the
time affiliated.
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 number of shares of Common Stock
initially reserved for issuance over the term of the Plan shall not exceed
21,900,000 shares. Such reserve shall consist of (i) the number
3
<PAGE>
of shares estimated to remain available for issuance, as of the Plan Effective
Date, under the Predecessor Plan as last approved by the Corporation's
stockholders, including the shares subject to outstanding options under that
Predecessor Plan, (ii) plus an additional increase of approximately 2,400,000
shares to be approved by the Corporation's stockholders prior to the
Underwriting Date.
B. The number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance
under the Plan shall automatically increase on the first trading day of January
each calendar year during the term of the Plan, beginning with calendar year
2000, by an amount equal to three percent (3%) of the total number of shares of
Common Stock outstanding on the last trading day in December of the immediately
preceding calendar year, but in no event shall any such annual increase exceed
6,500,000 shares.
C. No one person participating in the Plan may receive
options, separately exercisable stock appreciation rights and direct stock
issuances for more than 2,000,000 shares of Common Stock in the aggregate per
calendar year.
D. Shares of Common Stock subject to outstanding options
(including options incorporated into this Plan from the Predecessor Plan) shall
be available for subsequent issuance under the Plan to the extent (i) those
options expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise in full or (ii) the
options are cancelled in accordance with the cancellation-regrant provisions of
Article Two. 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. Shares of Common Stock underlying one or more stock appreciation
rights exercised under Section IV of Article Two, Section III of Article Three
or Section III of Article Five of the Plan shall NOT be available for subsequent
issuance under the Plan.
E. 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 by the Plan Administrator to (i) the maximum number and/or class
of securities issuable under the Plan, (ii) 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, (iii) the number and/or class of securities and the exercise
price per share in effect under each
4
<PAGE>
outstanding option under the Plan, (iv) the number and/or class of securities
and price per share in effect under each outstanding option incorporated into
this Plan from the Predecessor Plan and (v) the maximum number and/or class of
securities by which the share reserve is to increase automatically each calendar
year pursuant to the provisions of Section V.B of this Article One. 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.
5
<PAGE>
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 Seven 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 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.
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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 held by the Optionee at the time
of death and exercisable in whole or in part at that time 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 the laws of inheritance or by the
Optionee's designated beneficiary or beneficiaries of that option.
(iii) Should the Optionee's Service be terminated
for Misconduct or should Optionee otherwise engage in Misconduct while
one or more of his or her options under this Article Two are outstanding,
then all those options 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.
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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.
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
inheritance 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Optionee may also
designate one or more persons as the beneficiary or beneficiaries of his or her
outstanding options under this Article Two, and those options shall, in
accordance with such designation, automatically be transferred to such
beneficiary or beneficiaries upon the Optionee's death while holding those
options. Such beneficiary or beneficiaries shall take the transferred options
subject to all the terms and conditions of the applicable agreement evidencing
each such transferred option, including (without limitation) the limited time
period during which the option may be exercised following the Optionee's death.
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 Six shall be applicable to Incentive
Options. Options which are specifically designated as Nonstatutory 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).
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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.
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
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. However, an outstanding option shall NOT become
exercisable on such an accelerated basis if and to the extent: (i) such option
is, in connection with the Corporate Transaction, to be assumed by the successor
corporation (or parent thereof) or (ii) such option is to be replaced with a
cash incentive program of the successor corporation which preserves the spread
existing at the time of the Corporate Transaction on any shares for which the
option is not otherwise at that time exercisable and provides for subsequent
payout in accordance with the same exercise/vesting schedule applicable to those
option shares or (iii) the acceleration of such option is subject to other
limitations imposed by the Plan Administrator at the time of the option grant.
B. All outstanding repurchase rights shall automatically
terminate, 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
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(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 and (iv) the maximum
number and/or class of securities by which the share reserve is to increase
automatically each calendar year.
E. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary
authority to structure one or more outstanding options under the Discretionary
Option Grant Program so that those options shall, immediately prior to the
effective date of such Corporate Transaction, become exercisable for all the
shares of Common Stock at the time subject to those options and may be exercised
for any or all of those shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock, whether
or not those options are to be assumed in the Corporate Transaction. In
addition, the Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to
structure one or more of the Corporation's repurchase rights under the
Discretionary Option Grant Program so that those rights shall not be assignable
in connection with such Corporate Transaction and shall accordingly terminate
upon the consummation of such Corporate Transaction, and the shares subject to
those terminated rights shall thereupon vest in full.
F. The Plan Administrator shall have full power and
authority to structure one or more outstanding options under the
Discretionary Option Grant Program so that those options shall become
exercisable in whole or in part on an accelerated basis in the event the
Optionee's Service is subsequently terminated by reason of an Involuntary
Termination within a designated period following the effective date of any
Corporate Transaction in which those options are assumed and do not otherwise
accelerate. The option as so accelerated shall remain exercisable until the
expiration or sooner termination of the option term. In addition, the Plan
Administrator may structure one or more of the Corporation's repurchase
rights so that those rights shall immediately terminate with respect to one
or more unvested shares held by the Optionee at the time of his or her
Involuntary Termination, and those shares shall immediately vest at that time.
G. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary
authority to structure one or more outstanding options under the Discretionary
Option Grant Program so that those options shall, immediately prior to the
effective date of a Change in Control, become exercisable in whole or in part on
an accelerated basis and may be exercised for any or all of the accelerated
shares as fully vested shares of Common Stock. In addition, the Plan
Administrator shall have the discretionary authority to structure one or more of
the Corporation's repurchase rights under the Discretionary Option Grant Program
so that those rights shall terminate in whole or in part upon the consummation
of such Change in Control, and the shares subject to those terminated rights
shall thereupon vest. Alternatively, the Plan Administrator may condition the
full or partial acceleration of one or more outstanding options under the
Discretionary Option Grant Program and the termination of one or more of the
Corporation's outstanding repurchase rights under such program upon the
subsequent termination of the Optionee's Service by reason of an Involuntary
Termination within a designated period following the effective date of such
Change in Control. Each option as so accelerated shall remain exercisable until
the EARLIER of (i) the expiration of the option term or (ii) the expiration of
the one (1) year period measured from the effective date of Optionee's cessation
of Service.
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H. 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 ($100,000) limitation is not exceeded. To the extent such
dollar limitation is exceeded, the accelerated portion of such option shall be
exercisable as a Nonstatutory Option under the Federal tax laws.
I. 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 (including outstanding options incorporated from the Predecessor
Plan) 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 (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, either at the time of
the actual option surrender or at any earlier time. 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 not approved
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
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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. 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 at the time subject to such option (whether
or not the Optionee is otherwise vested in those shares) over (B) the
aggregate exercise price payable for those shares. Such cash
distribution shall be paid within five (5) days following the option
surrender date.
(iii) At the time such limited stock appreciation
right is granted, the Plan Administrator shall pre-approve any subsequent
exercise of that right in accordance with the terms of this Paragraph C.
Accordingly, no further approval of the Plan Administrator or the Board
shall be required at the time of the actual option surrender and cash
distribution.
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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 such 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). Each individual who files such a timely
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.
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.
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 DIVIDED BY (B x 66-2/3%), where
X is the number of option shares,
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A is the dollar amount of the reduction in the Optionee's
base salary for the calendar year to be in effect pursuant to this
program, 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 the laws of inheritance or by the designated beneficiary
or beneficiaries of such option. 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 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 Service.
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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 prior to the effective date of the Change in
Control, 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. The option shall remain so exercisable
until the EARLIEST to occur 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, (iii) the termination of the option in
connection with a Corporate Transaction or (iv) 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 option is otherwise at the time exercisable for 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. 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 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.
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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. Shares of Common Stock
may also be issued under the Stock Issuance Program pursuant to share right
awards which entitle the recipients to receive those shares upon the attainment
of designated performance goals.
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
Seven, 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 shall be
determined by the Plan Administrator and incorporated into the Stock Issuance
Agreement. Shares of Common Stock may also be issued under the Stock Issuance
Program pursuant to share right awards which entitle the recipients to receive
those shares upon the attainment of designated performance goals.
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
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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
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.
6. Outstanding share right awards under the Stock
Issuance Program shall automatically terminate, and no shares of Common Stock
shall actually be issued in satisfaction of those awards, if the performance
goals established for such awards are not attained. The Plan Administrator,
however, shall have the discretionary authority to issue shares of Common Stock
under one or more outstanding share right awards as to which the designated
performance goals have not been attained.
II. CORPORATE TRANSACTION/CHANGE IN CONTROL
A. All of the Corporation's outstanding repurchase 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 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.
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B. The Plan Administrator shall have the discretionary
authority to structure one or more of the Corporation's repurchase rights under
the Stock Issuance Program so 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 a
designated period following the effective date of any Corporate Transaction in
which those repurchase rights are assigned to the successor corporation (or
parent thereof).
C. The Plan Administrator shall also have the discretionary
authority to structure one or more of the Corporation's repurchase rights under
the Stock Issuance Program so 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 a
designated period following the effective date of any 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.
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ARTICLE FIVE
DIRECTOR FEE OPTION GRANT PROGRAM
I. OPTION GRANTS
The Primary Committee shall have the sole and exclusive authority
to determine the calendar year or years for which the Director Fee Option Grant
Program is to be in effect. For each such calendar year the program is in
effect, each non-employee Board member may irrevocably elect to apply all or any
portion of the annual retainer fee otherwise payable in cash for his or her
service on the Board for that year to the acquisition of a special option grant
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 which is the subject of that election is
otherwise payable. Each non-employee Board member who files such a timely
election shall automatically be granted an option under this Director Fee Option
Grant Program on the first trading day in January in the calendar year for which
the annual retainer fee which is the subject of that election would otherwise be
payable in cash.
In no event, however, shall a non-employee Board member be
eligible to receive an option grant under the Director Fee Option Grant Program
if that individual would be required, whether contractually or otherwise, to
transfer the ownership of the grant, or any economic interest in such grant, to
any venture fund or other entity with which he or she is at the time affiliated.
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):
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X = A DIVIDED BY (B x 66-2/3%), where
X is the number of option shares,
A is the portion of the annual retainer fee 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.
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 Board service during
the calendar year in which the option is granted. Each option shall have a
maximum term of ten (10) years measured from the option grant date.
D. LIMITED TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTIONS. Each option under this
Article Five 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. The Optionee may also designate one or more persons as
the beneficiary or beneficiaries of his or her outstanding options under this
Article Five, and those options shall, in accordance with such designation,
automatically be transferred to such beneficiary or beneficiaries upon the
Optionee's death while holding those options. Such beneficiary or beneficiaries
shall take the transferred options subject to all the terms and conditions of
the applicable agreement evidencing each such transferred option, including
(without limitation) the limited time period during which the option may be
exercised following the Optionee's death.
E. 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. However, each option held by the Optionee under
this Director Fee Option Grant Program at the time of his or her cessation of
Board service shall immediately 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.
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F. 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
shall immediately become exercisable for all the shares of Common Stock at the
time subject to that option, and the option 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. In the event
of the Optionee's death while holding such option, the option may be 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 the
laws of inheritance or by the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries of such
option.
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 the laws of
inheritance or by the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries of such option.
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 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 shall automatically accelerate so that each
such option shall immediately become exercisable for all of 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. The option shall remain so
exercisable until the EARLIEST to occur 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 Board service, (iii) the
termination of the option in connection with a Corporate Transaction or (iv) the
surrender of the option in connection with a Hostile Take-Over.
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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
(whether or not the option is otherwise at the time exercisable for 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. No approval or consent of the Board or any Plan
Administrator shall be required at the time of the actual 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.
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ARTICLE SIX
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 (less
the par value of those 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
A. 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.
B. The Plan Administrator may, in its discretion, provide any
or all holders of Non-Statutory Options or unvested shares of Common Stock under
the Plan (other than the options granted under the Director Fee Option Grant
Program) with the right to use shares of Common Stock in satisfaction of all or
part of the Withholding Taxes to which such holders may become subject in
connection with the exercise of their options or the vesting of their shares.
Such right may be provided to any such holder in either or both of the following
formats:
STOCK WITHHOLDING: The election to have the Corporation withhold,
from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon the exercise of such
Non-Statutory Option or the vesting of such shares, a portion of those shares
with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the percentage of the Withholding
Taxes (not to exceed one hundred percent (100%)) designated by the holder.
STOCK DELIVERY: The election to deliver to the Corporation, at
the time the Non-Statutory Option is exercised or the shares vest, one or more
shares of Common Stock previously acquired by such holder (other than in
connection with the option exercise or share vesting triggering the Withholding
Taxes) with an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the percentage of the
Withholding Taxes (not to exceed one hundred percent (100%)) designated by the
holder.
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III. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN
A. The Plan shall become effective immediately on the Plan
Effective Date. However, the Salary Investment Option Grant Program and the
Director Fee Option Grant Program shall not be implemented until such time as
the Primary Committee may deem appropriate. Options may be granted under the
Discretionary Option Grant at any time on or after the Plan Effective Date.
However, no options granted under the Plan may be exercised, and no shares shall
be issued under the Plan, until the Plan is approved by the Corporation's
stockholders. If such stockholder approval is not obtained within twelve (12)
months after the Plan Effective Date, then all options previously granted under
this Plan shall terminate and cease to be outstanding, and no further options
shall be granted and no shares shall be issued under the Plan.
B. The Plan shall serve as the successor to the Predecessor
Plan, and no further option grants or direct stock issuances shall be made under
that Predecessor Plan after the Plan Effective Date. All options outstanding
under the Predecessor Plan on the Plan Effective Date shall be incorporated into
the Plan at that time and shall be treated as outstanding options under the
Plan. However, each outstanding option so incorporated shall continue to be
governed solely by the terms of the documents evidencing such option, and no
provision of the Plan shall be deemed to affect or otherwise modify the rights
or obligations of the holders of such incorporated options with respect to their
acquisition of shares of Common Stock.
C. One or more provisions of the Plan, including (without
limitation) the option/vesting acceleration provisions of Article Two relating
to Corporate Transactions and Changes in Control, may, in the Plan
Administrator's discretion, be extended to one or more options incorporated from
the Predecessor Plan which do not otherwise contain such provisions.
D. The Plan shall terminate upon the earliest to occur of (i)
May 31, 2009, (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. Should the
Plan terminate on May 31, 2009, then all option grants and unvested stock
issuances outstanding at that time shall 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.
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B. Options to purchase shares of Common Stock may be granted
under the Discretionary Option Grant and Salary Investment Option Grant Programs
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.
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.
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APPENDIX
The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:
A. BOARD shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.
B. 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.
C. CODE shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
D. COMMON STOCK shall mean the Corporation's common stock.
E. 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.
A-1
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F. CORPORATION shall mean NetZero, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and any corporate successor to all or substantially all of the
assets or voting stock of NetZero, Inc. which shall by appropriate action adopt
the Plan.
G. DIRECTOR FEE OPTION GRANT PROGRAM shall mean the special
stock option grant in effect for non-employee Board members under Article Five
of the Plan.
H. DISCRETIONARY OPTION GRANT PROGRAM shall mean the
discretionary option grant program in effect under Article Two of the Plan.
I. ELIGIBLE DIRECTOR mean a non-employee Board member eligible
to participate in the Director Fee Option Grant Program in accordance with the
eligibility provisions of Articles One and Five of the Plan.
J. 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.
K. EXERCISE DATE shall mean the date on which the Corporation
shall have received written notice of the option exercise.
L. 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 such price is reported by the National Association of Securities
Dealers on the Nasdaq National Market. 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.
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M. HOSTILE TAKE-OVER shall mean 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.
N. INCENTIVE OPTION shall mean an option which satisfies the
requirements of Code Section 422.
O. 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 duties and responsibilities or the level of
management to which he or she reports, (B) a reduction in his or her
level of compensation (including base salary, fringe benefits and target
bonus under 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.
P. 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).
Q. 1934 ACT shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
R. NON-STATUTORY OPTION shall mean an option not intended to
satisfy the requirements of Code Section 422.
S. OPTIONEE shall mean any person to whom an option is granted
under the Discretionary Option Grant, Salary Investment Option Grant or Director
Fee Option Grant Program.
A-3
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T. 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 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.
U. PARTICIPANT shall mean any person who is issued shares of
Common Stock under the Stock Issuance Program.
V. 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
and Director Fee Option Grant Programs, 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.
W. PLAN shall mean the Corporation's 1999 Stock Incentive
Plan, as set forth in this document.
X. 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.
Y. PLAN EFFECTIVE DATE shall mean the date the Plan shall
become effective and shall be coincident with the Underwriting Date.
Z. PREDECESSOR PLAN shall mean the Corporation's Stock
Option/Stock Issuance Plan, as in effect immediately prior to the Plan Effective
Date hereunder.
AA. PRIMARY COMMITTEE shall mean the committee of two (2) or
more nonemployee Board members appointed by the Board to administer the
Discretionary Option Grant and Stock Issuance Programs with respect to Section
16 Insiders and to administer the Salary Investment Option Grant Program solely
with respect to the selection of the eligible individuals who may participate in
such program.
BB. SALARY INVESTMENT OPTION GRANT PROGRAM shall mean the
salary investment option grant program in effect under Article Three of the
Plan.
CC. SECONDARY COMMITTEE shall mean a committee of one 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.
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DD. 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.
EE. 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 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.
FF. STOCK EXCHANGE shall mean either the American Stock
Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange.
GG. STOCK ISSUANCE PROGRAM 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.
HH. STOCK ISSUANCE PROGRAM shall mean the stock issuance
program in effect under Article Four of the Plan.
II. 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.
JJ. 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.
KK. 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).
LL. UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT shall mean the agreement between the
Corporation and the underwriter or underwriters managing the initial public
offering of the Common Stock.
MM. UNDERWRITING DATE shall mean the date on which the
Underwriting Agreement is executed and priced in connection with an initial
public offering of the Common Stock.
NN. WITHHOLDING TAXES shall mean the Federal, state and local
income and employment withholding taxes to which the holder of Non-Statutory
Options or unvested shares of Common Stock may become subject in connection with
the exercise of those options or the vesting of those shares.
A-5
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EXHIBIT 99.2
1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
<PAGE>
NETZERO, INC.
1999 EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
I. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
This Employee Stock Purchase Plan is intended to promote the
interests of NetZero, Inc., a Delaware corporation, by providing eligible
employees with the opportunity to acquire a proprietary interest in the
Corporation through participation in a payroll-deduction based employee stock
purchase plan designed to qualify under Section 423 of the Code.
Capitalized terms herein shall have the meanings assigned to such
terms in the attached Appendix.
II. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN
The Plan Administrator shall have full authority to interpret and
construe any provision of the Plan and to adopt such rules and regulations for
administering the Plan as it may deem necessary in order to comply with the
requirements of Code Section 423. Decisions of the Plan Administrator shall be
final and binding on all parties having an interest in the Plan.
III. STOCK SUBJECT TO PLAN
A. The stock purchasable under the Plan shall be shares of
authorized but unissued or reacquired Common Stock, including shares of Common
Stock purchased on the open market. The number of shares of Common Stock
initially reserved for issuance over the term of the Plan shall be limited to
500,000 shares.
B. The number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance
under the Plan shall automatically increase on the first trading day of January
each calendar year during the term of the Plan, beginning with calendar year
2000, by an amount equal to one and one-half percent (1.5%) of the total number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the last trading day in December of the
immediately preceding calendar year, but in no event shall any such annual
increase exceed the lesser of (a) 3,250,000 shares or (b) such lower amount as
may be determined by the Board of Directors for the calendar year.
C. Should any change be 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 class of securities
issuable under the Plan, (ii) the maximum number and class of securities
purchasable per Participant on any one Purchase Date, (iii) the maximum number
and class of securities purchasable in total by all Participants on any one
Purchase Date, (iv) the maximum
<PAGE>
number and/or class of securities by which the share reserve is to increase
automatically each calendar year pursuant to the provisions of Section III.B of
this Article One and (v) the number and class of securities and the price per
share in effect under each outstanding purchase right in order to prevent the
dilution or enlargement of benefits thereunder.
IV. OFFERING PERIODS
A. Shares of Common Stock shall be offered for purchase under
the Plan through a series of successive offering periods until such time as (i)
the maximum number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the
Plan shall have been purchased or (ii) the Plan shall have been sooner
terminated.
B. Each offering period shall be of such duration (not to
exceed twenty-four (24) months) as determined by the Plan Administrator prior to
the start date of such offering period. The initial offering period shall
commence at the Effective Time and terminate on the last business day in October
2001. Subsequent offering periods shall commence on the first business day in
May and November each year, commencing with the offering period which will begin
on the first business day in May 2000.
C. Each offering period shall be comprised of a series of one
or more successive Purchase Intervals. Purchase Intervals shall run from the
first business day in May to the last business day in October each year and from
the first business day in November each year to the last business day in April
in the following year. However, the first Purchase Interval in effect under the
initial offering period shall commence at the Effective Time and terminate on
April 28, 2000.
D. Should the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on
any Purchase Date within an offering period be less than the Fair Market Value
per share of Common Stock on the start date of that offering period, then that
offering period shall automatically terminate immediately after the purchase of
shares of Common Stock on such Purchase Date, and a new offering period shall
commence on the next business day following such Purchase Date. The new
offering period shall have a duration of twenty (24) months, unless a shorter
duration is established by the Plan Administrator within five (5) business days
following the start date of that offering period.
V. ELIGIBILITY
A. Each individual who is an Eligible Employee on the start
date of any offering period under the Plan may enter that offering period on
such start date. However, an individual may not participate in more than one
offering period at a time.
B. The date an individual enters an offering period shall be
designated his or her Entry Date for purposes of that offering period.
2.
<PAGE>
C. To participate in the Plan for a particular offering
period, the Eligible Employee must complete the enrollment forms prescribed by
the Plan Administrator (including a stock purchase agreement and a payroll
deduction authorization) and file such forms with the Plan Administrator (or its
designate) on or before his or her scheduled Entry Date.
VI. PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS
A. The payroll deduction authorized by the Participant for
purposes of acquiring shares of Common Stock during an offering period may be
any multiple of one percent (1%) of the Cash Earnings paid to the Participant
during each Purchase Interval within that offering period, up to a maximum of
fifteen percent (15%). The deduction rate so authorized shall continue in
effect throughout the offering period, except to the extent such rate is changed
in accordance with the following guidelines:
(i) The Participant may, at any time
during the offering period, reduce his or her rate of payroll
deduction to become effective as soon as possible after filing the
appropriate form with the Plan Administrator. The Participant may
not, however, effect more than one (1) such reduction per Purchase
Interval.
(ii) The Participant may, prior to the
commencement of any new Purchase Interval within the offering
period, increase the rate of his or her payroll deduction by
filing the appropriate form with the Plan Administrator. The new
rate (which may not exceed the fifteen percent (15%) maximum)
shall become effective on the start date of the first Purchase
Interval following the filing of such form.
B. Payroll deductions shall begin on the first pay day
administratively feasible following the Participant's Entry Date into the
offering period and shall (unless sooner terminated by the Participant) continue
through the pay day ending with or immediately prior to the last day of that
offering period. The amounts so collected shall be credited to the
Participant's book account under the Plan, but no interest shall be paid on the
balance from time to time outstanding in such account. The amounts collected
from the Participant shall not be required to be held in any segregated account
or trust fund and may be commingled with the general assets of the Corporation
and used for general corporate purposes.
C. Payroll deductions shall automatically cease upon the
termination of the Participant's purchase right in accordance with the
provisions of the Plan.
D. The Participant's acquisition of Common Stock under the
Plan on any Purchase Date shall neither limit nor require the Participant's
acquisition of Common Stock on any subsequent Purchase Date, whether within the
same or a different offering period.
3.
<PAGE>
VII. PURCHASE RIGHTS
A. GRANT OF PURCHASE RIGHT. A Participant shall be granted a
separate purchase right for each offering period in which he or she
participates. The purchase right shall be granted on the Participant's Entry
Date into the offering period and shall provide the Participant with the right
to purchase shares of Common Stock, in a series of successive installments over
the remainder of such offering period, upon the terms set forth below. The
Participant shall execute a stock purchase agreement embodying such terms and
such other provisions (not inconsistent with the Plan) as the Plan Administrator
may deem advisable.
Under no circumstances shall purchase rights be granted under the
Plan to any Eligible Employee if such individual would, immediately after the
grant, own (within the meaning of Code Section 424(d)) or hold outstanding
options or other rights to purchase, stock possessing five percent (5%) or more
of the total combined voting power or value of all classes of stock of the
Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate.
B. EXERCISE OF THE PURCHASE RIGHT. Each purchase right shall
be automatically exercised in installments on each successive Purchase Date
within the offering period, and shares of Common Stock shall accordingly be
purchased on behalf of each Participant on each such Purchase Date. The
purchase shall be effected by applying the Participant's payroll deductions for
the Purchase Interval ending on such Purchase Date to the purchase of whole
shares of Common Stock at the purchase price in effect for the Participant for
that Purchase Date.
C. PURCHASE PRICE. The purchase price per share at which
Common Stock will be purchased on the Participant's behalf on each Purchase Date
within the offering period shall be equal to eighty-five percent (85%) of the
LOWER of (i) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock on the
Participant's Entry Date into that offering period or (ii) the Fair Market Value
per share of Common Stock on that Purchase Date.
D. NUMBER OF PURCHASABLE SHARES. The number of shares of
Common Stock purchasable by a Participant on each Purchase Date during the
offering period shall be the number of whole shares obtained by dividing the
amount collected from the Participant through payroll deductions during the
Purchase Interval ending with that Purchase Date by the purchase price in effect
for the Participant for that Purchase Date. However, the maximum number of
shares of Common Stock purchasable per Participant on any one Purchase Date
shall not exceed 2,500 shares, subject to periodic adjustments in the event of
certain changes in the Corporation's capitalization. In addition, the maximum
number of shares of Common Stock purchasable in total by all Participants on any
one Purchase Date within the offering periods in effect at that time shall not
exceed 500,000 shares, subject to periodic adjustments in the event of certain
changes in the Corporation's capitalization. However, the Plan Administrator
shall have the discretionary authority, exercisable prior to the start of any
offering period under the Plan, to increase or decrease the limitations to be in
effect for the number of shares purchasable per Participant and in total by all
Participants on each Purchase Date during that offering period.
4.
<PAGE>
E. EXCESS PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS. Any payroll deductions not
applied to the purchase of shares of Common Stock on any Purchase Date because
they are not sufficient to purchase a whole share of Common Stock shall be held
for the purchase of Common Stock on the next Purchase Date. However, any
payroll deductions not applied to the purchase of Common Stock by reason of the
limitations on the maximum number of shares purchasable per Participant or in
total by all Participants on the Purchase Date shall be promptly refunded.
F. TERMINATION OF PURCHASE RIGHT. The following provisions
shall govern the termination of outstanding purchase rights:
(i) A Participant may, at any time prior
to the next scheduled Purchase Date in the offering period,
terminate his or her outstanding purchase right by filing the
appropriate form with the Plan Administrator (or its designate),
and no further payroll deductions shall be collected from the
Participant with respect to the terminated purchase right. Any
payroll deductions collected during the Purchase Interval in which
such termination occurs shall, at the Participant's election, be
immediately refunded or held for the purchase of shares on the
next Purchase Date. If no such election is made at the time such
purchase right is terminated, then the payroll deductions
collected with respect to the terminated right shall be refunded
as soon as possible.
(ii) The termination of such purchase right
shall be irrevocable, and the Participant may not subsequently
rejoin the offering period for which the terminated purchase right
was granted. In order to resume participation in any subsequent
offering period, such individual must re-enroll in the Plan (by
making a timely filing of the prescribed enrollment forms) on or
before his or her scheduled Entry Date into that offering period.
(iii) Should the Participant cease to remain
an Eligible Employee for any reason (including death, disability
or change in status) while his or her purchase right remains
outstanding, then that purchase right shall immediately terminate,
and all of the Participant's payroll deductions for the Purchase
Interval in which the purchase right so terminates shall be
immediately refunded. However, should the Participant cease to
remain in active service by reason of an approved unpaid leave of
absence, then the Participant shall have the right, exercisable
until the last business day of the Purchase Interval in which such
leave commences, to (a) withdraw all the payroll deductions
collected to date on his or her behalf for that Purchase Interval
or (b) have such funds held for the purchase of shares on his or
her behalf on the next scheduled Purchase Date. In no event,
however, shall any further payroll deductions be collected on the
Participant's behalf during such leave. Upon the Participant's
return to active service (x) within ninety (90) days following the
commencement of such leave or (y) prior to the expiration of any
longer period for which such Participant's right to reemployment
with the Corporation is guaranteed by statute or contract, his or
her payroll deductions under the Plan shall automatically resume
at the rate in
5.
<PAGE>
effect at the time the leave began, unless the Participant withdraws from
the Plan prior to his or her return. An individual who returns to active
employment following a leave of absence which exceeds in duration the
applicable (x) or (y) time period will be treated as a new Employee for
purposes of subsequent participation in the Plan and must accordingly
re-enroll in the Plan (by making a timely filing of the prescribed
enrollment forms) on or before his or her scheduled Entry Date into the
offering period.
G. CHANGE IN CONTROL. Each outstanding purchase right shall
automatically be exercised, immediately prior to the effective date of any
Change in Control, by applying the payroll deductions of each Participant for
the Purchase Interval in which such Change in Control occurs to the purchase of
whole shares of Common Stock at a purchase price per share equal to eighty-five
percent (85%) of the LOWER of (i) the Fair Market Value per share of Common
Stock on the Participant's Entry Date into the offering period in which such
Change in Control occurs or (ii) the Fair Market Value per share of Common Stock
immediately prior to the effective date of such Change in Control. However, the
applicable limitation on the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable per
Participant shall continue to apply to any such purchase, but not the limitation
applicable to the maximum number of shares of Common Stock purchasable in total
by all Participants.
The Corporation shall use its best efforts to provide at least ten
(10)-days prior written notice of the occurrence of any Change in Control, and
Participants shall, following the receipt of such notice, have the right to
terminate their outstanding purchase rights prior to the effective date of the
Change in Control.
H. PRORATION OF PURCHASE RIGHTS. Should the total number of
shares of Common Stock to be purchased pursuant to outstanding purchase rights
on any particular date exceed the number of shares then available for issuance
under the Plan, the Plan Administrator shall make a pro-rata allocation of the
available shares on a uniform and nondiscriminatory basis, and the payroll
deductions of each Participant, to the extent in excess of the aggregate
purchase price payable for the Common Stock pro-rated to such individual, shall
be refunded.
I. ASSIGNABILITY. The purchase right shall be exercisable
only by the Participant and shall not be assignable or transferable by the
Participant.
J. STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS. A Participant shall have no
stockholder rights with respect to the shares subject to his or her outstanding
purchase right until the shares are purchased on the Participant's behalf in
accordance with the provisions of the Plan and the Participant has become a
holder of record of the purchased shares.
VIII. ACCRUAL LIMITATIONS
A. No Participant shall be entitled to accrue rights to
acquire Common Stock pursuant to any purchase right outstanding under this Plan
if and to the extent such accrual, when aggregated with (i) rights to purchase
Common Stock accrued under any other purchase right granted under this Plan and
(ii) similar rights accrued under other employee stock purchase plans
6.
<PAGE>
(within the meaning of Code Section 423) of the Corporation or any Corporate
Affiliate, would otherwise permit such Participant to purchase more than
Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) worth of stock of the Corporation or
any Corporate Affiliate (determined on the basis of the Fair Market Value per
share on the date or dates such rights are granted) for each calendar year such
rights are at any time outstanding.
B. For purposes of applying such accrual limitations to the
purchase rights granted under the Plan, the following provisions shall be in
effect:
(i) The right to acquire Common Stock
under each outstanding purchase right shall accrue in a series of
installments on each successive Purchase Date during the offering
period on which such right remains outstanding.
(ii) No right to acquire Common Stock under
any outstanding purchase right shall accrue to the extent the
Participant has already accrued in the same calendar year the
right to acquire Common Stock under one or more other purchase
rights at a rate equal to Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars
($25,000.00) worth of Common Stock (determined on the basis of the
Fair Market Value per share on the date or dates of grant) for
each calendar year such rights were at any time outstanding.
C. If by reason of such accrual limitations, any purchase
right of a Participant does not accrue for a particular Purchase Interval, then
the payroll deductions which the Participant made during that Purchase Interval
with respect to such purchase right shall be promptly refunded.
D. In the event there is any conflict between the provisions
of this Article and one or more provisions of the Plan or any instrument issued
thereunder, the provisions of this Article shall be controlling.
IX. EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF THE PLAN
A. The Plan was adopted by the Board on July 8, 1999 and shall
become effective at the Effective Time, PROVIDED no purchase rights granted
under the Plan shall be exercised, and no shares of Common Stock shall be issued
hereunder, until (i) the Plan shall have been approved by the stockholders of
the Corporation and (ii) the Corporation shall have complied with all applicable
requirements of the 1933 Act (including the registration of the shares of Common
Stock issuable under the Plan on a Form S-8 registration statement filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission), all applicable listing requirements of
any stock exchange (or the Nasdaq National Market, if applicable) on which the
Common Stock is listed for trading and all other applicable requirements
established by law or regulation. In the event such stockholder approval is not
obtained, or such compliance is not effected, within twelve (12) months after
the date on which the Plan is adopted by the Board, the Plan shall terminate and
have no further force or effect, and all sums collected from Participants during
the initial offering period hereunder shall be refunded.
7.
<PAGE>
B. Unless sooner terminated by the Board, the Plan shall
terminate upon the EARLIEST of (i) the last business day in October 2009, (ii)
the date on which all shares available for issuance under the Plan shall have
been sold pursuant to purchase rights exercised under the Plan or (iii) the date
on which all purchase rights are exercised in connection with a Corporate
Transaction. No further purchase rights shall be granted or exercised, and no
further payroll deductions shall be collected, under the Plan following such
termination.
X. AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN
A. The Board may alter, amend, suspend or terminate the Plan
at any time to become effective immediately following the close of any Purchase
Interval. However, the Plan may be amended or terminated immediately upon Board
action, if and to the extent necessary to assure that the Corporation will not
recognize, for financial reporting purposes, any compensation expense in
connection with the shares of Common Stock offered for purchase under the Plan,
should the financial accounting rules applicable to the Plan at the Effective
Time be subsequently revised so as to require the Corporation to recognize
compensation expense in the absence of such amendment or termination.
B. In no event may the Board effect any of the following
amendments or revisions to the Plan without the approval of the Corporation's
stockholders: (i) increase the number of shares of Common Stock issuable under
the Plan, except for permissible adjustments in the event of certain changes in
the Corporation's capitalization, (ii) alter the purchase price formula so as to
reduce the purchase price payable for the shares of Common Stock purchasable
under the Plan or (iii) modify the eligibility requirements for participation in
the Plan.
XI. GENERAL PROVISIONS
A. All costs and expenses incurred in the administration of
the Plan shall be paid by the Corporation; however, each Plan Participant shall
bear all costs and expenses incurred by such individual in the sale or other
disposition of any shares purchased under the Plan.
B. Nothing in the Plan shall confer upon the Participant any
right to continue in the employ of the Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate
for any period of specific duration or interfere with or otherwise restrict in
any way the rights of the Corporation (or any Corporate Affiliate employing such
person) or of the Participant, which rights are hereby expressly reserved by
each, to terminate such person's employment at any time for any reason, with or
without cause.
C. The provisions of the Plan shall be governed by the laws of
the State of California without resort to that State's conflict-of-laws rules.
8.
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE A
CORPORATIONS PARTICIPATING IN
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN
AS OF THE EFFECTIVE TIME
NetZero, Inc.
<PAGE>
APPENDIX
The following definitions shall be in effect under the Plan:
A. BOARD shall mean the Corporation's Board of Directors.
B. CASH EARNINGS shall mean the (i) regular base salary paid
to a Participant by one or more Participating Companies during such individual's
period of participation in one or more offering periods under the Plan plus (ii)
all overtime payments, bonuses, commissions, profit-sharing distributions and
other incentive-type payments received during such period. Such Cash Earnings
shall be calculated before deduction of (A) any income or employment tax
withholdings or (B) any and all contributions made by the Participant to any
Code Section 401(k) salary deferral plan or Code Section 125 cafeteria benefit
program now or hereafter established by the Corporation or any Corporate
Affiliate. However, Cash Earnings shall NOT include any contributions made on
the Participant's behalf by the Corporation or any Corporate Affiliate to any
employee benefit or welfare plan now or hereafter established (other than Code
Section 401(k) or Code Section 125 contributions deducted from such Cash
Earnings).
C. CHANGE IN CONTROL shall mean a change in ownership of the
Corporation pursuant to any of the following transactions:
(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 assets of the Corporation in
complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation, or
(iii) the acquisition, directly or indirectly by an
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.
C. CODE shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
D. COMMON STOCK shall mean the Corporation's common stock.
A-1.
<PAGE>
E. CORPORATE AFFILIATE shall mean any parent or subsidiary
corporation of the Corporation (as determined in accordance with Code Section
424), whether now existing or subsequently established.
G. CORPORATION shall mean NetZero, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and any corporate successor to all or substantially all of the
assets or voting stock of NetZero, Inc., which shall by appropriate action adopt
the Plan.
H. EFFECTIVE TIME shall mean the time at which the
Underwriting Agreement is executed and the Common Stock priced for the initial
public offering of the Common Stock. Any Corporate Affiliate which becomes a
Participating Corporation after such Effective Time shall designate a subsequent
Effective Time with respect to its employee-Participants.
I. ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEE shall mean any person who is employed by
a Participating Corporation on a basis under which he or she is regularly
expected to render more than twenty (20) hours of service per week for more than
five (5) months per calendar year for earnings considered wages under Code
Section 3401(a).
J. ENTRY DATE shall mean the date an Eligible Employee first
commences participation in the offering period in effect under the Plan. The
earliest Entry Date under the Plan shall be the Effective Time.
K. 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 such price is reported by the National Association of
Securities Dealers on the Nasdaq National Market. 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 the initial offering period
which begins at the Effective Time, the Fair Market Value shall be
deemed to be equal to the price per share at which the Common
Stock is sold in the initial public offering pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement.
A-2.
<PAGE>
L. 1933 ACT shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
M. PARTICIPANT shall mean any Eligible Employee of a
Participating Corporation who is actively participating in the Plan.
N. PARTICIPATING CORPORATION shall mean the Corporation and
such Corporate Affiliate or Affiliates as may be authorized from time to time by
the Board to extend the benefits of the Plan to their Eligible Employees. The
Participating Corporations in the Plan are listed in attached Schedule A.
O. PLAN shall mean the Corporation's 1999 Employee Stock
Purchase Plan, as set forth in this document.
P. PLAN ADMINISTRATOR shall mean the committee of two (2) or
more Board members appointed by the Board to administer the Plan.
Q. PURCHASE DATE shall mean the last business day of each
Purchase Interval. The initial Purchase Date shall be April 28, 2000.
R. PURCHASE INTERVAL shall mean each successive six (6)-month
period within the offering period at the end of which there shall be purchased
shares of Common Stock on behalf of each Participant.
S. STOCK EXCHANGE shall mean either the American Stock
Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange.
T. UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT shall mean the agreement between the
Corporation and the underwriter or underwriters managing the initial public
offering of the Common Stock.
A-3.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99.3
FORM OF ENROLLMENT/CHANGE FORM
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NETZERO, INC.
EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE PLAN ("ESPP")
ENROLLMENT/CHANGE FORM
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ SECTION 1: / Action Complete Sections:
---------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
ACTION / / New Enrollment 2, 3, 7 AND sign attached Stock Purchase Agreement
/ / Change Payroll Deduction 2, 4, 7
/ / Terminate Payroll Deductions 2, 5, 7
/ / Leave of Absence 2, 6, 7
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ SECTION 2: / Name
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERSONNEL DATA Last First MI Dept.
Home Address
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Street
------------------------------------------------------------------------
City State Zip Code
Social Security # / / / / - / / / - / / / / /
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ SECTION 3: / Effective with the Purchase
Interval Beginning: Payroll Deduction Amount: __________ % of cash earnings*
NEW ENROLLMENT / / May 1, ______
/ / November 1, ______ * Must be a multiple of 1% up to a maximum of 15% of
/ / Initial Offering Period cash earnings
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ SECTION 4: / Effective with the
Pay Period Beginning: I authorize the following new level of payroll deduction:
CHANGE -------------------------- ______________% of cash earnings*
PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS Month, Day and Year
* Must be a multiple of 1% up to a maximum of 15%
of cash earnings
NOTE: You may reduce your rate of payroll deductions once per 6-month purchase interval to become
effective as soon as possible following the filing of the change form. You may also increase your
rate of payroll deductions to become effective as of the start date of the next 6-month purchase
interval (first businness day of May or November).
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ SECTION 5: / Effective with the Your election to terminate your payroll deductions for
Pay Period Beginning: the balance of the offering period cannot be changed,
TERMINATE PAYROLL -------------------------- and you may not rejoin the offering period at a later date.
DEDUCTIONS Month, Day and Year You will not be able to resume participation in the ESPP
until the start of a new two-year offering period.
In connection with my voluntary termination of payroll deductions, I elect the following action regarding my
ESPP payroll deductions to date in the current six (6)-month purchase interval:
/ / Purchase shares of NetZero, Inc. at end of the interval
OR
/ / Refund ESPP payroll deductions collected
NOTE: If your employment terminates for any reason or your eligibility status changes ( < 20 hrs/week or
< 5 months/year), you will immediately cease to participate in the ESPP, and your ESPP payroll
deductions collected in that purchase interval will automatically be refunded to you.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ SECTION 6: / In connection with my unpaid leave of absence, I elect the following action with respect to my ESPP payroll
deductions to date in the current purchase interval:
LEAVE OF
ABSENCE / / Purchase shares of NetZero, Inc. at end of the interval
OR
/ / Refund ESPP payroll deductions collected
NOTE: If you take an unpaid leave of absence, your payroll deductions will immediately cease. Upon your
return to active service within 90 days after the start of your leave, your payroll deductions will
automatically resume at the rate in effect for you when you went on leave.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ SECTION 7: /
AUTHORIZATION I HEREBY AUTHORIZE THE SPECIFIC ACTION OR ACTIONS INDICATED ABOVE.
- ------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
Date Signature of Employee
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99.4
FORM OF STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
<PAGE>
NETZERO, INC.
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
I hereby elect to participate in the 1999 Employee Stock Purchase
Plan (the "ESPP") for the offering period specified below, and I hereby
subscribe to purchase shares of Common Stock of NetZero, Inc. (the
"Corporation") in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the ESPP.
I hereby authorize payroll deductions from each of my paychecks following my
entry into the ESPP in the 1% multiple of my cash compensation (not to exceed a
maximum of 15%) specified in my attached Enrollment Form.
The offering period is divided into a series of consecutive
purchase intervals. With the exception of the initial purchase interval which
will begin at the time of the initial public offering of the Common Stock and
end on April 28 2000, those purchase intervals will each be of six months
duration and will run from the first business day of May to the last business
day of October each year and from the first business day of November each year
to the last business day of April in the following year. My participation will
automatically remain in effect from one purchase interval to the next in
accordance with my payroll deduction authorization, unless I withdraw from the
ESPP or change the rate of my payroll deduction or unless my employment status
changes. I may reduce the rate of my payroll deductions on one occasion per
purchase interval, and I may increase my rate of payroll deductions to become
effective at the beginning of any subsequent purchase interval.
My payroll deductions will be accumulated for the purchase of
shares of Common Stock on the last business day of each purchase interval within
the offering period. The purchase price per share will be equal to 85% of the
lower of (i) the fair market value per share of Common Stock on my Entry Date
into the offering period or (ii) the fair market value per share on the purchase
date. I will also be subject to ESPP restrictions (i) limiting the maximum
number of shares which I may purchase per purchase interval, (ii) limiting the
maximum number of shares which may be purchased in total by all participants per
purchase interval and (iii) prohibiting me from purchasing more than $25,000
worth of Common Stock for each calendar year my purchase right remains
outstanding.
I may withdraw from the ESPP at any time prior to the last
business day of the purchase interval and elect either to have the Corporation
refund all my payroll deductions for that interval or to have such payroll
deductions applied to the purchase of Common Stock at the end of such interval.
However, I may not rejoin that particular offering period at a later date and
must wait until the start of a new offering to resume participation in the ESPP.
Upon the termination of my employment for any reason, including death or
disability, or my loss of eligible employee status, my participation in the ESPP
will immediately cease, and all my payroll deductions for the purchase interval
in which my employment terminates or my loss of eligibility occurs will
immediately be refunded.
If I take an unpaid leave of absence, my payroll deductions will
immediately cease, and any payroll deductions for the purchase interval in which
my leave begins will, at my election, either be refunded or applied to the
purchase of shares of Common Stock at the end of that purchase interval. If my
re-employment is guaranteed by either law or contract, or if I return to active
service within ninety (90) days, then upon my return my payroll deductions will
automatically resume at the rate in effect when my leave began.
The Corporation will issue a stock certificate for the shares
purchased on my behalf after the end of each purchase interval. The certificate
will be issued in street name and will be deposited directly in my
Corporation-designated brokerage account. I will notify the Corporation of any
disposition of shares purchased under the ESPP, and I will satisfy all
applicable income and employment tax withholding requirements at the time of
such disposition.
The Corporation has the right, exercisable in its sole discretion,
to amend or terminate all outstanding purchase rights under the ESPP at any
time, with such amendment or termination to become effective immediately
following the end of any purchase interval. However, such purchase rights may be
amended or terminated with an immediate effective date to the extent necessary
to avoid the Corporation's recognition of compensation expense for financial
reporting purposes, should the accounting principles applicable to the ESPP
change. Upon any such termination, I will cease to have any further rights to
purchase shares of common stock under this Agreement.
I have read this Agreement and hereby agree to be bound by the
terms of both this Agreement and the ESPP. The effectiveness of this Agreement
is dependent upon my eligibility to participate in the ESPP.
Date:
----------------------
Signature of Employee
--------------------
Printed Name:
----------------------------
Offering Period: Initial Offering Period ending October 31, 2001
Entry Date:
---------------------------------
