COMMUNITY HOME MORTGAGE CORPORATION
2000 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
1. Purpose.
The purpose of this Plan is to enable Community Home Mortgage
Corporation and its affiliates to recruit and retain capable employees for the
successful conduct of its business and to provide an additional incentive to
directors, officers and other eligible key employees, consultants and advisors
upon whom rest major responsibilities for the successful operation and
management of the Company and its affiliates.
2. Definitions.
For purposes of the Plan:
2.1 "Affiliate Corporation" or "Affiliate" shall mean any
corporation, directly or indirectly, through one of more intermediaries,
controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company.
2.2 "Agreement" means the written agreement between the
Company and an Optionee evidencing the grant of an Award.
2.3 "Award" means an Incentive Stock Option, Nonqualified
Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted or to be granted pursuant to
the Plan.
2.4 "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Company.
2.5 "Cause" means:
(a) Solely with respect to Nonemployee Directors, the
commission of an act of fraud or an act of embezzlement, misappropriation or
conversion of assets or opportunities of the Company or any Affiliate, and
(b) For all other purposes, unless otherwise defined
in the Agreement evidencing a particular Award, an Optionee (other than a
Nonemployee Director) (i) intentional failure to perform reasonably assigned
duties, (ii) dishonesty or willful misconduct in the performance of duties,
(iii)
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involvement in a transaction in connection with the performance of duties to the
Company which transaction is adverse to the interests of the Company and which
is engaged in for personal profit, or (iv) willful violation of any law, rule or
regulation in connection with the performance of duties (other than traffic
violations or similar offenses).
2.6 "Change in Capitalization" means any increase or reduction
in the Number of Shares, or any change (including, but not limited to, a change
in value) in the Shares or exchange of Shares for a different number or kind of
shares or other securities of the Company, by reason of a reclassification,
recapitalization, merger, consolidation, reorganization, spin-off, split-up,
issuance of warrants or rights or debentures, stock dividend, stock split or
reverse stock split, combination or exchange of shares, repurchase of shares,
change in corporate structure or otherwise.
2.7 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
2.8 "Committee" means a committee, as described in Section
3.1, appointed by the Board to administer the Plan and to perform the functions
set forth herein.
2.9 "Company" means Community Home Mortgage Corporation
(including any and all subsidiaries currently existing or hereafter acquired or
established).
2.10 "Director Option" means an Option for Shares, Stock
Appreciation Rights or Units granted pursuant to Section 6.
2.11 "Disability" means a physical or mental infirmity which
impairs an Optionee's ability to perform substantially his or her duties for a
period of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days.
2.12 "Disinterested Director" means a director of the Company
who is "disinterested" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act.
2.13 "Eligible Individual" means any director (other than a
Nonemployee Director), officer or employee of, or consultant or advisor to, the
Company or an Affiliate who is receiving cash compensation and who is
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designated by the Committee as eligible to receive Awards subject to the
conditions set forth herein.
2.14 "Employee Option" means an option granted pursuant to
Section 5.
2.15 "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.
2.16 "Fair Market Value" on any date means the average of the
high and low sales prices of the Shares on such date on the principal securities
exchange on which such Shares are listed, or if such Shares are not so listed or
admitted to trading, the arithmetic mean of the per Share closing bid price and
closing asked price per Share on such date as quoted on the quotation system of
the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. or such other market in which such prices are
regularly quoted, or, if there have been no published bid or asked quotations
with respect to Shares on such date, the Fair Market Value as established by the
Board in good faith and, in the case of an Incentive Stock Option, in accordance
with Section 422 of the Code.
2.17 "Incentive Stock Option" means an Option satisfying the
requirements of Section 422 of the Code and designated by the Committee as an
Incentive Stock Option.
2.18 "Nonemployee Director" means a director of the Company
who is not an employee of the Company or an Affiliate.
2.19 "Nonqualified Stock Option" means an Option which is not
an Incentive Stock Option.
2.20 "Option" means a Nonqualified Stock Option, an Incentive
Stock Option, a Director Option, an Employee Option or any or all of them.
2.21 "Optionee" means a person to whom an Option is being
granted under the Plan.
2.22 "Outside Director" means a director of the Company who is
an "outside director" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code and the
regulations promulgated thereunder.
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2.23 "Parent" means any corporation which is a parent
corporation (within the meaning of Section 424(e) of the Code) with respect to
the Company.
2.24 "Plan" means The Community Home Mortgage Corporation 2000
Stock Option Plan.
2.25 "Pooling Transaction" means an acquisition of the Company
in a transaction which is intended to be treated as a "pooling of interests"
under generally accepted accounting principles as defined in Opinion No. 16 of
the Accounting Principles Board and the amendments and revisions thereto.
2.26 "Shares" means the common stock of the Company and any
securities or other consideration issuable in respect of Shares in connection
with a Change in Capitalization.
2.27 "Stock Appreciation Right" or "SARs" means a right to
receive all or some portion of the increase in the value of the Shares as
provided in Section 8 hereof.
2.28 "Subsidiary" means any corporation which is a subsidiary
corporation (within the meaning of Section 424(f) of the Code) with respect to
the Company.
2.29 "Successor Corporation" means a corporation, or a parent
or subsidiary thereof within the meaning of 424(a) of the Code, which issues or
assumes a stock option in a transaction to which Section 424(a) of the Code
applies.
2.30 "Ten Percent Stockholder" means an Eligible Individual,
who, at the time an Incentive Stock Option is to be granted to him or her owns
(within the meaning of Section 422(b) (6) of the Code) stock possessing more
than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company, or of a Parent or a Subsidiary thereof.
3. Administration.
3.1 The Plan shall be administered by the Committee which
shall hold meetings at such times as may be necessary for the proper
administration of the Plan. The Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings. A
quorum shall consist of not fewer than two (2) members of the Committee and a
majority of a quorum may authorize any action. Any decision or
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determination reduced to writing and signed by a majority of all of the members
shall be as fully effective as if made by a majority vote at a meeting duly
called and held. The Committee shall consist of at least two (2) directors of
the Company. If the Board of Directors has any Disinterested Directors or
Outside Directors, at least one such Disinterested or Outside Director shall be
on the Committee. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any action,
failure to act, determination or interpretation made in good faith with respect
to this Plan or any transaction hereunder, except for liability arising from his
or her own willful misfeasance, gross negligence or reckless disregard of his or
her duties. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify each member of the Committee
for all costs and expenses and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, any
liability incurred in connection with defending against, responding to,
negotiating for the settlement of or otherwise dealing with any claim, cause of
action or dispute of any kind arising in connection with any actions in
administering this Plan or in authorizing or denying authorization to any
transaction hereunder.
3.2 Subject to the express terms and conditions set forth
herein, the Committee shall have the power from time to time to:
(a) determine those Eligible Individuals to whom
Employee Options shall be granted under the Plan and the number of Employee
Options to be granted and to prescribe the terms and conditions (which need not
be identical) of each such Employee Option, including the purchase price per
Share subject to each Employee Option, and make any amendment or modification to
any Option Agreement consistent with the terms of this Plan;
(b) construe and interpret the Plan and the Options
granted hereunder and to establish, amend and revoke rules and regulations for
the administration of the Plan, including, but not limited to, correcting any
defect or supplying any omission, or reconciling any inconsistency in the Plan
or in any Agreement, in the manner and to the extent it shall deem necessary or
advisable so that the Plan complies with applicable law, including Rule 16b-3
under the Exchange Act and the Code to the extent applicable, and otherwise to
make the Plan fully effective. All decisions and determinations by the Committee
or the exercise of this power shall be final, binding and conclusive
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upon the Company, its Affiliate Corporations, the Options, and all other persons
having any interest therein;
(c) determine the duration and purposes for leaves of
absence which may be granted to an Optionee on an individual basis without
constituting a termination of employment or service for purposes of this Plan;
(d) exercise its discretion with respect to the
powers and rights granted to it as set forth in the Plan; and
(e) exercise such powers and perform such acts as it
deems necessary or advisable to promote the best interests of the Company with
respect to the Plan.
4. Stock Subject to the Plan.
4.1 The maximum number of Shares that may be made the subject
of Options granted under the Plan is 1,000,000. Upon a Change in Capitalization
the maximum number of Shares shall be adjusted in number and kind pursuant to
Section 11. The Company shall reserve for purposes of the Plan, out of its
authorized but unissued Shares or out of Shares held in the Company's treasury,
or partly out of each, such number of Shares as shall be determined by the
Board.
4.2 Upon the granting of an Option, the number of Shares
available under Section 4.1 for the granting of further Options shall be reduced
by the number of shares subject to such Option granted. Whenever any outstanding
Option or portion thereof expires, is canceled or is otherwise terminated for
any reason without having been exercised or payment having been made in respect
of the entire Option, the Shares allocable to the expired, canceled or otherwise
terminated portion of the Option may again be the subject of Options granted
hereunder.
5. Option Grants for Eligible Individuals.
5.1 Authority of Committee. Subject to the provisions of the
Plan, the Committee shall have full and final authority to select those Eligible
Individuals who will receive Employee Options, the terms and conditions of which
shall be set forth in an Agreement.
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5.2 Purchase Price. The purchase price or the manner in which
the purchase price is to be determined for Shares under each Employee Option
shall be determined by the Committee and set forth in the Agreement; provided,
however, that the purchase price per Share under each Incentive Stock Option
shall not be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the
Incentive Stock Option is granted (110% in the case of an Incentive Stock Option
granted to a Ten-Percent Stockholder).
5.3 Maximum Duration.Employee Options granted hereunder shall
be for such term as the Committee shall determine, provided that an Incentive
Stock Option granted hereunder shall not be exercisable after the expiration of
ten (10) years from the date it is granted (five (5) years in the case of an
Incentive Stock Option granted to a Ten-Percent Stockholder), and a Nonqualified
Stock Option shall not be exercisable after the expiration of ten (10) years
from the date it is granted. The Committee may, subsequent to the granting of
any Employee Option, extend the term thereof but in no event shall the term as
so extended exceed the maximum term provided for in the preceding sentence.
5.4 Vesting. Each Employee Option shall become exercisable in
such installments (which need not be equal) and at such times as may be
designated by the Committee and set forth in the Agreement. To the extent not
exercised, installments shall accumulate and be exercisable, in whole or in
part, at any time after becoming exercisable, but not later than the date the
Employee Option expires. The Committee may accelerate the exercisability of any
Option or portion thereof at any time.
5.5 Modification. No modification of an Employee Option shall
adversely alter or impair any rights or obligations under the Employee Option
without the Optionee's consent.
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6. Option Grants for Nonemployee Directors.
6.1 Purchase Price. The purchase price for Shares or SARs
under each Director Option shall be not less than to 100% of the Fair Market
Value of such Shares on the date immediately preceding the date of the grant
unless specifically determined to be otherwise by the Committee.
6.2 Vesting. Subject to Sections 6.3 each Director Option
shall become exercisable within four (4) equal annual
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installments beginning on the date of grant; provided, however, that the
Optionee continues to serve as a Director as of such dates. If an Optionee
ceases to serve as a Director for any reason, the Optionee shall have no rights
with respect to that portion of a Director Option which has not then vested
pursuant to the preceding sentence and the Optionee shall automatically forfeit
that portion of the Director Option which remains unvested.
6.3 Limitations on Amendment. The provisions in this Section 6
and Section 7.1 shall not be amended more than once every six (6) months, other
than to comport with changes in the Code or the rules and regulations
thereunder.
7. Terms and Conditions Applicable to All Options.
7.1 Duration. Each Option shall terminate on the date which is
the tenth anniversary of the grant date, unless terminated earlier as follows:
(a) If an Optionee's employment or service terminates
for any reason other than Disability, death or Cause, the Optionee may for a
period of three (3) months after such termination exercise his or her Option to
the extent, and only to the extent, such Option or portion thereof was vested
and exercisable as of the date of the Optionee's employment or service
terminated, after which time the Option shall automatically terminate in full.
(b) If an Optionee's employment or service terminates
by reason of the Optionee's Disability, the Optionee may, for a period of one
(1) year after such termination, exercise his or her Option to the extent, and
only to the extent, such Option or portion thereof was vested and exercisable as
of the date the Optionee's employment or service terminated, after which time
the Option shall automatically terminate in full.
(c) If an Optionee's employment or service terminates
for Cause, the Option granted to the Optionee hereunder shall immediately
terminate in full and no rights thereunder may be exercised.
(d) If an Optionee dies while employed or in the
service of the Company or an Affiliate or within the three (3) month or twelve
(12) month period described in clause (a) or (b),
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respectively, of this Section 7.1 the Option granted to the Optionee may be
exercised at any time within twelve (12) months after the Optionee's death by
the person or persons to whom such rights under the Option shall pass by will,
or by the laws of descent and distribution, after which time the Option shall
terminate in full; provided, however, that an Option may be exercised to the
extent, and only to the extent, such Option or portion thereof was exercisable
on the date of death or earlier termination of the Optionee's services as a
Director.
Notwithstanding clauses (a) through (d) above, the Agreement evidencing the
grant of an Employee Option may, in the Committee's sole and absolute
discretion, set forth additional or different terms and conditions applicable to
Employee Options upon a termination or change in status of the employment or
service of an Eligible Individual. Such terms and conditions may be determined
at the time the Employee Option is granted or thereafter.
7.2 Non-transferability. No Option granted hereunder shall be
transferable by the Optionee to whom granted except by will or the laws of
descent and distribution, and an Option may be exercised during the lifetime of
such Optionee only by the Optionee or his or her guardian or legal
representative. The terms of such Option shall be final, binding and conclusive
upon the beneficiaries, executors, administrators, heirs and successors of the
Optionee.
7.3 Method of Exercise. The exercise of an option shall be
made only by a written notice delivered in person or by mail to the Secretary or
Chief Financial Officer of the Company at the Company's principal executive
office, specifying the number of Shares to be purchased and accompanied by
payment therefor and otherwise in accordance with the Agreement pursuant to
which the Option was granted. The purchase price for any Shares purchased
pursuant to the exercise of an Option shall be paid in full in cash upon such
exercise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee shall have discretion to
determine at the time of grant of each Employee Option or at any later date (up
to and including the date of exercise) that the form of payment acceptable in
respect of the exercise of such Employee Option may consist of either of the
following (or any combination thereof): (i) cash or (ii) the transfer of Shares
to the Company upon such terms and conditions as determined by the Committee.
The Optionee shall deliver the Agreement evidencing the Option to
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the Secretary or Chief Financial Officer of the Company who shall endorse
thereon a notation of such exercise and return such Agreement to the Optionee.
No fractional Shares (or cash in lieu thereof) shall be issued upon exercise of
an Option and the number of Shares that may be purchased upon exercise shall be
rounded to the nearest number of whole Shares.
7.4 Rights of Optionees. No Optionee shall be deemed for any
purpose to be the owner of any Shares subject to any Option unless and until (i)
the Option shall have been exercised pursuant to the terms thereof, (ii) the
Company shall have issued and delivered the Shares to the Optionee and (iii) the
Optionee's name shall have been entered as a stockholder of record on the books
of the Company. Thereupon, the Optionee shall have full voting, dividend and
other ownership rights with respect to such Shares, subject to such terms and
conditions as may be set forth in the applicable Agreement.
8. Stock Appreciation Rights. The Committee may, in its discretion,
either alone or in connection with the grant of an Employee Option, grant Stock
Appreciation Rights in accordance with the Plan, the terms and conditions of
which shall be set forth in an Agreement. If granted in connection with an
Option, a Stock Appreciation Right shall cover the same Shares covered by the
Option (or such lesser number of Shares as the Committee may determine) and
shall, except as provided in this Section 8, be subject to the same terms.
8.1 Time of Grant. A Stock Appreciation Right may be granted
(i) at any time if unrelated to an Option, or (ii) if related to an Option,
either at the time of grant, or at any time thereafter during the term of the
Option.
8.2 Stock Appreciation Right Related to an Option.
(a) Exercise. Subject to Section 8.8, a Stock
Appreciation Right granted in connection with an Option shall be exercisable at
such time or times and only to the extent that the related Options are
exercisable, and will not be transferable except to the extent the related
Option may be transferable. A Stock Appreciation Right granted in connection
with an Incentive Stock Option shall be exercisable only if the Fair Market
Value of a Share on the date of exercise exceeds the purchase price specified in
the related Incentive Stock Option Agreement.
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(b) Amount Payable. Upon the exercise of a Stock
Appreciation Right related to an Option, the holder shall be entitled to receive
an amount determined by multiplying (A) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a
Share on the date preceding the date of exercise of such Stock Appreciation
Right over the per Share purchase price under the related Option, by (B) the
number of Shares as to which such Stock Appreciation Right is being exercised.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may limit, in any manner, the
amount payable with respect to any Stock Appreciation Right by including such a
limit in the Agreement evidencing the Stock Appreciation Right at the time it is
granted.
(c) Treatment of Related Options and Stock
Appreciation Rights Upon Exercise. Upon the exercise of a Stock Appreciation
Right granted in connection with an Option, the Option shall be canceled to the
extent of the number of Shares as to which the Stock Appreciation Right is
exercised, and upon the exercise of an Option granted in connection with a Stock
Appreciation Right or the surrender of such Option pursuant to Section 7.3, the
Stock Appreciation Right shall be canceled to the extent of the number of Shares
as to which the Option is exercised or surrendered.
8.3 Stock Appreciation Right Unrelated to an Option. The
Committee may grant to Eligible Individuals Stock Appreciation Rights unrelated
to Options. Stock Appreciation Rights unrelated to Options shall not have a term
of greater than ten (10) years. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right
unrelated to an Option, the holder shall be entitled to contain such terms and
conditions as to exercisability (subject to Section 8.8), vesting and duration
as the Committee shall determine, but, in no event, shall they have a term of
greater than ten (10) years. Upon exercise of a Stock Appreciation Right
unrelated to an Option, the holder shall be entitled to receive an amount
determined by multiplying (A) the excess of the Fair Market Value of a Share on
the date preceding the date of exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right over
the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Stock Appreciation Right was
granted, by (B) the number of Shares as to which the Stock Appreciation Right is
being exercised. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may limit, in any
manner, the amount
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payable with respect to any Stock Appreciation Right by including such a limit
in the Agreement evidencing the same Stock Appreciation Right at the time it is
granted.
8.4 Method of Exercise. Stock Appreciation Rights shall be
exercised by a holder only by a written notice delivered in person or by mail to
the Secretary or Chief Financial Officer of the Company at the Company's
principal executive office, specifying the number of Shares with respect to
which the Stock Appreciation Right is being exercised. If requested by the
Committee, the holder shall deliver the Agreement evidencing the Stock
Appreciation Right being exercised and the Agreement evidencing any related
Option to the Secretary or Chief Financial Officer of the Company who shall
endorse thereon a notation of such exercise and return such Agreement to the
holder.
8.5 Form of Payment. Payment of the amount determined under
Sections 8.2(b) or 8.3 may be made in the discretion of the Committee, solely in
whole Shares in a number determined at their Fair Market Value in the date
preceding the date of exercise of the Stock Appreciation Right, or solely in
cash, or in a combination of cash and Shares. If the Committee decides to make
full payment in Shares and the amount payable results in a fractional Share,
payment for the fractional Share will be made in cash. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no payment in the form of cash may be made upon the exercise of a
Stock Appreciation Right pursuant to Sections 8.2(b) or 8.3 to an officer of the
Company who is subject to liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act,
unless the exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right is made either (i) during
the period beginning on the third business day and ending on the twelfth
business day following the date of release for publication of the Company's
quarterly or annual statements of earnings (the "Window Period") or (ii)
pursuant to an irrevocable election to receive cash made at least six (6) months
prior to the exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right.
8.6 Modification. No modification of an Award shall adversely
alter or impair any rights or obligations under the Agreement without the
holder's consent.
9. Adjustment Upon Changes in Capitalization.
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(a) In the event of a Change in Capitalization, the Committee
shall conclusively determine the appropriate adjustments, if any, to the (i)
maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options may be granted under the
Plan, (ii) maximum number of Shares with respect to which Options may be granted
to any Eligible Individual during the term of the Plan, (iii) number of Shares
which are subject to outstanding Options granted under the Plan, and the
purchase price therefor, if applicable, and (iv) number of Shares in respect of
which Director Options are to be granted under Section 6.
(b) Any such adjustment in the Shares subject to Incentive
Stock Options (including any adjustments in the purchase price) shall be made in
such manner as not to constitute a modification as defined by Section 424(h)(3)
of the Code and only to the extent otherwise permitted by Sections 422 and 424
of the Code.
(c) If, by reason of a Change of Capitalization, an Optionee
shall be entitled to exercise an Option with respect to new, additional or
different shares of stock, such new, additional or different shares shall
thereupon be subject to all of the conditions, restrictions and performance
criteria which were applicable to the Shares subject to the Option, prior to
such Change in Capitalization.
10. Effect of Certain Transactions. Except as otherwise provided in an
Agreement, in the event of (i) the liquidation or dissolution of the Company or
(ii) a merger or consolidation of the Company, the Plan and the Options issued
hereunder shall continue in effect in accordance with their respective terms.
11. Interpretation.
(a) The Plan is intended to comply with Rule 16b-3 promulgated
under the Exchange Act and the Committee shall interpret and administer the
provisions of the Plan or any Agreement in a manner consistent therewith. Any
provisions inconsistent with such Rule shall be inoperative and shall not affect
the validity of the Plan.
(b) The Director Options described in Section 6 are intended
to qualify as formula awards under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act
(thereby preserving the disinterested status of Nonemployee Directors receiving
such
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Awards) and the Committee shall generally interpret and administer the
provisions of the Plan or any Agreement in a manner consistent therewith. Any
provisions inconsistent with the foregoing intent shall be inoperative and shall
interpret and administer the provisions of the Plan or any Agreement in a manner
consistent therewith. Any provisions inconsistent with the foregoing intent
shall be inoperative and shall not affect the validity of the Plan.
(c) Unless otherwise expressly stated in the relevant
Agreement, each Option granted under the Plan is intended to be
performance-based compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the
Code. The Committee shall not be entitled to exercise any discretion otherwise
authorized hereunder with respect to such Options if the ability to exercise
such discretion or the exercise of such discretion itself would cause the
compensation attributable to such Options to fail to qualify as
performance-based compensation.
12. Termination and Amendment of the Plan.
The Plan shall terminate on the preceding the tenth
anniversary of the date of its adoption by the stockholders of the Company, and
no Option may be granted thereafter. Subject to Section 6.5, the Board may
sooner terminate the Plan, and the Board may at any time and from time to time
amend, modify or suspend the Plan; provided, however, that:
(a) No such amendment, modification, suspension or termination
shall impair or adversely alter any Award already granted under the Plan, except
with the consent of the Optionee or holder of an SAR nor shall any amendment,
modification or termination deprive any Optionee or holder of an SAR of any
Shares which he or she may have acquired through or as a result of the Plan; and
(b) To the extent necessary under Section 16(b) of the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or other
applicable law, no amendment shall be effective unless approved by the
stockholders of the Company in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
13. Non-Exclusivity of the Plan.
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The adoption of the Plan by the Board shall not be construed
as amending, modifying or rescinding any previously approved incentive
arrangement or as creating any limitations on the power of the Board to adopt
such other incentive arrangements as it may deem desirable, including, without
limitation, the granting of stock options otherwise than under the Plan, and
such arrangements may be either applicable generally or only in specific cases.
14. Limitation of Liability.
As illustrative of the limitations of liability of the
Company, but not intended to be exhaustive thereof, nothing in the Plan shall be
construed to:
(a) give any person any right to be granted an Option
other than at the sole discretion of the Committee;
(b) give any person any rights whatsoever with
respect to Shares except as specifically provided in the Plan;
(c) limit in any way the right of the Company to
terminate the employment of any person at any time; or
(d) be evidence of any agreement or understanding,
expressed or implied, that the Company will employ any person at any particular
rate of compensation or for any particular period of time.
15. Regulations and Other Approvals; Governing Law.
15.1 Except as to matters of Federal law, this Plan and the
rights of all persons claiming hereunder shall be construed and determined in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
15.2 The obligation of the Company to sell or deliver Shares
with respect to Options granted under the Plan shall be subject to all
applicable laws, rules and regulations, including all applicable Federal and
state securities laws, and the obtaining of all such approvals by governmental
agencies as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
15.3 The Board may make such changes as may be necessary or
appropriate to comply with the rules and regulations
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of any government authority, or to obtain for Eligible Individuals granted
Incentive Stock Options the tax benefits under the applicable provisions of the
Code and regulations promulgated thereunder.
15.4 Each Option is subject to the requirement that, if at any
time the Committee determines, in its discretion, that the listing, registration
or qualification of Shares issuable pursuant to the Plan is required by any
securities exchange or under any state or federal law, or the consent or
approval or any governmental regulatory body is necessary or desirable as a
condition of, or in connection with, the grant of an Option or the issuance of
Shares, no Options shall be granted or payment made or Shares issued, in whole
or in part, unless listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval has
been effected or obtained free of any conditions as acceptable to the Committee.
15.5 Notwithstanding anything contained in the Plan or any
Agreement to the contrary, in the event that the disposition of Shares acquired
pursuant to the Plan is not covered by a then current registration statement
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and is not
otherwise exempt from such registration, such Shares shall be restricted against
transfer to the extent required by the Securities Act and Rule 144 or other
regulations thereunder. The Committee may require an individual receiving Shares
pursuant to an Award granted under the Plan, as a condition precedent to receipt
of such Shares, to represent and warrant to the Company in writing that the
Shares acquired by such individual are acquired without a view to any
distribution thereof and will not be sold or transferred other than pursuant to
an exemption applicable under the Securities Act as amended, or the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder. The certificates evidencing any of such
Shares shall be appropriately amended to reflect their status as restricted
securities as aforesaid.
16. Miscellaneous.
16.1 Multiple Agreements. The terms of each Award granted to
an Eligible Individual may differ from other Awards granted under the Plan at
the same time, or at some other time. The Committee may also grant more than one
Award to a given Eligible Individual during the term of the Plan, either in
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addition to, or in substitution for, one or more Awards previously granted to
that Eligible Individual.
16.2 Withholding of Taxes.
(a) At such times as an Optionee or holder of an SAR
recognizes taxable income in connection with the receipt of Shares or cash
hereunder (a "Taxable Event"), the Optionee or holder shall pay other amounts as
may be required by law to be withheld by the Company in issuance or release from
escrow of such Shares or the payment of such cash. The Company shall have the
right to deduct from any payment of cash to an Optionee or holder an amount
equal to the Withholding Taxes in satisfaction of the obligation to pay
Withholding Taxes. In satisfaction of the obligation to pay Withholding Taxes to
the Company, the Optionee or holder may make a written election (the "Tax
Election"), which may be accepted or rejected in the discretion of the Committee
to have withheld a portion of the Shares then issuable to him or her having an
aggregate Fair Market Value, on the date preceding the date of such issuance,
equal to the Withholding Taxes, provided that in respect of an Optionee or
holder who may be subject to liability under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act
either; (i)(A) the Tax Election is made at least six (6) months prior to the
date of the Taxable Event and (B) the Tax Election is irrevocable with respect
to all Taxable Events of a similar nature occurring prior to the expiration of
six (6) months following a revocation of the Tax Election; or (ii)(A) the Tax
Election is made at least six (6) months after the date the Award was granted,
(B) the Award is exercised during the Window Period and (C) the Tax Election is
made during the Window Period in which the related Award is exercised or prior
to such Window Period and subsequent to the immediately preceding Window Period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, by the adoption of rules or
otherwise, (i) modify this Section 17.2 (other than as regards Director Options)
or impose such other restrictions or limitations on Tax Elections to be made at
such times and subject to such other conditions as the Committee determines will
constitute exempt transactions under Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act.
(b) If an Optionee makes a disposition, within the
meaning of Section 424 (c) of the Code and regulations promulgated thereunder,
of any Share or Shares issued to such Optionee pursuant to the exercise of an
Incentive Stock Option within the two-year period commencing on the day after
the date
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of the grant or within the one-year period commencing on the day after the date
of transfer of such Share or Shares to the Optionee pursuant to such exercise,
the Optionee shall, within ten (10) days of such disposition, notify the Company
thereof, by delivery of written notice to the Company at its principal executive
office.
16.3 Effective Date. The effective date of the Plan shall be
as determined by the Board.
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