<PAGE> 1
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. )
Filed by the registrant [X]
Filed by a party other than the registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary proxy statement [ ] Confidential, for Use of the
Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive proxy statement
[ ] Definitive additional materials
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
CIPRICO INC.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
[COMPANY NAME]
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing
fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Total fee paid:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount previously paid:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(2) Form, schedule or registration statement no.:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(3) Filing party:
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<PAGE> 2
CIPRICO INC.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Ciprico Inc. will be held on
Thursday, January 29, 1998, at 3:30 p.m. (Minneapolis time), at the Radisson
Plaza Hotel, 35 South Seventh Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the following
purposes:
1. To set the number of directors at six (6).
2. To elect two Class I directors for the ensuing year.
3. To approve increases in the shares reserved for
the Company's 1992 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan, 1994
Incentive Stock Option Plan and 1996 Restricted Stock Plan.
4. To consider and act upon such other matters as
may properly come before the meeting and any adjournments
thereof.
Only shareholders of record at the close of business on December 11, 1997,
are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting or any adjournment
thereof.
Your vote is important. We ask that you complete, sign, date and return
the enclosed proxy in the envelope provided for your convenience. The prompt
return of proxies will save the Company the expense of further requests for
proxies.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ROBERT H. KILL
Chairman and President
Plymouth, Minnesota
December 22, 1997
<PAGE> 3
CIPRICO INC.
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
JANUARY 29, 1998
PROXY STATEMENT
INTRODUCTION
Your Proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of Ciprico Inc. ("the
Company") for use at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on January
29, 1998, at the location and for the purposes set forth in the notice of
meeting, and at any adjournment thereof.
The cost of soliciting proxies, including the preparation, assembly and
mailing of the proxies and soliciting material, as well as the cost of
forwarding such material to beneficial owners of stock, will be borne by the
Company. Directors, officers and regular employees of the Company may, without
compensation other than their regular remuneration, solicit proxies personally
or by telephone.
Any shareholder giving a proxy may revoke it at any time prior to its use
at the meeting by giving written notice of such revocation to the Secretary of
the Company. Proxies not revoked will be voted in accordance with the choice
specified by shareholders by means of the ballot provided on the Proxy for that
purpose. Proxies which are signed but which lack any such specification will,
subject to the following, be voted in favor of the proposals set forth in the
Notice of Meeting and in favor of the number and slate of directors proposed by
the Board of Directors and listed herein. If a shareholder abstains from
voting as to any matter, then the shares held by such shareholder shall be
deemed present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum and for
purposes of calculating the vote with respect to such matter, but shall not be
deemed to have been voted in favor of such matter. Abstentions, therefore, as
to any proposal will have the same effect as votes against such proposal. If a
broker returns a "non-vote" proxy, indicating a lack of voting instructions by
the beneficial holder of the shares and a lack of discretionary authority on
the part of the broker to vote on a particular matter, then the shares covered
by such non-vote shall be deemed present at the meeting for purposes of
determining a quorum but shall not be deemed to be represented at the meeting
for purposes of calculating the vote required for approval of such matter.
The mailing address of the principal executive office of the Company is
2800 Campus Drive, Plymouth, Minnesota 55441. The Company expects that this
Proxy Statement, the related proxy and notice of meeting will first be mailed
to shareholders on or about December 22, 1997.
- 1 -
<PAGE> 4
OUTSTANDING SHARES AND VOTING RIGHTS
The Board of Directors of the Company has fixed December 11, 1997, as the
record date for determining shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting. Persons who were not shareholders on such date will not be allowed to
vote at the Annual Meeting. At the close of business on December 11, 1997,
5,145,060 shares of the Company's Common Stock were issued and outstanding.
The Common Stock is the only outstanding class of capital stock of the Company
entitled to vote at the meeting. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one
vote on each matter to be voted upon at the meeting. Holders of Common Stock
are not entitled to cumulative voting rights.
PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
The following table provides information concerning persons known to the
Company to be the beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Company's
outstanding Common Stock as of December 11, 1997. Unless otherwise indicated,
the shareholders listed in the table have sole voting and investment powers
with respect to the shares indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND ADDRESS OF NUMBER OF SHARES
BENEFICIAL OWNER BENEFICIALLY OWNED PERCENT OF CLASS
- -------------------------------- ------------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Perkins Capital Management, Inc.
730 E. Lake Street
Wayzata, MN 55391 1,205,175(1) 23.4%
Woodland Partners
60 South 6th Street, Suite 3750
Minneapolis, MN 55402 363,700 7.1%
</TABLE>
(1) Perkins Capital Management, Inc. has indicated that as of November 30,
1997, it beneficially owns 1,205,175 shares, that it has no voting power
as to 908,350 of such shares and that it has sole dispositive power over
all of such shares.
MANAGEMENT SHAREHOLDINGS
The following table sets forth the number of shares of Common Stock
beneficially owned as of December 11, 1997 by each executive officer of the
Company named in the Summary Compensation table, by each current director and
nominee for director of the Company and by all directors and executive officers
(including the named individuals) as a group. Unless otherwise indicated, the
shareholders listed in the table have sole voting and investment powers with
respect to the shares indicated.
- 2 -
<PAGE> 5
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME OF DIRECTOR/NOMINEE OR NUMBER OF SHARES
IDENTITY OF GROUP BENEFICIALLY OWNED PERCENT OF CLASS (1)
- --------------------------------- ---------------------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Robert H. Kill 94,058 (2) 1.8%
Donald H. Soukup 59,250 (3)(4) 1.1%
Ronald B. Thomas 55,270 (3)(4) 1.1%
William N. Wray 27,000 (3)(5) *
Gary L. Deaner 16,500 (3)(5) *
Cory J. Miller 15,625 (6) *
Peyton Gannaway 12,000 (3)(5) *
All officers and directors
as a group (7 persons) 279,703 (7) 5.2%
</TABLE>
* Less than 1%
(1) Shares not outstanding but deemed beneficially owned by
virtue of the right of a person to acquire them as of December 11,
1997, or within sixty days of such date, are treated as outstanding
only when determining the percent owned by such individual and when
determining the percent owned by a group.
(2) Amount includes 57,500 shares purchasable upon exercise of
options presently exercisable or exercisable within sixty days of
December 11, 1997.
(3) Does not include an option for 6,000 shares which will be
granted to such individual as of the date of the Annual Meeting and
which will become exercisable as of the date of the Company's 1999
Annual Meeting pursuant to an automatic grant under the Company's
1992 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan.
(4) Amount includes 36,000 shares purchasable upon exercise of
options presently exercisable or exercisable within sixty days of
December 11, 1997.
(5) Such shares are not outstanding but are purchasable upon
exercise of options presently exercisable or exercisable within
sixty days of December 11, 1997.
(6) Amount includes 9,750 shares purchasable upon exercise of
options presently exercisable or exercisable within sixty days of
December 11, 1997.
(7) Amount includes 194,750 shares purchasable upon exercise of
options presently exercisable or exercisable within sixty days of
December 11, 1997.
- 3 -
<PAGE> 6
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
(PROPOSALS #1 AND #2)
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company provide that
the Board of Directors shall consist of not less than three directors and not
more than six directors, that the number of directors to be elected shall be
determined by the shareholders at each annual meeting, and that the number of
directors may be increased by the Board between annual meetings. The
Certificate of Incorporation also provides for the election of three classes of
directors with terms staggered so as to require the election of only one class
of directors each year. Only directors who are members of Class I will be
elected at the Annual Meeting. Directors who are members of Classes II and III
will continue to serve for the terms for which they were previously elected.
The Board recommends that the number of directors be set at six and that two
Class I directors be elected at the Annual Meeting. The affirmative vote of
the holders of a majority of the shares represented and voting at the Annual
Meeting is required to set the number of directors at six. The Board of
Directors nominates Donald H. Soukup and William N. Wray for re-election as
Class I directors. If elected, Messrs. Soukup and Wray will each serve for a
three year term as a Class I director and until his successor has been duly
elected and qualified.
Unless authority is withheld, the proxies solicited hereby will be voted
for the election of Donald H. Soukup and William N. Wray as directors for a
term of three years. If, prior to the meeting, it should become known that
either Class I nominee will be unable to serve as a director after the meeting
by reason of death, incapacity or other unexpected occurrence, the proxies will
be voted for such substitute nominee as is selected by the Board of Directors
or, alternatively, not voted for any nominee. The Board of Directors has no
reason to believe that either nominee will be unable to serve. The election of
directors is decided by a plurality of the votes cast. Following is
information about the nominees and all other directors of the Company whose
terms continue beyond the Annual Meeting.
Ronald B. Thomas (Class II, term ending at 1999 Annual Meeting), age 54,
has been a director of the Company since the Company's incorporation in
February 1978 and was Chairman of the Board from March 1988 to January 1996.
He has been a private investor since March 1988. Mr. Thomas served as
President and Treasurer of the Company from February 1978 to March 1988 and was
the sole proprietor of the Company's unincorporated predecessor.
Peyton Gannaway (Class II, term ending at 1999 Annual Meeting), age 58,
was elected a director of the Company in January 1996. Mr. Gannaway was
President, Chief Operating Officer and a director of Anthem Electronics from
1984 until his retirement in 1994. Prior to that time, Mr. Gannaway was Vice
President and Senior Vice President of Anthem from 1975 to 1984. Mr. Gannaway
is a director of Aptos Semiconductor Corporation.
Robert H. Kill (Class III, term ending at 2000 Annual Meeting), age 50,
has been Chairman of the Board of the Company since January 1996, President
since March 1988 and a director since September 1987. Mr. Kill was Executive
Vice President of the Company from September 1987 to March 1988, Secretary from
September 1987 to July 1988 and from November 1989 to October
- 4 -
<PAGE> 7
1993, and Vice President and General Manager from August 1986 to September
1987. Mr. Kill held several marketing and sales positions at Northern Telecom,
Inc. from 1979 to 1986, his latest position being Vice President, Terminals
Distribution.
Gary L. Deaner (Class III, term ending at 2000 Annual Meeting), age 57,
was elected a director of the Company in May 1995. Mr. Deaner has been Vice
President of Marketing and Strategic Development for J. River, Inc., a software
products company, since September 1996. Mr. Deaner was Vice President and
General Manager, Lan Connect, of Digi International, Inc., a manufacturer of
computer communications products, from January 1995 to September 1996. From
August 1991 to January 1995 Mr. Deaner served as President of Arnet
Corporation, a subsidiary of Digi International, and from 1985 to 1991 he was
Vice President of Marketing for Digi International.
Donald H. Soukup (Class I, term ending at 1998 Annual Meeting), age 57,
became a director of the Company in March 1982. Mr. Soukup has been a private
investor for more than five years. Mr. Soukup is also a director of Minntech
Corp. and several privately held companies.
William N. Wray (Class I, term ending at 1998 Annual Meeting), age 69, has
been a director of the Company since July 1993. Prior to his retirement in
1988, Mr. Wray held various management positions at Honeywell, Inc., the most
recent being Executive Vice President of Honeywell Information Systems (from
1985 to 1989) and Executive Vice President of Corporate Marketing (from 1987 to
1988).
There are no arrangements or understandings between any of the directors
or any other person (other than arrangements or understandings with directors
acting as such) pursuant to which any person was selected as a director or
nominee of the Company. There are no family relationships among the Company's
directors.
COMMITTEE AND BOARD MEETINGS
The Company's Board of Directors has two standing committees, the Audit
Committee and the Compensation Committee. The Audit Committee was established
in July 1983 and its current members are Donald H. Soukup, Robert H. Kill and
Peyton Gannaway. This committee is responsible for reviewing the Company's
internal audit procedures and quarterly and annual financial statements, and
reviewing with the Company's independent accountants the results of the annual
audit. The Audit Committee met once during fiscal 1997. The Compensation
Committee was also established late in fiscal 1983 and its current members are
Gary L. Deaner, William N. Wray and Ronald B. Thomas. The Compensation
Committee recommends to the Board of Directors from time to time the salaries
and other compensation to be paid to executive officers of the Company and
administers the Company's stock option and restricted stock plans. The
Compensation Committee met once during fiscal 1997. Members of both of such
Committees meet informally from time to time throughout the year on Committee
matters.
During fiscal 1997, the Board of Directors held five meetings. Each
incumbent director attended 75% or more of the total number of meetings (held
during the period(s) for which he has
- 5 -
<PAGE> 8
been a director or served on committee(s)) of the Board and of committee(s) of
which he was a member.
DIRECTORS FEES
Directors who are not employees of the Company receive $500 for each Board
meeting attended. In addition, under the terms of the Company's 1992
Nonqualified Stock Option Plan, as amended, at each annual meeting, each
nonemployee director who is elected or re-elected to the Board at such meeting,
or whose term of office continues after the meeting, will receive a seven-year
option for 6,000 shares at an exercise price equal to the average of the
closing price of the Company's Common Stock for the ten trading days ending
with the date of such annual meeting, exercisable on the date of the next
annual meeting of shareholders if the director has continued to serve on the
Board throughout such period. On January 30, 1997, Messrs. Deaner, Gannaway,
Soukup, Thomas and Wray each received an option to purchase 6,000 shares at
$14.10 per share. Such options will become exercisable on January 29, 1998.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
The following table sets forth information regarding compensation paid
during each of the Company's last three fiscal years to the Company's Chief
Executive Officer and the other executive officer whose total salary and bonus
for fiscal 1997 exceeded $100,000.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL COMPENSATION LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
------------------------- -------------------------------------------
Awards Payouts
------ -------
Securities
Other Annual Restricted Stock Underlying All Other
Name and Principal Salary Bonus Compensation Award(s) Options/SARs LTIP Payouts Compensation
Position Year ($) ($) ($)(1) ($) (#) ($) ($)(2)
- -------------------- ---- --------- ------- ------------ ---------------- ------------- ------------ --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert H. Kill, 1997 161,333 80,558 -0- 73,750(3) 15,000 -0- 7,397
President and 1996 149,333 118,500 -0- -0- 15,000 -0- 5,110
CEO 1995 140,000 6,000 -0- 5,002(4) 15,000 -0- 1,402
Cory J. Miller, Vice 1997 78,500 29,216 -0- -0- 9,500 -0- 2,098
President-Finance 1996 70,975 32,040 -0- -0- 8,000 -0- 3,790
and CFO 1995 67,875 9,727 -0- -0- 6,000 -0- 719
</TABLE>
(1) Does not include automobile allowance, the amount of which was less than
10% of the individual's listed compensation.
(2) Amount reflects Company contributions to the Company's Savings Plan, a
401(k) plan.
(3) Amount reflects 5,000 shares of restricted stock having an aggregate
market value of $75,625 at September 30, 1997. Of such shares, 2,500
shares remain forfeitable until February 1, 1999 and 2,500 remain
forfeitable until February 1, 2001 unless Mr. Kill's
- 6 -
<PAGE> 9
employment is terminated by the Company without cause or there is a
change of control of the Company. Dividends, if declared by the Company,
will be paid on the shares.
(4) Amount reflects 1,580 shares of restricted stock having an aggregate
market value of $23,899 at September 30, 1997. Dividends, if declared by
the Company, will be paid on the shares.
OPTION/SAR GRANTS DURING 1997 FISCAL YEAR
The following table sets forth information regarding stock options granted
to the named executive officers during the fiscal year ended September 30,
1997. The Company has not granted stock appreciation rights.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF % OF TOTAL
SECURITIES OPTIONS/SARS
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO
OPTIONS/SARS EMPLOYEES IN EXERCISE OR BASE
NAME GRANTED (#) FISCAL YEAR PRICE ($/SH) EXPIRATION DATE
- -------------- ------------ ---------------- ---------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert H. Kill 15,000(1) 5.0 14.75 01/30/02
Cory J. Miller 3,500(2) 1.2 15.25 11/01/01
2,000(3) .7 11.375 04/01/02
4,000(4) 1.3 14.75 07/14/02
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Such option is exercisable as to 3,750 shares per year commencing January
30, 1998.
(2) Such option is exercisable as to 875 shares per year commencing November
1, 1996.
(3) Such option is exercisable as to 500 shares per year commencing April 1,
1997.
(4) Such option is exercisable as to 1,000 shares per year commencing July
14, 1998.
AGGREGATED OPTION/SAR EXERCISES DURING 1997 FISCAL YEAR
AND FISCAL YEAR END OPTION/SAR VALUES
The following table provides information related to options exercised by
the named executive officers during fiscal 1997 and the number and value of
options held at fiscal year end.
- 7 -
<PAGE> 10
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
VALUE OF
NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED
UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY
OPTIONS/SARS AT OPTIONS/SARS AT
FY-END(#) FY-END ($)
SHARES ACQUIRED VALUE EXERCISABLE/ EXERCISABLE/
NAME ON EXERCISE (#) REALIZED ($) UNEXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE (1)
- -------------- --------------- ------------ --------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Robert H. Kill 25,000 $363,550 42,500/37,500 $477,395/$158,430
Cory J. Miller 12,100 $104,716 8,875/18,500 $ 86,867/$116,064
</TABLE>
(1) These amounts represent the difference between the exercise price of the
in-the-money options and the market price of the Company's Common Stock on
September 30, 1997. The closing price of the Company's Common Stock on
that day on the Nasdaq Stock Market was $15.125. Options are in-the-money
if the market value of the shares covered thereby is greater than the
option exercise price.
APPROVAL OF INCREASES IN SHARES RESERVED FOR
1992 NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN,
1994 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN AND 1996 RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN
(PROPOSAL #3)
PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS
General. The Board of Directors recommends the adoption of a three-part
resolution in order to (1) increase by 350,000 the number of shares reserved
for issuance under the 1992 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan (the "1992 Plan"),
(2) increase by 250,000 the number of shares reserved for issuance under the
1994 Incentive Stock Option Plan (the "1994 Plan"), and (3) increase by 75,000
the number of shares reserved for issuance under the 1996 Restricted Stock
Plan. The Board of Directors believes that the increases are essential in
order to attract and retain managers and employees in a market for high
technology personnel which has become extremely competitive and in which the
Company's competitors offer substantial equity incentives.
There were initially 225,000 shares reserved for issuance under the 1992
Plan, which was increased to 375,000 shares upon shareholder approval at the
1996 Annual Meeting, of which 107,714 shares have been issued and 207,489
shares are subject to currently outstanding options. There were initially
375,000 shares reserved for issuance under the 1994 Plan, which was increased
to 750,000 shares upon shareholder approval at the 1996 Annual Meeting, of
which 115,436 shares have been issued and 658,429 shares are subject to
currently outstanding options. There were initially 75,000 shares reserved for
issuance under the 1996 Restricted Stock Plan of which 10,770 shares have been
issued. In order to provide sufficient shares for future grants to employees,
consultants, directors and others, shareholders are asked to approve the
reservation of 350,000 additional shares under the 1992 Plan, 250,000
additional shares under the 1994 Plan, and 75,000 additional shares under the
1996 Restricted Stock Plan.
- 8 -
<PAGE> 11
More detailed descriptions of the Plans to be acted upon are set forth
below, but such descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to
the full text of the Plans, copies of which may be obtained without charge upon
written request to the Company's Vice President of Finance.
DESCRIPTION OF 1992 PLAN
Purpose. The purpose of the 1992 Plan is to promote the success of the
Company by facilitating the employment and retention of competent personnel and
by furnishing incentive to directors, officers and employees upon whose efforts
the success of the Company will depend to a large degree.
Term. Options may be granted pursuant to the 1992 Plan until the Plan is
discontinued or terminated by the Board.
Administration. The 1992 Plan is administered by the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee"). The Plan gives broad
powers to the Committee to administer and interpret the Plan, including the
authority to select the individuals to be granted options and to prescribe the
particular form and conditions of each option granted.
Eligibility. All directors, officers and key employees of the Company or
of any subsidiary are eligible to receive options pursuant to the 1992 Plan;
provided, however, directors who are not otherwise employees are not eligible
to receive options under the Plan except for the formula grant described below.
As of December 4, 1997, the Company had approximately 127 employees and
directors.
Directors' Formula Grant. The 1992 Plan provides that at each annual
meeting of shareholders, commencing with the 1996 Annual Meeting, each
nonemployee director who is elected or reelected to the Company's Board of
Directors at such meeting, or whose term of office continues after such
meeting, will receive a stock option to purchase 6,000 shares at an exercise
price equal to the average of the closing prices of the Company's Common Stock
for the ten trading days ending with the date of the annual meeting at which
the option is granted. Each such option will be for a term of seven years and
will become exercisable on the date of the annual meeting of shareholders
following the date of the meeting on which the option was granted if the
director has continued to serve on the Board throughout such period. At the
1998 Annual Meeting, Messrs. Soukup, Thomas, Deaner, Gannaway and Wray will
each receive an option to purchase 6,000 shares pursuant to such provision.
Options. When an option is granted under the Plan the Committee at its
discretion specifies the option price and the number of shares of Common Stock
which may be purchased upon exercise of the option. Unless otherwise
determined by the Committee, the option price may not be less than 100% of the
fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on the date of grant. The
market value of the Company's Common Stock on December 4, 1997 was $12.50. The
term during which the option may be exercised and whether the option will be
exercisable immediately, in stages or otherwise are set by the Committee, but
the option term may not exceed ten years from the date of grant. Each option
granted under the 1992 Plan is nontransferable during the lifetime of
- 9 -
<PAGE> 12
the optionee. Each outstanding option under the 1992 Plan may terminate
earlier than its stated expiration date in the event of the optionee's
termination of employment or directorship.
Amendment. The Board of Directors may from time to time suspend or
discontinue the 1992 Plan or revise or amend it in any respect; provided, that
no such revision or amendment may impair the terms and conditions of any
outstanding option to the material detriment of the optionee without the
consent of the optionee except as authorized in the event of merger,
consolidation or liquidation of the Company and provided, further, that the
provisions relating to the formula grant to nonemployee directors may not be
amended more than once every six months except to comport with certain changes
in the laws.
Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Plan. Generally, an optionee will
not realize any taxable income on the date an option is granted pursuant to the
1992 Plan. Upon exercise of the option, however, the optionee must recognize,
in the year of exercise, ordinary income equal to the difference between the
option price and the fair market value of the Company's Common Stock on the
date of exercise. Upon the sale of the shares, any resulting gain or loss will
be treated as capital gain or loss. The Company will receive an income tax
deduction in its fiscal year in which options are exercised, equal to the
amount of ordinary income recognized by those optionees exercising options, and
must withhold income and other employment-related taxes on such ordinary
income.
Plan Benefits. The table below shows the total number of stock options
that have been received by the following individuals and groups under the 1992
Plan:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Total number of
Name and Position/Group Options Received (1)
- ----------------------- --------------------
<S> <C>
Robert H. Kill, President and Chief Executive Officer -0-
Cory J. Miller, Vice President - Finance and CFO 2,475
Current Executive Officer Group (2 persons) 2,475
Current Non-executive Officer Director Group (5 persons) 169,500 (2)
Current Non-executive Officer Employee group (120 persons) 173,978
</TABLE>
- ------------------
(1) This table reflects the total stock options granted without taking into
account exercises or cancellations. Because future grants of stock
options are subject to the discretion of the Compensation Committee, the
future benefits that may be received by these individuals or groups under
the 1992 Plan cannot be determined at this time, except for the automatic
grants of 6,000 share options to outside directors as described under
"Directors' Formula Grant" above.
(2) Includes 6,000 share options which will be granted to Messrs. Soukup,
Thomas, Deaner, Gannaway and Wray on the date of the 1998 Annual Meeting
pursuant to the provisions of the 1992 Plan.
- 10 -
<PAGE> 13
DESCRIPTION OF 1994 PLAN
Purpose. The purpose of the 1994 Plan is to promote the success of the
Company by affording key employees the opportunity to obtain a proprietary
interest in the growth and performance by the Company.
Term. The term of the 1994 Plan expires on October 21, 2003, ten years
from the date the Plan was adopted by the Board; provided, however, the Board
may terminate the Plan earlier in the event of a sale by the Company of
substantially all of its assets or in the event of a merger, exchange or
liquidation of the Company.
Administration. The 1994 Plan is administered by the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee"). The Plan gives broad
powers to the Committee to administer and interpret the Plan, including the
authority to select the individuals to be granted options and to prescribe the
particular form and condition of each option granted.
Eligibility. All officers and key employees of the Company or of any
subsidiary are eligible to receive options pursuant to the 1994 Plan.
Options. Options granted under the 1994 Plan are intended to be
"incentive stock options" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal
Revenue Code (the "Code"). Under current tax law, no incentive stock option
may be granted with a per share exercise price less than the fair market value
of a share of the underlying Common Stock of the date the incentive stock
option is granted. The option exercise price generally may be paid in cash, by
certified check or by delivering shares of Common Stock of the Company valued
at fair market value as of the date of exercise, unless the Board or Committee
restricts the forms of payment available to the optionee. When an option is
granted under the Plan, the Committee at its discretion specifies the option
price (which may not be less than fair market value) and the number of shares
of Common Stock which may be purchased upon exercise of the option. The term
during which the option may be exercised and whether the option will be
exercisable immediately, in stages or otherwise are set by the Committee, but
the option term may not exceed ten years from the date of grant. Each option
granted under the 1994 Plan is nontransferable during the lifetime of the
optionee. Each outstanding option under the 1994 Plan may terminate earlier
than its stated expiration date in the event of the optionee's termination of
employment.
Amendment. The Board of Directors or the Committee may terminate or amend
the 1994 Plan at any time, except that the terms of option agreements then
outstanding may not be adversely affected without the consent of the
individual. Neither the Board nor the Committee may amend the Plan, unless
permitted by the Code, if the amendment would materially increase the total
number of shares of Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan,
materially modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the
Plan or decrease the price at which options may be granted. Furthermore, the
Plan may not be amended, without the approval of the Company's shareholders, in
any manner which would cause the options to fail to meet the requirements of
incentive stock options as defined under the Code.
- 11 -
<PAGE> 14
Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Plan. Incentive stock options
granted under the Plan are intended to qualify for favorable tax treatment
under Code Section 422. Under Section 422, an optionee recognizes no taxable
income when the option is granted. Further, the optionee generally will not
recognize any taxable income when the option is exercised if he or she has at
all times from the date of the option's grant until three months before the
date of exercise been an employee of the Company. The Company ordinarily is
not entitled to any income tax deductions upon the grant or exercise of an
incentive stock option. Certain other favorable tax consequences may be
available to the optionee if he or she does not dispose of the shares acquired
upon the exercise of an incentive stock option for a period of two years from
the granting of the option and one year from the receipt of the shares.
Plan Benefits. The table below shows the total number of stock options
that have been received by the following individuals and groups under the 1994
Plan:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TOTAL NUMBER OF
NAME AND POSITION/GROUP OPTIONS RECEIVED (1)
----------------------- --------------------
<S> <C>
Robert H. Kill, President and Chief Executive Officer 60,000
Cory J. Miller, Vice President - Finance and CFO 23,500(2)
Current Executive Officer Group (2 persons) 83,500(2)
Current Non-executive Officer Director Group (5 persons) -0-
Current Non-executive Officer Employee Group (120
persons) 701,365(3)
</TABLE>
(1) This table reflects the total stock options granted without taking into
account exercises or cancellations. Because future grants of stock
options are subject to the discretion of the Compensation Committee, the
future benefits that may be received by these individuals or groups under
the 1994 Plan cannot be determined at this time.
(2) Includes option for 4,000 shares which has been granted subject to
shareholder approval of increase in number of shares reserved.
(3) Includes options for 31,000 shares which have been granted subject to
shareholder approval of increase in number of shares reserved.
DESCRIPTION OF RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN
Purpose. The purpose of the Restricted Stock Plan is to promote the
success of the Company by facilitating the employment and retention of
competent personnel and by furnishing incentive to officers and employees upon
whose efforts the success of the Company and its subsidiaries will depend to a
large degree.
Term. Restricted stock awards may be granted pursuant to the Restricted
Stock Plan until the Plan is discontinued or terminated by the Board.
- 12 -
<PAGE> 15
Administration. The Restricted Stock Plan is administered by the
Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee"). The Plan
gives broad powers to the Committee to administer and interpret the Plan,
including the authority to select the individuals to be granted restricted
stock awards, to determine the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company
subject to each award, and to prescribe the particular form and conditions of
each award granted.
Eligibility. All officers and key employees of the Company or of any
subsidiary are eligible to receive awards pursuant to the Restricted Stock
Plan.
Awards. When a restricted stock award is granted under the Restricted
Stock Plan, the recipient receives shares of the Company's Common Stock which
are subject to restrictions and the possibility of forfeiture for a period of
time set by the Committee. During such restricted period the recipient may not
assign, sell, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of the shares.
Upon issuance of certificates representing such restricted stock, the
recipient is entitled to vote such shares and to receive dividends thereon.
Under the terms of the Plan, all risks of forfeiture on outstanding restricted
stock will lapse upon a "change of control" (as defined in the Plan) of the
Company. Each award granted under the Restricted Stock Plan is nontransferable
during the lifetime of the participant.
Amendment. The Board of Directors may amend or discontinue the Restricted
Stock Plan at any time, except that no amendment or termination of the Plan
shall adversely affect rights of a recipient holding restricted stock.
Federal Income Tax Consequences of the Plan. Generally, current federal
tax law does not require a recipient of a restricted stock award to recognize
taxable income in the year in which the restricted stock award is granted.
Instead, in the year in which the transfer restriction lapses, the recipient
will recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the shares at
that time. The Company will also receive an income tax deduction, equal to the
amount of ordinary income recognized by the recipient, in the fiscal year in
which the restrictions lapse, and must withhold income and other
employment-related taxes on such ordinary income. The recipient may, subject
to the discretion of the Committee, elect to have all or a portion of such tax
withholding obligations satisfied by delivering previously-acquired stock of
the Company, including shares received pursuant to a restricted stock award on
which the risks of forfeiture have lapsed, of sufficient value to meet the
withholding requirements.
Alternatively, the recipient can file an election under Section 83(b) of
the Internal Revenue Code. If such an election is filed, the recipient will
recognize ordinary income equal to the fair market value of the restricted
shares on the date of the restricted stock award. The Company will receive an
income tax deduction, equal to the amount of such ordinary income, in the
fiscal year in which the restricted stock award is granted, and must also
comply with the tax withholding obligations at that time.
Plan Benefits. The table below shows the total number of shares of
restricted stock that have been received by the following individuals and
groups under the 1996 Plan:
- 13 -
<PAGE> 16
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Total Number of
Name and Position/Group Shares Received (1)
- ----------------------- -----------------------
<S> <C>
Robert H. Kill, President and Chief Executive Officer 5,000
Cory J. Miller, Vice President - Finance and CFO 0
Current Executive Officer Group (2 persons) 5,000
Current Non-executive Officer Director Group (5 persons) 0
Current Non-executive Officer Employee Group (120 persons) 5,770
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
(1) This table reflects the total stock awarded without taking into account
forfeitures. Because future awards of restricted stock are subject to the
discretion of the Compensation Committee, the future benefits that may be
received by these individuals or groups under the 1996 Plan cannot be
determined at this time.
VOTE REQUIRED.
The Board of Directors recommends that the shareholders adopt the
resolution to approve the increases in the number of shares reserved under the
1992, 1994 and 1996 Plans. Approval of such resolution requires the
affirmative vote of the greater of (i) a majority of the shares represented at
the meeting with authority to vote on such matter or (ii) a majority of the
voting power of the minimum number of shares that would constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business at the meeting.
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires executive
officers and directors of the Company, and persons who beneficially own more
than 10 percent of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock, to file
initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership of securities
of the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Officers,
directors and greater than 10 percent shareholders are required by Securities
and Exchange Commission regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all
Section 16(a) forms they file.
Based upon a review of the copies of such reports furnished to or obtained
by the Company and upon other information known to the Company, the Company
believes that during the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997, all filing
requirements applicable to its directors, officers or beneficial owners of more
than 10% of the Company's outstanding shares of Common Stock were complied with
except that one report covering one transaction was filed late by Ronald B.
Thomas.
INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
Effective August 11, 1997, the Company appointed Grant Thornton LLP as the
Company's independent auditors for the remainder of fiscal 1997. The firm of
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP previously served as the Company's auditors and was
dismissed on August 11, 1997 contemporaneously with the appointment of Grant
Thornton LLP. There were not, in
- 14 -
<PAGE> 17
connection with any prior audit or any subsequent interim period preceding the
selection of Grant Thornton LLP, any disagreements with KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement
disclosure, auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements if not resolved to
the satisfaction of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP would have caused it to make
reference in connection with its report to the subject matter of the
disagreements, and the former auditors' reports on the financial statements of
the Company did not contain any adverse opinion or disclaimer of opinion nor
were they qualified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principles.
The decision to change auditors was recommended by the Audit Committee and
approved by the Board of Directors.
The Company has not selected its independent auditors for the current
fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, pending the Audit Committee's completion
of its review of the Company's fiscal 1997 audit. Representatives of Grant
Thornton LLP are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting, will be given an
opportunity to make a statement regarding financial and accounting matters of
the Company if they so desire, and will be available at the meeting to respond
to appropriate questions from the Company's shareholders.
OTHER BUSINESS
Management knows of no other matters to be presented at the meeting. If
any other matter properly comes before the meeting, the appointees named in the
proxies will vote the proxies in accordance with their best judgment.
SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS
Any appropriate proposal submitted by a shareholder of the Company and
intended to be presented at the 1999 annual meeting of shareholders must be
received by the Company by August 23, 1998, to be includable in the Company's
proxy statement and related proxy for the 1999 annual meeting.
ANNUAL REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS
A copy of the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders for the fiscal year
ended September 30, 1997, accompanies this notice of meeting and Proxy
Statement. No part of the Annual Report is incorporated herein and no part
thereof is to be considered proxy soliciting material.
FORM 10-KSB
THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH PERSON WHOSE PROXY IS
BEING SOLICITED, UPON WRITTEN REQUEST OF ANY SUCH PERSON, A COPY OF THE
COMPANY'S ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-KSB FOR THE FISCAL
- 15 -
<PAGE> 18
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997, AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION, INCLUDING THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT
SCHEDULES THERETO. THE COMPANY WILL FURNISH TO ANY SUCH PERSON ANY EXHIBIT
DESCRIBED IN THE LIST ACCOMPANYING THE FORM 10-KSB, UPON THE PAYMENT, IN
ADVANCE, OF REASONABLE FEES RELATED TO THE COMPANY'S FURNISHING SUCH
EXHIBIT(S). REQUESTS FOR COPIES OF SUCH REPORT AND/OR EXHIBITS(S) SHOULD BE
DIRECTED TO MR. CORY J. MILLER, VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE, AT THE COMPANY'S
PRINCIPAL ADDRESS. THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-KSB MAY ALSO BE ACCESSED THROUGH THE
SEC'S WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.SEC.GOV.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ROBERT H. KILL
Chairman and President
Dated: December 22, 1997
Plymouth, Minnesota
- 16 -
<PAGE> 19
CIPRICO INC.
PROXY FOR ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD JANUARY 29, 1998
The undersigned hereby appoints ROBERT H. KILL and CORY J. MILLER, and each
of them, with full power of substitution, as Proxies to represent and vote, as
designated below, all shares of Common Stock of Ciprico Inc. registered in the
name of the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of the Company to
be held at the Radisson Plaza Hotel, 35 South Seventh Street, Minneapolis,
Minnesota, at 3:30 p.m. (Minneapolis time) on January 29, 1998, and at any
adjournment thereof, and the undersigned hereby revokes all proxies previously
given with respect to the meeting.
The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR each proposal below.
1. Set the number of directors at six (6):
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
2. Elect two Class I directors: [Nominees: Donald H. Soukup and William N. Wray]
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
[ ] FOR all nominees listed above (except those whose names [ ] WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for all nominees listed above
have been written in below)
</TABLE>
To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee write that nominee's
name on the line below
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE> 20
CIPRICO INC.
ANNUAL MEETING -- JANUARY 29, 1998
You can vote ALL proposals FOR or AGAINST the Board of Directors'
recommendation, by using the automated telephone voting system. This system is
available 24 hours a day. If you wish to abstain from voting, or choose not to
vote all proposals for or against the Board of Directors' recommendation, you
must complete and sign the proxy voting form and return it in the postage-paid
envelope provided.
TELEPHONE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS:
- - Using a touch-tone telephone, dial 1-800-240-6326.
- - When prompted, enter the three digit company number (001) located on the proxy
voting form above your name and address.
- - When prompted, enter your seven digit NUMERICAL Personal Identification Number
(PIN) that follows the company number. DO NOT ENTER the alpha character.
- - If you enter an invalid PIN, you will be prompted to re-enter your PIN. You
will have three opportunities to enter the correct PIN before the telephone
system will end the call.
- - When prompted, press "1" to vote all proposals FOR the Board of Directors'
recommendation. Pressing "1" will result in a "YES" vote on all proposals.
OR
- - Press "9" to vote all proposals AGAINST the Board of Directors'
recommendation. Pressing "9" will result in a "NO" vote on all proposals.
- - A recorded voice will confirm your vote has been cast as you directed and end
the phone call. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO MAIL BACK YOUR PROXY VOTING FORM -- YOUR
VOTE HAS BEEN RECORDED ELECTRONICALLY. The deadline for electronic voting by
telephone is 12:00 p.m. (EST) two business days prior to the Annual Meeting
date.
3. Increase (i) by 350,000 the number of shares reserved
for the 1992 Nonqualified Stock Option Plan, (ii) by
250,000 the number of shares reserved for the 1994
Incentive Stock Option Plan and (iii) by 75,000 the
number of shares reserved for the 1996 Restricted Stock
Plan.
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST [ ] ABSTAIN
4. OTHER MATTERS. In their discretion, the Proxies are...
[ ] AUTHORIZED [ ] NOT AUTHORIZED...
to vote upon such other business as may properly come
before the Meeting.
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED AS DIRECTED
OR, IF NO DIRECTION IS GIVEN FOR A PARTICULAR PROPOSAL,
WILL BE VOTED FOR SUCH PROPOSAL, AND WILL BE DEEMED TO
GRANT AUTHORITY UNDER PROPOSAL NUMBER 4.
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS.
DATE:
-----------------------------
, 199__
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
PLEASE DATE AND SIGN ABOVE
EXACTLY AS NAME APPEARS AT
THE LEFT, INDICATING, WHERE
APPROPRIATE, OFFICIAL
POSITION OR REPRESENTATIVE
CAPACITY. FOR STOCK HELD IN
JOINT TENANCY, EACH JOINT
OWNER SHOULD SIGN.
<PAGE> 21
CIPRICO INC.
1992 NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION PLAN
(As Amended)
SECTION 1.
DEFINITIONS
As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:
(a) The "Company" shall mean CIPRICO INC., a Delaware
corporation.
(b) A "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation of which
fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power of
outstanding stock is owned, directly or indirectly in an
unbroken chain, by the Company.
(c) "Option Stock" shall mean Common Stock of the Company
(subject to adjustment as described in Section 11) reserved
for options pursuant to this Plan.
(d) The "Plan" means the Ciprico Inc. 1992 Nonqualified
Stock Option Plan, as amended hereafter from time to time,
including the form of Option Agreement.
(e) The "Optionee" is an employee, officer or director of
the Company or any Subsidiary to whom an option has been
granted under the Plan.
(f) "Committee" shall mean a Committee of two or more
directors who shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure
of the Board. Each of the members of the Committee shall be a
"disinterested" person within the meaning of Rule 16b-3, as
then in effect, of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended. As of the
effective date of the Plan, a "disinterested" person under
Rule 16b-3 generally means a person who, among other things,
is not eligible and has not at any time within one year prior
to appointment to the Committee been eligible to participate
in the Plan or in any other plan of the Company entitling
participants to acquire stock, stock options or stock
appreciation rights.
(g) The "Internal Revenue Code" is the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
<PAGE> 22
SECTION 2.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Plan is to promote the success of the Company and
its subsidiaries by facilitating the employment and retention of competent
personnel and by furnishing incentive to directors, officers, employees,
consultants and other advisors upon whose efforts the success of the Company
and its subsidiaries will depend to a large degree.
SECTION 3.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN
The Plan shall be effective as of January 30, 1992.
SECTION 4.
ADMINISTRATION
The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the
Company (the "Board") or by a Stock Option Committee (hereinafter referred to
as the "Committee" and as defined in Section i(f) of this Plan) which may be
appointed by the Board from time to time. The Board or the Committee, as the
case may be, shall have all of the powers vested in it under the provisions of
the Plan, including but not limited to exclusive authority (where applicable
and within the limitations described herein) to determine the directors,
officers and employees to whom, and the time or times at which, options shall
be granted, the number of shares subject to each option and the option price
and terms and conditions of each option. The Board, or the Committee, shall
have full power and authority to administer and interpret the Plan, to make and
amend rules, regulations and guidelines for administering the Plan, to
prescribe the form and conditions of the respective stock option agreements
(which may vary from Optionee to Optionee) evidencing each option and to make
all other determinations necessary or advisable for the administration of the
Plan. The Board's, or the Committee's, interpretation of the Plan, and all
actions taken and determinations made by the Board or the Committee pursuant to
the power vested in it hereunder, shall be conclusive and binding on all
parties concerned. No member of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for
any action taken or determination made in good faith in connection with the
administration of the Plan.
In the event the Board appoints a Committee as provided hereunder, any
action of the Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan shall be
taken pursuant to a majority vote of the Committee members or pursuant to the
written resolution of all Committee members.
-2-
<PAGE> 23
SECTION 5.
PARTICIPANTS
The Board, or the Committee, as the case may be, shall from time to
time, at its discretion and without approval of the shareholders, designate
those directors, officers and employees of the Company or of any Subsidiary to
whom stock options shall be granted under this Plan; provided, however, that
nonemployee directors shall only be entitled to the nonqualified stock options
granted under the provisions of Section 10 hereof. Except with regard to
nonemployee directors, the Board or the Committee may grant additional options
under this Plan to some or all participants then holding options or may grant
options solely or partially to new participants. In designating participants,
the Board or the Committee shall also determine the number of shares to be
optioned to each such participant.
SECTION 6.
STOCK
The Stock to be optioned under this Plan shall consist of authorized
but unissued shares of Option Stock. Seven Hundred Twenty-five Thousand
(725,000) shares of Option Stock shall be reserved and available for options
under the Plan; provided, however, that the total number of shares of Option
Stock reserved for options under this Plan shall be subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 11 of the Plan. In the event that any outstanding option
under the Plan for any reason expires or is terminated prior to the exercise
thereof, the shares of Option Stock allocable to the unexercised portion of
such option shall continue to be reserved for options under the Plan and may be
optioned hereunder.
SECTION 7.
DURATION OF PLAN
Options may be granted pursuant to the Plan from time to time after
the Plan is approved by the Board of Directors and until the Plan is
discontinued or terminated by the Board.
SECTION 8.
PAYMENT
Optionees may pay for shares upon exercise of options granted pursuant
to this Plan with cash, certified check, Common Stock of the Company valued at
such stock's then "fair market value" as defined in Section 9 below, or such
other form of payment as may be authorized by the Board or the Committee.
- 3 -
<PAGE> 24
SECTION 9.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS
Each option granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by a
written stock option agreement (the "Option Agreement"). The Option Agreement
shall be in such form as may be approved by the Board or the Committee from
time to time and may vary from Optionee to Optionee; provided, however, that
each Optionee and each Option Agreement shall comply with and be subject to the
following terms and conditions:
(a) Number of Shares and Option Price. The Option Agreement shall
state the total number of shares covered by the Option. Unless
otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the option price per
share shall be equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the fair market
value of the Option Stock per share on the date the Board or the
Committee grants the option. options granted to nonemployee directors
shall have an exercise price determined under Section 10 below. For
purposes hereof, if the stock of the Company is quoted on the national
market system or is listed upon an established stock exchange or
exchanges, "fair market value" shall be the closing price of such
stock on such national market system or stock exchange or exchanges on
the date the option is granted or, if no sale of such stock shall have
occurred on that date, on the next preceding day on which there was a
sale of stock. The Board, or the Committee, as the case may be, shall
have full authority and discretion in establishing the option price
and shall be fully protected in so doing.
(b) Term and Exercisability of option. The term during which any
option granted under the Plan may be exercised shall be established in
each case by the Board, or the Committee, as the case may be, but in
no event shall any option be exercisable during a term of more than
ten (10) years after the date on which it is granted. The Option
Agreement shall state when the option becomes exercisable and shall
also state the maximum term during which the option may be exercised.
In the event an option is exercisable immediately, the manner of
exercise of the option in the event it is not exercised in full
immediately shall be specified in the Option Agreement. The Board or
the Committee may accelerate the exercise date of any option granted
hereunder which is not immediately exercisable as of the date of
grant.
(c) Transfer of Option. No option shall be transferable, in whole
or in part, by the Optionee other than by will or by the laws of
descent and distribution and, during the Optionee's lifetime, the
option may be exercised only by the Optionee. If the Optionee shall
attempt any transfer of any option granted under the Plan during his
lifetime, such transfer shall be void and the option, to the extent
not fully exercised, shall terminate.
(d) Withholding. In the event the Optionee is required under the
Option Agreement to pay to the Company, or make arrangements
satisfactory to the Company respecting payment of, any federal, state,
local or other taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to
the option's exercise, the Board or the Committee may, in its
discretion and
- 4 -
<PAGE> 25
pursuant to such rules as it may adopt, permit the Optionee to satisfy such
obligation, in whole or in part, by electing to have the Company withhold
shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable to Optionee as a result of the
option's exercise equal to the amount required to be withheld for tax purposes.
Any stock to be withheld shall be valued at its "fair market value" as provided
under Section 9(a) hereof, as of the date the amount of tax to be withheld is
determined under applicable tax law. The Optionee's election to have shares
withheld for this purpose shall be made by the Optionee on or before the date
the option is exercised, or if later, the ate that the amount of tax to be
withheld is determined under applicable tax law. Such election shall also
comply with such rules as may be adopted by the Board or the Committee to
assure compliance with Rule 16b-3, as then in effect, of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if applicable.
(e) Other Provisions. The Option Agreement authorized under this
Section 9 shall contain such other provisions as the Board, or the
Committee, as the case may be, shall deem advisable.
SECTION 10.
NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTIONS FOR
OUTSIDE DIRECTORS
Beginning on the date of the first annual shareholders' meeting
occurring in 1992, and on each of the following four annual shareholders'
meetings, each individual who served as a nonemployee director of the Company
during the year preceding such annual meeting shall receive a nonqualified
stock option for 6,000 shares. Any individual who served as a nonemployee
director for less than a full year preceding the annual meeting shall receive a
nonqualified stock option for the number of shares determined by multiplying
6,000 by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months during the
preceding year that such individual served as a nonemployee director and the
denominator of which is 12.
The exercise price of such option shall be equal to the average of the
fair market values of the Company's Common Stock for the ten (10) trading days
ending with the date of the annual meeting (unless the annual meeting date is
not a trading day, in which case the 10 trading day period will end on the last
trading day immediately preceding such annual meeting). Each such nonqualified
option shall be for a five (5) year term, and shall be fully exercisable at all
times. No action by the Board of Directors or the Committee shall be required
in order for the grant of the foregoing nonqualified stock options to be
effective, it being the intention of the Company that such stock option grants
will occur automatically.
- 5 -
<PAGE> 26
SECTION 11.
RECAPITALIZATION, SALE, MERGER, EXCHANGE
OR LIQUIDATION
In the event of an increase or decrease in the number of shares of
Common Stock resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of shares or the
payment of a stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of
shares o Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company,
the number of shares of Option Stock reserved under Section 6 hereof and the
number of shares of Option Stock covered by each outstanding option and the
price per share thereof shall be adjusted by the Board of Directors to reflect
such change. Additional shares which may be credited pursuant to such
adjustment shall be subject to the same restrictions as are applicable to the
shares with respect to which the adjustment relates.
Unless otherwise provided in the stock option agreement, in the event
of the sale by the Company of substantially all of its assets and the
consequent discontinuance of its business, or in the event of a merger,
exchange or liquidation of the Company, the Board of Directors may, in
connection with the Board's adoption of the plan for sale, merger, exchange or
liquidation, provide for one or more of the following: (i) the equitable
acceleration of the exercisability of any outstanding options hereunder; (ii)
the complete termination of this Plan and cancellation of outstanding options
not exercised prior to a date specified by the Board (which date shall give
Optionees a reasonable period of time in which to exercise the options prior to
the effectiveness of such sale, merger, exchange or liquidation); and (iii) the
continuance of the Plan with respect to the exercise of options which were
outstanding as of the date of adoption by the Board of such plan for sale,
merger, exchange or liquidation and provide to Optionees holding such options
the right to exercise their respective options as to an equivalent number of
shares of stock of the corporation succeeding the Company by reason of such
sale, merger, exchange or liquidation. The grant of an option pursuant to the
Plan shall not limit in any way the right or power of the Company to make
adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of its capital or
business structure or to merge, exchange or to dissolve, liquidate, sell or
transfer all or any part of its business or assets.
SECTION 12.
INVESTMENT PURPOSE
No shares of Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to the Plan unless
and until there has been compliance, in the opinion of Company's counsel, with
all applicable legal requirements, including without limitation, those relating
to securities laws and stock exchange listing requirements. As a condition to
the issuance of Option Stock to Optionee, the Board or the Committee may
require Optionee to (a) represent that the shares of option Stock are being
acquired for investment and not resale and to make such other representations
as the Board, or the Committee, as the case may be, shall deem necessary or
appropriate to qualify the issuance of the shares as exempt from the Securities
Act of 1933 and any other applicable securities laws,
- 6 -
<PAGE> 27
and (b) represent that Optionee shall not dispose of the shares of Option Stock
in violation of the Securities Act of 1933 or any other applicable securities
laws. Company reserves the right to place a legend on any stock certificate
issued upon exercise of an option granted pursuant to the Plan to assure
compliance with this Section 12.
SECTION 13.
RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER
An Optionee (or the Optionee's successor or successors) shall have no
rights as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by an option until
the date of the issuance of a stock certificate evidencing such shares. No
adjustment shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in
cash, securities or other property), distributions or other rights for which
the record date is prior to the date such stock certificate is actually issued
(except as otherwise provided in Section 11 of the Plan).
SECTION 14.
AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN
The Board of Directors of the Company may from time to time, insofar
as permitted by law, suspend or discontinue the Plan or revise or amend it in
any respect; provided, however, that no such revision or amendment, except as
is authorized in Section 11, shall impair the terms and conditions of any
option which is outstanding on the date of such revision or amendment to the
material detriment of the Optionee without the consent of the Optionee.
Additionally, the provisions of Section 10 shall not be amended more than once
every six (6) months, other than to comport with changes in the Internal
Revenue Code, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or the rules
thereunder.
SECTION 15.
NO OBLIGATION TO EXERCISE OPTION
The granting of an option shall impose no obligation upon the Optionee
to exercise such option. Further, the granting of an option hereunder shall
not impose upon the Company or any subsidiary any obligation to retain the
Optionee in its employ for any period.
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<PAGE> 28
CIPRICO INC.
1994 INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN
(As Amended)
SECTION 1.
DEFINITIONS
As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:
(a) The "Company" shall mean Ciprico Inc., a Delaware corporation.
(b) A "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation of which fifty percent (50%) or
more of the total voting power of outstanding stock is owned, directly
or indirectly in an unbroken chain, by the Company.
(c) "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock of the Company.
(d) The "Plan" means the Ciprico Inc. 1994 Incentive Stock Option Plan, as
amended hereafter from time to time, including the form of Option
Agreement.
(e) The "Optionee" is an employee of the Company or any Subsidiary to whom
an option has been granted under the Plan.
(f) "Committee" shall mean a Committee of two or more persons who shall be
appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board. Each of the members
of the Committee shall be a "disinterested" person within the meaning of
Rule 16b-3, as then in effect, of the General Rules and Regulations under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended. As of the effective date
of the Plan, a "disinterested" person under Rule 16b-3 generally means a
person who, among other things, is not eligible and has not at any time
within one year prior to appointment to the Committee been eligible to
participate in the Plan or in any other plan of the Company entitling
participants to acquire stock, stock options or stock appreciation
rights.
(g) The "Internal Revenue Code" is the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time.
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<PAGE> 29
SECTION 2.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Plan is to promote the success of the Company and any
Subsidiaries by facilitating the employment and retention of competent
personnel and by furnishing incentive to officers and other key employees upon
whose efforts the success of the Company and its Subsidiaries will depend to a
large degree.
It is the intention of the Company to carry out the Plan through the
granting of stock options which will qualify as "Incentive Stock Options" under
the provisions of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code. Adoption of this
Plan shall be and is expressly subject to the condition of approval by the
shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months before or after the
adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN
The Plan shall be effective as of the date it is adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Company.
SECTION 4.
ADMINISTRATION
The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board") or, to the extent empowered by the Board, by a Stock Option Committee
(hereinafter referred to as the "Committee" and as defined in Section 1(f) of
this Plan) which may be appointed by the Board from time to time. The Board
shall have all of the powers vested in it under the provisions of the Plan,
including but not limited to exclusive authority (where applicable and within
the limitations described herein) to determine the employees to whom, and the
time or times at which, options shall be granted, the number of shares subject
to each option and the option price and terms and conditions of each option.
The Committee shall have such powers as are granted to it by the Board. The
Board, or the Committee if so empowered by the Board, shall have full power and
authority to administer and interpret the Plan, to make and amend rules,
regulations and guidelines for administering the Plan, to prescribe the form
and conditions of the respective stock option agreements (which may vary from
Optionee to Optionee) evidencing each option and to make all other
determinations necessary or advisable for
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<PAGE> 30
the administration of the Plan. The Board's interpretation of the Plan, or the
Committee's interpretation if so empowered by the Board, and all actions taken
and determinations made by the Board pursuant to the power vested in it
hereunder or by the Committee to the extent empowered by the Board, shall be
conclusive and binding on all parties concerned. No member of the Board or the
Committee shall be liable for any action taken or determination made in good
faith in connection with the administration of the Plan.
In the event the Board appoints a Committee as provided hereunder, any
action of the Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan shall be
taken pursuant to a majority vote of the Committee members or pursuant to the
written resolution of all Committee members.
SECTION 5.
PARTICIPANTS
The Board, or the Committee if so empowered by the Board, shall from time to
time, at its discretion and without approval of the shareholders, designate
those key employees of the Company or of any Subsidiary to whom stock options
shall be granted. Directors of the Company who are otherwise engaged as
employees of the Company but who are not also members of the Committee may be
designated as participants. The Board, or the Committee if so empowered by the
Board, may grant additional options to some or all participants then holding
options or may grant options solely or partially to new participants. In
designating participants, the Board, or the Committee if so empowered by the
Board, shall also determine the number of shares to be optioned to each such
participant.
SECTION 6.
STOCK
The Stock to be optioned under this Plan shall consist of authorized but
unissued shares of Common Stock. One Million (1,000,000) shares of Common Stock
and shall be reserved and available for options under the Plan; provided,
however, that the total number of shares of Common Stock reserved for options
under this Plan shall be subject to adjustment as provided in Section 11 of the
Plan. In the event that any outstanding option under the Plan for any reason
expires or is terminated prior to the exercise thereof, the shares of Common
Stock allocable to the unexercised portion of such option shall continue to be
reserved for options under the Plan and may be optioned hereunder.
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<PAGE> 31
SECTION 7.
LIMITATIONS ON OPTIONS
The aggregate fair market value (determined as of the time an option is
granted) of the stock with respect to which incentive stock options are
exercisable for the first time by an Optionee during any calendar year under
this Plan and any other Internal Revenue Code Section 422 plans of the Company,
shall not exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000).
SECTION 8.
DURATION OF PLAN
Options may be granted pursuant to the Plan from time to time during a
period of ten (10) years from the earlier of the date the Plan is approved by
the Board of Directors or the date it is approved by the shareholders of the
Company.
SECTION 9.
PAYMENT
Optionees may pay for shares upon exercise of options granted pursuant to
this Plan with cash, certified check, common stock of the Company valued at
such stock's then "fair market value" as defined in Section 10 below, or such
other form of payment as may be authorized by the Board or the Committee.
SECTION 10.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS
Each option granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced by a written
stock option agreement (the "Option Agreement"). The Option Agreement shall be
in such form as may be approved by the Board or the Committee from time to time
and may vary from Optionee to Optionee; provided, however, that each Optionee
and each option Agreement shall comply with and be subject to the following
terms and conditions:
(a) Number of Shares and Option Price. The Option Agreement shall state
the total number of shares covered by the Option. The option price per
share shall not be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the fair
market value
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<PAGE> 32
of the Common Stock per share on the date the Board, or the Committee
if so empowered by the Board, grants the option; provided, however,
that if an Optionee owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%)
of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company or of its parent or any Subsidiary, the option price per share
of such an option granted to such Optionee shall not be less than one
hundred ten percent (110%) of the fair market value of the Common Stock
per share on the date of the grant of the option. For purposes hereof,
if such stock is then reported in the national market system or is
listed upon an established exchange or exchanges, "fair market value"
of the Common Stock per share shall be the closing price of such stock
in such national market system or on such stock exchange or exchanges
on the date the option is granted or, if no sale of such stock shall
have occurred on that date, on the next preceding day on which there
was a sale of stock. If such stock is not so reported in the national
market system or listed upon an exchange, "fair market value" shall be
the mean between the "bid" and "asked" prices quoted by a recognized
specialist in the Common Stock of the Company on the date the option is
granted, or if there are no quoted "bid" and "asked" prices on such
date, on the next preceding date for which there are such quotes. If
such stock is not publicly traded as of the date the option is granted,
the "fair market value" of the Common Stock shall be determined by the
Board, or the Committee if so empowered by the Board in its sole
discretion by applying principles of valuation with respect to all such
options. The Board, or the Committee if so empowered by the Board,
shall have full authority and discretion in establishing the option
price and shall be fully protected in so doing.
(b) Term and Exercisability of Option. The term during which any option
granted under the Plan may be exercised shall be established in each
case by the Board, or the Committee if so empowered by the Board, but
in no event shall any option be exercisable during a term of more than
ten (10) years after the date on which it is granted; provided,
however, that if the Optionee owns stock possessing more than ten
percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the Company or of its parent or any Subsidiary, the option by
its terms shall not be exercisable after five (5) years from the date
the option is granted. The Option Agreement shall state when the
option becomes exercisable and shall also state the maximum term during
which the option may be exercised. In the event an option is
exercisable immediately, the manner of exercise of the option in the
event it is not exercised in full immediately shall be specified in the
Option Agreement. The Board, or the Committee if so empowered by the
Board, may accelerate the exercise date of any option granted
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<PAGE> 33
hereunder which is not immediately exercisable as of the date of grant.
(c) Transfer of Option. No option shall be transferable, in whole or in
part, by the Optionee other than by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution and, during the Optionee's lifetime, the option may be
exercised only by the Optionee. If the Optionee shall attempt any
transfer of any option granted under the Plan during his lifetime, such
transfer shall be void and the option, to the extent not fully
exercised, shall terminate.
(d) Other Provisions. The Option Agreement authorized under this Section
10 shall contain such other provisions as the Board, or the Committee
if so empowered by the Board, shall deem advisable. Any such Option
Agreement shall contain such limitations and restrictions upon the
exercise of the option as shall be necessary to ensure that such option
will be considered an "Incentive Stock Option" as defined in Section
422 of the Internal Revenue Code or to conform to any change
therein.
(e) Holding Period. The disposition of any shares of Common Stock
acquired by an Optionee pursuant to the exercise of an option described
above shall not be eligible for the favorable taxation treatment of
Section 421(a) of the Internal Revenue Code unless any shares so
acquired are held by the Optionee for at least two (2) years from the
date of the granting of the option under which the shares were acquired
and at least one year after the acquisition of such shares pursuant to
the exercise of such option, or such other periods as may be prescribed
by the Internal Revenue Code. In the event of an Optionee's death,
such holding period shall not be applicable pursuant to Section
421(c)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.
SECTION 11.
RECAPITALIZATION, SALE, MERGER OR EXCHANGE
In the event of an increase or decrease in the number of shares of Common
Stock resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of shares or the payment of
a stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of
Common Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, the
number of shares of Common Stock covered by each outstanding option and the
price per share thereof shall be equitably adjusted by the Board of Directors
to reflect such change. Additional shares which may be credited pursuant to
such adjustment shall be subject to the same restrictions as are applicable to
the shares with respect to which the adjustment relates.
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<PAGE> 34
Unless otherwise provided in the Option Agreement, in the event of the sale
by the Company of substantially all of its assets and the consequent
discontinuance of its business, or in the event of a merger, exchange or
liquidation of the Company, the Board of Directors may, in connection with the
Board's adoption of the plan for sale, merger, exchange or liquidation, provide
for one or more of the following: (i) the acceleration of the exercisability of
outstanding options; (ii) the complete termination of this Plan and
cancellation of outstanding options not exercised prior to a date specified by
the Board (which date shall give Optionees a reasonable period of time in which
to exercise the options prior to the effectiveness of such sale, merger,
exchange or liquidation); and (iii) the continuance of the Plan with respect to
the exercise of options which were outstanding as of the date of adoption by
the Board of such plan for sale, merger, exchange or liquidation and provide to
Optionees holding such options the right to exercise their respective options
as to an equivalent number of shares of stock of the corporation succeeding the
Company by reason of such sale, merger, exchange or liquidation. The Board of
Directors shall have complete discretion to elect one or any combination of
such options and shall be fully protected in doing so. The grant of an option
pursuant to the Plan shall not limit in any way the right or power of the
Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of
its capital or business structure or to merge, exchange or consolidate or to
dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or
assets.
SECTION 12.
INVESTMENT PURPOSE
No shares of Common Stock shall be issued pursuant to the Plan unless and
until there has been compliance, in the opinion of Company's counsel, with all
applicable legal requirements, including without limitation, those relating to
securities laws and stock exchange listing requirements. As a condition to the
issuance of Common Stock to Optionee, the Board, or the Committee if so
empowered by the Board, may require Optionee to (a) represent that the shares
of Common Stock are being acquired for investment and not resale and to make
such other representations as the Board, or the Committee if so empowered by
the Board, shall deem necessary or appropriate to qualify the issuance of the
shares as exempt from the Securities Act of 1933 and any other applicable
securities laws, and (b) represent that Optionee shall not dispose of the
shares of Common Stock in violation of the Securities Act of 1933 or any other
applicable securities laws. Company reserves the right to place a legend on
any stock certificate issued upon exercise of an option granted pursuant to the
Plan to assure compliance with this Section 12.
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<PAGE> 35
SECTION 13.
RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER
An Optionee (or the Optionee's successor or successors) shall have no rights
as a shareholder with respect to any shares covered by an option until the date
of the issuance of a stock certificate evidencing such shares (except as
otherwise provided in Section 11 above). No adjustment shall be made for
dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other
property), distributions or other rights for which the record date is prior to
the date such stock certificate is actually issued (except as otherwise
provided in Section 11).
SECTION 14.
AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN
The Board of Directors of the Company may from time to time, insofar as
permitted by law, suspend or discontinue the Plan or revise or amend it in any
respect; provided, however, that no such revision or amendment, except as is
authorized in Sections 10 and 11, shall impair terms and conditions of any
option which is outstanding on the date of such revision or amendment to the
material detriment of the Optionee without the consent of the Optionee.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such revision or amendment shall, unless
permitted by the Internal Revenue Code, (i) materially increase the number of
shares subject to the Plan except as provided in Section 11 hereof; (ii) change
the designation of the class of employees eligible to receive options; or (iii)
decrease the price at which options may be granted. Furthermore, the Plan may
not, without the approval of the shareholders, be amended in any manner that
will cause options to fail to meet the requirements of "Incentive Stock
Options" as defined in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code.
SECTION 15.
NO OBLIGATION TO EXERCISE OPTION
The granting of an option shall impose no obligation upon the Optionee to
exercise such option. Further, the granting of an option hereunder shall not
impose upon the Company or any Subsidiary any obligation to retain the Optionee
in its employ for any period.
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<PAGE> 36
CIPRICO, INC.
1996 RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN
(As Amended)
SECTION 1.
DEFINITIONS
As used herein, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:
(a) "Affiliates" shall mean a Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
(b) "Committee" shall mean a Committee of two or more directors who shall be
appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Board. Each of the members of
the Committee shall be a "disinterested" person within the meaning of Rule
16b-3, or any successor provision, as then in effect, of the General Rules and
Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended. As of the
effective date of the Plan, a "disinterested" person under Rule 16b-3 generally
means a person who, among other things, has not been, at any time within one
year prior to his or her appointment to the Committee (or, if shorter, during
the period beginning with the initial registration of the Company's equity
securities under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and ending with the director's appointment to the Committee) and who will not
be, while serving on such Committee, granted or awarded options under the Plan,
or under any other plan of the Company or any of its Affiliates entitling
participants to acquire stock, stock options, stock appreciation rights or
similar rights that have an exercise or conversion privilege or a value derived
from equity securities issued by the Company or its Affiliate, except to the
extent permitted by Rule 16b-3, or any successor provision.
(c) The "Company" shall mean CIPRICO, INC., a Delaware corporation.
(d) The "Internal Revenue Code" is the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended from time to time.
(e) "Parent" shall mean any corporation which owns, directly or indirectly
in an unbroken chain, fifty percent (50%) or more of the total voting power
of the Company's outstanding stock.
(f) The "Participant" is the employee or officer of the Company or any
Subsidiary to whom a restricted stock award has been granted.
(g) The "Plan" means the Ciprico, Inc. 1996 Restricted Stock Plan, as
amended hereafter from time to time, including the form of restricted stock
agreements as they may be modified by the Board from time to time.
(h) "Stock" shall mean Common Stock of the Company (subject to adjustment as
described in Section 11) reserved for restricted stock awards pursuant to
this Plan.
<PAGE> 37
(i) A "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation of which fifty percent (50%)
or more of the total voting power of outstanding stock is owned, directly or
indirectly in an unbroken chain, by the Company.
SECTION 2.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Plan is to promote the success of the Company and its
Subsidiaries by facilitating the employment and retention of competent
personnel and by furnishing incentive to officers and employees upon whose
efforts the success of the Company and its Subsidiaries will depend to a large
degree.
It is the intention of the Company to carry out the Plan through the granting
of restricted stock awards. Adoption of this Plan shall be and is expressly
subject to the condition of approval by the shareholders of the Company after
the adoption of the Plan by the Board of Directors. In no event shall the
risks of forfeiture on any restricted stock awards lapse prior to the date this
Plan is approved by the shareholders of the Company. If shareholder approval
of this Plan is not obtained, any restricted stock awards previously granted
shall be revoked.
SECTION 3.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF PLAN
The Plan shall be effective upon its adoption by the Board of Directors of
the Company, subject to approval by the shareholders of the Company as required
in Section 2.
SECTION 4.
ADMINISTRATION
The Plan shall be administered by the Board of Directors of the Company
(hereinafter referred to as the "Board") or by a Committee which may be
appointed by the Board from time to time. The Board or the Committee, as the
case may be, shall have all of the powers vested in it under the provisions of
the Plan, including but not limited to, the exclusive authority (where
applicable and within the limitations described herein) to determine, in its
sole discretion, the individuals to whom, and the time or times at which,
restricted stock awards shall be granted, the number of shares of Stock subject
to each award, the price (if any) to be paid for such shares of Stock, the
risks of forfeiture that will apply to such shares of Stock and the manner in
which such risks of forfeiture will lapse, and all other terms and conditions
of each award.
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<PAGE> 38
The Board, or the Committee, shall have full power and authority to
administer and interpret the Plan, to make and amend rules, regulations and
guidelines for administering the Plan, to prescribe the form and conditions of
the written restricted stock agreements (which may vary from Participant to
Participant) evidencing each award and to make all other determinations
necessary or advisable for the administration of the Plan. The Board's, or the
Committee's, interpretation of the Plan, and all actions taken and
determinations made by the Board or the Committee pursuant to the power vested
in it hereunder, shall be conclusive and binding on all parties concerned. No
member of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any action taken or
determination made in good faith in connection with the administration of the
Plan.
In the event the Board appoints a Committee as provided hereunder, any action
of the Committee with respect to the administration of the Plan shall be taken
pursuant to a majority vote of the Committee members or pursuant to the written
resolution of all Committee members.
SECTION 5.
PARTICIPANTS
The Board or the Committee, as the case may be, shall from time to time, at
its discretion and without approval of the shareholders, designate those
officers and employees of the Company or of any Subsidiary to whom restricted
stock awards shall be granted under this Plan. The Board or the Committee may
grant additional restricted stock awards under this Plan to some or all
Participants then holding awards or may grant restricted stock awards solely or
partially to new Participants. In designating Participants, the Board or the
Committee shall also determine the number of shares to be awarded to each such
Participant, subject to the provisions of Section 8. The Board may from time
to time designate individuals as being ineligible to participate in the Plan.
SECTION 6.
STOCK
One Hundred Fifty Thousand (150,000) shares of authorized but unissued shares
of Stock shall be reserved and available for restricted stock awards under the
Plan; provided, however, that the total number of shares of Stock reserved for
restricted stock awards under this Plan shall be subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 11 of the Plan. In the event that all or any part of a
restricted stock award under the Plan is forfeited for any reason, the shares
of Stock allocable to the portion of such award for which the risks of
forfeiture have not lapsed shall continue to be reserved for restricted stock
awards under the Plan and may be subject to new restricted stock awards
hereunder.
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<PAGE> 39
SECTION 7.
DURATION OF PLAN
Restricted stock awards may be granted pursuant to the Plan from time to time
after the effective date of the Plan and until the Plan is discontinued or
terminated by the Board.
SECTION 8.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS
Each restricted stock award granted pursuant to the Plan shall be evidenced
by a written restricted stock agreement. The restricted stock agreement shall
be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board or the
Committee and may vary from Participant to Participant; provided, however, that
each Participant and each restricted stock agreement shall comply with and be
subject to the following terms and conditions:
(a) Number of Shares. The restricted stock agreement shall state the total
number of shares covered by the restricted stock award.
(b) Issuance of Restricted Shares. The Company shall cause to be issued a
stock certificate representing such shares of Stock in the Participant's
name, and shall deliver such certificate to the Participant; provided,
however, that the Company shall place a legend on such certificate describing
the risks of forfeiture and other transfer restrictions set forth in the
Participant's restricted stock agreement and providing for the cancellation
and return of such certificate if the shares of Stock subject to the
restricted stock award are forfeited. Until such risks of forfeiture have
lapsed or the shares subject to such restricted stock award have been
forfeited, the Participant shall be entitled to vote the shares represented
by such stock certificates and shall receive all dividends attributable to
such shares, but the Participant shall not have any other rights as a
shareholder with respect to such shares.
(c) Withholding Taxes. In order to provide the Company with the opportunity
to claim the benefit of any income tax deduction which may be available to it
as from the grant of restricted stock awards to a Participant under this Plan
and to permit the Company to comply with all applicable federal or state
income tax laws or regulations, the Company may take such action as it deems
appropriate to insure that, if necessary, all applicable federal or state
payroll, income or other taxes are withheld from any future wages or other
amounts payable by the Company to the Participant. If the Company is unable
to withhold such federal and state taxes, for whatever reason, the
Participant hereby agrees to pay to the Company an amount equal to the amount
the Company would otherwise be required to withhold under federal or state
law prior to the transfer of any certificates for the shares of Stock subject
to such restricted stock awards.
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<PAGE> 40
The Participant may, subject to the discretion of the Board or the
Committee, as the case may be, and such other administrative rules it may
deem advisable, elect to have all or a portion of such tax withholding
obligations satisfied by delivering previously-acquired shares of Stock,
including shares received pursuant to a restricted stock award on which the
risks of forfeiture have lapsed, such shares having a fair market value, as
of the date the amount of tax to be withheld is determined under applicable
tax law, equal to such obligations. Such election shall comply with such
rules as may be adopted by the Board or the Committee to assure compliance
with Rule 16b-3, or any successor provision, as then in effect, of the
General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, if
applicable.
(d) For purposes of Section 8(c), the "fair market value" of the Stock shall
mean the last sale price of such stock as reported by Nasdaq on the date the
amount of tax to be withheld is determined or, if no sale of such stock shall
have occurred on that date, on the next preceding day on which there was a
sale of such stock.
(e) Other Provisions. The restricted stock agreement authorized under this
Section 8 shall contain such other provisions as the Board or the Committee,
as the case may be, shall deem advisable.
SECTION 9
TRANSFER OF AWARD
No restricted stock award shall be transferable, in whole or in part, by the
Participant, other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution,
prior to the date the risks of forfeiture described in the restricted stock
agreement have lapsed. If the Participant shall attempt any transfer of any
restricted stock award granted under the Plan prior to such date, such transfer
shall be void and the restricted stock award shall terminate.
SECTION 10.
CHANGE OF CONTROL
Notwithstanding anything in this Plan or any restricted stock agreement to
the contrary, all risks of forfeiture applicable to a Participant's restricted
stock awards shall immediately lapse upon a "change of control." For purposes
of this Section 10, a "change of control" shall mean any of the following
events:
(a) Any exchange, reorganization, reclassification, extraordinary dividend,
divestiture (including a spin-off), merger, consolidation or similar
transaction (collectively referred to
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<PAGE> 41
as the "transaction") to which the Company is a party, whether or not such
transaction is approved by the Company's Board of Directors, if the individuals
and entities who were shareholders of the Company immediately prior to the
effective date of such transaction have, immediately following the effective
date of such transaction, beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of less than fifty percent (50%) of the
total combined voting power (with respect to the election of directors) of all
classes of securities issued by the surviving corporation;
(b) A change in the direct or indirect beneficial ownership (as defined in
Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of securities of the
Company representing, in the aggregate, a majority of the total combined voting
power of all classes of the Company's then issued and outstanding securities by
any person or entity or by a group of associated persons or entities acting
in concert;
(c) The sale of substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company
to any person or entity which is not a wholly-owned subsidiary of the
Company;
(d) The approval of any plan or proposal for the liquidation of the Company by
its shareholders; or
(e) A change in the composition of the Board of Directors at any time during
any consecutive twenty-four (24) month period such that the "Continuing
Directors" cease for any reason to constitute at least a seventy percent (70%)
majority of the Board. For purpose of this event, "Continuing Directors" means
those members of the Board who either (1) were directors at the beginning of
such consecutive twenty-four (24) month period; or (2) were elected by, or on
the nomination or recommendation of, at least a two-thirds (2/3) majority
of the then existing Board of Directors.
SECTION 11.
RECAPITALIZATION, SALE, MERGER, EXCHANGE
OR LIQUIDATION
In the event of an increase or decrease in the number of shares of Stock
resulting from a subdivision or consolidation of shares or the payment of a
stock dividend or any other increase or decrease in the number of shares of
Stock effected without receipt of consideration by the Company, the number of
shares of Stock reserved under Section 6 hereof and the number of shares of
Stock covered by each outstanding restricted stock award shall be adjusted by
the Board to reflect such change. Additional shares which may be credited
pursuant to such adjustment shall be subject to the same risks of forfeiture
and other restrictions as are applicable to the shares with respect to which
the adjustment relates.
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<PAGE> 42
Unless otherwise provided in the restricted stock agreement, in the event of
the sale by the Company of substantially all of its assets and the consequent
discontinuance of its business, or in the event of a merger, consolidation,
exchange, reorganization, reclassification, extraordinary dividend, divestiture
(including a spin-off) or liquidation of the Company (collectively referred to
as a "transaction"), the Board may, in connection with the Board's adoption of
the plan for such transaction, provide for one or more of the following: (i)
that all risks of forfeiture on any outstanding restricted stock awards shall
immediately lapse; (ii) that this Plan shall completely terminate and any
outstanding restricted stock awards for which the risks of forfeiture have not
lapsed prior to a date specified by the Board shall be cancelled; and (iii)
that this Plan shall continue with respect to the any restricted stock awards
which were outstanding as of the date of adoption by the Board of such plan for
such transaction and provide to Participants holding such awards the right to
receive an equivalent number of shares of stock of the corporation succeeding
the Company by reason of such transaction. The grant of a restricted stock
award pursuant to the Plan shall not limit in any way the right or power of the
Company to make adjustments, reclassifications, reorganizations or changes of
its capital or business structure or to merge, exchange or consolidate or to
dissolve, liquidate, sell or transfer all or any part of its business or
assets.
SECTION 12.
INVESTMENT PURPOSE
No shares of Stock issued pursuant to the Plan shall be transferred or
otherwise disposed of by a Participant unless and until there has been
compliance, in the opinion of Company's counsel, with all applicable legal
requirements, including without limitation, those relating to securities laws
and stock exchange listing requirements. As a condition to the issuance of
Stock to a Participant, the Board or the Committee may require the Participant
to (a) represent that the shares of Stock are being acquired for investment and
not resale and to make such other representations as the Board, or the
Committee, as the case may be, shall deem necessary or appropriate to qualify
the issuance of the shares as exempt from the Securities Act of 1933 and any
other applicable securities laws, and (b) represent that the Participant shall
not dispose of the shares of Stock in violation of the Securities Act of 1933
or any other applicable securities laws. The Company reserves the right to
place a legend on any stock certificate issued pursuant to the Plan to assure
compliance with this Section 12.
SECTION 13.
AMENDMENT OF THE PLAN
The Board may from time to time, insofar as permitted by law, suspend or
discontinue the Plan or revise or amend it in any respect; provided, however,
that no such revision or amendment, except as is authorized in Section 11,
shall impair the terms and conditions of any restricted stock award which is
outstanding on the date of such revision or amendment to the material detriment
of
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<PAGE> 43
the Participant without the consent of the Participant. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no such revision or amendment shall (i) materially increase the
number of shares subject to the Plan except as provided in Section 11 hereof,
(ii) change the designation of the class of employees eligible to receive
restricted stock awards, or (iii) materially increase the benefits accruing to
Participants under the Plan, unless such revision or amendment is approved by
the shareholders of the Company.
SECTION 14.
NO OBLIGATION TO CONTINUE EMPLOYMENT
The granting of a restricted stock award hereunder shall not impose upon the
Company or any Subsidiary any obligation to retain the Participant in its
employ for any period.
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